Alright! We’re here, we’re vibing! And this blog is long… so let’s just jump right into it!

My husband and I visited Seoul in late March to early April of 2026, where the weather was around mid to high 60^o F. There were a few rainy days, but nothing a good raincoat couldn’t handle. The evenings were definitely colder, usually around high 40s and low 50s, so I suggest packing a light long sleeves with a sweater or jacket.

Our intention was to also do a day trip to Busan, which is about 3 hours away via a high speed train, however we never booked our tickets due to extreme jet lag. I guess that’s what happens as you get older…**sighs**

How to get to Seoul

We landed in Incheon International Airport (ICN), which is about 45 mins from Seoul. To get to the capital of South Korea from ICN, you can either ride the limousine bus, the AREX train, or get a taxi. If you choose to catch a ride on the limousine bus, you’ll have to purchase a ticket on the first floor of ICN. This option offers many departure times and several hotel stops. We ultimately did not go with this choice since it did not stop at our hotel and we weren’t sure how far the walk would be from the nearest stop. I mean, yes, we could have easily looked that up at the airport, but sometimes you just want to get out of there and start your trip from a long travel day. Anyone else feels this way? Or just me?

The AREX train is a great option, and offers two routes. One route is the “All Stops,” which is exactly what it means, it stops at all 14 stations on the away to Seoul station. The other option is the “Express” train that takes you directly to Seoul station with no stops in between. We took the Express train on our way back to the airport and really regretted not taking it on the way into the city. That’s because when we arrived to the ticketing Kiosk on the basement floor, the next outbound train was sold out, with the following train coming in 45 mins. TIP: If you’re sure of your arrival time, you can book a ticket with the Express train in advance online.

With the overwhelming options, we decided to take a taxi to our hotel; which cost way more and probably took just as long to get to the hotel with traffic compared to if we would have waited for the next Express AREX train. (**sighs** You live and you learn.) In South Korea, you can book a taxi using your Uber app. I read in other blogs that it may be hard to hail a taxi, so we used the app to be sure to secure one. TIP: If you’re trying to hail a taxi, be aware that if it’s displaying a red light, that means it is available. If the taxi is showing a green light, it means it is currently occupied.

Getting around Seoul

Before making it Seoul, I highly recommend downloading the KakaoMap or NAVER Maps app onto your phone. Google maps does not work in Korea, so these apps are essential to getting around the city. We mainly used the KakaoMap as it was really user friendly and even provided the arrival times of the buses and trains. We really liked that the location marker was accurate so you know exactly which direction to go to; you know, instead of walking around in a circle until Google maps catches on. TIP: If you’re using this app, you may not be able to find your destination by typing in the English name. If this happens to you, try searching the English name into the Google search bar, which should then populate the name in Korean. From there you can copy the Korean name into the search bar in the KakaoMap app and it should find it from there.

Yay! So now you’ve made it into the city. From here, you can use their public transit, which is super reliable and clean. (Maybe because there’s no trash cans around the city.) We found ourselves walking and taking the bus the majority of our time there, since most of the neighborhoods we were visiting were close to each other. To take the public transit, I recommend purchasing a T-money card. The T-money card allows you to take the train and buses all around the country. However, it does not include the AREX train or the high speed trains, so these would have to be purchased separately. You can get this card at the airport, which may be more expensive compared to getting one at a local convenience store. We purchased ours at a 7-eleven for 1,500 won and loaded 50,000 won onto each card. We used a majority of the money on our cards, but still had about 10,000 won left on it at the end of our trip. So, I would say 30,000-40,000 won would be enough for a week long trip. Keep in mind that the only way to reload the T-money card is through cash. There is an app that allows you to use it in your digital wallet and reload electronically, but this option is currently only available if you have a Korean bank card. TIP: If you have money left over on the T-money card, you can bring the card to the convenience store and ask for your money back or use the card at the convenience stores to purchase any item. Like their banana milk! It’s delicious and I’m sure I have an addiction to it now.

Where to stay

We stayed in Myeongdong, which is definitely a tourist area, but I mean… isn’t that what we are? It was a great central point, only about 15 mins to the main attractions around the city and still had so much to do there.

