Another ride on the subway took us to Gyeongbokgung Palace. The Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 and is one of the largest palaces in South Korea. It was destroyed by the Japanese in the early 20th century and has been gradually reconstructed since then.

Whilst English is taught in all primary and secondary schools in Korea, DO NOT expect everybody to speak English. Every student in the United Kingdom learns French, German or Spanish until at least 14 and that certainly does not translate into adulthood.

This stream that flows from northern Seoul down to the Han River has undergone a major facelift in recent years. Roads and raised highways were torn down and replaced with walkways, waterfalls, footbridges and public artworks. 

Honestly, I don’t find it super fascinating. But they claim it as the world’s first LED tunnel, so why not give it a chance!

AREX Incheon Airport Express Train One Way Ticket in Seoul – Klook Travel.There are two types of trains – a commuter train (no reservations necessary) and an express/non-stop train. On the Express/Non-Stop Train, with No stops between Seoul Station and Incheon International Airport, it takes 43 minutes. On the Commuter Train, which stops at nine stations between Seoul Station, the travel time is about 60 minutes.

Seoul is the capital of Korea andIncheon International Airport has many options for international flights both in and out of the country. Seoul also has a second international airport Gimpo which is smaller than Incheon Airport Korea and mostly offers flights to and from japan, China and Taiwan as well as domestic flights.

From Ansan to Jeonju, and all the way down to to Busan, I’ve visited a bunch of food markets in Korea, so I’ll admit that at first I wondered what could be so different about this one; however Gwangjang Market definitely didn’t disappoint. This is the oldest food market in Seoul, still going strong since it first opened all the way back in 1905. 

Namdaemun Market is the largest market in Seoul with hundreds of clothing, accessories, and food stalls. Be warned, this market is massive. You could easily spend the entire day here and not see it all.

For futuristic and cutting edge architecture, you have to come to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza & Park. This plaza features the world’s largest three-dimensional structure. The plaza also has multiple shops, galleries, and restaurants to explore as well.

This excellent little guesthouse located in the heart of Insadong is a few minutes walk from Anguk subway station and sights such as Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon and Changdeokgung. It offers free breakfast and is close to a number of awesome restaurants.

Once where the summer 1988 Olympics were held is now a park frequented by locals for recreation and enjoying the interesting outdoor sculptures.

I heard that originally, the plan was to build a Disneyland in Seoul, but the developers haven’t managed to obtain the Disney license. Nevertheless, they did not want to give up on their plans so easily. In any case, Lotte World resembles its more famous Disney relative a lot, including the signature Cinderella castle. Divided into two parts – the Magic Island (outdoors) and Adventure (indoors), Lotte World is Korea’s top amusement park with everything you would expect from it. Including the long waiting lines for each of the attractions.

The Fortress Wall of Seoul, locally known as Hanyangdoseong, is a wall made up of various materials with the historical aim of protecting the city from invaders. First built in 1396, Seoul wall stretches along a length of 18.6 kilometres. Today, there is a 12-kilometre section that is preserved as a historical site. 

After getting the bird’s eye view, it was time to experience the illustrious past of Korea. I started turning the history pages from the fourteenth century Changdeokung palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the home of Korea’s last emperor. Cobblestoned corridors, elegant open courtyards, alluring Secret Garden, soothing ponds, and pagodas infused a dose of tranquility in a frenetic urban city. I wanted to spend more time exploring the colossal Changdeokung palace but being time-poor I had to sacrifice my wish in favour of attending the Royal Guard-Changing .....Ceremony at the Gyeongbokgung Palace. At 2 pm sharp the royal guards arrived in their colourful flowing robes, carrying traditional weapons and playing traditional musical instruments. The Ceremony gave goosebumps and transported me to the 14th century Joseon Dynasty when this tradition was enacted exactly as I witnessed. It further stoked my interest in the Korean history and I spend some time at the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea, both housed in the palace itself. Show less

Opened in 1395, Gyeongbokgung Palace is an integral part of Seoul’s history. As the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, Gyeongbokgung Palace is commonly referred to as the Northern Palace due to its location in the north of Seoul.

Address: Yeouido Dock: 290 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, SeoulHow to get there: Yeouinaru Station, Subway Line 5, Exit 3 then go towards Yeouido Dock (about 12 minutes). You will see E-land Cruise ticket office across the dock

Founded in 1945, the National Museum of Korea is the preeminent history and art museum in South Korea. It moved to its current location in the Yongsan District in 2005. As of 2013, its annual attendance of 3.1 million ranked it 14th globally among art museums. The museum boasts a collection of some 310,000 pieces, with approximately 15,000 on display at any given time. The museum is divided into three floors, each representing a theme: Prehistory and Ancient History, Traditional and Religious Art, and Sculpture and Crafts. Among the items on display are pieces .....designated as Korean National Treasures. Admission to the museum is provided to all persons free of charge. The entire property and its exhibition halls are wheelchair accessible. Guided tours are available in a number of languages, including English. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr. Nearest subway:  Lines 4 & Jungang at Ichon station Show less

Seoul is hemmed in by mountains and draped by waterways. The best place to see that beauty is from the needlelike N Seoul Tower on Mount Namsan. You can either take a cable car or trek for 45 minutes through the stone stairway. As I walked up to the base, I was greeted by the tens of thousands of ‘love locks’ hung on fences, gates, railings and ‘trees of love’. My local friend Kim told me love is a serious business in Seoul. So serious that couples match their blood .....groups to ensure a compatible long lasting relationship. So don’t be surprised if someone pops up the blood group question. Show less

The Lotte Tower is one of the newest contributions to the VIP group of the World’s tallest buildings and also the symbols of Seoul. Built by one of the largest Korean business conglomerates – the Lotte group, it towers up to the height of 555 meters, which makes it the 5th tallest in the World. Due to its unusual shape, it is often mocked by many due to resembling the Lord of the Rings Sauron’s Eye, ominously watching over the city. You can take a lift up to the 118th .....floor to enjoy some vertigo views from the World’s highest glass-bottom observation deck or shop in the many luxurious stores located in the Lotte Mall at its foot. Show less

Until 2005, the Cheonggyecheon Stream existed just as a neglected waterway hidden by an overpass. However, the city government decided to transform it into one of its show off projects and invested huge money into revitalizing the area. Nowadays, the stream is still just a waterway going through the very center of the city, but it looks very cultivated. It is used for display of various cultural items or pieces of art, usually located in the middle of the stream, combining the art with the natural water element.

This is a damn good choice when it comes to Seoul’s hostels: free breakfast (wooo), a free city map of Seoul, and free tea and coffee. So many freebies!

The large shopping complex that is Noon Square is also at the center of the city.

First of all, the three big places to visit right outside of Seoul are Petite France, the Garden of the Morning Calm, and Nami Island. They’re all pretty spread out and take quite a while to get to by subway. If you want to be out all day (like 12+ hours), you can book a full day tour that will bring you to all three. However, I’d still want a little time back in Seoul, so I’d pick two and book this tour.