~ SEOUL, KOREA BLOG~
Annyeonghaseyo Seoul! One of Asia’s coolest city to visit! It’s considered as a megacity as it has a population of over ten million people. Seoul, the city that I have always wanted to travel, and now I’m here! In this following blog, I’m going to share about the desirable destination places for tourists in Seoul!
Accommodations
I suggest checking out Agoda online. However, it would be more comfortable if you rent a house for your stay. The currency in Seoul is Korean Won (1KRW = 0.0035RM) Don’t worry as you will be able to search for plenty of money changers in Myeongdong.
Helpful Korean phrases
1.Hello: Annyeong haseyo
2. Thank you: Gamsahamnida
3. You’re welcome: Cheonmanyeyo
4. Yes: Ye/Ne
5. No: Aniyo
6. Goodbye: Annyeong
7. Excuse me (asking): Sillyehamnida
8. I’m sorry: Joesonghamnida
9. Is there someone here who speaks English?: Yeogi-e yeong-eoreul hasineun bun gyesimnikka?
10 . Help!: Dowajuseyo!
Desirable destination for tourist
Myeongdong, Insadong, Hongdae, and Itaewon are the best hot desirable destinations for tourist in Seoul.
[Myeongdong 명동]
All about Myeongdong
Myeongdong street, the downtown area of Seoul, is the perfect destination for food and shopping lovers!
With over 200 vendors, Myeongdong night market is one of the biggest street food markets in Seoul.
You will be able to find a variety of street foods, restaurants and shops for Korean beauty products and clothes! Since Myeongdong street market is a large pedestrian only street, vehicles are not allowed, same goes to the street food stalls.
How to get to Myeongdong
Take subway line #4 to Myeong-dong Station and then take exit #6 to arrive at the shopping district. Alternatively, take subway line #2 to Euljiro 1-ga Station and take exit #5.
You will probably be lost visiting Myeongdong for the first time, but don’t worry! There are street guides also known as “the red angel” in Myeongdong where you can seek help in directions. They are able to speak in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean so be relieved. The street guides are usually stationed in a crowded area, cross roads or pace tourist attractions.
Myeongdong street Opening hours
In Myeongdong, shops are generally opened at 10am (some open even earlier) and don’t close till 11pm. The outdoor street market normally starts at 4pm on weekdays, on the other hand, it starts around 2pm on the weekends and on Korean holidays (change in time might occur). Usually the street food market finishes around 11pm, but this depends on the vendors.
Prices and tips
Most of the snacks ranges between 2000 krw and 5000 krw. Friendly reminder, make sure to have your cash prepared since most of the stall doesn’t allow credit cards! Read on to acknowledge the best food streets and shops available in Myeongdong food street!
Popular Street Foods
The price of these street foods ranges from 1000KRW to 8000KRW
1.Japchae (잡채)
A korean sweet potato noodle stir fried dish with vegetables and meat, it is also known as “glass noodle” as the noodles turn translucent when cooked.
2. Tteokbokki (떡볶이)
A must try popular street snack in Korea. It gives off a spicy, sweet flavor and a chewy texture and is made with fish cakes, boiled eggs, scallions and spicy red sauce.
3. Hotteok (호떡)
A Korean pancake that has a variety of fillings in it, the dough for hotteok is made with wheat flour, water, milk, sugar, and yeast. Mostly filled with brown sugar, honey, chopped peanuts, and cinnamon. (2000KRW)
4. Kimbap (김밥)
A must try street food made with steamed white rice and dried seaweed, it is normally filled with pickled ingredients and raw vegetables. Don’t be mistaken, It is different from sushi!
5. Odeng (오뎅)
Odeng (or eomuk) is fishcakes made of ground white fish and other ingredients such as potato starch, sugar and vegetables. It is normally served on a stick and a cup of soup
Besides food and drinks, you will be able to find vendors that sell Kpop Merchandise, souvenirs, phone accessories and so much more!
Korean Beauty Products, Fashion Shops
Not only does Myeongdong have a lot of yummy street food, it also has some amazing restaurants, fashion shops and beauty products available! Cosmetics brands like INNISFREE, THE BODY SHOP and TONYMOLY and etc can be found in the street. In Myeongdong, vendors normally attract you in the store with free mask samples and cosmetics. Korean skincare products are always available at competitive prices.
