City: Hoehyeon-dong
Top Things to do in Hoehyeon-dong
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What to do and see in Hoehyeon-dong, South Korea: The Best Things to do
Seoul is the business and cultural hub of South Korea, where skyscrapers tower over Buddhist temples. Take it all in from the N Seoul Tower, built atop a peak in Namsan Park. The teahouses and shops of Insadong give you a taste of Korean flavor, which you can further experience with a visit to the grounds and museums of Gyeongbokgung. UNESCO World Heritage Site Changdeokgung Palace is a fine example of authentic ancient architecture.
Restaurants in Seoul
1. KTX (Korea Train Express)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,090 reviews
Reviewed By parkj001
I took two trips on the KTX, one to Gwangju and the other to Daejeon. It was a very comfortable ride and they were always on time!
2. Seoul Metro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 12,699 reviews
Reviewed By 277vincentm - New Orleans, United States
Normally I don’t review public transportation systems. They’re not something to see or do: they’re a means to get to something you want to see or do. The exceptions—the times when a public transportation system actually IS an attraction—are pretty obvious: San Francisco’s cable cars, Valparaiso’s ascensors, Taipei’s Maogong Gondola, Innsbruck’s Nordkettenbahnen, etc. Kiev’s Arsenalna Metro station is a bona fide attraction--biggest elevator in the world. But most public transport runs from boring to aggravating. Horse-drawn carriages, pulled rickshaws, the elephant rides at the Amber Palace, and the camel rides in Giza, are things to do, not public ways of getting around. But the Seoul subway system is not only an excellent public transport system, but one that adds flourishes of art and culture as well. Here I’ll just note one impressive engineering detail, one cultural artefact that any major museum in North America would give its eye-teeth to get; and a travellers’ tip. Engineering: Walk up to the tracks and no further. A platform-long, floor-to-ceiling transparent panel runs alongside the track. Its doors slide open only when a train has stopped, and those trains stop so accurately that the entire entrances to the cars, and not an inch more or less in either direction, are accessible. This of course prevents your being jostled off the platform, or accidentally falling onto the tracks just as the train roars into the station. A few months ago a fellow committed suicide by jumping in front of an arriving train in San Francisco’s BART system. Naturally all the commuters in that station at the time was horrified: this was REALLY going to delay them. In fact, the entire system shut down for an hour. Had the same fellow attempted the same suicide in Seoul, he’d have been out of luck, or maybe in luck, but still alive either way. In theory I suppose you could install a shield like that in existing subway systems like BART; but I suspect the tricky 21st century engineering bit isn’t the plastic wall: it’s the stopping of all trains at precisely the right spot on the rails. No system dependent on human drivers could do that. Culture: If you take time to look around when you’re at a Seoul station, you can see some remarkable things. At one station I was sitting on a curving multi-colour bench backed by an artsy wall and thin trunks of mature bamboo, with an old wooden beach chair and a Western-style toilet integrated into the seating for humour (Bench and Bamboo photo). Sitting there, I noticed a polished black objet d’art atop four mythical Korean lions in the middle of the pedestrian traffic, with four red-taped stanchions alerting folks to walk around it (Objet d’art photo). Every time a train came in, scores of folks would swarm out, making for the exits, without even glancing at whatever it was. I got up and found a tiny plaque stating that it was an ancient Korean sundial. And what an exquisite bronze sundial! Instead of just a flat dial, it has a central semi-sphere circled by a flat perimeter dial as well. I believe that the yellow-edged gnomon is a modern recreation. The astronomical engravings and calligraphy were in pristine condition, with just two or three tiny chips along the outer edge (Sundial photo). The most astonishing thing, other than it being in the middle of a Metro station walkway, was its casting date: 1435 C.E! That was during the reign of Sejeon the Great, who revolutionized Korea’s writing system, and sponsored the golden age of ancient Korean science. Jang Yeong-sil was a scientist who used an iron printing press decades before Johannes Gutenberg, and invented improved rain gauges, water gauges, water clocks, and a wide range of astronomical instruments, including sundials. Jang and his co-scientists created the “angbu-ilgu” (“pot-shaped sun clock staring at the sky”). There’s one at Gyeongbokgung, out in the sun, a fitter place for a sundial than down in a Metro station, but exactly the same as this one! To put the antiquity of this sundial into perspective: in 1435 the richest, most cultured, and most powerful state in Western Europe was the Grand Duchy of the West (stretching from Friesland and Flanders through Burgundy to the Alps, but long gone by 1500); the most powerful state in the Indian subcontinent was the Vijayanagara Empire (the first Mughals wouldn’t show up till the next century); the Eastern Roman emperor still reigned in Constantinople; the princes of Muscovy were still under the Tartar Yoke; the Incas were nomadic tribesmen who hadn’t even founded Cuzco yet; and Henry the Navigator’s captains were still struggling to get past the Western Sahara on the African coast. To put the location of this sundial into perspective: Can you imagine transferring at a Berlin U-Bahn station and seeing a 1455 Gutenberg Bible on display in the middle of the traffic flow as you head to the other line? Or spotting a 1434 Jan Van Eyck painting hanging on the wall at London’s Bond Street or Embankment station? They’ve actually got a 1434 Van Eyck in London, but it’s prominently displayed at the National Gallery, not down in a Tube station! And yes, I did discover cultural touches at several other stations, though not at all. Traveller’s Tip: Whether you’re landing in Incheon or Gimpo, the 5000-won “All Stations” ticket will get you and your luggage from the airport to whatever Metro station is nearest to your hotel: that’s less than 4 Euros, and slightly more than 4 US dollars.
