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What to do and see in Seoul, South Korea: The Best Museums
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.
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1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,654 reviews
The National Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum are located on the grounds of this palace, built six centuries ago by the founder of the Chosun dynasty.
Reviewed By Krubee - Singapore, Singapore
At the heart of Seoul lies this ancient yet historically significant center of the Joseon dynasty - the Eternal, Grand, Beautiful and Enchanting Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest and grandest of the 5 palaces built during the Joseon dynasty in 1395 by King Taejo, the first King of Joseon.. It is the seat of the King, His household and the government. To date it is one of the most famous attractions in Seoul and South Korea. Millions of tourist visit this Palace and it is a must visit. You could take the Seoul metro and could alight at Gyeongbokgung station which is connected via Heungnyemun Gate or outside via Gwanghwamun station and you need to walk via North direction passing by the statue of King Sejong the Great. The National Palace Museum of Korea is located via Heungnyemun gate. The entrance fee to this palace is around 3K Won for adults. As you enter the main gate of Gwanghwamun in the south you will be greeted by several other gates as you walk north into the Geunjeongjeon (Throne hall). The cobbled stones floor indicates that you are entering history. Other significant buildings include the beautiful Gyeonghoeru Pavilion (Banquet hall) with a lake surrounding it, Gangnyeongjeon (King's residential quarter), Gyotaejeon (Queen's quarter), Hyangwonjeong (2 story Hexagonal shape pavillion on lake connected by Chwihyanggyo bridge), and many more. We went here during Fall season and it's magical we were surrounded by trees of red, yellow and orange. The wind blowing adds to the beauty of the falling leaves. Despite the plenty of tourists we have space to take beautiful photos and videos. There are even Korean cultural dance shows with photo opts afterwards. Behind this massive complex stands the mighty Mt. Baegaksan (a 342 m high granite mountain) a perfect background for your beautiful photos and videos. Some tourists rent traditional Hanbok dress, a traditional Korean clothes. Rental prices vary depending on the time starting at around 13K to 15K Won for about 4 hrs. It adds to the total experience you could get while walking around this historical palace not to mention it adds beauty to your photos and videos. Between 10 to 3 PM the traditional changing of the guards occur every hour which is a spectacle of Korean culture and tradition. We left at 5 PM which is also the closing time at this Eternal Grand Palace. It is my 2nd time to visit this but it still amazes me every time.
2. National Folk Museum of Korea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 963 reviews
The history of ordinary Koreans.
Reviewed By wireless_in_CA
This museum was located next to rear entrance to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. The building design was quite unexpected and its concrete base rose high above the ground with a multi story pagoda located on the top. There also was a nicely landscaped garden surrounding the museum. Inside were multiple exhibition halls that did a very good job in detailing the traditions and daily lives of the Korean people both past and present with artifacts (clothing, tools, replica homes, funeral biers, etc) and detailed explanations. The special exhibit was focused on present day workers from Incheon and the work they did. It was personal with their uniforms, biographies and the products they worked on (i.e. cars, textiles). Admission was free. A cafe was also located on the ground floor off to the side of the main entrance.
3. National Museum of Korea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,362 reviews
This is the largest museum in Korea with over 220,000 objects in its collection. It has six permanent exhibition galleries such as Historical Gallery and Fine Arts Gallery. It also has special exhibition halls, a children's museum, outdoor exhibit areas, restaurants, cafes, shops and other amenities. *Admission: Free to Permanent Exhibition & Children's Museum(changeable after 2010)*Hours: Tue/Thu/Fri: 9am-6pm, Wed/Sat: 9am-9pm, Sun/holidays: 9am-7pm, closed Mon & January 1st
Reviewed By Janet1016 - Ottawa, Canada
I think it's awesome when a Museum offers free admission, especially to International travelers who can then learn all about a Country's Culture. My husband, son and I spent a week in Seoul, our very first trip to South Korea and visited the National Museum of Korea on our second day. It's a vast building, and one of the largest museums in Asia. We took the MRT to get there and it was a nice walk from the MRT station to the Museum. The Museum offers one hour free English language tours which we took. Our Guide was very friendly and personable and spoke English very well. There are also maps of the Museum available in English and they also detail the top sights if you have a limited amount of time to spend. I was fascinated most by the Gold Crowns and Caps, so delicate and ornate and so different from say English Crowns. :) The Museum houses many, many of Korean's National Treasures and it's really awe inspiring to get to see them and learn South Korea's history. You could spend a couple of days going through here no problem, plus there is another Museum on the grounds as well that is devoted to the Korean Language, the National Hangeul Museum. There is a large Food court area within in you get peckish and it serves really lovely meals. This is a great spot to visit if you're in Seoul. Go!!!!
4. The War Memorial of Korea
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,269 reviews
Poignant exhibits, war memorabilia, art works, and military equipment make this a perfect place to learn about Korea’s history of war, most notably with North Korea. Kids will enjoy the display of actual tanks and airplanes.
