First Time in Seoul (2026): The Guides to Read Before You Go
Planning your first trip to Seoul? This page brings together the SeoulKnows guides we would send a friend before their
Things to Do
Attractions, streets and experiences worth your time in Korea: observation decks, markets, river pools and the neighborhoods locals actually visit.
Seoul With Kids (2026): Every Family Guide We Have Written, in One Place
We live in Seoul with a young son, and a lot of what we write here comes from weekends spent
National Museum of Korea (2026): Free, Busy, and Worth Every Minute
The National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관) is the one museum in Seoul that almost every visitor ends up at, and
The Hyundai Seoul: Floor Guide, Parking, Hours and What to Actually See
A guide to The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido: how to get there, hours, parking, the 3,300 sq m Sounds Forest garden on 5F, the Christmas installation, Creative Ground pop-ups on B2, floor by floor, food and tax refunds.
Apgujeong Rodeo and Dosan Park (2026): From Exit 6 to the Park
A first-hand walk through Apgujeong Rodeo and Dosan Park: which exit, the Gentle Monster block, London Bagel Museum, cafes, the park, and real prices.
Child Fingerprint Pre-registration in Korea: Can Foreign Residents Register? (Suseo Police Station Visit)
Korea's free police fingerprint pre-registration for children also covers foreign residents with ARCs. Documents, the form translated field by field, and a first-hand visit to Seoul Suseo Police Station.
Hwadam Forest in Autumn (2026): Booking, Tickets, and the Monorail Explained
Hwadam Forest in English: how the 100% advance booking works, what the monorail really costs, the stroller-only shuttle bus, and what the foliage looked like on 24 October.
Hangang Bus vs Han River Cruise: Which One Should You Take? (I Changed My Mind)
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.
Han River Cruise in Seoul: The Jamsil Moonlight Music Cruise (Fares, ID Rules, Banpo Fountain)
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.
Seoul City Hall Sky Observatory (2026): Free Views of Deoksugung, Hours, and What It Is Like Inside
Seoul City Hall's free Sky Observatory, visited: the elevator queue, the 2,500 won café, what you can see, hours from the sign on the door, plus the library roof garden and the basement gallery.
Incheon Airport Layover? Spend It at Inspire Resort, Not the Terminal
Inspire Entertainment Resort sits on the same island as Incheon Airport. Free to enter, free shuttle from Terminal 1, and a 150m digital ceiling that runs on the hour. A practical layover guide.
Starfield Library COEX Guide (2026): Hours, Free Entry, the Photo Spot and the Fake Books
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.