15 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
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Why You Should Visit Seoul, South Korea
This was my first trip to Asia, and Seoul was our first stop on our larger trip to Central Asia. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with Seoul other than watching Squid Game and knowing of BTS/k-pop and the rising popularity of k-beauty. What I found was a metropolis that blends old world with new, neon lights with quiet pockets of traditional housing, and massive skyscrapers beside Buddhist temples.
But I’ll be honest…it was not my favorite destination, and I highly doubt I’ll be back, even for a stopover. There are incredible things to experience here—palaces, skincare, beauty treatments, shopping, the DMZ, temples, and some truly excellent dedicated gluten-free restaurants—but Seoul was also one of the hardest places I’ve traveled with severe food allergies.
If you have celiac disease, a wheat allergy, gluten intolerance, alpha-gal, or any serious dietary restriction, I legitimately would not come here. And I don’t say this ever—normally I’m all about making accommodations. South Korea is not a country where you can assume restaurants will understand or CARE about cross-contamination, substitutions, or food allergies in the way many Western travelers are used to.
So long as you don’t have any dietary restrictions, though, I think it can be a fun place. Whether you're visiting Seoul for a long weekend or using it as the starting point for a larger Asian adventure, these are the 15 best things to do in Seoul!
What You Need to Know Before You Go to Seoul, South Korea
General
Seoul is huge, busy, humid in the summer, and not nearly as intuitive to navigate as some travel guides make it sound. Many museums, palaces, stores, and attractions are closed on Mondays, so check opening hours before building your itinerary.
You should also plan your days by neighborhood. Gangnam, Hongdae, Insadong, Myeongdong, and the palace district may all be in Seoul, but getting between them takes time. Traffic can be brutal, and even subway transfers can add up quickly.
Another thing to know: Google Maps is limited in South Korea. I found it useful for finding places, reviews, and business listings, but not reliable for actual navigation. Kakao Map was much better for walking directions. Naver Map gets recommended a lot, but I personally hated it.
And if you’re visiting in summer, prepare for heat and humidity. Seoul in June was sticky, heavy, and relentless.
Money
South Korea is mostly card-friendly, but you still need some cash. You’ll need cash to purchase and reload a subway card, and cash is also useful for markets, small vendors, and backup situations. We withdrew cash at Woori Bank after struggling to find an ATM at a GS25 that would let us withdraw. Mastercards can have issues at some ATMs, so bring more than one card if possible.
Ubers were easy to call and often worth it when we were tired or trying to get somewhere specific, but the final price is determined after the ride is complete, so the amount you see upfront may not be exact.
Language
This was one of the hardest parts of Seoul for me. English-speaking tours is a generous description for many tours, which was shocking for such a major international city. Yes, you can get by with translation apps, and yes, some hotels, beauty clinics, and tourist attractions have English-speaking staff.
But outside those pockets, English is limited. More importantly, I found that communication around food allergies was extremely difficult. It wasn’t just a language issue. It often felt like restaurants didn’t believe gluten, wheat, or other food allergies were real concerns, or they didn’t understand why cross-contamination mattered.
If you have dietary restrictions, use allergy translation cards, and do not assume that a restaurant saying “yes” means they understand the severity of what you’re asking. One of the best things we did was visit Monil 2 House early in the trip. They gave me an allergy card where I could mark gluten and my alpha-gal restrictions, and that card later saved me from eating somewhere that looked safe but absolutely was not.
Safety
Physically, Seoul felt very safe. I never felt like I was in danger walking around, even at night. The city is well lit and busy enough that you rarely feel isolated, though you’ll walk past a spot that smells like straight trash pretty frequently and need to gag a little before the air freshens up again. Emotionally, medically? Different story. I’m harping on about this, but I want anyone with food allergies to understand the risks before coming here. The constant vigilance and worry was exhausting, which is why I ended up only visiting dedicated gluten free places once we were staying in Hongdae.
Tips for Travelers with Anxiety in Seoul
Seoul is absolutely overwhelming and overstimulating. There are thousands of people in every direction, crowds everywhere you go. Street signs are minimal and in Korean. There’s basically no asking for help if you’re lost in English. Again, this is why I have no interest in returning to Seoul. To help, Download Kakao Map before you arrive. Use Google Maps to find places, but Kakao Map for directions.