Yet, Myeongdong street is also a perfect place for fashion lovers. You will be able to find Top Korean Fashion Brand Stores in Myeongdong street like, SPAO, WHO.A.U and Line Friends Flagship Store. Popular International Brand Stores like H&M, UNIQLO, ADIDAS are available too!
Myeongdong cathedral
Myeongdong is best known for its eating and shopping, but don’t miss out on the first and most important cathedral in Korea, the Myeongdong Cathedral!
The cathedral is the very first Catholic Church ever built in Korea. It is also the first Gothic Building in Korea. Myeong-dong Cathedral is located in the downtown area of Seoul and is crowded with tourists. Every year in May, Myeongdong Cathedral holds a cultural festival.
[INSADONG 인사동]
Besides Myeongdong, Insadong is a must go destination place too! Insadong is a popular neighbourhood in Korea and for its pedestrianized main street, filled with unique teahouses, decent restaurants and shops selling traditional goods such as hanbok, calligraphy and folk crafts. 40 percent of the country’s art galleries and antique shops are in Insadong. It’s only 1km away from Myeongdong! Below are some of the recommended tourist destinations in Insadong.
Recommended spots
1.Insadong Tourist Information Center
In this Information Center, all kinds of guides and brochures are available to help you on planning your trip in Insadong. Nevertheless, the staff speaks a variety of languages if you are having difficulty acknowledging the area.
Address: 62, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03146, South Korea
Yet, you are able to rent a hanbok in the information Center!
The price of a hanbok is usually very expensive for tourists to purchase, so most of the tourists rent it to have a taste of Korean culture. This will be a great experience while travelling in Korea and it’s a must try activity! The fee of renting a hanbok here is cheaper than having it done in a studio. Some various dresses are only rented for 3000KRW! It’s better to come early as there can be lots of tourists inside the office wanting to try the hanboks.
2.Tapgol Park
It is one of the most important sites in Seoul. Tapgol park (or Pagoda Park) is the first modern park built in Seoul and is also the birthplace of the March 1st Movement against the Japanese occupation in 1919. This ten-level stone pagoda was responsible for the park’s old name, Pagoda Park.
Address: Jongno 3-ga Station on Lines 1, 3 and 5 of the Seoul Subway.
3. Beautiful Tea Museum
If you LOVE tea, you do NOT want to miss this museum. The Beautiful Tea Museum collects and exhibits information and items relating to tea, obviously.
It is a traditional Korean house made with a curved roof (Hanok style). The admission fee is free to enter the museum. The opening time for the museum is from 10:30am to 9:45pm from weekdays to weekends. It opens 24hour.
Address: 19-11 Insadong-gil, Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
4. Ddong Café (Poop Cafe)
Poop cafe, such a peculiar yet unique name for a cafe! Just like the name, the theme of the cafe is poop (ddong is poop in hangul). Coffee is all served in mugs which are shaped like toilets, and seat cushions are long, puffy snakes that coils up like poop! The opening time for the cafe is 10:30am–9pm from weekday to weekend.
Address: 44, Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu | 4th floor of Ssamziegil mall, Seoul 03146, South Korea
5. Miss Lee’s Cafe 별다방미스리
The walls and ceiling are full with cute doodles and love notes.
Dosirak, a Korean lunch box with egg, seaweed, kimchi and meat in it.
In this metal box is a childhood memory of every Koreans. It is called Dosirak which means a Korean lunch box. Back in the 70s, mothers would prepare dosirak for their kids to bring to school. One dosirak is around 6000KRW in the cafe. The opening hours for the cafe is 10am to 11pm from weekday to weekend.
Address: 144 Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Insa-dong is also close to other tourist attractions such as Gyeongbokgung (the royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty)
The Gyeongbokgung Palace
[HONGDAE 홍대]
When coming to Seoul, going to Hongdae is definitely an activity you can’t miss. It is also known as one of the
hippest areas in Seoul full of young people. Hongdae is located near the three popular and different universities. Food, drinks, clothing stores which have wide variations of unique styles and characters can all be found in one area alone!
What to do in Hongdae?
Eating in Hongdae is a must! It is a popular night spot where there are tons of restaurants filling every corner of this place as well as great street food options. Whether you are looking for western food or Korean food. You don’t have to worry about spending too much as it is budget-friendly.
