Stunning landscapes, architecture, theme parks and so much more – there’s no denying that almost every corner of Seoul is a hot spot for the perfect picture. But your time here is probably limited, especially if you’re on a holiday. Picture-perfect memories are not something you can compromise on though!
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To save you both the time and the trouble of heading to every spot in Seoul for the best shots, here’s our top 9 picks that’ll guarantee you a gorgeous social feed at the end of your trip
P.S. Heading to Seoul? Let us do all that planning for you with this 5D4N Muslim-friendly Seoul itinerary!
1. Starfield Library, COEX Mall
If you thought books and libraries are out of trend, you must have not visited Starfield Library. The two-storey library is filled – from top to bottom – with as many as 50,000 books and magazines making for a gorgeous backdrop to your pictures. Don’t visit this place just for the gram though! Pick out a book or two! If you’re not already a book lover, this is the place that will ignite your love for reading
Most books are in Korean but there are still a good number of English ones.
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You’d probably have to ride the escalator multiple times to get a picture like this though! To make full use of the natural light passing through the ceiling, head here during sunset! Golden hour indoors could not look any more stunning
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Top picture spots: Escalator along the 13m-tall bookshelves
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm
Location: 955-9 Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Take Line 2 (Green) to Samseong Station. Use Exit 6 and follow the signs to Starfield Coex Mall. The library is in the main atrium.
2. Common Ground
Filled with quirky and unique designer brands, Common Ground is known as the hipster spot of Seoul. But Korea’s first pop-up store built with shipping containers is popular not just among the young shopaholics – it also tops the list of Instagram lovers. The blue backdrop here will beautifully complement your #ootd shot.
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And you don’t have to worry about the throngs of people who visit this place to get the perfect shot. With 200 containers to choose from, there’s bound to be an empty spot that’ll make your shot. Be sure to spend some time roaming the shops here, or just soak up the vibrant atmosphere!
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Top picture spots: Against the blue containers, and/or beneath the fairy lights at night
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm
Location: 200, Achasan-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul
Directions: Take Line 2 or Line 7 to Konkuk University Station. Take Exit 6.
3. Hanuel Park
The sheer beauty of this place alone is enough to blow you away! You’d probably never have guessed that the park used to be part of a 15-year landfill which held over 92 million tons of garbage
Yess! When the landfill reached maximum capacity, the Seoul Metropolitan Government decided to turn the area into an ecological park. Now, Haneul Park is a gem for both nature and Instagram lovers, with 22 lookout points offering gorgeous views of Seoul’s top spots.
Timing is of the essence here as the lush, tall Eulalia plants that fill the park bloom in autumn, giving it a stunning and almost surreal silver grass backdrop To commemorate the blooming of the grass, the Seoul Silver Grass Festival is held here annually in October! During the festival, the park hours extend till 10pm and there is a variety of events and performances which you can enjoy too.
P.S. The park is huge and filled with many other pretty instagrammable spots, apart from the silver grass!
Best time to visit: Autumn season, nearing dawn
Opening hours: 9am to 6pm (extends to 10pm during the festival)
Location: 487-48 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Take Line 6 to World Cup Stadium Station, alight at door 8-4, take Exit 1, turn right and go around the stadium (you’ll pass by a parking lot area, walk along the main road till you see the Haneul Park sign).
4. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Situated in the heart of Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Palace is the first and largest royal palace built during the Joseon Dynasty. The beauty of this palace lies not just in its long history but also its intricate architecture! There is a small admission fee to enter the palace but it will be waived if you wear a hanbok. I mean, free admission fees and feeling like a Korean royalty for a few hours? We’re all for the hanbok, especially for the perfect shot
You don’t have to be particularly worried about the weather affecting your shots here! We visited when it was pouring, and we still managed to take beautiful shots indoors. To capture the stunning details on the ceiling, make your sure photographer bends down!
