I recently had a long layover in Seoul and took the train into the city to wander for the day. With twelve hours, I did what I love most: explored a new city on my own, wandered down alleyways, hunted for street art, and got lost.
Gyeongbokgung
My first stop in the morning was Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty for 500 years. It was built in 1395, burned and abandoned for centuries, rebuilt and destroyed in the early 20th century, and has been gradually restored since then.
Insadong
After visiting the palace, I moved on to Insadong, a neighborhood just south of Anguk Station. Most of the tea shops along the main street, Insadong-gil, weren’t open yet, so I browsed inside antique stores and strolled through Ssamziegil, a mall complex with shops of local designers and artists. There’s an air of whimsy to the art on the streets.
Samcheong-dong
I retraced my steps on Insadong-gil and walked up the winding street into Samcheong-dong, a hilly neighborhood that’s traditional yet eclectic: home to the restored traditional-style Korean houses of Bukchon Hanok Village, and boutiques, cafes, galleries, and street art. Some lovely views up here.
Hongdae
After a cup of tea in a tiny shop in the hanok village, I took the subway to Hongdae, the lively area around Hongik University full of students, cafes, clubs, and more colorful walls of art. I had trouble locating the cat cafes I’d read about, and had to get back to the airport. Next time, then.
Photographs taken with a Canon G11. I took just a few iPhone shots, via Instagram.
What a fascinating looking city. I really haven’t traveled enough. Thanks for the views.
Beautiful Pictures! Your photos make me want to go there.
Love the way you capture street graffiti. The snap where characters are painted on the tarred road is pretty awesome. We’ve taken a similar shot in Kyoto, Japan.
I think I’ve just fell in love with Seoul 😀
Isn’t it such a great city?!?! Man, I miss it every day; but I suppose 18 months will make you a bit biased.
Loved the jimjilbang experience when in Seoul! But I wondered why is it that there’s a lot of people staying overnight in jimjilbang? Pretty sure they’re local people… why don’t they just sleep at home but rather spent their nights in there?
No idea… I didn’t get a chance to visit one, and wish I did. Next time!
Wow, pretty impressive you took so many memorable and colorful shots on your layover! Happy Trails.
I’ve been to Seoul many times (was born there, in fact)–you certainly got a feel for the place in just 12 hours, and your images communicate the energy and whimsy of the city!
I recognize all those shots, and it still holds as one of the truly most beautiful cities of the world. I visited Seoul a few years ago, and like you, I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.
Looks like a very interesting city!
I loved the photos. You certainly capatured the city for me.
Very nice.
This is cool. I never expected there to be so much street art in Seoul. (Not sure why…) Nice shots!
Great photos! Hongdae and Insadong are by far some of artsiest places in Asia (if not the world). Thank you for sharing!!
That attitude of the explorer is such a gift. You wrote that you didn’t find the cat cafe, but it didn’t seem to matter, since there were so many discoveries to be made. I love the idea of street art as the theme as well. A good way to see beauty in the most commonplace of scenes.
Thanks for sharing your shots. Even though I don’t usually take notice of graffiti (and I live in Barcelona which is plastered in graffiti) I’m very impressed by the ones in your photos. It’s so great to wonder and get “lost” in an un unknown place to get the feel of it. Cheers!
Nice photo tour of Seoul. I particularly like the street art photos, and how you used the writing on the road in your shots. It makes we want to go for a visit.
Thanks (again) for allowing me to travel with you. The street art you caught from different sections of Seoul is fantastic. What a wonderful 12 hour layover. Looking forward to sharing in more of your travels.
Nice shots and very interesting. I wonder what those series of numbers with the street art is referring to?
Yeah, I wondered that, too — I’m not sure.
From living in Korea for awhile, I’ve learned sometimes they are phone numbers of the artist… Thank you for the lovely photos of my adoptive home 🙂
I’ve now learnt they are dates of births and deaths.
In your photo, Gu Kim born 1876/august/29, died 1949/june/26.
I had a 9 hr layover there last January…flight delays shortened it and prevented me from seeing town…but that airport hotel by the hours is sharp!
Yeah, the entire airport was pretty nice!
You have a good eye for composition and color.
Thanks!
I’m really digging the color in these photographs. I especially like the traffic arrow painted on the street in the foreground of the first photo.
That one was my favorite picture as well — I loved all the signs on the ground in general.