Bukchon Hanok Village Observatory with N Seoul Tower in sight

Seoul, without a doubt is an intriguing city. Korean culture is unique and interesting – with Seoul as its ‘poster city,’ it exudes that perfect blend of tradition and modernity.

Seoul city is charming and comes off as the gateway for tourists alike to enjoy Korea. The surge in foreign visitors and immigrants is a testimony of Seoul’s attractiveness. Whether you are a budget traveler, backpacker, digital nomad or business traveler, you can’t neglect the desire to walk through Seoul and experience the culture.

Exploring Seoul’s tourist sites shouldn’t be expensive as most of them can be completed through walks. Here are 3 of Korea’s historic sites and monuments for travelers to experience.

Bukchon Hanok Village with Foreign visitors on a weekend

Bukchon Hanok Village – This is a special area in Seoul where you can find over 900 hanok houses (traditional Korean houses) in a clustered setting.

It is one of my favorite spots in Korea, and never gets tired of sightseeing. The hanok village has over 600 years of history tracing back to the Joseon era, and situated near the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Even though some of the old traditional Hanok buildings had been remolded, you can find most of the original houses oozing their historical architecture aesthetics. This village records multitudes of visitors every year and sits atop as one of the most visited tourist attractions in Seoul. Other things to see at Bukchon Hanok Village include the Bukchon Museum, Bukchon Traditional Cultural Center and the observatory that gives you a picturesque landscape view of the village.

The famous observatory hill

Tip: It is desirable to rent a hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) and do the walking tour course of Bukchon Hanok Village while you capture beautiful moments of your visit. Embrace hanok’s beauty, walk through the alleyways and gather memories. There is no admission fee to explore the hanok village, however, some of the cultural experience programs require some fees. There are people living there so keep any form of noise minimal.

Bukchon Hanok Village

More Information

Gyeongbokgung Palace Entrance with Tourists

Gyeongbokgung Palace – I believe it is not farfetched to say that, any traveler who visits Korea and don’t step a foot at Gyeongbokgung Palace should regard their visit as void.

The iconic Geunjeongjeon throne hall

Gyeongbokgung Palace is inescapable. The palace’s architectural magnitude and cultural significance makes it tourists’ top favorite site. The palace is a must see. Located on the foot of the Bugaksan Mountain, Gyeongbokgung Palace takes visitors on a tour of Korea’s historical past. Built over 600 years ago, it was the main palace during the Joseon Dynasty and holds the spirit and dignity of the then royal kingdom. Be it a landscape shot or portrait photography, Gyeongbokgung palace’s scenery makes every photo memory glittering.

You begin to get the view of the main palace gate, the giant stonewalls and colourful paints, as you take a walk from the Gwanghwamun Square to the palace. Within the palace, you can find the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a pavilion in a pond that illuminates during the night around its pillars. Gyeogbokgung Palace is also one of the recommended places to see autumn fall leaves as well cherry blossoms during spring. The palace accepts night visits twice-a-year during its designated night tour program in fall and spring. Visitors who wear hanbok for the night tours are exempted from admission fees.

Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in the pond

What I love most about Gyeongbokgung Palace is the ‘Royal Changing of the Guards Ceremony’. It is artistic, brave and special. It is usually held twice in a day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. everyday of the week. Visitors are expected to be thrilled by these performances infused with marching and traditional drums.

Insa-dong Shopping Street

Insa-dong – The last place you must put on the list of your walking tour in Seoul is Insa-dong.

Insa-dong Arts and Crafts Street

The famous Insa-dong shopping street is filled with antique shops, art galleries, food streets and a shopping complex. If you are looking to buy traditional Korean souvenirs, Insa-dong is the place. It is a one-stop spot for every traditional craft and Korean culture experience. Travelers can also rent hanboks, take a stroll and eat indigenous foods and snacks. Hot spot alert: explore the Ssamzigil cultural complex where you can find book cafés, galleries, workshops and exhibitions.

Insa-dong Shopping Street

Gyeongbokgung Palace

More Information

Insa-dong

More Information

Moon Guest House's Entrance

Are you traveling to Korea this winter or next spring? Do you want to experience Korean culture and tradition? I recommend you to choose a hanok-style accommodation for your stay. Hanok is Korea's traditional architectural buildings with tile-thatched roof and built with entirely wood, clay, paper, and ceramics.

Compound space for activities and relaxation

These hanok houses have an under-floor heating system called 'ondol', which heats up during winter and makes for a comfortable sleep. If you are a budget traveler or backpacker, hanok-stays are highly recommended because it is relatively cheaper than other hotel services.

Guest room

It is my preferred accommodation style anytime I travel around Korea. One of such places in Seoul is Moon Guest House, located in the heart of downtown Seoul. It is certified by the Korea Tourism Organization and offers cultural experiences to guests. They have clean rooms and self-service breakfast enough to fill your travel belly. Room rates are between 50,000 Korean won (for 1 person) and 550,000 won (9 persons for the whole facility). Moon Guest House is just a stone-throw from all the famous traditional tourist sites in Seoul, namely: Bukchon Hanok Village, Insa-dong shopping street, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, Changdeokgung Palace, Jogyesa Temple and Unhyeongung palace.

Guests can easily make online reservation to this hotel. Apart from that, the host organizes traditional activities for group tourists, such as wearing of hanbok, Korean traditional tea ceremony, kimchi making and calligraphy. Moon Guest House gives you a respectable hospitality that will leave you with unforgettable memories. The owner was personally present to welcome and show me all the necessary facilities I needed. With a high speed free Wi-Fi, clean rooms, bathrooms, comfy beddings and cozy ambience, travelers are assured of feeling pleasurable at Moon Guest House.