I rode the Hangang Bus first and told everyone to skip the cruise. Then I took the cruise. A first-hand comparison of fares, routes, operators and what each one is actually for.
A first-hand guide to the Eland Cruise Moonlight Music Cruise from Jamsil — fares, the passport rule that catches travellers out, the Banpo Bridge fountain, and how it differs from the Hangang Bus.
Three free observation decks at Seoul City Hall – the Sky Observatory, Jeongdong Observatory and Haneul-tteul roof garden. Hours, how to get in, and the new Friday and Saturday night opening.
Starfield Library at COEX in Seoul is free and open 10:30 to 22:00 every day. The escalator photo queue, why the books above the sixth shelf are fake, and % Arabica of Kyoto opening its first Korean store inside the library.
Most people do Jamsil in daylight: up Lotte World Tower, round the mall, home. The neighbourhood is better after dark.
Seoul Sky is the observation deck at the top of Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. The tower is Korea’s tallest
Seoul runs 200+ public indoor playgrounds where two hours costs 1,000-2,000 won a person. How the two systems work, how foreign residents book them, and a full walkthrough of Dogok Children’s Indoor Playground in Gangnam.
Seoul just made getting around a lot more scenic. The Hangang Bus is the city’s new public river ferry, gliding
The big, fun stores worth walking into in Myeongdong — K-goods at Mimiline and Wiggle Wiggle, cook-your-own ramyun at Emart24 Lab, a 12-floor Daiso, and Korea’s flagship Olive Young — plus how to get there and what to buy.
A free, no-reservation kids’ water playground in front of Mapo-gu Office – foam show, water rollers, ball pool and a polar-bear dome, with lifeguards and changing tents.
Seoul’s districts run 100+ free children’s water playgrounds every summer – no reservation needed. Free PDF list (by district) plus how to find the one near you.
A complete guide to Seoul’s Hangang River outdoor swimming pools — 2026 season, prices, how to get there, rules, what to bring, and Yeouido vs Ttukseom (lazy river). Plus an FAQ for first-timers.
