4 Best Sights in Namdaemun and Around, Seoul

Seoul's oldest and second largest market is easily its most accessible and interesting for visitors to the city. Filled with vendors selling everything from clothing to cameras to food, this sprawling indoor and outdoor market is not only great for shopping, but it also makes a fascinating sightseeing destination in its own right. An estimated 500,000 people come to Namdaemun daily, making for an energetic and crowded but manageable spectacle. Established in 1414, the market has been destroyed any number of times, most recently after the Korean War, and again in 1968 and 1975. Yet after each setback, this market has rebuilt and prospered. While there is still much history to be found in Namdaemun, to see it now is to get a glimpse of the dynamism and spirit that has propelled Korea onto the world stage.

The only cable car in the center of the city is known for its panoramic views and its history dating back to 1962. As such, it’s been featured in a number of popular K-dramas such as Boys Over Flowers and is often a favorite destination of drama watchers. The glass cable car, which fits as many as 48 passengers, stretches approximately a third of a mile from its entrance in Hoehyeon-dong to Namsan’s peak. Try to visit the cable car on weekdays as you can expect to wait as long as one hour for the three-minute ride on the weekend, and you may have to stand up during the ride if all 48 passengers are packed into the car.

Located at the foot of Namsan mountain, Piknic is an art space that also houses a cafe and bar. Past exhibitions have highlighted immersive visual experiences and include works highlighting Ryuichi Sakamoto, Saul Leiter, and Goo Gi-jeong, to name a few. Exhibitions here are often accompanied by a film in the small in-house theater. Those with tickets to an exhibition can also check out the rooftop for mountain views, though the space’s other facilities are open to the public, regardless of paid entrance. For a splurge, you can combine your art trip with a lunch at renowned French fusion restaurant, Zero Complex, on the third floor.

One of the four main gates that made up the Fortress Wall of Seoul, Sungyemun Gate (also called Namdaemun Gate) is a designated Korean treasure. It was originally built in 1396 and renovated several times, boasting the title of "the oldest wooden structure in Seoul" for decades. However, a civilian lit it on fire in 2008, and much of it was closed to the public until 2013. It's a great place to stop by in all its reconstructed splendor, and the extra security detail makes your visit feel safe.