Guide To Family-Friendly Seoul With Kids

FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOTELS AND APARTMENTS IN SEOUL

So many accommodation options in Seoul — which ones are the best? It of course matters what you prioritize as well. For those who appreciate the convenience of staying near a subway station, we’d recommend hotels like ENA Suite Hotel, located just a three minute walk away from City Hall Station, which is actually connected to two different train lines.

LINE Hotel in Myeongdong is also situated in a pretty good location, and it sits in the middle of two train stations. In fact, Euljiro1(il)-ga station is just a stone's throw away from the hotel and is on one of the major train lines with stops at many major touristy areas. Myeong-dong station is about a 7 to 10 minute walk away and sits on a different line, so you get to choose which station you'd like to depart from depending on your destination for the day.

There are also many beautiful boutique hotels in Seoul, including the RYSE Autograph Collection Hotel, a modern and gorgeous space that's conveniently located within the Hongdae area. It's one of the must-visit areas for tourists, so it's a perfect choice for accommodation.

If you prefer apartments to hotels, there are also lovely Airbnb homes that have been furnished and decorated nicely for tourists. This modern-looking house is spacious enough for a family of four with two separate bedrooms and a nice common area. It's also conveniently located near Myeong-dong station.

If you prefer to have the whole family bunk in the same room, this simple but beautiful apartment has enough beds for a family of four, and both double beds are side by side in the same room. These Airbnb apartments also tend to have fully functional kitchens and washing machines, which is great for families who wish to do laundry or cook their own meals on some nights.

FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN SEOUL

Korean cuisine alone is a reason to visit Seoul! Top picks are Sanchon for creative vegetarian food served in a traditional Hanok House and Sosonjae when you need a break from strolling and shopping in Samcheong. The wood-fired pizza at Pizza D’Buzza is a hit with kids and parents!

One of the more popular restaurants that both locals and tourists enjoy dining at is Tosokchon Samgyetang, which serves delicious ginseng chicken soup. For kids who may not be too fond of ginseng, there are also options like Korean pancakes and rotisserie chicken that they can eat with rice.

Everyone should at least have one Korean BBQ meal while in South Korea, right? Maple Tree House is a premium BBQ restaurant that serves quality marinated meat that's really tasty. The staff also help cook and cut the meat for guests, so the kids also get bite-sized meat to enjoy with rice or vegetable wraps. There are also side dishes like soybean or kimchi soup, and there's also a complimentary steamed egg dish for every table.

BEAUTIFUL CAFES IN SEOUL

There are cafes and coffee shops galore in Seoul (literally on every corner), so pick one that looks cozy and take a break a relax!

Cafe Onion is a good place to start, and they've got a delicious range of savory and sweet treats to try. Each one is flavorful and can be enjoyed as you sit and chill at the beautiful cafe with its raw aesthetic. The place tends to be pretty packed with locals even on weekdays, which is a good indication that the items on their menu truly taste good!

Cafe Layered is another lovely place for the family to take a break in. Their aesthetic is pretty quirky and vintage-like, and once you walk in you'll feel as if you've entered a kitsch cottage that's filled with eye-catching pastries on display.

For sweet treats that look cute, visit Hold The Door, a small cafe that serves some of the most adorable brookies. It seems that their most popular pick is the Fake Ghost Brookie, so do head down to the cafe early if you or the kids wish to try this cute treat!

For retro vibes, head to Midopa Coffeehouse, a quaint old-school cafe that has a pretty simple coffee and cereal menu, but the vibes here are so dope that it'd make for a cute background if you guys want to take a family picture! It'd even be adorable if all of you dress up in retro outfits.

THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN SEOUL

For traditional Korea, visit the Changgyeonggung Palace and Gyeongbokgung Palace and stroll the streets of Bukchon to see the traditional hanok houses. The art galleries and National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in the Samcheong area are a must for culture vultures as well as the Leeum Samsung Art Gallery with the Kids Gallery (check the website for kids activities) and the Zaha Hadid-designed Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Museum (enjoy the huge grass area outside!).

To take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, take an afternoon stroll through Namsan Park and enjoy the city views.  A visit is not complete without a shopping run through Insadong where you will feast your eyes and wallets on antiques, groovy galleries, and more.

Kids might also enjoy visiting theme parks like Everland and Lotte World. Lotte World is located within Seoul so it's super convenient to get to, and they have many kid-friendly rides that aren't scary. Everland is located in Gyeonggi-do, but you can take a public bus from Seoul and the duration of the bus ride is about an hour or so.

For animal lovers, Alpaca World is a must-visit attraction that's worth a visit. There, you'll be able to meet alpacas up close and feed them, and you even get to be inside the same pen as them while doing it! There are also many animals you can meet and feed while you're there, including rabbits and goats. Although it's not located in Seoul, you can join a Nami Island + Alpaca World Tour day tour that brings you to both of these family-friendly attractions fuss free!

BEST PHONE APPS FOR TOURISTS IN SEOUL

Technology has made travel that much easier, and instead of finding directions with physical maps we now have phone maps that make the process easier and more efficient.

Before you visit South Korea, you can download NAVER Map, an English app that helps direct you through the streets of South Korea. It's great for navigation because it has all the updated data about roads and buildings in the country.

Planning your route is made easier with the Subway Korea mobile app, an application that lists all subway stations within Seoul and assists with mapping the best subway route for you. All you have to do is key in the station you wish to depart from and arrive at. The app even provides information like approximate fare, total travel time, and even timings for the last train.

Naver Papago is an excellent translator app that comes in handy when you need to read Korean street signs or communicate with staff who don't speak your native language. It's pretty user-friendly and can also translate using images or voice.