Seoul, South Korea 2025 — Things to Do, Hotels, How to Get

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Gangnam

shopping

Upscale district with luxury shopping, K-pop entertainment companies, trendy cafes, and nightlife.

Myeongdong

shopping

Premier shopping district with K-beauty stores, street food, fashion boutiques, and cathedral.

Hongdae

nightlife

Youthful arts district with indie music, clubs, street performers, and creative cafes.

Insadong

culture

Traditional culture street with antique shops, art galleries, tea houses, and Korean crafts.

Itaewon

food

International district with diverse restaurants, bars, Haebangchon village, and multicultural vibe.

Bukchon

history

Historic hanok village with traditional houses, narrow alleys, museums, and palace views.

Namsan

views

Mountain park with N Seoul Tower, cable car, walking trails, and panoramic city views.

Yeouido

business

Business island with IFC Mall, Hangang Park, cherry blossoms, and 63 Building views.

Apgujeong

luxury

Trendy Gangnam area with Rodeo Street boutiques, high-end cafes, and K-beauty clinics.

Dongdaemun

shopping

24-hour shopping mecca with fashion malls, night markets, historic gate, and DDP design plaza.

Jamsil

entertainment

Entertainment hub with Lotte World, Olympic Park, Lotte Tower, and Seokchon Lake.

Ikseon-dong

local

Charming hanok neighborhood with hipster cafes, vintage shops, and Instagram-worthy alleys.

Seoul

Seoul: Where Ancient Palaces Meet Neon Skyscrapers

Seoul is a megapolis of 10 million that runs like Swiss clockwork. Trains on schedule, streets clean, WiFi everywhere. Skyscrapers next to royal palaces, grandmothers in hanbok taking selfies on latest iPhones. A city of contrasts that pulls you in.

Districts

Myeongdong — cosmetics heaven, currency exchange, but pricey for tourists. Hongdae — youth, clubs, street art; noisy at night, consider when booking hotel. Gangnam — luxury, COEX Mall, that song. Itaewon — international food. Insadong — traditional souvenirs. Bukchon — hanok village. Se...

faq.title

faq.subtitle Seoul

Visa-free entry up to 60 days for tourism since 2024

Kimchi, bulgogi (marinated beef), bibimbap, samgyeopsal (pork belly), ramyeon, tteokbokki

Travel Tips

Useful tips for visiting Seoul

Get T-money card at any convenience store - works on all transport

World's fastest internet - cafes great for working

Korean BBQ best value for dinner - unlimited sides free

Download Kakao apps - essential for navigation and taxi

Tipping not expected and can be offensive

SIM cards cheaper in city: Dongmyo station exit 1, 20m from exit — look for Prepaid phone sign. Costs 35-40k₩ (airport more expensive)

Magic Pass essential for Lotte World — queues are insane without it

Socks at Dongdaemun: 10 pairs = 5000₩. In Myeongdong 1 pair = 2000-5000₩. 10x difference!

Money Box — website for checking exchange rates online. Best exchangers in Myeongdong and Dongdaemun

WOWPASS — convenient tourist card, 70 machines nationwide. Can withdraw cash and pay by card

Hongdae is noisy at night — consider when booking hotel if sleep matters

Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam — wishing bell, beautiful Buddhist temple among skyscrapers

Weather

Average temperature by month

Now-5°
51%10 м/с

Today2°-8°

Tomorrow0°-9°

Thu7°0°

Fri7°-2°

Sat3°-3°

Sun6°-4°

Mon2°-8°

2°
-6°Jan

5°
-3°Feb

10°
2°Mar

18°
8°Apr

23°
13°May

27°
18°Jun

29°
22°Jul

30°
22°Aug

26°
17°Sep

20°
10°Oct

12°
3°Nov

4°
-3°Dec

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location.transport.airportExpress—location.transport.airportExpressDesc

location.transport.metro

1400 ₩~0.96 $

Kakao Metro, T-money GO

20+ lines, extremely efficient. English signage everywhere. T-money card recommended.

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1400 ₩~0.96 $

Kakao Map, Naver Map

Extensive network. T-money card works here too.

location.transport.taxi

4800 ₩~3.3 $

Kakao T, Uber

Base fare ₩4,800. Safe and affordable. Black taxis are premium.

location.transport.title	location.transport.price	location.transport.app	location.transport.note
location.transport.metro	1400 ₩ ~0.96 $	Kakao Metro, T-money GO	20+ lines, extremely efficient. English signage everywhere. T-money card recommended.
location.transport.bus	1400 ₩ ~0.96 $	Kakao Map, Naver Map	Extensive network. T-money card works here too.
location.transport.taxi	4800 ₩ ~3.3 $	Kakao T, Uber	Base fare ₩4,800. Safe and affordable. Black taxis are premium.

Prices

Cost of food, accommodation and services

Cafes & Restaurants
Lunch
11,880 ₩
~11,880 $
Restaurant dinner
46,200 ₩
~46,200 $
Breakfast
6,600 ₩
~6,600 $
Street Food
Local dish
5,280 ₩
~5,280 $
Drinks
Coffee
5,940 ₩
~5,940 $
Beer in bar
6,600 ₩
~6,600 $
Local beer
3,300 ₩
~3,300 $
Imported beer
5,280 ₩
~5,280 $
Wine bottle
23,760 ₩
~23,760 $
Fast Food
Big Mac
6,600 ₩
~6,600 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
924 ₩
~924 $
Cigarettes
5,940 ₩
~5,940 $
Weekly groceries
66,000 ₩
~66,000 $

Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.

