Seoul Named the World’s Best Big City: Five Ways We Love to Explore It

Planning a trip to Seoul can turn into an ever-growing list: palaces, lovely cafés and more restaurants than you could possibly fit in.

Here’s a little more reason to look forward to your visit. Seoul took first place in the Best Big City category of Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. Announced on October 6, it was Seoul’s first win in this category.

It’s lovely to see other travelers enjoying a city we love. So, how would we spend our time here?

The ranking reflects votes from the travel publication’s readers. The Seoul Metropolitan Government described the city’s appeal as a mix of history, tradition, culture, art, food and nature.

You really can change the mood of your day here: walk through a hanok neighborhood in the morning, eat at a market at lunchtime, browse a new brand space in the afternoon and unwind beside the river in the evening.

These next five experiences are our own recommendations. Pick what appeals to you rather than squeezing them all into one day.

In Bukchon, the tiled roofs and little lanes tend to catch your eye first. After a few photos, it’s tempting to reach for the map and move on. Stay a little longer for lunch or a coffee instead.

Browse a small shop, try a fragrance, look through everyday objects and wander around Jeongdok Library. An easy half-day soon takes shape.

Our idea of Bukchon is a simple day of food, coffee and little shops. People live in these lanes, so keep your voice down and follow the visiting hours posted on site.

Explore our slow day in Bukchon

At Gwangjang Market, deciding what to eat can take a moment. There are golden bindaetteok—mung bean pancakes—alongside gimbap and warm noodles. Watch the food being prepared and stop wherever something catches your appetite.

Start with one or two dishes rather than ordering everything at once. If you’re with someone, share a few bites and choose your next dish together.

Check the menu prices and portions before ordering. Knowing whether a price is for a mixed platter or a single plate makes the experience more relaxed.

Afterwards, head toward Cheonggyecheon for a walk and a chat about what you’ve just tried.

Seongsu is fun to explore through its spaces: browse clothes and homewares, step into a brand store you’ve been curious about and take a café break.

Trying to visit every saved spot can make the day feel rushed. Choose your top two or three, then leave the rest of the afternoon for Seoul Forest.

Sit on a bench or stroll among the trees. Your feet—and your mind—get a break. In autumn, there are changing leaves to enjoy too. Make room for resting in Seoul Forest on your Seongsu day.

See our Seoul walking routes, including Seoul Forest

After a full day of exploring, it’s fine to slow down by the Han River.

In good weather, bring a picnic mat, walk along the water and pause when you find a view you like. Watching the sky and the city lights change toward evening can be enough.

On a rainy day, a café overlooking the river can be lovely. Look through your photos over coffee or talk about tomorrow’s plans. These quieter hours can become some of your favorite travel memories.

A stretch of river close to your day’s route is enough. You don’t need to cross the city for a famous spot. Choose another indoor plan in strong wind or rain, or when riverside access is restricted.

Find river-view cafés and rainy-day ideas

If your travel dates line up, we recommend Marché farmers’ market, one of our favorites.

Browsing vegetables and food stalls brings a different kind of pleasure from a restaurant meal. You may find yourself asking about an unfamiliar ingredient or picking up something to enjoy back at your accommodation.

It’s worth considering if you love food or market browsing. Follow it with a nearby walk or coffee rather than making the day too complicated.

Marché’s dates and locations vary by edition. We collect the Marché dates we love in What’s On, so you can see where a market falls during your visit.

Find Marché dates in What’s On

Perhaps you’ll love Bukchon’s small shops most. Or choosing food at Gwangjang Market, discovering something that suits your taste in Seongsu, or spending an afternoon sitting by the river.

If Seoul’s Best Big City win has made you curious, this is your chance to find the Seoul you enjoy.

Choose just a few places—and stay a little longer when you find one you like. That’s how we’d start a day in Seoul, too.

Award information and image-use terms checked on October 19, 2026. This is a reader-voted big-city award; the five experiences are FLASH KOREA’s editorial recommendations, not a list of award assessment criteria. Public-agency images are archive photographs and do not show current conditions.

© FLASH KOREA

Seoul Tourism Organization · KOGL Type 1 (attribution); commercial use permitted. Shooting date not supplied. Original proportions retained.