Travel news: Seven things to do and see in Seoul, South Korea

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Written By Ayla Vaughan

Seoul is the vibrant capital of South Korea that seamlessly blends ancient palaces and temples with futuristic skyscrapers in this sprawling metropolis.

I visited "The City of Palaces" in March 2016 and enjoyed the amazing local food and entertainment that the city had to offer as well as its beautiful spring weather.

Here, Travel News Blitz’s Ayla Vaughan discusses seven things to do and see in Seoul, South Korea.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace is a cultural landmark of Seoul, located in the centre of the city, that is a must visit for history lovers.

It is a former royal palace that dates all the way back in 1395 and you can watch the changing of the guard ceremony twice per day near the entrance.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Cheonggyecheon Stream is an art and nature walkway through the heart of Seoul, allowing a calming break from the fast-paced environment of the city.

Visitors can walk the 11-km (6.8 miles) pathway which features waterfalls, fountains and a total of 22 beautiful bridges.

Lotte World Tower & Mall

Lotte World Tower & Mall offers stores, cafes, restaurants, galleries and even a concert hall, making it an ideal spot to stay for the whole day. 

It also has an observation deck, a skywalk and a luxury hotel, which I stayed at and highly recommend for its stunning views and tasty food.

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National Folk Museum of Korea

The National Folk Museum of Korea is located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace and displays replicas of historical objects to illustrate the history of the Korean people.

The museum has over 98,000 artifacts and three main exhibition halls which are named the "History of Korean People", "Korean Way of Life" and "Life Cycle of the Koreans", which spans over centuries of history.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza 

Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a neofuturistic building which stands out in the city with its powerful, curving forms of elongated structures.

The cultural landmark is the centerpiece of South Korea's fashion hub and also features a walkable park on its roofs, large global exhibition spaces and retail stores.

Deoksugung Palace

Deoksugung Palace is another former royal palace and was the first main palace of the Korean Empire that lasted from 1897 to 1910 before the country was colonised by the Japanese Empire.

It has a mix of traditional Korean and Western architecture with its stunning large gates, dancheong decorative colouring, neoclassical palace building (Seokjojeon) designed by Britain and a French-style building (Dondeokjeon).

National Museum Of Korea

The National Museum Of Korea is the largest and most popular in the country with over 420,000 objects in its collection, such as the Silla Golden Crown, a 10-story pagoda and paintings from the 18th-century painter Kim Hong-do, also known as Danwon. 

It has six permanent exhibition galleries which are the Prehistory and Ancient History Gallery, Medieval and Early Modern History Gallery, Donation Gallery, Calligraphy and Painting Gallery, Sculpture and Crafts Gallery and Asian Arts Gallery.

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Ayla Vaughan

Ayla Vaughan graduated with First Class Honours from London South Bank University, receiving a bachelors’s degree in Journalism.

She has a huge passion for all things motorsport, such as F1, F2, F3, F1 Academy, Formula E & IndyCar.

Ayla has lived in multiple countries and is well travelled. Her other interests include politics, history, books, movies and TV shows.

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