Featured Destination: Seoul, South Korea
The capital city of South Korea is a hive of both pop culture and tradition. Modern glass skyscrapers sit beside ancient dynastic palaces and the aromas of traditional cuisine waft out from a seemingly limitless selection of cafes and restaurants that combine with searing neon lights and the sound of karaoke rooms to establish the city as a major hub of Asian pop culture. With over 20 million people crammed into an area smaller than Luxembourg, it is one of the most densely populated places on Earth, with all the sights, sounds and smells that accompany this city of rapid change and development. With the 2018 Winter Olympics approaching, it is perhaps a good time to experience all the offerings of Seoul before the crowds take over!
Getting There
Seoul can be reached easily through Incheon International Airport, with most international flights having some form of route to Korea. From the airport, there is a plethora of transport options to reach the main city. The Airport Railroad Express (AREX) runs direct to the main Seoul Station, however there are also a variety of airport buses that make it easy to reach specific hotels or attractions throughout the city. If you’re feeling particularly flash, you can also consider the limousine buses, whose seats are touted as being very comfortable after a long-haul flight.

Things to Do
Like most modern cities, Seoul has a huge amount to offer to any visitor. At the top of most tourist agendas are the collection of around half-a-dozen late-14th century palaces that surround the city centre. These include the palaces of Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung together with the ancestral shrine of Jongmyo. Situated in the middle of the palaces is the Insadong district, perhaps the most popular part of the city with tourists. It is a network of tight streets littered with traditional restaurants, small tearooms, galleries and trinket shops that make for a great day of exploring. If you’d prefer to avoid some of the more major tourist crowds, the areas Samcheongdong and Bukchon Hanok Village offer similar delights with fewer tourists wandering about. To satisfy your culinary itch, you can check out the enormous markets of Dangdaemun and Namdaemun, where you can find fascinating culinary fusions of both the new and old Korea. For history buffs, Seoul also hosts the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial of Korea, reflections of both the ancient and modern history of the peninsula. For those who want the perfect photo opportunity, it is worth taking a trip to the iconic N Seoul Tower. Situated atop the city’s garden mountain Namsan, the tower offers panoramic views at a height of 236m from its observation deck. To finish off your trip, you can do a bit of shopping in the Myeongdong area, a dense network of streets offering a wide range of shops and eateries. More fashion conscious visitors may also want to check out Apgujeong, one of the main shopping districts for the city’s elite, located at the entry of the Gangnam district.

Hulah Tip
While Seoul is generally a safe city, traffic should be treated with caution. Drivers are known to be impatient and many run red lights, so try not to be the last person crossing the street. Also be aware of motorcyclists who routinely speed along pavements and pedestrian crossings.
