Seoul off the beaten path: 10 places to skip the crowds
Last Updated on October 30, 2024 by Alex
Are you traveling to Seoul for the first time but also want to skip the crowds? Or is this your second or third time in the city, and you want to discover hidden gems? Here are my favorite places for Seoul off the beaten path you must explore.
I have gathered places popular with locals but less explored by tourists. Most of these places are a bit further from the main tourist attractions, but most will definitely be worth the effort.
You will explore old neighborhoods transformed into cool and hip areas, colorful places such as the Gamcheon Village in Busan, and beautiful parks outside the city.
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Table of Contents
Seoul off the beaten path: 10 places to skip the crowds
Buam-dong (부암동)
This residential neighborhood is tucked away on the cliffs of Bugaksan Mountain. You won’t find the bustling streets you might be used to around Hongdae or Insadong. And there are no skyscrapers like in Gangnam.
Don’t come here for cosmetics or tourist attractions. However, this is the place if you are looking for local art galleries. You’ll also find narrow streets with breathtaking views, pretty cafes, and some of the best local restaurants in town.
We enjoyed this area and returned whenever we yearned for a coffee with a view.
Visit Seoul Museum with its contemporary art exhibitions, stop by Seokpajeong, a former royal villa with impressive gardens, and relax at one of the many cool cafes on the cafe street. Bugak Skywalk is not easily reached but will enchant you with some of the city’s best views.
Where to eat in Buam-dong
We always went for lunch at this authentic traditional Korean restaurant with delicious food (specializing in dumplings) and breathtaking views. The restaurant is part of the Michelin Guide called Jaha Son Mandu. Go early for lunch if you want to catch a good table because this place is trendy and crowded fast.
It is also worth noting that this is a traditional restaurant where you must leave your shoes at the door. You can find out more about dining in South Korea here.
One of the cafes with the best views, popular with locals and tourists alike, is Sanmotunggi Coffee.
Amelia Bailey is another beautiful cafe and restaurant with a lovely garden and views.
How to get to Buam-dong
As mentioned, this area is relatively secluded but not impossible to reach. While you won’t have the subway, several buses will take you up the mountain.
Of course, you might need to walk a little, but that will be good exercise after all that delicious food.
From Seoul Station, take the number 7022 bus. This bus also stops at Lotte World Plaza in Myeongdong.
From Gyeongbukgung – take bus 1020.
Seongsu-dong
Another neighborhood less explored by tourists, Seongsu is considered by locals one of the most photogenic areas of Seoul.
What was once an industrial area packed with factories and leather manufacturers has now been gentrified and transformed into a cool area to explore.
People come here to take pictures with the murals at every step and to enjoy a coffee at one of the many hip cafes nearby.
Come here to shop for handmade leather shoes or other goods, as well as Seongsu Cafe Street.
One of my favorite cafes, Onion, also has a branch in Seongsu, and I suggest you visit it. It is located at 8 Achasan-ro, 9-gil, Seongdong-gu.
Also, don’t miss a walk through the coolest clothing store in town – Ader. It is a Korean brand with a unique interior design. You might have to wait in line to get in, but it will be worth it.
Cosmetics lovers should not skip the Amore Seongsu Concept Store—a building packed with some of the most popular cosmetic brands. You can try the products, do your hair and makeup, and come home with sample gifts. It is also one of the best places to buy skincare in Seoul.
How to get to Seongsu-dong
Getting there is much easier than at the previous stop on this list because Seongsu is set on the green subway line. Get off at Seongsu Station and allow yourself to get lost on the streets.
Eunpyeong Hanok Village (은평한옥마을)
Forget about the Bukchon Hanok Village (or don’t and come here too) and head to the new and picturesque Eunpyeong Hanok Village.
With the mountains in the background, tens of traditional hanok houses await tourists to admire them. As expected, these places are inhabited, so please pay attention and not be too noisy.
The ambiance you will discover here is much different than the one in its centrally located “brother,” but that’s what I loved about it.
Read also: Choose the best Hanok Stay in Seoul
Set in the middle of a lush green area, you won’t miss the fancy Korean restaurants or cafes with a view.
The village was founded in late 2014 when houses were built from scratch to increase the region’s tourist potential.
If you cannot go to Gyeongju and admire the impressive royal tombs, get lost on the hill behind the hanok houses, and you will discover a small shrine with a few tombs.
One of the most popular cafes offering the most stunning views, but also a fancy restaurant on one of its floors is 1인1상. We were lucky to find a table by the window, and you might as well when you come in early.
How to get there
Once again, this place is a bit further away from the city center than you might expect. However, you can easily get there by subway and bus.
From Seoul Station, a direct bus will take you straight in front of the Eunpyeong Hanok Village. Bus 701 will take you there in roughly 45 minutes.
Seonyudo Island Park
It is a beautiful park in the western part of the city, set on a small island in the middle of the Han River. The place is worth visiting because of its charming colors, especially during spring, summer, or fall.
The place is not big, but once the blooms start, you will find it hard to leave without taking millions of pictures. In the middle, there’s a small bamboo corner; from its edges, you can admire the river and city views.
