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Programs See everything we do. Offices Find an office near you. Inwangsan Climb up past weirdly eroded rocks and giant boulders for the most complete views of Seoul. Ansan One of the best spots to catch the sunrise across the city, with a lower-level walking path. Namsangol Hanok Village Five differing yangban upper-class houses are in this park at the foot of Namsan. Jongmyo The main shrine of this Unesco World Heritage site is an excellent example of traditional Korean architecture.
Korean Folk Village A gathering of some thatched and tiled traditional buildings from around the country, outside of Seoul. Jogye-sa Home to Daeungjeon, the largest Buddhist temple building in Seoul. Myeong-dong Catholic Cathedral Gothic-style cathedral with a vaulted ceiling and stained-glass windows. Bongeun-sa Join the Templelife program here every Thursday afternoon. Gilsang-sa Former exclusive restaurant turned into a serene temple in the hills. Sajikdan Stone altar in a tranquil park where devotees prayed for good harvests.
Starfield Library A 13m-tall, neon-lit, designer shrine to books with over 50, Korean and international titles. Others are cultural centers showcasing traditional crafts and other historic aspects of Korean life. This is a fun place to spend an afternoon and really gives visitors the feeling of being in ancient Korea due to the historic architecture and narrow streets. National Museum of Korea. This must-see attraction in Seoul showcases the incredible history and artwork of Korea and the Korean people.
The museum, one of the largest in Asia, is in the city's Yongsan District close to Itaewon. It focuses on archeology, history, and art and includes a vast collection of works and objects going back more than a million years. There are ancient and prehistoric artifacts, sculpture, paintings, and other artwork along with a large collection of objects and antiques.
Before or after your museum visit, head down the street to Yongsan Family Park , a nice outdoor space to relax. Another important museum, The War Memorial of Korea, is also close by. Lotte World Tower. One of the newest attractions in Seoul is the Lotte World Tower skyscraper. It's meters above the ground and one of the world's tallest currently fifth buildings. There are several indoor and outdoor observation areas called Seoul Sky at the top on the rd floor.
Views are spectacular both during the day and at night, and you can see degrees around the city. On the th floor, there's the Sky Deck with the world's highest glass floor. Like magic, the floor changes from opaque to clear, terrifying unsuspecting visitors. Even getting to the top is fun, and the journey is done via super fast, double-decker elevators, with windows on one side and LED screens on the other three and the ceiling. Inside the tower are offices, luxury residences, and a hotel.
There's also an aquarium and a large shopping mall. The tower is home to a concert hall and a state-of-the-art, screen MoviePlex. Gyeongbokgung Palace. First built in , Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of Seoul's five grand palaces built during the powerful Joseon dynasty.
Destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries, it was restored to its original glory after the Second World War and totally restored in the s. Within the palace grounds, you can also find the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum , and both are worth a visit.
The palace museum is especially fascinating as it presents items from the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty. This includes priceless antiques and artwork, as well as everyday items for cooking, cleaning, and daily life. The National Folk Museum focuses on items from daily life, as well as clothing and dioramas, to tell the story of the Korean people since prehistoric times. Sunset over the Seoul Museum of Art.
Located behind the Deoksugung Palace, SeMa as it's known to locals, has a large collection of artwork, mainly from the modern era. The art museum focuses on Korean art and Korean artists but has a decent selection of international works and creators.
Changing temporary and visiting exhibitions also showcase unique collections and artwork. The collection is displayed over three floors in a large building that was formerly the home of the Korean Supreme Court. The museum has two additional satellite locations in other parts of Seoul, and these feature rotating exhibits from the museum's main collection, as well as special exhibitions. The Blue House. It's the official residence of the Korean president , as well as the location of his and related executive offices of state.
The Blue House isn't really a single building, it's an entire campus of buildings, all built in the traditional Korean style and all featuring the distinctive blue tile roofs where it gets its name. Hour-long tours are given, but participants must apply and schedule their tour in advance, online.
The tour takes you to many parts of the palace complex including meeting rooms, reception rooms, and the Korean version of the Rose Garden, where the Korean president holds press conferences.
Bongeunsa is one of many Buddhist temples in and around Seoul. It first opened in the year and is a complex of multiple buildings and shrines. It's easy to visit, as it's centrally located in the exciting Gangnam area. The temple is on the side of a low mountain, directly across the street from the massive COEX convention center and mall. It's a popular spot for convention-goers to take a break and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.
Visitors are welcome, and the temple even has a program that allows guests to experience the daily life of a monk for a few hours. Gwanghwamun Gate at night. The largest and main gate to Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace , Gwanghwamun Gate is home to the changing of the guards ceremony performed since , which happens daily except Tuesdays at 10am and 2pm.
The gate has undergone many renovations and rebuilding, most recently in , when it was restored to its original location and reconstructed with native materials. There's a large plaza in front, and the gate sits in front of the vast Gwanghwamun Square , home to frequent political demonstrations, a large subway station, giant fountain, and some huge statues of Joseon-era leaders.
Cheonggyecheon Stream in central Seoul. This natural creek that flows through central Seoul was covered over by highways in the post-Korean War economic boom. Seven miles of the creek were uncovered as part of an urban revitalization project and turned into an outdoor recreation area, opening in There are now seven miles of creek-side hiking, walking and biking trails.
It really has changed the CBD of Seoul by bringing an artery of green into what was a very urbanized, crowded area. The creek is also home to the spectacular Seoul lantern festival , held each November.
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