A Weekend in Seoul for K-Culture Lovers

Go back in time and discover historical Seoul:

Step back in time and walk through the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace while donning a beautiful hanbok. Built in 1395, Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty and houses the National Museum of Korea as well as the National Folk Museum.

Go neighborhood hopping:

Discover all the latest hotspots, fashion trends and cafe culture when you explore some of Seoul’s most vibrant neighborhoods:

• Myeongdong: If you're into shopping, Myeongdong is one of the busiest districts with trendy fashion, cosmetics (including the Olive Young flagship store) and street food.

• Hongdae: Known for its youthful energy, it’s great for discovering art, live music and a vibrant nightlife scene.

• Insadong: This area is perfect for exploring traditional Korean culture, with plenty of tea houses, antique shops and galleries.

• K-star road: Located in Gangnam, this is a must-visit spot for K-pop fans. The road is home to SM and JYP Entertainment. If you’re extra lucky, you may see some

Go on a self-care sojourn:

What’s a visit to Seoul without indulging in the latest self-care rituals? Pamper yourself with a 15-step scalp treatment to rejuvenate your scalp and emerge with healthier hair that lasts for weeks at Parkjun BeautyLab, and follow that with a luxurious facial treatment at one of Korea’s top facial spas. If you’re looking for a more traditional experience, try visiting a traditional Korean sauna like Insadong Hanjeonmak and get one of their signature body scrubs.

Attend a live show and/or K-pop concert:

Experience the excitement of being part of the studio audience for Inkigayo, one of Korea's top weekly K-pop music shows. Enjoy live performances from the latest hits and rising stars. If you plan ahead, you might even secure tickets to see your favorite K-pop idols live in concert — there’s always an exciting lineup of shows to catch!

Learn some K-pop dance moves:

Learn the moves of some of your favorite idol dances by taking a K-pop dance class — no experience required!

Go on a street food walking tour:

Wander through some of Seoul’s bustling alleyways and hidden backstreets and try some mandu, tteokkbokki, gimbap, hotteok, dalgona and more.

For those who love to eat as much as they love art, get an afternoon sweet treat at the gorgeous NUDAKE Haus Dosan (and be sure to stop by Gentle Monster upstairs for a new pair of shades). Try their Peak cake, filled with rich matcha cream in the middle, surrounded by squid ink pastry.

Discover Korean court cuisine at Jihwaja Seoul. Characterized by balanced meals with diverse ingredients and a focus on presentation, the cuisine was a reflection of the social status and prosperity of the royal court and known for its elaborate and refined style of cooking.

Craving Korean BBQ? Enjoy some of the finest cuts of beef at Yeongcheon Yeonghwa, as well as their signature dish, Korean steak tartare.

Visit a restaurant headed by three of the most popular chefs on Culinary Class Wars:

• Via Toledo by Kwon Sung-jun (“Napoli Matfia”): known for his signature Neapolitan cuisine as showcased on Culinary Class Wars.

• Trid by Kang Seung-won (“Triple Star”): Korea's only three-Michelin-star restaurant that specializes in Korean-French fusion.

• Deepin by Yoon Nam-no (“Cooking Maniac”): Japanese-style French dishes