City guide · South Korea
Seoul is South Korea's capital, spread across both banks of the Han River. The historic palace city lies north of the river around Jongno, Gwanghwamun and Namsa...
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Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Editorial responsibility: Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Seoul is South Korea's capital, spread across both banks of the Han River. The historic palace city lies north of the river around Jongno, Gwanghwamun and Namsan, while later commercial and residential centres extend south into Gangnam and east and west along the metropolitan rail corridors. The city is best approached as linked districts rather than one continuous centre: royal palaces and traditional neighbourhoods, central markets and museums, riverside areas, university quarters, and the newer southern business districts each form practical sightseeing clusters.
Checked 2026-08-26
November · November drops Seoul to an 11.9°C mean high and has 51.1 mm of rain over 8.8 days.
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국악박물관
The Museum of Gugak introduces Seoul visitors to gugak, the broad tradition of Korean music and performance. Gugak includes court music, folk music, ritual music and forms shaped by regional practice.
환기미술관
The Whanki Museum is an art museum in Seoul dedicated to the work of Kim Whanki, a pioneering Korean abstract painter. The museum honors his artistic legacy and contribution to modern Korean art.
아트선재센터
Art Sonje Center, also known locally as 아트선재센터, is a contemporary art institution in Seoul. The center presents modern and contemporary exhibitions and related cultural programmes in a dedicated setting for artistic discussion.
일민미술관
Ilmin Museum of Art, known locally as 일민미술관, is a visual-arts museum in Seoul. The museum offers travelers an art-focused stop within the capital's wider cultural landscape.
소마미술관
SOMA Museum of Art is a contemporary art museum in Seoul’s Olympic Park, known locally as 소마미술관. Its setting connects an indoor art experience with one of the city’s major park landscapes.
금호미술관
Kumho Museum of Art, known locally as 금호미술관, is a private art museum in Seoul. The institution operates within the Kumho cultural umbrella and presents modern and contemporary art exhibitions.
서울올림픽기념관
Seoul Olympic Museum is a commemorative institution for the 1988 Summer Olympics, located within Olympic Park in Songpa-gu.
국립서울과학관
The National Children’s Science Center, known locally as 국립서울과학관, is a science museum in Seoul designed to engage children and families with scientific ideas. As a national educational facility, it offers a hands-on alternative to conventional sightseeing.
국립과천과학관
Gwacheon National Science Museum, known in Korean as 국립과천과학관, is a major national science museum in Gwacheon, a separate city within the Seoul Capital Area.
동대문종합시장
Dongdaemun Shopping Complex, known locally as 동대문종합시장, is a traditional market complex in Seoul’s Dongdaemun commercial district. It is a wholesale and retail destination associated with textiles, fabrics, clothing materials, and related goods.
통인시장
Tongin Market is a traditional Korean market located in the Jongno district of Seoul. It operates as a covered alleyway market with numerous small vendors selling various goods.
경동시장
Gyeongdong Market, also known as 경동시장, is a traditional market in Seoul. It is a working commercial place where daily shopping takes place rather than a museum arranged for sightseeing.
황학동 도깨비시장
Hwanghak-dong Flea Market, locally named 황학동 도깨비시장, is a traditional flea market in Seoul, South Korea. The market occupies a distinctive position within the city's commercial landscape, serving as a gathering point for secondhand goods and vintage items.
서울책보고
Seoul Book Bogo, known locally as 서울책보고, is a city-backed cultural facility in Seoul dedicated to books, reading and literary culture.
북촌미술관
Bukchon Art Museum, known locally as 북촌미술관, is a cultural institution in Seoul’s historic Bukchon Hanok Village.
서울어린이대공원
Seoul Children's Grand Park is a major public park in Seoul, South Korea. Its local name is 서울어린이대공원. The park occupies a significant green space within the urban environment and serves as a recreational destination for families and visitors.
KBS홀
KBS Hall is a major performance venue in Seoul operated by Korean Broadcasting System, South Korea’s national public broadcaster. The hall hosts concerts, television recordings and live performances, placing it at the intersection of Korean entertainment, music and broadcasting.
밀알미술관
The Milal Museum of Art, known locally as 밀알미술관, is an art museum in Seoul, South Korea. The place belongs to Seoul’s varied museum landscape, which includes large national institutions as well as smaller cultural venues.
노들섬
Nodeulseom is an artificial island in the Han River within Seoul, South Korea. Its Korean name is 노들섬. The island is a riverside public destination where open views, water, sky and the surrounding city come together.
우리금융아트홀
Olympic Weightlifting Gymnasium, locally known as 우리금융아트홀 (Woori Financial Art Hall), is an indoor venue in Seoul that began as a weightlifting facility for the 1988 Summer Olympics.
서울대학교 미술관
Seoul National University Museum of Art is a university museum affiliated with Seoul National University, one of South Korea's most prestigious higher education institutions.
평화의 소녀상
The Statue of Peace, known locally as 평화의 소녀상, is a memorial statue located in Seoul. It commemorates the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery during World War II, often referred to as comfort women.
동대문역사문화공원
Dongdaemun History & Culture Park is a public cultural park in Seoul built around the historic Dongdaemun area. It brings together open landscaped grounds, archaeological remains, old fortress-wall fragments and the striking Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
토탈미술관
Total Museum, known locally as 토탈미술관, is a cultural institution in Seoul, South Korea. The museum operates as a venue for contemporary art exhibitions and related programming.
유니버설아트센터
Universal Arts Center, or 유니버설아트센터, is a dedicated performing arts venue in Seoul. It is designed for theatrical productions, concerts, and other live performances rather than museum-style sightseeing.
The Han River is the clearest dividing line. North of it, the palace-and-Namsan core includes Gwanghwamun, Jongno, Bukchon, Insadong, Dongdaemun and Myeongdong. Westward, Hongdae and the university districts form another cluster; Yeouido occupies an island in the river. South of the Han, Gangnam, Apgujeong and Samseong are modern commercial areas with their own attractions. Seoul's official visitor maps divide suggested routes into the downtown palace and Namsan area, Apgujeong, Gangnam and Samseong, which is a useful way to avoid repeated cross-city travel.
Checked 2026-08-26
Use the subway as the default between districts and walk within each cluster. Stations and lines are colour-coded, exits are numbered, and major information appears in Korean and English. A Tmoney transport card can be used across the network; single-journey passes are also available from station machines. Buses reach areas beyond convenient rail stops, but the official visitor guide notes that they can be harder for first-time visitors despite colour-coded route types. Check the official transport page for current operating information before travel.
Checked 2026-08-26
Suggested stay for a first visit: 4–5 days. Allocate time by district: the palace core, central markets and museums, a western neighbourhood such as Hongdae, and the southern districts if they match your interests.
The Han River. The older palace city and Namsan are north of it, while Gangnam, Apgujeong and Samseong form major visitor clusters on the south side.
Yes. Lines are colour-coded, station exits are numbered, and major signs use Korean and English. The official tourism guide recommends the subway as one of the most efficient ways to cross the city.
Use the subway for most cross-city journeys. Buses are useful for areas between stations, but route information can be less intuitive for a first visit even though services are colour-coded.
No. They sit in different city clusters on opposite sides of the Han River. Use the subway between them and reserve walking for the sights within each district.
