Some Seoul searching: Paris, New York, Chicago have their charm but Seoul has my heart

Whenever I’ve heard people plan vacations, Seoul, South Korea has never been part of the conversation. Maybe because of the language barrier or simply because it’s so underrated, but Pakistanis in general don’t consider Seoul a place to vacation in.

This is why when I found out I’d be going to Seoul for a journalism conference, I was a little cautious. I did not know what to expect and since I didn’t anyone who had been there, I wasn’t sure how much I’d like it.

However, after spending eight days in the city, Seoul easily tops my favourite cities. Paris, New York, Chicago have their charm but Seoul has my heart.

If you’re planning a ‘non-mainstream’ vacation, let me put forth the case for going to Seoul.

Since I am not a fan of big cities, I found Seoul to be the perfect mix of city life and nature. Looking out of my hotel room, I could see mountains on one side and skyscrapers on the other.

In one instance, looking for some quiet time, I went to read a book near the Cheonggyecheon stream. A few hours later, craving some street food and the hustle bustle of a city, I walked along the narrow and busy streets of Myeongdong, carrying food and looking at neon lights.



Getting around

I’m not going to lie, getting around in Seoul is difficult because of the language barrier. Taxi drivers don’t speak English and Google Maps doesn’t work. The bus and subway system can seem a little daunting but if you figure it out, it’s the best and cheapest mode of travel (besides walking of course). I preferred walking because that’s one thing I can’t do in Karachi and you get to see a lot more of the city that way. However, you still need to know how the transport system works for places that are far away.



If you’re travelling with friends, taxis can be cheaper. I got too used to taxis in my first four days because I was with a few people and carpooling would just be more convenient. When I was alone, I was too reliant and too overwhelmed to learn how the subway system worked.

KakaoMap and NaverMap are Seoul specific applications that you can use since Google Maps doesn’t work. The subway is great for traveling back and forth from the airport too and once you figure it out, it is the best way to get around the city.

One of my favourite things about Seoul was that even though it’s a fast-paced city, people are more than willing to stop and answer your queries and questions. Also just an advice, if you have any queries or wanting directions, ask a young person as they’re more likely to speak English. And even if they don’t, they’ll use a translation app to communicate.

Historic places

Seoul has a lot of historic places to explore and because I am someone who prefers sightseeing over shopping, this was perfect for me. Due to its rich history, there are temples, old gates and palaces to admire. The best part about Seoul was that I could just walk around and find an old temple or palace I would want to explore.







There are five grand palaces in Seoul with Gyeongbokgung Palace being the biggest and most popular of them. Stepping into the grounds, it almost felt like I was transported to another century. Another fun activity for history and architecture lovers is to walk the streets of Bukchon Hanok Village, which is one of the only preserved traditional Korean villages. Set between two palaces, the village has a lot of alleys which are made for an Instagram-worthy stroll.









The 360 degree view of the city

It’s always amazing to see 360 degree views of a metropolitan city from a high point. New York has the Empire State Building, Paris has the Eiffel Tower and Seoul has the Namsan Tower and Lotte Building, both of which allow you to see beautiful views of the city. I decided to do something a little off the beaten path and signed up for a mountain hike. As I mentioned before, Seoul has fun things to do for nature lovers and the mountain hike (while a little tough for someone like me who is hardly used to walking) was easily one of the best parts of my tour.

I signed up through AirBnb experiences, where the host offered a mountain hike and local food as part of the package. He took a group of eight strangers up Mount Ahn and the hike was totally worth it. I got to see the city during both sunset and at night time, and I was awestruck. There were no tourists around and I’m sure it was a relatively better experience than just going up a lift on a tower.





Demilitarised Zone (DMZ)

Visiting the DMZ is probably the closest to North Korea one can get (at the moment). It is also one of the best ways to take in the history of South Korea. Whether or not you’re interested in history, the tour guide will ignite that interest in you by telling you about details of the country you didn’t know. The fascinating places that you visit there, including going inside a tunnel that was dug by North Korea years ago will also prove to be rather exciting.





I also got to see a North Korean village from the distance, probably the closest I’ll get, so the International Relations nerd in me was definitely excited about this part of my trip.

Shopping

I did not do any shopping (barring souvenirs and K-beauty facial masks) but either way Myeongdong is the place to go. The place is always bustling with people, mainly tourists, and has rows and rows of shops whether you’re looking for clothes, make up or souvenirs. With the entire buzz surrounding Korean beauty masks, this is the best place to buy some. There’s also a food street that runs through the middle so no better place to sample Korean street food (oreo churros were my personal favourite!) because you’re sure to build up an appetite while shopping.



World Cup Stadium

South Koreans love football and if you like football, it’s always wise to check if there’s a football match happening during the time you’re visiting (I missed Uruguay versus South Korea because I didn’t check beforehand). Even if there’s no football match, it’s pretty cool to take a tour of the World Cup stadium (only costs Won 2000), in which you get to go to the dressing rooms and visit the field where major matches have taken place.



I only had four days to sightsee properly and there were a lot of places I missed out on, which definitely warrants another trip. It’s a huge city with a lot of little spots to explore, with something for everyone. So next time you’re planning a vacation somewhere not too mainstream, consider Seoul. You might get a couple of weird looks if you first mention it but it could easily be one of the best cities you visit!

All photos: Rahima Sohail