Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
For Free
There's no need to shell out wads of won to have an enjoy-
able time in Seoul. In fact, many of the best things you can
do - from hiking around the city's ancient Fortress Walls to
enjoying the pageant of the changing of the guard at the
palaces - cost nothing at all.
Go for a Hike
Join the legions of locals who, dressed in colourful gear and big sun visors, take full ad-
vantage of Seoul's mountainous topography, hiking up the hills with steely vigour. All four
of the city's guardian mountains - Bukaksan, Naksan, Namsan and Inwangsan - have hik-
ing routes, and less than an hour north of the centre there's Bukhansan National Park, eas-
ily accessible by subway. For the really ambitious (and fit), there's the route that shadows
the remains of Seoul's Fortress Walls - the views from atop the mountains make the effort
well worthwhile. The 18.7km circuit takes around 12 hours all up, but the hike is far better
appreciated when broken up and done in manageable chunks.
Riverside Diversions
The city government has spent enormous sums to create pleasant waterside parks both
along the Han River and in central Seoul, where the long-buried-over Cheong-gye-cheon
now sparkles in the light of day. Seoul Forest is another major reforestation project, as is
the creation of a beautiful landscaped park from an old water-filtration plant on the Han
River island of Seonyudo.
Architectural Treasures
Admission to most royal palaces is not costly and usually includes free guided tours. Addi-
tionally, it costs nothing to enjoy the changing of the guard ceremonies at Gyeongbokgung,