Another thing that you must do is of course shopping! There are many amazing shopping options in Hongdae making it one of the best areas to shop in Seoul. Reminder, it is a budget-friendly place. Hongdae has street vendors selling the latest trendy clothing to brands like Forever21 and H&M, local boutiques, and cosmetic stores basically it has everything!! 1300k is a store which you must go to as it sells all kinds of fun stuff like novelty items, collector’s items, figurines and stationery.
If you’re looking for some fun things to do, this area attracts people not only for food and shopping but because of their activities. You can check out the latest movie at their CGV theater or watch street performers show off their talents.
Recommended Places
1.Hongdae Street Art
Your trip will be empty without admiring some of the amazing street art in the area.
2. Animal cafe
Hongdae has a vast range of different types of animal cafes, including meerkats, kangaroos and raccoons at Meerkat Friends, sheep at Thanks nature café, raccoons at Bonita racoon café and of course cats at Cats Living.
How to get to Hongdae?
Getting to Hongdae is very easy as there are many options for you to decide which transport to take.Using the subway system and bus is the most convenient and cheapest way. If you’re going by subway, you just need to go to Hongik University station to arrive there.
Another way is getting a taxi, it is also still quite affordable if you prefer to just be dropped off in your location. If you can speak Korean or the driver does not understand english, it will be a good idea if you show the taxi driver a Google Maps screenshot with Korean in it.
Where to stay in Hongdae?
There are many budget yet luxurious stays in Hongdae. You can find many guesthouses and hostels if you’re travelling alone!
Recommended guesthouses:
1.Kimchee Guesthouse Hongdae
This guesthouse is best for those who do not want to spend so much. It is around RM125 for one night (breakfast included)
2. Hotel The Designers Hongdae
Is a trendy hotel which has a western-style room in it. It is located in the middle of Hongdae. (around RM250)
3. Marigold Hotel
It also has a large, western-style room which includes restaurants and cafes in the lobby. This hotel is near to almost all of the fun things to do in Hongdae. (around RM400)
[ITAEWON 이테언]
Itaewon is a hot spot for foreigners. It is a district in Seoul which is known for their incredible dining and clubbing options. Diverse music, neon lights, and an energetic crowd. It is filled with foreign food restaurants, foreigner bars and foreign markets. All of this attracts plenty of visitors of all ages. It is also known as the Western Town. Some tourists may find it a bit overwhelming, but there are too many dining opportunities here to skip.
What to do in Itaewon?
Itaewon’s streets have the most diverse range of cuisines in the entirety of Seoul, so it’s best to make the most of it and sample as much of the food as possible because you sure won’t want to miss it out! It’s common for Koreans to hunt down a hearty meal before partying, which is a good idea for travellers who are planning to spend the whole night exploring the bars and clubs of Itaewon.
You can visit Linus BBQ, it’s a rustic diner serving authentic and flavorful American barbecued meat as well as other Southern food. The menu is in english so you don’t have to struggle finding what it is.
Besides eating there are also streets where you can go to buy lots of stuff. Like the Itaewon Antique Street, it is packed with small antique shops which sells all sorts of Asian or European antiques. Most of the stuff comes from the US soldiers that are based in Korea and would sell their furniture and belongings before returning back to America.
Another place that attracts a lot of visitors in Itaewon is Homo Hill, it is a neighbourhood which is considered to be an LGBT+ center in conservative of Korea. There are abundant drinks, and a mixed crowd of locals and tourists, combining for a fantastic stop during a night out in Itaewon.
Where to stay in Itaewon?
Itaewon has some great and budget hostels and hotels for those who are travelling alone.
1.G Guesthouse
It is one of the best budget guesthouses in Itaewon. The hostel is just a 1 minute walk away from the subway station. Breakfast is also provided and sometimes they also organize events like rooftop parties.(around RM100)
If you’re looking for a more comfortable and don’t have a tight budget, you can try out:
2. White Golden Itaewon 01 Apartments
It has different apartments for 2 up to 7 people, which is great for couples or families. The location is located close to the subway station and the rooms are spacious and clean. (around RM625)
There are also quite few luxury and high quality hotels located in this area too, but not all of them are close to the subway station.
3. Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel
This hotel is a beautiful and modern place to stay in. It is one of the most vibrant areas of Seoul. Each room has different artistic murals. However, breakfast is not included.(around RM900)
The wonders of Seoul has brought us many wonderful memories. We will definitely keep our sweet memories in heart and look forward to travel to Seoul once again! Lastly, we hope that this travel guide will be able to help you throughout your journey in Seoul!
I love coffee and homework 