We booked our room at the Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Myeongdong Hotel and highly recommend it. It’s close to the bus stops and train station which is a plus when you’re tired from a whole day of walking and just want to get back and relax. This hotel was also super close the Myeongdong shopping street/night market via an 8 min walk. But don’t worry, it’s still far enough that the lights and crowds won’t be an issue. It’s like it’s not even there.

Day 1– Namdaemun Market, National Museum of Korea, & War Memorial of Korea

As mentioned earlier, my husband and I had really bad jet lag. On our first full day in the city, we both were wide awake at 3 am and like most places, the restaurants and stores did not open until later. Thankfully we did not have to wait much longer to get something to eat because Yeji Sikdang opened at 5:30am. It was a little hard to find since it’s located in a narrow alleyway behind a Two Two Chicken place. Yeji Sikdang serves about 6 tables with local cuisines and banchan (small, shared side dishes) by a husband and wife duo. We ended up ordering the Korean Pancake, Ox Bone soup, Hot Stone Bibimbap, and Chicken Congee. You should have seen our table, we had to push together 2 tables to fit all our food and the banchan. And you know what? No regrets. Everything we had was delicious and made to order. The Korean Pancakes were crispy but a little dense and was filled with squid and green onions. Definitely something that needs to be shared. The Ox Bone Soup came out bubbling hot. I thought the soup was flavorful and enjoyed the noodles in it; it was somehow very light and creamy at the same time. The Hot Stone Bibimbap was probably my husband’s favorite. Served with a fresh egg, rice, and vegetables, it was recommended to mix it all together before eating. And lastly the chicken congee was my favorite dish. It was warm and hearty, with each bite reminding me of my childhood. I highly recommend checking this place out! Great meals, excellent service, and locally owned!

After filling our bellies, we made our way to Namdaemun Market, the largest and oldest market in Korea. It was still pretty early when we arrived, as the market usually starts opening up around 9 am. Keep in mind that Namdaemun Market is closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly. By night time, the shopping market turns into a food night market. Stop by one of their speciality alley to get what it’s known for. The Hairtail Alley is famous for braised/grilled Hairtail, while Kalguksu Alley is known for Kalguksu (Korean knife-cut noodle soup).

Our next stop is to the National Museum of Korea, to view some of Korea’s art pieces (12,000 pieces to be precise) and to learn about Korea’s history. This museum offers free entry, except for special exhibitions, and free tours. Of course we joined the English tour to view the highlights of the museum, such as the Ten-Story Stone Pagada of Gyeongcheonsa Temple, Silla Gold Crown & Jewelry, and Pensive Bodhisattvas, to name a few. It’s a really cool museum if you enjoy looking at art works and artifacts!

Let’s dive into Korea’s history at the War Memorial of Korea. It’s also free entry and even offers a free English tour at 10am and 2pm. Please, if you only have time for one tour, it would be this one. My husband and I absolutely loved this tour. I believe the tour was supposed to be one hour but ended up lasting for a little over two. We were so immersed in the history and the story telling provided by our tour guide, that we didn’t even notice the time. Our guide did a great job explaining Korea’s history and the struggles that the country has faced over the last few decades, while incorporating his own and his family’s stories along the way. After the tour, walk outside to view their open air exhibition, where you can climb and view war tanks and planes. It was definitely an eye-opening experience and a must do on your trip.

After two back to back tours, it’s time to get something to eat. We stopped by 이태리국시 한남 (ITALYGUKSI HANNAM), an Italian and Korean fusion restaurant. We tried their short rib creamy pasta and the quarter leg chicken risotto. It was an interesting mix of food, I liked it but felt that it was missing the wow factor. However, I will say that my expectations may have been too high after seeing the online reviews. I would give this place an 8/10.

