After three years of feeling trapped in separate households during the pandemic, my family and I finally got a chance to travel to Seoul, South Korea. Blame it on the popularity of K-dramas we binged on during the lockdown, and our frequent dining out in samgyupsal restaurants in the metro, but everyone was eager to experience Seoul for themselves and spend quality time together.
After months of planning, waiting for slots for our visa applications, and clearing everyone’s respective work and school schedules for a week, we finally made it to the land of Seoul in time for the late autumn season in November 2022.
Since we were traveling with kids and most of us were first-timers, our itinerary was a mix of sightseeing to classic landmarks, kid-friendly amusement parks, and experiential museums. We also had a few seniors in our group, so we needed to include a few educational and cultural experiences.
Here are just some of the classic experiences in Seoul, South Korea that my family enjoyed the most that you might also want to include in your itinerary.
Table of Contents
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395, this grand palace located in northern Seoul is the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty, and reportedly served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty.
In modern times, this palace has been seen in various historical k-dramas like Kingdom, Goong, The Last Empress, and The Moon Embracing the Sun, to name a few.
Since the 1990s, the walled palace complex has gradually been restored to its original form. It currently houses the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum within the premises of the complex.
One of the most fun experiences for the whole family is to try on the elegant Korean traditional clothing called ‘hanbok’ for photo ops around the Gyeonbokgung Palace.
Much like how Japan has kimono rental shops, South Korea has hanbok rental shops for tourists, and you can borrow and wear hanbok while walking around the palace to make memories and snap unique family photos.
Nami Island
For nature lovers, Nami Island should definitely be on your bucket list. Nami Island is a half-moon-shaped isle near Seoul. Featured in the famous Korean drama, Winter Sonata, this romantic destination offers a different experience depending on the season you visit.
Expect beautiful blossoms if you visit during spring time. During summer, visitors can experience lush green surroundings and sunny days. During autumn, the weather is cooler and the falling leaves adds an air of drama and nostalgia. In winter, visitors can see snow on the trees and walk through wonderful white landscapes.
The tour to Nami Island involves lunch at a traditional Korean restaurant, a leisurely ferry ride, and enough time to walk around the spacious grounds.
The kids got a chance to run around, while the older members of the group enjoyed the refreshing scenery and local refreshments.
Those who want to get a bit of a work out can borrow traditional bicycles to go around the small island. Because of its different attractions, Nami Island offers the perfect year-round day trip from Seoul.
Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway
The Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway is a picturesque pedestrian footpath that runs next to Deoksugung Palace. This area has been featured in various K-dramas including Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (Goblin), One Spring Night, The Beauty Inside, and Run On, to name a few.
Once a regular road before it was turned into a pedestrian walkway, this urban space shows how people and nature can coexist in perfect harmony.
This 900-meter stretch of road has 20 benches and 130 trees lining the path, offering a great place to take leisurely walks, rest, and relax. It’s popular during autumn because of the beautiful foliage. While walking, you can spot images of famous historical landmarks on the pathways recreated in the tiles.
In late autumn and colder winter months, the tree trunks here are decorated with colorful knitted “sweaters,” which have become a tourist attraction in themselves. Aside from helping keep the trees warm, the designs knitted by volunteers add an artistic touch to public spaces. The unique project also helped bring joy to locals and passersby during the gloomy pandemic years.
Haneul Sky Park
Haneul Sky Park is the most popular of the five parks of World Cup Park, near Seoul World Cup Stadium. This picturesque landscape features paths through tall, lush grass to a hilltop with sweeping vistas, with pampas grass in bloom during autumn months.
Surprisingly, this beautiful park was once a landfill that held over 92 million tons of garbage until it was turned into a large-scale environment and ecological park.
For those traveling with kids and seniors, golf cart shuttles are provided for easy access to the top. Those who want to get some exercise can hike up the Haneul Park Stairs, which has 291 steps or walk up the same hilly paved road taken by the shuttle bus.
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cheonggyecheon Stream, which runs through downtown Seoul, is a restoration of the stream that existed during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The 11-km long stream was once covered with an elevated highway, which was removed in a massive urban renewal project in 2003, to bring nature back to the city and promote a more eco-friendly urban design.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government designated the area as a vehicle-free zone on holidays, which has given more leisure space for pedestrians.
Since its restoration, the waterfront areas of Cheonggyecheon Stream, and the surrounding streets have become popular places for locals and tourists to unwind and enjoy cultural experiences. While walking around here, we noticed how local office workers were enjoying their coffee along the stream and enjoyed sitting and listening to music being performed by buskers.
Culture and Arts Streets
While in Seoul, we visited several tourist areas known for shopping, arts, and culture including the Hongdae Culture and Arts Special Tourist Zone and Insadong, a lively area filled with artsy decorations and historical spots.
The whole family can enjoy wandering around this colorful place and enjoy the lively atmosphere, from daytime to nighttime.
Aside from shopping for souvenirs, you can pass the time at one of the many traditional tea shops. You can also see street vendors making and selling the famous Dalgona Candy (Korean Honeycomb Toffee) made popular by Netflix’s Squid Game.
The food
Another highlight for the whole family was the delicious Korean food that we got to enjoy all over Seoul and some hands-on experiences including sampling seaweed and kimchi making at the Kimchi Museum.
During one lunch tour, we had Dakgalbi, a spicy stir-fried chicken dish made with boneless chicken pieces, rice, and some vegetables. Another evening, we enjoyed a festive Samgyupsal meal at a boat restaurant docked at Han River. Ove several days, we enjoyed meals like Bulgogi, Tteokboki, and the famous Bbq Chicken and craft beer in the famed Myeong-dong tourist district.
However, one of the best meals we had during the trip was at a simple local eatery that served grilled mackerel and fish stew that our tour guide James brought us to.
It wasn’t a fancy restaurant and not the usual place you’d bring tourists, but judging by the crowd of local cyclists and the empty plates after our meal, you could tell everyone enjoyed the fare.
NOTE: A version of this article was first published in the October 2023 issue of Enrich Magazine. Part 2 will focus on the modern, technological, and kid-friendly attractions in Seoul.