Visit Gyeongbokgun Palace
Like most caption cities in Asia, Seoul has some great historical sites to see. The first sight we visited was Gyeongbokgun Palace. It was the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces in Seoul. Referred to as the Northern Palace. Gyeongbokgun has many beautiful pavilions and pagodas, two in particular one elevated high on stilts and the other floating in the middle of an artificial lake. In 1916 Japan made the palace the site of their occupational government. This building was located at Gwanghwamun Gate and stood until 1995. Since then, the Korean government has been restoring the palace to its former glory. Work that is still being carried out today.
Take in the Sights at Bukchon Hanok Village
This tradition village in Seoul is located on the top of a hill between Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Place and Jongmyo Shrine. Bukchon Hanok Village is made up of many narrow roads lined with traditional houses known as hanok. The area has been developed as a tourist attraction to showcase the beautiful architecture and traditional craft skills of Korea. There is an information center that we suggest is your first stop. They offer maps and guides that will give you a route to follow. We spent about 3 hours in Bukchon Hanok Village. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants if you are hungry and there are beautiful spots for photo opportunities. It is a great way to spend an afternoon.
N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower)
The N Seoul Tower (also known as Namsan Tower) is located on top of a hill in the city. At 236 meters, it marks the second highest point in Seoul. There are a number of entrances to the park and the ancient wall of Seoul boarders it. We started by walking up the steps just a short distance from the central station. There is a cable car that will take you straight to the top but opted for the hike. The hike is not too difficult and there is stairs and railings along the way. There is a wooden platform about half way up. We stopped for a beer and took in the panoramic views of Seoul. It was an extremely clear day so we had an amazing view of the city. After another few minutes of climbing we reached the top and the base of the N Seoul tower. There was a cultural demonstration going on that included traditional Korean music and martial arts. It was fantastic it watch, Lynne even got to take part in some drumming. It was a great way to spend an afternoon and also a nice way to get some exercise.
Go on a Hike in Bukhansan National Park
Located to the North of the city is a beautiful national park. While in Seoul we took on the task of climbing the highest peek in Bukhansan National park. To read more on Bukhansan National Park CLICK HERE.
Explore Hongdae
Hongdae is where our AirBnB was located. It is on the central line from both airports so it is handy for getting around. It is also the location of Hongdik University. That being the case it is a hub of student activity. Lots of bars, restaurants and nightlife. We had some fantastic Korean BBQ, fried chicken and other Korean delights. There is an open square in the centre of Hongdae that had some live street performances to enjoy at night.
To keep up to date with our travels and adventures follow us on Instagram 🙂
To The Airport...And Beyond 