Dynamic capital of palaces and neon
Curated by Vinod Kumar Jain & Amit Jain · All Frontier Global · free, no login · reviewed 2026-07-05
Rain caught me in Bukchon, and I ducked under a hanok eave beside an elderly woman doing the same. She offered half her umbrella wordlessly once the worst passed, and we walked together downhill toward Insadong, neither of us speaking a common language, both understanding the arrangement perfectly.
Grand Joseon royal palace with throne halls, gardens and changing-of-the-guard ceremonies. Best: Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov
Hillside lanes of traditional hanok houses, artisan studios and tea rooms. Best: Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov
Namsan hilltop tower with sweeping city views, cable car and observation decks. Best: Mar–Apr & Sep–Oct
Buzzing streets of cosmetics shops, fashion and sizzling Korean street food. Best: Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov
Secondary royal palace with beautiful gardens and architecture. Best: Mar–May & Sep–Nov
Modern infrastructure