Last updated on July 22nd, 2026
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If you’re running out of ideas while planning your Seoul itinerary, this extensive list of 50+ unique things to do in Seoul will surely help you fill in the blanks.
Seoul is a fun and busy city where there’s always something to do, from an endless list of cute coffee shops to visit to never-ending charming neighborhoods to explore. It can make finding things to do in Seoul feel overwhelming, especially if your days in the city are limited.
If you have checked off all of the best places to visit in Seoul as a first-time visitor, you must be wondering, what’s next?
Well, if you need inspiration for your next few days exploring this exciting city, here are 50+ unique things to do in Seoul that I’ve compiled over the three months I got to live here.
⭐️ Plan your first visit with ease: To help you better prepare for your trip, check out our Seoul travel guide—packed with practical tips on everything from getting around the city, how to get data while in Korea, cultural etiquette, and more.
50+ Unique Things to Do in Seoul
1) Visit the colorful Jogyesa Temple, the main temple for Jogye Korean Buddhism in Seoul. Tucked away behind buildings, this feels like a breath of colorful fresh air.
2) Shop all sorts of intricate, locally-made ceramics at Insa-dong. This is a great shopping street to buy all kinds of souvenirs, but I particularly stocked up on the beautiful ceramics.
3) Fuel up on the perfect mocha at a Blue Bottle location, one of my absolute favorite spots and one of the best coffee shops in Seoul without a doubt. Their Gwanghwamun Cafe location offers lots of seating space. I was here at least once a week.
4) Take the perfect souvenir picture in front of the big I SEOUL U city sign in the city center.
5) Admire the interesting design of the Seoul City Hall, traditional at the front, and futuristic at the back. It’s almost like they couldn’t decide, so why not have both?
6) Stock up on all your skincare essentials, particularly on sheet masks, at the discount stores in Myeong-dong. One of my favorite shops is MASK Story; they have so many incredible products at unbeatable prices!
7) One of the best things to do is to dive into Seoul’s Korean street food scene and try a variety of unique and delicious dishes at Myeong-dong Street Food Night Market. I particularly love the chicken skewers and the gyozas!
8) One of the most unique things to do in Seoul has to be visiting one of the many unique cafes in Seoul, like the raccoon cafe, the 2D cafe, or the Harry Potter-themed cafe. I’m not a fan of themed activities, but if this is up your alley, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
9) Create your own soju-tasting experience. Bottles are cheap, and there are so many unique flavors. So stop by a GS25, get a few, and rate your favorites. Don’t skip the grapefruit one!
10) Try the unmissable, gigantic, green Korean grapes, either by themselves or sugar-coated. They are delicious, and like no other grape I’ve ever had before! You can find the sugar-coated ones at the Myeongdong food market.
11) Eat piping hot dumplings from a street food cart. You’ll find various street food carts spread out around the city, especially close to metro entrances and exits—which I love! It’s so practical for grabbing a quick lunch while on the move.
12) Buy the coziest Korean cashmere socks at Insa-dong from a brand called Biarritz, either for yourself or as souvenirs. They are so soft and quite cheap compared to how much you would pay anywhere else.
13) Explore the buzzing scene of the streets of Myeong-dong 9ga gil and 7ga gil by night. They are lined with lively bars and restaurants that get packed with locals in the evening, meeting with friends and coworkers for Korean BBQs and soju. It’s such a local vibe!
14) Stuff your face with crunchy Korean fried chicken. Our go-to spot during our three months living here was Daily Beer—one of the best places to eat in Seoul, in general. Make sure to try their sweet garlic soy sauce chicken—it’s so good!
15) Learn about the history and culture of South Korea through an informative guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The tours are free; just double-check the English tour schedule at the entrance office.
16) One of the most unique things to do in Seoul is to have dinner at an interaction-free restaurant. My favorite noodle spot with this system is now closed, but there are a few of these restaurants around. You order your food at the screen, pick it up from the bar, and sit down to eat quietly by yourself. An introvert’s dream come true!
17) Shop locally made, unique pieces from DeArt, a tiny art studio tucked away in the Bukchon Hanok Village. This is the perfect spot to get unique, meaningful souvenirs. We got a few prints ourselves.
