12 Things to Do in Seoul

1. Eunmayang Daechang 은마양대창

Intestine is a special cuisine of Korea, and this is the best place to get it. The intestines are cleaned thoroughly, rubbed with wheat flour and coarse salt, and rinsed several times. The fat is trimmed off.

This restaurant is very popular. Since the space inside is small, make sure you go early and queue for the spots. The staff will serve you a lot of side dishes, including quail eggs, kimchi, and salted fish, all for free. The taste of intestines in these restaurants is refreshing. Even the fatty part is very chewy.

Today, Korean intestine is regarded as a delicacy and is more expensive than the regular meat of the same weight. For foreigners, intestine may sounds like a bizzare dish, but don't be shy. Make sure you give it a try, and you will love it.

_{Tip: Intestine goes along well with soju (Korean alcohol), as it helps break down the meat.}

^{_{Address: 22 Itaewon-ro 54-gil, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (opens from 11:30am to 11:00 pm)}}

3. Samgyetang Restaurant 백제삼계탕

For Korean people, Samgyetang is the best dish to keep fit and healthy. The chicken soup stewed with ginseng, glutinous rice, red dates and other ingredients is extremely delicious and highly nutritious. When talking about the most famous Samgyetang specialty restaurant, 백제삼계탕 is a must. Located in Myeong-dong, the bustling shopping area packed with international tourists, this 49-year-old traditional restaurant has been recommended in various travel books, magazines and TV programs.

Making the ginseng chicken soup is a fine process. Stuff the chicken belly with glutinous rice, red dates, and ginseng, and then put it in a large pot to cook. The soup is light with a delicate ginseng taste. The glutinous rice in the belly is soft with red dates and has a sweet taste. Every bite is a pleasure and brings you energy of the day.

_{Tip: Go around for shopping in Myeong-dong after you finish dining. Most of stores here offer tax-free claims.}

^{_{Address: 8-10 Myeongdong 8-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (opens from 9am to 10pm)}}

4. Golden Pig Restaurant 금돼지식당

This place is a Michelin Star restaurant and exclusively for grilled pork barbecue. The decoration of the restaurant is quite simple, but that doesn't affect its popularity. Many Kpop celebrities, including famous boy band groups BTS and EXO members, have all come here to dine.

The restaurant uses high-quality pork without pickling or freezing. The freshly-served meat is a whole piece of meat sprinkled with some salt, along with green onion and garlic. Before roasting, the staff will come to cut the pork and green onions into small pieces. During roasting, the taste of green onions is incorporated well into the pork, leaving a strong barbecue fragrance. The fully cooked pork is crunchy on the outside, but soft and juicy on the inside, and the skin is nice and crispy.

_{Tip: Usually, the line of queueing takes more than one hour. Make sure to be prepared for that unless you make a reservation.}

^{_{Address: 149 Dasan-ro, Sindang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (opens from 12:00pm to 1:00am)}}

Koreans have embraced café culture in many ways, and their coffee shops are distinguished among countries due to their diverse concepts and fine atmosphere. There are cafés with friendly cats and dogs for patrons to pet. There are cafés with DJs, cafés with artwork, cafés in former warehouses and factories. Many celebrities also have their own cafés to attract fans. People go there not just for the coffee, but also for work, study, chat and rest.

Here I'm going to introduce you a small selection of the beautiful cafés in Seoul.

2. Café Clazic 클래직

It is a small café, hidden on the second floor of an ordinary office building, and is full of surprises. The shop is concealed and not very easy to find. You need to follow the sign, go upstairs, and open a white plastic sliding door. The shop is a paradise for photo-snaping.

The menus of Café Clazic often change. Spring and fall are seasons for strawberry, so there are lots of deserts with strawberries. It will save you a lot of time if you check what you'd like to order before going. Cinnamon latte is especially delicious. A long cinnamon stick will be placed on the coffee cup.

You will be able to take awesome Instragammable pictures right here. This chic spot has an understated beauty and a sense of style that you could only possibly find in a Korean café.

_{Tip: The strawberry juice tastes plain, but it looks great for photos.}

^{_{Address: 62-1 2층, Mareunnae-ro, Inhyeondong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (opens from 11:30am to 10:30pm)}}

3. Thanks Nature Café 땡스네이쳐카페

The nature-loving café is full of green plants, and the most special thing is that there are two cute little sheep. 사랑 (Sarang) and 기쁨 (Gippeum) are only six months old. They are kept in a separated sheep pen outside the café. They are very cute and have a gentle personality. You can feed them some straw, or give them a light pet.

