Seoul is one of our favorite cities because everything is extremely modern making it a perfect place for travelers. We were able to see a lot of Seoul in the few weeks that we spent in the area and we thought we would share our thoughts on what areas are the best to visit/stay.
Hongdae station – TO STAY
Hongdae was our favorite area by far. It started out as an artistic community and turned into THE college hangout area in South Korea. Hongdae is always busy, with a lot of stuff that college students like to do. Street vendors, nice restaurants, bars, gaming machines, malls, and everything else can be found throughout because Hongdae is surrounded by four main universities. The nightlife in Hongdae is very interesting. You can see nightly boy-band groups dancing and play carnival-type games between bar runs. Other highlights include famous palm reading spots and a weekly free market. Hongdae also has a big music scene. Many live music bars can be found along the streets.
We stayed right next to Hongdae station and found it very convenient. Many main attractions in Seoul were just a few train stations away from Hongdae station. This is an important factor. Trust me, we also stayed at other places around Seoul and were so tired of spending most of our time on the train. Hongdae was a life saver.
Gwangjang Market – TO VISIT
Sometimes when traveling you don’t really feel like you are in a different city until one spot really pushes the culture on you. For me, it was Gwangjang Market. Right when we entered the tiny walkway to the market there were plastic covered street vendors that offered samples of snacks and soup broth. The smell of kimchi and seafood was everywhere. You can buy anything pickled here. Gwanjang Market is just a huge market where you can get anything you want when you think about Korea without being ultra-touristy.
Itaewon – TO VISIT
Itaewon is the foreigner area of Seoul. Many restaurants cater to foreigners lined up throughout the streets. Kebabs, pizzas, burgers, and steaks are examples of popular food here. Itaewon is also famous for many of the bars cater to the LGBT communities. Unfortunately for us, most of the bars were closed when we went to visit them.
Myeongdong – TO VISIT
Myeongdong is perfect for young women looking to shop for makeup and clothes. The stuff is everywhere. Besides cosmetics and clothes, Myeongdong also offer a lot of street food. If you are big into K-pop, you can get many souvenirs in the underground shopping center of Myeongdong.
Gangnam – TO VISIT
There is a reason many English teachers try to teach in Gangnam. It is known as the “high-end” area. You can find all kinds of high-end dining and clothing options. There is a small area that is geared more for college students by having bars and karaoke, but most of Gangnam is for wealthy people. Gangnam is also popular for k-pop fans. Many big talent agents are located here. Sometimes fans wait for hours outside just to get a glimpse of the big stars coming in and out.
Seoul is an amazing city. We would both be happy to go back. You really can’t go wrong visiting any of the areas mentioned above because there is always something new to see. Please do yourself a favor and take a vacation to Seoul.
Happy Travels!
