My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to South Korea. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates to South Korea. Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you! I always use AGODA's easy-to-use platform for hotels in Asia. To keep cell phone service, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required) - make sure to have NordVPN ready too while you surf random wifi connections. For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country. Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.
Getting to COEX Mall & What to Expect
Coex Mall is very easy to get to on public transportation, especially since it's directly connected to the subway station. Just get on the Green Line 2, and get off at Samseong Station. You can also get there via the Gold Line 9 by getting off at Bongeunsa Station. If you're not sure how, here's a step-by-step guide to using the Subway in Seoul.
You can also get to the Coex Mall by taking a bus, however this can be a bit more confusing since there are more options, or any public car service like KakaoT or Uber. If you want to take the bus, you can find all buses that stop at Coex here.
My Favorite Activities in Seoul :
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul - Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky - Afternoon Tea on the Han River
10 Best Things to Do at COEX
1. SeaLife Aquarium COEX
The aquarium inside Coex Mall was recently completely remodeled. Although I'm not the biggest fan of aquariums and zoos, it's definitely a fun stop for families with young kids. They have all kinds of exhibits, and even a fun interactive treasure hunt for kids. You'll have to check their current schedule, but during different days of the week they have mermaid shows, magic shows, and various animal feedings.
2. Starfield Library
This famous Instagram attraction is what originally drew crowds to Coex. Although it's really not much more than an actual running library, there's plenty of photo opportunities inside if you don't mind the crowds. During various times of year they'll also have different kinds of popups and seasonal photo areas. 
3. Mega Box
A "Mega Box" is Korea's word for a cinema, and you can often find them in malls. The theater itself might be pretty basic, but at the entrance you can find a large set of steps open for people to sit and enjoy, and a large screen showing short films & commercials. You can also grab some popcorn and enjoy the large arcade at the bottom! If you're looking for a more unique movie theater in Seoul, I recommend the bean bag movie theater!
4. Shopping
This is no surprise, but there's plenty of shopping to do at Coex Mall. You can find global brands like Hoka and Adidas, or Korean based brands like Kakao Friends and Style Nanda. I enjoy browsing the smaller Korean boutique stores as they're typically a bit cheaper than globally famous brands.
5. Grab a Bite to Eat
Along with plenty of shopping, there's plenty of eating to do too! You can find restaurants sprinkled throughout the mall, but right now, my personal favorite spot is Tomodachi, a Japanese restaurant specializing in Pork Cutlets and rainbow soba noodles! They're delicious, and not as "busy" as other restaurants.
6. Visit the Gangnam Style Statue
The evolution of K-Pop was catapulted forward in 2012 with the release of Psy's "Gangnam Style." Not only was it played around the world, but K-Pop became a common music genre in households everywhere. Right outside of the main Coex Mall entrance you can find a gigantic gold statue of the famous dance move in that song - they also have the song playing on loop in case you need a reminder!
7. Head to Bongeunsa Temple
Out the other side of Coex Mall and across the street you'll find the Bongeunsa Temple - a local Buddhist temple open to visitors and tourists. Unlike other temples in Southeast Asia you don't need to worry about a specific dress code, and there's no entry fee to visit. If you're interested in learning more about Buddhist culture or what life is like for local monks, you can sign up for a templestay experience or watch our my experience here! 
8. Get Your Korean Beauty Fix
There are plenty of stores in the Coex Mall where you can get your K-Beauty fix, but my personal favorite store is Olive Young. You can find these on almost every corner in Korea, and they even have an app so you can re-order from the U.S. You can think of Olive Young as the Korean version of Sephora or Ulta, and their staff is incredibly knowledgable to help you find what you're looking for. Photo from my color analysis with Onlee Color. 9. Relax & Unwind If you're looking for something a bit more immersive (compared to shopping) then stop by the Spa Imbellis. They have all kinds of options from facials to scalp care to full body and skin lifting treatments. If you're wanting to experience K-Beauty at it's finest, then this is one spot at Coex you won't want to miss.
10. Spend the Night
If you're exploring Coex Mall and decide you need some more time to do everything on this list, then I recommend finding a room at one of the nearby hotels! There are two that are connected to the Coex Mall - the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas and the Oakwood Premier Coex Center Seoul - both of these are excellent options! If you want something more unique, I recommend looking into the Templestay option I mentioned above! (Don't worry, the hotels will have western beds and not traditional bedding that's shown above.)
Watch my Bongeunsa Templestay here!
Other Blog Posts you might be interested in :
-> 25 Best Street Foods in Korea -> Complete Guide to Lotte World -> My Color Analysis in Korea
Pin this Coex Guide for Later!
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