TRAVEL GUIDE: Seoul destinations to match your every vibe
Whoever thought that South Korea only catered to those obsessed with K-pop and K-drama has long eaten his words and must have already applied for a multiple-entry visa and booked a flight with the country's flag carrier, Korean Air.
SK has quickly caught up as well with the younger gen, particularly TikTok users who treat the platform as their new Google search, including where exactly to go when traveling to a destination. As if to solidify this new habit among consumers, the Korea Tourism Organization and TikTok even held the K-Vibe Global Creator Festa last July, where they especially gathered 31 influencers from outside Korea to shoot on location and then promote the country through short-form content across different markets spanning scattered demographics. The conclusion: There’s still more in SK yet to be discovered!
Enough of exploring palaces and dressing up in hanbok, more tourists have gone for far less mainstream options, but ones that authentically fit their mood and match their personalities better.
Here’s a list of some of these places, specifically in Seoul, you may choose to get lost in next time.
For the thrill-seeker: SEOULDAL
The most touristy but perhaps one of the most time-consuming ways to see a view of SK is through the N Seoul Tower. It eats up at least half of your day, adding up the cable car ride from the N Lobby heading to the N Plaza, a tour of the love locks and viewing decks right at the plaza, and a tour of the N Tower. It’s another couple of hours if you dine at the N Grill, the revolving restaurant at the top of the destination, which will cost you between KRW 120,000 to KRW 220,000 (~P5,000 to ~P9,000) per seat.
If you’re worried that such a trite gimmick will consume too much time and money, you may opt for SEOULDAL—SK’s tethered helium balloon that will offer you a panoramic view of the city faster and cheaper than when at N Seoul. Relatively safer than its hot air version, as it’s non-flammable and anchored on the ground through wires, the balloon lifts you around 130 meters above ground and stays put in the air for around 15 minutes, depending on the weather.
SEOULDAL, unveiled only in August last year, is quickly becoming one of the biggest destinations during the warmer months. It brims with tourists late in the afternoon, more so during sunset, as you get to see a usually bright and busy SK turn yellow and mellow. If you're staying at Conrad Seoul, inquire with the concierge. They offer this service as part of their exclusive 1/3/5 Program. Or, you may also book through Klook for just P1,002.
GETTING THERE: Take Subway Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station. Go out via Exit 2 or 3, then walk until you reach Yeouido Hangang Park. You will see the SEOULDAL balloon from afar.
PRO TIP: If you’re eager to experience SEOULDAL but have questions about safety, there’s an entire team to instruct you right before boarding. A certified pilot captains the balloon so you’re definitely in safe hands.
For the urban escapist: Hongjecheon (Artificial) Falls & Waterside Attraction
In SK, nature is deliberately prioritized and woven into city life by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. It’s for all reasons imagined: To make places more sightly, to help conserve the ecosystem, to provide a space for people to gather around or “gather” themselves, and ultimately, to improve the quality of life. This principle rings the loudest when it comes to the beautification and conservation efforts on Hongjecheon Stream, which passes through three districts and runs almost 14 kilometers before emptying into the Han River.
Around the midsection of the Hongjecheon Stream in Seodaemun-gu stands a 25-meter-wide, 60-meter-high manmade falls, one captivating passersby since 2011 as part of an urban restoration project. The area got a major facelift in 2022, with the construction of an open-air attraction boasting of cafes, art spaces, and a library, among others, facing the waterfalls.
The waterside spot has since drawn more people, including students who have found it as the perfect respite in the middle of the chaotic urban life, with a book in hand. The area, which used to be a warehouse and a parking lot, has also turned into a popular stop for cyclists and hikers alike.
GETTING THERE: Take Subway Line 3 to Hongje Station. Go out via Exit 2, then walk a few minutes toward Hongjecheon Stream. Follow the noise of the crowd or the sound of the falls.
PRO TIP: It’s an entire journey altogether when you visit the falls at night, with LED lights illuminating the waters for a more romantic vibe. Stay within the dreamy zone and check out the nearby Hongje Yuyeon Media Tunnel for some light projections and art installations!
For the creative soul: Yoonsul: Reflecting Seoul in Manridong
You can easily see how the Seoul government gives the same level of attention and focus to natural parks the way it does to its concrete pedestrian spaces. Take the Yoonsul: Reflecting Seoul in Manridong, for example, a massive art project making mundane pedestrian life in South Korea more interesting and, yes, thought-provoking.