Accommodation

Hotels and rental prices

Hostel dorm
19,800 ₩ / night
~19,800 $
Hostel private room
46,200 ₩ / night
~46,200 $
Guesthouse
52,800 ₩ / night
~52,800 $

Hotel 2★
59,400 ₩ / night
~59,400 $
Hotel 3★
92,400 ₩ / night
~92,400 $
Hotel 4★
158,400 ₩ / night
~158,400 $
Hotel 5★
264,000 ₩ / night
~264,000 $
Boutique hotel
198,000 ₩ / night
~198,000 $

Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.

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location.payment.accepted_cards

VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressJCB

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location.payment.atms

widespread

location.payment.mobile_payments

Apple PayGoogle PayKakao PayNaver PaySamsung Pay

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Highly cashless! Kakao Pay, Naver Pay, Samsung Pay dominant. T-money card for transport. Cards everywhere. Cash declining rapidly but some traditional markets prefer it.

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Won (KRW). TECH CAPITAL! Kakao Pay, Naver Pay super-apps for everything - payments, transfers, shopping, taxis. Samsung Pay NFC/MST works everywhere. T-money card for subway/buses - buy at convenience stores, top up with cash/cards. Myeongdong, Gangnam card-friendly. Traditional markets (Namdaemun, Gwangjang) prefer cash. 7-Eleven, CU konbini ATMs accept foreign cards. K-pop, K-drama capital - vibrant mega-city!

location.payment.tipping

0%
NO TIPPING! Can be considered rude. Service included. Exceptional service already expected.

Safety

High safety level

Tourist area with low crime rate

Very safe city, one of world's lowest crime rates, watch for scammers

What to see

Attractions and points of interest

-5°
Free
Park
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Seoul

-5°
Closed
KRW3000
History
Changdeokgung Palace
Seoul

-5°
Closed
Free
Architecture
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Seoul

-5°
Closed
Free
Entertainment
Myeongdong
Seoul

-5°
Free
Religious
Jogyesa Temple
Seoul

-5°
Closed
Free
History
Bukchon Hanok Village
Seoul

-5°
Closed
KRW26000
viewpoint
N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower)
Seoul

-5°
Closed
KRW3000
History
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul

-5°
Closed
Free
Entertainment
Insadong Street
Seoul

-5°
Closed
KRW29000
Architecture
Lotte World Tower
Seoul

Routes

2.5 km
1.5-2 hours
moderate
Bukchon Hanok Village Walk
Seoul
This route immerses you in traditional Korea amid a modern metropolis. Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace — the main royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty. Built in 1395, it was destroyed during the Japanese invasion and restored in the 20th century. Be sure to watch the guard changing ceremony — guards in traditional costumes recreate a ritual from five hundred years ago. Life hack: rent a hanbok (traditional Korean costume) at one of the many rental shops near the palace. In a hanbok, admission to all palaces is free, and your photos will be magical. From the palace, climb up to Bukchon Hanok Village — a district with hundreds of traditional houses where people still live. Narrow alleys between tiled roofs create the atmosphere of old Seoul. Be respectful to residents — this is not a museum but a real residential area. Changdeokgung Palace with its Secret Garden (Huwon) is a gem of Korean architecture, UNESCO-listed. Unlike the symmetrical Gyeongbokgung, it harmoniously blends into the natural landscape. Tours of the Secret Garden are guided only — book in advance. Insadong Street is the center of traditional crafts and arts. Here you can buy ceramics, calligraphy, traditional tea, and sweets. Stop by a tea house — the tea ceremony will help restore your energy after a long walk. End the route at Jogyesa Temple — the center of Korean Buddhism. The temple is especially beautiful in May when it's decorated with thousands of colorful lanterns for Buddha's birthday celebration.

4 km
3-4 hours
Easy
Palaces & Insadong Walk
Seoul
This route covers two of Seoul's great palaces and ends with a panoramic view from Namsan Tower. Start early morning at Gyeongbokgung Palace to avoid crowds. The palace grounds are huge — you can spend several hours exploring pavilions, throne halls, and museums. The National Folk Museum on the palace grounds is free and gives an excellent overview of traditional Korean life. Don't miss the artificial Hyangwonjeong pond with its elegant pavilion — one of Seoul's most photogenic spots. Changdeokgung Palace is within walking distance. Its architecture is more refined and harmonious — it's no coincidence that Korean kings preferred to live here. Be sure to sign up for the Secret Garden tour — it's a separate world with ponds, pavilions, and century-old trees. After the palaces, rest at Jogyesa Temple. Its peaceful atmosphere contrasts with the noisy city. You can meditate here or simply sit in silence. Insadong Street offers many cafes and traditional cuisine restaurants. Try bibimbap or Korean BBQ. You can also buy souvenirs here — from magnets to antique furniture. Cheonggyecheon Stream is an amazing urban oasis. This artificial stream runs 11 kilometers through central Seoul. An evening walk along the illuminated banks is especially romantic. End the day at Namsan Tower. You can take the cable car up or walk (about 20 minutes). The observation deck offers a 360-degree panorama of Seoul — especially impressive at sunset.

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4.5/5

location.nomad.rating

$2200

location.nomad.monthly

250

Mbps

5/5

location.nomad.safety

location.nomad.internet

4Gexcellent

5G✓

location.nomad.fiber✓

location.nomad.cafe_wifiexcellent

location.nomad.coworking

location.nomad.spaces_count80+

location.nomad.day_pass$25

location.nomad.month_pass$300

location.nomad.popular
WeWork, FastFive, Spark Plus

location.nomad.visa

location.nomad.tourist_visa90 location.nomad.days

location.nomad.nomad_visa✓

E-visa✓

location.nomad.visa_run✓

location.nomad.cost_of_living

location.nomad.budget$1500

location.nomad.comfortable$2200

location.nomad.luxury$4000

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