Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a city of about 9.6 million people on both banks of the Han River, ringed by granite mountains. Chosen as the capital of the Joseon dynasty in 1394, it keeps royal palaces, shrines and hanok neighborhoods among glass towers, and it hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988.
Visitors come for the palaces and markets of the old center, for food at every hour, for fashion, music and design districts such as Hongdae and Seongsu, and for hiking trails that start at subway stations. An extensive metro makes it easy to stay in one neighborhood and explore the rest, and the border region, Suwon's fortress and the coast are within a day's reach. Apartments, guesthouses and hanok stays suit families and longer trips, though Korea's rules on renting private homes to tourists are specific and worth checking before you book.
Jongno and the Gwanghwamun area, north of the river, put the palaces, Insadong's craft shops and the hanok lanes of Bukchon and Seochon within walking distance, and suit travelers interested in history. Myeongdong and the area around City Hall are central, with shopping streets and airport buses, and make a straightforward first base.
Hongdae, near Hongik University in the west, is young and lively, with street performers, clubs and cafés, and has a direct rail link to Incheon Airport. Itaewon and Yongsan have an international mix of restaurants and bars. South of the Han River, Gangnam is a modern business and shopping district with wide avenues and newer apartment buildings, often chosen by families and business travelers. Seongsu, on the east side, is known for cafés and studios in converted factories, and Yeouido, an island in the river, is close to the Han River parks. Wherever you stay, check the walk to the nearest subway station.
Seoul has five grand palaces from the Joseon era. Gyeongbokgung, built in 1395, is the largest and stands before the mountain Bugaksan, with the Gwanghwamun gate on the main avenue. Changdeokgung, with its secret garden, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and nearby Jongmyo, the royal ancestral shrine, was inscribed in 1995. Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung and Gyeonghuigung complete the group.
Between the palaces, Bukchon keeps rows of traditional hanok houses that are still homes. To protect residents, part of the village has been a special management zone where tourist visits are limited to daytime, with fines since March 2025, so check signs and respect quiet hours. The National Museum of Korea in Yongsan traces the peninsula's history, and the restored Cheonggyecheon stream runs as a walkway through the center. N Seoul Tower, on Namsan, gives a wide view over the city.
Eating out is central to life in Seoul. Barbecue restaurants grill pork and beef at the table, stews and soups such as kimchi jjigae and seolleongtang are everyday comfort food, and fried chicken with beer, known as chimaek, is a favorite night out. Kimchi and a spread of small side dishes called banchan come with most meals.
Gwangjang Market, one of the city's oldest, is known for mung-bean pancakes, gimbap and knife-cut noodles at its food stalls, while Namdaemun Market and Dongdaemun's shopping streets sell almost everything. Street food stands appear in Myeongdong and around many subway stations in the evening. Convenience stores are everywhere and open late, which helps on an apartment stay, and supermarkets in department-store basements sell ready-made dishes. Tipping is not customary in Korea. Nightlife centers on Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam, and many restaurants stay open late.
Incheon International Airport (ICN), opened in 2001 on reclaimed land around Yeongjong Island about 48 kilometers west of Seoul, handles most international flights. AREX trains link it with Hongdae and Seoul Station in under an hour, and airport limousine buses serve many districts and hotels. Gimpo International Airport (GMP), in western Seoul, handles domestic flights and some short international routes.
The Seoul subway, with more than a dozen lines plus connecting commuter rail, reaches almost every neighborhood, and signs and announcements are in Korean and English. A rechargeable T-money card works on the subway, buses and taxis and in convenience stores. KTX high-speed trains leave Seoul Station and Yongsan for Busan, Gyeongju and other cities, with Busan about two and a half hours away. Traffic is heavy, so a car is rarely worth it in the city; for day trips, trains and intercity buses usually work well.
Mountains are part of daily life in Seoul. Bukhansan National Park, on the city's northern edge, rises to 836 meters at its highest peak and has trails reached by subway and bus, and Inwangsan and Namsan offer shorter walks with city views. The Han River parks, along both banks, have cycling paths, picnic lawns and evening crowds in summer.
Suwon, south of Seoul, is home to Hwaseong Fortress, a late 18th-century wall and gate complex listed by UNESCO in 1997. Namhansanseong, a mountain fortress southeast of the city, was inscribed in 2014. Organized tours visit sites near the Demilitarized Zone along the border with North Korea, such as Imjingak, and availability depends on security conditions. Incheon's port and Chinatown, the Nami Island area on the North Han River and Gyeongju, the former Silla capital, reached by KTX, make other popular outings.
Seoul has four strong seasons. Spring, from April to May, brings cherry blossoms along the Han River and in Yeouido in early April, and autumn, from late September to early November, has clear skies and colorful leaves on the palace grounds and mountains; both are the most comfortable times to visit.
Summer is hot and humid, with August average highs around 30 degrees Celsius, and the East Asian monsoon brings most of the year's rain in late June and July, when heavy downpours can briefly disrupt travel. Typhoons can affect the peninsula from July to September. Winter is cold and mostly dry, with January lows around minus 5 degrees Celsius and occasional cold spells below minus 10, so warm layers are essential, though clear winter days are good for palaces and markets without crowds.
Korea regulates short stays closely. For private homes in the city, the main legal route is the foreign tourist urban homestay, registered with the district office under the Tourism Promotion Act: the host must live in the home, and the scheme is aimed at foreign visitors. Registered hanok stays and licensed lodging businesses are the other options, and running an unregistered lodging business can breach the Public Health Control Act. Major booking platforms now ask Korean hosts for valid business registration before listing.
In practice, that means many whole-apartment listings without a resident host may not be legal, while guesthouses, serviced residences and registered homestays are. The rules are under review, with proposals to widen the homestay system, so check current regulations and ask for the property's registration before booking.
Myeongdong and the City Hall area are central, with shopping and airport buses. Jongno and Insadong suit travelers interested in palaces and traditional culture. Hongdae is lively and has a direct train to Incheon Airport, and Gangnam is modern, south of the river, and often chosen by families.
Incheon International Airport (ICN) is about 48 kilometers west of Seoul. AREX trains reach Hongdae and Seoul Station in under an hour, and airport limousine buses go to many districts and hotels. Taxis are available but take longer in heavy traffic.
Four or five days cover the palaces, markets, main districts and a hike or river park at a comfortable pace. A week allows day trips to Suwon, the DMZ area or Incheon, or a KTX trip to Gyeongju or Busan.
April to May and late September to early November bring the most comfortable weather, with cherry blossoms in early April and autumn leaves in October. Late June and July are the rainy monsoon season, August is hot and humid, and winter is very cold.
Only some listings are legal. Private homes are mainly rented to tourists as registered foreign tourist urban homestays, where the host lives in the home, or as registered hanok stays and licensed lodgings. Ask for the registration details and check current rules before booking.
The currency is the South Korean won (KRW). Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis, markets and convenience stores, though some small stalls prefer cash. A T-money card is useful for transport and small purchases.
Yes. Palaces, the National Museum of Korea, the Han River parks and easy hikes suit children, the subway has elevators at most stations and convenience stores are everywhere. An apartment or residence in a quieter district such as Gangnam or Mapo makes longer family stays easier.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .