[workandtravel]

I’ll be going to Seoul on a business trip next month and I have 1 day free before leaving. Do you have any suggestions on the attractions I should visit? Wanted to see palace, explore markets, and do sightseeing if I still have time.

[Olneyflyer]

I will also be interested in the replies as I visit Seoul for the first time late September.

[sparkyflier]

workandtravel and Olneyflyer

If you look in the June issue of Business Traveller magazine you will a “4 Hours in” piece by BT writer Hannah Brandler looking at Seoul, on pages 62-63.

If you do not yet subscribe to the magazine, I highly recommend you do – it is very reasonably priced and comes with great benefits – including membership to Global Hotel Alliance at a Platinum level.

Furthermore it is good to support this fine publication and website.

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Swissdiver, Johnnyg, workandtravel, LetsFlyNow, MartynSinclair, Bullfrog, Hannah Brandler, esselle, cwoodward

[Mark Caswell]

Four hours in Seoul – Jongno-gu

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workandtravel, LetsFlyNow, Bullfrog

[Chris in Makati]

If I had one complete day free I’d use it to visit the DMZ. There are plenty of tours available with pickup from your hotel in Seoul.

Tours were still suspended last time I was there due to Covid, but I believe they’ve restarted now.

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workandtravel

[Chutzpahflyer]

Frankly, I wouldn’t bother with the DMZ. I was there in June and thought it was pretty pointless. You get to look across into N Korea, but all you see is a couple of fences, farmland and the outline of buildings in the visible towns, plus a couple of intriguing things like the mast to block satnav signals etc – but seeing that doesn’t add to your knowledge of the border tensions. I was also taken to the 3rd Tunnel, one of several discovered by the S built by the N under the border. Interesting to know about, but you walk down a concreted new tunnel about half-a-kilometre long to stare into a short section of the North’s tunnel for about 10 secs because of those behind you jostling to see. A day trip that did more for my appreciation of the South’s genius for making something from nothing!
Depends what you like, of course, but time would be better spent in the Zaha Hadid designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza – a fantastic building by one of this-and-late-last centuries best architects with fascinating exhibitions. Or wander around Gangnam district, to get a feel for where Korean pop culture has its origins – being sure not to miss the metro station which is incredibly garish!
Enjoy your day!

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LetsFlyNow

[Chris in Makati]

You need to choose a tour that includes a visit to the Joint Security Area (JSA). That’s the crossing point in Panmunjom where the famous blue huts are where negotiations are held. You don’t need to look into the North with binoculars as you’re literally feet away from the border. Not all tours include a visit to the JSA, and it sounds like yours miggt not have.

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workandtravel

[Chutzpahflyer]

No, it didn’t.

[maxgeorge]

Although still suspended because of continuing Covid related restrictions on travel to the DPRK, a trip to the North Korean side of the DMZ is a real treat, not only because you’ll be escorted by those fearsome looking KPA guards, but also because you’ll be shown, among many other things, the carefully preserved room where the armistice was signed.

Our visit was arranged by British-run koryogroup.com.

And those ferocious looking soldiers? Half an hour before they’d been laughing and posing for fotos with us, the conviviality lubricated with packs of Marlboros.

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workandtravel

[cwoodward]

I enjoy strolling around the center of Seoul for a couple of hours (later morning -afternoon is best)-its lively and interesting particularly on weekends . Interesting shops great food choices,interesting street events stalls and markets. Very lively and I have always found safe in the evenings also.

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LetsFlyNow, workandtravel

[workandtravel]

Agreed! Seoul is the capital of South Korea where everything is there from modern skyscrapers, to pop culture with centuries-old temples and savory-smelling street markets, as per https://gowithguide.com/blog/south-korea-tourism-statistics-2023-all-you-need-to-know-5254 I would definitely enjoy this city. Thank you everyone!

[fatbear]

The K-League is a good standard so watching a decent game of football is always an option !

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cwoodward

[LetsFlyNow]

Thank you for your contributions. Very helpful. I’ll to be jetting into Seoul in less than 2wks – but on holiday. Will then visit Jeju, Busan, Osaka and back from Tokyo.
I might cancel Jeju though for more time in Osaka.

[Inquisitive]

There was a TV documentary a few years ago about see a city with $100 taxi bill. I follow that once in a while if I have 3-4 hours to kill and want to see major landmarks in a city.

Of course one has to be sure that taxi driver is reasonably good. Some pre research in Google helps and you can negotiate with taxi driver a little bit about few minutes waiting at a landmark and you walk about.
I had good experience in Shanghai, Guangdong, Seoul, Vienna and Barcelona, although in Vienna $100 taxi does not buy much. Fortunately I went there again to see most museums and castle.

Another way to kill 4-5 hours is to go to the city’s best museum and enjoy.

[Chris in Makati]

>> There was a TV documentary a few years ago about see a city with $100 taxi bill.

When I want to explore a new city I’m visiting I prefer to walk around and take public transport rather than use taxis to go from one place to another. I find you see much more and absorb the feel of a place better being close up to the people like that.

[Author]

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