Reviewed By Culinary-Consultants - Ferrara, Italy
As a veteran I am a lover of places that price and honor, the fellow and good military men and women of the past and present; Men and Women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of freedom and liberty. In this vein, I dedicate part of every travel we make with our company to search for Memorials and Museums of War. The War Memorial of Korea as expected for the history of this country, is no disappointment. It opened in 1994 on the former site of the army headquarters to exhibit and memorialize the military history of Korea and it holds an exquisite collection and memorabilia of several past wars ranging from prehistoric times with very rudimentary weapons; passing with extreme detail throughout the Korean War and the ROK Armed Forces until more modern conflicts and the presence of South Korea as an allied in the United Nations. 13,000 items are displayed in six halls under different themes and about 100 large weapons are displayed in the outside exhibition area on the lawns around the building. Outside the building premises you can see a great variety of mobile units such as fixed-wing air-crafts like the De Havilland Canada U-6A Beaver, the Curtiss C-46D-20-CU Commando, also the Fairchild C-123J built in 1956 as a C-123B and later converted to a C-123J in the 1960s. Helicopters are also in the premises, such as the Bell AH-1J “International Cobra”, also the Bell UH-1B Iroquois, even Russian units as the Sikorsky H-5H Dragonfly and the Sikorsky HH-19B Chickasaw. But there are more mobile units such as armored vehicles, artillery and anti-aircraft guns. Missiles and several other maritime vessels like the Hurricane Aircat Air-boat used by ROK special forces during the Vietnam War and much more well kept pieces of war history are exhibited here at the War Memorial of Korea. The place definitely has been groomed to detail and has also a special glow about it; meaning a building with a soul. I truly recommend this place for the lovers of War History and War Artifacts and here you will also find a special place for the special connection we have with those who gave it all for the sake of freedom in South Korea and everywhere else.
5. Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 741 reviews
Reviewed By JackMassimoDA - Washington DC, United States
This is a manageable museum (you can cover a lot of ground in two hours here) that blends Korean history with modern art and works in between. Great exhibits and a fantastic campus with killer architecture to supercharge your Instagram. Also, around the museum is a v. cool area with trendy cafes and places to eat but not crazy expensive.
6. Seodaemun Prison History Hall
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
Reviewed By Riah1028
Coming to Korea I was completely ignorant to the history of the country. This trip gives excellent context to the impact the Japanese Occupation had on this country. I’d recommend anyone new to Korea come here.
7. Seoul Arts Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 880 reviews
Reviewed By W2748OKgarys
The Seoul Arts Center is an arts complex in the Seocho-gu district of Seoul, in South Korea. It consists of five main buildings: the Opera House, with three auditoriums; the Music Hall, with two concert halls; the Hangaram Art Museum; the Hangaram Design Museum; and the Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum.[1]:94[2] The Opera House is built in a shape resembling the traditional Korean bamboo hat called gat.[2] The center is home to the Korea National Ballet, the Korea National Opera, the Korean Symphony Orchestra, the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company and the National Chorus of Korea.
8. Seoul Museum of History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 310 reviews
Reviewed By R_A617 - Ayr, United Kingdom
Recently updated and free. 600 years of Seoul, very well divided into sections. Everything was helpfully in English with very well done brochures/guides for each section. We visited on a wet day - but spent much longer than intended. Definitely worth the visit.
9. Trickeye Museum Seoul
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,527 reviews
The Trickeye Museum is "one of a kind" painting gallery, which combines art with hi-end technology - so-called AR (Augmented Reality) effect and 2D/3D illusions. Instead of merely viewing paintings (as in a typical art gallery), visitors can interact with the paintings using newly developed Trickeye Camera application to make pictures alive in order to be a part of the artwork and record it on video or make a picture. Moreover, there is the Ice Museum located in the Trickeye Museum, items in which are fully made out of ice such as iced TV, ice kitchen, ice slope etc. With one admission ticket you can enjoy both "Trickeye Museum" and "Ice Museum". To ensure that even its busiest customers have time to enjoy the fun, the museum stays open each day all around the year from 9 AM until 9 PM (last admission by 8 PM), making it a popular date and hang-out place. Outside of the main exhibition hall there is museum café, which exclusively serves Latte with Your picture from the phone on it.
Reviewed By daniellY8742XD - Miami, United States
Me and 4 other friends from University decided to visit the Trickeye Museum in Hongdae. You have to download an application that is called "TrickEye" in order to see the illusions and special effects. Free Wifi is provided. We had a lot of fun, it was a different experience seeing dinosaurs, sharks and artists coming out of the wall and interacting with its surrounding. It took us about 1-2 hours because we really enjoyed the special effects and made a lot of video and photo material.
10. The War and Women's Human Rights Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
