A very short Korea
January 31, 2024 1:37 AM Subscribe
I'll travelling from Japan back to the UK in May, stopping in Seoul for 2 nights/1.5 days. It's not much time and I don't want to rush around, but would like to see a couple of interesting features.
Where should I stay? What shouldn't I miss?
I'd like an older style neighbourhood with good food options and a friendly bar or two. Does Korea have the equivalent to Japanese Ryokan? What about the bathing culture - are their spas similar to 'onsen'? My Budget is $400 or there abouts. I run a ceramics business so pottery a bonus. Thanks hive-mind. I'm a 59 year old male travelling solo if that's relevant to your answer.
I'd like an older style neighbourhood with good food options and a friendly bar or two. Does Korea have the equivalent to Japanese Ryokan? What about the bathing culture - are their spas similar to 'onsen'? My Budget is $400 or there abouts. I run a ceramics business so pottery a bonus. Thanks hive-mind. I'm a 59 year old male travelling solo if that's relevant to your answer.
I haven't been in years or maybe even decades, but Insa-Dong is a great area full of little galleries, lots of pottery and art and beautiful handmade paper (also tea shops and restaurants/cafes). Lots of things to see and buy, much of which is affordable. On my wall right now is a page of a Lee Chul Soo calendar I bought in Insa-Dong in the late 1990s.
I don't know the baths in Seoul but Korean baths in general are great. Yes, similar to onsen, sex-segregated and there should be a few big, fancy, amazing bath houses in Seoul. I used to go to one in Pusan that had an assortment of different baths - green tea, mud, jasmine, zen, hot, cold, salt...etc etc.
posted by lulu68 at 3:05 AM on January 31 [1 favorite]
I don't know the baths in Seoul but Korean baths in general are great. Yes, similar to onsen, sex-segregated and there should be a few big, fancy, amazing bath houses in Seoul. I used to go to one in Pusan that had an assortment of different baths - green tea, mud, jasmine, zen, hot, cold, salt...etc etc.
posted by lulu68 at 3:05 AM on January 31 [1 favorite]
Watcher's Club on youtube does live walks through Seoul neighborhoods/shopping districts/street food places/historical sites, check the Community tab for the schedule. She's done a live walk from just about everywhere in Seoul at some point. The host answers live chat questions as she walks, usually on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. She'll take suggestions on where to go next, what places to stop in and visit while walking, or what cafes or restaurants to get a meal at. Some replayed live walks here (look for the thumbnails with the blue-haired woman, the other ones are just silent walks, but still fun). If you live antipodal to Korea, the live walks can be rather early in the morning.
posted by jabah at 6:38 AM on January 31 [1 favorite]
posted by jabah at 6:38 AM on January 31 [1 favorite]
Assuming you're staying in Seoul, seconding the Insadong / Bukchon area, which is full of Korean historical sites, museums, markets etc. Generally speaking, Seoul north of the river around that area is the site of old Seoul (and thus more historical, etc). Seoul south of the river is newer, fancier, wealthier, also.
Find a spot to stay in/around Bukchon Hanok village if you can, and walk around. West of it is Gyeongbokgung palace. Southeast of Anguk station are a lot of beautiful twisty alleyways with brilliant, cozy restaurants. Even further southeast, Jongro-3 and Ulijro-30, will take you to the wholesale markets (not really a tourist activity, but full of nostalgia value). Cheonggyecheon is a nice outdoor hangout river spot, especially in May. There should be museums and pottery exhibits around there, too.
posted by many more sunsets at 11:30 AM on January 31 [2 favorites]
Find a spot to stay in/around Bukchon Hanok village if you can, and walk around. West of it is Gyeongbokgung palace. Southeast of Anguk station are a lot of beautiful twisty alleyways with brilliant, cozy restaurants. Even further southeast, Jongro-3 and Ulijro-30, will take you to the wholesale markets (not really a tourist activity, but full of nostalgia value). Cheonggyecheon is a nice outdoor hangout river spot, especially in May. There should be museums and pottery exhibits around there, too.
posted by many more sunsets at 11:30 AM on January 31 [2 favorites]
Came here to second the recommendation for Bukchon Hanok Village. It is a residential neighborhood within Seoul featuring traditional Korean houses. The architecture is beautiful, and there are a number of charming little shops and galleries in this area as well.
Near Bukchon are several palaces - any of which are worth visiting - but my particular recommendation is for Changdeokgung Palace, which in addition to its impressive architecture also features a 'secret garden' that I imagine would be especially beautiful in the spring.
Additional recommendations: Banpo Bridge has a rainbow fountain light show in the evenings. This also gives you an opportunity to see Seoul's famous Han River, as the bridge crosses it.
Namsan Tower gives good views of the city, if that's your sort of thing. (Me, I love a good tower!)
For a broad resource to get more ideas from, you can check out the Visit Korea site.
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 3:55 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
Near Bukchon are several palaces - any of which are worth visiting - but my particular recommendation is for Changdeokgung Palace, which in addition to its impressive architecture also features a 'secret garden' that I imagine would be especially beautiful in the spring.
Additional recommendations: Banpo Bridge has a rainbow fountain light show in the evenings. This also gives you an opportunity to see Seoul's famous Han River, as the bridge crosses it.
Namsan Tower gives good views of the city, if that's your sort of thing. (Me, I love a good tower!)
For a broad resource to get more ideas from, you can check out the Visit Korea site.
posted by panther of the pyrenees at 3:55 PM on February 2 [1 favorite]
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posted by alchemist at 1:51 AM on January 31 [1 favorite]