Top 10 Things To Do in Seoul

Seoul has mastered the art of the unexpected turn. Ancient palace roofs sit against glass towers. Quiet teahouses hide behind neon shopping streets. One minute you’re tracing the footsteps of Joseon kings; the next, you’re eating late-night dumplings in a market thick with steam, chatter, and sesame oil.

And with daily Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow to Seoul Incheon, South Korea’s capital is about to feel much closer. Here are ten of our favourite things to do in Seoul, from royal palaces and street food to riverside evenings, design districts, and skyline views.

Start with the grand entrance. Gyeongbokgung Palace is Seoul at its most cinematic, with sweeping gates, painted wooden halls, and mountain-framed courtyards. Once home to the kings of the Joseon dynasty, it still carries that sense of ceremony, even with the city moving at full tilt just beyond its walls.

Give yourself time to explore the wider Gwanghwamun, Seochon, and Bukchon area around it. This part of Seoul is rich with museums, galleries, hanbok rental shops, cafés, and tucked-away restaurants. In other words, don’t rush the palace then bolt - let the whole neighbourhood unfold.

Good to know: Many visitors rent hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, for photos around the palace. Go early for a quieter, softer start to the day.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a slower kind of beautiful. Its narrow lanes are lined with traditional hanok houses, with curved tiled roofs, wooden beams, and views that open suddenly between the streets.

This isn’t a place to attack with an itinerary. Wander gently. Stop for tea. Browse small craft shops. Look back towards the skyline and let the old-and-new Seoul moment sink in.

Good to know: Bukchon is a residential neighbourhood, so keep it calm and follow local signs.

For the Seoul of sizzling pans, quick hands, and excellent decisions made on an empty stomach, head to Gwangjang Market.

This is one of the city’s classic street-food stops, especially for bindaetteok, mayak gimbap, dumplings, and knife-cut noodles. Pull up a stool, order a few small dishes, and let the market carry you along. It’s busy, generous, a touch chaotic, and all the better for it.

Good to know: Take cash as well as a card, and arrive hungry. A guided food tour can help if you want a little local steer through the steam and sizzle.

For a new perspective, take yourself up to N Seoul Tower on Namsan Mountain. By day, Seoul stretches out in every direction. By night, the city turns into a glittering grid of streets, towers, bridges, and tiny moving headlights.

You can take transport up the mountain, or walk part of the way through Namsan Park if you prefer your skyline with a side of fresh air.

Good to know: Sunset is the busiest time, so go earlier if you'd rather have the city to yourself.

Myeongdong is Seoul with the volume nudged up. Beauty stores spill onto bright side streets, snack stalls fire up as the day goes on, and there’s always somewhere tempting to eat just around the corner.

Go late afternoon, when the neighbourhood starts shifting into evening mode. Stock up on Korean skincare, graze your way through a few street food favourites, then follow the crowd, or your nose, towards dinner.

Good to know: Myeongdong pairs neatly with Namsan and N Seoul Tower, so it’s easy to combine shopping, snacking, and skyline views in one day.

Late nights and Hongdae pair very nicely. Around Hongik University, you’ll find indie shops, music spots, bars, cafés, photo booths, street performers, and street food waiting exactly when you need it.

It’s a brilliant area for an evening out, especially if you want a more youthful, creative side of the city. Start with Korean barbecue, then see where the night takes you.

Good to know: Nearby Yeonnam-dong is calmer and café-rich, so it makes a lovely daytime contrast before Hongdae switches the lights on.

Seongsu-dong is where old warehouses have found a very stylish second life. The neighbourhood is known for concept stores, fashion pop-ups, design spaces, and cafés that treat coffee, interiors, and lighting as a moral obligation.

It’s often compared to Brooklyn or Shoreditch, but that doesn’t quite catch it. Seongsu feels unmistakably Seoul: sharp, inventive, detail-obsessed, and always two steps ahead of what everyone else is about to call cool.

Good to know: Visit in the afternoon for shops and cafés, then wander towards Seoul Forest when you want a little green space.

The Han River is the place for less rush, more wander. Its riverside parks are made for cycling, walking, picnicking, people-watching, and watching the skyline soften as evening arrives.

It’s one of the loveliest places to catch the city off duty. Think takeaway chicken by the water, couples on bikes, families under picnic tents, and office workers making the most of the breeze after a long day. It's simple, local, and quietly lovely.

Good to know: In warmer months, pick up convenience-store snacks or order Korean fried chicken for a very Seoul riverside picnic.

Seoul’s art scene rewards anyone who leaves space in the itinerary. Around Samcheong-dong, you’ll find major cultural stops alongside smaller galleries and design-led shops. Hannam-dong has also become a strong art district, with contemporary galleries, museums, and some very good places to pause between exhibitions.

This is where Seoul’s creative confidence really comes through. Architecture, fashion, sculpture, photography, craft, and contemporary Korean art all sit in conversation with each other. Sometimes in hushed rooms. Sometimes in spaces that make you want to redesign your entire house.

Good to know: Pair MMCA Seoul with Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, or Samcheong-dong for a culture-rich day that doesn’t feel overpacked.

For a memorable day beyond the city, consider a guided trip to the Demilitarized Zone. It offers a powerful look at the Korean Peninsula’s modern history and the continuing division between North and South Korea.

It's a different experience to the others on this list, but it gives important context to the country you’re visiting. Go with curiosity, respect, and a good guide.

Good to know: Access is controlled, so book with a reputable operator and check passport requirements, dress guidance, and itinerary details before you go.

Fly direct from London Heathrow to Seoul Incheon with daily Virgin Atlantic flights.