Mini Guide to Seoul
I have lived in Seoul for about two years, so I have done and seen a lot of things. Most of the posts on my blog will be about Seoul. It holds a special place for me, and even though I might not fully speak the language, I still can call it home. I think I could go back to the states for a while and move back to Seoul and be just as comfortable as I am now.
I have to say that firstly Seoul is HUGE and requires more than just a short stay to see everything that it has to offer. The city is so large and populated that not only is it a city, but it is its own province within Korea itself. It has a crazy population density of 44,776 people per square mile or 17,288 people per sq km. The city itself is divided into 25 districts, with each district having its own government and own different neighborhoods. It even has the world’s largest subway system by length.
If you have heard someone say that Korea gets all four seasons, they are 100% correct. Seoul can be extremely hot and humid in the summertime and so cold in the winter that I have refused to go anywhere after work for days. However, the sweet spots of spring and fall are so lovely and make me want to spend all my free time outdoors and explore all that this fantastic city has to offer.
This city might be huge, but it is extremely well connected, from the ubiquitous wireless internet to the subway and buses that reach every corner. However, don’t expect to make friends while riding all this public transportation. Koreans are notorious for being quiet on public transit and might look at you funny if you try to say hello. With that said, Koreans are generally very friendly.
Koreans are generally very friendly but will say and do many things you find odd. They always want to know how old you are and will be very blunt if they find something about how you look funny or odd. The family is everything, and you will find a large majority of people living with their family well into their 20s and even 30s.
When compared to the US, most things in Seoul are relatively cheap. With that said, don’t try to compare prices to South East Asia, because it will be more expensive. If you eat western style food, it can be costly but eating Korean food is very reasonably priced and delicious.
Seoul has many outdoor and traditional markets all over the city. As I have said before, the prices at these markets are not set, and bargaining is key.
Quick Facts
Capital and Largest city in South Korea
Population: 10.01 Million
Land size:233.7 mi²
Currency: Korean Won
Language: Korean
My Top Picks for things to do in Seoul
- Seoul Tower – This isn’t so much about the tower; it is the hike and nice view of Seoul when you get to the top.
- Visit a Palace or two – Seoul has a few different palace’s and my personal opinion is that many of them look the same, but I still highly recommend checking them out.
- Cheonggyecheon Stream – This is a really cool stream that runs through downtown Seoul. They have various things to see here, like the Annual Lantern festival and Art Galleries.
- Bike along the Han – One of my favorite past times here in Seoul is biking. The bike trails are really good, with some fantastic views.
- Bus Tour – As I have said before, I am a big fan of the hop on hop off bus tours. Seoul has a few different ones, and you can see all the main sights in a day. However, it will take ALOT longer to fully experience all that this city has to offer.
- Go to the Mall – Seoul has some pretty amazing shopping malls. I am not saying that I am a big shopper, but they are still pretty cool to check out. From the largest Movie Screens in the Wolrd to aquariums, the malls here are pretty cool.
I can’t really name everything because I like this city a lot. I obviously left some things off, but I have such a big list it's hard to say everything.
If you have any questions, please feel free to post in the comments section below.
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