Popular streets in Seoul
Streets of Seoul that are great for traveling / Traveling through Seoul
Seoul is a wonderful place that combines traditional streets that have been around since the Joseon Dynasty and modern streets crowded with young people. Jongno, Myeong-dong, and Namdaemun-ro, areas where commercial districts have developed due to good accessibility since ancient times, have developed into streets of economics, politics, and culture, allowing you to experience a variety of old-fashioned things to see and eat. Many festivals and events that inherit local culture and traditions continue.
Jong-ro
The center of Seoul, where rich history and modern sophistication coexist
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Starting from Sejongno to Dongdaemun, Jongno is Seoul's representative commercial center where tradition and modernity coexist. It is said that the name originated from the bell that announced the opening and closing time of the capital gate during the Joseon Dynasty. Modern shops and restaurants are concentrated on both sides of the road divided from 1-ga to 6-ga, making it a popular place for tourists and couples who enjoy shopping and eating.
1-ga and 2-ga are always crowded with customers because there are many office buildings and restaurants known for their delicious restaurants. Jongno 3-ga was also ranked third in the ‘49 Coolest Neighborhoods in the World 2021’ by Time Out, a British travel magazine. Jongmyo Shrine and Tapgol Park are also introduced, with a reputation for being historical, quirky, yet simple. At Gwangjang Market, located in Jongno 4-ga and 5-ga, you can shop for affordable fashion clothes and hanbok, and be sure to try chicken kalguksu (chicken kalguksu) and bindaetteok.
Address: Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Dong Dae Moon
A shopping spot where history and fashion come alive.
This place, where the No. 1 treasure, Dongdaemun, is located, is a street of history and fashion with the History and Culture Park, Dongdaemun Market, and Design Plaza. At the history museum in Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, you can see 600 years of history at a glance. Dongdaemun Market is a traditional market that leads the clothing and fashion world not only in Korea but also in Asia. It is so popular that 500,000 people visit 30,000 stores every day. The night market is a place that never sleeps, with the best time being at 2 a.m.
You can also visit the large shopping malls Doota, Migliore, and Good Morning City Outlet. Design Plaza, designed by Iraqi female architect Zaha Hadid, is said to have created a landscape resembling outer space by integrating historical, cultural, and urban elements. A variety of fashion shows, new product launches, exhibitions, and concerts are held here. Don't miss Gyeongdong Market, where you can find valuable herbal medicines, and Seoul Folk Flea Market, where you can find antiques and used goods.
Address: Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Myeong-dong
A shopping spot where you can enjoy festivals and performances
Myeong-dong is the center of tourism and shopping and a mecca of fashion. Flagship shops of famous brands, department stores, and bonded goods stores are concentrated here, so you can buy high-quality clothing, shoes, and accessories at lower prices than in Namdaemun or Dongdaemun. You can enjoy a variety of shopping at shopping malls such as Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Noon Square, Milleore, and M Plaza. The Myeongdong Festival held every year and the beautiful Lantern Festival held at Cheonggyecheon in late fall are loved by many. Many foreigners come to see the sculpture of the Light of Hope Festival combined with the night view.
In Myeongdong, don't miss Nanta, a unique performance performed at the Nanta Theater. There are many types of street food, but be sure to try Myeongdong kalguksu and pork cutlet, which are representative foods. Try beef bibimbap and chicken breast bibimbap at Mokmyeoksanbang, which is listed in the Michelin Guide, and take a look at Myeongdong Cathedral at Jongmaru.
Address: Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hongdae shopping street
A street full of trendy flair
Hongdae Shopping Street is lined with stores selling the latest items for young people as well as fashion clothing, beauty products, accessories and stationery, designer brand shops, cafes and restaurants. Foreigners also enjoy visiting here because they can always feel a lively atmosphere. Clothing stores mainly display women's clothing, vintage clothing, and accessories. You can also see clothes that are so eye-catching that you don't know if they are for decoration or if they are actually worn. It's fun to search for treasures in a store with unique characteristics in every corner. On the street from Hongdae to Yeonhui-dong, a store with a sophisticated and exotic atmosphere is becoming a new attraction.
At Hongdae Children's Park, we are opening a Hope Market where young creators and planners can display and sell their handicrafts. Be sure to visit it as it is a space where artists who create work, residents who love the area, and visitors who enjoy new and unique culture come together.
Operating hours: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM daily, closed on Sundays
Namdaemun-ro
A financial and transportation hub full of attractions
Namdaemun-ro is a representative commercial district along with Jongno, Eulji-ro, and Cheonggyecheon-ro. There are large department stores, Lotte Department Store and Shinsegae Department Store, along the street, and Namdaemun Market, the largest traditional market, can also be found here. It is also a representative business area filled with large bank headquarters and high-rise buildings. Namdaemun-ro, which passes through Sungnyemun Intersection, Bank of Korea Intersection, Eulji-ro Entrance, Gwanggyo Intersection, and Jonggak Intersection, is a major road that forms the downtown axis of Gangbuk along with Sejong-daero and Jongno. It is located near Sungnyemun Gate, Namdaemun Market, and Myeong-dong, so although it is crowded with cars and people, you can get around without any inconvenience by using the well-equipped subway and public transportation.
