As one of Adventure with Sarah’s new destinations, we’ve been doing a lot of research in order to create our upcoming South Korea tour. Seoul (and South Korea in general) is still an underrated destination compared to other Asian locations, so we wanted to share our knowledge with you and talk about our favorite things to do in Seoul to get you excited for this fascinating place.
South Korea’s capital city of Seoul is a fantastic place to explore, filled with all sorts of different ways to spend your time. From busy food markets to historic palaces and vast shopping malls, there is so much to choose from. Here are our top 5 favorite things to do in Seoul:
1. National Museum of Korea
This museum is an essential first stop for visitors. Showcasing the story of Korea from prehistoric times to the creation of the kingdom, the collection weaves a captivating story that will help you understand the context of everything else you will see in Seoul and South Korea.
Follow the rooms in chronological order and learn about the early kingdoms on the Korean peninsula, which produced some exquisite artefacts – don’t miss the incredible gold Buddha statues from the 7th century Silla kingdom. There are many items and decorative pieces that were once in the beautiful palaces and temples of Korea, and descriptions in English as well as Korean so you can understand what you are looking at.
Make sure to find the marble Gyeongcheonsa pagoda, which is ten stories high so it’s hard to miss! Dating back to the 1300’s, it was originally built for a temple and every inch of it is intricately carved. When the museum opened its new location in 2005, the pagoda was brought inside to display and preserve its wonderful artistry.
There is something very special about the museum, which is designed to be a place to relax as much as an educational center. Take your time exploring the collection and wander the lovely gardens, both of which are completely free to enter (except for some specific exhibitions). You can easily spend a couple hours here very enjoyably.
Discover South Korea with us!
South Korea is rapidly growing in popularity, and it’s no surprise given its cultural depth, rich heritage, and stunning natural beauty! On this unique tour, you’ll explore Seoul’s historical landmarks, savor street food at Gwangjang Market, and immerse yourself in Jeju Island’s scenic charms. We’ve carefully crafted this tour for an exciting introduction to South Korea’s highlights—from traditional cooking and ancient tombs to Busan’s vibrant coastlines. With guided tours and intimate group sizes, it’s ideal for travelers seeking both modern and traditional South Korean experiences.
2. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung palace is in northern Seoul, built in 1395 just after the Joseon dynasty took power and made the city of Seoul the capital.
Designed to be the main royal palace, Gyeongbokgung palace was the central hub of political life for centuries. Joseon kings were crowned here as well as being the home of the royal family, so the palace needed to be suitably grand.
There were hundreds of buildings, pavilions, statues, libraries, lakes, gardens and more, but sadly the palace complex burned down in the late 16th century and it was abandoned. In 1867 the emperor ordered the palace to be rebuilt, in the same style and detail as the original, but the royal family did not get to live in it for long.
The Japanese took control of Korea at the turn of the 20th century, forcing the end of the Joseon dynasty. They sought to eradicate Korean culture, including their language and history, and as part of this, many of the newly-reconstructed palace buildings were taken down.
Fortunately some survived, including the Throne Hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, and in the 1990’s a huge project was started to once again reconstruct different parts of the palace. A large proportion of the palace complex is now back in place, and more is planned for the future which is very exciting!
Changing of the Guard
As well as exploring the palace grounds (which are absolutely incredible), there is one particular activity to make sure you do when you visit Gyeongbokgung palace – watch the changing of the guard ceremony.
Twice a day you can see a reenactment of the changing of the guard in front of the Gwanghwamun gate as it was done for the Joseon royal family, complete with authentic clothing, weapons and musical instruments. While this is purely ceremonial, the performance is a really unique thing to see so you should definitely time your visit to coincide with it.
Nearby there are also places where you can rent hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) to wear, which many people do to get cool photographs. There are versions for men and women, and it is absolutely fine for tourists to wear them as well as people from South Korea – they like seeing visitors embracing their culture.
In fact, if you are wearing hanbok outfits you can get inside the palace for free – you will see both visitors and South Koreans dressed up and taking pictures all over the palace grounds.
3. Gwangjang Market
When you’re planning what to do in Seoul, South Korea, a visit to Gwangjang market should absolutely be in your itinerary.
