Seoul Vibes: Markets, Café and Lantern Festival

If you search the internet for ‘things to do in Seoul’, you’re bound to see Gwangjang Market on the list. It is, after all, the largest hanbok (traditional clothing) and textile market in Seoul. But most tourists go there for the food market. Of course we were intrigued and planned to have a meal there. After going around Gyeongbokgung Palace in the morning, we headed to Gwangjang next. But what a scene we arrived to! It was a pandemonium – tight, packed and messy. It was almost impossible to walk around so we immediately gave up on our plan of having lunch there.

We grabbed a cab to nearby Jongno district where we found lunch, and after that, our very first Seoul café experience at Onion. This is a popular café because of their delicious and beautiful breads and so we were already expecting a queue when we put it in our itinerary.

Speaking of itinerary, we had Bukchon Hanok Village on the list for the afternoon but the boys refused to get up from their chairs so we ended up extending our time in Onion. We headed to the hotel after and had an early dinner before going to the lantern festival.

Seoul Lantern Festival

Every winter, normally during the first two weeks November, Seoul Lantern Festival is being held at the Cheonggyecheon Stream. Last winter they moved the date to December-January (lucky us!) and held the festival at Gwanghwamun Square to commemorate the square’s reopening after its expansion works were completed. The square is in Jong-no district near the city hall and Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The lanterns were grand, and there were also small shops that resembled a Christmas market.

#WhereHasWinterTakenYou – South Korea 2022

Other posts on this series:

South Korean Winter: Trip Overview

Vivaldi Park Ski Resort

Snowboarding in South Korea: Our Experience

Snowy Land: Winter Playground in Vivaldi Park Ski Resort

Nami Island in Winter

Light Display: Enchanting Garden of Morning Calm

Seoul Vibes: Gyeongbokgung Palace