Is Seoul Worth Visiting? Our Honest Review 2026

Short answer: yes — and it surprised us more than almost anywhere else on this trip.

We spent five days in Seoul, joined for most of it by Zé's parents — our first stop in South Korea after Taiwan. We went in with the usual assumptions about K-pop and skincare and came out talking mostly about how the country rebuilt itself, and about the food. We'll say it now and let it sit: the Hanwoo beef in Korea beats wagyu and Kobe beef for us — and we say that as two people who consider Japan our favourite food country in the world.

Here's our honest take on whether Seoul is worth your time.

First Things First — What Is Seoul Actually Like?

Seoul is a city that's simultaneously hyper-modern and deeply traditional, and it wears both without contradiction. You'll walk from a centuries-old palace straight into a design district that looks like it's from 2090, and neither feels out of place.

What struck us most wasn't the skyline or the technology — it was the people. Korea went through a brutal war in living memory, and what they've rebuilt since is genuinely staggering: organised, advanced, and still full of life and humour. And they're obsessed with food and eating out in a way that matched our own energy completely. If you're the kind of traveller who plans a day around where you're going to eat, Seoul will feel like home.

Why Seoul Is Worth Visiting

1. The Food Will Genuinely Surprise You

We didn't expect Korean food to hit us the way it did. It's exactly the kind of food we love — bold, balanced, ingredient-forward — and Seoul takes eating out as seriously as any city we've been to.

The single best meal of our time there was Solbam, a Michelin-starred tasting menu in Gangnam. Fine dining isn't usually our thing — we don't love spending that much on a single meal — but we'd gone the entire trip without one proper splurge, and this was worth every won. Every dish was balanced and genuinely delicious: you could taste each ingredient distinctly, nothing was over-sauced or hiding behind technique, and the portions were sized exactly right — never a course that felt like padding.

Then there's Gwangjang Market, which might be the best single food experience of the whole trip — raw octopus and beef tartare, green bean pancakes, gimbap, and rice dough donuts that we went back for seconds on before catching the subway home.

A few honest food notes: we went in expecting Korean fried chicken to be a bigger deal than it turned out to be for us — either we didn't find the right spot, or it's simply overhyped internationally. On the other hand, Korean beef is criminally underrated outside Korea. We'd put it above Japanese wagyu and Kobe beef, and we don't say that lightly given how much we love Japan's food scene. Full breakdown in our best restaurants in Seoul guide.

2. Every Neighbourhood Has Its Own Identity

Myeongdong, where we based ourselves, is street food and shopping at full volume — egg tarts, fish cakes, hotteok, grilled scallops, all eaten standing up between stores. See our guide to where to stay in Seoul for why we picked it.

Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village give you the traditional side — go for the Changing of the Guard ceremony in the morning, rent a hanbok for free palace entry, then wander the hillside alleys of centuries-old houses in Bukchon.

Seongsu is the complete opposite — converted warehouse cafés, concept stores, and independent Korean brands. It's been called the "Soho of Seoul" and the comparison holds up.

Insadong is the cultural and craft district — galleries, tea houses, traditional shops — and a good slow-down point after a morning of palaces.

3. It's Effortless to Get Around — and Effortless While Pregnant, Too

Get a T-Money card at the airport and it works on the metro, buses, and even some convenience stores. We'd call Seoul's subway the best we used anywhere in Asia.

Maria was 27 weeks pregnant for this leg of the trip, and Seoul made it easy. Most Korean food is cooked rather than raw, so there was very little to think twice about, and the city itself — clean, organised, easy to navigate — never once felt like a strain.

4. The DMZ Is Something Every Visitor Should See

We did a full-day DMZ tour and it's not a normal "sightseeing" experience — it's a humbling one. Standing there, you feel the weight of what happened to Korea: the isolation people in North Korea are subjected to, a state most of them have no real information about, no way of knowing there's a different world out there. It's not a comfortable feeling, and it shouldn't be. We think it's one of the most important things you can do in Seoul, even though — or especially because — it's not "fun."

Quick Seoul Facts

Who Should Visit Seoul?

Seoul is worth visiting if you:

• Love food and want to be genuinely surprised by a cuisine you thought you already knew
• Want a city that's easy to navigate, safe, and comfortable — including while pregnant
• Are interested in modern history — the DMZ is a rare, sobering thing to witness firsthand
• Like a mix of traditional (palaces, hanoks) and hyper-modern (Seongsu, Gangnam) in the same trip

Seoul might not be for you if:

• You're not interested in food as a core part of travel — you'll miss the best of it
• You want a slow, quiet trip — Seoul rewards a fairly packed itinerary

Our Verdict

Is Seoul worth visiting? Completely — and it's the food and the people that will stay with you longest, not the skyline.

We went in with the usual assumptions and came out talking about a country that rebuilt itself from a devastating war into somewhere organised, thriving, and still deeply human. Plan for at least four to five days, book a table somewhere that feels like a proper splurge, and don't skip the DMZ.

FAQ

Is Seoul safe for tourists?

Yes — Seoul felt completely safe throughout, including for Maria at 27 weeks pregnant.

How many days do you need in Seoul?

We'd say a minimum of 4–5 days.

Is Korean food really better than Japanese food?

We still love Japan as our favourite food country overall — but dish for dish, we'd rate Korean beef above Japanese wagyu and Kobe beef. It's a genuinely underrated cuisine internationally.

Is the DMZ tour worth doing?

Yes, and we'd call it essential rather than optional.

What's the best area to stay in Seoul?

We stayed in Myeongdong and would recommend it for first-timers — central, walkable, and close to the palaces. See our full where to stay in Seoul guide.

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