18) Try the fluffy, Korean egg sandwiches from an Eggdrop location. Warning: They are unexpectedly sweet! If I’m being honest, I wasn’t a fan, but I wanted to try them anyway, as they are such a popular item.
19) Take advantage of the city’s free museums. This is the perfect plan on a rainy day, or on an extremely hot one, or just because. I visited the National Folk Museum, and it was incredibly interesting!
20) Indulge in the most perfect croissants at the cute Salt 24 bakery, located in the Bukchon Hanok Village. They truly are up to French croissant standards, in my opinion. They also offer a variety of unique pastries and tasty, savory goods.
21) Leisurely walk around Gyedong-gil, a charming street lined with lots of small local shops. Perfect for an afternoon of slow exploration, hunting for treasure.
22) Fill up your luggage with the best of Korean skincare at Olive Young—the Myeong-dong location is massive! This is by far my absolute favorite thing to do in Seoul. You wouldn’t believe how long my Korean skincare purchases have lasted me.
23) Pamper yourself with a Hydra Peel facial at Muse Clinic in Gangnam. This is one of Korea’s best-selling treatments, and it costs less than $40! That’s almost a third of what it costs anywhere else in the world.
24) While we are on self-care, treat yourself to a luxurious facial and massage combo at the elegant Sulwhasoo spa. The location is stunning, and the service is incredible! Truly a unique Korean beauty experience.
25) Go on an adventure to find the food stands from the Netflix TV show Street Food Asia at the Gwangjang Market. We found the soup lady, and it was good! Not the best meal of my life, but still pretty good. Especially on a cold winter day.
26) Find a rental place and dress up in Hanbok, traditional Korean attire. The whole process of dressing up is so cute and fun! They help you find the right colors for you and styles, and normally they will even do your hair—it’s adorable! You’ll also get free entrance into a palace while wearing Hanbok.
27) One of the most unique things to do in Seoul is to slow down with a cup of coffee and a little sweet treat inside a traditional Hanok house. This is a coffee experience that you won’t get anywhere else. Two of my favorite cafes in Seoul for this include Sudal Cafe and Namusairo.
28) For ultimate travel efficiency, enjoy a whole meal at GS25—it’s an experience in itself! Did you even visit Seoul if you didn’t live off of GS25?
29) Another unique thing to do in Seoul is to visit a karaoke bar and sing your heart out in your own private booth. We did this a few times with a group of friends, and it’s such a memorable night out! Perfect for creating a core memory from your trip.
30) Escape the city buzz for a few minutes and walk along Cheonggyecheon, Seoul’s urban park. This is a little haven in the middle of the city, a stream of water lined with trees and steps where locals come down to relax, disconnect, read, and simply be.
31) Take a day trip to immerse yourself in nature, hiking in the beautiful Bukhansan National Park. This is especially a great thing to add to your itinerary if you’re visiting Seoul in autumn, as the whole park looks like an autumnal screensaver.
32) Devour a delicious, fluffy, doughy sugar twist from the closest street stand. This was one of my favorite discoveries while in Seoul, and I would get on a plane just for this sugar twist alone. The best one is at Gwangjang Market.
33) Visit one of the ancient gates to the old city of Seoul, such as Sungnyemun Gate, the largest castle gate. The imposing stone structure standing among shiny, silver buildings is a very interesting sight.
34) Try the most delicious filled donuts you’ll ever have at Knotted Cafe. South Koreans really love their sweet treats; they’re too good at making them. I seriously went here at least once a week while living in Seoul for 3 months!
35) Visit THAT famous Seoul library that looks straight out of Beauty and the Beast, with its bookshelves expanding from floor to very high ceilings. You’ll find this eye-catching library inside the Coex Mall shopping center.
36) When in Seoul, do as locals do, and get cooking at a Korean BBQ. There are so many BBQs that it’s hard to choose, so just go with whichever has more locals. That’s how we ended up having one of the best meals of our stay in this unnamed BBQ spot.
37) If you’re looking for unique things to do in Seoul, how about visiting a cocktail bar specialized in using seasonal ingredients from the market around it? This is Bar Jangsaeng, featured in the Netflix special Asia at Night. This cozy bar is known for its unique drinks created with local ingredients. We stopped by, and the drinks and service were amazing!
