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 Gangnam & What to Expect
Gangnam is a very easy spot in Seoul to get to, and chances are you're either staying in Gangnam or you're very close nearby. Because Gangnam actually encompasses such a large part of Seoul (all of Seoul south of the Han River), the most central area to head towards is Gangnam Station if you want to do some exploring or walking around.
Gangnam Station is on the green line, Line 2, and is said to be the busiest station in all of Seoul. With a huge underground area filled with shopping and food/coffee booths, in my personal opinion it's one of the stations you might want to avoid around daily rush hours. From Gangnam Station, you can easily make your way to all the major attractions in Gangnam that I've mentioned below if you know how to use the Seoul subway system.
My Favorite Activities in Seoul :
- Full Day DMZ Tour from Seoul - Lotte World Tower at Seoul Sky ​- Afternoon Tea on the Han River
Best Things to Do in Gangnam
1. Lotte Tower & Seoul Sky
​The Lotte Tower is 123 stories high and one of the largest malls in South Korea. Not only can you do all of your shopping here, but you can also grab a bite to eat, and if you're really feeling adventurous, you can head up to Seoul Sky. Here you can enjoy the glass floors (if you're up for it), beautiful views from the observation decks, and even a birds eye view of Seoul. If you really want an adrenaline rush, you can upgrade your tickets to the Sky Bridge, which brings you to the outside of Lotte Tower where you can cross between the two points via a small bridge. Of course you'll have to put some safety harnesses and gear on first. 
2. Gangnam Station
​If you're visiting Gangnam, you're going to want to make a stop at Gangnam Station. If you stay underground, you'll find all kinds of shopping booths in the subway (typically accessories like hair clips, clothes, and phone accessories for pretty cheap) and if you head outside, you'll find yourself in the middle of the main street in Gangnam. Again, you'll be able to find some nice stores for shopping outside, but there's plenty of restaurants too. You might even notice a majority of people walking around with bandages on their face - not to worry though, these are just people who've gotten plastic surgery in Korea's plastic surgery capitol. If you want to find more local restaurants, game houses, and cafés, including the famous photo booth stores - you'll have to head one street back in the alleyway.
3. Coex Mall & Starfield Library
​If you're wanting to visit the iconic Starfield Library, then Coex Mall is the place to go.​ There's honestly so much to do inside the mall that you could spend an entire day here. From shopping to visiting one of the many restaurants or even their "Mega Box" - I of course recommend grabbing a picture at the Starfield Library and the golden Gangnam Statue out front. While you're here you can also cross the street and visit the Bongeunsa Temple, but more on that on #9. 
4. Han River & Sunset Cruise
​Personally, a Han River Cruise is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the views of the city. You get incredible views of the skyline and start to get a grasp of just how big and vast Seoul is. I recommend trying to time your river cruise with the sunset for golden views of the city, and if you're looking for something unique, you'll wanna head to the top floor where they have a special "Seagull Feeding Zone." You can read all my tips on the Han River Cruise here.
5. Afternoon Tea
​One of the more "off the beaten path" things to do in Gangnam is to head out for afternoon tea! I visited Café Treeanon and they had the cutest set up both inside and out. Typically you need to make reservations in advance, but my mom and I visited during a weekday morning and got in with no issues. You can choose which type of tea you want from a whole tea menu, and included in part of your "set" is an entire 3 tier platter with sweet treats to munch on. It's a great stop for anyone looking for something a bit quieter and hidden, and the perfect way to relax away from the crowds in Gangnam.
6. Try a K-Pop Dance Class
​On my last visit to Gangnam, I convinced my husband, Tyler, to do a K-pop dance class with me. Let's just say our dancing skills were not up to par. ​I'll be honest, in the one hour we had I thought we would learn an entire dance routine but once we got there, we quickly realized that a simple dance routine was hard enough. Once we got it down the entire dance set lasted less than five minutes, but it was still an absolute blast and the entire staff spoke English, making it really easy for Tyler and other foreigners to understand.