Tucked away close to one of the entrances, you will find a small greenhouse, a piano, and a few friendly cats.
During our walk, a lady played the piano, the wind blew gently, and the cats played between the colorful tulips.
How to get to Seonyudo Island Park
Getting to the island is accessible no matter which side of the Han River you are coming from.
From Seoul Station, take the subway for eight stops to Seonyudo Station. Take line 1 for three stops, change to line 9 at Noryangjin, and ride for another five short stops.
Ihwa Mural Village (이화동벽화마을)
Ihwa Mural Village was once a popular tourist destination, similar to the Gamcheon Village in Busan. However, the area lost some attraction and importance while living in Seoul, mainly because of the lack of tourists.
The village is slightly off the beaten path, only one stop from Dongdaemun, in the Jogno-gu.
Ihwa is a colorful corner of Seoul where you will find many pretty cafes and K-drama shooting locations. I am not a K-drama fan, but missing the most important spots is difficult since they are marked for tourists.
Once again, as mentioned for other spots on this list, you should respect the residents’ peace and privacy. Never forget that this is a neighborhood where people live their daily lives.
You will see part of the city’s old walls from the top of the hill and admire Namsan Tower and the city skyline.
How to get there
As mentioned, getting to Ihwa Mural Village is not too difficult, especially by subway from Seoul Station.
Take the direct line number 4 and get off at Hyehwa Station. The whole ride will take less than 15 minutes.
Haneul Park
Since we lived in Mapo-gu, Haneul Park was one of my favorite places to walk, ride a bike along the river, or grab a coffee with a view.
Truly off the beaten path, this park is set atop a hill in the western part of the city, close to the Digital Media City subway station. You can climb on foot for 20 minutes to the top, or you can take a small train if you don’t feel like exercising.
From the top of the hill, you will be welcomed by stunning city views – the Han River with its many bridges, World Cup Stadium, Namsan Tower, and even Lotte Tower in the distance.
During spring and fall, various plants draw people in search of beautiful pictures.
Haneul means sky in Korean, so this is the park in the sky.
How to get there
Take the Airport Railroad line from Seoul Station to Digital Media City Station. From there, walk or take line number 6 to World Cup Stadion Station.
Take Exit 1. You must walk a little to the park and, most importantly, to the top of the hill.
Hwarangdae Railroad Park
Even though you might have heard of some of the previous places on this list, I am sure this is a hidden gem yet to be discovered.
The old railroad station has now been transformed into a beautiful park where people come to walk and admire nature, especially during spring and fall.
Inside the station’s building, there’s a museum dedicated to trains in South Korea, and one of the old trains has been transformed into a small library for children.
How to get there
Take subway line 1 to Seokgye from Seoul Station and change to line 6 to Hwarangdae.
If you get all the way here, you shouldn’t miss the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.
The Tombs are set in an idyllic park between hills and forests and have been preserved throughout the years. Even though the area is essential to Korean history, it is still a hidden gem many tourists do not visit.
If you only want to go to the Royal Tombs, you can get off at Seokgye Station.
Also within walking distance is the beautiful cafe street Gongneung-ro. It has colorful murals, a park along the old railroad lines, cafes, and restaurants—everything waiting to be discovered without the crowds of tourists.
Yangju Nari Park
Nari Park is open only during the fall but is every flower lover’s dream destination. Even though it is outside the city, the trip there is worth taking in the countryside to the north of Seoul.
You will discover countless flowers in various colors, with the beautiful mountain as your background.
Of course, the area is very residential, but you will find a few nice cafes with delicious food and great coffee.
How to get there
From Seoul Station, take subway line 1 and go to Yangju Station. From there, take bus number 80 or bus number 77-1 to Haedong Village 해동마을 or Nari Park. You must walk a little until you find the park, but it won’t be too complicated.
Nijimori Studio
This is a new attraction in town, a filming set turned into a theme park. If you haven’t been to Japan or want to return for a few hours, you can do so at the Najimori Studio.
The theme park is set in Dongducheon, some 60 kilometers outside Seoul in its northern part. You can rent a kimono and take pictures in it, enjoy a delicious ramen soup, and take plenty of pictures.
Address: Gyeonggi-do, Dongducheon-si, Cheonbosan-ro, 567-12 KR
Mullae Art Village
Another hidden gem tucked away from the curious eye of regular tourists. A place where old and new collide.
Once a bustling factory, this area saw its workers move away and was taken over by young artists and small ironworks that transformed it into the art village it is today.
Of course, a popular place in Seoul would not be complete without trendy cafes, and you will also find them around this area.
How to get there
Head to Hongik University from Seoul Station and take the green line to Mullae Station. The ride takes roughly 25 minutes and requires one change.
Other useful Travel Resources
Driving in South Korea – a complete guide.
Don’t know where to stay in Seoul? Stay close to Seoul Station, or choose the best hotel in Hongdae, Gangnam, or Myeongdong.
Plan your Seoul Itinerary: 2 days, 3 days, 4 days in Seoul.
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