Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung, is a royal palace located in northern Seoul, South Korea. First constructed in 1394 and reconstructed in 1867, it was the main and largest palace of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon Dynasty. The name of the palace, "Gyeongbokgung," translates in English as "Palace Greatly Blessed by Heaven."
Heavily destroyed by the Japanese government in the early 20th century, the palace complex is slowly being restored to its original form prior the destruction. As of 2009, only 40% of the palace has been rebuilt.
Address: 1 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu; Telephone: (0)2 734 2458; Transport: Five-minute walk from exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung station (Seoul Subway Line 3); Opening time: Daily except Tuesdays 9am to 7pm, closes at 6pm November to April; Admission: 3,000 won (adults 19-64 years old); 1,500 won (children 7-18 years old)
Namsangol Hanok Village
Namsangol Hanok Village, also known as "A Village of Traditional Houses in the Namsan Valley", is a Korean village located in the area of Pil-dong neighborhood in Jung-gu, a central district of Seoul, South Korea where hanok or Korean traditional houses have been restored to preserve the original atmosphere of the area.
The Namsangol Hanok Village offers one the opportunity to experience a wide cross-section of Joseon-era citizenry and activities, from royalty to commoners. A great effort has been made to accurately furnish each dwelling with appropriate era and social status appointments.
A traditional Korean style garden, complete with a flowing stream and pavilion was constructed on the site in order to revive the classical feel of the Joseon-era. Five traditional houses, including some of the residences of high government officials - some of the largest mansions in Seoul at the time, along with commoners houses were moved to the 7,934 sq Meters/9,489 sq Yards grounds containing the restored village.
Address: 84-1 Pildong 2-ga, Jung-gu; Telephone: (0)2 2264 4412; Transport: Subway station Chungmuro line 3 and 4, and a five-minute walk from Exit 3; Opening time: Daily (except Tuesdays) 9am to 6pm (March), 9am to 7pm (April, May, September and October); 9am to 8pm (June to August); 9am to 5pm (November to February); Admission: Free
Lotte World
Lotte World is a recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. It consists of a large indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park, an island linked by monorail, shopping malls, a hotel, a Korean folk museum, sports facilities and movie theaters in one area. The Lotte World indoor theme park is one of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world, and ranked seventh worldwide in attendance according to the 2002 census. Opened on July 12, 1989, it receives about 8 million visitors each year. It can be easily accessed from Jamsil Station, on Line 2 and Line 8 of the Seoul Subway. Located near the park is Seok-Chon lake.
Address: 40-1 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu; Telephone: (0)2 411 2000; Website:
www.lotteworld.com/Global_eng/; Transport: Jamsil Subway Station (Line 2 and 8). Take exit 4 directly to Lotte World; Opening time: Daily 9.30am to 11pm; Admission: Day Pass: 30,000 won (adults); 26,000 won (youths 13-18); 23,000 won (children under 12). Cheaper admission after 5pm
Insa-dong
No visit to Seoul is complete without exploring the capital's heart and artistic soul: the alleyways of the Insa-dong district, known colloquially as 'Mary's Alley'. More than 100 antique shops and countless art galleries are tucked away here, delighting collectors and casual browsers alike. From ancient Chinese pottery to yellowed books and delicate jewellery, most visitors manage to find a treasured souvenir or special gift among the quaint stores. There are plenty of restaurants, taverns and traditional teahouses in the area, too, to ensure shoppers stay refreshed.
Address: Insadong Junction, Jongno-gu; Telephone: (0)2 731 1621 (Insadong Tourist Information Desk); Transport: Subway to Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line No.3); Opening time: Daily 10am to 10pm
Namsan Park
Namsan is a 262-meter peak in the Jung-gu district of south central Seoul, South Korea. Although known as Mount Mongmyeok, it is now commonly referred to as Namsan. It offers some hiking, recreation and views of downtown Seoul's skyline. The N Seoul Tower is located on top of Namsan.
The mountain and surrounding area is a public park maintained by the city government.
Address: 100-177 Hoehyun-dong 1-ga Jung-gu; Telephone: (0)2 775 6222 (Seoul Tower); Transport: A 10-minute walk in the direction of Lila Elementary School from Myeong-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 4 (Exit 2 or 3); Opening time: Namsan Park is open 24 hours every day. The cable car operates daily: 10am to 10pm daily (closing at 9pm from March to October). Seoul Tower: 9.30am to 11.30pm (March to October), 9am to 10.30pm (November to February); Admission: Cable car: 6,300 won return (adults), 4,000 won (children under 13)
Myeong-dong
Myeong-dong or Myong-dong is a dong in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea and is located between Chungmu-ro, Eulji-ro, and Namdaemun-ro. It covers 0.91 km² with a population of 2986, and is mostly a commercial area.
Myeongdong is one of Seoul’s main shopping districts featuring mid to high priced retail stores and international brand outlets. It is a popular area for particularly young people as a center for fashion and nightlife. Myeongdong is also the ninth most expensive shopping street in the world in terms of floorspace rents.
Telephone: (0)2 757 0088 (Myeong-dong Tourist Information); Transport: Myeong-dong station (Seoul Subway Line 4)