7. Try a Korean Baseball Game
While you're in Gangnam, I highly recommend adding a Korean Baseball Game to your itinerary. As a foreigner, it can be a little tricky to get tickets, so if you're not confident getting your own you can book a guide that does everything for you. The best seats in my opinion are in the Excitement Zone, or as close as you can get to it. Jamsil Stadium is quite large, and unlike American baseball games, you can bring in all kinds of food and drinks with you to enjoy during the game (but they sell it inside too). 
8. Get a Color Analysis
​One of the most trendy things to do in Gangnam is to get a famous Korean Color Analysis done! I got one done last year and was completely blown away by how detailed and thorough it was. Typically there'll be a higher fee for for English speaking services, and you can also add on makeup services too so they can match you with your perfect color palettes. There's all kinds of places now that offer a Color Analysis service!
9. Visit Bongeunsa Temple
One of the easiest and most popular temples to visit in the Gangnam area is Bongeunsa Temple. Located right across the street from Coex Mall, Bongeunsa is free to visit and you don't need to worry about adhering to a specific dress code. There are certain buildings where you'll need to take off your shoes and be respectful by staying quiet, so make sure to pay attention to any signs posted at the entrance of the buildings. If you want a super memorable experience and happen to be visiting at the beginning of the month, you can even sign up to participate in their Templestay Experience where you can stay overnight and get to spend time with the monks onsite.
10. Walk Yeouido or Olympic Parks
Seoul is a huge city, and throughout Gangnam and other areas they have plenty of parks to walk in and enjoy! Parks are large, free to visit, and have plenty of spaces to rest. Two of the largest parks are Yeouido Park, located along the Han River, and Olympic Park​, located near Jamsil Stadium. I recommend bringing a picnic (or renting one from places like Cafe Awesome Picnic) to enjoy at the park!
11. K Star Road
If you're visiting Gangnam hoping to see some K-Pop stars or memorabilia, then K Star Road is the best place to go. As you walk around, you'll notice the dedicated "Gangnamdols" - life size teddy bear statues each dedicated to a different K-Pop idol or group. You can also see many of the recording studios tucked away in the back neighborhoods! If you start on the north end, you can walk south eventually making it to the Coex Mall where the gold Gangnam hands statue is. 
12. Gotomall Underground Shopping
One of my favorite places to go in Gangnam is the Gotomall Underground Shopping Center (also called Goto Express or Goto Express Bus Terminal). Although it's gotten a bit more expensive throughout the years, it's still a great place to go for cheap shopping, whether that's clothes, home goods, shoes or accessories. 
13. Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain
If you want to enjoy the views of Gangnam at night, I recommend heading to the Banpo Bridge! From April to October they usually have about 6 shows a day with over 200 lights and a show that's synchronized to music. The show itself lasts about 20 minutes, and it's a relaxing way to enjoy the skyline at night.
14. Lotte World
Looking for a fun, adrenaline filled day? Lotte World is the place for you. Located right next to Lotte Tower, I recommend spending at least one full day here. You can ride all the rides, eat all the Lotte shaped foods, and of course enjoy the daily parade. Before you go, I recommend reading up on all my tips to make the most of your Lotte World visit. 
15. Garosu-Gil
If shopping is at the top of your list, then Garosu-Gil is the place to go. They have all kinds of local, trendy boutique stores and brands, and cute cafes. It's the perfect, aesthetically pleasing spot to visit for some of the best shopping. The road itself is famous for being lined with trees, a rarity in Seoul.
Watch my Gangnam Adventures here!
Other Blog Posts you might be interested in :
-> 25 Best Street Foods in Korea -> COEX Mall Complete Guide -> My Color Analysis in Korea
Pin this Gangnam Guide for Later!
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Annyeong👋🏼I'm Deborah! A Korean-American that's visited South Korea over 15 times and grew up spending my summers there. I've created this blog to share first hand advice, tips, cultural differences and hidden gems to help make your trip to Korea the best it can be! This entire blog is human powered and based on real experiences, meaning no AI, ever. If you would like to support please consider buying me a coffee. :) 
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