26 of the best · Seoul, South Korea
The National Museum of Korea, the Leeum, the MMCA beside the palace, the galleries of Samcheong-ro, the Seoul Arts Center and the Lotus Lantern Festival.
Our 26 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three Seoul moments we keep going back to: Gyeongbokgung at opening time, a bowl of naengmyeon at Woo Lae Oak, and the city wall over Naksan at dusk.
The national collection
The national collection in a vast building in Yongsan: celadon, Buddhist sculpture, gold crowns and the Korean galleries.
Old Korea and new art
Korean antiquities and contemporary art in buildings by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, on the hill of Hannam.
Modern art by the palace
The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, beside Gyeongbokgung.
Celadon, ink and the galleries of Samcheong-ro.
The back story
The national collections in Yongsan, the Leeum on the hill of Hannam, the MMCA beside the palace, the galleries of Samcheong-ro and the stages of the Seoul Arts Center: a city that has made itself an art capital.
Visual arts
The national collections, from celadon and gold crowns to the art of today.
In a Chipperfield building
The art museum in the Amorepacific headquarters in Yongsan.
Old Korea and new art
Korean antiquities and contemporary art in buildings by Mario Botta, Jean Nouvel and Rem Koolhaas, on the hill of Hannam.
Modern art by the palace
The Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, beside Gyeongbokgung.
Everyday life in Korea
The museum of Korean daily life and custom, in the grounds of Gyeongbokgung.
The Korean alphabet
The museum of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, beside the National Museum.
The national collection
The national collection in a vast building in Yongsan: celadon, Buddhist sculpture, gold crowns and the Korean galleries.
The court of Joseon
The treasures of the Joseon court, in the grounds of Gyeongbokgung.
By Deoksugung
The city’s art museum, in a historic building beside Deoksugung.
The story of the city
The story of Seoul from Hanyang to today, beside Gyeonghuigung.
The contemporary galleries of Samcheong-ro and Cheongdam.
A pioneer of Korean modern art
A gallery on Samcheong-ro that has championed Korean modern and contemporary art.
On Samcheong-ro
One of Seoul’s leading contemporary galleries, on Samcheong-ro by the palace.
Palaces, a royal shrine and Zaha Hadid’s curve beside the old east gate.
UNESCO, 1997
The palace that follows the hills, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its rear garden of ponds and pavilions, seen on guided tours.
A curve of silver
Zaha Hadid’s silver curve beside the old east gate: exhibitions, design shops and an LED rose garden.
The great palace of Joseon
The principal palace of the Joseon dynasty, below Bugaksan: the throne hall, the lotus-pond pavilion of Gyeonghoeru and the gate at Gwanghwamun.
UNESCO, 1995
The royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon dynasty: inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.
Performing arts
Opera and concerts in the great halls.
Opera, concerts and exhibitions
The great arts complex below Umyeonsan: opera house, concert hall and galleries.
The national theatre on Namsan and the stages of Gwanghwamun and Magok.
On Namsan
The national theatre on the slope of Namsan: changgeuk, dance and traditional music.
On Gwanghwamun Square
The city’s performing-arts centre on Gwanghwamun Square.
Folk & cultural traditions
Hanbok, hanji paper and the silks of Gwangjang.
Silks and street food
The covered market of fabrics, hanbok silk and food stalls by Jongno 5-ga.
Dressed for the palace
Traditional dress worn for a palace visit: a Seoul custom with rules of its own at the palace gates.
Galleries, tea and paper
The old street of antique dealers, galleries, tea houses and hanji paper shops, between Anguk and Jonggak.
Lanterns for the Buddha’s Birthday.
Lanterns in the old city
The head temple of the Jogye Order, in the old city near Insadong, hung with lanterns before the Buddha’s Birthday.
UNESCO intangible heritage
The lantern parade before the Buddha’s Birthday, along Jongno, inscribed by UNESCO as intangible heritage.
