Are you traveling to Seoul and want to visit the city center but aren’t sure where to start?well, then you are in the right place, because today I will tell you about one of the most interesting places in the city center, where you can walk among the nature and enjoy the view.
The Cheonggyecheon (청계천) is located in the center of Seoul, to be precise in the Jongno-gu (종로) district and is 10.9km long. This area officially opened in 2005.
Cheonggyecheon was initially called Gaecheon (개천) during the Joseon (조선) period.After the Korean War, there was a strong migration to Seoul and people began to live on the river side, but unfortunately the living conditions were not the best, so they decided to build a highway which however was immediately torn down to give the river a second chance.
Cheonggyecheon (청계천) during winter
During autumn season, near Dongdaemun
How to get there?
Easy, just take the subway line 1(the blue one) and get off at City Hall Station (시청역) or Jonggak Station (종각역) or Jongno 3ga (종로3가역) and then from there you can walk to the river.
Why go there?
Well first of all it’s a one of a kind place, the wonderful thing is that you can walk along the river from City Hall to Dongdaemun(about 45 minutes walk) so you can enjoy the view. Also, along the river you can find a large amount of cafes and restaurants of all kinds. A simple place but that offers a lot. The best thing is that, whatever the season, there will always be something to do or see: events of all kinds, Christmas decorations, markets, etc…
Walking by the river in autumn
Cheonggyecheon by night
I recommend stopping there in the evening too, as you can see the beautiful lights under the bridge (in the City Hall area). This place is for everyone, you can go with your family, with friends, with your other half and why not… even alone?
Christmas decorations in Cheonggyecheon (City Hall area)
I am sure that one of the things we like most is shopping and immersing ourselves in the social life of the country we are visiting, which is why I will draw up a small list of the most famous and popular shopping streets in Seoul, where you can spend your days between make up and clothes shops.
HONGDAE (홍대)
If you are a lover of South Korea you will surely have heard of the famous Hongdae in Seoul. Hongdae is a very popular area because of the nightlife, in fact it is populated by clubs, bars, restaurants and cafes. But not only this, Hongdae is famous for its street fashion, in fact you can find the most fashionable shops in the area. This area offers different activities, both during the day and in the evening. It is also possible to stop for a moment and enjoy some good live music, from emerging singers to groups that do Kpop covers (also called busking). In Hongdae you will be able to find international shops such as H&M, Nike, Adidas etc…as well as more ”local” shops where you can buy clothes that are trendy at the moment in Korea.
Since Hongdae is located in a central location, it is very easy to get there, just take subway line 2 (the green one) and get off at ”Hongdae Station” (홍대입구역)
Gangnam (강남)
Gangnam is another very popular and popular area of Seoul, famous for shopping, expensive apartments and luxury nightclubs. I also find that the vibe is different, I think it is a place that everyone defines as more ”sophisticated” perhaps because it is also the area where celebrities live and there are many kpop companies and entertainment. Rather it is a very interesting area to visit, because you will be able to do some more expensive shopping, as you can also find many luxury brands. On the streets you will see many expensive cars and many people dressed in designer clothes, ready to go to the most exclusive club in the area. In any case, if you look around carefully, you will always find something to do (if you like reading, drop by the Kyobo bookshop). So don’t be intimidated by all that luxury and have fun, maybe if you’re lucky you’ll be able to spot some celebrities!
Gangnam by night
One of the shopping street in Gangnam
*To get to Gangnam take line 2 (green line) and get off at ”Gangnam Station”
Myeong-dong (명동)
Let’s now move on to another area loved by tourists: Myeong-dong. This area is very interesting as it is equipped with many international shops, you will also find a wide choice of cosmetics shops, where you can spend the day shopping for lipsticks, face masks and eye palettes. Myeong-dong also offers a vast choice of street food, in fact while you are shopping you can enjoy the typical Korean dishes or other countries street food. You will find in the stalls right in front of the shops. But if you want to eat in comfort, don’t worry, because this area offers many restaurants, from typical Korean restaurants to multi-ethnic cuisine, and then why not go and pop into a cute coffee shop nearby? In short, here you will find everything you need!
