This exciting capital city fosters every aspect of the Korean Wave (hallyu), the worldwide fascination with Korean culture. Here visitors may immerse themselves in popular music and art as well as traditional culture, food, literature and language through festivals and events throughout the year. Tourists and business travelers alike find Seoul satisfies their every whim and need.
GETTING THERE & AROUND
While Gimpo International Airport is closer to Seoul (about 11 miles), Incheon International Airport (about 35 miles from Seoul) hosts the majority of international flights. Connect with the city via train, bus, taxi or town car. Once in Seoul, avoid heavy traffic by using the extensive and inexpensive public transit system. An English-language Seoul Subway app and a public transportation card make it easy to use; taxis are also plentiful and can be hailed on the street or through the use of an app.
LODGING
RYSE, Autograph Collection
This boutique Hongdae property seeks to inspire creators and makers of the world by connecting with them through art infused in every space. In addition to the usual amenities, find a rooftop club; open gym; and the Print Culture Lounge with an extensive collection of books, magazines and vinyl records.
130 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea,
tel 82 2 330 7700
The SHILLA Hotel Seoul
Conveniently located in Central Seoul, close to shopping and cultural attractions, this luxury property also offers a resort-style outdoor terrace and pool complex, private cabanas, walking trails and jogging courses.
249 Dongho-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea,
tel 82 2 2233 3131
Located in the tallest building in Korea, this property offers stunning views from every guestroom as well as the world’s highest hotel ballroom and event spaces. Guests enjoy access to a fitness center, salon, spa, sauna and indoor pool.
300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea,
tel 82 2 3213 1000
DINING
Byeokje Galbi
Offering the quintessential Korean barbecue experience, Byeokje Galbi serves up legendary beef short ribs, cooked to order at charcoal-fired grills embedded in every table. Other favorites: buckwheat cold noodles, kimchi, bulgogi and sweet pumpkin.
1-4 Yangja-daero 71-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul,
South Korea, tel 82 2 392 8308
Kojima
One of the finest sushi restaurants in Korea, Kojima boasts two Michelin stars and great views in addition to a traditional omakase experience featuring the day’s freshest, most delicious fish. Snag a seat at the chef’s counter to watch the master at work.
21 Apgujeong-ro 60-gil, Gangnam-gu, Boontheshop Cheongdam A, 6F, Seoul, South Korea, tel 82 2 2056 1291
La Yeon
This 2-Michelin-starred restaurant serves up traditional Korean cuisine with a contemporary flare in an elegant space boasting views of Namsan Park. An extensive saké list and wine pairings add to the fine-dining experience.
The SHILLA Hotel Seoul, 23F, 249 Dongho-ro,
Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, tel 82 2 2230 3367
ATTRACTIONS
Changdeokgung Palace
Known for its exceptional harmony with its natural surroundings and excellent layout, this UNESCO World Heritage site is regarded as the most Korean-style palace and features the lovely 15th-century Secret Garden with its many pavilions and ponds
built into the terrain of the mountain.
99, Yukgij-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea,
tel 82 2 3668 2300
Gwangjang Market
One of the largest traditional markets in Korea, it is known for its vintage clothing, fabric and hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) vendors, but many visitors come for the food. Here find a variety of traditional dishes; vegetarian options; and fresh produce, seafood and side dishes.
88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South
Korea, tel 82 2 2267 0291
Hiking in Seoul
Located within the city itself, Bukhansan National Park offers a natural retreat and numerous hiking trails on Bukhansan Mountain. The Seoul Hiking Tourism Center provides everything you may need: appropriate clothing and boots for rent (reservations suggested), multilingual information services, guidebooks and maps, luggage storage and lockers, and shower and changing facilities.
Seoul Hiking Tourism Center, 5F, 52, Samyang-ro
173-gil, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea,
tel 82 2 1533 2608
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Mar 26, 2025The Luxury Collection Welcomes The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid
The Luxury Collection officially welcomed The Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Madrid into its global portfolio after its two-year restoration and refurbishment. The hotel, in Madrid’s Barrio de Las Letras, was formerly The Westin Palace, Madrid.
Sponsored Content
A Summer Sojourn Along Europe’s Rivers with AmaWaterways
This summer, elevate your vacation experience with award-winning AmaWaterways. Offering a seamless blend of unparalleled luxury, authentic cultural experiences and unrivaled service, AmaWaterways cruises are the perfect way to uncover the heart of Europe during the sunniest season with itineraries that glide along the continent’s most iconic rivers, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Seine and the Douro.
March 2025
Mar 26, 2025Head to Jackson Hole and Revel in the Remote Possibilities
For a city girl like me, stepping into the town square of Jackson, in northwest Wyoming, felt like walking onto a slicker set of the television show Gunsmoke. Wooden sawtooth facades surround Jackson’s Town Square (a.k.a. George Washington Memorial Park). Visitors stroll the boardwalk connecting the Western-style buildings, each with a large window displaying goods, restaurants and art galleries. Iconic arches, assembled with discarded elk antlers from nearby National Elk Refuge, perch on each corner of the town square. Stagecoaches pulled by teams of horses parade other city-dwellers around the park.
Daily
Mar 26, 2025Retreat Brand Promises “White Lotus”-Inspired Wellness Experiences Without Leaving the United States
With hit show The White Lotus captivating audiences every Sunday, fans and travelers look for travel experiences that mimic the luxury of resorts seen on screen. While everyone isn’t able to travel to Thailand, the current locale of season three, there are some closer options in the United States offering the perfect blend of indulgence, relaxation and intrigue.
Sponsored Content
Madrid: The Charm of an Authentic City
They say Madrid is in vogue for many reasons: its lifestyle, its heritage, its cuisine and all of its new attractions. And it’s true, because Madrid is on the radar of travelers looking for a cutting-edge destination that still holds onto its essence. Join us as we explore its charms.
eFlyer Reviews
Mar 26, 2025The CURRENT Hotel Review
Like any good metropolitan area, there are a slew of hotels near Tampa International Airport. I’ve enjoyed several, but my most recent trip to The CURRENT Hotel may rank as my favorite thus far.
The Hoxton, Florence Opens in Italy
eFlyer News
Mar 26, 2025eFlyer Lead
Mar 26, 2025Speculation Continues to Mount Following London’s Heathrow Airport Shutdown
On March 21, Heathrow Airport, Europe’s busiest, shut down after a nearby substation caught fire, damaging its power supply and forcing the airport to close for 18 hours. The fire resulted in more than 200,000 passengers stranded and airlines losing millions of dollars.
Sponsored Content
Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive
Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.
Daily
Mar 26, 2025Swiss Camera Museum, Switzerland Debuts New Exhibit
Through June 8, Swiss Camera Museum in Vevey, Switzerland, presents Mining Photography: The Ecological Footprint of Image Production. Designed by Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg and curated by Boaz Levin and Esther Ruelfs, this thought-provoking exhibition explores how the history of photography has included — since its inception in the early 19th century — a reliance upon copper, silver and fossil fuels like bitumen and carbon once used to produce images on copper plates and salted paper prints.
ShareThis