Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

The Beautiful Tea Museum exhibits porcelain artwork by young ceramists. It also offers a large variety of world tea from Korea, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, India, Europe and more, totaling 130 types of tea. The museum not only exhibits tea, but it also provides a café for visitors to relax and enjoy the taste of their selected tea. The Beautiful Tea Museum exhibition of tea-items is divided into three sections; Korea, China, and Tibet. Visitors can gain an overall understanding of the tea traditions of each country. Also, young ceramists’ artwork are offered for purchase. The Beautiful Tea Museum has up to 130 types of tea ranging from an assortment of green tea, blue tea, black tea, brown tea, herbal tea, flower tea, and more. Visitors can purchase the various tea or enjoy them on the spot in the café. The museum is a renovated hanok, a traditional Korean house, and the central garden offers an outdoors café where visitors can view the museum while drinking tea.


Seoul(Seocho-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

The National Gugak Center (Formerly: National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts) is the governing body established to preserve and promote traditional Korean performing arts. It consists of three performance halls. First, the largest venue for traditional Korean performing arts is the Reservation Hall. The outward appearance of this theatre is based on Suwon Castle. The interior is built to accentuate all the features of the performing platform for traditional performing arts, and can accommodate every single type of traditional performing art, such as Palace Music, Court Music, and all other genres including major productions of Changguek (Korean musical drama). The structure of the stage and seats are reminiscent of a Korean yard.Long ago in Korea, traditional arts were performed in the yard. The audience was separated into an area in the shape of an earthen wall, and the ceiling had a shield/kite shaped emanating plate. The theatre gives the illusion of being in an ancient Korean household. On the 2nd floor of the Reservation Hall, there is a separate children's playground, which allows for quiet enjoyment of the music in the performance hall. Umyeondang (small hall) was designed to accommodate performances which were held outdoors. The performing space can be adjusted to fit the needs of the production.The National Gugak Center Outdoor Performance Stage is also called the "Star Welcoming Stage." You can watch many traditional performances that are usually held on traditional holidays. You can listen to traditional music, and if you want more information on the music try going to the Gugak Museum. Videos on Korea's traditional instruments and other Gugak related videos are always exhibited here. Also at the shop you can buy various Gugak related souvenirs. Having a Gugak CD or a cassette will be a great souvenir to remember the inspiration of Gugak for a long time. At the Front courtyard of the museum you can try to play traditional games and instruments from 10am to 5pm. You can play traditional games like neol ttwigi (seesaw jumping) or jegi chagi (Korean hacky sack) and try playing traditional instruments like the jing (gong), janggu (drum), kkwaenggwari (cymbal) and buk (drum).


Seoul(Gangnam-gu) , Gangnam・Samseongdong(COEX)

The Lotte COEX Duty Free Shop is situated in the same location as a number of Seoul's popular tourist attractions, such as COEX Aquarium and COEX Mall, and it is merely 5 to 10 minutes away from Gangnam hotels, and so offers the utmost convenience for travelers. This duty free shop contains boutique brands such as Salvatore Ferragamo and Coach, luxury jewelry and watches including Rolex and Omega, along with a wide selection of high quality cosmetics, perfumes and colognes.


Seoul(Jung-gu)

MESA was the first shopping mall to be built in Namdaemun Market. MESA is a family shopping mall selling goods and providing facilities targeting mostly middle-aged women. The Children’s Wear section on the 3rd floor provides mothers with cradles and rocking chairs for feeding infants, and a diaper changing facility as well. There are also free stroller rentals in the lobby, and each floor offers uniquely designed restrooms. The eighth and ninth floors boast over 50 different restaurants, with food varying from traditional Korean meals to fusion dishes. A restaurant on the 16th floor offers a magnificent view of Namsan, especially at night.


