The best neighborhoods to visit in Seoul

Away from the bustle of business and tourists, neighborhoods in Seoul brim with inviting cafes, intriguing galleries and historic sites. In these smaller slices of a huge city, you can make a deeper connection with both the area and its residents, and get to know the city and its rhythms of daily life throughout the year. So after you’ve taken in the landmarks of the ultramodern central district, make like a local and head to one of the South Korean capital's vibrant boroughs to unwind.

Whether exploring temples in Seongbuk-dong or alleyways in Bukchon Hanok Village, dog spotting in Yeonnam-dong, barhopping in Euljiro or gallery hopping in Seongsu-dong, you’re certain to love these five of the best neighborhoods in Seoul.

The rooflines of traditional-style buildings in Bukchon Hanok Village. Vincent St. Thomas/Shutterstock ©Vincent St. Thomas/Shutterstock

1. Bukchon Hanok Village

Best for soaking up historic atmosphere

Nestled between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village is a popular destination that’s worth the hype. When you’re strolling along the streets lined with hanok (traditional Korean houses) – a budget-friendly activity in a pricey city – it doesn’t take long to realize why Seoulites recommend this place so ardently and why it continues to charm all who visit.

The authorities say that the more than 900 hanok here offer the best representation of Seoul’s 600-year-old urban history. While the buildings are almost entirely reconstructed or full-on replicas, you will feel like you’re in another time when you wander this area. In recent years, that atmosphere has been accentuated by the popularity of borrowing hanbok (traditional Korean gowns) for photo walks.

Visit during the week to avoid the crowds. Start by grabbing a map of the neighborhood from Bukchon Traditional Culture Center, which pinpoints great photo spots. Then sneak down quiet alleyways filled with small cafes and tea shops, venturing away from large groups and into Korea’s past.

2. Yeonnam-dong

Best for dog lovers

An estimated six million households in South Korea have dogs, and one of the top places to see them living their best lives is in Yeonnam-dong, a neighborhood northwest of Hongdae that’s full of dog-friendly spaces.

Start your dog-spotting journey at Gyeongui Line Forest Park. This green space, built on top of railroad tracks that once extended to North Korea, is popular with both the two- and four-legged residents of the neighborhood. In the grassy area outside Hongik University Station Exit 3, you’ll see humans enjoying a bit of day drinking and dogs of all sizes, shapes and fashion styles (it’s common for dogs to wear clothes in South Korea).

Brunch eatery Grain and a branch of the vegan restaurant Plant are just two of the many places that welcome dogs in Yeonnam-dong. Some, like Gelateria Eta and Thanks Oat, even have canine-specific items on the menu. A few dog-friendly cafes, like Oui Oui Club and Bite Me, have clothes and accessories you can pick up as souvenirs for your puppy pal at home.

Nogari Alley. aaron choi/Shutterstock ©˙aaron choi / Shutterstock

3. Euljiro

Best for cool bars and traditional dried fish

From bars lit with a neon glow to hidden places tucked behind unassuming doors, Euljiro has so many cool spaces that locals call it “Hip-jiro.” The evolution (or gentrification) of this neighborhood started around 2015, when younger people began moving to the district, then known for warehouses, electronics shops and printing presses.

One of first newcomers was Seendosi (which means “new city”), a laid-back, independent bar that extends from the 4th floor to a 5th-floor rooftop. Since few businesses like this existed in this part of Seoul when it opened, visiting used to mean walking into a dark neighborhood and climbing up four flights of stairs in an empty warehouse before reaching Seendosi’s dim pink ambiance and alternative music.

Seendosi has added more lights since then, and the area is now teeming with bars following a similar formula of industrial chic. Owned by a group of 10 friends, 1/10 is a wine bar marked only by simple sign with “wine” written out in red tape. Eulji-Maekok (Euljiro Brewing) is a two-story craft beer pub with fun illustrations of partying cats and excellent drinks. For those who prefer a more down-to-earth vibe, Nogari Alley brims with old-school pubs that sell local beer and nogari (dried pollock fish), with seats often spilling out on the streets.

4. Seongsu-dong

Best for creative types

Many call Seongsu-dong the Brooklyn of Seoul. Yet before younger generations moved in, the neighborhood was the go-to place for shoes, home to 70% of the nation’s handmade shoe manufacturers. While this part of town still has a few dozen shops dedicated to custom footwear, art galleries, cafes and vintage clothing boutiques occupy many of the converted warehouses.

One of the first businesses to attract attention to the area was Daelim Changgo, a cafe and art gallery outfitted in a former factory-warehouse. Cafes like Onion, Grandpa Factory and Dorrell later replicated the warehouse-conversion formula, and the uptick in artsy types gave birth to a vibrant street art and gallery scene.

Have a cup of coffee and check out Collast, Art Project CO and Kabinett, three talked-about galleries where contemporary Korean art is front and center. The Seongsu-dong art scene is focused on up-and-coming, experimental artists, and the vibe is more chill than in better-known neighborhoods of Seoul, such as Gangnam. Bring your camera for fun shots of street art, get caffeinated at one of the many cafes and gallery hop to your heart’s content. Buying new shoes is optional.

Gilsang-sa. aaron choi/Shutterstock aaron choi / Shutterstock

5. Seongbuk-dong

Best for slowing down

A short bus ride from Hansung University Station, Seongbuk-dong is a relatively quiet hillside district lesser known to visitors. The neighborhood once housed refugees and lower-income families after the Korean War; today, it’s better known for its wealth of diplomatic residences and upscale homes. (It’s implied that the fancy house from the 2019 film Parasite is located here.)

Seongbuk-dong feels distinctly different from other parts of the city, since it’s not as dense, and the greenery of the Bugaksan and Bukhansan slopes is visible from most corners of the neighborhood.

The area has several often overlooked attractions, many of which allow you to take a breather from the bustle of typical Seoul life. At Gilsang-sa, consider a Templestay program, a cultural experience that immerses you in traditional Korean Buddhism. Activities include conversations with Buddhists, tea time and sometimes overnight stays. Nearby, you can drink Korean tea at Suyeon Sabang, which was once a poet’s house.

Uphill, Manhae Han Yong-un Simujang used to be the home of Buddhist reformist and poet Han Yong-un. Now owned by the government, the house is open to the public, but because it’s not an official museum, it doesn’t have guards, and there’s little foot traffic. Visitors can simply enter, take off their shoes and relax in the same room where the poet took naps – a perfect place to enjoy the quiet of the hillside.