38) If you want Seoul to always keep a piece of you, join the lovers and leave a love lock at the top of the N Seoul Tower with your loved one, or by yourself—you do you.
39) If you’re visiting Seoul during the fall, one of the best things to do is to take a day trip out of the city to witness the stunning changing leaves at Nami Island in autumn. It’s so gorgeous!
40) A unique thing to do in Seoul that you won’t do anywhere else is to, first, try rice wine, and secondly, enjoy a flight of rice wine at a specialty bar and discover your favorite one. The next obvious step is to bring a bottle of your favorite one home, to drink and reminisce on your great trip to Seoul.
41) People-watch in a studious way and take inspiration and mental notes from the fashionable young Koreans. It’s so interesting to pay attention to the style here. I especially love their fall fashion, with the chic coats and neutral-toned outfits.
42) Do the Gangnam-style dance in front of the massive Gangnam-style hand statue for ultimate millennial points.
43) Stop by a photobooth studio for a quick photoshoot. Most studios even have cute props for you to use, like hats, headbands, signs, and more. This is the perfect trip souvenir that will take no space in your luggage. You’ll find many of these studios spread throughout the city.
44) Visit the Jung Saem Mool flagship store in Sinsa and get color-matched to their gorgeous cushion foundation. One of my favorite base products if you want a heavier coverage that doesn’t look cakey.
45) Treat yourself to some shopping in the Sinsa-dong neighborhood. There are so many great shops around here to explore, like the popular sunglass store Gentle Monster. I own a pair, and they are amazing—so chic and the lens is so clear.
46) Buy some hair accessories and hats from one of the many accessories shops inside the metro stations in Seoul. They are so convenient for finishing an outfit while on the go. I ended up buying a cute headband here while on my way to a 1920’s cocktail evening.
47) Find Alice Cheongdam, an elegant speakeasy tucked away in the glamorous Gangnam area. The entrance to the bar is really fun, and the space, once inside, is beautiful and classy. Here I had one of the best drinks ever, which has now become my favorite: a kind of Negroni with mezcal. Yum!
48) Explore Korean beauty trends such as the popular velvety lip stain. I tried the famous 3CE one, and I really like it. It’s very different to anything else I tried before, but I do reach for it when I want a soft matte lip that stays.
49) Enjoy a drink with a view at Rooftop Kloud, a restaurant and bar located at the top of the AC Hotel by Marriott in Gangnam, offering incredible views over the whole city. This is the perfect spot to end a day exploring this neighborhood.
50) Shop for all the small things you need—and the ones you don’t—at Daiso. Here you’ll find all sorts of random things, from small storage organizers, unique kitchen gadgets, cute beauty products, stationery items, and more.
51) Go thrift shopping in the young and laid-back Hongdae neighborhood. This area of the city is packed with second-hand and vintage shops, as this is also known as the student area of Seoul.
52) Have a drink at some of the tiniest and coolest cocktail bars in the city, all hiding in plain sight, one next to the other on Sajik-ro 12 gil. My favorite one, Bar Abyss, has an adorable resident cat that sits at the bar, and the cocktails are also delicious!
53) Explore a Korean supermarket. I always love checking out supermarkets while traveling. The difference in food is so interesting.
54) Try the Michelin-recognized dumpling soup at Myeongdong Kyoja. Make sure to arrive with some time to spare as this tends to have a line of both tourists and locals. The food is so good, though, and definitely worth the wait!
Final thoughts on unique things to do in Seoul
Seoul is such a fun city to explore, but honestly, it can also be a hard city to break in.
Especially with Google Maps not fully working as they do in the rest of the world, it can be hard to find things to do and places to visit if you don’t know exactly what to look for.
So, after spending three months living and exploring Seoul as much as possible, I hope that this compilation of many of my adventures helps you create the perfect itinerary, with a healthy balance between must-sees and unique things to do in Seoul for the ultimate well-rounded trip.
Which of these unique things to do in Seoul are you most looking forward to doing during your trip? Let us know in the comments.
Save this list for later!
Your future self will thank you.