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184 Tourist attractions107 Hiking17 Region

CAPITAL AREA · PLAN VISUALLY

Capital area places & hiking trails

Use the filters to separate attractions, hiking trails, culture venues, food, photo spots, hotels and parking. Numbered pins match the cards below. Some cards describe areas or routes and use directions links instead of a pin. Locations are approximate planning references; open a live map before travelling.

22 places shown. Select a card or numbered marker for details.

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Attractions 22

Historic places, gardens and cultural landmarks.

131 results

All categories · Capital area · 109–126

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Yeouido Hangang Park and the Han River, seen from Mapo Bridge.

Tourist attractions

Yeouido: river walks & city streets

Seoul

Wide river views, picnic lawns and a modern shopping district make Yeouido an easy change of pace from old Seoul. Choose a river-first or shopping-first afternoon instead of treating the whole island as one stop.

Allow
3–4 hours
Arrival
Yeouinaru · Line 5 / Yeouido · Lines 5 & 9
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Photo source

kallerna · Photo source

A tree-lined main sidewalk in Hongdae, photographed in daytime in June 2015.

Tourist attractions

Hongdae: Red Road & café streets

Seoul

Browse independent shops, music venues and lively streets around Hongik University. Hongdae is a neighbourhood to explore slowly: a daytime café walk and an evening performance visit have different rhythms.

Allow
2–4 hours
Arrival
Hongik University · Line 2, AREX & Gyeongui–Jungang
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Photo source

Ken Eckert · Photo source

Starfield Library inside COEX Mall, Seoul

Tourist attractions

Samseong-dong: COEX & Bongeunsa

Seoul

Pair the scale of COEX with a quieter temple visit. This is a useful half-day route in Gangnam, combining an indoor book-lined atrium, shopping and traditional architecture.

Allow
3–4 hours
Arrival
Samseong · Line 2 / Bongeunsa · Line 9
Open guideSuggest a placeMap
Photo source

Sean Young (@assanges) · Photo source

Front of Bosingak bell pavilion near Jonggak Station

Tourist attractions

Jonggak: Bosingak & evening lanes

Seoul

Begin at Bosingak, then choose a short walk through Jongno’s food lanes or along Cheonggyecheon. Jonggak is close to Insadong but is a different station and meeting point from Jongno 3-ga.

Allow
2–3 hours
Arrival
Jonggak · Line 1
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Photo source

Jjw · Photo source

Sejong Center Grand Theater exterior at night, May 2025

Tourist attractions

Sejong Center & Gwanghwamun

Seoul

Make Seoul’s major performing-arts complex part of a Gwanghwamun walk. The broad façade and square are worth seeing, while a booked concert, musical or exhibition gives the visit a clear focus.

Allow
1–2 hours, plus a performance
Arrival
Gwanghwamun · Line 5
Open guideSuggest a placeMap
Photo source

DtSeoul · Photo source

Fireworks over the Hangang

Tourist attractions

Han River fireworks: plan the evening

Seoul

The Seoul International Fireworks Festival transforms the Han River skyline for a special event. It is not a nightly show: confirm the edition, date and viewing arrangements with the organiser before making travel plans.

Allow
A separately scheduled event
Arrival
Yeouido area · follow event-day transport notices
Open guideSuggest a placeMap
Photo source

Korea.net · 2026 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cropped to 3:2 · Photo source

Starfield Library inside COEX Mall, Seoul

Tourist attractions

Starfield Library, COEX

Seoul

Tall illuminated bookshelves and an open atrium make this one of Seoul’s most recognisable reading spaces. It sits inside COEX Mall, so it works particularly well as part of a Samseong-dong day.

Allow
45–90 minutes
Arrival
Samseong · Line 2 / Bongeunsa · Line 9
Open guideSuggest a placeMap
Photo source

Sean Young (@assanges) · Photo source

Seoul Metropolitan Library in the former Seoul City Hall building

Tourist attractions

Seoul Metropolitan Library

Seoul

Visit a working library in Seoul’s former City Hall building. Its historic façade beside the newer glass City Hall makes this a rewarding stop for visitors interested in civic architecture.

