Seoul - South Korea's Stylish Capital
- Work To Wonders
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
If all you know about Seoul is K-drama and K-pop and Gangnam Style, be prepared for a huge surprise.
Seoul is one of the most unique capitals in the world. Due to almost being totally destroyed during the Korean war, many of its buildings are modern, brutalist and soul-less. From above, it looks like a serious industrial metropolis, but nothing special.
On the ground, it's absolutely a different story. Between the high rises and the neon adverts there are deeply historical palaces, gardens and temples. Dwarfed by the industry around them, you can find charming historical neighbourhoods, peaceful parks and even traditional villages.
All this under the deep shadow of the Demilitarised Zone, which is just thirty-five miles away, where their North Korean neighbours face them down over a border where a peace treaty was never signed. Under the often bellicose, threatening statements of their neighbours, Seoul has developed into a powerful hub of the arts, churning out TV shows, movies and highly manufactured pop at an incredible rate, as well as cuisine that varies from the slightly spicy to the only palatable by locals level spicy.
It's also the gateway to one of northern Asia's most unique, but utterly charming nations.
Should you visit this country? Absolutely.
How to get there
The gateway to Seoul is Incheon airport, one of the world's best, where there are cultural presentations for those with long layovers. Flights to this airport are not cheap. The airport train to Seoul station is the likely route to the city and is a 45 minute journey. This is not a city you can tour during a long layover.
Transport in Seoul is much easier with a T-Money card.
How we did it
We flew to Seoul with KLM. There are multiple other airlines that fly there from the UK, so we would suggest checking Skyscanner or Kayak to see what's available for you.
It's been eight years since we were there, so we can't remember where we stayed.
Our top tips
Allow plenty of time when visiting landmarks in Seoul. Although the city is well laid out, it is quite crowded and the attractions are quite spread out. Tours, however, are not necessary. The city is criss-crossed with a very comprehensive and good value public transport system.
The temples and palaces are a must see. Geongbokgung in particular is unmissable. We also recommend the Hanok village.
Korean food is delicious, but be careful. The Korean definition of spicy is quite different from ours.
Comments