Seoul is the unique capital of South Korea that perfectly blends new technology, thousands of years of history, and religion. From Korean BBQ to shopping to visiting war zones, Seoul has everything to offer visitors.
Seoul is such a fascinating blend of traditional and modern. The city is an exciting blend of local markets, large department stores, street food, high-class dining, and friendly locals who always seem to be working or partying hard.
Here is a list of 16 things you should try to do on your first visit to Seoul.
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1 – Watch a moonlight rainbow fountain show
A bridge that also features a water and lights show? Yep.
The Banpo Bridge, which spans the Han River, is famous for the unique Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show.
During the show, music plays while nozzles shoot water from the river below, creating dancing streams illuminated by LED lights. The most beautiful part of the show is watching the water fall back to the river.
The show runs from May to October, with three shows on weekdays and six to seven shows on weekends.
2 – Visit a traditional market
Traditional markets in Seoul offer visitors a great taste of authentic Korean life.
These markets are similar to farmers’ markets in other parts of the world. In Seoul, stands in traditional markets overflow with goods, usually run by older-generation Koreans. These stands sell all types of goods, including meats, vegetables, pickled items, street foods, seafood, clothes, and more.
Walking through these busy marketplaces, you will rub elbow to elbow with pushy ajummas (older-generation Korean women) looking for bargains.
Traditional markets are an essential part of the history and culture of Korea, and even more so as Korea moves towards more modern and larger shopping complexes.
Some of Seoul’s more popular traditional markets include Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, Gwangjang Market, Gyeongdong Market, and Gyeongdong Market.
3 – Sample some tasty street food
One of the best things about going to Seoul is the street food.
Most street food in Seoul is clean and safe, so if you have no fear, stop by any of the thousands of food carts that line the streets at all hours of the day.
Some of the most popular street foods include tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), gimbap (rice wrapped in seaweed), sundae (blood sausage), odeng (fish cakes), pajeon (pancakes stuffed with various ingredients), and twigim (fried goodies).
Some great places to sample street food include Myeongdong, Namdaemun Market, and just outside Konkuk University Station on Seoul Subway (Lines 2 and 7).
4 – Myeongdong
Myeongdong is the place to go for shopping.
Many international brands, including Louis Vuitton, Lacoste, and Forever 21, have stores here. However, the most interesting shopping is at Shinsegae and Lotte, two large department stores with multiple locations.
This area is one of the most visited places in Seoul and stays packed at all hours of the day. At all hours, you will find Japanese and Chinese tourists, young people on dates, and visitors looking to experience the lights and energy of Korea.
Myeongdong is also a great place to experience Korean street food. If you are a novice, walk around and see what looks good.
Most visit Myeongdong to shop or eat, but if you are in the area, Myeongdong Cathedral is worth the visit.
5 – Korean BBQ
One of the first things people think of when visiting Korea is the Korean BBQ.
There are BBQ restaurants literally on almost every street in Seoul. You will know when one is nearby when you smell the delicious aroma.
If it is your first time eating at a BBQ restaurant, be sure to try samgyeopsal (pork belly), bulgogi (marinated beef), galbi (marinated short ribs), and dak (chicken).
If you don’t know what you are doing, friendly restaurant staff usually help you or even cook your meats.
6 – Shop, shop, shop til you drop
If you love to shop, then Seoul is your city. The entire city is a fashion mecca.
Large department stores such as Lotte and Shinsegae are located all across the city. These large shopping complexes feature everything from high-end fashion to the latest fashion trends popular with young people.
These department stores feature restaurants, large food courts, movie theaters, and aquariums. You can find almost everything in your price range at these shopping centers.
For those looking for bargain prices, head over to one of the traditional markets, such as Namdaemun Market or Dongdaemun Market. Dongdaemun Market is massive, with over 20 shopping malls and 30,000 shops. If you can’t find it here, it probably doesn’t exist.
Try the Seoul Folk Flea Market, Hongdae Free Market, Seocho Saturday Flea Market, and Yongsan Flea Market if you want cheap but unique secondhand items.
Gangnam, located south of the Han River, offers high-end shopping for those willing to spend big. Be sure to check out Garosu-gil and Cheongdam, where you might even catch a Korean actor out shopping and spending a fortune.
7 – Eat kimchi
French fries are to America as kimchi is to Korea.
Each Korean eats over 40 pounds of the dish per year, which, not surprisingly, is the national dish of Korea.
The fermented dish combines cabbage, spicy red pepper powder, ginger, garlic, radishes, and scallions. The mixture is then fermented in pots underground for months. The finished product is a spicy and tasty fermented cabbage dish.
Most restaurants serve kimchi as a side dish to the main meal. You can also find many varieties for sale at markets all across Seoul.