Day 2– Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, & Gwangjang Market

Alright, it’s day two! We are still waking up earlier than intended but that’s okay because we can beat the crowd to Cafe Onion Anguk. It’s a Hanok-style bakery and cafe, where all the food is laid out and you get to pick the ones you want onto your tray. The location is 10/10 on a cuteness scale and I definitely see why it gets busy. However, I did read mixed reviews about Cafe Onion, and after going there twice I can definitely see why. On our first visit, we arrived 30 mins after opening. The pastries were super fresh (like they were still bringing out batches as we were in line, kind of fresh) and the coffee was made with precision and care. We tried their famous powdered sugar topped pandoro and the fresh strawberry in a custard croissant (definitely my favorite), along with some other food items that caught our eyes. We overall enjoyed what we chose. Our coffees were also smooth and tasty that we thought to ourselves, we want to come back! A few days later, we did, but this time we arrived around 11:30-12pm and there was the crowd. We waited about 15-20 mins to get our pastries and order our coffee before sitting outside. This time, the pastries were underwhelming and the coffee was not drinkable, possibly due to the rush. It was a complete 180^O experience from the first time. So my suggestion, if you want to go to Cafe Onion, go early!

Starting the day off strong, we’re going to do one of the top things to do in Korea, visiting the five grand palaces. Each palace has so much history behind it, each showcasing a different era that can be seen through the architecture. As you learn more about the palaces, you will discover that each location were used differently depending on who ruled during that specific time period. To learn about the history of each palace and the structure of the buildings, I highly recommend joining a tour. The palaces offers free guided tours with various languages, so be sure to check their website to find the specific times. I found that the tours were way more informative than wondering around and reading the signs; the guides provided more in-depth details that otherwise would have been missed. Keep in mind that the free tour group does get pretty large, well the English one does anyways. However, we did not have an issue with it at all, but maybe that’s because we always made our way to the front to ensure that we can hear everything. There are also guided tours that you can book through a third party that allows for a more private session if that’s more your pace.

TIP: Another thing to note is that you can dress in a Hanbok outfit (traditional Korean clothes) for free entry to all the palaces, in fact it’s even encouraged. Stop by one of the many rental shops near the palaces and don’t forget to get your picture taken!

We visited three of the five palaces during our trip, starting at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest palace. (Did I mention it was a palace?…kidding!) Anyways, this place was huge! My husband and I spent an hour wondering on our own before catching the English tour at 11 am, and even with that time only explored about a quarter of the landscape. At the time of our visit, we were able to enter the King’s library, as it was open to the public for a short period of time. All other buildings could only be viewed from the outside and through the windows. It was a great opportunity to get a closer look at the interior architecture and imagine what life would have been like centuries ago. We also arrived early to try to beat the crowds and watch the reenactment of the changing of the guard ceremony. This ceremony is located by the front gates and takes place at 10am and 2pm. TIP: Once you’ve enter the palace, you cannot re-enter; so if you’re trying to catch the ceremony, do that before scanning your ticket at the entrance. We ended up watching the ceremony at the entry gate, since we entered before the ceremony started. I found that the changing of the guard was a unique experience, but not necessary if you can’t make it in time to watch.

After exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace, head on over to the National Folk Museum of Korea SEOUL. It’s located right outside of the palace and is free to enter. They also offer free English tours on Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 10:30am and 2:30pm and on Thursday and Sunday at 10:30am. Again, I highly recommend going on a guided tour, we ended up with a private tour since no one else showed up. It was super informative and interesting to be able to learn about Korean culture and traditions and even how traditions have evolved throughout the years.

Don’t forget to stop by the Street of Memory, right next to the National Folk Museum. It’s a life size replica of what a neighborhood would have looked like in the ’70s and ’80s in Korea. Super cool to check out!

Visit Bukchon Hanok Village, a neighborhood with preserved Hanok homes. It is only a 20 mins walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace and has so many shops, restaurants, and teahouses along the way. Keep in mind that it is an actual residential area, so visiting hours are limited to Monday to Saturday from 10am-5pm. Try to go early because the main alleyway does get really crowded and I can definitely understand why they have those limited hours.

The night is still young and it’s time to get something to eat. Head on over to Gwangjang Market. During the day, you can shop for almost anything here: comforters, clothes, toys, etc. By night time, it turns into a lively food market. Opened Monday to Saturday, this market runs in so many directions and has so many stalls, many of which sell the same items. To cut our confusion and overwhelming choices, we decided to book a Gwangjang Market food tour. Our tour guide took us to the most popular spots and to his favorite stalls. He even ordered for the whole group and talked about the market and the background of the stall owners. At first my husband and I were hesitant about booking a food tour because we cannot eat pork or consume alcohol, but we were so happy to find that the tour was very accommodating. We had a great time getting to know the people in our group and trying traditional Korean food and snacks, like knife-cut noodles, mungbean pancakes, and live octopus! Our favorites were the kimbap, spicy rice cakes, and the twisted donuts. We liked it so much, we went back another night on our own to get some more! This was probably my favorite activity that we did on our trip and I highly recommend booking yourself a food tour!

