The village of Bukchon Hanok is situated on a picturesque hill between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces and is one of the most beautiful places in Seoul. [btn "Book a stay in a traditional hanok house" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-bukchon-hanok] Bukchon Hanok is a typical example of historic Korean architecture. Traditional houses, called "Hanok" in Korean, are dotted with narrow alleys and…

The forested 270-metre-high Namsan hill in central Seoul is already a natural tourist attraction in itself, which is only enhanced by the presence of the N Seoul Tower, a TV and observation tower known mainly as the Namsan Tower. [btn "The 10 best hotels in Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-namsan] Take the cable car up the hill, indulge in the beautiful views of the entire city and walk back down…

The district that never sleeps, the core of Seoul. The hustle and bustle of the streets, alleyways and pedestrian zones, street markets and the most luxurious shops with world-famous brands will absorb you day and night. [btn "Find the best hotels in downtown Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-myeongdong] Dozens of inexpensive stalls selling traditional Korean street food will satisfy your hunger…

At 554.5 metres, Lotte World is the tallest building in Seoul and the 6th tallest in the world. It even exceeds the combined height of Namsan Hill and N Seoul Tower standing on top of it. [btn "Search for hotels with views of Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-lotte] Lotte World Tower is part of a huge shopping mall, and the observation deck on the 120th to 123rd floors is one of the most popular…

Gyeongbokgung Palace (pronounced Kyonbokun) is the oldest and largest palace built by the Joseon (Choson) royal dynasty that ruled Korea for over 500 years. [btn "Book a hotel in downtown Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-gyeongbokgung ] The sprawling complex served as the main residence of the dynasty's kings and also as the Joseon Dynasty's government office. This is also why Gyeongbokgung is…

Few megacities as huge as Seoul can boast a natural national park that extends right into the city. [btn "Choose a hotel in Seoul in advance" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-bukhansan] Just take a few subway stations from the city centre to the northern edge of Seoul and a majestic yet compact mountain range of granite rounded cliffs will open up before you. The entire national park is criss-crossed…

Changdeokgung Palace is the second oldest of the Five Great Palaces of Korea's most famous royal dynasty, the Joseon. Located to the east of the main Gyeongbok Palace in a large forested park, Changdeokgung was the most popular residence for many members of the royal family due to its natural surroundings. [btn "Book a hotel in central Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-changdeokgung] Along with…

The rear wing of Changdeokgung Palace, one of the five historic palaces of the Choson royal dynasty, includes a vast 32-hectare garden with many ponds and pithy pavilions. This forest park is known as the Forbidden Garden or the Secret Garden. The whole vast space was exclusively open to the royal family and no one else. [btn "Book a hotel in central Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-zakazana…

The middle of the Five Great Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, which are listed by UNESCO, is the most easterly of all. Closely adjacent to Changdeokgung Palace, it boasts a huge park with a beautiful idyllic lake. [btn "How much do hotels in Seoul cost? Find out at booking.com" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-changgyeonggung] Truth be told, the park is the one mainly worth visiting. The buildings of…

Deoksugung is the smallest of all the Five Great Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty listed together by UNESCO. However, thanks to its great location right in the city centre, it is certainly worth a look. The palace consists of one main pavilion, several smaller buildings and a small park. It was built at the end of the 15th century. [btn "Find the best hotels in central Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p…

Jongmyo (sometimes written as Chongmyo) is one of the Five Great Palaces of the historical Joseon Dynasty. However, Jongmyo was the only one of the palaces that served not as a residential or official building, but as a Confucian shrine. [btn "10 cheapest hotels in Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-jongmyo] Memorial ceremonies and funerals of deceased Joseon Dynasty monarchs or rulers were held…

The affluent district full of skyscrapers, corporate headquarters, but also quaint streets of older entertainment with many restaurants and bars that live long into the night, was previously known only in South Korea. [btn "10 cheapest hotels in Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-gangnam] Everything changed in 2012. Since then, the whole world has known Seoul's Gangnam district. It was in 2012 that…

If you are a lover of local street food and trying new tastes, then you must not miss the Gwangjang (Kwangjang) Market, formerly known as Dongdaemun, which you can find right in the centre of Seoul. [btn "Find the best hotels in downtown Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-gwangjang] With over 5,000 stalls, Gwangjang is the largest market in South Korea and if you really love food, you'll spend…

Namdaemun Market is the largest outdoor market in all of South Korea. Spread over several streets in central Seoul, you can buy just about anything you can imagine. [btn "10 cheapest hotels in Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-namdaemun] Get lost in the aisles lined with stalls selling clothes, food, jewellery, watches, souvenirs, as well as everyday necessities like stationery and hardware. At…

The Korean War Memorial is one of the largest museums in the country and one of the most visited. The extensive exhibition is mainly devoted to the Korean War (1950s), but also to other conflicts in which South Korea has ever been involved. [btn "Find the best hotels in central Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-pamatnik] The museum was opened in 1994 on the site of an army headquarters to prevent…

Over 10 km long popular recreation zone was created right in the centre in the shadow of skyscrapers along the eponymous stream flowing from the mountains. During Seoul's massive development in the 1960s and 1970s, the originally natural stream had to be sunk into a concrete bed and for many years was more of a sewer and an embarrassment to the city. [btn "The 10 cheapest hotels in Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid…

The historic Sungnyemun Entrance Gate, more commonly known as Namdaemun, is one of the 8 original entrances to the Joseon Dynasty walled city. Not much remains of the Seoul fortifications or the historic city, and even the other gates are not in as well-preserved a state as Sungnyemun. [btn "Find the best hotels in central Seoul" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-sungnyemun] The gate dates back to the…

The futuristic modern building complex Dongdaemund Design Plaza (DDP for short) has quickly become one of Seoul's main architectural landmarks since its completion in 2014. The complex is a hub for Korean modern art, architecture and design exhibitions, as well as a major shopping mall. The building stands on the foundations of a historic fortress, which can be seen in the glassed-in parts of the interior. [btn "Don't have a hotel in Seoul yet…

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and combine a trip to history and nature. On the southeastern outskirts of Seoul, about 25 km from the city centre, you'll come across a rather large fortification complex with the historic Namhansanseong Palace. [btn "Don't have a hotel in Seoul yet? Book now" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-namhansanseong] The fortress is situated in a densely forested hilly…

Korea's first two-storey bridge, Banpo-daegyo, does not impress at first sight. The simple concrete structure is not very interesting architecturally, apart from the fact that it has two bridge decks on top of each other. [btn "Don't have a hotel in Seoul yet? Book now" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-banpo] What makes Banpo Bridge a tourist attraction comes after dark... Moonlight Rainbow Fountain …

Although there are many beautiful parks, pedestrian and bicycle promenades in Seoul on the banks of the Hangan River, we would like to mention the beautiful Ttukseom Park. [btn "Don't have a hotel in Seoul yet? Book now" https://www.booking.com/city/kr/seoul.en-gb.html?aid=2380460;label=p-soul-ttukseom] The spacious park, with its many benches and wide lawns for sitting and picnicking, is complemented by bike and pedal boat rentals and, in…