Top picture spots: In between the pillars, palace entrance
Opening hours:
November-February (9am to 5pm)
March-May (9am to 6pm)
June-August (9am to 6.30pm)
September-October (9am to 6pm)
Closed on Tuesdays
Location: 161 Sajik-ro, Sejongno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Exit 5 at Gyeongbokgung Station or Exit 1 at Anguk Station
5. Bukchon Hanok Village
After all the effort you’ve taken to don the hanbok, it’s almost a shame to take it off right after visiting the palace. The good news is that you don’t have to that (just yet 
). There’s another Instagram-worthy spot near the palace that’s sure to take your breath away. We’re referring to Bukchon Hanok Village, a traditional residential area of nobility during the Joseon period!
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The village still stands as a residential area but the interesting, traditional architecture on the wall lures photographers in. The challenge here is climbing the slopes, especially with your hanbok. But trust us, the effort is worth it! There are many alleys in the area and part of the fun is getting lost here☺️
Top picture spots: Gahoe-dong Alley (Harmony)
Location: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Directions: Exit 1 or 2 at Anguk Station. Walk for about 300m
6. Iwha Mural Village
Speaking of villages…we’ve probably all heard of streets filled with murals but Seoul takes it a notch higher by dedicating an entire neighbourhood to murals! The village underwent a make-over in 2006 as the government wanted to revitalise the old neighbourhood. With the help of local artists, interesting and colourful mural paintings and mosaics decorated the walls of the village and staircases, turning the area into a treasure trove of Instagram-worthy spots.
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There’s a fair bit of uphill walking here as the village is located at the top of Naksan Mountain, so do wear comfortable shoes! It’s also respectful to note that the area is home to a largely elderly population who value their privacy and peace, so do keep your volumes down while exploring the area.
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Location: 49 Naksan 4-gil, Ihwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Exit 2 at Hyehwa Station. Walk straight until you reach the Lock Museum. After 50 meters, turn right on to Naksan Gongson-gil street. Walk till you reach Naksan Park.
7. Stylenanda Pink Hotel, Myeongdong
Before you harbour any thoughts of staying here, allow us to clarify that this is not an actual hotel It’s actually popular Korean fashion brand Stylenanda’s hotel-themed flagship store! The entire building – both the interior and exterior – is dipped in a gorgeous hue of pink. There are a total of 6 floors in the building, and each floor features different items for sale and a myriad of instagrammable spots!
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Level One is designed to resemble a hotel lobby, but with an added touch – endless rows of makeup for you to choose from! You can find the super gorgeous bath tub on Level Two. Venture to the other levels for even more shots! After all that photo-taking, take a breather at the rooftop terrace on Level 6. With plush giant pillows around, it’s the perfect place to sit back and chill out with your friends🤗
Top picture spots: bath tub, hotel pool
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm
Location: 66-2, Chungmuro 2-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul Korea
8. LINE Friends flagship store, Itaewon
The sheer size of this three-storey flagship store will amaze you, and with good reason! This is the largest LINE Friends store in the world It’s almost impossible to resist buying the cute souvenirs here! Regardless of whether you decide to get anything, one thing’s for sure – you have to check out the super cool themed photo zones concentrated at the third level of the store.
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But if you did not manage to venture to Itaewon during your trip, you can still snap a picture with the gigantic LINE bear at the Myeongdong store or even at the airport! There’s usually a line for the earlier photo spot so be prepared to wait.
P.S. Check out even more shopping hot spots in Seoul here!
Opening hours: 11am to 11pm daily
Location: 200 Itaewon-ro, Itaewon 1(il)-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Directions: Itaewon station, Exit 3
9. Myeongdong streets
The star of instagrammable spots doesn’t always have to be you, right? I mean, a social feed without pictures of food would be a shame! If you have not found any that’s worthy of being posted on your Instagram, Myeongdong is here to change that. The streets of Myeongdong are not just lined with shops but also the best street food. One of their must-try food is the foot long ice-cream. For the prettiest picture, choose two flavours of ice-cream in 1!
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While strolling down the streets of Myeongdong, the crossaint taiyaki is bound to catch your eye! These adorable fish-shaped snacks are crispy and come with a variety of fillings. Be sure to snap your picture fast, as the snack is best eaten hot
P.S. Here’s other yummy Muslim-friendly snacks you have to try in Seoul!
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Now that we’ve shown you the best picture-perfect spots in Seoul, all you have to do is get your cameras ready and snap away! Your Instagram feed is about to undergo a massive transformation after this trip and you have Seoul to thank for that