Itaewon is one of the most popular places in Seoul together with Hongdae, Gangnam, Myeongdong, and Insadong (as we have discussed in our blog series called Districts of Seoul.)
The neighborhood is a tourist-heavy area because of its foreign-friendly culture and vibrant nightlife experience. Many foreigners live here and get to enjoy its perks, such as having access to international cuisines, different cultural events, and more!
While some famous activities involve partying, drinking, and eating out, there are plenty of museums, parks, and the Han Riverside that you can visit around Yongsan District.
Let’s have a look at Itaewon and Yongsan District’s charm.
SEOUL TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
DISCOVER SEOUL PASS
Avail the Discover Seoul Pass to get access to hundreds of attractions and discounts! This will make your trip more convenient—fast and hassle free. You can also use it as a T-money card for transportation. Don’t forget to download the Seoul Pass app to monitor your promo.
T-MONEY CARD (for transportation)
T-money is a smart card device that enables you to pay transportation fares in and around Seoul and other nearby areas. You can also use this as a credit card or substitute for cash transactions in convenience stores and shops. Download the T-balance Check app to monitor your card balance.
SIM CARD AND PUBLIC WI-FI
Buy an international sim card before you arrive in Seoul. You can avail data caps depending on your usage to stay connected. In case you need a backup, Seoul’s public wi-fi is always available and fast, too!
TRAVEL APPS
Download some navigation apps such as Kakao Map and Naver Map to get accurate directions and traffic updates. For offline use, you may opt to use the Korea Tour Map app.
Contents
About Yongsan District and Itaewon
Yongsan District is located south of Jung-gu and Jongno-gu (culture center of Seoul.) It is an ideal neighborhood to have an in-depth cultural experience by visiting museums right after exploring the magnificent palaces. Also, Itaewon is part of the district which drives tourists in the area.
Itaewon Korea: How to get around
Aside from its attractions, it is perfect for first-time visitors since it is very accessible. You have a variety of public transportation to choose from, like bus, taxi, subway, and even the AREX that will take you to and from the Incheon Airport and Gimpo Airport in a matter of minutes.
This is another reason travelers opt to book hotels and accommodation within the area.
Yongsan Station: Hangang-daero 23-gil, Hangangno 3(sam)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Yongsan District Bus Routes: 751, 752, 504, 750B and 5012 or metro line 1
Itaewon Subway Station: Line 6 of Seoul Subway
Itaewon Bus Routes: 110A, 110 B, 421
READ MORE: Where to Stay in Seoul? 5 Best Neighborhoods for First-time Visitors
Things to do and Key Attractions around Itaewon in Seoul
You will find many museums around Itaewon, including the National Museum of Korea, among others. As mentioned above, Itaewon is great for partying and eating out, but it is also near some iconic landmarks in Seoul. With this, you don’t have to worry about running out of ideas to include in your itinerary.
National Museum of Korea
With a vast collection of over 200,000 artifacts, this museum is worth a visit. It has every piece of information that you will need to further understand Korea— which leads to a higher level of appreciation for the country.
Location: 137, Seobinggo-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Yongsan Family Park
Yongsan Family Park used to be a golfing area of the Yongsan Garrison— the military headquarters of the US. Now, it is a green open space for leisure activities. The park is near the National Museums of Korea, so it would be a nice side-trip if you enjoy walking.
Location: 185 Seobinggo-ro, Yongsandong 6(yuk)-ga, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
War Memorial of Korea
This museum houses items related to the Korean War and serves as an education facility for locals and foreigners. It is a place to commemorate the sacrifices of the patriotic martyrs.
Location: 29, Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
READ MORE: 9 Must-visit Museums in Seoul, South Korea
Namsan Tower
The N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower) is located outside Itaewon but remains as a key landmark in Yongsan District. You can see the sight of the tower around Itaewon and is often a background and symbol of the area. Here, you can enjoy a 360 panoramic view of the city while eating at a fine-dine restaurant.
Location: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art features traditional and contemporary artworks of the late founder of Samsung. Today, it is managed by the Samsung Foundation of Culture.
Location: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Hannam 2-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Itaewon Neighborhood
Next on our list is the highlight of this post: the Itaewon Neighborhood. In Itaewon, you will find a special tourist zone and every nook, full of bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels, and even international brands for shopping. Here are some things you can enjoy in the area:
- Experience the pride of Itaewon (Itaewon Global Village Center)
- Enjoy an LGBTQ safe environment
- Eat different cuisines (Western, Asian, Mediterranean, etc.)
- Nightlife
Ichon Han River Side Park
Last, is a place for relaxation. Yongsan District boasts one of the 11 Hanggang Parks in Seoul called Inchon Han River Side Park. Here, you can enjoy recreational sports and the great view of the Han River as this is less crowded and peaceful compared to other Hanggang Parks.
Final thoughts about Itaewon and Yongsan District
Itaewon is a lively neighborhood near Seoul. Just like the other districts, it is equally worth a visit, especially to celebrate diversity in South Korea.
Would you like to visit Itaewon?
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Can’t wait to get out to Seoul! Thank you for sharing the apps to download, it will help so much when I get out there to visit. The Discover Seoul Pass looks like a great option too!
Itaewon sounds and looks like a great neighbourhood in Seoul.
What a great list of ideas. I don’t know Korea very well, so it’s really fun to read about!
Awesome list of activities! I bet the view from Namsan Tower is spectacular! The National Museum of Korea sounds fascinating too, what a great place to learn more about the history of the country! Thanks for the great guide!
It looks like there are a lot of fun and interesting things to do here! Thanks for the great tips.
I haven’t been to South Korea but these all sound like things I’d like to do. I’m always a big fan of museums and history as well as finding some nice parks in a new place I visit
South Korea is fascinating to me, I feel like the culture has spread globally lately. I’d really like to visit post-pandemic.
I hope I will visit this place! It looks amazing!
So I’ve been making plans to move to South Korea to teach English within the next year, and I’ve heard so much about Itaewon during my research! I knew it was a super touristy area, but I didn’t know that it was located so near important historical memorials & museums. That’s definitely something I will need to check off my list when I go. Thank you for sharing this! xx
You’re welcome! I wish you good luck in pursuing your ESL career in South Korea 🙂
Thanks for the helpful list! Namsan Tower looks like an interesting stop when visiting Seoul… will have to check it out when I visit!
I have always been torn between South Korea! As its looks beautiful but then I’ve heard some different experiences. This post has really made me want to go 💖
I hope you get to visit someday, Charlotte! 🙂
Great post. I love museums, exiting it made me beyond inspired and connected. Adding it to my list. Thank for sharing.
Seoul sounds like an incredible place to visit! great post!
This looks like such a fascinating country, I hope to visit one day… and visit so many of these great places you highlighted, like Namsan Tower & the park outside.