Top Things To Do In Seoul

Tailoring each tour to your wishes by locals who love their city

Trendy locals walking along a busy street in Seoul

Top things to do in Seoul

From exploring cool neighborhoods to eating with the locals to seeing iconic sites, these are some of our favorite experiences

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

See all

When in Osaka
make sure to try
“kushikatsu”!

See the city like
you would with a friend who lives there

Wondering what to do in Seoul?

With contemporary and traditional roots visibly intertwined, Seoul is a city that unites the past and present like few places on earth, offering countless things to do. Twenty-four hours a day, the city is a place of nonstop entertainment that reflects not only Korean history and culture but all the attractions of an ultra-modern metropolis. Ancient temples, shrines, and traditional gardens give a glimpse into Seoul’s storied past and peaceful legacy, while inner-city alleyways flanked by neon-lit skyscrapers, tech start-ups, and fashion-forward boutiques paint the picture of a city with one foot firmly in the future. The best things to do in Seoul span centuries.

Meet some of our Seoul local hosts

Like the people who travel with us, they have different backgrounds and interests – but they’re all so passionate about the place they call home, they choose to spend their free time sharing it with the like-minded travelers matched to them.

We’ve handpicked them and we’ll match you to your perfect one!

Past meets present

In Seoul, the relationship between old and new South Korea is starkly evident wherever you look. Old-school street markets are flanked by brightly-lit beauty stores, humble restaurants serving spicy Korean soul food hold their own alongside chic international eateries, and Joseon Dynasty-era hanok houses exist in the shadow of skyscrapers. The things to do in Seoul celebrate both these sides of the city’s cultural coin. Whether you stroll through ancient temples in a traditional hanbok dress or shop for K-beauty products in a store blasting K-Pop, you’ll find the spirit of Seoul.

A typical food stall in Seoul serving locals traditional food

Fantastic food

Delicious Korean cuisine has rapidly gained popularity, and there’s nowhere in the world that does it better than Seoul. Between the city’s convenience stores, retro markets, mom-and-pop restaurants, street food stalls, and sophisticated eateries, it’s impossible to run out of things to do in Seoul. You’ll find local delicacies, from kimchi soup to tteokbokki (sticky rice cakes coated in a spicy sauce), at the oldest market in Korea, and entire streets dedicated to a single dish. Don’t be surprised if the foodie things to do in Seoul are the things that have you planning your second trip.

Seoul after sunset

When night falls, there’s no lack of things to do in Seoul. The city is brimming with upmarket cocktail lounges, gritty dive bars, live jazz clubs, and coffee shops staying open ‘til late. If you’re into the clubbing scene, you won’t be disappointed, but there are plenty of low-key ways to spend your time. Fuel up with bar snacks and a few shots of soju before belting out tunes at a self-service karaoke noraebang, hanging out at the Han river, or shopping for trendy clothes at a late-night boutique in glitzy Gangnam. The things to do in Seoul at night are as diverse as they are thrilling.

Seoul travel tips and inspiration from our Travel Magazine

Find essential city info, travel tips and the best things to do in Seoul and around the world recommended by our local hosts

Latest reviews from our guests

Paul is perceptive and intuitive. He is not just a guide; he is a teacher. It was raining the entire time we were here but Paul adjusted the itinerary for the weather. We saw the museum, the tombs, the markets, and had a great lunch - but learning about Korea the entire time. We live in Korea and our adult children will be visiting us later in the year. We will contact City Unscripted and specifically ask for Paul. He is that good.

May 2023

Tanya H
We had a excellent and memorable tour with Christy (SuJeong). She customized the tour for us of Namsam Tower and we loved lunch!

May 2023

James K
GJ (Jee Eun) was the best - she is super friendly and personable, very knowledgeable, and has lots of energy for taking people around the city. I told her what I was interested in and about me, and she took that and turned it into a whole city wide loop to hit all my highlights. She even gave recommendations for what I should do in the next couple days while I'm in Seoul. Highly recommend booking with GJ and doing this tour. I did it on my first day in Korea, which helped both familiarize myself with the city and getting around and fight the jetlag.

May 2023

Nicole H
Our guide, Sue Kim, was fantastic! He did exactly what we asked and created an itinerary that worked well for our family. He was kind, knowledgeable and funny. We saw so many amazing things! Thank you!

May 2023

Lorena S