Day 3 – More Palaces, Ikseon-dong, Seongsu-dong, & Gangum

The following morning, we started our day with some scones and coffee at Cafe Layered. It’s a picturesque cafe offering different flavored scones and cakes to try. We had their Spring Onion Cream Cheese scone and the Earl Grey scone, which was our favorite. It’s a nice and quick bite to eat to start your day, however I do recommend going early since it gets busy throughout the day. We went an hour after opening and within 30 mins the cafe was full.

After our breakfast, we continued on to the Changdeokgung Palace. This UNESCO World Heritage site also offers free guided tours, but this time we opted for the audio tour instead. If you do the same, I suggest bringing your own headphones and making sure you have internet on your phone since that’s where it will be playing from. Changdeokgung Palace was built as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung Palace. Most buildings here were lost and have now been restored. It was also the palace that the last descendants of the throne had lived in. A large part of the Changdeokgung Palace is the Secret Garden, where you can view pavilions, ponds, and beautiful greenery. However, a timed ticket is needed to enter the garden. To purchase a ticket, you can go early to the ticketing office and see if there are any available time slots left. Or you can purchase it online at 10 am local time, 6 days in advance. We purchased ours online using this link, that allowed us to enter an email instead of a Korean phone number. TIP: Be sure to create an account before hand because the tickets sells out pretty quickly and you’ll only have a few minutes to complete your transaction. Keep in mind that the Secret Garden ticket requires a separate entry ticket from the entry ticket to the Changdeokgung Palace.

Literally right next to Changdeokgung Palace is Changgyeonggung Palace, which also requires a separate ticket to enter. Changgyeonggung Palace was originally built for the preceding king’s wives but was later turned into a zoo and garden during Japan’s ruling. However in 1987, the palace was restored back and still has the oldest surviving main hall. My husband and I walked through this one quickly; it was much smaller than the first two palaces that we visited and at this point we were “palace-ed out.” If you are interested and have time, you can visit the other two palaces, Jongmyo Shrine and Deoksugung Palace. Jongmyo Shrine is another World Heritage site and has the oldest preserved Confucian royal shrines. Deoksugung Palace was used as a temporary palace, when Japan burned all the other palaces down during their raids.

You’re probably hungry by now so let’s stop by Ikseon-dong neighborhood for some food and drinks. Ikseon-dong was one of my favorite spots to visit in Seoul, so much so, we returned back for the next 2 days. This neighborhood is filled with narrow alleyways that are lined with traditional hanoks that have been transformed into cafes, restaurants, and shops. Here is where you’ll find all those viral cafes you’ve seen online, and it looks just like how you would have imagined. We stopped by Nakwon station cafe, which is known for their rotating desserts belt and the train tracks in the front of the cafe. We tried their Peanut Cream latte, which was like a regular latte with a hint of peanut in it and some graham cracker topping. It was a decent latte but not a must try for me.

One of the main reasons we kept returning to Ikseon-dong was for Jayeondo Sogeumppang (Salt Bread) & Jayeondoga and anyone that knows me, knows that I LOVE BREAD. Salt Bread has become popular recently in Korea and I can definitely see why. This roll was both buttery and flakey, yet pillowy soft. The best way I could describe this delicious treat is if a croissant and a dinner roll had a baby. Seriously, it was so good, we went back the day before our flight to bring back an order for us to snack on during our travels. TIP: Visit Jayeondo Sogeumppang (Salt Bread) & Jayeondoga when they just finished baking a fresh batch at 9am, 12:30pm, 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm and 6:30pm. Be aware that the salt bread is only sold as a set of four, but maybe that won’t be enough. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you’re ready for an actual meal, stop by Jongsamyook, an outdoor Korean BBQ restaurant. My husband and I found this place to be authentic, especially being the only foreigners dining at the time. Personally, I find that that’s the best way to know if you’re in the right spot. You can choose different cuts of meats, rice, and soups from the menu and go to the self serve bar for lettuce, garlic, kimchi, sauce, etc. We thought the food was great and would definitely recommend stopping by if you’re looking for an authentic BBQ experience.

