With it’s misty mountains and ancient palaces, Seoul instantly captures heart. Its a land of contrasts where modern technology marries timeless heritage. Join me on an unforgettable ride across South Korea and witness the unique things to do in Seoul !

 

Here at Three Tickets Please we have plenty of quirky fun. Seeking exotic destinations and pursuing hidden gems comes naturally to us. These unique things to do in Seoul are so interesting, that you will talk about it for years!

So gear up.

Unique Things to do in Seoul :  Ridiculously Fun!

#1 Smile besides Stoic soldiers

You don’t wanna mess with the formidable soldiers at Gyeongbokgung Palace! Of all the Unique things to do in Seoul, start with this one.

With their feathery hats and deadly swords, they are irresistible for a photo. Pose with menacing weapons and stoic soldiers to capture a slice of authentic Korea.

Speaking of slice…talk to them at your own risk 😉

#2 Magical Mornings – Breakfast with Han River :

Every morning, like all parents, Sandeep & I become stealth ninjas – we tip toe to savor a quiet cup of coffee. We continued this ritual in Korea. One of the most memorable and unique things to do in Seoul –  is eating traditional Asian breakfast by the window on 25th floor!

Perched among clouds at Conrad – Seoul, we watched Han river snake through the city like its life blood. In the ‘Land of Morning Calm’  witness the break of dawn over Han. Tall buildings gradually peek from mist while an ancient river sparkles beneath.

#3 Whisper to the monkeys :

Tiny figurines of monkeys and other animals dot the jade green roofs in Seoul.  The palaces here are packed with architectural beauty. Our favorite thing to do in Seoul was to gaze at intricate details of green & salmon pink palaces. Spot interesting creatures on rooftops which were meant to protect royal dynasty from evil.

 

#4 Meow in Myeongdong :

Enjoy a Purr-fect afternoon snuggling up to fluffy Himalayan, Persian or Siamese cats in Seoul’s cat cafes. The kitties who already have an enormous sense of self – importance just got snobbier! Imagine an entire cafe dedicated to them.

Spend time with soft paws and tiny whiskers at the cat cafe in Myeongdong. These unique things to do in Seoul will cheer your little ones to no end.

#5 Be Yourself  – or maybe not :

While I really encourage being yourself wherever you go, its nice not to commit cultural faux pas. In South Korea, be mindful of local customs and etiquette. For example, giving just with one hand, especially left hand is considered impolite. Use both your hands to offer something like your credit card. Removing footwear before entering Korean homes, temples or guesthouses is a common practice.

#6 Mingle with locals – unique things to do in Seoul  :

Koreans are friendly yet slightly reserved. But once they get comfortable, these reticent locals open their hearts and homes to you. Mix with locals to find interesting insights into their life.

#7 Change of Guards  :

The change of guards at Gyeongbokgung Palace is dramatic and theatrical. You stand there mesmerized in complete awe. The guards swish past you in vibrant silk robes with swords and shields and the sound of drums fills the air. It takes you back in time. Do not miss these awesome things to do in Seoul. Its completely free and happens every hour from 10 am – 3pm.

# 8 Become a culture Vulture :

If you have read about us, then you probably know how much we love complete cultural immersion. We want nothing to remind us of our home when we travel. To Live – Breathe – Eat local is our motto. Visit the markets in Insadong or peruse artifacts in folklore museum to get a peek at authentic culture in Seoul.

 

 

#9 Wear a Hanbok: Unique things to do in Seoul

The Korean women wear a flowing two piece garment called Hanbok. If you love ethnic fashion and authentic experiences, then pick a vintage costume. Try these traditional silk dresses for some epic memories from Seoul. You can rent Hanboks  at Bukchon village. Choose a preferred color and select the duration you want to rent it for. It costs about USD$25 for 4 hours and you get a lot of variety to pick from.

#10 Admire the Admiral:

One of the unique things to do in Seoul is to listen to tales of Last stand and Patriotism from locals.

Admiral Yi Sun Sin was an a iconic warrior hero of Korea who led their naval fleet to victory against all odds. He won a legendary battle, despite being hopelessly outnumbered by the invading army. 

There is a towering statue of Admiral in Gwanghwamun square. The locals will tell you how he used tactical strategy and native topography to defend his homeland. He used the knowledge of hidden whirlpools and strong currents in water to destroy the enemy armada.

The Koreans sure know how to give their Naval commander an aquatic tribute. In front of the statue lies a bed of fountains called 12.23 fountain. With 300 spouts of water shooting up to 18 meters in height, it honors the 23 battles he led.

#11 Go wild in Gangnam street :

Enough exercise for your gray matter with history. Time to be silly again ! 🙂 You cannot go to Gangnam district and not do the horse trot dance. What ? You thought I’ll share a pic of me dancing.  Sorry to disappoint you.

#12 Play Cherry Blossoms:

Every Spring, Seoul Forest turns into a flowery wonderland. With a gust of gentle breeze, the petals of cherry blossoms fall to ground Sakura flowers mean to Seoulites what Orchids mean to Singaporeans. 

When you visit a new country, there is no better feeling than being engulfed in the natural beauty of the place. Especially when that scenic beauty is indigenous and truly iconic of that region.

#13 Eat your way across Seoul:

Korean cuisine is delectable. It’s mild yet hot. Like Seoul itself, it is a melange of contrasts. One of the most unique things to do in Seoul is to eat a spicy breakfast ! Bibimbap and Korean barbeque are wildly popular. A delicate rice and chicken soup called Samgyetang was our favorite breakfast. Team it with hot and spicy Kimchi for the best experience.