Allow
45–90 minutes
Arrival
City Hall · Lines 1 & 2
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Photo source

Mobius6 · Photo source

Jeongdok Library grounds

Tourist attractions

Jeongdok Library & its garden

Seoul

A quiet library campus and tree-lined grounds offer a gentle pause between Bukchon and Samcheong-dong. Come for the garden setting and the relationship between buildings, paths and older Seoul streets.

Allow
45–90 minutes
Arrival
Anguk · Line 3
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Photo source

EllalineSeoul · Photo source

Tourist attractions

Forest of Wisdom, Paju

Gyeonggi

Travel beyond Seoul for a book-lined cultural space in Paju Book City. Long walls of shelves and the surrounding publishing architecture reward a slower visit, rather than a rushed photo stop.

Allow
Half-day trip from Seoul
Arrival
Paju Book City · plan bus or taxi connections
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Seolleongtang (ox bone soup); illustrative dish photo.

K-Food

Seolleongtang

Seoul

A gentle, milky ox-bone soup served with beef and rice. This Seoul classic makes a comforting meal between palace visits and neighbourhood walks.

Where
Seoul
Flavour
Mild, savoury and creamy in texture, with a clean beef flavour. Usually not spicy until you add seasoning.
Open guideMap
Photo source

Lee Dong-won / Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

Jjajangmyeon with black bean sauce; illustrative dish photo.

K-Food

Jjajangmyeon

Incheon

Noodles coated in a glossy black bean sauce, usually with onion and pork. Incheon’s Chinatown is closely associated with the beginnings of this Korean-Chinese favourite.

Where
Incheon Chinatown
Flavour
Rich, savoury and slightly sweet. The sauce is generally mild rather than chilli-hot.
Open guideMap
Photo source

KFoodaddict (Chloe Lim) / Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

Galbi beef short ribs on a grill; illustrative dish photo.

K-Food

Suwon galbi

Gyeonggi

Generous beef ribs are the centrepiece of Suwon’s barbecue tradition. Restaurants offer both lightly seasoned ribs and richer marinated versions.

Where
Suwon
Flavour
Meaty and smoky, with a juicy texture. Marinated ribs add a sweet-savoury finish.
Open guideMap
Photo source

Wei-chieh Chiu / Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

Hanbok

Hanbok around Gyeongbokgung

Seoul

Plan a fitting near Gyeongbokgung and combine it with a palace-area walk. Check the palace visit and rental arrangements separately.

Experience
Palace neighbourhood & rental map
Open guide

Hanbok

Hanbok around Changdeokgung

Seoul

Choose a rental near Changdeokgung and plan your outfit around the palace areas or programmes you intend to visit.

Experience
Palace neighbourhood & entry information
Open guide

Hanbok

Hanbok & palace admission

Seoul

Find the official illustrated guidance and check the arrangements for your chosen palace or programme before renting.

Explore
Official guidance and visitor checks
Open guide
Goryeo celadon incense burner

Korean History

Goryeo: celadon, Buddhism & printing

Seoul · Gyeongnam

Goryeo gave the name Korea its international roots and left an extraordinary record in ceramics and books.

Period
918–1392
Explore
Timeline · Photographs · Heritage places
Open guide
Photo source

National Museum of Korea · Korea Open Government License Type 1 (KOGL Type 1) · Photo source

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion at Gyeongbokgung

Korean History

Joseon: palaces, learning & everyday life

Seoul · Gyeonggi

For more than five centuries, the court and society of Joseon shaped the landscapes and traditions many travellers recognise.

Period
1392–1897
Explore
Timeline · Photographs · Heritage places
Open guide
Photo source

Frank Schulenburg · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo source

About this collection

The attraction collection includes the Korea Tourism Organization’s 2025–2026 selection. Suggested stays come from our existing editorial itineraries. Unknown stays remain unclassified. Confirm current admission, transport and access in the linked guide.

Official 2025–2026 Korea 100 selection · Day-by-day city itineraries · Mountain guide collection

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