Seoul, South Korea

The bustling city of Seoul contrasts the peaceful silence of its many temples. That is the beauty I found when I visited Seoul. It's harder to do nothing than it is to get immersed in its amazing culture. From palaces, top-notch food, electronics, recreational activities, concerts, and scenery, there will be something for everyone to enjoy in this world-class city.

There is plenty of food to eat in Seoul. I felt quite overwhelmed by the options, but I managed to get a mix of comfort food and extremely spicy food. Some dishes stood out to me. Japchae, which is a sweet and savory stir-fried glass noodle dish with meat and vegetables, should be given a try. Many restaurants serve this as a side dish (banchan) and give free refills. Korean BBQ is a popular dish that also must be tried in Seoul. Places like Wangbijib serve up tasty BBQ. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, you can try sannakji, which is octopus tentacles that are still moving.

Seoul has a lot of destinations worth checking out. Gyeongbukgong is one of five large palaces in the city. It's the most important palace, and it has been rebuilt multiple times after being damaged in past invasions. Overall, it's a nice place to learn about local history and admire the architecture of the palace. There's Myeongdong, which is a giant shopping and food district. Myeongdong has nearly everything to buy, ranging from knockoffs to genuine products. With the food and shopping locations, there is also a Catholic cathedral and some art museums in this district. Seoul's Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a unique landmark within the city. Designed by the architect, Zaha Hadid, Dongdaemun Design Plaza was eye-candy for me. This place displays impressive creative designs like artwork and architecture. There are also places for shopping, conventions, and concerts in the plaza.

In the winter, there are lots of skiing options to choose from. Skiing resorts are located around Seoul in the surrounding area. Vivaldi Park ski resort is one of the closest ski resorts to Seoul. This resort also has a water park and a scenic path to visit.

I took a day trip to the nearby Nami Island, which is an attraction that many people visiting Seoul will see. It is renowned for its giant trees. These trees take on vastly different appearances in each season. I prefer the snow-capped trees in the winter, but I went in the fall to see the leaves take an orange color. There are cherry blossoms that bloom in the Spring between early and mid-April. The island also has ginkgo trees, lakeside paths on the lake, and gardens.

Seoul remains one of my favorite locations in the world. The unique experiences for anyone to have in this sprawling city make Seoul such an attractive place to visit. I hope you enjoyed reading my travel guide.