A trip to Seoul cannot be complete without understanding its rich heritage. The art and cultural activities in Seoul will give you an insight into the city's history, traditions, and artwork. While visiting the cultural attractions in Seoul would prove to be informative, attending its artsy events will leave you entertained. From cultural performances to historical monuments that give you a glimpse of the past, take a look at this list to know Seoul better. Include these in attractions in your itinerary for Seoul and have a great vacation.
Top Places for Art and Cultural Activities in Seoul
Check the list of top places for art and culture in Seoul:
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Gyeongbokgung Palace
(11481 Votes)
Built in 1935, the Gyeongbokgung palace stands out amongst its peers because of its vivid design and architecture. Even though this palace was partially destroyed in a fire, one can’t help but notice the style resemblance of the Joseon dynasty. The complex of this palace also hosts the remarkable National Palace Museum and National Folk Museum. Visitors can experience the change of guard...Read more -
The War Memorial Of Korea
(10351 Votes)
One of the darkest phases in the history of this country is extremely well documented in this museum located in the Yongsan-dong area of Seoul. The Korean War was one which had a number of significant influences on the nation and how it is today. The museum houses war memorabilia, military equipment, period art and exhibits and is a huge draw for tourists on a regular basis. It is recommended ...Read more -
Changdeokgung Palace
(9333 Votes)
Built in 1405, this palace has been the principal residence off many kings from the Joseon dynasty. The marriage of nature and architecture is a stunning sight at this palace. Many of the buildings here are hand painted. This palace was once burned down in 1592 when an angry mob vented its frustration over the absconding king during the Japanese invasion. Perhaps the most well known part of th...Read more -
The first thing you notice at this beautiful temple is the juxtaposition of the shady temple premises with the concrete surroundings. Built in 794 AD, what was originally christened as Gyeonseongsa Temple was later renamed on Queen Jeonghyeon’s insistence to Bongeunsa. There are about 3400 Buddhist scriptures stored here, alongside the works of Kim Jeong-hee. The gorgeous lattice doors i...Read more -
Bukhansan National Park
(7383 Votes)
While visiting Seoul, one has to make sure that the final stop in their travels in this magical city filled with modernist images is amongst nature. Nature in all its splendor is what a visitor will get to see in this national park located in Gyeonggi and Seoul. Home to three granite peaks, forested areas and temples, this protected national park should not be skipped on. The tour will take so...Read more -
This area in Jongno-gu district of South Korea is partly famous for the number of art galleries and tea shops that are present in the vicinity. But, the most iconic aspect of this area of the city is the huge number of antique shops that are present. Essentially, Insadong-gil has the largest number of antique stores in the city. People can find a rare and beautiful time lapse when in this area...Read more -
The Bukchon Village can be considered to be one of the best examples of living history in the city of Seoul. This area is over six hundred years old and people can get an intrinsic look into the ancient lives of the people of Korea. This locality is placed between Gyeongbok Palace, Jongmyo Royal Shrine and the Changdeok Palace. This area is strewn with alleys and small streets where people can ...Read more -
The Cheonggye Stream in downtown Seoul is one of the most beautiful places one can visit while in Seoul. This ancient stream of water flows through the heart of the city and attracts hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists throughout the year. During the economic development stages following the Korean War, this 5.8 km long creek had to be covered up for the most part in order to make way ...Read more -
Olympic Park Seoul
(4409 Votes)
Spread across a whopping 1.5 million square meters, the Olympic Park has become a place where locals love to come to unwind and participate in sports activities. The unique feature of the park is that it encompasses the land that was once Mongchontoseong Fortress and Mongchonhaeja from the Baekje period. The sheer size of the park is enough to overwhelm first time visitors, so it helps to figur...Read more -
Jogyesa Temple is the main temple for Zen Buddhism in Korea. It holds a very important place in the religious identity of the city and the nation itself. Surrounded by mature trees, this temple invokes peace and spirituality almost instantly. The main building is said to be close to 500 years old. The Baeksong tree that surrounds the temple has been given the status of a national treasure. The ...Read more -
Leeum Samsung Museum Of Art
(4522 Votes)
The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art uses modern technology and crisp displays to showcase some stunning works of art that are not available anywhere else in the world. From Modern art to traditional Korean arts, there is a great deal here to make a art connoisseur happy. The architecture of the museum is as spectacular as the collections. One can encounter intriguing metal work, ceramic arts and ca...Read more -
Gwanghwamun
(7114 Votes)
This is one of the main gates of the Gyeongbokgung Palace. One of the most important pieces of architecture in Seoul, this gate is a constant reminder to some of the most illustrious phases of the history of the city. Built during the Jonseon Dynasty, this gate has seen its fair share of mismanagement and disrepair. The government undertook restorations of this monument in 2010 after which it h...Read more -
Namsangol Hanok Village
(3497 Votes)
The Namsol Hanok Village is a great place to encounter Korea’s culture. It has five houses that are beautifully restored to look like traditional houses of people from all social classes- from laborers to the king. These houses showcase how people used to live in the times of the Joseon dynasty. A number of interesting activities take place here on a daily basis. You can participate in tr...Read more -
Namdaemun Market
(5176 Votes)
This is another one of the traditional markets that are a part of the national heritage of Seoul. Namdaemun market has been present since 1414 and was established by King Taejong. This marketplace has maintained some air of its imperial past as can be witnessed by the traditional setting which can present such an old-world feel that foreign visitors will certainly feel as though they have been ...Read more -
The name of this place is derived from the Korean phrase which translates roughly to tree-lined streets. This is because the roads and streets that are adorned with gingko trees. One of the most special features that can be seen in Seoul is that the city is an amalgamation of thousands of years of history which has been overtaken by the most cutting edge technology in the world. Among the main ...Read more