3. Namdaemun Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 2,893 reviews
This is the city's largest market. Almost everything is available for sale including clothing, souvenirs, purses, and food supplies. Many stalls are open into the wee hours of the morning.
Reviewed By nikolettap744
It's a nice local market, perfect for shopping souvenirs to take home :) Try the dumplings and the ginger tea, those are so good!
4. Culture Station Seoul 284
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 240 reviews
Culture Station Seoul 284 is a dynamic and open multi-disciplinary cultural space that is accessible to everyone. The former Seoul Station had been a major stage in modern and contemporary Korean history and a gateway for transportation and commerce for almost a century. After its restoration back to its original appearance, it was officially launched in August of 2011 as a space for diverse artistic and cultural creation and exchange. The official name, which combines its historic, spatial, and urban symbolism , was selected through a national open call. By combining the notion of a cultural space with the old Seoul Station's historic site number 284, the name embodies the concepts of preserving its appearance and value as a historic site while simultaneously cultivating the meaning of the station as a place of various cultural intersections.
5. Shinsegae Dept. Store Main
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 364 reviews
Known for bringing customers a fusion experience of shopping and culture, Shinsegae Department Store boasts top international luxury brands, emerging brands, an art gallery, and a beautiful garden.
Reviewed By Paul4966 - London, United Kingdom
The good hall is connected to Hyewha underground and is brilliant! Shopping is very high end. Tax free floors are 8-12 (not very well advertised), but we found it overrated with not much bargains. Also they only accept USD in duty free and you need your passport (or photo of it) and flight details to buy.
6. Sungnyemun Gate
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 332 reviews
Reviewed By Janet1016 - Ottawa, Canada
One evening while walking around the Namdaemun Market looking for a place to eat dinner, we walked out a back alley and found the Sungnyemun Gate in all it's glory right across the street. It was surreal really, and a stunning piece of architecture. Sungnyemun Gate (literally meaning 'the gate of exalted ceremonies') was built between 1396 and 1398 and has been repaired and restored on numerous occasions over the centuries. There used to be four main gates to the city (which used to be called Hanyang, and is now present day Seoul) We learned that if we came back the next morning that there was a 'Changing of the Guard Ceremony' performed for the Public. There is signage close by to tell you of the hours. Sungnyemun Gate has a base of stonework with a half-round arch in the center and a gorgeous big door facing south. On top of that, there was a two-story wooden pavilion; the first floor of the pavilion was equipped with small doors on the east and west sides, and the second floor had wood-paneled windows on every side. There are photos of the Gate taken after the Korean War when it had been damaged which are fascinating. We showed up the next morning just in the nick of time. It was the end of January and there were only two other people there. The Guards are dressed in period uniforms from the Joseon Dynasty and it's really breath taking to get a sneak peek in to the past. A very nice security guard told us when we could approach and when we needed to stand back. They let us get up super close and I got some great photos. We were in Seoul during the Corona-virus scare so all the guards and staff were wearing masks. We were in Seoul for a week and visiting this Gate and watching the Guard ceremony was definitely one of the highlights of our visit. (And it's free!!!!) I love Changing of the Guard Ceremonies. I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and have been to see the Changing of the Guard Ceremonies on Parliament Hill tons of times so it was really fun to get to compare with the Ceremony in Seoul. They too had a marching band!!!!
7. Seoullo 7017
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 182 reviews
Reviewed By theresehwang
I came here during the evening and was able to see the scenery at day and at night as well. This is a favourite spot for both locals and tourists as you are surrounded by well-maintained plants and on top of bustling roads that crosses Seoul Station as well. Will come here again!
8. Baekbeom Plaza
9. Lotte Outlets Seoul Station
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 258 reviews
Reviewed By 1Ming
this is a fantastic place for last minute shopping before leaving for the airport. Free luggage storage. Free boxes to pack your purchases. Lots of free food sampling in the supermarket - try before you buy. Immediate tax refund. Next to train and subway. Huge mall with a great variety of goods. WE spent hours, and only visited the ground level.
10. piknic
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
