3 Best Sights in Myeongdong, Seoul

One of the best-known religious sights in the country, this cathedral opened its doors in 1898 despite political opposition, on the site where Korea's first Christians gathered as early as 1784. More recently, it played an important role in safeguarding human rights activists during labor protests of the 1970s and 1980s. Catholics continue to attend mass here while visitors come to observe the history and the architecture, especially notable as it is one of the first brick, Gothic style buildings in Korea. The Cathedral has an annex with several cafes that are open to members of the congregation and visitors alike.

More of a shopping district than a shopping street, Myeongdong has dozens of small boutiques selling everything from skincare to women's wear and more. These shops often have a small selection of cheaper items set up outside that invite you to come in. While bargaining used to take place years ago, most shops stick strictly to the tag price since a crackdown on price gouging took place around 2014. Unlike similar shopping districts in the city, the vendors in Myeongdong are more likely to speak English (and Chinese and Japanese for that matter) and understand a tourist's shopping needs such as tax-free shopping and bulk purchases for souvenirs.

Namsangol gives visitors a chance to see what a Joseon-era village would have looked like. Through reproductions of old hanok houses, Namsangol manages to avoid kitsch and focuses on recreating the mood of an old village and teaching about village life in Korea. The five main buildings are beautiful examples of the type of Korean wooden hanok houses once owned by high-ranking officials. The village also hosts events for Korean holidays like Chuseok and Lunar New Year, making it a great place to visit when many other venues in the city are closed. See the village's website for a variety of traditional experiences you can reserve in advance.