Places to Visit

Seoul is a city that reveals itself in layers. On the surface: the gleaming glass towers of Gangnam, the neon-lit alleyways of Hongdae, the luxury boutiques of Cheongdam. Look closer and you find Gyeongbokgung Palace — 600 years old, ringed by mountains, still the most photographed spot in the country — and the quiet hanok lanes of Bukchon where tiled rooftops curve against the skyline just as they did in the Joseon era. K-Drama fans will recognise both: Bukchon alone has appeared in dozens of series, its stone alleys standing in for everything from period romances to modern thrillers.

Further south, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — Zaha Hadid's swooping silver landmark — sits beside one of Seoul's oldest night markets. Across the Han River, the 63 Building and the parks of Yeouido draw weekend crowds for riverside cycling and cherry blossom picnics each spring. Our place guides go beyond addresses and opening hours: they carry the history, the seasonal tips, and the off-the-beaten-path detours that make a visit memorable — written for K-culture fans who want to understand a place, not just photograph it.