Travel tips: Where to stay and what to do on a stopover in Seoul, South Korea?

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Travel tips: Where to stay and what to do on a stopover in Seoul, South Korea?

By Michael Gebicki
The Myeong-Dong district at night. The location is the premiere district for shopping in the city.

The Myeong-Dong district at night. The location is the premiere district for shopping in the city.Credit: iStock

MY WIFE AND I HAVE A THREE-DAY STOPOVER IN SEOUL. COULD YOU SUGGEST A FEW AREAS TO STAY AND WHAT TO DO? S. PEARCE, CAVES BEACH NSW

One thing you could do is visit the so-called Demilitarized Zone, where communism and democracy face one another over the barrel of a gun. It's surprisingly and scarily close to Seoul and you can find plenty of tours on Viator viator.com

Gyeongbokgung is a palace complex and definitely one of the city's standouts, you need half a day to do it justice. Catch the changing of the guard, which happens several times daily. Nearby Changdeokgung is the most spectacular of Seoul's five main palace and you need to be on a guided tour, which you can also find on Viator. Go for one that includes the lovely Huwon secret garden. Jongmyo Royal Shrine is worth a look since it's also in the same area. Close by, the Bukchon Hanok district is home to almost 1000 hanok, traditional Korean homes. Try one of the traditional teahouses here and perhaps also in Insedong, if you develop a taste. South Korea also has a distinctive cuisine and its signature dish, kimchi, never fails to leave powerful memories.

I like the Myeongdong area for staying. It's central, plenty of shopping, cafes and hotels at various price points and a couple of nice parks close by. Hongdae would be my second choice, slightly quieter and less touristy.

Visit Korea english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto, the official website of the Korea Tourism Organization, is a prime resource.

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