Seoul Capital Area

Region

Seoul and the cities around it, home to half the country. The capital has royal palaces, hanok villages, markets, K-pop and late-night food streets, Incheon has the main airport and its Chinatown, and Gyeonggi has the Suwon fortress, the DMZ tours from Paju and the Korean Folk Village. Spring blossom and autumn leaves are the best times.

Seoul Capital Area Lotte WorldN Seoul TowerNational Museum of Modern and Contemporary ArtNational Museum of KoreaJeju Olle TrailNational Folk Museum of KoreaJongmyoBlue HouseNamdaemunLotte World TowerYeonpyeongdoNamhansanseongDeoksugungSeoul World Cup StadiumSuwon World Cup StadiumChanggyeonggungIncheon Munhak StadiumGyeonghuigungGwanghwamunSeoul Central MosqueYoido Full Gospel ChurchDongdaemunBukhansanGoyang StadiumMyeongdong CathedralSongdo Central ParkDongdaemun StadiumSeoulIncheonSuwonGyeongbokgungGanghwa IslandHwaseong FortressChangdeokgung Palace ComplexBaengnyeongdoAnsanGoyangBucheonHwaseong, GyeonggiAnseongGunpoGwangju, GyeonggiHanamOsanYangjuGuriYeojuYangpyeong CountyUijeongbu-siSeongnam-siAnyang-si

Seoul Capital Area essentials

Country: South Korea
Driest months: Dec-Feb
Pay in: Won (₩)
Emergency: 112

Where to Go in Seoul Capital Area

City Seoul SeoulCapital of palaces, food markets and K-culture City Suwon SuwonCity of the UNESCO Hwaseong Fortress City Ansan AnsanSouth Korean city with a large population Island Ganghwa Island Ganghwa IslandIsland with archaeological sites and tidal flat habitats Island Yeonpyeongdo YeonpyeongdoBorder island near North Korea site of clashes Island Baengnyeongdo BaengnyeongdoSouthwestern border island near North Korea, strategic location. History Gyeongbokgung GyeongbokgungGrand Joseon-era palace complex in downtown Seoul History Changdeokgung Palace Complex Changdeokgung Palace ComplexJoseon-era royal palace with famous secret garden History Hwaseong Fortress Hwaseong FortressLate 18th-century fortress exemplifying Korean military architecture Nature Lotte World Lotte WorldLarge indoor theme park and entertainment complex Nature Bukhansan BukhansanGranite mountain park near Seoul popular for hiking Nature Songdo Central Park Songdo Central ParkSeawater canal park in Songdo IBD
Regions & Cities
Seoul Explore Seoul Hanok neighborhoods, neon shopping districts, and royal palaces share space; kimchi and barbecue smoke in market alleys, K‑pop billboards dominate Gangnam, and quick hikes up Bukhansan give skyline views beyond the subway. Explore Incheon Incheon’s port and airport make it a first impression: Chinatown, Wolmido seaside amusements and island ferries. Explore Suwon Fortified by the 18th‑century Hwaseong wall, Suwon invites visitors to walk battlements, visit Hwaseong Haenggung palace, and try the city’s famous Suwon galbi at smoky barbecue joints. Gyeongbokgung Explore Gyeongbokgung At Gyeongbokgung in Seoul, visitors stroll grand courtyards, wooden pavilions and palace halls from the Joseon era; many time their visit for the changing‑of‑the‑guard spectacle and hanbok photos. Ganghwa Island Explore Ganghwa Island Off Korea’s west coast near Incheon, Ganghwa Island draws visitors for tidal flats, medieval fortifications, prehistoric dolmens and seafood restaurants serving local catches. Hwaseong Fortress Explore Hwaseong Fortress Around Suwon, Hwaseong Fortress crowns the city with late‑18th‑century walls, gates and bastions; tourists walk ramparts, explore museums and enjoy views back over the old town. Changdeokgung Palace Complex Explore Changdeokgung Palace Complex Adjacent to other Joseon palaces, Changdeokgung is prized for its rear garden-Huwon-where guided walks reveal landscaped ponds, pavilions and shaded paths; the palace complex displays traditional royal architecture. Baengnyeongdo Explore Baengnyeongdo An island at Korea’s northwestern edge, Baengnyeongdo sits close to the North Korean coast and hosts fishing villages.

Seoul Capital Area at a Glance

Local Time
9:08 AM
GMT+9
Population
25,820,968

Best Things to Do in Seoul Capital Area