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After you鈥檝e taken in the ultra-modern landmarks of central Seoul, make like a local and head to one of the city鈥檚 vibrant neighborhoods to unwind.

Away from the bustle of business and tourists, these districts in the South Korean capital brim with lovely cafes, delicious restaurants and off-the-beaten-path historic sites. In these smaller slices of a huge city, you can expect to make a deeper connection with Seoul and Seoulites.

Whether exploring small alleyways in Bukchon or dog-spotting in Yeonnam-dong, you鈥檙e certain to love the following areas. Here are the best neighborhoods in Seoul.

Soak up the historic Korean atmosphere in Bukchon Hanok Village

Nestled between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village is a popular tourist destination that鈥檚 fully worth the hype. Once you鈥檙e strolling along the streets filled with hanok (traditional Korean houses) 鈥 a budget-friendly activity in a pricey city 鈥 it doesn鈥檛 take long to realize why Seoulites recommend this place so ardently, and why it continues to charm all who visit.

The authorities say that the more than 900 hanok homes here offer the best representation of Seoul鈥檚 600-year-old urban history. While the buildings are almost entirely reconstructed or full-on replicas, you will feel like you鈥檙e in another time when you wander this area. In recent years, that atmosphere has been accentuated by the popularity of borrowing hanbok (traditional Korean gowns) for photo walks.

Visit during the week to avoid the crowds. Start by grabbing a map of the neighborhood from Bukchon Traditional Culture Center, which pinpoints great photo-taking spots. Then, wander down quiet alleyways filled with small cafes and tea shops that don鈥檛 make it into the guidebooks or travel blogs, venturing away from large groups and into Korea鈥檚 past.

People relax in Gyeongui Line Forest Park on a sunny day, Yeonnam-dong, Seoul, South Korea
Pets and their humans love congregating in Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a highlight of the Yeonnam-dong neighborhood 漏 Keitma / Shutterstock

If you like dogs, you鈥檒l love Yeonnam-dong

An estimated six million households in South Korea have dogs, and one of the top places to see them living their best lives is in Yeonnam-dong, a neighborhood northwest of Hongdae that鈥檚 full of dog-friendly spaces.

Start your dog-spotting journey at Gyeongui Line Forest Park. This green space was built on top of railroad tracks that once extended to North Korea; today, it鈥檚 popular with both the two- and four-legged residents of the neighborhood. In the grassy area outside Hongik University Station Exit 3, you鈥檒l see humans enjoying a bit of day-drinking and dogs of all sizes, shapes and fashion styles (it鈥檚 common for dogs to wear clothes in South Korea).

Indoor spots like the taco joint , brunch eatery and the Hongdae branch of vegan restaurant are just a few of the many places that welcome dogs in Yeonnam-dong. Some, like and , even have canine-specific items on the menu. A few dog-friendly cafes, like and , have clothes and accessories you can take as souvenirs to your puppy pal waiting for you at home.

People sit on tables spelling into narrow Nogari Alley, known for traditional bars and dried fish in Euljiro, Seoul, South Korea
Euljiro鈥檚 nightlife scene includes edgy lounges and traditional bars where you can enjoy beer and nogari (dried pollock fish) 漏 aaron choi / Shutterstock

Discover cool bars and traditional dried fish in Euljiro

From bars lit with a neon glow to hidden places tucked behind unassuming doors, Euljiro has so many cool spaces that locals call it 鈥淗ip-jiro.鈥 The evolution (or gentrification) of this neighborhood started around 2015, when younger people began renting out spaces in a district full of warehouses, electronics shops and printing presses.

One of first newcomers was (which means 鈥渘ew city鈥), a laid-back, independent bar that extends from the 4th floor to a 5th-floor rooftop. Since few spaces like this existed in this part of Seoul when it opened, visiting used to mean walking into a dark neighborhood and climbing up four flights of stairs in an empty warehouse before reaching Seendosi鈥檚 dim pink ambiance and alternative music.

Seendosi has added more lights since then, and the area is now teeming with bars following a similar formula of industrial chic. Owned by a group of 10 friends, is a wine bar marked only by simple sign with 鈥渨ine鈥 written out in red tape. (Euljiro Brewing) is a two-story craft beer pub with fun illustrations of partying cats and excellent drinks. For those who prefer a more down-to-earth vibe, Nogari Alley brims with old-school Korean pubs that sell local beer and nogari (dried pollock fish), with seats often spilling out onto the streets.

Creative types should flock to Seongsu-dong

Many call Seongsu-dong the Brooklyn of Seoul 鈥 yet before younger generations moved in, the neighborhood was known as the go-to place for shoes, home to 70% of the nation鈥檚 handmade shoe manufacturers. While this part of town still has a few dozen shops dedicated to custom footwear, art galleries, cafes and vintage clothing boutiques now occupy many of the converted warehouses.

One of the first spaces to attract attention to the area was Daelim Changgo, a cafe and art gallery outfitted in a former factory-warehouse. Cafes like Onion, and later replicated the warehouse-conversion formula, and the uptick in artsy types gave birth to a vibrant street art and gallery scene.

Have a cup of coffee and check out , and , three talked-about galleries where contemporary Korean art is front and center. The Seongsu-dong art scene is focused on up-and-coming, experimental artists, and the vibe is much more chilled than what you鈥檒l find in better-known neighborhoods of Seoul, such as Gangnam. Bring your camera for fun shots of street art, get caffeinated at one of the many cafes and gallery-hop to your heart鈥檚 content. Buying new shoes is optional.

An aerial view of buildings and trees in fall in Seongbuk-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Leafy Seongbuk-dong provides a welcome chill vibe away from the bustle of central Seoul 漏 Stock for you / Shutterstock

Head to leafy Seongbuk-dong to slow down your pace

A short bus ride from Hansung University Station, Seongbuk-dong is a relatively quiet hillside district lesser known to visitors. The neighborhood once housed refugees and lower-income families after the Korean War; today, it鈥檚 better known for its wealth of diplomatic residences and upscale homes. (It鈥檚 implied that the fancy house from the 2019 film Parasite is located here.)

Seongbuk-dong feels distinctly different from other parts of the city since it鈥檚 not as dense, and its proximity to both Bugaksan and Bukhansan mountains makes the greenery of the slopes visible from most corners of the neighborhood.

The area has several often overlooked attractions, many of which allow you to take a breather from the bustle of typical Seoul life. At Gilsang-sa Temple, consider a program, a cultural experience that immerses you in traditional Korean Buddhism. Activities include conversations with Buddhists, tea time and sometimes overnight stays. Nearby, you can drink Korean tea at Suyeon Sabang in a space that was once a poet鈥檚 house.

Uphill, used to be the home of Buddhist reformist and poet Han Yong-un. Now owned by the Korean government, the house is open to the public and offers glimpses into the famous writer鈥檚 life. Because it鈥檚 not an official museum, it doesn鈥檛 have guards, and there鈥檚 little foot traffic. Visitors can simply enter, take off their shoes and relax in the same room where the poet took naps 鈥 making it the perfect place to enjoy the quiet of the hillside.

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