Use Uber instead of public transport. It costs more than the subway, but sometimes paying for direct transportation is worth protecting your nervous system. We made a halfway attempt before saying fuck it because neither of us wanted to deal with figuring it all out in Korean. So many different card options that you have to refill in cash. Stops that come out of nowhere and signage in Korean. Not worth saving the money and trying to navigate it all without tears.
Stay near the things you care about most. If your itinerary is mostly palaces and temples, stay in Insadong. If you care more about shopping, beauty, cafés, and gluten-free restaurants, stay in Hongdae. Do your allergy research before you even leave home. Do not wing it. Seoul is not the place I would recommend casually wandering into restaurants with severe dietary restrictions. Start with dedicated gluten-free restaurants. Monil 2 House, Sunny House, 6 Day Gluten-Free Chicken, and Colombiano were the places where I felt safest eating.
Build in recovery time. Between the humidity, crowds, language barriers, and food stress, I needed more downtime here than expected.
Seoul has plenty of cool things to do, but if you’re expecting it to feel effortless, you may be disappointed. Go in prepared, and the city becomes much more manageable.
How to Get to Seoul
Most international travelers arrive through Incheon International Airport (ICN), which is large, modern, and well connected and the main reason we chose this as our stopover city as part of a larger Asia trip. Logistically, Seoul works very well for this. Incheon has excellent international connections, including routes to destinations that are harder to reach directly from the United States like Kazakstan.
From the airport, you can take the AREX Airport Railroad, airport buses, taxis, or Uber. With luggage and jet lag, we chose Uber because it was the easiest option. It was more expensive, but after a long international flight, I did not have the spiritual fortitude to drag massive luggage through public transportation while trying to decode a new city. Sometimes convenience wins. Let the budget travelers judge from their hostel bunk beds.
When to Plan Your Seoul Trip
Seoul is a year-round destination, but I would personally avoid peak summer if you’re sensitive to heat and humidity.
Spring
Spring is one of the most popular times to visit Seoul thanks to cherry blossoms, mild weather, and blooming parks. If I were going back, this is probably when I’d choose.
Summer
We visited in June, and the humidity was rough. The city is green and lively, but sightseeing can feel exhausting quickly, especially if you’re wearing a hanbok, walking palace grounds, or spending long stretches outside. If summer is your only option, plan outdoor activities in the morning and save malls, skincare shopping, cafés, hair treatments, and facials for the afternoon.
Fall
Fall is another comfortable season when the weather is cooler, the foliage is beautiful, and walking-heavy days will be much more comfortable.
Winter
Winter can be cold, but it also means fewer crowds, cozy cafés, holiday lights, and easier access to winter activities outside the city. Just pack accordingly.
Where to Stay in Seoul
Where you stay in Seoul matters because the city is enormous and getting across town can eat up more time than expected. We split our stay between Insadong and Hongdae, and I’m glad we experienced both because they felt completely different.
Insadong
We stayed at Nine Tree by Parnas Insadong, near Anguk Station, and the hotel itself was excellent.
The rooms were massive by city standards, very clean, and surprisingly spacious. The staff were attentive, and the location was great for visiting Seoul’s historic attractions. From here, you’re close to Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung Palace, and plenty of traditional shops and tea houses. If your main priorities are palaces, temples, history, and a quieter base, Insadong is a good choice.
That said, I found the food situation much harder here with allergies. The closest dedicated gluten-free restaurant we found was 6 Day Gluten-Free Chicken, which was delicious and run by a lovely owner, but we had to Uber there and back which took more than 20 minutes in each direction.
Insadong is convenient and pretty, but I wouldn’t personally stay there again when you can easily book an Insadong Tour like this one we did.
Hongdae
For the second part of our stay, we stayed at Holiday Inn Hongdae.
The rooms were smaller than Nine Tree, but the air conditioning was strong, the blackout curtains actually worked, and after weeks of travel, those two things mattered more to me than square footage. We accidentally slept until almost 9:00 AM because the room was so dark, which felt like a miracle after Kazakhstan’s 4:30 AM sunrise nonsense.
Breakfast was included, but it gets extremely busy after 8:00 AM. If you have food allergies, options are limited, so go early while there’s more available and less chaos.
As a neighborhood, Hongdae was much better for us. It had more gluten-free food options, better shopping, easier access to beauty treatments, and a younger, more energetic atmosphere. If I had to stay in Seoul again, I’d choose Hongdae over Insadong without hesitation. For travelers with food allergies, Hongdae is the clear winner.
