Seoul Travel Guide: Neighborhoods, Gluten-Free Eats & K-Drama Spots

Seoul is vibrant, beautiful, and absolutely massive. We spent a week exploring the different neighborhoods, diving into the local skincare scene, eating incredible food (so much gluten-free goodness!), and chasing iconic K-drama spots.

If you’re planning a trip to Korea, here is exactly what we did, the spots we loved, and a few tips to make your trip run smoothly.

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation:

Neighborhood: The big question is where to stay. I’d personally skip the chaotic tourist hubs like Myeong-dong and Itaewon. For a more charming, quieter vibe, the areas near the palaces are excellent. The neighborhood around the Grand Hyatt Seoul is also a fantastic, central, and pleasant place to base yourself.

Airbnb vs. Hotel: I recommend booking a hotel for the reliable service and convenience. We loved the Grand Hyatt Seoul—it was luxurious and felt like a calm retreat while still being centrally located.

Getting to Seoul from ICN:

By Taxi: After landing at Incheon, we took a taxi directly from the airport line. We ended up with a “luxury” taxi, which was super comfortable after a long flight and cost about $80 USD. It was a stress-free way to head straight to the hotel. You can definitely get a normal taxi or uber for less.

By Public Transit: I had a few colleagues take the airport bus which is much cheaper but a much longer ride. You can also take the AREX express train.

Getting Around Seoul:

T-money Card: You’ll want a T-money card to pay for all trains and buses. You can easily pick up a physical card at any convenience store (like CU) and load it with cash (like physical cash not a credit card), or you can now add a digital version to your Apple Wallet. To do this, download the Mobile Tmoney app, select the “Foreigner” mode when you launch it, and you can top up your card directly using Apple Pay. It’s a total game-changer and saves you from carrying extra cards. If you’re just staying in Seoul, you could also do a Climate Card. 

Trains and Buses: Public transportation in Seoul is incredible, but a quick heads-up: Google Maps is not reliable for navigation here! Instead, download Naver Map. This is the go-to app for finding train lines, bus stops, and the best exits—which is essential since subway stations can be massive. The system is easy to navigate once you have the right app. On buses, make sure you tap on and off!

By Taxi: Taxis are plentiful, convenient, and affordable. For booking, Kakao Taxi is the standard, though Uber does work in some areas. If you run into issues with online payments (some apps prefer local credit cards), don’t worry—just select the “Pay Driver” option in the app. This allows you to pay with your international credit card or cash directly in the taxi at the end of your ride.

By Car: We didn’t drive in Seoul, and there really isn’t a need to. The city is so well-connected by public transit and taxis that you won’t miss having a car at all.

Other Essential Tips:

Navigation: Naver Map is an absolute must-have. Google Maps is quite limited in South Korea (it doesn’t support walking/transit directions well), so download Naver Map before you arrive for accurate routes and transit data.

Translation: While Google Translate works in a pinch, locals mostly use Papago. It is significantly better at handling Korean nuances, idioms, and formal vs. informal language.

Cash is King: While Korea is a modern country, you definitely need to keep cash on hand. Some smaller shops, markets, and vendors (and even some machines) are cash-only. Plus, you’ll need physical cash to load your T-money card at convenience stores.

Good Walking Shoes: You are going to be walking a lot! Whether you’re exploring the palaces, navigating the hilly streets, or wandering through markets, be sure to pack your most comfortable pair of sneakers.

Long-Distance Travel: If you plan on taking trains to other cities (like Busan), book your tickets online well in advance via a service like Rail Ninja. They sell out fast!

Tax-Free Shopping: Look for the “Tax-Free” sign at stores. If your purchase is over 15,000 KRW, you may be eligible for a refund. Some stores can process this on-site, but for others, you’ll need to keep your receipts and handle the tax-free claim at the airport. To collect your tax refund, you can scan all your receipts at the kiosks before security, then you can go collect your refund after security. There is only one spot (per terminal I think) where you can get the refund in cash. In terminal 2, it was near gate 249.

Smart Pass: To breeze through ICN airport – you can download SMARTPASS app. This is a way you can pre-register your passport and flight info to breeze through the airport. This only works in you have a chip on your passport and the app is kind of finicky. I got it to work and I got to follow the orange colored “Smart Pass” line

Hapjeong & Mapo

A trendy, local vibe, great for coffee and unique finds.

Mangwon Market: Much more authentic and local than the tourist markets. We grabbed delicious rice snacks and kimchi mandu.

Yeouido Park: We walked around the National Assembly area to see the cherry blossoms—they were breathtaking. You can get a nice view of the Han river from here as well. 

“Start-up” Birdhouse: If you’re a fan of the K-drama Start-up, the iconic birdhouse is a fun photo op. It’s not exactly the same as in the show – but it is definitely the spot! We were also there in the spring and this road was lined with beautiful cherry blossoms. NAVER Map

Where to Eat & Drink

Anthracite Coffee (Hapjeong-dong): One of our absolute favorites for industrial-chic vibes and great beans. NAVER Map

Baek nyeon Baekse Ginseng Chicken Soup: The place to go for traditional, nourishing Samgyetang.

Itaewon & Hannam

The neighborhood with the best nightlife and incredible comfort food. Itaewon is the city’s multicultural hub, famous for its energetic club scene, bars, and diverse restaurants. If you’re looking to dance, grab a cocktail, or find late-night karaoke, this is the place to be.

Hannam Oriental Roast Chicken: Extremely long wait, but the chicken is phenomenal. The ultimate comfort meal. This is like a rotisserie chicken stuffed with rice and herbs. 

Hurendeu Chicken: The perfect spot for late-night, crispy fried chicken. NAVER Map

Damotori h: A great spot for a curated makgeolli (Korean rice wine) tasting experience. They also have tons of food options and bar snacks. NAVER Map

Itaewonhwaro: A great spot for high-quality Japanese/Korean BBQ. Actually took a reservation and accommodated our big group of 12 which is rare in Seoul! NAVER Map

Gangnam & Cheongdam

Upscale, modern, and home to some of the best wellness and beauty spots in the city – and the famous “Gangnam style” hands.

Spa Gogyeol Cheongdam: Another highlight of our trip! We did a 90-minute facial and massage—absolutely phenomenal. Very relaxing, personalized, and high quality products. 

Coex Starfield Library:An architectural marvel with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in the Coex mall. It’s cool to look at, but not worth going out of your way for. 

Optima Wellness Pharmacy: We went for a free skin analysis, but the insights were very basic—I’d skip this next time. Essentially this is a big and fancy pharmacy. On the bottom floors they have 2 kiosks that do analysis including skin, body, etc and give you a very high level recommendation (not products, just what to focus on). Then the pharmacists can help you based on the results. 

Seongsu & Seoul Forest

Often called the “Brooklyn of Seoul,” this area is filled with trendy cafes, parks, and unique boutiques.

Seoul Forest: The absolute best place in the city to catch cherry blossoms. There’s a bunch to see in Seoul Forest including deer, a little aquarium exhibit with a big turtle, a deer enclosure, and more. 

Olive Young N Seongsu: A massive 3-story store that opened in November 2024. It’s located near Seongsu Station and is a total must-visit for the experience.

Vintage Shopping: There are a ton of cool stores in this area. Roam around the main streets and browse the countless stores for fashion, glasses, and more. 

Where to Eat & Drink

Glunic: Amazing, specialized gluten-free pastries.

Sancheong Garden Euljiro: Excellent KBBQ (it’s on the second floor above the duck place). You can put your name on the waitlist and grab a drink nearby. It’s a popular spot so you may need to wait a bit!