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Tips for a holiday in Seoul, South Korea
A holiday in Seoul is spent in a vibrant and bustling metropolis, after Japanese Tokyo the world's second largest city with over 25 million residents who are handsome, obsessive about beauty, sit naked in a bathhouse and frown when someone walks around in public with bare shoulders. The capital of South Korea is also the world's most wired city, the Asian version of Silicon Valley where multinationals like Hyundai and Samsung are headquartered.
Seoul is one of Asia's financial, cultural and technological hubs with a history dating back many centuries. Its favourable location between mountains and a river made it a royal capital as early as 1394, chosen by the ruler of the Joseon dynasty then in power. Some palaces, temples and ramparts from this era can still be seen during a holiday in Seoul, although the Japanese occupation and the Korean Civil War caused considerable destruction.
If you plan on visiting this dynamic city to experience its rich history, culture, and advanced technology, consider staying in one of the Seoul apartments on www.seoulhotelspage.com. These accommodations are equipped with the conveniences of home, offering an immersive experience into the day-to-day life of a local in this wonderful city.
The most astonishing revival, however, began in the 1970s, when Seoul transformed from a poverty-stricken Third World city into a progressive metropolis where residents developed a loving relationship with technology and science. International recognition came when the city got to host two of the world's biggest sporting events: the Olympics in 1988 and the World Cup in 2002. Now you will find a place with ultramodern architecture and skyscrapers of glass and steel, while the village feel is not far away in neighbourhoods with traditional wooden houses and mazes of cobbled alleys.
Tradition and modernisation go hand in hand, you will find during a holiday in Seoul. Neon advertisements and glittering designer boutiques scream for attention, young people crowd trendy cocktail bars, you can charge your smartphone anywhere and wifi is available for free throughout the city. Yet you will also find streets lined with food stalls, theatres performing traditional Korean dance and palaces with gently sloping eaves where you can experience peace and serenity. Wandering through the endless series of busy streets and alleys, there is always something to discover. Keeping up with the pace can be a challenge, but the constant flow of activity means that there is always something original coming your way in Seoul.
Sightseeing in Seoul
Seoul may have a modern feel these days, but you'll still find plenty of historical sights in the South Korean capital. You can visit centuries-old palaces and temples or wander around a six-century-old district with traditional houses. But Seoul also has Asia's largest shopping district. ► Read more about the best sights in Seoul here