Seoul Bucket List: 5 Things You Need to Experience

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Seoul Bucket List: 5 Things You Need to Experience

Seoul is one of the biggest cities in the world and one of the best places you will ever visit in Asia. It’s a beautiful melting pot of culture, art, history, shopping, and dining. The capital city of South Korea is best known for its impressive skyscrapers, high-tech subways, breathtaking palaces, and vibrant pop culture. You won’t run out of anything to do, but here’s a list of five things you shouldn’t pass up:

Climb up the iconic Seoul Tower

It’s located right in the heart of Seoul on Namsan Mountain and marks the highest point in the city. Visitors can either hike up the stairs or take a cable car to the base of the tower. On your way up, don’t forget to stop by the locks of love located in the tower’s courtyard. They also have locks for sale at the gift shop if you didn’t bring your own.

Read at Cheongun Literature Library

This is one of the most beautiful museums in South Korea. It’s included in the Lonely Planet’s list of 30 free things to do in Korea, and it is a book lover’s dream. The Cheongun Literature Library is at the foot of Mt. Inwang. The lower level is dedicated to a large collection of books, while the second level is where the reading rooms are. Bibliophiles will never want to leave the library’s reading rooms.

Stroll around Bukchon Hanok Village

If you’re in the mood for something historical and cultural, head to the Bukchon Hanok Village. Here you will see traditional Korean homes (hanoks), all reminiscent of the 600-year-old urban scene during the Joseon-dynasty Korea. Some of the hanoks also double as cultural centers, restaurants, and even guesthouses.

Take a ferry ride to Nami Island

This small, half-moon shaped island in Chuncheon is only a few hours outside the city center. We’ve been to Nami Island and found the forest “breathtaking”. There are also several museums and galleries along with plenty of wildlife that will keep you entertained for an entire day. The island is also known for its beautiful tree-lined roads that will take your breath away.

Eat street food in Myeongdong

They say the best way to experience a new place is by eating the food local’s love. In Seoul, that is an understatement. Buzzfeed lists all the delicious street food you need to get your hands on the moment you land in Seoul. There’s fried milk, egg bread, cheese vegetable donut, boiled fish paste, dumplings, cheese buttered baked scallops and many more. Staying in and eating room service is one of the biggest mistakes you could ever make visiting this city.

While the above attractions are all must-sees, and we highly recommend that you see them, they are the same experience most travelers will have when they come to Seoul.

If you want to try something out of the ordinary take the time to learn some of the language before you visit. Even if you only know a few key phrases, this will transform your experience, and you will be able to visit teahouses and coffee shops, and chat with the locals. Lottoland believe that learning another language should part of any traveler’s bucket list, and if you want an experience that 99.9% of visitors will miss, learning some Korean will open up many doors. You will likely make some new friends who can show you the city from a local’s perspective. Next time you come and visit, you can enjoy less touristy stuff and more cultural learning.

One Comment Add yours

  1. peter says:

    Great article about a place that I had never even thought about visiting. Interesting to hear about the situation there and amazing that you went the length to get the true story about what it’s like.

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