Seoul with Teens: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide

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Are you planning a trip to Seoul with teens? You’re in the right spot! I visited Seoul on a mother/daughter trip with my 13 year old and we had a blast! Seoul is a vibrant, high-energy city that blends rich history with cutting-edge technolog, making it the perfect destination for families with teens. Whether your kids are into K-pop, street food, gaming, or shopping, Seoul has something to keep them entertained. From the bustling streets of Myeongdong to the cultural wonders of Changgyeonggung Palace, here’s how to make the most of your Seoul adventure with teens.

Things to know when traveling to Seoul

• Download the Naver app for navigation, Google maps does not work in Seoul! Pro tip: create a login so that you can save all the things you want to see while here. Saving them on Google maps will not be helpful since you’ll have to search in Naver to get actual directions.
• Fill out your E-Arrival card online prior to your arrival so that you don’t have to do the paper one. We also needed to have the QCode Health Declaration filled out which many people didn’t know. I had the QR codes ahead of time and breezed right through but the majority were stopped and had to fill out paper forms, making customs much longer than it needed to be.
• Buy a TMoney card for public transportation. You can only load these cards with cash, so make sure you have cash for this.
• While credit cards were widely accepted pretty much everywhere, have some cash on hand especially for the night markets and to lead your TMoney card. We only used around $70 USD cash while here, so you won’t need too much.
• Make a list of all the Korean beauty things you want to buy prior to heading to the store. If you’re anything like us, you’ll stock up on all the goodies!
• While there are buses that will bring you to your hotel area right from the airport, the last thing we wanted to do was navigate public transportation after 2 days of travel. I booked a private transfer using Klook and we had a great experience. Our driver was waiting for us right outside the international baggage claim and took us right to our hotel. The drive was over an hour, so we were glad to be in a comfortable van!

Where to stay in Seoul with teens

Myeongdong

This is where we stayed and a great option if it’s your first visit to Seoul and you enjoy shopping. We stayed at the Moxy Seoul Myeongdong and it was great! Our room was very spacious with tons of room for luggage and to walk around. I chose the loft bed option. However, some rooms here are typical Asian style where you can’t even walk around your bed or have room for luggage, so choose wisely!

The hotel was in such a great area, we were able to walk to hundreds of shops and restaurants just steps from the hotel. The famous Myeongdong shopping street was a 2 minute walk from the hotel.

Why teens will love it:
– Tons of K-beauty shops, trendy fashion stores & street food
– Near famous attractions like Namsan Tower & Gyeongbokgung Palace
-Easy access to public transport (Myeongdong Station)

Hongdae

If you have K-Pop lovers, this might be the area to stay for you! See the interactive map for some hotel options in the area.

Why teens will love it:
-Cool street performances, K-pop shops & quirky cafes
– Close to Hongik University (lots of young people around)
-Fun arcades, karaoke rooms & shopping

Gangnam

If luxury accommodations are what you’re after, then Gangnam is the area for you. Check out the interactive map below for some accommodation options in Gangnam.

Why teens will love it:
-K-Star Road for K-pop entertainment company buildings
-Upscale malls like COEX & luxury shopping
-Close to Starfield Library & fun cafes

What to do in Seoul with teens

Seoul is one of the best cities to visit with teens and quickly became one of my daughter’s favorite cities to visit! Whether they’re into K-pop, fashion, gaming, or outdoor adventures, here’s a list of the best things to do in Seoul with teenagers.

Shopping in Myeongdong or Hongdae

If your teen is anything like mine, then they love to shop! Seoul is one of the best cities for shopping and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Myeongdong is great for Korean beauty stores and street food while Hongdae is known for youth focused stores which teens will love. We loved the Myeongdong shopping street near our hotel, so many fun streets to wander around in!

