Seoul’s subway line 4, also known as the blue line, cuts across Seoul in a somewhat diagonal form and services the capital’s southwest to northeast ends. Up north, around Nowon Station, you can hang out, eat, and drink at the Nowon Culture Street which is a popular area both day and night. For shopping you can check out the Miasamgeori Station which is home to a major department store and shopping center. If that’s not your thing, this station is also near the spacious Seoul Dream Forest which is Seoul’s fourth largest park and contains a large pond, gardens, observatory, and other attractions.

The areas around Sungshin Women’s University Station and Hyehwa Station are known as vibrant, youthful neighborhoods and contains a range of cafes, restaurants, shops, and other popular hangout places. The area around Hyehwa Station is known also as the “daehakno” region which is famed for its many performance art theaters and venues.

Dongdaemun Station will bring you right by Heunginjimun, the great East gate and also near it the start of the small mountain known as Naksan, with trails along the old Seoul City Wall. You can stop at the Seoul City Wall museum to learn more about the ancient walls that used to protect the city or go further up to the top of Naksan for some great views of the city. Don’t forget to stop at the Ewha Village which is famous for its many wall murals and art installations.

The Dongdaemun History and Culture Park is perhaps best known for all the shopping found around. You can shop at the many malls and stores here which rusn through the night for what many consider one of the best shopping experiences in Seoul. The massive Dongdaemun Design Plaza, also known as the DDP, is also fun to explore both inside and outside its unique structure. The DDP often houses various exhibitions within while its field of LED roses behind the structure makes for a popular picture taking spot. Except for the colder winter seasons, Bamdokkaebi Night Market also takes place on the DDP grounds for a great time. If you’re wanting something unique to eat, check out the “Little Russia” or the “Central Asian Village” in Gyeonghuidong nearby for some authentic Central Asian and Russian eats and treats.

Myeongdong Station is where you can easily get to the popular neighborhood of Myeongdong while the next station, Hoehyeon Station, brings you to the southern end of Namdaemun Market and also close to Sungnyemun, the great South Gate. Seoul Station is a busy transportation hub with both regular and bullet train lines that run to different parts of Korea. It’s also where you can get on the Airport Express line to easily get to Gimpo or Incheon Airport and where you can find one of two city airport terminals with easy check-in and baggage drop-off services for certain airlines.

For museum lovers, the popular and free Korean War Memorial is best accessed via Samgakji Station while Ichon Station provides access to the National Museum of Korea and the National Hangeul Museum. Ichon is also home to Korea’s largest Japanese expat community with great options for Japanese restaurants, desserts, and goods here.

Across the river, you can access the Seoul National Cemetery via Dongjak Station while trails to the popular peaks of Gwanaksan begins at Sadang Station. Further south, the Seoul Racecourse Park station is where you want to get off to get to the Seoul Race Park for its popular horse racing while the next stop, the Seoul Grand Park, is popular to access the Seoul Land amusement Park, the Gwacheon National Science Museum, the Gwacheon branch of the Seoul Museum of Modern Art, and the Seoul Grand Park.