INTO SEOUL'S SOUL
The city that never sleeps is well known to the world as New York. But more recently, Seoul could easily become the city that never stops living. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a growing holiday destination. The city offers many attractions to its tourists. It is not your typical holiday destination, but more or like so a destination for those who strive to learn more about a very different culture, for someone who loves to eat and shop and someone who is not afraid to try new things! It's a city that is well developed, with one of the best underground systems and the fastest Wi-Fi in the world. Everything is easy to get access to and there is little to no chance of you getting lost, thanks to the many apps available in more than one language, that helps tourists navigate not only the underground but also the city itself. If you are staying just in Seoul, and not venturing outside the big city, one week is more than enough to visit and do all the main things.
As the capital, Seoul has a variety of things to do and see. Some of the most iconic places are Myeongdong and Hongdae, known for being the “mecca” of shopping and eating and they tend to not disappoint! One of the most popular places to eat at is Yoongane, located in Myeongdong. It’s known for its famous spicy rice and their flavorful chicken with beer.
Hongdae is especially entertaining to visit at night time. It’s an area known to be populated mostly by university students, where they have restaurants, stores of various kind and, everyone’s favorite, street performances! It’s while walking around the streets of Hongdae at night that one feels that the city is, indeed, alive. The restaurants are packed, people sit outside in plastic chairs and tables drinking, eating and laughing the night away and the many artists that come out, to showcase their talent, are some of the things that make Hongdae a special place.
These are the two main places to visit for your bit of laser and fun but, if one wants to learn more about the culture of the country, a visit to the main palace, Gyeongbokgung, is a must. The palace is located close to their also very famous Cheonggyecheon stream, where you can take beautiful pictures and deep your feet in the water!
There are plenty more other places and things to see and do, such as the Namsan Tower, in which you can challenge yourself and climb all the 649 steps that takes to reach the top, an afternoon stroll around the famous Han River, a visit to the Bukchon Hanok Village, where you can get a glimpse at the older part of Seoul and even walk around wearing a traditional Hanbok, Korea’s traditional dress.
Seoul is not your typical holiday destination, but it is one of the most interesting places one can pay to visit. From the busy streets filled with young people strolling around and shopping to the preserved ancient culture and history of their country, Seoul combines the old with the new and makes it into something anyone will certainly never forget after experiencing it.
Words by Alexandra Ribeiro ● All photos by Alexandra Ribeiro and Helena Ferreira