Seoul Travel Guide | CNN

CNN values your feedback

1. How relevant is this ad to you?
2. Did you encounter any technical issues?
Thank You!
Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated.
Close
Ad Feedback
Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video
More
Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video
Watch Listen Live TV
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
Edition
US
International
Arabic
Español
Edition
  • US
  • International
  • Arabic
  • Español

Destinations
Food & Drink
News
Stay
Video

Follow CNN Travel

  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Destination Seoul

Seoul's global reputation centers on its rapid pace, technological prowess and glittering skyscrapers. But wander its streets and there's a whole other world waiting to be discovered -- one of history, culture and art. Still surrounded by its ancient city walls, which can be easily hiked, Seoul is home to five palaces, all well worth exploring, although Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung are the real standouts. For those keen to steep themselves in modern Korea, Seoul's legendary and often overwhelming nightlife is the place to start, especially around Gangnam. Clubs attract the best DJs in the world and there's always karaoke for partygoers keen on something a bit more intimate.
Seoul's global reputation centers on its rapid pace, technological prowess and glittering skyscrapers. But wander its streets and there's a whole other world waiting to be discovered -- one of history, culture and art. Still surrounded by its ancient city walls, which can be easily hiked, Seoul is home to five palaces, all well worth exploring, although Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung are the real standouts. For those keen to steep themselves in modern Korea, Seoul's legendary and often overwhelming nightlife is the place to start, especially around Gangnam. Clubs attract the best DJs in the world and there's always karaoke for partygoers keen on something a bit more intimate.
Ad Feedback
K-pop groups perform during the 2022 Dream Concert at Jamsil stadium in Seoul.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP/Getty Images
Seoul: The city at the front line of modern culture
An illustration of Seoul Ring Zero.
Courtesy Seoul Metropolitan Government
South Korean capital building world’s biggest spokeless Ferris wheel
A rendering provided by the Seoul City Government shows the concept for a floating swimming pool on the Han River.
Seoul City Government
South Korean capital announces plans for ‘floating’ swimming pool and art pier
Lounge in the Lotte World Tower in Seoul.
Jessie Yeung/CNN
Dining at 1,820 feet, in South Korea’s highest restaurant
Ad Feedback
 Son Ye Jin, left, and Hyun Bin - Crash Landing on You
Lim Hyo Seon/Netflix
‘The Netflix effect’: Why Western women are heading to South Korea in search of love
Hong Kong bar Coa's Bloody Beef Maria.
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2022
Asia’s 50 best bars for 2022 revealed
03 Den Tokyo restaurant
Lilit Marcus/CNN
What it’s like to eat at Asia’s best restaurant
12 Goyang city cat
Yoonjung Seo/CNN
Goyang: How this city in South Korea went cat crazy
A general view shows beachgoers at Hamdeok beach on South Korea's southern resort island of Jeju on August 24, 2020. (Photo by Daniel De Carteret/AFP via Getty Images)
Daniel De Carteret/AFP via Getty Images
South Korea hotel apologizes after honeymooners discover people can see into mirrored sauna
A Covid-19 bus shelter seen in Seoul's Seongdong district.
Seongdong district government
In the age of coronavirus, these new Seoul bus shelters refuse entry to anyone with a fever
IfIHadYourFace13_final copy
illooz
‘If I had your face’: A peek into South Korea’s secretive underground world
A customer poses before a photo of film director Bong Joon-ho at the 'Sky Pizza' restaurant in Seoul on February 13, 2020. - Locations featured in the South Korea's Oscar-winning "Parasite" are bracing for a boom in customers following the film's success. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP) (Photo by ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)
ED JONES/AFP/AFP via Getty Images
‘Parasite’ filming locations you can visit in Seoul
South Korea5 Hello Kitty Island lobby courtesy Hello Kitty Island
Hello Kitty Island
7 reasons why South Korea is an amazing destination for families
Eo Yun-gwon
Courtesy Ristorante Eo
Seoul chef Eo Yun-gwon sues Michelin Guide for including his restaurant
bts-store-seoul-03
Sophie Jeong/CNN
BTS opens pop-up store in Seoul for the first time
A partially-obscured piece of North Korea-style propaganda reads: "Look! It's the Pyongyang Pub!"
Charlie Miller/CNN
In a trendy Seoul neighborhood, a taste of repressive North Korea
seoul human rights museum
Democracy and Human Rights Memorial Hall/Facebook
Human rights museum opens in former Seoul torture site
seoul fireworks-1
CNN
Daredevils climb Seoul’s Lotte World Tower to set off fireworks
korea winter top 2
chung sung jun/getty images
7 ways to love winter in South Korea
K-pop group BTS performs during the 2017 American Music Awards in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America/Getty Images
The K-pop lover’s guide to Seoul
