Photo: Sean Young (@assanges) · CC BY 4.0
Myeongdong — Seoul's hub for K-beauty shopping and street food
Myeongdong is the street in Seoul that visitors from abroad visit most. Cosmetics shops, duty-free stores and street-food stalls are packed into a few blocks, so half a day is enough for both shopping and a meal.
Getting there
Take Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong Station — exits 5 and 6 open right onto the main street. On Line 2, use exits 5 or 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station and walk about 5 minutes. From Seoul Station it's two stops on Line 4 (Hoehyeon, then Myeongdong), about 4 minutes. From Incheon Airport, take the Airport Railroad (AREX) to Seoul Station and change to Line 4.
What to see
Myeongdong Cathedral
Completed in 1898, it was Korea's first Gothic-style church. It sits a short walk uphill from the main street, and the grounds are quiet — a good place to rest between shops.
Namdaemun Market
About 10 minutes on foot. Where Myeongdong caters to visitors, Namdaemun is where locals shop: tableware, glasses, kitchenware and clothing.
Namsan and N Seoul Tower
You can walk from near Myeongdong Station to the Namsan cable car. Go up in the evening for the city lights.
What to do
Cosmetics shopping
Olive Young and other cosmetics shops are on every block. Free gifts for the same product vary from shop to shop, so compare a few. Most stores handle tax refund paperwork, and many staff speak foreign languages.
Currency exchange
Myeongdong has many private exchange booths, usually with better rates than banks. Each booth posts the day's rates outside, so compare before you go in. Some ask for your passport, so bring it.
Duty-free shopping
The Lotte Department Store main branch and its duty-free shop are within walking distance.
What to eat
Street food
In the evening, stalls line the main street: tornado potatoes, gyeran-ppang (egg bread), chicken skewers, strawberry mochi and more. Most food is eaten standing, and some stalls take cash only, so carry small bills.
Restaurants
Many places serve single portions of kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) or tonkatsu. Being a tourist area, prices run a little higher than elsewhere.
Taking a break
Cafés are everywhere; those on the second floor and up usually have more seats. For restrooms, subway stations, large stores and department stores are your best bet. The street-food area has almost none, so go beforehand.
Best times to visit
Shops open around 10 a.m., and the street is quiet in the morning — the best time for relaxed cosmetics shopping. Crowds build through the afternoon and peak in the evening, when the stalls open. The stalls start packing up around 9 p.m.
Good to know
Touts may approach you on the street; if you're not interested, just keep walking. Stall prices are fixed, so there's no bargaining. Weekends and public holidays are very crowded and slow going.