15 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace in Hanbok
If there's one thing that's almost synonymous with visiting Seoul, it's renting a traditional hanbok and exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Walking through the palace grounds in traditional Korean clothing would feel like stepping back in time if it weren’t for the sheer number of people around. Be sure to arrive early in the morning—not only to avoid the crowds, but also because Seoul's summer humidity is no joke. We visited in June, and even early in the day I thought I might melt wearing multiple layers of fabric. If you can, plan your visit around the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, which adds another layer of history to the experience.
2. Wander Through Bukchon Hanok Village
Just a short walk from the palace is Bukchon Hanok Village, one of Seoul's most photographed neighborhoods.
Unlike many historic villages around the world, people still live here, so visitors are asked to remain quiet while exploring. Entry is restricted before 10:00 AM and after 5:00 PM to help preserve the neighborhood, and you'll quickly understand why. The narrow alleyways, traditional wooden homes, and views across the city make it one of Seoul's most charming places to wander. And I’d be pissed if screaming tourists showed up at 5AM for Instagram photos only to wake me up from my precious beauty sleep.
3. Explore Jogyesa Temple
If you only visit one Buddhist temple in Seoul, make it Jogyesa Temple.
The colorful lanterns and intricate architecture immediately caught my attention, and despite being located in the middle of a bustling city, the temple somehow feels incredibly peaceful. If a service is taking place, visitors aren't allowed inside the temple, but you can still walk the grounds, admire the buildings, and even ring the ceremonial gong while making a wish. Though our guide teased about how softly I hit the gong, saying my wish must have been small. I was only trying to be respectful of everyone around, I swear 😂
4. Take a DMZ Tour
This was easily the tour we were most looking forward to on our entire South Korea trip, and it’s one of the 15 best things to do in Seoul!
We chose a tour led by a retired military officer named Jason, whose firsthand knowledge made the day incredibly engaging. Visiting the Third Infiltration Tunnel, standing at the observatory overlooking North Korea, and hearing a North Korean defector share her personal story of escaping the country were experiences I'll never forget. Unfortunately, because it’s a military installation, you can’t actually take pictures at the DMZ or in the third tunnel.
If you're debating whether the DMZ is worth visiting, my answer is an emphatic yes. There are tons of different tour types too, whether you’re interested more in the dark side of history or want to stop at other scenic places along the drive to the DMZ. There are even wildlife photography tours because the zone is thriving with animals because no people live there!
5. Visit Starfield Library & COEX Mall
Even if you aren't normally someone who seeks out shopping malls while traveling, Starfield Library is worth making an exception for. The towering bookshelves stretching several stories high have become one of Seoul's most recognizable landmarks. Since it's located inside COEX Mall, it's easy to combine with lunch, shopping, or a visit to nearby Gangnam attractions like the Gangnam Style Psy statue. If you’re feeling brave, do the Gangname Style dance beneath the hands (I am not that brave nor that good of a dancer).
6. Shop at Olive Young
If you love skincare, makeup, or beauty products, Olive Young deserves a spot on your itinerary. There is one literally on every corner, but try to find one of the multi-story ones with the most variety and options for you to explore. It was honestly a little overwhelming. The shelves are packed with Korean skincare, cosmetics, haircare, and beauty tools, but thankfully there are plenty of employees walking around who are happy to answer questions and recommend products.
This is where I stocked up on sunscreen, hair and face treatments, and eyeliner before leaving Korea.
7. Visit the Sulwhasoo Flagship Store
For a more luxurious beauty experience, stop by the Sulwhasoo Flagship Store in Gangnam. Even if you don't plan on purchasing anything, the beautifully designed space showcases one of Korea's most iconic luxury skincare brands. Just remember that it's closed on Mondays—something we learned the hard way.
8. Ride the N Seoul Tower Cable Car
One of the best ways to see Seoul from above is by taking the N Seoul Tower Cable Car. The ride itself is short but fun, and once you reach the top you'll be rewarded with sweeping panoramic views across the city. If possible, try visiting later in the day so you can watch Seoul transition from daylight into a sea of sparkling lights.
