Travel Guide to Seoul, South Korea

Seoul is not only the capital city of South Korea but also the heart of this great Asian nation. Seoul is a huge metropolis city with all the modern technological advances as a Tokyo or any other major city but also maintains its culture and history.

Sights
There is so much to do and see in the wonderful city of Seoul that in order to see everything it would literally take a lifetime but here are a few sights that you won't want to miss. Gyeongbok Palace is the largest and most impressive of all the Korean palaces. I suggest you take one of the English tours because they are both free and very interesting. The tour guides are normally dressed in traditional Korean clothing known as hanbok. You can also witness the guard ceremony which takes place constantly through out the day. Another thing that you will definitely want to see is Seoul Grand Park. This park contains Seoul's best zoo and natural surroundings. Lastly, if you have time then I recommend you go up to Namsan mountain by way of a special lift. From Namsan mountain you can view the entire city of Seoul. For active people you can also choose to hike up and down the mountain rather than using the lift.

Shopping
If you are looking to buy traditional Korean artifacts or any kind of souvenir then you should head over to Insadong. In Insadong you will find a pedestrian street full of merchants willing to bargain with tourist. If you want to buy things such as purses, bags, watches or clothing items then you can go to MyeongDong or Dongdaemun Market. Both will be extremely crowded at all times due to the fact the Koreans also shop here looking for the latest bargains.

Transportation
The subway system in Seoul is probably the cleanest in the whole world. It is better to purchase a subway card at any major station and then add 20,000 won or more to it. This way you do not have to buy individual tickets each time you ride the subway or worry about calculating the amount you need. Be warned that some of the electronic contain information that is not translated into English which is important to know so you may want to ask any college aged Korean for directions whenever you are transferring from one line to another. Avoid using the bus system because it is very complicated even for the locals.

Food
Korean food is among the best in the world as it is not only delicious but healthy as well. Be aware that it can be a big too spicy for the average foreigner. I suggest you head over to Sinchon or Yeongdongpo and look for a place that sells Sam Gyeop Sal. You do not want to eat anywhere around Insadong because you will pay a lot for the same quality of food. Try to find the areas where there are less tourist such as Sinchon then you will save a lot and get better tasting food.

Seoul is one of the greatest cities in all the world so enjoy your stay, see as much as you can and do everything you can in the amount of time you have for your visit. I guarantee you won't regret it.