The underground shopping center is always crowded with people, but it offers reasonable prices and plenty of things to see, so be sure to check it out. Take a moment to relax while looking at photos of the past at the red brick Hanok cafe.
Address: Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Samcheongdong-gil
A walkable street where traditional and modern beauty coexist
Samcheong-dong-gil is a quiet walking path filled with charming cultural scents filled with galleries, museums, and antique shops. You can enjoy the pleasure of walking along Samcheong-dong-gil, which has a variety of things to see and eat, along with the road in front of the Blue House, which gives you a sense of leisure in the quiet city. It is said that it was called Samcheong because the mountains and water are clear and the people are friendly. The traditional beauty of Hanok and the modern beauty of galleries and cafes combine to create a unique atmosphere unique to Samcheong-dong-gil. The streetscape is stylish and beautiful, so it often appears as a backdrop in dramas and movies. The Cultural Street, located east of Gyeongbokgung Palace, has both an old-fashioned atmosphere and a new, transforming appearance.
Samcheongdong-gil, along with Gamgodang-gil and Byeongung-gil in Bukchon, is a recommended walking course and is famous as a date course for foreign tourists and young people, so be sure to walk it with your lover. Stop by a handmade comb restaurant with 30 years of tradition and enjoy the deep taste of the broth.
Address: Samcheong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Sangsu-dong
A street of youth where you can enjoy leisure time
Sangsu-dong, located at the top of the villages around the Han River, is a youth spot with cool and sophisticated shops. Starting from Hapjeong Station, there are cafes and bars where you can eat, drink, and relax, as well as shops where you can choose clothes. It is popular as a hip club alley. The cafe street still seems to have spaces and commas here and there, creating a harmony of lightness and quietness. Stop by an exotic cafe that makes you feel like you’ve traveled overseas.
Africa Dundun in the city center, which performs and exhibits African music, Offlicense, which transforms from a cafe into a beautiful bar in the evening, and Luon Luon Mandi, where you can taste drip coffee made with Vietnamese robusta, can only be found here. Hangang Cafe Street is one of the favorite places for lovers to go on a date while listening to sweet jazz music and the gorgeous night view of the Han River.
Address: Mapo-gu, South Korea
Apgujeong Rodeo Street
Luxury fashion street taking a leap forward with differentiation strategy
Apgujeong Rodeo Street can be said to be the number one place for trends and fashion, both in name and reality. Unlike the past, when people walked around showing off foreign cars and luxury brand clothes, it has transformed into a place that represents a diverse youth fashion culture. In addition to the Galleria Department Store, which houses existing luxury brands such as Prada, Giorgio Armani, Ferragamo, Gucci, and Versace, there are also many pilot stores that understand customer tastes. Brand stores with everything about fashion from head to toe, each with its own unique interior, are attracting customers' attention.
Stores that compete with young people looking for clothes that are different from others with unique designs and stores that are trying to increase brand power are waiting for customers. Although it once suffered a downturn due to gentrification, it is now enjoying its heyday again with a differentiation strategy of providing luxury goods that others cannot afford, so take the time to stop by.
Address: Eonju-ro 172-gil, Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Garosu-gil
A street with romantic culture
Garosu-gil in Sinsa-dong, also known as the Street of Artists, is a fashion street lined with exotic and cute coffee shops, restaurants, and stores of famous clothing designers. In the fall, because of the unique charm of this road, it is a popular attraction and movie filming location where many people come with cameras to see the fallen leaves on the street. This is the hottest street for fashion and trends, and is home to not only designer shops but also large and small galleries. There are also quite a few old, old art shops, so you can feel the romantic atmosphere.
It is a great walking course as you can take a leisurely stroll through the residential alleys while looking around the streets of antique furniture stores and bookstores selling foreign books. While taking a walk, stop by a shop you like to browse the products, or stop by a gallery to look at the exhibits.
Address: Sinsa-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Cheonggyecheon
A healing space with fountains and waterfalls
Cheonggyecheon is a luxury walking trail that turns the 5.8km long river along with the square into a resting place for citizens. At sunset, you can meet many couples and families walking along the promenade while admiring the sparkling river waves among the brightly lit lights. A miniature is installed in the square so you can see the place at a glance. The conch-shaped symbol said to have been created by an American pop artist, along with the candle fountain that rises in harmony with the three-color lights and the refreshing two-tier waterfall are special attractions.
The marriage proposal wall and the lucky coin wishing stone at Dumul Bridge are established as specialties of this place. The Lantern Festival, held every fall, is an event where lanterns made of Korean paper and colorful light sculptures are displayed. The streets are car-free on public holidays and Sundays, so come by public transportation, relax, and enjoy the night market in the city center, which is full of unique tourist products.
Operating hours: 365 days a year
Phone: +82 (0)2-2290-7111