July 18 – July 23 : Seoul

Seoul seamlessly blends ancient traditions with cutting-edge modernity. Explore historic palaces like Gyeongbokgung and bustling markets such as Dongdaemun, while indulging in world-renowned Korean cuisine. The city’s dynamic neighborhoods, from the trendy streets of Gangnam to the artsy alleys of Hongdae, offer endless cultural experiences. Day or night, Seoul’s skyline dazzles with neon lights and futuristic skyscrapers, making it a captivating destination for travelers.

There are many things to be done in Seoul, here are a few that I did:

• Visit Myeongdong and try its (slightly expensive) street food. There are many things here that are different from Chinese or other Asian countries’ street food, so don’t miss out.
• Apart from street food, don’t miss out on traditional Korean BBQ.
• Hike the city walls. The inner city is surrounded by an 18 km long wall, along which you can leisurely hike. Especially the northern part is exciting as it covers the city’s inner mountains, from which you’ll have splendid views. The southern part of the wall trail, however, crosses through more urbanized areas and is interrupted in several parts by streets. The popular route starts at the West Gate (Donuimun) and then proceeds clockwise over the Inwangsan and Baegaksan Mountains to the North Gate (Sukjeongmun). From there, you can continue towards the East Gate (Heunginjimun).
• Explore the old palaces like Changgyeonggung Palace or Gyeongbokgung Palace.
• There are many art museums to be discovered. I randomly came across an exhibit about Japanese anime, which was a great find.
• Visit the traditional village districts inside Seoul, such as Bukchon Hanok Village or Namsangol Hanok Village. These picturesque areas are filled with old little houses, art cafés, and boutiques.
• Spend half a day at a Korean spa! It is a very different experience from the saunas in Europe. First, you are in a gender-separated area where you take a (naked) bath. Then you shower, get comfortable pajamas, and go to the common (mixed) area where everyone is in pajamas and you can use the saunas, massage chairs, have a snack, and so on. These places are open 24/7, so sometimes people just come here after a night out to spend the night.
• Gaming culture is big in South Korea. There are board game and PC game cafes on every corner. Have a look and spend an hour or two.
• Go to a Karaoke booth. Again, very different from the karaoke experience we know in Western countries. In South Korea, you basically go to a small room (about 3 m²) and then you can sing alone or with one other person, without having an audience.
• You can make a day trip to Suwon. It takes about one hour to get there by public transport (there is a direct bus). Suwon boasts a fortress and a bigger wall than Seoul’s.
• Plan a day to visit the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. For this, you will need to book a tour; check on Trip.com, Klook, or ask your hotel, as there are plenty of tours available. There are tensions, and if you are unlucky, the military might decide to close access to the actual DMZ itself. In such a case, your tour operator will show you alternative sights, such as the observatory from which you can see across the river to North Korea (exciting) and a forest with a suspended bridge (honestly boring unless you have never seen a suspended bridge in your life; it has nothing to do with the DMZ).