Discover Seoul

Hotels, halal food, prayer spaces, things to do, and itineraries in Seoul.

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Must-see attractions in Seoul

From headline landmarks and heritage icons to parks, waterfronts, and major museums, discover 15 standout sights to build into your time in the city.

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What to do with Children in Town

With almost 11 million people, Seoul is the largest city of the Republic of Korea and is also the economic, political and cultural hub of the country. Though it had a bit of a reputation for pollution, strict emission laws have brought that into control. With a superb subway system, residents and tourists can easily traverse the city efficiently and without much hassle.

Explore Seoul

15places to visit 9history livenearby 16hotels 23restaurants 26shopping 6transport 8festivals 2masjids 1halal restaurants todayprayer times

Muslim travel planner

Plan a Muslim-friendly trip in Seoul

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Halal restaurants

23 restaurants

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18 hotels

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Women-friendly travel

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Halal restaurants in Seoul

Seoul’s food scene is part of the city experience. Choose from 23 restaurants and food districts with location notes and planning tips.

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Familia Buffet

Situated in the plush Imperial Palace hotel, the Familia restaurant serves a whooping 120 dishes in its buffet. The sophisticated and classy environment of this place is sure to lure you into visiting it often. The squad of people dressed in ninja outfits are actually the cooks who prepare fresh food in the dining area.

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Min's Club

A 1930s hanok (traditional Korean one-storey wooden house with a tiled roof) has been artistically restored into a restaurant that is charming as well as classy. The food offered here is European/Korean fusion. French wines are a specialty of this restaurant. Popular with diplomats, the food and service of this place is sure to bring a smile to your face and a vow to visit again.

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Tony Roma's

This all American chain is literally your only choice for ribs. New rib styles and sauce flavors, mouth-watering char-grilled steaks, BBQ chicken, scrumptious seafood, crispy salads, burgers and beer make this a hot spot for people who love American food.

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Namu/Liquid Bar

Namu is the place to savor ethnic Asian dishes in a modern reincarnation. Enjoy a contemporary Japanese cuisine in stylish surroundings with the natural rough-hewn timber of the interior adding an interesting touch. A variety of specialties, with a sushi and sashimi bar, a teppanyaki/hibachi station and a la carte dining will entice you into visiting again. Food here is served at long tables. The wrap-around bar serves ice-cold sake, single malt beverages and cocktails.

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Yongsusan

Get a taste of Korean tradition in this colorfully decorated restaurant. Mother-of-pearl panels add a statement of style to the interiors. The serving staff too is in traditional Korean attire (hanbok). The comfortable atmosphere and sophisticated interiors makes this restaurant a popular place for foreign VIPs and family gatherings. The meal is served in Gaesung style with elements of royal cuisine. Seasonal variations are there but it is always interesting. From the dragon firepot to the five-grain rice cooked in bamboo and of course the ever tempting omijacha tea, you're sure to be smacking your lips with satisfaction.

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La Plancha

Warm cozy atmosphere + fantastic food = a tantalizing experience that will linger on in your memory for days to come. An absolute must for meat lovers, La Plancha serves chicken, pork, lamb, and salmon with vegetables and a sauce. This place is popular with the expat community. Apart from dining, one also gets to be a part of the regular fun events, wine tastings, Latin music concerts and parties held there. The restaurant has an attractive outdoor area as well with wooden floors and plants aplenty. The service is as good as the food.

Seoul masjids and Muslim travel

Landmark masjids and prayer-aware notes for visitors planning salah, family movement, and halal-friendly days.

Seoul Central Mosque

Seoul Central Mosque( Korea Muslim Federation) Lectures are held in English, Arabic and Korean.

TRAVEL STORY KOREA

Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, 서울특별시, South Korea

Where to stay in Seoul

Choose where to stay by trip style, from landmark luxury and family bases to central, airport, and neighborhood-led stays.

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Jamsil Tourist Hotel

Jamsil Tourist Hotel is a modern eight-storey building housing 44 rooms with the finest amenities available. This hotel is located near Korea City Air Terminal, Olympic Park, Olympic Stadium and the Convention and Exhibition Centre. Guests can choose between the variety of rooms available; single, double, twin, business and Ondol( Korean traditional under-floor heating system) rooms. A plethora of halls for various functions like weddings, conferences and seminars is also available. Comfort and convenience are the hallmark of Jamsil Tourist Hotel.

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Seoul Tourist Hotel

The hotel is located near Insa-dong, the traditional street, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Deoksugung Palace. A stay in this hotel gives you the opportunity to buy traditional Korean items from the shops nearby. Guests can unwind at the game room of the hotel or alternatively enjoy a singing session at its own karaoke, the Seoul Club.

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Anguk Guesthouse

A pretty house in a pretty good location is what you can describe the Anguk Guesthouse as. The house is built in traditional Korean style with wooden-shuttered rooms. There are four separate rooms with a sharing kitchen and a small garden. The guesthouse has a cozy and unique feel to it. Hikes in the nearby forest are also offered. This is the place to stay if one wants a real Korean experience.

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Lotte Hotel

Located at the hub of Seoul's premier business and shopping districts, Lotte Hotel Seoul is within walking distance of major international corporate headquarters in the financial and industrial trade sectors. Major international events are hosted by this prestigious super deluxe hotel which houses 1318 guestrooms, 13 restaurants and bars, 15 spacious conference and banquet rooms. Lotte Hotel offers guests the most convenient and comfortable facilities available. The duty free shop sells items of good quality. The name of the hotel is synonymous with Korean hospitality.