With a stuffed belly, we decided to hop on the train to Seongsu-dong to visit the cherry blossom trees at Seoul Forest park. We were so happy to know that we made it in time to see the fully blossomed trees. The park was so beautiful and not like anything I’ve ever seen. The cherry blossom trees lined the walkway and created a nice shade as it arched above you. Truly a breathtaking view and experience. Eventually the walking trail will also lead you to the Deer Coral, where you can observe and feed the deers. It was a very leisure walk with a beautiful view. If you make it in time for cherry blossom season, I highly recommend going to the park. Seongsu-dong is also known as the “Brooklyn of Seoul” and is the place to shop! You can find local boutiques, galleries, and pop-up shops in the area. It is also home to the largest Olive Young store, with a 5-story building offering free scalp and face analysis (if you’re able to secure a spot early). What’s Olive Young? Just a huge retail store selling the best Korean skincare and haircare products on the market.

Before heading back to the hotel, we took the train to Gangum. Yes, the same Gangum as the once popular “Ganum Style” song. This area is definitely more of a luxury area that offers high end shopping. We just stopped by to take a look at the infamous Starfield Library which is located in the COEX mall, the largest underground mall in Asia. Starfield Library was pretty with its floor to ceiling bookshelves but was surprisingly smaller than expected. I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit Starfield Library, it was cool to see but that was basically all we did. We only stayed for about 5 mins before heading out, so definitely not a must visit in my opinion.

Day 4– Day tour of DMZ & Myeongdong

Starting the day bright and early, we headed out to our meet up spot for our DMZ Day-Tour from Seoul (Exclusive JSA Museum Option). TIP: Don’t forget to stop by a convenience store to pick up some snacks for your day. The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is the buffer area that connects North and South Korea. With a ceasefire zone in agreement, civilians are able to visit and learn about the area, the military, and even take a glimpse into North Korea. The only way to visit the DMZ is through a guided tour and since you are entering a military area, you will have to bring your passport.

We booked a full day tour, from 7am to 4:30pm that took us to the Gamaksan Chulleong Bridge, DMZ, Imjingak Pyeonghoa-Nuri Park, Bridge of Freedom, Unification Bridge, The Third Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Tongilchon-gil, and JSA Museum. We lucked out with our tour guide, Alex, who took the time to strategically plan our day to avoid the crowds and answered all of our questions along the way.

The tour does not normally start at the Gamaksan Chulleong Bridge (the red suspension bridge) but our tour guide learned that on the day we were visiting, it would be opened an hour before normal operating hours. So with our first stop, there were no other tour groups around; we basically got the time and space to explore the bridge and take our pictures. Our stop to Tongilchon-gil, also known as the Unification Village, was also where you can stop to get lunch and buy snacks and beauty creams; all of which are pollutant free and organic. My husband and I also walked through The Third Tunnel, one of four tunnels dug by North Korea to try to invade Seoul. This tunnel requires a hard hat to enter because of the short height (even I hit my head a few times in there). It is also very steep, so it does take some endurance to walk on a straight incline to get out of it. It’s not required for you to visit the tunnel, but we were glad that we did it at the end. You won’t find any photos of the tunnel or the DMZ area since photos are prohibited. Our tour also included the JSA Museum, where you can hear recordings from different leaders during the Korean War. I found that it was very solemn to listen to the recordings but I also understand the importance of it. A common theme that we found ourselves hearing on this tour and our tour at the War Memorial of Korea was “Freedom is not free”; really enforcing the dark times of war and what civilians during this time had to endure. The JSA Museum is also where the boarders connect, you can stand with a foot on each side of the line and say that you’ve been in two places at once.

This was a super cool and informative tour and I highly recommend booking one for your trip! We weren’t sure what to expect when we booked it, but my husband and I were really glad that we did. It was probably one of the top things that we enjoyed doing in Korea.