 A photo taken on February 3, 2016 shows a general view of the Noryangjin fish market in Seoul. Vendors at Seoul's oldest and largest fish market -- a city landmark and tourist hot-spot. The 66,000 square-meter market has been operating 24/7 since South Korea lifted a nighttime curfew in 1982, and serves 30,000 customers a day.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty
Inside Noryangjin, Seoul’s largest indoor seafood market
Beauty 3
Seoul: The city where spas never close
Run 1
Seoul’s newest street culture? Running
Starfield library Seoul
KOREA TOURISM ORGANIZATION
Seoul sanctuaries: Going offline in the world’s most connected city
Kimchi Festival Seoul
CNN
North Korea’s latest peace offering: Kimchi
Back in Seoul, Holliday suggests "nakji bokkeum" (낙지볶음) -- a  stir-fried, octopus dish. It's one of Korea's spiciest foods, believed to have been invented in a tavern in the Mugyo-dong district of Seoul in 1965.
Graham Holliday
10 of South Korea’s most delicious dishes
South Korean cartoon cafe (4)
Courtesy YND239-20
The Seoul cafe that looks like a cartoon
Airplane contrails
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
World’s most popular airplane journey revealed
Golden location.
Courtesy Westin Chosun
5 best luxury hotels in Seoul for your South Korea visit
World's best hotel gyms The Siam
The Siam
The world’s most amazing hotel gyms
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea -- Yongpyong Ski Resort in Pyeongchang County, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Future site of 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. (Photo courtesy of Yongpyong Ski Resort)
Yongpyong Ski Resort
PyeongChang: Your guide to South Korea’s ski culture
Competition is tough on the Seoul restaurant scene.
Courtesy JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
10 best Korean restaurants in Seoul
Seoul latte artist Lee Kangbin
Taehoon Lee/CNN
Seoul barista transforms coffee into beautiful works of art
To find the best of Seoul, many start with the temples.
Korea Tourism Organization
Visiting Seoul? Insiders share tips
Snazzy makgeolli and soju-based drinks at our favorite bars in the city.
Courtesy Park Hyatt Seoul
Best bars in Seoul
seoul street food
Courtesy travel oriented/creative commons/flickr
Seoul’s 5 best Korean barbecue restaurants
Seoul
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
50 reasons why Seoul is the world’s greatest city
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 2:  The general view of Alpensia Resort Park, venue for MPC and IBC ahead of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 2, 2017 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.  (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
10 top ski resorts to visit this winter
PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 2:  The general view of Alpensia Resort Park, venue for MPC and IBC ahead of PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games on February 2, 2017 in Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea.  (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
7 best ski and snowboard resorts in South Korea
Seoul Museum of History (서울역사박물관)
Courtesy Seongbin Im/Creative Commons/Flickr
Seoul’s best museums: 6 you’ll want to see
earth summer garden table
Courtesy pexels
Seoul’s saunas: The 3 best jjimjilbangs for a spa experience
There's so much more to Korea than Seoul.
Courtesy Republic of Korea/Creative commons/Flickr
19 great places to see in South Korea’s provinces
hallasan
Courtesy Ben Kucinski/Creative Commons/Flickr
7 gorgeous mountain hikes in South Korea
People walk past bars and restaurants on a street in the Gangnam district of Seoul on July 5, 2013. One of Asia's most affluent countries, South Korea is the region's third largest economy fuelled by the longest working hours in the world, according to a 2012 study. However the number of foreign workers in the the country is expected to swell as migrants fill the jobs that increasingly considered as the '3d's'; dirty, dangerous and difficult, or demeaning -- mainly in manufacturing and construction. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones        (Photo credit should read Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images)
ED JONES/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
14 of Seoul’s quirkiest bars
There's more to Seoul than Gangnam.
ED JONES/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
10 things you’ve got to do in Seoul
10 things korea baseball getty
KIM MI-OK/AFP/Getty Images
10 things South Korea does better than anywhere else
Gangnam Style singer Psy
JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
K-pop: Seoul neighborhood rides the Korean wave
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Lounge. Airline crew greeting customer
Courtesy Cathay Pacific/LoungeBuddy
Which airports have the happiest passengers?
rising seoul neighborhoods- zagmachi
Violet Kim
This isn’t Gangnam style: 3 rising Seoul neighborhoods
Korea spicy dishes onniriye donkatsu
Jiyeon Lee /CNN
7 super spicy South Korean dishes – and tips for eating them
korea food map Bibimbap
courtesy Korea Tourism Organization
How and where to eat your way around South Korea
korean chicken-ddobagi chicken
Violet Kim/CNN
Watch your wing, KFC! Korean fried chicken (and beer) is here
Best of Busan story top
courtesy busan tourism organization
Best things to do in Busan from beaches to temples
business travel seoul 1
jun kyoung woo/cnn
Complete Seoul business travel guide
korean designers 19
courtesy style nanda
10 hot South Korean fashion brands and where to buy them
Ad Feedback

