Having completed our 3D2N Jeju journey, we embarked on a 7D6N Seoul journey. :) To save on accommodation, we stayed at Namsan Guesthouse that cost us KRW 65,000 per room per night (about SGD 81). This is so much cheaper than the hotels nearby where they can easily charged a minimum of SGD 120 per room per night. I recommend travellers to stay at Namsan Guesthouse for the price and location.
Namsan Guesthouse
What: Namsan Guesthouse owns 5 buildings in the area opposite Myeongdong! Namsan Guesthouse 3 is located nearest to Myeongdong subway station. Each guesthouse is priced differently, depending on the number of travellers per room and location of the guesthouses. There is an airport express bus located opposite the guesthouse (outside Sejong Hotel)! This will make your trip to and fro airport easier since it is a direct bus service and it only takes about 50 minutes!
Where: http://www.namsanguesthouse.com/
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| Namsan Guesthouse 3 |
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| Common area at Namsan Guesthouse 3 |
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| Room for 2 pax for KRW 65,000 per room per night |
Once we have completed our check-in, we walked over to Myeongdong for lunch. Yes, our first meal is the infamous Yoogane! I really missed this when i came back from my Korea trip last year. Although Yoogane opened an outlet in Bugis recently, we did not patronise the restaurant yet as we heard that the queue is forever long.
Yoogane
What: Yoogane is famous for its chicken galbi that is cooked with gochujang, rice and vegetable.
Where: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 6. Walk pass Uniqlo to the first intersection, turn right, walk about 250m, Yoogane is on your left.
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| Yoogane interior |
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| Marinated chicken |
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| All ready to feast!! |
After our satisfying lunch, we headed over to Lotte Young Plaza in search of the pop-up store for SMTown! Bf is really good at navigation and we found this place pretty fast.
Lotte Young Plaza (Myeongdong outlet)
What: This is a shopping mall under Lotte Department Store.
Where: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 6. Walk straight with Uniqlo on your right, to the second major intersection, turn left, walk all the way to the end and cross the road.
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| Direction to Lotte Young Plaza |
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| Stairs to SMTown pop-up store |
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| SMTown pop-up store selling various merchandises |
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| More merchandises |
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| Even more merchandisesssss |
Oh wells, we did not get anything from the pop-up store though since I am not into kpop. :) Next, we hopped onto the subway to Namdaemun Market and Namdaemun Gate. We took the subway because we were lazy to walk from Myeongdong. It is actually walking distance :)
Namdaemun Market and Namdaemun Gate
What: Namdaemun Market sells a wide range of products, ranging from clothings, fresh produces and sundries. Beside the market is the Namdaemun Gate, also known as Sungnyemun Gate. It means the main southern gate to the old city.
Where: Subway Line 4, Hoehyeon Station, Exit 5. Once you exit, you will see the market. To get to Namdaemun Gate, walk straight to the end and turn left.
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| Namdaemun Market |
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| One of the many streets at Namdaemun Market |
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| Chance upon this famous bao shop |
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| And of course, we bought 5 pieces at KRW 3,000. There are 2 types, original and spicy kimchi. We preferred the spicy kimchi for the flavourful taste. |
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| Namdaemun Gate |
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| Majestic view of the Namdaemun Gate |
Before the sun sets, we made our way back to Myeongdong to feast on street food! We have been looking forward to enjoy cheap and good food from the street vendors! After which, we headed to Twosome Place for coffee.
Myeongdong Food Street
What: Many many many street food and restaurants!! You will never go hungry at this place! There are also many cosmetics shops!
Where: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 6.
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| Cuttlefish |
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| Puff and lemon soda |
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| Another stall selling cuttlefish |
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| Sausages stick |
A Twosome Place
What: Coffee and cakes. A great place to hangout!
Where: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 3. Walk straight and Twosome Place is on your left.
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| Exterior of Twosome Place |
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| Getting our coffee fix even though it's night time! |
To kickstart our day, we had breakfast at this make-shift stall, in front of Uniqlo at Myeongdong. They sell milk and simple sandwiches with choice of ham, cheese and vegetable. The sandwiches cost about KRW 2,000 and we ordered a sandwich each :)
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| Make-shift stall |
We gobbled our breakfast and headed to Deoksugung Palace. We took a train to City Hall Station to witness the beautiful infrastructure. As we were early, we did not manage to catch the guard changing ceremony.
Deoksugung Palace
What: This palace is surrounded by modern buildings that makes the landscape looks interesting.
Where: Subway Line 2, City Hall Station, Exit 2.
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| Daehanmun |
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| Admission Ticket to Deoksugung cost KRW 1,000 per pax |
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| Inside of the palace |
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| One of the buildings |
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| Guest area for phototaking |
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| More buildings |
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| More buildings |
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| And the last one for this blog |
Ewha Woman's University
What: Cheap clothings and accessories for women! The streets are located right outside of Ewha Woman's University. There are also plenty of cafes along the streets!
Where: Subway Line 2, Ewha Woman's University Station, Exit 2.
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| Street of Ewha |
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| Entrance of Ewha Woman's University |
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| Huge walking area |
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| Church taken from afar |
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| Pretty building in Ewha |
YG Entertainment Building
What: Main office of YG Entertainment. Many fans were spotted hanging outside the building, waiting for occasional stars entering or leaving the office.
Where: Subway Line 2, Hapjeong Station, Exit 8. Turn left, walk straight and turn left at Huiujeong-ro.
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| Alight at Hapjeong Station |
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| YG Entertainment Building |
World Cup Stadium
What: Built for 2002 FIFA World Cup
Where: Subway Line 6, World Cup Stadium Station, Exit 1
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| Alight at World Cup Stadium Station |
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| Exterior of stadium |
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| Floor plan of stadium |
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| Side of the stadium |
Lotte Mart
What: Department store selling ALOT of food stuff and cosmetics. They process tax refund documentation for your easy tax refunds at the airport later.
Where: Subway Line 4, Seoul Station, Exit 1. Turn left and walk straight.
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| Lotte Mart right in front |
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| My fav Lotte Mart!! |
Namsan Tower
What: Cable car leading to the famous Namsan Tower for the panoramic view of Seoul.
Where: Subway Line 4, Myeongdong Station, Exit 3. Walk on the right side of Pacific Hotel, straight up to the cable car station to Namsan Tower.
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| Cable Car Station to Namsan Tower |
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| Front view of cable car station |
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| Ticketing office for the cable car ride |
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| View from the cable car station |
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| View of Namsan Tower |
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| Better view of Namsan Tower |
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| Had lunch at Namsan Tower. The beef fries are awesome!! |
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| Locks done by many couples |
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| We went up to top of Namsan Tower |
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| 360 degree view from the tower |
Gwangjang Traditional Market
What: Traditional market selling authentic Korean food like Bibimbap and Bindaetteok
Where: Subway Line 1, Jongno 5(o)-ga Station, Exit 7
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| Alight at Jongno 5(o)-ga Station |
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| Traditional food stores |
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| Famous shop where Runningman cast came here for a bowl of Bibimbap |
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| And so, we shared one bowl too! |
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| Very organised stores |
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| Bindaetteok - mung bean pancake |
Dongdaemun Shopping Area and Dongdaemun Gate
What: Plentiful of shopping centres that open at 8pm! This is definitely for the night owls! Beside the shopping area is the Dongdaemun Gate.
Where: Subway Line 4, Dongdaemun Station, Exit 9
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| Alight at Dongdaemun Station |
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| Dongdaemun Gate |
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| Maxstyle shopping mall |
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| Doota shopping mall |
And so, we headed back to our hostel after a super long day today! :) :)
