Seoul, and restaurant recommendations or Must Do’s?

[Junglebert]

I’m off to Seoul for a few days next week and Mrs. Bert has tasked me with organising the entertainment, and eating. Does anyone know any good places? A trip to the DMZ and Bukhansen nation park look likely, but I’m struggling to find decent knowledge on restaurants/eating. We’re staying in the Westin Josun, which is North of the centre, near myeongdong, which looks like it’ll cater for street food etc, but if anyone has any specific ideas in that side of town it would be much appreciated.

[Otispunkmeyer]

Junglebert said:

I’m off to Seoul for a few days next week and Mrs. Bert has tasked me with organising the entertainment, and eating. Does anyone know any good places? A trip to the DMZ and Bukhansen nation park look likely, but I’m struggling to find decent knowledge on restaurants/eating. We’re staying in the Westin Josun, which is North of the centre, near myeongdong, which looks like it’ll cater for street food etc, but if anyone has any specific ideas in that side of town it would be much appreciated.

I went for a weekend whilst I was visiting HMC in Namyang. So I stayed north of the river only but I managed to squeeze a few places in. I stayed in the Novotel near the Dongdaemun museum and I paid for a room with business lounge access to get "free" scran. Word of caution, I believe google maps kinda doesn't work fully in S.Korea, as in it won't do you directions properly. But they do have their own version of google maps that will. Just get a local "e-sim" for your phone online so you can use data whilst out and about. I think I paid like £15 or something for 30gig. Did me for the week (Hola, Airlo or equivalent).

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (check the spelling of that, I've had a drink) ... it's a cool piece of architecture at night if nothing else! Also go for the Seoul tower, aim to do sunset I reckon. It was a great view from up there as the sun went down. I did go for a tour of one of the palaces (Gyeonghoeru Pavilion I think) but I am not sure I would recommend it unless old palaces are your thing (I believe a lot of it isn't physically all that old having been rebuilt). I might be wrong on that one, but the guides were free. Genuinely free. They approached me as I walked in and they were some students from a local university. I think studying history. They gave me a pretty nice tour and it was genuinely free, all they wanted was a shout out on Instagram!

I also hit the war memorial, the national museum (amazing piece of architecture) and Namdaemun markets (definitely a wandering round experience). I could have spent a very long time inside the national museum I have to say.

As for food, no real recommendations but "beer & chicken" is big and I was also told to try the chicken soup (which is basically broth with boiled chicken carcass in it apparently). I didn't get chance to try it because I was too busy sight seeing and I only really had Saturday to do it. I think I did 30,000 steps that day! and I collapsed into my bed once I got back. They have their own take on sushi too which is great. I think you really have to go find out a proper Korean BBQ place, it's a good experience. Take your shoes off before you step up to the table and all that. But it's really really good. I'm sure google will point you in the right direction.

IIRC you can pick up a card for the metro system pretty cheap and use that to get around places. It's cheap and efficient. Also a lot of the toilets in good hotels are going to be the Japanese style automatic jobs. They're fking brilliant to put it simply. But just be prepared for the "3 sea shells" experience trying to work the controls

I really liked Korea, I'd love to go back and do it properly and visit south of the river in Seoul. Also, pretty much every vehicle on the road is a Hyundai or Kia or some other brand under their wing. Its really quite amazing how all in they are on their own stuff. Fairly play though, HMC make excellent cars these days and their R&D place in Namyang is absolutely mind blowing.

Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Saturday 28th September 19:32

[Junglebert]

Great post, thanks. I’ve got the eSIM sorted, and now found two rival apps that’ll do nav etc. Also up to speed on chicken and beer, so that’s sorted . I’ll Google Namdaemun, thanks.

We’re staying where we are cos Mrs Bert is working there, and I’m tagging along, but it looks like a decent spot.

Looking forward to the toilets

[Otispunkmeyer]

Junglebert said:

Great post, thanks. I’ve got the eSIM sorted, and now found two rival apps that’ll do nav etc. Also up to speed on chicken and beer, so that’s sorted . I’ll Google Namdaemun, thanks.

We’re staying where we are cos Mrs Bert is working there, and I’m tagging along, but it looks like a decent spot.

Looking forward to the toilets

You'll have a great time. People are very friendly. As I say, I'd love to go back as a proper trip and not on the end of a work jolly (although they did send me business class, so can't complain too much).

[Junglebert]

I’ve had to stump up for business class myself, but the hotel is free, so swings and roundabouts! I do get to sit upstairs on a jumbo though