10 Things to do in Seoul at Christmas

South Korea's capital, Seoul, is a culturally rich place with a picturesque city scene that combines the traditional with the modern. The city is home to skyscrapers, towering palaces and natural wonders.

During the Christmas season, you'll find a wide range of activities on offer. You can attend the Festival of Lights, skate on an ice rink, and even go snowboarding or skiing on the city' s snowy hills. You'll also have the option to shop at flea markets and go to some of the best things to do in Seoul at Christmas.

A must-do activity on your 3-day itinerary in Seoul or more happens to be the city's Christmas Festival. This is an annual event thatwill transport you to a real winter fairytale. You will be amazed by the dozens of beautiful decorations that sparkle with LED lights.

This festival, considered one of the largest in Seoul, takes place in an area of approximately 1.2 kilometres in the vicinity of the Sisul. Once you are there, you will find an undeniable atmosphere of celebration: the lights, the snow on the branches of the plants, the gigantic Christmas trees.

You can get close to Santa's Village, take lots of pictures, taste the products offered at the food stalls and even light a flying wishing lantern. After the festival, you can continue to enjoy the attractions of the city. Perhaps go to the 63 Sky Art and Aqua Planet 63 viewing platform in Seoul, which is about 40 minutes away.

A good idea during Christmas is to enjoy the nightlife and try the city's national drink, soju. You'll beat the winter chill that characterises December in Seoul and experience an important part of South Korean culture.

In the city, you'll find many bars where you can sample this sweet-tasting traditional alcoholic beverage. For example, some popular places to visit are:

• The Timber House Hyatt, which offers a traditional design inspired by a hanok or traditional Korean house.
• The Vinga, a Korean wine bar with jazz nights.

On this Seoul pub c rawl for Christmas soju, you can also try other popular drinks. Such is the case of craft beer and makgeolli; this is a rice and wheat wine, considered the oldest drink in South Korea.

Seeing the city skyline, which at Christmas time is dotted with snow and sparkling lights, is another thing you can do on your 1-5 day stay in Seoul or longer. You'll find several natural lookouts, towers and bridges, from which you'll get amazing views.

Some of the highlights you can visit to take in the sights of the city include the following:

• Haneul Park Hill, with a picturesque natural scene.
• Seoul Fortress Wall, with a history dating back to 1396.
• Banpo Bridge, over the Han River in the centre of the city.

You can also go to the N Seoul Tower observation deck, located at the top of Namsan Mountain. This is an approximately 236-metre-high tower, which provides a full panoramic view of the city.

As you stroll through the streets of Seoul, you'll come across a number of natural parks, which take on an even greater charm at Christmas time. This is because they are decorated with a seasonal theme. Not only will you see the characteristic snow on the ground and tree branches, but you'll also enjoy the large and colourful decorations, which vary annually.

Some of the parks most popular with locals and tourists alike, where you'll discover a Christmas scene to enjoy and take lots of photos are these:

• Yeouido Park, which stands out in the heart of the city's financial district.
• Hangang Park, a natural lung on the banks of the Han River. Here, you'll find a lively atmosphere at Christmas time.
• The Dream Forest; an urban park with a tranquil setting, a lake and lush greenery.

This is definitely a must-do activity during your stay, which you could incorporate into your itinerary along with other experiences. For example, a private tour of Seoul and, thus, discover some museums, the best palaces of Seoul, among other destinations of interest.

Come to the city's largest amusement complex, Lotte World, which at Christmas time is covered with amazing decorations and dozens of sparkling lights. You'll feel like a kid discovering all the magic of this park, which is included in the list of attractions of the Discover Seoul Pass, a great way to experience many adventures in the city while saving on your trip.

When you arrive at Lotte World you will find a huge Christmas festival with many attractions. Some of them are:

• Santa's Village, which offers a picturesque area for you to take pictures and create great memories of your visit to the city. Also, as you wander through this area you will come across some iconic seasonal characters such as Father Christmas and his faithful elves. You will also see Santa Haraboji, who is a Korean character that represents the spirit of the holiday season.
• The musical performances are aimed at all ages. You will enjoy everything from Christmas music to Kpop performances. After all, you are in Korea, the land of this popular musical genre.
• The Christmas parade; a colourful spectacle with parades, extravagant costumes and lots of snow.

Of course, there will be no shortage of food stalls and restaurants where you can eat hotteok (a Korean pancake with seeds and honey inside), moon cake, bungo ppang (fish cake), roasted chestnuts and much more. Plus, if you find yourself in this Seoul park at night, you'll have the chance to witness a mind-blowing fireworks display.

At Christmas, South Koreans don't have a specific dish to eat. However, they celebrate by eating some traditional South Korean dishes: kimchi, noodles, bulgogi, moon cake, etc. Visit some restaurants or street food stalls in the main markets and eat like a local.

To carry out this experience you will have many places throughout the city. For example:

• Namdaemun Market. There you will find hand-cut noodles, tteokbokki (rice cake with pepper sauce), odeng (fish cake served with broth for dipping), among others.
• Euljiro food stalls, with the famous spicy ramyeon (instant noodles), roasted chestnuts, fish cake, jeon (fried vegetable pancake), corn dog (Korean skewers) and much more.
• Gwangjang market with barbecue, mandu (steamed dumplings filled with meat or kimchi), bibimbap (rice bowl with vegetables and meat), bindae-tteok (pancake made of bean flour, meat and vegetables), and more.

Also, if you're a culinary enthusiast, you could take the opportunity to join a Korean cooking class and visit a market in Seoul. This is a very popular activity, considered among the best food tours in Seoul.

If you are a winter sports enthusiast and don't know what to do for Christmas during your stay in the South Korean capital, you should know that Seoul in winter has some impressive snow-capped mountains. You can hop on your snowboard, ski or sled and spend a day with a difference on these natural slopes.

In the city, you'll find several ski resorts with snow-packed trails and slopes suitable for all ages and levels of experience, with three of the most popular with locals and tourists alike:

• Yongpyong Resort, with around 28 slopes over an area of about 13.6 kilometres and approximately 14 chairlifts.
• The Vivaldi Park, with about 13 slopes with light slopes, 10 chairlifts, restaurant and terrace. A true paradise for snow lovers.
• The Phoenix Snow Park, known for hosting a number of snowboarding and freestyle skiing competitions throughout the year. This resort has approximately 22 slopes and a ski school specially designed for foreigners.

When you arrive at these resorts, you will be able to rent the necessary equipment for the respective practices, as well as hire an instructor. This is in case you don't have any experience on snow. In addition, you can join a guided activity to visit these snow-capped mountains at Christmas time, which would definitely be one of the best tours in Seoul.

Visiting the Hyundai Mall Christmas Village is a unique experience you can have during your stay in Seoul. It is a stunning, life-size village that evokes the charm of Christmas stories.

The village is located inside the Hyundai Mall. Once you enter this fantastic village you will see a gigantic Christmas tree approximately 13 metres high. There are also about 120 smaller trees covered with snow and sparkling lights.

As you walk through the narrow streets you will find around 16 small shops where you can buy souvenirs, seasonal decorations, fashion, jewellery and more. In addition, you will have access to some restaurants and cafes where you can eat, for example, a sweet pancake with a cup of tea.

If you like ice skating, you should know that there are several ice rinks available in Seoul, where you can have a different time at Christmas. You'll be surrounded by a lively atmosphere: lights, seasonal decorations, music and lots of people who, like you, want to have fun.

A good option is the indoor r ink at the Lotte World recreation complex. There are also the outdoor rinks at Seoul Plaza. There you'll find three rinks of different sizes for skating and a fourth for sledding.

Whichever rink you decide to visit over Christmas, you won't have to worry if it's your first time. There's usually a rink worker on hand to guide you through your first steps on the ice. After all, you don't want to win an Olympic competition, the aim is to have fun.

South Koreans are used to attending plays at Christmas time to experience the magic of the season. Let yourself be surprised by these productions, which year after year revive some of the classic tales of world literature.

One of the most popular plays you can enjoy in Seoul is The Nutcracker. An adaptation of the fairy tale by Russian writer Ernst Theodor Hoffmann, performed by the Korean National Ballet. Also, the famous A Christmas Carol by English writer Charles Dickens.

To enjoy these shows you should visit the city's main theatres. For example, the National Theatre of Korea in Seoul offers several performances every year. Likewise, the Charlotte Theatre, The Hyundai Seoul Mall Theatre, among others.