8 – Go for a hike at Bukhansan National Park
To the north of Seoul, a city of 10 million, is Bukhansan National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the world.
The park is popular for its many hiking trails, hidden Buddhist temples, scenery, streams, nature watching, and granite peaks.
Access to the park from downtown Seoul is simple and quick. You could be in downtown Seoul at noon, and by 1:00 PM, you could be hiking on a mountain trail.
Since Seoul is close by, many people visit the park on weekends. If possible, go on a weekday to avoid the crowds.
9 – Visit a royal palace
Seoul features five palaces used by the royal family during the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1897).
The largest and most popular palace is Gyeongbokgung Palace, dating back to 1395.
Spending a day wandering around one of these palaces is a great way to learn about the history of Seoul and how it became the city it is today. The palaces are also a great display of Korean architecture.
If you are not a big fan of history or architecture, you will still enjoy the beautiful, colorful buildings that make great photos.
10 – Play with cats at a cat cafe
Yes, this is not a joke. Seoul, like many other cities in Asia, has cat cafes.
Most of these cafes require that you order one drink, usually coffee or tea. Your purchase allows you to stay for as long as you wish while you play with an assortment of furry kittens and fat cats who love attention.
You can also find dog cafes in Seoul if cats aren’t your thing. If you don’t like pets, you can find a pet-free Starbucks.
11 – Take a day trip to the DMZ
No trip to South Korea is complete without experiencing a trip to the DMZ. The DMZ is a heavily fortified buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea.
It is here where both countries stand face to face, technically still at war.
If you want to visit the DMZ, you must book a tour. I recommend the USO tour. The tour includes the Joint Security Area Visitor Center, 3rd Infiltration tunnel, Bridge of No Return, DMZ Pavilion, Dorasan Station, and Panmunjom.
Panmunjom is often used to describe the border where both countries face each other. Here, discussions and meetings occur inside blue buildings that straddle the buffer zone. On the tour, you can enter one of the blue buildings.
12 – Walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cutting through the heart of Seoul is Cheonggyecheon Stream.
During the Joseon Dynasty, a natural stream flowed here. During the 20th century, government officials converted the area into an elevated highway. In 2003, the city restored the stream.
Today, walking paths border the stream, which runs 7 miles through the heart of downtown Seoul. It’s a great place to stroll while walking past many tourist attractions.
Going for a walk along the Cheonggyecheon Stream is a great way to escape into a little slice of nature from the concrete jungle of the crowded city.
13 – Stay overnight at Buddhist temple
Many temples in Seoul offer Templestay programs, which allow anyone to stay overnight in the temple while spending the days learning about traditional temple life.
These programs aim to help the public and foreigners better understand Korean Buddhism.
A typical Templestay program allows visitors to participate in ceremonial services, Zen meditation, a monastic meal, tea ceremonies with monks, painting, folk games, crafts, and hiking.
A few of the temples in Seoul that offer the Templestay program are Myogaksa Temple, Geumseonsa Temple, and Bongeunsa Temple. Rates vary from around 50,000 to 70,000 won per person.
14 – Eat the freshest seafood at the Noryangjin Fish Market
If you want the freshest seafood in Seoul, go to the Noryangjin Fish Market.
Over 700 vendors sell all sorts of seafood 24 hours a day. If it swims in the ocean, you will find it here.
The best time to visit is early morning, around 5:00 AM, when wholesalers try to score the freshest seafood and the best prices during their morning auctions.
If you purchase seafood from one of the vendors, you can take it to a nearby restaurant, where workers will prepare and cook your food for you for a small fee.
15 – Be awed by panoramic views of Seoul from the N Seoul Tower
The N Seoul Tower is one of the most iconic sights in Seoul.
For a 360-degree view of Seoul, head up to the observation deck of the 777-foot building. From here, visitors can enjoy a fantastic view of downtown Seoul. To the north, they can see the granite mountain peaks of Bukhansan National Park. To the south, the Han River and Gangnam stretch into the distance.
The cable car is the best way to reach the N Seoul Tower. The cable car leaves from a station near Myeongdong Station and climbs 1,984 feet to the tower’s base at Namsan Park.
16 – Sing until the early hours at a noraebang
There are thousands of noraebang, meaning karaoke or singing rooms, all across Seoul. Originating in Japan, karaoke is now considered more popular in Korea.
Noraebangs are popular with young people and work colleagues. They come to relieve stress while drinking a few bottles of sochu and singing their hearts out to popular English and Korean songs.
If you visit a noraebang in Asia with friends, you will get a private room, which makes for a fun experience without embarrassing yourself in front of strangers.
Noraebangs cost about 12,000 won per hour.
Last Updated on February 18, 2025
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