Discovering Seoul

After a long transatlantic flight, we were ecstatic to arrive in Seoul, South Korea, for our first Asia adventure.

Our first day we went to explore the Gyeongbokgung Palace which is in the north part of the city. The palace grounds were expansive and the details in the buildings were beautiful. We caught one of four guard changing ceremonies that they perform daily.

This ritual was like stepping back in time. Afterwards, we stumbled upon the National Folk Museum of Korea where we could appreciate Korean lifestyles throughout history. Outside of the museum, there was a circular display with statues of each Chinese zodiac.

One night we visited the N Seoul Tower which provides 360^o views of the city. The observatory glass windows indicated how far major cities throughout the world are from that spot, including the direction. It was fun as well as informative. We saw the current art exhibitions. This is definitely a must do in the city, whether during the day or at night.

We stopped briefly at the Noryangjin Fish Market, and then we stopped at the Mapo District for street food.

Our small group bought a variety of local foods and shared everything. The vendors were all friendly and the food was delicious! Also in the Mapo District was one of our favorite stops on our trip, the Trick Eye Museum. This unexpected museum gives 2D art the illusion of being 3D. We laughed our way through the museum as we took silly pictures that made us look like we were doing crazy things, such as hiding from a giant snake.

Throughout our stay, we were surprised by how easy it is to navigate the subway system. Additionally, taxis were very cheap and the drivers were always helpful. Overall, our trip to Seoul was an incredible experience full of delicious food, friendly locals, and beautiful historical sites. We highly recommend a stop in Seoul for anyone heading to Asia.

Reach out to TravelStore for your next South Korea vacation!

April Vidauri and Courtney Lavarnway