Place you can go or visit during Seollal Holiday in Seoul

This year's Seollal is on January 25 and the Seollal holiday period is from January 24 to 27. During the Seollal holiday, many attractions in Seoul are tend to be close.

For those is visiting Korea during this period are recommended to check the holiday schedule in advance.

1. Korean Folk Village - Open 

2. Korea House - Closed during Seollal Holiday (January 24-27)

3. Insadong - Open by some of store/shop

4. Daehangno Street - Open by some of store/shop

5. The national Museum of Korea - Closed during Seollal Holiday (January 24-27)

6. National Folk Museum of Korea - Closed during Seollal Holiday (January 24-27)

7. The War Memorial of Korea - Closed during Seollal Holiday (January 24-27)

8. Namsan Seoul Tower and Cable Car - Open

9. Hangang River Ferry Cruise - Open

10. Lotte World - Open

11. Seoulland - Open

12. Everland - Open

13. Seoul Grand Park - Open

14. Coex Mall - Open

15. Myeongdong and Itaewon - Open by some of store/shop

16. Namdaemun - Closed during Seollal Holiday (January 24-27)

cr : VisitKoreaWebsite

Best Seoul palace to visit Part 1

source: Visit Korea

Gyeongbokgung Palace 

Gyeongbokgung Palace was the first and the largest and the main of the royal palaces built in 1395 during the Joseon Dynasty located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built three years after the Joseon dynasty was founded. Gyeongbokgung served as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty.

Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings' households, as well as the government of Joseon.

Visitors to Gyeongbokgung can also visit the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum of Korea as they are located on the palace grounds.

The Korean government has invested much time and effort into rebuilding, restoring, and maintaining the palace for future generations.

How do I get to Gyeongbokgung Palace?

• Take a subway to Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) and take to the Exit 5. You will connected directly to the palace.

Is Gyeongbokgung Palace free?

• No
• Admission Fees : Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won Children (ages 7-18): 1,500 won
• Yes. If you wear Hanbok. 

Closing time?

• Closed on Tuesdays

A must visit location in Seoul for those who are interested in the history of Korean architecture and culture.

Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace was the second royal villa built following the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace in 1405. For 270 years, the palace was home to the Joseon government and was also the favored residence of many Joseon Dynasty kings. This makes Changdeokgung Palace the longest-serving royal residential palace.

What I like the most, Changdeokgung Palace is well-preserved and still has many of its original features. In 1997, Changdeokgung Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. 


Visitors to Changdeokgung Palace might also visited Huwon (Secret Garden). 

How do I get to Changdeokgung Palace?

• Take a subway to Anguk Station (Line 3) and take Exit 3.
• Walk Straight from the exit 3 for about 5 minutes and the palace is on your left.

Anguk Station (Line 3) and take Exit 3.

Walk Straight from the exit 3 for about 5 minutes and the palace is on your left.

Is Changdeokgung Palace free?

• Admission Fees (The Palace only) ( : Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000 won Children (ages 7-18): 1,500 won
• Huwon Tour (Secret Garden Tour) : Adults (age 19-64): 8,000 won Children (ages 7-18): 4,000 won
• Yes. If you wear Hanbok. 

Closing time?

• Closed on Monday

How to go to Namsan Tower Cable Car [the easy way]

The easy way to Namsan Tower Cable Car from Myeongdong Station. 

Take Exit 3 of Myeongdong Station.

You will see Pacific Hotel In front of you.. Take the road on your right.

Just walk straight all the way.

[Update ] How to go to Bukchon Hanok Village and Oneday Hanbok

Note :

Due to the increasing amounts of visitors to the Bukchon Hanok Village area, the number of complaints from the residents living in the village about disruption in their neighborhood had increase.

Please keep in mind and follow the rules bellow.

1. Please keep quiet. (No loud voices, horsing around, filming,etc)

2. Do not litter.

3. Group visit to maximum 10 people

4. Do not use microphone or loudspeaker

5. Do not take photos or films inside the house, even if the door is open

6. The heavily residential areas of Bukchon Hanok Village (31 Gahoe-dong, 33 Gahoe-Dong, etc) will no longer be offered as part of The Soul City Walking Tour.

If you want to get here from Gyeongbokgung Palace, you can try to look at how to get there.

How to go to Bukchon Hanok Village 

Take Exit 2 of Anguk Station (Line No. 3). Walk straight as soon as come out from Exit 2.

Walk Straight and when you see the cross zebra, just cross the road.

[Update] How to go to Mural Village in Ihwa-dong from Hyehwa Station

This Mural Village in Ihwa-dong is where Lee Gak (Park Yoo-chun) went on a fairytale date with Park-ha (Han Ji-min) in Rooftop Prince.

Visitors can find the many beautiful paintings and sculptures scattered around the village, all of which were created by “Art in the City” project.

This village is located about 800 meters from the subway line 4. You need to walk around 11 minutes to reach there.

If you want to go to this village from the Dongdaemun Station (Line 1), you can follow the map here. 

How to go to Mural Village :

1.     Take subway line 4 to Hyehwa Station and take Exit 2.

Seoul Hot Place - Ikseon-dong Alley

Ikseon-dong is a hot spot as a tourist attraction in Seoul as it has appeared on TV programs. There were many cafes and restaurants in this alley.

