Seoul is one of the hippest places to visit right now, with its intriguing mix of traditional culture and modern trends. From ancient palaces to stunning scenery to mouthwatering cuisine, Seoul really does have something for everyone. With a huge range of hotels in Seoul catering to all tastes and price ranges, it should be easy to plan your trip.
Hip History
A must for history buffs is Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Dating back to 1395, the palace complex houses a number of different buildings, all beautifully restored. The Somerset Palace Seoul is one of the Seoul hotels located just minutes away from Gyeongbokgung, making it an ideal place to stay if culture is your thing.
Perfect Parks
Seoul is known for being a bustling metropolis, but visitors may be surprised to learn that it is also home to a stunning national park, Bukhansan. With its forested areas, granite peaks and diverse flora and fauna, the park stretches over an area of almost 80 square kilometers. As the park lies within the city itself, there are a number of hotels in Seoul which are conveniently located nearby, one of them being the Lotte Seoul Hotel.
Fabulous Food
Seoul is also a great destination for foodies, with Korean food finally gaining the international recognition it deserves. Popular dishes such as Bibimbap can be found cheaply all over the city, as can Korean barbecue joints serving galbi, bulgogi and samgyupsal. The dishes here are generally much cheaper than outside Korea, and they also come with an array of free banchan (side dishes), such as kimchi, seaweed or vegetable pancakes. The dishes taste even better when washed down with a typical Korean beer or soju, a traditional Korean alcoholic beverage made from rice, wheat or barley.
If you do get a craving for Western food, Itaewon is the perfect neighborhood to find some. Popular with expats and tourists, it has a huge selection of restaurants and bars serving everything from burgers to quesadillas. A trendy Seoul hotel in the area is the IP Boutique Hotel Itaewon.
Conclusion
Now that Seoul has earned a place as a global hot spot, visitors really are spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding where to visit, stay and eat. Whatever you decide to do, you can be sure that you’ll receive a warm welcome as you explore the diverse aspects of Korean culture.
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I had not realized that Seoul is considered such a hot spot for visitors. I love the idea of a large park in the middle of,the city – similar to,the idea of Central Park in NYC. I would love to,visit the palace and try the different foods.
I have never been there but know several people that have visited and enjoyed themselves immensely especially meeting the people and exploring the history.
Interesting! I didn’t even realize that Seoul was gaining so much in popularity. The rich history sounds very interesting, and, while I hadn’t thought about it, it would be nice to see their culture and taste their food. I had to look them up, but I think my husband would like the Bulgogi. Korean beer is another thing I didn’t even realize. We hear about lots of international ones, just not normally from this area.
Seoul sounds very interesting I would love to taste the food and see the sights but to be honest this is not on my list of places I really ever want o visit but it does sound interesting.
We were in Seoul last year and thought it was quite interesting. There is such a diversity of cultures in place, with the younger people wanting to be as western as possible but the old traditions still hold for the older generations. My daughter was born there and I brought back lots of souvenirs for her!