Seoul is located just north-west of South Korea and its distance from the North Korean border is only 40 km from the city center. Seoul, a modern and historic megacity, was razed to the ground by the Japanese in the 16th and 17th centuries, and even nearly the entire city was destroyed in the Korean war and rebuilt in the 1950s. Despite all this, it still manages to contain the secrets of history in its temples and pagodas, magnificent palaces and magical gardens. Still surrounded by 16 kilometers of city walls, Seoul today integrates modern technology with history. Koreans have preserved their architecture very well because they value their history, and even in today’s cosmopolitan Seoul, you surely find a trace of history in every corner.

It cannot be denied that the 1988 Seoul Olympics made a huge contribution to the development of the city. Seoul, known worldwide after the Olympics, began to modernize rapidly and became one of the most important capitals of today.

Seoul is South Korea’s most important financial, political and cultural center, with government buildings, banks, business centers, and universities.

The main reasons why Seoul is attractive to tourists is that it has nice hotels with affordable prices and a well-functioning public transport system. The Han-Gang river divides this megacity of 12 million into two. Chung-gu, which we can call the city center, is Chongno-gu, where touristic and affordable hotels are located to the north of the city, and It’aewon-dong, where the most beautiful shops for shopping and the heart of nightlife beats in the south.

Located in the south of Namsan Mountain, It’aewon-dong is the most popular city for tourists and those who want to shop. We cannot say that Kangnam in the south, the most exclusive and richest neighborhood of the city, is very attractive to tourists because the works of historical value are mostly located in the northern regions.

You are very likely to get lost in the streets of Seoul, because addresses and street numbers are very chaotically placed. If you’ve been to Japan, you know what we mean! When you go as a tourist, the most necessary thing for you will be a very detailed map. Even for Seoul’s locals, getting directions on the street is not always easy! This is because the street numbers are not consecutive numbers, they are random numbers, and the streets are lined up very irregularly. When this many people in Turkey as well as foreigners that we do not, we will be easier to find our direction for the Turks!

When to go?

Seoul is beautiful year-round, it’s up to you to decide when to go. Autumn months (September, October, November) are the most preferred times for tourists, because in autumn you can enjoy the beautiful weather and see the magnificent colors in the world’s most beautiful forests. In Seoul, winters can be harsh and snowy most of the time.

We recommend you not to miss the cherry season that starts at the beginning of spring (February). In the summer, it is not very attractive for tourists as it is quite hot and humid. Make sure that your trip to Seoul does not coincide with the local Korean holidays, because you may not be able to deal with the crazy crowd in the shops, with thousands of people on the streets and on public transport.

Vacation days

Lunar New Year (Solnal): The first day of the new moon is celebrated throughout the country. You can watch traditional dance festivals and interesting shows held in many parts of the city.

Buddha’s birthday: According to the lunar calendar, it corresponds to the eighth day of the first quarter, namely April – May. Traditionally, a walk is held every year from Youido Plazato Chogyesa Temple.

Korean Thanksgiving (Ch’usok): It is also known as the Lunar Festival and falls between September and October. Thanksgiving is very important to Koreans and everyone gets together with their family.

Apart from these, there are many festivals organized throughout the year. Traditional Korean clothes can be seen at these festivals and traditional music can be listened to.

Where is Seoul