Top 10 Early Morning and Late-night Activities in Seoul

Whether you are a foodie, sightseer, or shopaholic, Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, offers something for every traveler to enjoy and explore. The city has a perfect combination of ancient history and ultra-modern technology and design. Moreover, Seoul has already gained an appreciation for its openness worldwide. Thus, with its vibrant shopping districts, award-winning dance clubs, unique night cafes with an impressive panoramic city view, and several culturally recognized spaces, this city has already been listed as one of the top favorite holiday destinations among its various pop fans throughout the globe.

The city not only serves its explorers with an ample amount of activities during the daytime but also, once the sun goes down, the streets of Seoul get injected with a new type of life. Seoul also offers its explorers a mouthwatering array of street foods. It is best known as the city of palaces, with 5 significant and huge palace complexes located throughout. This article will briefly discuss the major activities you should try as a traveler in Seoul, both early morning and late at night.

Early morning activities in Seoul

Run along the Hangang River

When in Seoul, one of the most preferred places to get your early morning jogging is along the Han-gang river. The Han river offers its visitors a wonderful greenbelt and numerous flat paths between several bridges. This place is also known for providing its visitors with several options for playing basketball, swimming, and skateboarding, too.

From the north side, the distance between the Han-gang Bridge and Dongjak Bridge is only about 1.2 miles, whereas Dongjak to Banpo Bridge is only about 0.7miles. Similarly, the distance between Dongjak Bridge and Banpo Bridge is only about 1 mile from the south side. In contrast, from Banpo to Hannam, it is approximately 1.25 miles, and between the Hannam to Dongho Bridge, it is about 0.7 miles. 

This river comes with a great view, and during the nighttime, the Banpo Bridge gets beautifully lit and attracts several visitors. It is the perfect place to start your morning. Read more about Things to do in Hangang Park.

Mountain to hike in or nearby Seoul

If you are looking to explore the beaten paths of Korea, then its mountains serve you with a great way to explore beyond its bustling cities. There are specific hiking trails for average fitness levels and a certain amount of hiking experiences based on their difficulty levels.

The Bukhansan National Park, Seoul

The Bukhansan National Park serves as one of the most easily accessible mountain hikes for its hikers. It is typically located north of the city. The peak of this mountain sits at an elevation level of about 836.5 meters and serves you with a very clean and stair lining pathway by making your hiking pretty much doable.

Take an apple and hot water as you reach the top of the mountain peak. Every bite and drink will be enriching as you overlook the city.

How to get there: Take the subway to line 3, get out of Gupabal station, exit 1 or 2, take the bus 704, 34, and 720, and get off Bukhansanseong Fortress. Follow the many hikers to the entrance of the Bukhansan National Park.

Gwanaksan Mountain

Located in southern Seoul, the Gwanaksan Mountain was typically designated as a natural park in 1968. The mountain stands at about 630 meters and has several ways to reach it. Gwanaksan is not as high as Bukhansan but it is the most easily accessible. There are three ways you can take to reach the mountain.

One of the recommendations is to get off the Gwacheon subway exit 7 to avoid waiting for the bus. Also, going to Gwanaksan by Seoul National University exit 3 is recommended for those who want a more polished route. The route to Gwanaksan from Sadang station exit 4 is considered harder and longer in time, not to mention steeper. If you are an advanced hiker, going the route from Sadang station is worth the picturesque scenery and workout.

Gwanaksan is popular for Yeonjudae temple and Gwaneumsa temple and the outstanding view overlooking Bukhansan, Bugaksan, Namsan, Inwangsan, Lotte World tower, Gangnam, and more.

Bugaksan mountain

The Bugaksan Mountain runs from the Changuimun to Hyehwamun and crosses the Baegak, which forms the prominent peak of the city. Public access to this mountain was restricted for almost 40 years, but in 2007, this place was again reopened to its public.

It is a great place to hike as you can see the Blue Presidential House and visit the nearby cafes and neighborhoods. The location is close to Jongno so after your morning hike, it’ll be great to grab a cup of coffee or breakfast. Read also about the Best Restaurants in Seoul City Center, Jung-gu & Jongno-gu.

You can reach Bugaksan by Gyeongbukgung subway station exit 3. The fastest way from there is to take a taxi to Changuimun gate, but you can also wait for 7212, 1020, or 7022. Get off Changuimun gate.

Cheonggyesan mountains

Cheonggyesan Mountain is about one stop away from Gangnam station and will serve you the perfect hike. With an elevation level of about 620 meters, the routes of this mountain are well maintained, and this place is easily accessible by public transportations too. The trail is pretty steep but the trail is well marked with paths guiding you. Follow the many hikers up the peak and take an instagrammable photo.

Noryangjin fish market auction at 3 am

The Noryangjin fish market serves as one of the top tourist destinations in Seoul. This place is just like a giant aquarium where you can easily consume its exhibits and is considered one of the largest seafood markets in South Korea. The fishes in this market are most alive and sold at a considerable rate especially early in the morning. For a unique dining experience, the visitors are allowed to buy their choice of seafood and eat them at restaurants located on the ground or second floor. This is a great experience that many locals enjoy as well. Get your sashimi today!