This shop is so well-known not only because of the baby sheep, but also because of the delicious waffles. Waffles of all flavors are the most popular dishes. The crispness and sweetness are well controlled. For those who love small animals, Thanks Nature Café is paradise. I highly recommend it.

_{Tip: Keep in mind that during the summer season, the sheep would be sent back to the farm due to the extremely humid weather conditions.}

^{_{Address: 10 Hongik-ro, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul (opens from 11:00am to 10:00pm)}}

4. Dior Café

It just feels so cool when a café incorporates with the high-end brand Dior! Dior Café can be found in Gangnam district. As the largest Dior flagship store in Asia, the shop sells high-order jewelries, watches, clothings and home decor.

The striking white building and unique decoration design style have become extra selling points. The café, in cooperation with Pierre Hermé, has also become a must-see spot for all the internet social influencers who come to Seoul.

It is located on the 5th floor. If you want to have some coffee, you need to go through the merchandise on the 4th floor. This design is smart. In this way, you have to look at all the items before you get to the café. As a so-called "luxury café," the menu here is at least twice as expensive compared to other coffee shops, but the foods here are so delicate and make people feel like they are worth the prices. Overall it's a great spot for photo-snapping and Instagram-sharing.

_{Tip: The bathroom displays newest Dior perfumes for guests to use for free.}

^{_{Address: 464 하우스 오브 디올 5F, Apgujeong-ro, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (opens from 11:00am to 8:00pm)}}

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁

Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in the city, was the place where the royal family handled government affairs and life during the Joseon Dynasty (1392 ~ 1897). Right here, you can enjoy varied beauty of the ancient buildings and the natural beauty all year round. Visitors can refresh themselves every time seasons change. There are guides available in multiple languages to prepare you with the history.

Hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, is a treasure of Korean culture. Trying on hanbok in Korea is an experience that can't be missed. There are lots of shops near the palace that provide hanbok rental services. There are more than 500 sets of exquisite and gorgeous hanbok for you to choose, as well as hairstyle designs. You can wear beautiful hanbok and take pictures in dramatic historical settings and feel the strong Korean traditional atmosphere.

_{Tip: The palace is often used as a shooting venue for Korean historical dramas. You will probably bump into celebrities if you are lucky.}

^{_{Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul (opens from 9:00am to 6:00pm, closes on Tuesday)}}

2. Itaewon District 이태원

Itaewon is the commercial district that is known for the concentration of foreigners. People of all skin colors walk on the streets. You can hear English, Japanese, Chinese... It is a fusion of languages and cultures.

Itaewon is close to the local U.S. military base. Since 1950s, vendors targeting the U.S. military began to appear here. Over time, it has developed into a commercial district mainly targeting on foreign consumers. There are so many shops, restaurants, bars, and night clubs. People enjoy the freedom and seek a life of pleasure. English speakers can make the most of your language right here, and it's ok even if you don't know any Korean.

4. Lotte World 롯데월드

Lotte World is a world-class theme park in the heart of Seoul city. It integrates a chains of industries including hotels, department stores, duty-free shops, movie theaters, and food courts. From sightseeing and leisure to shopping and entertainment, it is a veritable playground for all ages. It receives more than 6 million passengers per year, including up to 600 thousands foreign tourists.

The park, full of adventure and mystery, is a composed of the indoor part "Adventure World" and the outdoor part "Magic Island." It has about 40 thrilling and cutting-edge amusement facilities, more than 50 daily parades, stage shows, and other performances of various sizes.

In the daytime, the warm sunlight passes through the special glass canopy, allowing you to feel the sunny outdoor atmosphere. At night, a little bit of stars and cutting-edge lighting are combined to show gorgeous fireworks and laser laser shows above the adventure world. You can create the most dreamy and sensory memories right here.

_{Tip: Save 54% when you pre-book the tickets online. Download the Lotte World app for more information such as park hours for the day, show timings, and attraction waiting times.}

^{_{Address: 240 Olympic-ro, Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul (opens from 9:00am to 10:00pm, closes on Sundays)}}