A whole chicken is stuffed with rice, chestnuts, pumpkin seeds, ginseng, garlic, Korean dates and honey to be simmered for hours. It is then served steaming hot in earthenware pots. You sit on the floor cushions and slurp away this deliciousness. (High chairs are not common here). Our recommended restaurant ? Tosokchon Samgyetang near Gyeongbokgung station.

#14 Delve into DMZ:

Korea is a nation split in two with Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Witness the world’s most heavily militarized border. This place is a must if you are a modern history buff. But take note, you cannot go here privately, it has to be via an authorized tour.

#15 Tip toe in Royal Palaces:

There is something magical about old castles and precious palaces. Lotus ponds, quiet courtyards and whispering tales add a nostalgic charm to these. There are 5 grand palaces in Seoul. Check out all five, if you have the time and inclination. We spent most of our time in granddaddy of all – Gyeongbokgung Palace.

 

#16 Eat and Drink this Wild Root : Unique Things to do in Seoul

You read it before in the above point and didn’t get. You tossed it out of your mind, thinking it must be some obscure ingredient. Well, it is. Ginseng is an ancient and extremely popular root used widely in Korean cuisine. It is believed to have countless health benefits.

How can I possibly complete my list of ‘unique things to do in Seoul’ without mentioning Ginseng. We tasted some amazing liquors made from wild ginseng. Ginseng has a mild yet wonderful fragrance. The Buddhist monks in Korea have been eating this root for centuries.

 

Our favorite was the deep fried ginseng served with micro greens and a dipping sauce. Batter fried, its crisp and golden appearance is undeniably yummy.

#17 Toil with the err.. Toilets

I wish I didn’t have to write this. But you should know. No TTP reader goes to a new country and says “Hey.. I didn’t know that”. Our upscale hotel in Seoul had an awesome futuristic toilet. It had 2 dozen buttons, which you should not press randomly (no matter how tempting they are). In Seoul, the seat warms automatically, bidets swirl mechanically, embarrassing bathroom sounds get masked musically. There is just one problem. Where is the flush ?

If you are traveling with kids, take a moment and Thank God for pull-up diapers. The exquisite electronic toilets weren’t designed with a 3 year old in mind.

I am convinced the Koreans are obsessed with toilets. Insadong even has a poop/toilet themed cafe, where you eat and drink out of toilet shaped bowls. Go ahead and enjoy a truly ‘crappy cup of coffee’.

Wherever we go, we love to capture the quirky and the quintessential character of any country. This concludes my insanely fun things to do in Seoul 🙂 ! Tell me your favorite part in the comments below.

There’s some more useful information to lap up.

Good to Know about Seoul

Arriving in Seoul:

From United States, we took a direct flight to South Korea. We flew from Seattle to Seoul, by Korean Air and arrived at Incheon International airport. We were thrilled with our experience in Korean Air.

If you are flying from Asia then there are plenty of low cost and full fare airlines that get you to South Korea. One of our favorite places to use as hub while flying from India, is Hong Kong, for reasons you have probably read 😉  

Some of our favorite low cost airlines that connect from Asia are – Tiger airways from Singapore, AirAsia from Malaysia and Hong Kong express from Hong Kong. If you are lucky you will get a sale price which is extremely affordable.

We flew from the U.S. I honestly haven’t seen more polite and courteous airline staff than Korean Air. Our flight was extremely comfortable despite the terrible turbulence we saw.

The food however could have had variety. If you are a vegetarian, then you may want to double check if it is strictly vegetarian. One of our breakfast items was supposedly vegetarian, but when I read the ingredients closely, I believe there were certain meat derivatives too.

We booked our flights directly from the airline website for the best prices and flexibility it offers incase we change our plans. You can also use Skyscanner that will display the lowest cost prices too. Booking up to 6 months in advance will mean great prices.

Getting around :

From the Airport, you can take a regular or express train to Seoul city center. There are plenty of airport taxis waiting right at the doorstep to whisk you too. Trains are cheaper for solo travelers, but we’ve come to realize that cabs work out roughly the same if you are traveling as a family.

We handed a print out of our hotel address to the driver, and he zipped us past downtown Seoul to our hotel. Most cab drivers don’t speak English.

 

Getting around in Seoul is easy. Orange Cabs and taxis are plentiful but language can be a barrier. Always carry printouts of the landmark you want to visit, in local language. Use a good translation app – this we have learnt the hard way! 

Subways are extremely efficient and popular, but we used cabs throughout our stay. Bear in mind though the cab drivers refuse to take you if its not worth their time. This can be quite frustrating. Also carry a card from your hotel, that describes name and address of your hotel in Korean language.

Stay :

From affordable guest houses, Air b&bs to luxurious 5 star hotels. Seoul has everything on offer. Pick one that suits you the best. We use TripAdvisor to compare prices and traveller reviews. We stayed at the Conrad in Seoul. Views of Han River and the IFC shopping mall right next door made it convenient and scenic spot to stay.  It’s opulent, modern and  centrally located. The staff was very gracious and courteous. The food was phenomenal. Of course we weren’t surprised.

If you want to get more out of your Korea visit, then divide your stay. Plan your accommodation in such a way that you spend half of your time in ultra modern high rise glass and steel hotels and half in traditional wood and stone homes called Hanoks. 

Hope you enjoyed reading this article on South Korea! Its an extraordinary place and deserves a spot on your bucket list!

That’s it from me on Seoul !

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