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Seoul Travel Guide

Your personal travel guide to Seoul

๐Ÿ“ Seoul, South Korea

This route is optimized by LonelyRoad's traffic data and community feedback from solo travelers who have explored Seoul. All recommendations are verified by our community.

๐ŸŽฏ Suggested Activities

Curated activities based on LonelyRoad community recommendations

๐Ÿ˜๏ธ

Explore Bukchon Hanok Village

Wander through traditional Korean houses, perfect for solo photography and peaceful walks through historic alleyways.

Location: 37 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03059
Best Time: Early morning or late afternoon
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price: $
๐Ÿ—ผ

Namsan Seoul Tower Sunset Views

Take the cable car up for panoramic city views. Great for solo reflection and stunning photo opportunities.

Location: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04340
Best Time: Sunset
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price: $$
๐Ÿœ

Gwangjang Market Food Tour

Solo-friendly street food market. Try bindaetteok and mayak gimbap at individual stalls with counter seating.

Location: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03195
Best Time: Lunch or early evening
Duration: 1-2 hours
Price: $
๐Ÿ“š

Starfield Library COEX

Instagram-worthy library in a mall. Chill atmosphere perfect for reading, working, or people-watching.

Location: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06164
Best Time: Afternoon
Duration: 1-2 hours
Price: $
๐ŸŒŠ

Cheonggyecheon Stream Walk

Peaceful urban stream walk through downtown. Perfect for a relaxing solo stroll away from traffic noise.

Location: 1 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03188
Best Time: Evening
Duration: 1-2 hours
Price: $

๐ŸŽ‰ Events & Social Activities

Great places to meet other travelers in Seoul

๐ŸŽญ

Hongdae Street Performances

Free nightly street performances, buskers, and dance crews. Great for solo travelers to soak in youth culture.

Location: 188 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04004
Best Time: Friday-Sunday evenings
Price: $
โ›ฒ

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain Show

World's longest bridge fountain with music and lights. Relaxing solo evening activity along Han River.

Location: 40 Sinbanpo-ro 11-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06526
Best Time: Evening (shows at 8pm & 8:30pm)
Price: $
๐Ÿฏ

Changdeokgung Palace Secret Garden Tour

Guided tours of UNESCO site's hidden garden. Book online in advance. Peaceful and culturally enriching.

Location: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03072
Best Time: Morning tours
Price: $

๐Ÿจ Places to Stay

Recommended accommodations for solo travelers

Zaza Backpackers Hongdae

Hostel

Social hostel perfect for digital nomads. Common workspace, regular social events, and easy to meet other travelers.

โญ 4.3/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $

๐Ÿ“ 10 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04044

Hotel Skypark Myeongdong III

Hotel

Affordable hotel in central location. Comfortable for solo travelers, near cafes and coworking spots.

โญ 4.2/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

๐Ÿ“ 54 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul 04537

Lotte City Hotel Mapo

Hotel

Modern hotel near Hongdae with good WiFi. Great for digital nomads wanting hotel comfort with easy metro access.

โญ 4.4/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

๐Ÿ“ 83 Mapo-daero, Mapo-gu, Seoul 04168

Kimstay 9 Guesthouse Gangnam

Guesthouse

Quiet guesthouse in Gangnam. Private rooms available, chill atmosphere, helpful staff for solo travelers.

โญ 4.1/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $

๐Ÿ“ 7 Seocho-daero 74-gil, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06621

โ˜• Cafes & Restaurants

Best spots to work, eat, and meet other travelers

Anthracite Coffee Roasters Hapjeong

Cafe๐Ÿ“ถ WiFi Available๐Ÿ’ป Work-Friendly

Spacious industrial cafe with excellent specialty coffee. Fast WiFi, plenty of outlets, popular with freelancers. Great work atmosphere.

โญ 4.5/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

Cafe Onion Anguk

Cafe๐Ÿ“ถ WiFi Available

Stunning hanok-style cafe with quality coffee and pastries. WiFi available but gets busy. Better for shorter work sessions.

โญ 4.6/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

Fritz Coffee Company

Cafe๐Ÿ“ถ WiFi Available๐Ÿ’ป Work-Friendly

Top-tier specialty coffee roastery. Reliable WiFi, good seating for laptop work. Excellent flat whites and pour-overs.

โญ 4.5/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

Sulbing Myeongdong

Cafe/Dessert๐Ÿ“ถ WiFi Available

Famous for Korean shaved ice desserts (bingsu). Solo-friendly counter seating, good for afternoon breaks. WiFi available.

โญ 4.3/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

Tosokchon Samgyetang

Restaurant

Famous ginseng chicken soup restaurant. Solo-friendly with individual portions. No WiFi but authentic local experience.

โญ 4.4/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $$

Myeongdong Kyoja

Restaurant

Iconic noodle restaurant with solo-friendly counter seating. Fast service, perfect for quick solo meals. No WiFi.

โญ 4.3/5๐Ÿ’ฐ $

๐Ÿ’ก Local Tips

Insider advice from the LonelyRoad community

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Mobile Data & eSIM: Get data for Seoul with PikaSim - 0.5GB for 7 days costs $0.80 (other options: 0.1GB/7d for $0.60, 0.5GB/1d for $0.80). Privacy-focused, no account needed, instant activation. Get yours at https://pikasim.com/download-south-korea-esim-packages
  • Visa & Entry for US citizens: US passport holders can enter South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism. Starting September 2024, you must complete K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) online BEFORE your flight at www.k-eta.go.kr (costs โ‚ฉ10,000, ~$7.50, valid for 2 years). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay. Processing usually takes 24 hours but apply at least 72 hours before departure. You may need proof of onward travel. Check official source: https://www.k-eta.go.kr
  • Get a T-money card at any convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) for seamless metro and bus travel. It's rechargeable and works everywhere. Seoul's subway system is incredibly efficient and English-friendly.
  • Download Naver Map (not Google Maps) for accurate navigation in Seoul. It works better for public transit, walking directions, and finding local businesses. Papago app is essential for translation.
  • Seoul is extremely safe for solo male travelers, even late at night. The only real concern is occasional over-drinking in nightlife areas like Hongdae or Gangnam on weekends. Stay aware of your belongings in crowded areas.
  • Most cafes expect you to order something every 2-3 hours if you're working. Be respectful of cafe culture - coworking spaces are better for all-day work sessions.
  • Get a Korean SIM card at Incheon Airport (SK Telecom, KT, or LG U+) for around โ‚ฉ30,000-50,000 for 30 days with data. Essential for navigation and staying connected. Pocket WiFi is another option.
  • Join Seoul Digital Nomads or Couchsurfing meetups to connect with other travelers and expats. Hongdae and Itaewon areas have the most international social scenes and English-friendly venues.
๐Ÿ“ฑ

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