Destination Guides

Destination Sydney
CNN
Sydney
Destination London
CNN
London
Destination Qatar
CNN
Qatar
Destination Tokyo
CNN
Tokyo

My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Live TV Listen Watch
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • China
    • Europe
    • India
    • Middle East
    • United Kingdom
  • US Politics
    • Trump
    • Facts First
    • CNN Polls
    • 2025 Elections
  • Business
    • Tech
    • Media
    • Calculators
    • Videos
  • Markets
    • Pre-markets
    • After-Hours
    • Fear & Greed
    • Investing
    • Markets Now
    • Nightcap
  • Health
    • Life, But Better
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Sleep
    • Mindfulness
    • Relationships
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Celebrity
  • Tech
    • Innovate
    • Foreseeable Future
    • Mission: Ahead
    • Work Transformed
    • Innovative Cities
  • Style
    • Arts
    • Design
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Luxury
    • Beauty
    • Video
  • Travel
    • Destinations
    • Food & Drink
    • Stay
    • News
    • Videos
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsport
    • US Sports
    • Olympics
    • Climbing
    • Esports
    • Hockey
  • Science
    • Space
    • Life
    • Unearthed
  • Climate
    • Solutions
    • Weather
  • Weather
    • Video
    • Climate
  • Ukraine-Russia War
  • Israel-Hamas War
  • Features
    • As Equals
    • Call to Earth
    • Freedom Project
    • Impact Your World
    • Inside Africa
    • CNN Heroes
  • Watch
    • Live TV
    • CNN Fast
    • Shows A-Z
    • CNN10
    • CNN Max
    • CNN TV Schedules
  • Listen
    • CNN 5 Things
    • Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta
    • The Assignment with Audie Cornish
    • One Thing
    • Tug of War
    • CNN Political Briefing
    • The Axe Files
    • All There Is with Anderson Cooper
    • All CNN Audio podcasts
  • Games
    • Daily Crossword
    • Jumble Crossword
    • Sudoblock
    • Sudoku
    • 5 Things Quiz
  • About CNN
    • Photos
    • Investigations
    • CNN Profiles
    • CNN Leadership
    • CNN Newsletters
    • Work for CNN

Watch Listen Live TV
Follow CNN Travel
My Account
  • Settings
  • Newsletters
  • Topics you follow
  • Sign out
Your CNN account Sign in to your CNN account

Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts

© 2025 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved.
CNN Sans ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network.