the route

In this itinerary, the places included are

• Gangnam Station: modern Seoul
• Yeoksam Park: the nearby park near Gangnam Station
• Coex Area: Coex exhibition venue, hotel, Coex mall and an aquarium
• Apgujeong Rodeo Street: street packed with luxury and international brands
• Dosan Park: a cozy park near Apgujeon Station for the commemoration of the freedom fighter Dosan Ahn Changho
• Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street: the street filled with studios, showrooms, shops of leading Korean designers, beauty shops, hair-salons, and wedding shops
• Hallyu Star Street: K-pop fans’ temple
• Sinsadong Garosu-gil: popular spots for restaurants and cafes
• Sinsadong Serosu-gil: newer popular spots for restaurants and cafes
• Jamwon Hangang Park: another park along the Han River
• Banpo Hangang Park: listed as the world’s longest bridge fountain in the Guinness Book of World Records

Why Kimchiman recommends

Check out the new part of Seoul. Finish your tour at Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Foutain.

Kimchiman recommends that you take the subway. From Coex area to Apgujeong, you can take a taxi, if you don’t want to detour and transfer. This is my recommendation. Of course, you can cut this itinerary down to a few more other itineraries.

1. Gangnam Station and Its Underground Shopping Centre

Both expensive and inexpensive shopping on the ground and underground for trendy fashion and accessories

Subway: exit 10 of Gangnam Station, line 2, green line to reach the main street

Shop Opening hours: 10:00-23:00

2. Yeoksam Park

A park on a hill located above Gangnam Station, providing a great view of skyscrapers in its area

Subway:

• exit 12 of Gangnam Station, line 2, green line and an 8-minute walk
• exit 4 or 5 of Sinnonhyeon Station, line 9, light brown line

Info

• the local people’s popular urban retreat from busy life.
• close to the National Library for Children and Young Adults

Tip: Get some snack and coffee before you visit this park. Move on to Samsung Station by taking the subway line no.2 to get to Coex Area.

3. Coex Area

Korea’s largest exhibition venue with a number of exhibition halls, a convention center, meeting rooms, Starfield Coex Mall, and Aquarium

Subway: connected to Samsung Station, line 2, green line

Info: There are exhibitions every week. There are also conventions, high-class hotels, Starfield Coex Shopping Mall, casino, museums, and an aquarium

Opening hours: Every business has different working hours. Most exhibitions finish before 6 pm. And most shops close between 9: 30 pm and 10 pm.

Tip: If you want to see the fancy part of Seoul with high technology, this is the right place.

Related Venue:

CALT City Airport Terminal

You can check-in and go through immigration here and then take a bus or the subway to either Incheon or Gimpo International Airport. You can proceed directly to the designated gate to depart.

Available airlines: Korean Air, Asiana Air, Jeju Air, Tway Air and China Southern Air

Working hours: 05:10-18:30 (Check by calling 02-551-0077)

Subway: exit 5 of Samsung Station, line 2, green line and walk 5 minutes

Tip: For the next destination, I would take a taxi to Apgujeong Rodeo Street. It might cost you only 3,500 won and save more time. Time is money. 😉

4. Apgujeong Rodeo Street

Street packed with luxury brand stores.

Subway:

• exit 6 of Apgujeong RodeoStationn, Bundang line, yellow line and a 5-minute walking distance
• exit 2 of Apgujeong Station of line 3, orange line and walk 15 minutes or take a bus no. 351, 4419, 4412, 362 or 240 at the nearest bus stop to exit 2.

Info: Everything about luxury goods are found here: luxury malls, designer brands outlets, luxury goods shops and luxury goods’ repair shops.

5. Dosan Park

Park built in commemoration of Ahn, Changho, a freedom fighter.

Subway:

• exit 3 of Apgujeong Station of line 3, orange line and walk 5 minutes.
• exit 5 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Bundang line, yellow line and a 10-minute walking distance

Info: There are global brands’ stores, designer stores and plenty of cafes around the park. Some movies and dramas were filmed here.

Tip: Why don’t you take a picture and rest a bit here over a cup of coffee 🙂

6. Cheongdam-dong Fashion Street

The street filled with studios, showrooms, shops of leading Korean designers, beauty shops, hair-salons, and wedding shops by Korean celebrities

Subway: exit 2 and 3 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Bundang line, yellow line

Info: This street is also famous for international luxury brand shops. Some shops manage cafes, galleries, and restaurants altogether.

Tip: You might come across Korean celebrities here

7. Hallyu Star Street

K-pop fans’ temple

Subway: exit 2 and 3 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station, Bundang line, yellow line

Info: Music Entertainment’s buildings are lined: JYP, SM, etc. This street is truly a popular tourist spot for K-pop fans.

The Map of Garosu-gil and Serosu-gil

8. Sinsadong Garosu-gil

The two-lane road stretching from Sinsa-dong to Apgujeong-dong lined with gingko trees

Subway: exit 8 of Sinsa Station, line 3, orange line

Info: This road is not as long as you might think. Lined with creative clothing accessories made by talented designers, this area is always popular for the youth who like fashion and new styles.

Tip: Flea markets could give you a great deal every now and again.

9. Sinsadong Serosu-gil

Small 8 alleys along the Garosu-gil

Subway: exit 8 of Sinsa Station, line 3, orange line

Info: This is the extended version of Garousu-gil. When this area had drawn more and more people there came to be many different kinds of café and restaurants along these streets.

10. Jamwon Hangang Park

Subway: exit 5 of Sinsa Station, line 3, orange line and a 15-minute walking distance

Things to do: biking, inline skating, wakeboarding, jogging and running

Info: Nature Learning Centre is nearby where you can learn about silkworms, from which the name Jamwon originated.

11. Banpo Hangang Park

Listed as the world’s longest bridge fountain in the Guinness Book of World Records

Subway:

• exit 8-1 of Express Bus Terminal Station, line 3, 7 & 9
• exit 2 of Sinbanpo Station, line no.9, light brown line

Info: Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain has a spectacular fountain show from April to October. The rainbow jets of water reach 1,140m, with 570m at each end of the bridge. Nearly 200-lighted jets creating a festival of light and 100 tons of water from the Han River into the air contribute to Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain Show. There are also such various performances at Moonlight Square as classical, acapella, opera and jazz every Saturday evening for six months from May to October.