Myeongdong

Once we returned back to our meeting point in Myeongdong, my husband and I went to Myeongdong Kyoja Main Restaurant to get something to eat. This Michelin Guide recommended restaurant only offers 4 items on their menu. We tried their Chopped Noodles (without the pork dumplings) and the Spicy Noodles. The Chopped Noodles was served warm in a chicken based broth, while the Spicy Noodles was served cold and reminded me a lot like kimchi. This restaurant had no frills and was straight to the point, with a high table turn-over rate so that the wait was not very long. It was an overall good experience that met our expectations of a place that has perfected a limited menu.

For the rest of the evening, we decided to explore Myeongdong, a very lively district with a lot of shopping! Pop by the Adidas flagship store or a charms store to create your own pens, nails, or fidget keyboard keychain. If you’re there long enough, the streets becomes a large night food market around 5pm. My husband and I really enjoyed wondering through the alleys and stopping by the stalls to see what local street foods they had to offer. In the end, we tried a fish stick skewer served in a hot broth, which I found to be very filling and cheese skewers which was our favorite thing that we tried all night. We also tried egg bread, baked sweet potatoes, pomegranate juice, steak skewers, tanghulu and Bungeoppang (a fish shaped dessert with sweet filling). Definitely a must if you are a foodie!

Day 5 – Insadong, Ikseon-dong, & Lotte World

Day 5 of our trip was definitely our shopping day. So, we started our shopping spree at Olive Young, Korea’s largest beauty store. My main goal here was to purchase some haircare products, moisturizers, and a handful of makeup. Along the way, I also purchased some skincare face masks, facial tools, and hair products for my family and friends. It can be really overwhelming in the store with everything they have to offer, but they try to make it easy by posting signs next to the best sellers. I really recommend doing your research before walking in to the beauty store. It’s so easy to get carried away or confused about the products there. If you forgot to grab something on your list, don’t worry, there was basically an Olive Young in every corner. TIP: Try to visit this store towards the end of your day so that you don’t have to carry it around with you all day. Trust me, you’ll end up with more products than you expected. We made a pit stop back to our hotel to drop off our purchases since it was so much to carry.

Our next shopping spot is to Insadong, by far our favorite place to shop during our trip. Insadong is known for their traditional art galleries, antique shops, tea houses, calligraphy stores, ceramics, and hanji (traditional Korean paper). Don’t forget to stop by Ssamziegil, a landmark on Insadong Cultural Street and a 4 story building filled with specialized shops. We had a great time wondering in the street and taking a look into each speciality shop. We ended up going to Stamp & Study to get customized stamps for ourselves and our loved ones. Another great spot is Acorn Caricature, to get your picture drawn. It only takes 5 mins to do and you can get a cute cartoon portrait of yourself or pet. They even draw from photos! We really enjoyed this neighborhood and even visited it again the next day to pick up some last minute pieces to take home.

Insadong is only a few minutes walk from Ikseon-dong Neighborhood. We also stopped by here to get more salt bread and even tried another salt bread bakery, Soha Salt Pond Ikseon-dong. It was good but we definitely liked Jayeondo Sogeumppang (Salt Bread) & Jayeondoga more.

All that shopping built up our appetite, so we decided to get an early dinner at Mokmyeoksanbang, another Michelin recommended restaurant. Since we were having an early meal, we did not have to wait for a table at Mokmyeoksanbang, however as it got closer to a more common dinner time, the line was out the door when we left. So if this is a place you want to try, I recommend going early. Mokmyeoksanbang is known for their deconstructed bibimbap; they serve each ingredient separately on your tray and you can basically create your own bowl. We tried their Sanbang bibimbap and the chicken, poached egg, and soy sauce bibimbap with an Acron Jelly with Vegetable mix. Overall I thought the food was just okay, I definitely don’t think that it would have been worth the wait if we didn’t go early.

Our last stop of the day was to Lotte World Tower to see the cherry blossoms. We were hoping to catch the pink lanterns that illuminates the trees, but for some reason it was not lit up the night we attended. Nonetheless, the walking trail was still very scenic. We even got to see Lotte World (a theme park) and watched the people paddle in a half-moon boat along the pond. After our walk, we stopped by Lotte World Mall before they closed to window shop. I would guess you could have spent at least half a day in this area if you were interested in the theme park and the mall.

