Seoul · South of the river
Rice paddies in 1970, the most expensive district in the country fifty years later. Gangnam is not beautiful in the classic sense, but this is where you grasp the speed at which Korea built itself.
Updated 7 October 2026
"Gangnam" simply means "south of the river". In the broad sense it is a third of the city; in everyday use, three districts lined up west to east. Distances are long and avenues wide: you do not stroll from one to the next, you take the subway.
Build your day around two or three hubs: COEX and Bongeunsa, Jamsil and Lotte Tower, then Sinsa or Apgujeong to finish.
Founded in 794, now ringed by skyscrapers. A 23-metre stone Buddha, wooden halls, lanterns, and the most striking contrast in the city. Free. The temple runs overnight stays and introductory programmes.
A giant underground mall. In the middle, an open library with thirteen-metre shelves that has become one of the most photographed places in Seoul. The aquarium is a good option with children or in the rain.
555 metres, 123 floors: the tallest building in the country. The Seoul Sky observatory at the top has a glass floor; entry is expensive (around ₩30,000). Clear days only.
The lake at the foot of the tower, with a two-and-a-half-kilometre path around it. One of the best places in Seoul for cherry blossom in early April.
Two Joseon kings and a queen lie beneath grassy mounds in a wooded park in the middle of the business district. A UNESCO site with almost no tourists.
The ginkgo-lined avenue in Sinsa: fashion boutiques, Korean brands, cafés. The parallel lanes are more interesting than the avenue itself.
The district of luxury, cosmetic-surgery clinics and entertainment agencies. K-Star Road lines up bear statues in the colours of K-pop groups.
The sprawling park of the 1988 Games: sculptures, remains of a Baekje fortress, and the city's big concert venues.
The temple in the morning calm, then COEX via the walkway.
Starfield Library, lunch at one of the mall's countless eateries.
One subway stop on, an hour's walk under the pines around the royal tombs.
A lap of Seokchon Lake, then up to Seoul Sky an hour before sunset if the sky is clear.
Dinner and a drink in the lanes of Garosu-gil.
High-speed trains from southern Seoul leave from Suseo, east of Gangnam. If you are staying here, it is quicker than going back up to Seoul Station.
The busiest junction in the country: underground shopping arcade, giant screens, and the hand-shaped "Gangnam Style" statue. Twenty minutes is enough.
The advertising panels in Apgujeong subway station are no exaggeration: the district holds hundreds of clinics.
Everything costs a little more here, from coffee to hotels. The underground arcades (Gangnam, Express Bus Terminal) are still a bargain for clothes.