Built in 2016, it’s a sunken concrete space made of rocks, mirrors, and polished metal. Yoonsul, which translates to sparkling ripples following the reflection of either sun or moon, serves optical illusions from various angles and at different times of the day. At sunup, the mirror roof reflects the sky and cityscape—as natural light permeates to reveal water-like rays and shadows hovering over the floor. At night, the lit interiors glow in various patterns as they project into the roof before marrying the evening light outside. It truly looks as poetic as its name!
You can definitely take your time at Yoonsul, strategically open to the public at the end of the Seoullo 7017 overpass to invite pause and incite pondering.
GETTING THERE: Take Subway Line 1 or 4 to Seoul Station. Leave the station via Exit 8. Walk about 10 minutes toward Seoullo 7017’s Manridong area.
PRO TIP: To catch the art space in all its luminous glory both at daytime and nighttime, you can first drop by mid-afternoon, get dinner at the nearby strip of restaurants, and then come back around dusk!
For the trendsetter: Seongsu-dong
Prada, Dior, Nike, Adidas, New Balance—it’s these sights and stores at Seongsu-dong that will initially attract you as a foreigner, like how Gangnam and Myeong-dong do it. But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg here at this neighborhood—spend at least one afternoon here and fangirl over Tamburins, Ader Error, Musinsa Standard, Kinfolk Notes, NYUNYU, and more of these trendy, uniquely Korean brands that might just be as kaskas-worthy using your GoTyme Bank debit card. Add to that the cafes that truly add a cool, laidback vibe to this otherwise highly commercial community.
Seongsu-dong used to be an industrial zone in the mid-20th century. The factories and warehouses started becoming vacant in the 90s-2000s, with the younger entrepreneurs and artists gradually going for the area’s low rent and hipster ambiance to signal a revitalization in the 2010s.
Seongsu-dong has since thrived and transformed into a chic, tourist-friendly spot with a charming subculture, eventually earning its “Brooklyn of Seoul” tag.
Besides the string of restos and shops, it’s the galleries and pop-up booths that make Seongsu-dong a key destination for art junkies and music lovers. For starters, check out the Daelim Warehouse—a rice mill from the 70s made of red bricks, now among the area’s most iconic locations serving food and drinks while housing exhibitions and other activations.
You can explore the Kwangya K-Pop Flagship Store—located right at the basement of the SM Entertainment Building—for the company’s very own “metaverse” of artist albums, merch, and whatnot.
GETTING THERE: Take Subway Line 2 to Seongsu Station. Leave the station via Exit 3 or 4.
PRO TIP: Given the many stores in Seongsu-dong, be prepared to be overwhelmed and overstimulated. If you wish to take more time to better appreciate the area, allot an entire day. Last but not least, better up your style game as it always seems like fashion week in this ‘hood!
For the serious techie: Technomart, Gangbyeon
One good place to get lost in while in SK without that many people and distractions is this old soul-friendly tech mall found in Gangbyeon. If the spaceship-like interiors don’t suggest "retro," then what will?
Technomart boasts of seven floors all selling computers, cameras, accessories, audio tools, and other electronics—with discounts typically around 10%-20%—sure to "budol" the tech geek in you. It’s pretty much a complete mall, with the other floors selling clothes, sports equipment, camping gear, and furniture.
You can see how the mall can surprise you on the 10th floor, where the CGV cinemas are located. Here lies one of Seoul’s biggest multiplexes, carrying 11 screens (IMAX and 4DX included!) and featuring a modern-looking hub for snacking, reading, and lounging.
GETTING THERE: Take Subway Line 2 to Gangbyeon Station. Leave the station via Exit 1 or 2. Walk toward Techno Mart Gangbyeon, which is connected to the station.
PRO TIP: When it comes to electronic shops, look for promotional deals and bring out your negotiating savvy to avail further discounts! Also make use of your GoTyme Bank card so you can earn points.
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Disclaimer: The trip was made possible through the support of our partners GoTyme Bank, Korean Air, and Conrad Seoul.
To let you start experiencing beautiful travels and banking, use this special referral code: GOTYMEPHILSTAR. It will give you 50 Go Rewards points when you sign up for a GoTyme Bank account and make your first physical debit card purchase of at least P50.
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