However, I would like to give you some advice, since I lived there for a while; Being a very touristy area, obviously there are always a lot of people, but I would like to advise you to visit Myeong-dong during the week because it could be really difficult for you to move freely through the streets, furthermore I would also like to remind you that very often, if not almost every Saturday, many demonstrations/protests take place in the Myeong-dong – City Hall area (check on the internet if there will be any demonstation before going).
Myeong-dong street and Shinsegae mall view
Christmas decorations in Myeong-dong street and Lotte department store
*To get to Myeong-dong you can take the bus but I recommend the subway line 4 (light blue line) and get off at ”Myeong-dong Station”
Sinchon (신촌)
Sinchon is very very close to Hongdae and is also a very popular shopping area. In this zone you will have the opportunity, as in other areas, to dedicate yourself to shopping for cosmetics and clothes, you will also be able to find a great variety of particular and unique coffee shops and also many typical Korean restaurants. I recommend this area because often, like in Hongdae, you can watch Busking, in fact many groups that do Kpop covers perform there. This is another area that is very popular among young people and is considered a little more ”local” and less touristy.
Bus stop in Sinchon
*Sinchon is on the same line as Hongdae (line 2, the green one) and just one stop away from each other, but if you are already there you can also go by walk, it takes around 20/30 minutes
When visiting a new country, one of the best things to do in my opinion is to go and check out art and history museums, that’s why in this post I’ll show you some of my favorite museums I visited in Seoul and Busan, where you can learn a little bit of Korea’s history and immerse yourself in the beautiful art this country has to offer.
Let’s start from the most famous museum and in my opinion also the most important one, the War Memorial of Korea. This museum is about the history of the wars in which Korea and South Korea took part. Located in Itaewon, Yongsan-Gu District, the war memorial museum opened its doors in 1994. The museumhas 6 floorsof internal exhibitions and an external exhibition showcasing military equipment from China, South Korea and the United States. (to find out more you can visit their website)
I highly recommend visiting this museum because in addition to being very interesting I find it also educational to better understand the military history of South Korea, as it is a very important part of the country. Entry is free
The tower represents a bronze sword and the tree of life. Next to it, the group statues are called ‘‘Defense of the Fatherland” and represent soldiers and refugees
Inside the museum: Turtle Ship
View of the outside
Main Building and museum
Peace Plaza War Memorial of Korea
Address: 29 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
The Seoul Museum of History is a museum located in the Jongno district (central location) Opened in December 1993. This museum show the evolution of Seoul, from prehistoric times to the present days. It also often host special exhibitions. Entry is free. I recommend a visit to this museum, as it is not very large you can visit everything in an hour and a half or even less, depending on your interests. It also offers a very interesting miniature of the city of Seoul.
Miniature of buildings found in Seoul
Inside the museum
Miniature of the City of Seoul
Miniature of Seoul
Address: 55 Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03177, South Korea
This museum, being part of my old university, I couldn’t help but recommend it to you (I’m not biased, I swear!) However: the Seoul National University Museum of Art is located on the campus of the Seoul National University, and as the name already says, it exhibits artwork. There is no fixed exhibition, there are different artists regularly, including university students, international and Korean artists. Also in this case entry is free.
Honestly, I want to recommend this museum not only because it has a special place in my heart, but being passionate about art, I believe that anyone who is passionate about art like me could find new art and artists to broaden their cultural background. So if you have some time, why not drop by?
2023 exhibition
March 2023 exhibition
March 2023 exhibition (portrait photos)
Inside the museum (view from the top floor)
Address: 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul 08826, South Korea
This time we fly to Busan, the most famous seaside city in the country. I think that the Busan Museum is the best place to learn a little about the history of the city, opened in 1978, it is in fact the place that preserves a collection of relicts and historical pieces of art, so from here you can start and reconstruct the history of the city from early times up to the present day. A must for anyone who is passionate about history. Entrance to the museum is free.
