2. Seoul City Hall, Namdaemun Market, Myeogdong, and N Seoul Tower

The tourist attractions included in this itinerary

Kimchiman

see the center of seoul, seoul city hall and visit the most iconic landmark, n seoul tower.

김치맨

The Route

1. Seoul City Hall 서울 시청

The Seoul Metropolitan Government with green grass square.

FYI: The new wing in the back is actually in use whereas the old one in the front is used as a library.

Address: 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 110(태평로1가)

Subway: Exit 5 of Seoul City Hall Station, line no.1&2 (navy blue and green line)

Opening Hours: 9:00-18:00

Things to do: Go to ‘sky square’, chillax on the bench or on the grass. Enjoy coffee and paintings and other artwork at the art gallery on the 9th floor.

2. Deoksu Palace 덕수궁

A walled compound of palace that was inhabited by members of Korea’s Royal Family during the Joseon monarchy until the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910.

FYI: The only palace with a western style garden, fountain, and modern royal palace hall. It served as the backdrop for Great Korean Empire. 

‘Gung’ means a palace. Deoksugung means Deoksu Palace. 🙂

• Mar, Apr, May, Sept. & Oct.: 09:00-21:00
• Closed on Mondays

Royal Guard Changing Ceremony:

• 11:00, 14:00 and 15: 30 3 times a day all year round

Admission:

• 1,000 Won

Free Language Guide Service:

• English: 10:30 & 13:30 (twice a day)
• Chinese: 10:00 (except on Sun)  & 14:30 (except on Sat and Sun)

3. Deoksugung Doldam-gil (Stone-wall Road) 덕수궁 돌담길

A gorgeous street along the wall around Deoksu Palace.

Things to do: Stroll along the wall, taking it easy. You can get great pictures here due to the beautiful walls and trees alongside.

4. Seoul Museum of Art 서울 시립 미술관

A modern art museum conveniently located in the Deoksu Palace area near Jeongdong Theater.

Address: 61 Deoksugung-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04515 / 서울특별시 중구 덕수궁길 61(서소문동)

Subway: Exit 10 of Seoul City Hall Station, line no.1 & 2 (navy blue and green line)

Opening Hours:

• March – Oct: 10:00 – 20:00 Weekdays / 10:00 – 19:00 Sat, Sun, national holidays
• Nov – Feb: 10:00 – 20:00 Weekdays / 10:00 – 18:00 Sat, Sun, national holidays
• Museum Night (Jan-Aug): Open until 10 pm every first and third Tuesdays of the month
• Museum Night (Sep-Dec): Open until 10 PM every Second and last Wednesdays(Culture Day) of the month

Admission:

• Free for regular exhibitions
• Fees can vary depending upon special exhibitions.

5. Seoul Museum of History 서울 역사 박물관

The Museum depicts the transformation from its prehistoric period to the city it is today.

FYI: You can get a glimpse of the life and culture in the early days of Seoul and see the scale model of the city, providing a panoramic view of Seoul.

Address: 55, Saemunan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 종로구 새문안로 55(신문로2가)

Subway:

1. 7 minutes’ walk (470m) from Exits 6, 7, 8, Gwanghwamun Station, Seoul Subway Line No.5
2. 28 minutes’ walk (600m) from Exit 4, Seodaemun Station, Seoul Subway Line No.5
3. 516 minutes’ walk (980m) from Exit 12, Seoul City Hall Station, Seoul Subway Line No.2

Opening Hours:

• March – Oct: 09:00 – 20:00 Weekdays / 10:00 – 19:00 Sat, Sun, National Holidays
• Nov – Feb: 10:00 – 20:00 Weekdays / 10:00 – 18:00 Sat, Sun, National Holidays

Until here the above venues are all in one area, so you can begin your tour from no.1, Seoul City Hall.

From here you can choose to go to Myeongdong or Namdaemun, both of which are equally close to the city hall area. I recommend that you go to Namdaemun first or/and then Myeongdong that is closer to Namsangol Hanok village.