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JW Marriott

With the hotel being situated in an ideal location within central city, Korea's largest and most popular shopping, dining and entertainment complex, you are sure to enjoy every moment of your stay here. All amenities to ensure a luxurious and comfortable stay make the Marriott the hotel of choice for travelers from around the world. The 497 rooms spread across 37 floors are said to be the largest guest rooms in Seoul. With the variety of restaurants and bars, numerous grand ballrooms/ banquet halls and a genuine European style spa and comprehensive health club (Asia's largest), it is no wonder that tourists make a bee line for this hotel.

History and today in Seoul

Read the city today, its history, residents, culture, and character before planning your route.

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Visa Information

Entering into South Korea for tourist purposes and short durations does not require obtaining a visa for the nationals of more than 90 countries, the UAE being one of them. ae).

City Information

When to go

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Fast Facts

- Location: The west coast of the Republic of Korea.; Dialing code: Country: +82 Area: +2; Emergency numbers: Police: 112 Fire Dept: 119 Ambulance: 1339

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Exchange Rates

Korean won (KRW) consists of four kinds of notes: 1,000 - 5,000 - 10,000 and 50,000 won and 4 different coins: 10, 50, 100 and 500 won.

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Public Holidays

January 1st New Year January to February Variable Seollal (Lunar New Year) March 1st Independence Movement Day May 1st Labor Day (Not an official holiday) May 5th Children's Day May (Variable) Buddha's Birthday June 6th Memorial Day July 17th Constitution Day August 15th Liberation Day September to October (Variable) Harvest Moon (Chuseok) October 3rd National Foundation Day December 25th Christmas Day

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Annual Temperature

January: High: 1°C (33°F) Low: -6°C (21°F) Average: -2°C (28°F); February: High: 3°C (38°F) Low: -4°C (25°F) Average: 0°C (32°F); March: High: 9°C (49°F) Low: 2°C (35°F) Average: 6°C (42°F)

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Residents

The residents of Seoul are very friendly and it is one of the safest places to be. The locals are very well mannered and sociable, and are among the most tourist friendly people in the world! They are very well versed in English; however, they do have problems with pronunciation.

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Seoul today

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Where to stay

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Safety and basics

Shopping in Seoul

Explore 26 shopping stops, from malls, markets, and book bazaars to fashion streets and souvenir finds.

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Apkujong

Apkujong is the fashionista haven of Seoul. Situated in the Kangnam area, it has several upscale department stores and funky boutiques almost everywhere you look. The Singsegae department store here, near the JW Marriot, is very popular. There is an underground mall in B1 of the bus station at the Express Bus Terminal Station there and is a great place for the fashion conscious as is the Hyundai Department Store, which is at the foot of the Donhgo Bridge. The Galleria is also a very famous department store there.

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ABC Mart

One genuine reason for you to say,"My foot!" Shoes galore at this store will have you dazzled by the enormity of the selection displayed. The range and number is enough to make even Imelda Marcos swoon. The shop is spread across a number of floors with thousands of pairs of shoes just waiting to be bought. Cinderellas, look carefully, you just might find those glass slippers here for that all important ball!

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Washington Shirt

The custom-made business shirts available here are mostly plain (you couldn't walk into your office sporting an Aloha shirt) though the shop does offer a range of designs for you to choose from. The cost varies from around 280 to 550.

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Bandi and Luni's

Buy books from this amazing bookshop which has a collection so large it will take you hours before you feel like leaving. Boasting the best selection of books in English, this shop has seating arrangements for your comfort and you can go through the immense collection leisurely before making up your mind to buy. The COEX Mall houses another branch of this shop.

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Hongdae Artists' Saturday Market

This small Saturday market in the park outside Hongik University definitely gives you the feel of a local fun fair. You will find stalls selling handmade jewelry, hand painted hats and T-shirts, appliqué bags, fans with a political message and soap made from rice and honey. There are hair- braiding stalls and tarot card readers too. There's entertainment galore with singers and pasty-faced magicians putting on shows in the entertainment corner. Be prepared for fun and frolic at this colorful market.

Signature sights in Seoul

A curated pick of the city's standout sights, led by the strongest editorial recommendations.

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Namdaemun

Yongsan Park

Yangjae Citizens' Forest

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Gyeongbok-gung Palace

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What to do with Children in Town

Changdeok-gung Palace

Festivals and events in Seoul

Plan around 8 festival seasons, public events, Ramadan/Eid periods, book fairs, art cycles, and winter food activity.

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Boryeong Mud Festival

Daecheon Beach becomes a war zone and therapeutic massage parlor of mud every July. The Mud Festival is all about mud and its therapeutic qualities, and you can get mud massages as well as mud slides on the beach.

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Insadong Festival

The Insadong festival in April and October showcases the folk music or pungmulnori of Seoul. A delightful food court with a selection of countrywide cuisine is also set up as part of the celebrations. Traditional food contests are held. There are street exhibitions and pottery making demonstrations as well. Venue: Jongno-gu Website: http://asp.congnamul.com/seoul/english/map.jsp

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Lotus Lantern Festival

Lord Buddha's birthday falls on the eighth day of the fourth moon.The celebration of Buddha's birthday consists of thousands of lanterns paraded in the streets of Seoul in a spectacular display of lights. In this festival lanterns are made of various shapes. Small lotus shaped lanterns to lantern floats shaped like a dragon, elephant etc. are part of the parade. People also practice Zen meditation during this festival.

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Hi Seoul Festival

This festival aims at preserving the city's unique history and tradition as well as diversity through numerous cultural events and performances that take place all over the city. This festival takes place at different seasons around the year and there are different themes for each time of the year. There are concerts, street plays and art exhibitions according to the theme.

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Dano Festival

One of the three largest holiday celebrations in the country, the Dano Festival is a traditional food festival where prayers are offered for a good and bountiful harvest in the coming year. Food courts, cultural performances, exhibitions and children's events are part of the celebrations.