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Seoul

Fashion- and technology-forward but also deeply traditional, this dynamic city mashes up palaces, temples, cutting-edge design and mountain trails, all to a nonstop K-Pop beat.

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Best Time to Visit

Best Things to Do

Start planning your trip

Best Time to Visit

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Gyeongbokgung
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Like a phoenix, Seoul’s premier palace has risen several times from the ashes of destruction. Hordes of tourists have replaced the thousands of government…
Changdeokgung
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The World Heritage–listed Changdeokgung is the most beautiful of Seoul's five main palaces. You must join a one-hour guided tour to look around. English…
Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Amid the celebrity-owned apartments on the leafy southern slope of Namsan is Korea's premier art gallery. Beautifully designed and laid-out, it balances…
Deoksugung
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
One of Seoul's five grand palaces built during the Joseon dynasty, Deoksugung (meaning Palace of Virtuous Longevity) is the only one you can visit in the…
National Museum of Korea
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
This vast and imposing concrete slab of a museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through Korea's past from prehistory all the way to the Korean…
War Memorial of Korea
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
This huge museum documents the history of the Korean War (1950–53) using multimedia exhibits and black-and-white documentary footage, along with artefacts…
Bongeun-sa
Gangnam & Southern Seoul
Located in the heart of ritzy Gangnam, the shrines and halls of the Buddhist temple Bongeun-sa, with its tree-filled hillside location, stand in direct…
Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, this neofuturistic cultural complex was commissioned to replace the Dongdaemun Stadium, built during Japanese rule in the…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Things to Know

If you’re planning a trip to Seoul, follow these solid tips to guide you through everything you need to know, from etiquette to transportation.

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Best Neighborhoods

Get to know exciting Seoul by exploring the Korean capital’s neighborhoods, from happening hotspots to quiet backstreets.

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Day Trips

Once you've experienced the dynamic city of Seoul, it's time to delve deeper into South Korea's history and culture on these top day trips from the capital.

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Money and Costs

Follow these easy and practical tips to stretch your budget in Seoul, South Korea’s famously exciting (and famously expensive) capital.

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Transportation

Here’s everything you need to know to navigate South Korea's capital, from tips for using the Seoul Metro and buses to advice on transport passes.

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Free Things to Do

Visiting Seoul on a budget? See the best of this expensive city on free trips to temples, parks and viewpoints. Here are the top free thing to do in Seoul.

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