6. Sungnyemun (Namdaemun) 숭례문 (남대문)

Designated as national treasure no.1, also called as Namdaemun.

FYI: It was burned down by a drunken homeless Feb 11, 2008 and was restored in 2013. Most people in Korea were mad. Ever since then, the government has reinforced security to protect it safely.

Address: 40, Saejongdae-ro, Jungg-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 40(남대문로4가)

Subway: Exit 5 of Hoehyun Station, line no. 4 (sky blue line). It is a 3 minute walking distance from the station.

Things to do: Walk around and you can get a great picture of Namdaemun and the guards.

7. Namdaemun Market 남대문 시장

The largest conventional market in Korea.

Subway: Exit 5 of Hoehyun Station, line no. 4 (sky blue line)

Opening Hours: 

• Most shops are open from 10: 00 til around 18: 00, but street stalls and stores on the main alley are open until around 21: 00.  Some shops are open 23: 00 – 18: 00 from night until late afternoon.
• Closed on Sundays, lunar claendar new year, Chuseok and summer holidays

Things to do: Eat street food and sit in at old small restaurants. You can buy basically everything in the market; clothes, household goods, health supplements, foods and you name it. This area is famous for its low prices and hospitality. You can always haggle with the store owners. 

8. Myeongdong 명동

The best and the most vibrant shopping area in Seoul before COVID-19; cosmetics, clothes and street food.

FYI: Street foods here tend to be twice more expensive than in other areas due to the expensive property factor.

Subway:

• Exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, sky blue line, no.4
• Exit 5 of Eunjiroipgu Station (At the station it says Euljiro1ga station), no.2 (green line) 

Opening Hours: Most shops are open from 10: 30 til around 22: 00

Food info: Myeongdong kalguksu (seafood noodle soop), donkatsu (pork cutlet) and dumpligs are famous in this area

9. Namsangol Hanok Village 남산골 한옥 마을

A Village of Traditional Houses in the Namsan Valley.

Address: 28, Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 중구 퇴계로34길 28(필동2가)

Subway: Exit 3 or 4 of Chungmuro Station, no.3 (orange line)

Opening Hours: 

• Apr – Oct: 09:00 – 21:00
• Nov – Mar: 9:00 – 20:00
• Closed on Mondays

Guided Tour: Call 02-224-4412

10. Namsan Park

A well-preserved park at the foot of Namsan in the center of Seoul.

FYI: Get some water before you go because you will not see many convenient stores around.

Directions: You can walk to this park from Namsangol Hanok Village. From Namdaemun Market, I recommend you start your journey from gate 1 of Namdaemun Market (서울특별시 중구 남대문로 24(남대문로3가) / 24, Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul)  up onto the hill if you want to walk up there based on this itinerary.

If you want to go there separately, the most convenient and inexpensive way to get there is to take bus no.01(aka. the namsan circulation bus [남산 순환 버스] either at the bust stop right outside the exit 2 of Chungmuro Station (충무로역, orange line) or at a bus stop near the exit 6 of Dong-guk University Station (동대입구역, orange line). Fighting!

11. N Seoul Tower

The most iconic landmark in Seoul

FYI: The N Seoul Tower, officially the YTN Seoul Tower and commonly known as Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower, is a communication and observation tower located on Nam Mountain in central Seoul

Address: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul / 서울특별시 용산구 남산공원길 105(용산동2가)

TMI

• There are 18 different gates around this mountain and many ways to walk up. To enjoy the best route, take Kimchiman’s guided tour to Namsan Tower. 🙂
• 2 easiest and cheapest(no money) ways to reach the top of Namsan is to walk from Namdaemun and Namasangol Hanok Village.

Opening Hours:

• Mon – Fri & Sun 10: 00 – 23: 00
• Sat 10: 00 – 24: 00

Admission for observatory:

• Adults: 16,000 won
• Under age 13: 12,000 won

Things to to: Looking at the whole city of Seoul

TMI: On sunny days and during night time, the view from the tower can be better. You don’t have to pay if you don’t want to get up to the tower.

Now get some rest 😉