Originally called Dongdaemun market, Gwangjang was the first permanent market in Korea when it opened in 1905, opening every day of the week. It expanded over the years to the huge market it is today, where you can find everything and anything you want. Silk clothing for weddings, beautiful fabrics, home goods, fishing equipment, cookware, fresh fruit and vegetables, souvenirs and more, the stalls go on and on.
However the main attraction is definitely the food. One whole section of the market is dedicated to kitchens and stalls preparing street food and other amazing Korean cuisine dishes.
Enjoy tteokbokki (rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce), kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) from one of the many street vendors, or try something more adventurous.
Make sure to end with something sweet, like hotteok (a sweet filled pancake) or bungeo-ppang, a crispy pastry exterior filled with sweet red bean paste cooked in a fish-shaped mould that is one of the most popular street food options here.
The food market can be overwhelming at first, packed with people, lots of shouting and a huge mix of cooking smells. This is why our upcoming tour to South Korea includes time here with our guide who will help you navigate all the incredible delicacies on offer.
4. Bukchon Hanok village
Bukchon Hanok village is a neighborhood full of hanoks, traditional Korean houses. Located near the historic sites of Gyeongbokgung palace and Changdeokgung palace, these hanoks date back to the same Joseon dynasty.
The government of South Korea has made efforts to preserve and restore the hanok houses, with many of them being converted into cafes, guesthouses, restaurants and cultural centers. These houses are absolutely beautiful, and also give visitors the chance to learn about traditional Korean culture.
We recommend visiting the hanok that are untouched to get the best idea of their original form, before going to one of the many shops and businesses that are based here. The village has smaller, distinct neighborhoods within it so you should explore the upper and lower levels to get a better sense of the whole area.
Unlike art galleries and museums, the Bukchon Hanok village is still a residential area. As one of Seoul’s most popular neighborhoods, it sees many tourists visit each day so it is very important to be respectful when you go. Do not peer into people’s homes or block access, and be conscious of how loud you are talking as it is considered rude to be disruptive to the locals.
This should not put you off visiting as Bukchon Hanok is an integral part of Seoul and South Korea history, and seeing the buildings is absolutely fascinating!
5. N Seoul Tower
One of our top things to do wherever we are adventuring is to find somewhere with great views. Luckily Seoul has an awesome spot to admire the city, known as both N Seoul Tower and Namsan Tower.
Built in the 1970’s, Seoul Tower was designed to be both a communication tower and observation station, offering unobstructed, panoramic views of the city. There are multiple observation deck options (one of which rotates), lots of different restaurants, convenience stores, small museums/exhibitions and an information center, so you can definitely spend a lot of time here.
The name ‘Namsan’ comes from the fact the tower was built on Namsan mountain, which overlooks Seoul. The best way to reach the tower is to take the Namsam cable car which runs from the base of the mountain to the top. Look out for the street performers in different parts of Namsan park which covers the whole area.
Personally I think visiting at night is more fun as the whole of Seoul is lit up and the views are somehow more impressive, but going during the day is also a lot of fun. Keep an eye on the tower at night even if you aren’t planning a visit up there as the tower is often lit up, which makes for great photos.
Another place to get amazing views of Seoul South Korea is Lotte Tower, a huge skyscraper located across the Han river near the Olympic park built for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
And one more bonus thing to do…
Okay so this isn’t specifically something to do in Seoul but it is something that can be done from Seoul, and that is to visit the Demilitarized Zone which separates North and South Korea.
A legacy of the Korean war, the narrow strip of land was created when the armistice agreement was signed in 1953 and both sides retreated back 2 kilometers. This zone has stayed in place ever since, and while it sounds odd to suggest visiting it, this is a popular thing to do.
You cannot visit by yourself so need to be part of a tour, but these are well worth doing. You’ll get a sense of the reality of Korean history and the disruption the division of the country caused in a way that you cannot get elsewhere.
Hopefully these things to do in Seoul, South Korea have given you a taste of everything the city has to offer, with there being so much more to discover if you join us in 2025. We’re so excited to bring this new destination to you, so if you have any questions or want to know more about what to expect, get in touch today.
