What to do in Seoul?

If we had to recommend just one viewpoint in Seoul, it probably wouldn't be N Seoul Tower. During our stay, our favorite panorama of the South Korean capital was near the summit of Bulamsan, a mountain located in the northeastern part of the city. Starting from Sangye Station, we reached the rocks near the summit in about 40 to 45 minutes of hiking. The trail is very well maintained, clearly marked, and accessible to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness, although a few sections on the granite are slightly steeper. What we particularly loved was the contrast between the sheer scale of Seoul and the tranquility of the mountain. While the city is home to nearly ten million people, we encountered relatively few hikers during our ascent. Once at higher elevation, the buildings that can sometimes feel repetitive at street level transform into a vast urban pattern framed by the surrounding mountains. We recommend making the climb in the late afternoon. That is when we enjoyed the most beautiful light. Gradually, the sun sinks behind the mountains, the colors become softer, and the first city lights begin to appear beneath your feet. We are experienced hikers, and the 40 to 45 minutes mentioned above reflects our pace. Depending on your fitness level and the number of photo stops you make, you may want to allow a little extra time for the ascent. If you decide to stay until sunset, we also recommend bringing a headlamp or making sure your phone is sufficiently charged to light the way down. Part of the trail passes through the forest, and darkness falls quickly. The trail is free to access and, in our opinion, the effort is more than rewarded by the view. If you are looking for a relatively short hike with a spectacular panorama over Seoul, Bulamsan was one of our favorite discoveries of the entire trip.