9. Walk Along the Seoul City Wall
For one of my favorite sunset experiences in Seoul, head to the Naksan section of the Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong). The walk isn't particularly difficult, but the elevated views over the rooftops and surrounding neighborhoods become absolutely beautiful as the sun begins to set. It's a peaceful escape from the city's busier streets and one of the best photography spots we found.
10. Tour Changdeokgung Palace
If Gyeongbokgung Palace feels a little too crowded, I highly recommend visiting Changdeokgung Palace as well.Admission costs just 3,000 won (about $2 USD) if you’re not wearing Hanbok, and during our visit it felt much quieter than Seoul's most famous palace. There's also a Secret Garden you can visit with a separate ticket, although it happened to be closed while we were there.
11. Explore Gwangjang Market
One of the best ways to experience Korean street food is at Gwangjang Market. We went there as part of a City Tour, which was so helpful because our guide was able to help me find something to eat. Mung bean pancakes are naturally gluten-free, and we also enjoyed smoothies while wandering through the market. If you have food allergies like I do, I recommend visiting the orange restaurant (unsure on the name but you can’t miss the color) on the north side of the market. They were incredibly accommodating after I showed them my allergy translation card.
12. Get a Korean Hair Treatment
I don't think I've ever had a salon experience quite like I did in Seoul. I booked the famous 15-step hair treatment at The Days Hair, and it was one of the most relaxing 90 minutes of the trip. The appointment began with a scalp analysis (apparently my scalp is just as sensitive as the rest of me), followed by a long series of treatments designed to deeply cleanse, nourish, and strengthen the hair. Even though my post-treatment curls surrendered to Seoul's humidity about twenty minutes after leaving the salon (#finehairproblems), my scalp felt incredible afterward for days.
13. Experience a Korean Facial
If you've ever wanted to experience Korean skincare beyond simply buying products, I highly recommend booking a facial while you're in Seoul. I chose the 24K Gold V-Lift HIFU treatment at Line Esthe, and it was every bit as luxurious as it sounds. Over the course of two hours, I received multiple lifting, cleansing, moisturizing, massage, and ultrasound treatments tailored to my skin. The spa itself felt incredibly elegant, the staff spoke excellent English, and I walked out with glowing skin feeling like an absolute queen. Now we wait to see if the promised snatched jawline delivers (fingers crossed).
14. Wander Through a Shopping Street
Each neighborhood has its own shopping street complete with neon lights and so many signs you’ll worry you’re going to go cross-eyed. From restaurants, clothing stores, souvenir shops, photobooths, and everything between, you could spend hours wandering and seeing all Seoul has to offer. If you love shopping, it’s absolutely one of the 15 best things to do in Seoul.
15. Eat Your Way Through Seoul (+ Gluten Free!)
For my non allergic to everything friends, you can find amazing Korean BBQ literally everywhere. Or grab a bowl of Bimbap or rolls of gimbap. There is no lack of Korean food (though there is of pizza and burgers and sushi and latin American foods—basically anything non-Korean).
Dedicated gluten-free restaurants like Monil 2 House, Sunny House, and 6 Day Chicken made traveling so much less stressful. In fact, Monil 2 House even gave me a translated allergy card listing my dietary restrictions that I carried with me for the rest of the trip. That card quite literally prevented me from accidentally eating at a sushi restaurant that looked safe but wasn't. If you have food allergies, visiting Monil 2 House should honestly be one of your first stops after arriving in Seoul.
Colombiano in Hongdae has arepas that are gluten free (and incredible). Use the Find Me Gluten Free app to navigate, and if you find somewhere new, don’t forget to add it for future travelers!
Plus, the cafe culture is so real. I found SO many spots on Instagram before we left, but there was no time to visit them all. From the famous Onion Cafe (right down the road from Nine Tree by Parnas in Insadong) to hidden gems like Meerkat Friends in Hongdae, you absolutely should take some time to explore. Our favorite spot was the Baskin Robbins Workshop, and from that photo, you should absolutely see why. The ice cream animals were ADORABLE.
Final Thoughts on 15 Best Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
Seoul has a little something for everyone. History lovers can spend days exploring palaces and temples. Foodies can eat their way through traditional markets and world-class restaurants. Beauty enthusiasts can lose themselves in skincare stores and luxurious spa treatments. K-pop fans can take tours dedicated to the genre. There’s far more than 15 best things to do in Seoul, and the more research and preparation you do, the better your trip will be.