Day 6 – Hongdae & Last Minute Stops

It’s already our last day in Seoul, I know, time flies when you’re having fun. On this day, my husband and I took it very leisurely and took this opportunity to revisit some neighborhoods that we enjoyed as well as finally getting to visit Hongdae. This neighborhood is mostly occupied by college students, since it is located near Hongik University, and is known for it’s nightlife, shops, and street performances. (Are we too old to be here?) We started our day at 943 King’s Cross, a wizard themed cafe. My husband is a huge Harry Potter fan, although this cafe does not out right say that it is modeled after the books, it had many similarities to it. Something we definitely did not expect was an entry fee into the cafe. (Whoops, that was my bad for not researching it further.) This cafe charges a fee (which includes a drink) to sit in their cafe but it also tries to make it interactive by giving you a map to do a scavenger hunt. They had cute displays that made you feel as if you’re in the wizard world and even had some illusions that felt like magic in the rooms. It’s a very cute activity for kids but we did not have the brainpower to unravel the riddles at 9 am. The drinks and desserts were just okay, it’s definitely leaned more towards the experience than the food. You can totally skip this cafe, it’s not really a must visit in my and my husband’s opinion.

After our short time at the wizard cafe, we decided to wonder the streets of Hongdae. We walked past several cafes, restaurants, and street vendors selling snacks. There were also many shops to stop by in selling clothes, souvenirs, stuffies, and pretty much everything in between. For lunch we stopped by at Jangin Dakgalbi Hongdae, which is known for their stir-fried chicken in a cast-iron skillet with loads of cheese on top. My husband and I just stumbled upon this place as we were exploring the area. It had a long line outside and we figured why not? Thankfully, the line went by quickly and we ordered our dish with the set toppings that included mozzarella cheese, rice cakes, and ramen. This dish was huge and came out sizzling! There’s even a heater at your table to keep your dish hot! After you finish your meal, you can even order rice to dump into the skillet to pick up all the extra sauce. We were too stuffed to even do that portion of our meal but we still really enjoyed it. TIP: If the utensils are not already set at your table, check under the table to see if there are any drawers. If you find a pull out drawer, that’s where all the chopsticks, spoons, and napkins are usually kept.

After our time in Hongdae, we took the train back to Insadong to visit Museum Kimchikan. We got to learn about the makings of kimchi and all the different types that can be made. There’s even a tasting room to try the various vegetables that can be used to make this dish. Museum Kimchikan also offers a cooking class that teaches you how to make kimchi if that’s something that interests you! The museum was smaller than expected but did offer a free audio tour. However, we expected the museum to discuss the history and the influence of kimchi to Korea, but it really was all about the making of kimchi. Definitely cool to check out but not something to go out your way for.

Only about a 10 mins walk from Insadong, we stopped by Jogyesa Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Korea that’s known for the colorful rainbow lanterns. The bright lanterns were so beautiful to see and I believe you can purchase a lantern with your written wish to be hung among the others. We even got to peep inside the temple to see the large Buddha statues; just be sure to be respectful of the area as it is still a place that people go to pray.

We, of course, made our way back to Ikseon-dong to get some last minute treats for ourselves, including some Tteok, a sweet rice cake, from Butter Haus. And man, were those things tasty. They were sweet, chewy, and flavorful; we really enjoyed the chocolate and macadamia ones. Keep in mind that it is only sold in a set of five, but trust me, you’ll end up eating all of them in one sitting. Afterwards, we continued to wonder around this neighborhood, even stopping by a claw machine store for some light hearted fun.

Once the day was ending, we returned back to Myeongdong for dinner. We stumbled upon Myeongdong Korean BBQ Mongvely, an all you can eat Korean BBQ, which was the perfect way to end our last day in Seoul. The food was great and they offered many sides and different cuts of meat to choose from. We had a great experience and would recommend this place if you’re in the area.

Overall View

Seoul has a special place in my soul. It was a good mix of adventure and leisure for me and my husband and we really enjoyed learning about the history of Korea and their people. My favorite parts were definitely all the tours that we went to, as this was more informative then doing your own self-guided tour. Something that I did not mention earlier but should warn you about is that almost everything you eat in Korea is sweet. And I mean everything. Other than that, I would say that they have a lot of street foods that were really enjoyable! Don’t forget to try Korean Fried Chicken!

Well, that was a lot! Thanks for staying along for the ride! I can’t wait to see you on our next adventure together.

As always, thanks for being here!

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