Where to Go in Seoul

While Seoul can be a great city to visit or live in, its sprawling size can be daunting for visitors. Here are a number of places to explore that should help you better enjoy your trip! Note that while Seoul was designed with wide quality roads, and a large part of the population travels by car, the subway is often the most consistent way to get around - even Seoul is not immune to gridlock! I recommend getting a prepaid subway card for the best value - they can be bought from the counter at any subway station (even if the clerk doesn't speak any English - a high possibility - he'll understand the word "card"). At night when the roads are clear feel free to take a taxi; the drivers' are very fast and the prices are relatively low for the convenience of being able to be on the other side of the city in ten minutes or less. You should be able to hail a cab in a few minutes from any large intersection. Don't take the black cabs, though - they are luxury and cost more. Most of the following locations are directly accessible from the green line of the subway, which is a loop through all the primary city centers.

1. The River Han (accessible by short walk from locations all over Seoul)
During the Summer, natives of Seoul often walk, skate or bike the no-car trails that line the River Han. A walk along the river can be as short or as long as you want: I've gone from the neighborhood of Shinchon on the north side to Gangnam on the south on foot in eight hours. It's a great way to get your bearings in the city, as just about anything can be described in relation to one of the crossing bridges. The south side of the river contains several parks where people play Soccer and Volleyball. You can also take a boat out on the river - a good date idea!

2. Shinchon (accessible by green line on north side of city - Shinchon stop)
The second largest university in South Korea, Yonsei, sits at the north end of a street which runs through one of Seoul's most active youth districts. Lots of restaurants, clothing boutiques, PC rooms and video arcades fill this area, making it a great place to go with your friends. The stairs up from the Yonsei exit of the station should deposit you in front of the two-story Americana-filled Burger King on Shinchon rotary (there are many exits for this station, as the Rotary is the meeting place of five large roads). The street you want is to the left of the Burger King. As you walk in the direction of Yonsei's unmistakeable front gate, the nightlife / rock club area of Shinchon will be down the side alleys to your left. Off to the right is mostly a combination of student housing and love hotels. Chances are high you'll pass at least one Red Mango on your way north - be sure and try this restaurant, for it has delicious low-fat yogurt with a wide variety of healthy and not-so-healthy toppings, and is a popular stop for couples on dates.
Note that Shinchon is different from Shincheon, which is a center of city government and also on the green line.

3. Hongdae (accessible by green line on north side of city - Hongik University stop)
Hong-Ik University is the leading arts and media University in the country, so the area of Hongdae which surrounds it is one of the hippest nightlife districts. Rock and dance clubs line the streets in this area, and the small park is often home to budding musical acts. Art galleries can also be found alongside the clubs and restaurants. This is a great place to enjoy weekends, especially as there is a Club Night every month when you can get a stamp for roughly $10 to enter lots and lots of area clubs. The only possible downside is that is can be noisy and a little easy to get lost, but it's safe and if you're in doubt you can easily make your way to an intersection and find a cab. A good place to go clubbing with your friends.

4. Gangnam (accessible by green line on south side of city - Gangnam stop)
This part of Seoul is known as the "New Downtown". It offers a good combination of Western/Korean restaurants, stores and nightlife. Gangnam road is wide and clearly defined, flanked by rows of near-skyscrapers. The most interesting part of Gangnam is the road running north from Gangnam station to the intersection with Kyobo Tower. Kyobo is the largest insurance company in Korea, and the floors below the tower - Kyobo Mungo, are one of the largest bookstores in Seoul, which includes a large English-language section and a DVD section with American and Korean films. Down alleys to the left and right of this street are nightlife areas filled with dance clubs, PC bangs and restaurants. This is another good place to go with friends.

5. Apgujeong (accessible by orange line on south side of city - Apgujeong stop)
Apgujeong is for Seoul the equivalent of Ginza in Tokyo - the high class fashion district. Rodeo Drive, named after the famous Hollywood street, is the main attraction here. Possibly interesting for an afternoon of shopping, but be prepared to pay higher prices than at other places in the city. (the inexpensive place to buy clothes is Korea's busiest clothing mart - Dongdaemun - accessible via the green line on the north side of town)

6. COEX (accessible by green line on south side of city - Samseong stop)
This is a large underground mall which opens to wide aboveground almost-parks surrounding the pillars of international commerce and trade - the mall is a popular daytime meeting place filled with good places to eat, bookstores and the cinema. If you miss the sound of English, go to the English language section of one of COEX's bookstores and hide behind the shelves. Within a few minutes you'll probably hear a discussion of the latest Atkins-style diet or Dr. Phil and feel like you're back home.

7. Technomart (accessible by green line at the first stop north of the river on the east side - Gangbyeon stop)
This is one of the best places to go in Seoul for gadgets and electronics. Technomart is a 10+ level tower with an open center flanked by escalators. Be sure to spend some time comparison shopping from floor to floor! The tower is capped by a movie theater and food court on the top two levels, and underground department stores below which are connected to Gangbyeon station below the street. The area of Gangbyeon is relatively slow and peaceful, with a relaxing (though small) park across the street from the tower - a good place to unpack a new laptop or camera.

I wish you the best of luck in exploring the city of Seoul; may you find many areas of interest and enjoy your trip!