On my recent trip to Seoul I couldn’t help but notice the number of cafes I had saved so I thought of sharing some areas I recommend visiting (that just so happen to have amazing coffee and treats along the way!).

1. Bukchon Hanok Village & Gyeongbokgung Palace

Start your morning off by wandering the peaceful alleys of Bukchon Hanok Village, lined with traditional Hanok homes. At the end of the road you can stop at Chatteul, a traditional teahouse overlooking the city. This is a great pit stop before heading to Gyeongbokgung Palace (a former royal palace established in 1395), just a short walk away. On your way to the palace make sure to check out the many art galleries lining the streets where many local artists work in-house (you might even get to say hi!).

2. Itaewon 

Another must-visit area is Itaewon, full of boutique shops and cafes tucked away in hidden alleys. This area is also home to one of my favorite museums from the trip: Leeum Museum of Art. I would recommend grabbing a coffee at Anthracite where you can hopefully spot some of the cutest pups as well!

3. Seongsu-dong 

Lastly, an area packed with sweet breads, coffee shops, and even a croissant museum: Seongsu-dong. Cafe Onion (no specific focus on onions so not sure about that name choice) was one of my favorites as it has several seating areas inside and out so you can take a break and soak up some sun. I would of course recommend checking out Nudake for the novel croissants and desserts they craft, as well as browsing the many unique shops in this area as they themselves feel like art installations.

Even though I only highlighted three areas to visit, Seoul is a huge city with so much to discover! I would highly recommend booking your trip in May as the weather is perfect for roaming around and you should be able to catch some of the cherry blossoms still in bloom:)

Tip: Don’t forget to check museum and palace hours before you go, and leave time to wander as the entire city is very walkable and full of unique pockets to explore. Also make sure to download Kakao Map as Google Map will only show driving options in Seoul.