Visit a cat cafe

While wandering around Myeongdong, my cat loving teen spotted the Roofcatme Cat Cafe. They had just opened and we were the first ones in. This is one of the cleanest and nicest cat cafes we have ever been to! The cats are gorgeous and your admission includes unlimited drinks. Highly recommend stopping in if you like cats! This was one of the best things to do with teens in Seoul. Keep in mind that there’s another, not as nice cafe like a block away from this one so be sure you go to the right one!

Go on a city tour

Seoul has many tours to choose from, everything from food tours to cooking classes. Find one your family will enjoy!

Hello Kitty Apple Cafe

There’s a brand new Hello Kitty cafe in Seoul and it was just a 5 minute walk from our hotel. The Hello Kitty Apple Cafe is a 3 level cafe, with seating on the first and second level and a store on the 3rd. It’s super cute and definitely worth checking out if you like themed cafes.

Shop for Korean beauty products

One of the things I wanted to do while in Seoul was shop for some of my favorite Korean beauty products since they are much cheaper here. One of the best stores for this is Olive Young, we had at least 4 of them within walking distance from our hotel. Make a list in advance so you can show the employees in case you can’t find something!

Visit the Gwangjang Market

If you want to sample lots of Korean snacks and food, then a visit to the Gwangjang Market is a must. This market opens at 9am so if you’re still recovering from jet lag, you can wander the stalls and get a meal here. My daughter has been wanting to try these dumplings we’ve been seeing everywhere and they were so good!

Check out the Starfield Library at the COEX Mall

Built in 2017, this is one of the most Instagrammable spots in Seoul, which your teen will surely enjoy. The library is famous for its floor to ceiling bookcases, holding over 70,000 books. A must see while visiting Seoul with teens!

Hongdae Shopping Street

If your teens like to shop, then Hongdae is the place to be. Known for its youthful vibe, here you will find tons of shops geared toward the college crowd. My daughter loved wandering around here and shopping at the different stores. This is one of the best things to do with teens in Seoul.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung is a former royal palace in Seou. It was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, having been established in 1395. It is now one of the most significant tourist attractions in the country. The palace was among the first landmarks to be established in Seoul. This is a great place to visit if you want to learn about some of the history of the country.

Where to eat in Seoul with teens

Seoul’s food scene has something for everyone and my daughter absolutely loved the food here! She’s super adventurous when it comes to food and can handle quite a bit of spice, so Korean food was perfect for her. While I won’t go into all of the places we ate at (you’ll pass hundreds of restaurants while walking around), here are some of our favorite places to eat with teens in Seoul.

Try Korean street food

It’s not a visit to Seoul without trying some of Korea’s street food! There are several night markets in Seoul and you’ll also see street food being sold pretty much everywhere as you’re walking around. This is a must do while visiting Seoul with teens. We loved the Myeongdong night market that set up each night just outside of our hotel. My daughter loved trying all of the yummy dishes!

Yoogane Chicken Galbi

Out of all the places we ate at in Seoul, this was my daughter’s favorite. She chose the galbi chicken with corn and cheese and it was delicious, though a bit spicy for me! My daughter loves spicy food and ate at least half by herself. The food here is cooked tableside and you need to agree on the meal since you can’t have multiple in one pan. They also have a self serve kimchi station, which my daughter loved. The girl is obsessed with kimchi and ate a ton while here! Definitely add this to your list if you’re visiting Seoul with teens.

Ssada Gimbab, Myeongdong Station

Since we were waking up super early for the first couple of days, we wanted to find restaurants near our hotel that were open 24/7. This was one of them so we walked here for breakfast one day. You order on the device and pick up your food when it’s ready. They have lots of options to choose from and this is a great spot for a late night or early morning meal in Seoul.

Cinnamoroll Sweets Cafe

If your teens like themed cafes, then the Cinnamoroll Sweets Cafe in Hongdae is a great place to visit. It’s located inside a mall, on the upper level. They have lots of drink options and sweets to choose from.

As you can see, there are lots of things to do in Seoul with teens. If you’re looking for one of the best Asian cities to visit with your teen kids, then definitely add Seoul to your list. Want to read this later? Pin one of the images below.