4.7/3
Seoul(Seocho-gu)

The JW Marriott Seoul is an upscale brand hotel operated by Marriott International, the world's largest operator and franchiser of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. JW Marriott Seoul is located in Central City, a culture, leisure and sport complex in the Gangnam area. It is a five-star 39-story hotel (including 4 basement levels) with a total of 497 rooms.Every room of the hotel has up-to-date conveniences including a 40-inch LCD TV, remote jack pack and wireless Internet. The unique and modern interior design created by Gensler, the world's famous German interior consulting firm, offers incomparable comfort and warmth. Plus, the hotel provides a variety of conveniences and superb amenities such as an upscale buffet and international cuisine.Marquis Thermal Spa & Fitness Club, a flagship facility of JW Marriott Seoul, is a large-scale three-story facility that houses up-to-date fitness work-out equipment as well as a swimming pool using spa water sourced from underground rocks, a sauna, and diverse leisure sports programs including scuba diving, rock climbing, golf and squash. Therapy Center offers world-class spa treatment based on all-natural organic ingredients and diverse well-being programs.The JW Marriott Seoul, located nearby COEX and International Trade Center, is readily accessible by subway since it is connected with the Express Bus Terminal Subway Station underpass.


Seoul(Songpa-gu) , Jamsil(Lotte World)

Lotte World Tower Duty Free Shop sits on the 10th floor of the Lotte Department Store located in Jamsil, Seoul. This area stands as a large-scale tourist attraction that provides everything from an amusement park to a folk museum (Lotte World Amusement Park, Folk Museum, Seokchon Lake, Lotte Hotel, Lotte Department Store, etc.). The Lotte World Duty Free Shop attracts shoppers from all over the world as it has more than 400 famous brands (Louis Vuitton, Hermes, GUCCI, Cartier, Chanel and many more) to choose from as well as newly added "Star Avenue" experience zone featuring many of hallyu stars are drawing more attentions.More brands are found here en.lottedfs.com


Seoul(Dongdaemun-gu) , The Eastern Part of the Seoul

As the nation began to recover from the aftermath of the Korean War, farmers from the northern Gyeonggi-do region and Ganwon-do gathered around the old Seongdong Station (renamed ‘Hansol Donguibogam’) to sell their produce and wares. The farmers’ impromptu gathering on the fallow farmland to make their transactions soon led to the birth of a new marketplace.Seoul Gyeongdong Market, a.k.a. ‘Gyeongdong Market’, is located around Jegi-dong, Yongdu-dong and Jeonnong-dong at Dongdaemun-gu and consists of the Gyeongdong Oriental Medicine Market, the Gyeongdong New Market, the Gyeongdong Old Market, the Gyeongdong Building, Hansol Donguibogam, and more.Currently, renovations are underway to reinvent the out-dated market environment into an updated shopping experience that still preserves the area’s innate charm. In 2004, Hansol Donguibogam was built and opened on the spot where the Midopa Department Store used to stand. Hanbang Cheonha, Donguibogam Tower-Tel and other areas are now undergoing renovations.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Dongdaemun

Seungjin Toy Palace is a toy store that carries almost every kind of toy imaginable from stuffed animals to character dolls and much more. Located along 'Toy Street' of Changsin-dong, Seungjin Toy Palace carries one of the nation's largest selections of toys. What makes this store even more attractive to many customers is that their merchandise is, on average, 30% cheaper than that of their competitors.'


Seoul(Yeongdeungpo-gu) , Yeouido・Yeongdeungpo・Mapo

With 24 granite pillars, a splendid blue dome, and white exterior, the National Assembly Building is a beautiful piece of architecture. The historic building came to life in 1975 after six years of construction. The pillars and the dome symbolize the various opinions of the public emerging as one. The building is a favorite among tourists as it is located next to the Hangang River. The Hangang River sits behind the building as a beautiful backdrop.The National Assembly Building contains the Visitor Center, a walking area, and benches alongside the Hangang River. The easiest way to visit the National Assembly Building is by applying at the Visitor Center. One can tour various parts of the National Assembly Building as well as the main conferencing area. The application process lasts roughly twenty minutes. The drawback is that it does not offer a foreign language service. Those who are interested in seeing Korean politics in action may also see sessions as they proceed. However, those not particularly interested in Korean politics will be more than satisfied with the regular tour.


Seoul(Jongno-gu) , Insadong・Jongnon

Ssamziegil is a comprehensive shopping center located on the famous Insa-dong Street. It houses over 70 stores that sell various items, ranging from fashion and art to food and accessories, on four floors above the ground that are connected by spiral staircases. Moreover, diverse performances and exhibitions are regularly held on the first floor yard, while the open ceiling and the rooftop garden bring in natural elements for enhanced shopping experience.