Insider Travel Guide in Seoul: Following Raffi & Nagita's Itinerary

To start off the day, the family headed to Gwangjang Market, the first permanent traditional market to be opened in Seoul, and undoubtedly a top priority on the list! Packed with stalls selling locally produced silk, satin, and linen, visitors will get to experience the unique street shopping culture of the oldest traditional market in Seoul. The must-try foods there include Bindaetteok (Mung Bean Pancakes), Kalguksu (Korean knife-cut noodle soup), Kimbap (bite-size dried seaweed rolls), and if you're brave enough, live octopus!  

Gwangjang Market (Photo Credit: Visitseoul.net)

After a taste of the past, Lotte World was up next to provide the family with a dose of modernity. Lotte World is the largest indoor amusement park in the world and contains adventure and thrill rides, bungee jump, swimming pools, a haunted house, restaurants, and a hotel. Kids love this place and we felt that it was a destination that Rafathar will not want to miss!

Lotte World

Thereafter, Raffi and his family headed to Banpo Hangang Bridge, the first double-deck bridge built in South Korea, connecting the Seocho and Yongsan districts. Covered with 10,000 lights, the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain's coloured water rains down in messy arcs from the double-decker Banpo Bridge. Spanning 1140m, it is also the world’s longest fountain. The 20-minute show usually happens between late April and the end of August, so if you are planning to visit Seoul later this year, be sure to catch the spectacular sight! 

Banpo Hangang Bridge

Day 3: Beauty Consultation, Cafe tours in Garosugil & Eating Premium Korean BBQ 

The next day, Raffi headed to ID hospital in Gangnam for an aesthetical consultation, arranged by Eunogo. ID hospital is a national certified hospital and got accredited by Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare, through patient’s safety and improvement of medical service. 

ID Hospital

Thereafter, the family headed to Maison Kitsuné, a French fashion label that has opened both a flagship store along with a popular and hip cafe, Cafe Kitsuné, hidden in a garden courtyard at Garosugil Sinsadong. The four-storey Seoul flagship is surrounded by greens and bamboo, creating a zen feel as customers walk into the shop. The cafe also provides a really chill, hipster ambience, making it a perfect stop for a cup of coffee after you finish shopping at the fashion boutique. 

Maison Kitsuné

Lastly, they ended the day with dinner at Samwon Garden, a Korean barbecue restaurant located in Gangnam. Samwon Garden offers an impressive selection of delicious entrees. With Korean dishes that still preserve the secrets of traditional taste, Samwon Garden has menus from Bulgogi and Galbi, which top the list of choices among both local and foreign visitors, to other various traditional Korean foods. The restaurant is also famous for the thick woods and beautiful natural scenery that surrounds - definitely add this location to your list!

Samwon Garden

Day 4: Shopping in Gangnam & Eating Dalkalbi 

On Day 4, the family first headed to Gangnam Street. There’s plenty to do and see in this historically rich, fast-developing neighborhood and several popular shopping and entertainment areas including Apgujeong and the COEX Mall are located right here. During their time there, Raffi and his family also made a stop to the Dr. Jart Flagship store. The store is actually an art space, where the displays and exhibitions tend to change every few months. On the first floor, you get to key in your own information to receive a “prescription” of products that will be most suitable for you, and all the products that are ready to be purchased can be found on the second floor. Altogether the Dr. Jart Flagship store is suitable for those who want a personalised experience and is worth even for just a visit! 

Gangnam Street

To end off the day, the family headed to Yoogane restaurant to have Dak-galbi for dinner. Dak-galbi, or spicy stir-fried chicken, is a popular Korean dish made by stir-frying marinated diced chicken in a gochujang-based sauce with sweet potatoes, cabbage, perilla leaves, scallions, tteok, and other ingredients. It is a natively communal dish that is always shared among a small, intimate group of people, so it naturally stimulates conversation and creates a good bonding session for people.

Dak-galbi (Photo Credit: Anakjajan)

Day 5: Hanbok Photoshoot around Palace, Korean Hair Styling & Rooftop Cafe

The first stop of Day 5 is none other than Gyeongbok palace. Gyeongbok-gung was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty and it was built in 1395. Free guided tours in English is available and the changing of guard ceremony takes place at the top of every hour from 11:00 to 15:00. On top of that, wearing a hanbok (Korean traditional attire) while touring Gyeongbok-gung can make your experience there a very unique one, which is also what Raffi and Nagita opted for.

Gyeongbokgung Palace 

From the palace, they next headed to Samcheongdong. Samcheongdong is a hip neighbourhood that also at the same time blends in well with the traditional building remained behind this area. There is a vast array of shops along the street with very beautiful displays and interiors and it is essentially a sprawling maze of centuries-old traditional houses filled with artisan workshops, tea rooms and small museums. Local indie boutiques there sell crafts and gifts, and dining options include quirky al fresco cafes and laid-back Korean eateries.

Samcheongdong

Next, they headed to Gyeongridan-gil. There are certainly days when we prefer to be away from the crowds and during times like these, Gyeonridan-gil is the place to go to instead. Located just 10 minutes away from Myeong-dong by taxi, Gyeonridan-gil is a charming neighbourhood which boasts cafes, restaurants, bakeries and multi-concept stores. Over there, the family visited a beauty salon called “Salon there’s” as Raffi wanted to get a hair cut. Salon there’s is known to give great and affordable haircuts and have left customers feeling satisfied with their hair, including Raffi.

Salon there's

Thereafter, also in the same neighbourhood, they made a stop at Graddhyllan Rooftop Cafe. Graddhyllan is a 5-storey building that operates both as a cafe and also a Swedish furniture store. The B1 and 1st storeys exhibit interesting furniture and interior design items from Sweden whereas the 2nd to 4th floors consist of the cafe and lounge area. They also have a rooftop that gives you a good view of the whole neighbourhood.

Graddhyllan Rooftop Cafe

Day 6: Hair Transplant Consultation, SM Town & Luxury Spa  

On the morning of the 6th day, Eunogo arranged a consultation for Raffi and his family at Banobagi Plastic Surgery clinic, one of the top plastic surgery clinics in Korea. There, Raffi had a consultation for hair transplant with Dr. Lee Kyoungku, who is one of the surgeons specialising in hair transplant at Banobagi. Pleased with the consultation, Raffi will be visiting Seoul again in February for his hair transplant with Eunogo! 

After the consultation, Raffi and his family visited the SM Town COEX Artium where he met Choi Siwon from Super Junior, and Jaemin and Jeno from NCT. They filmed videos together and had a great time exploring the place, filled with the SM artistes’ memorabilia. Raffi and Nagita even got to learn a few dance moves from Jaemin and Jeno!