KOREA IN A NUTSHELL – START IN SEOUL

4 Days in Seoul

Exactly one year ago, GloriousMe took its first trip to Korea: From our perspective, four days in Seoul in October were just the right start to an exciting journey of discovery through South Korea.

Start in Seoul

While the number of European visitors to neighboring Japan has been breaking one visitor record after another in recent years, comparatively fewer travelers from Europe are planning a vacation in Korea.

For both countries, the peak travel season is in the spring, around the time of the cherry blossoms. Since GloriousMe has always had good experiences traveling during the off-season, we traveled to Korea exactly one year ago, in October.

Our four days in Seoul were a great start to our trip to Korea. We came back wanting to explore much more of this fascinating country.

View from Nansam Mountain © GloriousMe

A true metropolis

The term “metropolis” is sometimes used too loosely. But when it comes to Seoul—with its 9.6 million residents (2026), dense urban development, and a vibrancy that can be felt day and night—this description truly fits. The population density in Seoul is nearly twice that of New York City.

The World Bank is impressed by Korea’s economic development. After the end of the Korean War in 1950, Korea required economic assistance from the World Bank, and today it is one of the World Bank’s major donor countries.

Nowhere else can you feel the energy of these “economic powerhouses” quite like in the capital, Seoul. It’s exciting and electrifying for any traveler coming from Europe.

Seoul—A Gentle Introduction

If you’re interested in Korea, there’s no reason for travelers to be daunted by the sheer size of Seoul. The city’s excellent infrastructure makes it easy for travelers to get around, and there’s a great café on nearly every corner where you can take a break.

Seoul is famous for its cafés, which also delight the eye with their creative and often very tasteful interiors. Don’t expect Viennese coziness—instead, expect modern architecture paired with excellent coffee and delicious pastries.

Les Mains Dorées Neighborhood Bakery & Café with Fritz Hansen interior design © GloriousMe

Starbucks may be on every corner, but there’s really no reason to visit the all-too-familiar Starbucks locations in this design-conscious city.

If you prefer tea, you should keep the name Osulloc in mind. Their tea rooms in Seoul offer excellent Korean tea as well as delicious treats. The Osulloc Tea House in Bukchon is loved not only by tea enthusiasts but also by architecture fans.

You can also enjoy a nice cup of tea while viewing art at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Much like at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the museum features an inner courtyard where you can relax and admire the art from the first floor with a cup of tea in hand.

First, let’s go to the top

Once you’ve arrived at the hotel from the airport, for example, using the Limousine Bus Service Airport Transfer or a private chauffeur service like Klook—which you can conveniently book online for Seoul as well as many other Asian cities—so that you don’t have to navigate the airport while jet-lagged, possibly in the middle of the night, you can take a deep breath and look forward to an urban adventure.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, dating from the 14th century © GloriousMe

The next day, we recommend starting by taking in a bird’s-eye view of Seoul. There are several ways to do this. We decided to start with the Sky Lotte World Tower. In Seoul’s tallest building (and currently the sixth-tallest building in the world), there’s an observation deck on the 117th floor that offers a fantastic view of the city.

After that, we took a city tour on the “City Tour Bus” to be driven comfortably through Seoul and take in the city’s sights at a leisurely pace. The friendly concierge at our hotel recommended this bus line to us, and at one of the bus stops, we were also able to take a look at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, designed by Zaha Hadid. It’s stunning both day and night.

DDP Architectural Gem, Zaha Hadid’s Cultural Campus © GloriousMe

And up one more time

Hiking is a popular sport in Korea. In Seoul, you can go hiking right in the middle of the city: Namsan Mountain. You can reach this mountain in Seoul either by cable car—similar to those in the Swiss Alps —or on foot. It’s important to note that there are two main trails up the mountain. The trail through the scenic botanical garden is gentler, while the alternative route includes some stairs.

Namsan Tower on Namsan Mountain © GloriousMe

Even on the way up to the mountain peak, you’ll enjoy excellent views of the city time and again. You could go even higher and take the elevator to the top of Seoul Tower. Whether you do that depends a bit on the weather. In October, the days were cool but clear. In summer or winter, thick clouds may sometimes hang over the city. That’s the price you pay for living in a major metropolis.

If you choose to explore on foot, you’ll have truly earned the many culinary experiences Seoul has to offer. The selection is vast. We recommend checking out the Michelin Guide or the Louis Vuitton Seoul City Guide for suggestions.

Autonomous Bus Ride © GloriousMe

BRETAGNE

A Pampering Treatment for Your Skin

Of course, every brand in the world is represented in this metropolis—whether it’s fashion, electronics, or anything else. But you can find those in many other places, too. So if you’re only in the city for a few days, you might want to focus on something that’s harder to come by elsewhere.

Koreans love having skin that’s as flawless as possible and go to great lengths to achieve it. While in Europe you usually find only a small selection of Korean cosmetics, in Seoul you can indulge yourself in huge drugstores and fill part of your suitcase with them. Since the selection is so overwhelming, it’s worth doing a little research beforehand.

Men and women alike are equally interested in having clear, healthy skin. That’s why skincare is a given for both genders. A friend from England, who is married to a Korean woman, recommended the Forena Clinic to us. The website is in English, and the selection of treatments is enticing.

Overwhelming and interesting

Four days in Seoul left such a strong impression that afterward, you’ll want to slow down a bit. As a European, you have the luxury of being able to do that. The annual vacation allowance in Korea is only 4 days. Rapid economic growth doesn’t come from idleness.

As a traveler, you notice this right away on the streets. Everyone is rushing around. The workdays are long, and a lot is expected of people. And yet, whenever we had questions—for example, when we were riding the subway—we always encountered people who were extremely helpful.

Seoul captivated us, and we’ll definitely be back—and on our second visit to Korea, we’ll also explore the port city of Busan and places in the countryside. In the meantime, we’re enjoying Korean delicacies like gochujang sauce, which has replaced ketchup on our dining table, listening to K-pop from time to time (take a look at the skin of the American-Korean singer Eric Nam in the video) and treat our bodies to some fermented kimchi.

To Do | Don’t Do

To Do: Gangnam-gu District. One of Seoul’s 25 districts, located south of the Han River. With the world’s highest real estate prices per square meter, Gangnam-gu captivates visitors in every way. Architecture, fashion, art, cuisine, cosmetic surgery, museums—it’s the epicenter of South Korea’s entertainment industry. Welcome to the Future.

Don’t do this: Many travelers are advised to visit the border with North Korea. We made the trip and felt extremely uncomfortable the entire time due to a strict ban on photography and other clear instructions. However, for anyone who underestimates Kim Jong-un and his fellow autocrats, it may well be a worthwhile glimpse into a communist state.

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