Main entrance
Exhibition room
Museum Exhibition room 2
Exhibition room 3
Address: 948-1 Daeyeon-4dong Nam-gu, Busan 48529 South Korea
A museum that you absolutely must not miss is the Korea National Maritime Museum in Busan, this museum face directly the sea, offering an amazing view. It is made up of4 floors: the first floor host the maritime library and the auditorium, while on the second floor we have the children’s museum, where themed shows are organized for the little ones. On the third floor there are maritime relicts and artefacts. On the top floor there is the Marine Science Hall and a 4D theatre. I recommend this museum because it fully embraces what the city of Busan is. The entrance of the main exhibition is freebut the visit to the 4D theater and it costs 5,000won
MMK entrance
First floor entrance facing the sea
View of the sea from the 3° floor
Outside the museum
Sea-view
Address: 45 Haeyang-ro 301beon-gil, Yeongdo-gu, Busan, South Korea
The Goeun Photography Museum is located in Haeundae, Busan and is the first photography museum established outside the capital Seoul. This museum aims to offer more cultural opportunities to visitors to see collections representing both Korean and international artists. The Goeun museum also offers support to new and emerging artists. The Goeun Photography Museum has an exhibition hall on the 2nd floor, as well as a photography library on the 1st floor. I recommend this museum to all photography enthusiasts, so you can discover new emerging artists. Entry is free.
Ulrich Wüst exhibition, 2nd floor
Ulrich Wüst’s exhibition ”Wandering About History”, August 2023
Small installation overlooking the stairs
Address: 16 Haeun-daero 452beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, South Korea
Are you in Seoul and it’s a beautiful day but you’re not sure what to do?
Then be ready because I will show you some of the most beautiful parks where you can take a walk, enjoy the view and why not, have a picnic with your friends and listen to some live music.
Yeouido Park is one of the most famous in Seoul, this incredible place runs along the Han River (한강), and is perfect for a walk during good weather days, especially in autumn and spring, where the colors of the trees give a more magical mood in the park. In addition to being very close to the subway, in the main square there are many stalls where you can taste Korean street food and, since it is very popular in Korea to have a picnic you can also rent blankets to put on the lawn. Furthermore, you can sit and listen to street artists, especially on weekends. To top it off, Yeouido park offers a gorgeous view and sunset, which I highly recommend seeing at least once.
Small snip of the Yeouido park
The start of the sunset
Main square, where you can rent the blankets and taste the street food
The amazing view on the Han River
Address: 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
2) Songpa Naru Park-Seokchon Lake (송파 나루 공원)
Songpa park is located in the Songpa district and runs along Seokchon lake and the magical island ofLotte World (which for those who don’t know is the largest amusement park in the country). It is also in the same area as the famous Lotte World Tower and the Lotte World mall, where you can go on a shopping spree or you can go to the top of the Lotte Tower and enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul. This area is honestly huge, so be prepared to walk a lot! Luckily the subway stop (Jamsil Station) is also the entrance to the shopping mall. So, go back to the park: you can walk along it all, or stop for a coffee in the various coffee shops nearby and enjoy the view. The super cute thing is that you will be able to spot the geese on the shore of the lake and that you will be able to photograph them (please remember to not get close or feed them).
– I recommend visiting the park all year round (during the Christmas season you will have the opportunity to see the Christmas decorations, which in my opinion are amazing)
View of Lotte World
Lotte Tower during Christmas
Little geese
View of the Seokchon lake during autumn season
The bridge that connects the magical island of Lotte World
Nodeul Island is a park/island, located right in the center of the Han River under the bridge that leads to Yongsan station. This island hosts a beautiful park with a view right on the river. It is also equipped with restaurants and coffee shops. Nodeul Island, in addition to being surrounded by nature, is often used for events, such as concerts or competitions. A quiet place to spend a beautiful summer or spring day with friends or your significant other. To get there, just take the bus or you can easily get to both ends of the bridge by foot (both above and below the bridge). I recommend taking a walk there even during the evening, as the view of the city is even more incredible!
A snap of the island
View of the Han River
Restaurants and coffee shops
They usually held small concerts here
Night view
Twilight
Address: 445, Yangnyeong-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
