The Kimchi Museum may not sound exciting, especially to a foreigner who doesn’t understand why kimchi would have its own dedicated museum. That’s exactly why its important to go to the Kimchi museum! I had no idea the cultural and historic importance of kimchi. I had no idea how it was made, the different types of kimchi…really anything about kimchi, but now I’m educated ;) Seriously though, for less than $5 you get entrance to the museum, a free audio guide in English (which I recommend!), and a kimchi tasting at the end of the tour. Kimchi is such a huge part of Korean cuisine that if you’re going to spend any amount of time in the country, I think it’s a great thing to learn about and grow your appreciation for. Especially because you’re most likely going to be served some type of kimchi at every meal while you’re in Korea!

Down the main street in Itaewon, Seoul I came across a bar called Tap Public. This place had a very cool concept and convenient way to taste different beers from all across the world. When you come into the bar you receive a wristband that keeps track of all of the beers that you drink while you’re there. There are over 60 different beers to choose from, each with a different price. You simply swipe your wristband on the panel for the beer you want to try, then just pour as much as you want—the dollar amount you’re pouring is shown on the display. It couldn’t be simpler. Only problem is that it’s easy to get carried away trying lots of different kinds of beer and then before you know it…you’ve spent way more than you thought you did. I’m sure that’s what they’re counting on though, explains why you have to leave a credit card at the cashier!

One weekend while in Seoul I decided to buy one of those ‘tourist passes’ that lots of cities have, where you pay a flat rate and you get free entrance to lots of different places. That’s what led me to the Coex Aquarium in Gangnam. It usually costs about $20, and I wouldn’t have gone if it wasn’t included in the pass. Not because it’s not a great aquarium, but because 1) I’ve already been to my favorite aquarium twice, the Seattle Aquarium and 2) I’m cheap! But since it was basically free to visit, I did. It is a nice aquarium, but it is a bit odd thinking about how the aquarium in inside a giant mall that is all underground. They are famous for their large variety and number of sharks. But beyond sea life, they also had prairie dogs. I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how they fit into the ‘aquarium’ concept since i couldn’t read the signs, but they were super cute, so I wasn’t mad about it!

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is must see for architecture lovers. Created out of concrete, aluminum, steel, and stone, this curvy structure was designed by a British Iraqi architect, Haha Hadid and started in 2009. It is a large, multi level space that has many different venues that hosts events such as Seoul’s Fashion Week, conferences, art exhibits, concerts and more. Even if you’re not going to an event at DDP, I think it’s worth going to just to see how beautiful the building itself is. There’s nothing else like it in Seoul!

Bukchon Hanok Village is a little part of Seoul, near the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is famous for the hundreds of traditional houses called hanok that date back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897). Many of the traditional houses have been turned into cultural centers, guesthouses, and restaurants for the tourists to experience. But there are also a lot of the homes that are still private residences, so it is best to only go during the mid day hours and keep the noise to a minimum. I recommend taking a stroll through the neighborhood to experience for yourself and appreciate the contrast of these old houses being surrounded by the busy streets, high rises, and fast pace of modern day Seoul all around them. 

The first time I went to the Insa-dong neighborhood in Seoul was for one purpose and one purpose only…the Poop Cafe of course! But I have since returned several times. One reason is that I fell in love with a small jewelry store in the Ssamziegil Mall (where the Poop Cafe is located). I’ve also returned because it is a location that is conveniently located near other places worth visiting in Seoul like museums and palaces. It has the Jogyesa Temple nearby where I happened to stumble across them setting up all of the lanterns for Buddha’s birthday. The main road through Insa-dong is a pedestrian zone, so it’s popular for walking around, shopping for souvenirs, eating street food, and sometimes catching a street performer or two.