Are you heading to Seoul with Kids and wondering where to take them? Perfect! You’re in the right place! We have put together a list of things to See and Do that we think you’ll enjoy as a family, just like we did when we visited Seoul in March 2016.
Seoul with Kids – Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung was the first Palace built by the Joseon Dynasty in 1395 and is the largest of the last 5 palaces remaining in Seoul. Stroll around the pavilions and halls within the palace’s grounds. The changing of the Royal Guards (Sumunjang) takes places 3 times a day in front of the main gate. A ceremony not to be missed!
Admission: Adult: 3,000 Won, Child: 1,500 Won
Seoul with Kids – National Folk Museum of Korea
The National Folk Museum of Korea is located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung. We recommend to visit on your first day in Seoul because you’ll learn a lot about the Korean culture and population. Admission is free.
There’s also a dedicated Children Museum.
Seoul with Kids – Gwanghwamun Square
This square is just in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace and houses the statutes of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin and King Sejong which are the most respected historical figures by Koreans.
Seoul with Kids – Insadong
Insadong is the place where you can shop for crafts and souvenirs, see street performers, visit galleries and traditional tea shops. Here you can also try some sweets like the traditional Taffy Ta-Rae a Korean candy made of honey and malt. Don’t miss the making of this candy which is quite spectacular! Another one you don’t want to miss is the poop cake… Yes, I know! But it tastes really great! I promise!
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- Weekend crowds
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- You have to try a delicious poop cake
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- Watching the making of Taffy Ta-Rae
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- They finished the box of 8 in no time
Matcha and Ginger tea with Green Tea chocolates
Seoul with Kids – N Seoul Tower
If you are traveling with kids, the best way to reach the base of Seoul Tower is by cable car. Alternatively you can also hike the trail up to Seoul Tower. But be aware that there are quite some stairs and you need to be a minimum fit to reach the top. We suggest to take the cable car up and enjoy a leisurely, scenic walk down to Namsan Park.
Peaking at 236,7 meters, Seoul tower offers a 360 degrees view of Seoul and its surroundings.
Cable Car Price one-way: Adult: 6,000 Won, Kids: 3,500 Won
Seoul Tower Admission: Adult: 9,000 Won, Kids: 7,000 Won
Seoul with Kids – Namsangol Hanok Village
Namsangol showcases an ancient village from the Joseon Period. You can have a look inside Hanoks- the traditional Korean houses, pavilions and a pond. Admission is free.
Seoul with Kids – War Memorial of Korea
The War Memorial is without a doubt a must do when visiting Seoul and certainly one of our hightlights. Whether or not you’re a history buff, this museum teaches you a lot about Korean history. The displays are fantastic and the information is well presented. There are 2 movie theatres with 4D experience as well as a simulator ride. The visit can take anywhere between few hours or a day depending on how much you want go into detail of the different aspects of Korean history. Admission is free.
Next to the museum, is the Children’s Museum which explains the history of Korea to the little ones. Some videos have an English translation. There’s also a nice playground with slides. Admission is free.
Seoul with Kids – Itaewon
This is the district where you can enjoy international cuisine and buy tailored suits. There are some nice mural paintings to be found in some back streets too. Itaewon is also famous for its bars and trendy nightlife.
Seoul with Kids – Line Friends Store and Café
Line Friends characters have become extremely popular in Asia. On weekends people line up to enter the store and the wait for the Café is even longer. After a few hours of sightseeing, a snack at Line Friends Café can be a nice treat for the kids.
Seoul with Kids – Cats Cafe
This was the kids highlight of the day. They enjoyed playing with the kitties while we had a cup of tea.
Seoul with Kids – Korean BBQ
Eating a Korean BBQ is one thing you shouldn’t miss while in Seoul. Your kids will enjoy the experience too as they can cook their own meat and vegetables on the grill.
Seoul with Kids – National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
We stopped here by chance and didn’t want to spend too much time here as we had other plans, but the two temporary exhibitions we saw were very nice. The last wednesday of every month, the admission to the museum is free and we happened to visit that day! That’s good karma!
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- Ahn Kyuchul’s Invisible Land of Love
Admission: 4,000 Won
Seoul with Kids – Bukchon Hanok Village
In Bukchon you’ll find the traditional architecture of a Hanok Village. Seoulites still live here and run small shops or cafés in one of the 860 preserved houses. Wear good shoes and follow the signs for the walking tour through Bukchon Village and take pictures at the different viewing spots.
Seoul with Kids – Stroll along the Cheonggyecheon Stream
Cheonggyechong is a 7- mile recreation space in downtown Seoul inviting for a walk along the stream.
Seoul with Kids – Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung Palace
Changdeokgung is one of the five Palaces built by the Joseon dynasty and is the most well preserved. Since 1997 it is part of the Unesco World Heritage. Changgyeonggung is connected to Changdeok so it’s nice to see both. We particularly enjoyed walking through the gardens where many flowers were blooming and the pond next to the Great Greenhouse.
Admission Changdeokgung: Adult: 3,000 Won, Child: 1,500 Won
Admission Changgyeonggung: Adult: 1,000 Won, Child: 500 Won
Seoul with Kids – Shopping in Myeongdong
Myeongdong is quite overwhelming with loud music, flashing signboards and sellers who shout things in Korean to attract you in their store. The amount of beauty shops is incredible. We entered 1 or 2 to buy some products to try at home and got some free samples. There are also a lot of food stalls with more or less appetizing food.
Seoul with Kids – Hello Kitty Café in Myeongdong
If you have a girl in your party, you can’t miss the Hello Kitty Café. The drinks they serve are surprisingly good so you may even get the boys in.
Hello Kitty Café: 28 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Seoul with Kids – Namdaemun Market
Namdaemun is a huge open air market selling everything you can think of. It is the largest market in Korea. The vendors are not pushing at all, they don’t seem very interested in selling. Several times I asked the price of a cute Minions Sweater and when we said it was too expensive and left, noone ever tried to lower the price. Quite an unusual market experience. Stopping at one of the food alleys in Namdaemun is a must too!
Know before you go:
• Taxis are easy to get and quite cheap
• Have a card ready with the hotel adress written in Korean to show the taxi drivers
• Most Koreans don’t understand or speak English
• 1,000 won equals 0,87$ (in 2016)
• Kids below 6 are mostly free with a paying adult
• If you visit during spring it can be sunny and warm during the day but warm layers are recommendable
• Grab the free official tourist Map to navigate the City
If you have any questions about visiting Seoul, please leave a comment below or contact us. For travel inspiration with Kids Like Letzflyaway on Facebook and subscribe to new posts.
