A happy new year to everyone around the world! It’s quite chilly in Seoul and we’ve already had a few snow days. So this week we’ll be taking a look at some great things to do in the capital in winter.



Ice Skating
If you’ve been inspired by the graceful performances of Korean Olympic Figure Skating champion, Kim Yuna in the past, channel it at a number of ice skating venues around the city.
Popular ice skating rinks include the year-round open rink at Lotte World, the Olympic Park rink and the I’Park Mall in Yongsan. Renting skates at these places are inexpensive and are usually charged by the hour. Most will also have lockers to store your personal belongings A few hotels such as the Grand Hyatt and Walker Hill also open premium ice rinks that are more expensive to use but usually more private if you want to escape the crowds or are just looking for something a little more intimate. And, of course, we can’t leave out the popular skating rink in Seoul Plaza right in front of Seoul City Hall which is also held annually.

Royal Palaces
Even if you’ve been to one of Seoul’s royal palaces before, the beauty of the palaces is that each of the season brings a different atmosphere. Palaces such as Changdeokgung Palace are great to visit on a snowy day to see some of Seoul’s most scenic winter sites and also topretend you’re a Korean royal from the past. Changgyeonggung Palace is another fantastic one that’s often overlooked by visitors but has some really great grounds to explore. Just make sure to dress appropriately and bring a heat pack or two!

Winter Snacks
Seoul’s winter season can get quite cold but luckily we have a wide option of eats and drinks that should keep you warm and fueled for your traveling! A number of street snacks are commonly associated with the winter season for Koreans. This includes roasted chestnuts and roasted sweet potatoes which you can almost always smell in popular neighborhoods such as Insadong, Gangnam, and Myeongdong.
Year-round favorite snacks such as ddeokbokki (spicy rice cakes), uh mook (fish cakes), and hoddeok (fried pastries with a sweet filling) are especially great to grab for a bite in the colder seasons and getting one from the many street tents that are around Seoul is a very Korean thing to do.
Don’t forget to also pick up a freshly steamed jjinbbang. These steamed buns are usually filled with sweet red bean but you can sometimes find savory ones filled with minced vegetables and meat. Jjinbbang are usually readily available in convenience stores in winter time.
And though, you can find a café just about anywhere in Seoul, if you want to warm up the traditional way with a variety of soothing Korean teas, head out to areas like Samcheongdong or Insadong to one of the many traditional Korean tea houses!