Late Nights Activities in Seoul

Bamdokkaebi night market in Seoul

The Bamdokkaebi night market of Seoul is distributed in six different locations, with each outpost consisting of its unique theme throughout the entire city. Each market consists of various local and international street food stalls and several outstanding performances and handmade craft booths. With each unique outpost, this late-night market is attracting a lot of popularity from its visitors. It’s a great time to grab late-night snacks and hang out with your friends. Read more about Bamdokkaebi Night Market!

Official Website: https://www.bamdokkaebi.org

Dongdaemun night market

The Dongdaemun night market is known for offering its visitors an endless range of jewelry, clothing styles, handbags, shoes, skincare, and cosmetic products. The market ranges from specialty stores to huge shopping malls and thus is enormous enough with the accommodation of outdoor stages hosting fashion shows, concerts, and dance performances. This night market is not only a paradise for shopaholics but also serves as a haven for foodies by offering several street stalls selling drinks and street foods at an affordable price range. In Seoul, Dongdaemun is a place you must visit either morning or night. You will see bright lights and busy stalls something you can’t experience anywhere else.

Yeouido Hangang Park

Popularly known as the Seoul color park, the Yeouido Hangang Park provides its visitors with breathtaking views during the nighttime. The park is always occupied with various fun and exciting events. During the spring, a cherry blossom festival is held where you get the time to appreciate the beauty of whole bloom cherry blossoms under the moonlight, and during the months of summer, the park offers you a market full of various Korean street foods and drinks. Similarly, during autumn in this park, people would gather a scenic view of the firework show. During the winters, this park becomes particularly romantic with its illuminated trees.

Read things to do in Things To Do in 63 Square – 63 Building Observatory & Aqua Planet 63.

All night fun in the clubs of Seoul

Seoul is a city that never goes to sleep. The nightclubs of this city are always jam-packed, even on the weekdays. The city is divided into multiple-night districts like Hongdae, Itaewon, and Gangnam, with a fantastic nightlife that hosts different groups of people every single day.

Read more about the best clubs in Seoul.

Hongdae nightclubs

The Hongdae nightclubs are often listed among the busiest nightclubs in the world. These nightclubs are visited mainly by young people and foreigners due to their close vicinity to several universities such as the Sogang, Ewha, Hongik, etc. Compared to other nightclubs, the alcohol prices and entrance fees are usually lower due to their demography.

One of the top clubs in Hongdae is NB Club founded by YG Entertainment owner, Yang Hyun Seok with two other collaborators. It was once popular for techno music but now is popular for hip hop. The club opens at 7:30 p.m. and the admission is 10,000 won on the weekdays and 15,000 won on the weekends.

Address: 79 Wausan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. If you take the subway, you can get off Sangsu station exit 2.

Itaewon nightclubs

With a multinational vibe, Itaewon is a popular neighborhood in Seoul. This city is always highly packed with several hip and exciting spots, and with the sun going down, the nightlife of Itaewon gets filled with bright neon lights and music.

One of the most popular clubs in Itaewon is Pumpkin located 179 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. You can reach Pumpkin by taking the subway to Itaewon station exit 2. The club opens at 9 p.m. and closes at 6:50 a.m.

Read more about Things to Do in Itaewon.

Gangnam nightclubs

Gangnam is one of Seoul’s richest districts and became most popular through Psy’s song Gangnam style. You will definitely find the finest clubs with high-end luxurious clubbing experiences and world-class DJs in Gangnam clubs.

Club Seoul in 2-15 B1, Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu can be reached by subwaynSinsa station exit 1. It is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, and opened on the other days from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

The Noraebang karaoke

The Noraebang is a modern Korean-style karaoke room for students and working adults. A great place to de-stress and sing your favorite K-pop songs wholeheartedly. The Noraebang can be located in every block of Seoul and is generally opened 24/7.

Read more about Things to Do for Fun: Unique Places to Visit in Seoul.

Korean spa, sauna, Jjimjilbang

When visiting Korea, getting a Jjimjilbang expertise is a must thing to do. These Jjimjilbangs are well equipped with all the required facilities and thus provide you with a place to get your tired muscles relaxed after a long and hectic day. You can rest in the spa for a day or even spend the night. They have everything you can think of from kid’s playroom to ice rooms to restaurants and more.

Read more about Top 5 Best Korean Spas in Seoul (Jjimjilbang).

PC bang

The PC bang is generally a type of LAN gaming center in Korea. Here, the patrons are provided with access to multiplayer gaming on hourly fees. The typical hourly prices can range from 1,000 to 1,500 KRW, with the 1,000 KRW remaining the most common fee. The PC Bang serves as a popular place for social gatherings among gamers. Its ability to provide its gamers with powerful and expensive gaming PCs at a very reasonable price makes it one of the most popular choices among the mass.

Most PC bangs are open 24 hours and they serve a wide range of food like snacks, noodles, drinks, meals, and more. The same noodles taste better at a PC bang for some reason 🙂

Read more about How to enjoy a PC Bang in Korea.

The capital city of South Korea, Seoul, remains one of the most desired tourist destinations throughout the globe. With its vibrant and exciting vibes, the city provides its visitors with a wide variety of tourist spots ranging from outdoor adventures to indoor fun activities. During your visit to this infamous city, don’t forget to enjoy its early morning and late nightlife as each phase of the day in this city comes with its own unique experiences.

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