It can get pretty cold in Seoul during the winter months. Once the Siberian winds begin to blow from the north and the wind chill reaches temperatures well below zero, you’ll be looking for ways to stay warm. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to spend winter in Seoul; from cosy teahouses to themed cafes, and public bathhouses to video arcades, we’ve got a few ideas to keep you toasty…and a few fun outdoor activities to get you enjoying the snow, even if it’s briefly!
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1. Warm up at one of the teahouses
Sometimes there’s no better way to enjoy Seoul in winter than by having a piping hot cup of tea with a side of sweet rice cakes.
If you want to experience a traditional teahouse, head to Insadong where the side lanes are lined with them.
A few to check out include:
Shin Old Tea HouseThe Moonbird Only Thinks of the MoonDawon Traditional Tea GardenSuyeon Mountain Tea RoomYetchatjip
2. Spend the day at a jjimjilbang
Jjimjilbangs are public baths where you can scrub your body clean of all of the dead skin cells and then soak in hot and cold tubs.
It’s a very common activity for Koreans, no matter what the time of year, and it’s a fun way to pass time on a cold winter day.
The bath areas are segregated by gender so you don’t have to feel embarrassed.
After the bath, you can wrap yourself up in a robe and hang out in one of the common rooms.
Jjimjilbangs aren’t just for bathing and you’ll often find movie rooms, workout rooms, reading rooms, gaming rooms, sleeping rooms, and even a restaurant or two where you can enjoy some Korean food.
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3. Sample the winter street food
Seoul has so much great street food and there are a few dishes that taste even better in winter!
If you’re in the mood for something savoury, keep your eyes peeled for tteokbokki, which are rice cakes cooked in a spicy red chilli paste and sometimes served with fish cakes.
Another popular snack is gyeran bbang, which translates to ‘egg bread’ in Korean. This is a small steamed bread with a whole egg inside and it can come with different toppings.
And we can’t forget hotteok; these are Korean pancakes stuffed with nuts and honey, though you can also find savoury ones with green onions or kimchi inside. They usually serve them in a little cup so you can hold it while you eat without burning your fingers.
4. Visit a themed cafe
Seoul has so many interesting themed cafes to check out and winter is the perfect time to do so. The idea is that you can go in, pay for a drink, and enjoy the company of cats, dogs, or even sheep depending on the cafe.
If animal cafes aren’t your cup of tea, there is a Hello Kitty cafe, a Lego cafe, a board game cafe, and a poop cafe that serves your coffee in mugs shaped like toilets.
You can get a better idea of the strange and quirky cafes in Seoul here.
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5. Stay in a hanok
Hanoks are traditional Korean houses with heated floors and they are a great choice for winter travel.
When you spend the night in a hanok, you sleep on a thick mat on the floor, while the heat rises to keep you warm.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Seoul for a traditional hanok experience, Bukchon and nearby Samcheongdong are your best bet.
Keep in mind that there are all sorts of hanoks to fit every budget, so you can find high-end properties with lots of modern amenities as well as budget-friendly guesthouses with smaller rooms but plenty of charm. You can views some hanok options here.
6. Go ice skating
If you enjoy ice skating, there are plenty of places to do so in Seoul during winter.
One of the most popular spots is Seoul Plaza Skating Rink, which is located right next to City Hall. This is one of the most central places in the city if you want to go skating.
Another popular choice for outdoor skating is Yeoui Ice Park, located near the Han River. This is a fairly new spot, where aside from skating, you can also use the sledding slope or have fun making snowmen in the snow playground.
7. Go sledding at Everland
So technically this next activity isn’t in Seoul, but it’s fairly easy to reach Everland in Yongin.
Here you’ll find the Snow Buster, a hill that is covered in snow and has tons of tubes that you can rent. Choose a singles tube or a couples tube.
Then all you have to do is hook your tube up to the lift and let it pull you to the top of the hill.
It’s really well organized and once you get to the top you can choose which path you want to take. Some are straight down while others have curves that make you go even faster.
If you get too cold, you can head inside to the lounge where there is a cafe and restaurant selling plenty of hot drinks and delicious Korean food.
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8. Visit the palaces
Seoul’s palaces look completely different throughout the year. Spring means lots of flowers in bloom, summer offers great weather, fall brings beautiful foliage, but visiting in winter means seeing them covered in snow.
Not only do the palaces look magical covered in fresh powder, but the little lakes freeze over and there are far fewer tourists which makes for some great photo ops.
9. Escape to a nearby ski resort
There are so many mountains to explore in South Korea. The country is made of up more than 70 percent mountains, so you’re sure to find a few nearby that are great for skiing.
Jisan Forest Resort is very close to Seoul. You can be on your first run in under an hour if you’re driving. During the winter there are direct buses from Gangnam.
Daemyung Vivaldi Park is another popular ski resort that is only an hour and a half from Seoul. The resort has 13 slopes and offers one, two, and three-day ski packages that include your lift ticket and ski or snowboard rental.
10. Play arcade games
For some indoor fun, you can also head to one of Seoul’s arcades.
Rovio Korea is a big arcade and bar in Gangnam where you can play tons of different games, watch international sporting events, and have a few beers or cocktails.
If you want to dabble in virtual reality, there’s VR Plus, Korea’s first virtual reality cafe where you can try numerous games and experiences.
Or if you’re looking to play online games, keep your eyes peeled for PC-bangs, which are scattered all over the city.
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