Too crowded but have a good picture spot.

cululu.tistory.com

cululu.tistory.com

How to get to Ikseon-dong Hanok Village

cr : picture as tagged

How to get to Seonyudo Park

This park is one of my favorite place that i like to visit. Seonyudo Park is a Seoul's most popular park. This park is good to visit if you want to enjoy nature. There's a botanical garden, ecosystem, exhibits geological features and cultural heritages.

Seonyudo Park is a small island connected to the mainland by a beautiful bridge with a beautiful views.

There's also a public toilet. 

This is the bridge connect to the park.

How to get to Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center at M Plaza Myeongdong

Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center in Myeongdong is one stop center for tourist to experience Korean Culture and Hanbok wearing for free.  Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center is located conveniently in M Plaza at the central of Myeongdong. 

Regular cultural program were held to introduce Korean cultural to visitors, including a hanbok wearing experiences, arts and crafts classes, K-pop dance and make-up sessions. 

Free Hanbok experience in Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center are really popular among tourists. There's always no vacancies and always full with tourists whose want to wearning a hanbok. So, for tourists who want to try hanbok here, make sure you come early and book early because their policy is first come first serve. There's no booking service.

How to get to Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center - Part 1 

1.   This part 1, I guide you to get to Seoul Global Culture and Tourism Center from Myeongdong Subway Station, Line 4 and from Exit 8.  After come out from the exit 8, turn to your left at the Tous Les Jours alley.

How to get to Tongin Market

Tongin Market is located in a long, narrow alley just around the Geyongbokgung Palace. The market give us an unique experience of lunch set to attract visitor. In order to buy your food, you need to a set of "coin" or "yeopjeon" and buy them for your lunch from different vendors. For recommended, you can exchange your 5,000KRW. They will provide you with an empty plastic tray for your food. The sign with 도시락 Cafe shows that the vendors will accept your "Coin" for payment. 

Tongin Market Operating Hours : 9.00 am till 6.00 pm (Closed on every third Sunday of the month)

Dosirak Cafe operating hours : Tuesday to Sunday at 11.00 am to 5.00 pm). Closed every monday and every third Sunday of the month.

How to go to Tongin Market

1. Take subway to Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) and get of from Exit 2. 

2. Continue to walk straight

3. Straight again

4. Continue to walk straight again for about 700 meters.

5. Keep looking the market entrance on your left until you see the building like in the photo.

6. You'll arrive at the market for about 10 minutes.

picture : as tagged

Busan : How to get to 40-Step Culture & Tourism Theme Street

The '40-step Culture & Tourism Theme Street 'is a 450m-street which starts from the Jungang-dong branch office of KB Bank and runs to the 40-step stairway of the '40-step Cultural Center' and continues on to the Palseong Tour.

The time-honored 40-step stairway embodies the joys and sorrows of refugees and those displaced by the Korean War. The entire area has been recently renovated to reflect life in Korea in the 50s and 60s and is expected to become another major tourist spot.

The '40-step Culture & Tourism Theme Street 'was designated' The Best Street 'by the Busan municipal government in June 2004.

This stairs is popular among Running Man fan because there's a episode that Running Man member were filming here. If not mistaken, the game was were they throw their shoes here.

How to get to 40-Step Culture & Tourism Theme Street in Busan 

1.   Take subway to Jungang-dong Station and take Exit 13. After you come out from the exit, turn to your left.

2.   If you come out from Exit 15 of Jungang-dong Station, walk straight and come out from the exit 15, turn to your right.

3.   Walk straight and just follow the picture bellow.

4.   Straight again and if you're not confident about the road, just see the signboard at your left.

5.   Walk straight until you find the yellow building. Turn to your left and walk straight again.

6.   After a short of walk, keep looking at your right. The 40-Step Culture & Tourism Theme Street is on your right.

Picture : as tagged 

How to get to Wolmido Amusement park

Wolmido Island (월미도) or some tourist called it Wolmido Amusement Park (월미도 테마파크). Nothing to bragged too much about this place.  

BUT! As you can see, this place is best place for family, couple and friendly outing like Seoul Land or Lotte World. But this place is not big as you expected. 

You can easily find many restaurant and convenient store at this place. This amusement park is not hard to explore but many couple and family come here to enjoy the sunset and the night view. What I recommended about this place is, this park is good place for dating.

A must see attraction in this park is like Apollo Disco and Viking rides which is truly thrilling.  

You can take to ride a cruise to look around the Island. 

the ticket price. 

How to get to Wolmido Amusement park :

1.   Take a subway to Incheon Station, Line 1 and go Exit 1. Not other exit at this station. Only one exit.

2.   As soon you come out from the Exit, you will spotted this gate. This place is called China Town in Incheon.

3.   When you come out from the exit 1, turn to your left and find a bus stop to Wolmido.

4.   From the bus stop, take bus no. 2 or no. 23 to wolmido or 월미도. 월미도 is the last station. So do not worry that you're missed the bus station. 

5.   This is the bus stop of 월미도 station. It is not like bus stop but it is easily to find.

6.   When your face facing the restaurant as soon you come out from the bus, take to your right and walk straight after that to your left and the Wolmido Amusement Park is in front of you.

7.   Here the amusement park. Easily to find right? 

Picture : as tagged in the photo