1. Grand Hyatt Seoul Ice Skating Rink (그랜드하얏트 서울 아이스링크)
I haven’t done this in years, but the last time I did I had a blast. You can rent skates as well as partake in delicious Christmas drinks and snacks. I should mention there’s usually a skating rink downtown near city hall at Seoul Plaza, but due to anti government rallies the officials in charge have decided against opening the ice skating rink this year.
Address: 322, Sowol-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 용산구 소월로 322 (한남동)
Operating Hours:
Monday-Friday 12:00-21:00
Saturday, Sunday & National Holidays 10:00-21:00
* December 24, 2016 – January 22, 2017: Ice rink opens Monday to Friday 10:00-21:00
Website: www.grandhyattseoul.co.kr
Closed: December 24, 25, 31
Price:
Mon-Thu (2 hours) Admission ticket 26,000 won / Skate rental 20,000 won
Fri-Sun (2 hours) Admission ticket 32,000 won / Skate rental 20,000 won
2. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) LED Rose Garden
If you want to experience a winter wonderland of lights then head over to Dongdaemun Design Plaza for their Rose Garden of lights. Experience an LED intense display of roses. Best, of course, experienced at night for a truly dazzling sight.
Address: 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (Lawn next to Yigansumun Exhibition Hall)
Directions: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Seoul Subway Line 2, 4, 5), Exit 1.
Event period: Until December 31, 2016
Operating hours: 17:30-24:00 (Note: Starting hour may change as lighting begins from sunset)
Website: www.ddp.or.kr (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
3. Take in the Sunrise at Seoul Tower
Why not greet the New Year head on atop Namsan Mountain at Seoul Tower? It’s tradition to greet the first sunrise of the new year and people all across the country will be doing the same thing. You could take in one of the proper festivals that will be taking place across the nation, but I suggest heading to the middle of the city, heading up tothe top of Namsan, and greeting the new year with your fellow Seoulites. As an alternative you could hop down to the Han and enjoy the new year’s sunrise at one of the dozen or so parks that line the river.
4. The Nutcracker at Seoul Art Center
What’s the holiday season without the Nutcracker? Thankfully you don’t have to find out. The wonderful dancers from the Korean National Ballet will perform the popular holiday program for all to enjoy. For the last fifteen years the show has sold out due to its popularity. The Bolshoi Theatre version of ‘the Nutcracker’ choreographed by Russian Choreographer Yury Nikolayevich Grigorovich will be performed. In this version of the ballet, the nutcracker, normally portrayed as a wooden doll on stage, is played by a child dancer and the name of the main character is changed from Clara to Marie. This version will also feature much more dance scenes as all the mime acts are substituted with dances.
Venue: Seoul Arts Center (Seocho-gu Seoul)
Period: December 18 – 25, 2012
Price: 90,000won (R section) / 70,000won (S section)/ 60,000won (A section)/ 30,000 (B section) / 20,000won (C Section)
Website: www.sacticket.co.kr (Korean, English)
Phone: +82-2-580-1300 (Korean, English, Japanese)
5. Green Tea Plantation Light Festival
It may seem like an odd time to visit Tea Fields, but as the wintry weather enfolds the land the bright Christmas and seasonal lights put on display will create quite a spectacle against the pristine rows and rows of Boseong’s Green Tea Fields. Sure it’s a trip outside of Seoul but its more than worth it especially since it’s free!
Dates: Sunday 11 December 2016 – Tuesday 31 January 2017
Time: Sun-Thurs 6-10pm / Fri,Sat,Xmas Eve 6pm-12am / New Year’s Eve 6pm-7am
Price: Free admission
Venue: Boseong Green Tea Fields, Hoecheon-myeon, Boseong-gun, Jeollanam-do
Directions: From Seoul Central City Bus Terminal, take an express bus to Gwangju. From Gwangju U-Square Bus Terminal, transfer to a direct bus to Boseong. From Boseong Terminal, take a local bus bound for Green Tea Plantation.
6. Bosingak Bell-Ringing Ceremony
Typically this ceremony commeorates the opening and closing of the four main gates. However, on December 31st you can go and ring in the coming of the new year along with thousands of others. Join in on the blessings of happiness, good health, and good fortune for 2017. The entire ceremony climaxes at Midnight with the bell ringing 33 times. Don’t worry because the busses and subways will operate on extended hours that night.
Date: 12.31.2016 ~ 01.01.2017Address54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 종로구 종로 54 (관철동)LocationArea around Bosingak Belfry in Jong-ro, Jongno-gu.Telephone• 1330
7. teamLab World
Hidden beneath the Lotte World Amusement park awaits the digital amusement park teamLab World. Here it’s not about rides but intead an interacive art exhibit along with exhibitions and installations to stimulate the mind and entrance the eyes. Check it out and discover how magical light truly is.
Address: 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Directions: Located next to the Lotte World Ticket Booth on the B1 level of Lotte World.
Hours: 10:00-21:00 (ticket booth hours 09:30-20:00)
Website: http://seoul.teamlabworld.com
Telephone: +82-2-1670-3114
8. Myeongdong Shopping Spree
Myeong-dong really is one of the places to shop in Seoul. You can wander the many crisscrossing side streets discovering new items you never knew you wanted. You can stick to the major thoroughfares and pop in and out of the mega brand name shops that line the streets. You won’t be alone, the streets of Myeondong will be crowded with Christmas shoppers all out looking for that special gift. You could spend all day on the streets just savoring the dizzying array of street food on hand to fuel your shopping adventures.
Transportation: 230m from Exit #6, Euljiro 1-ga Station, Subway Line 2 (4 minutes) Exit #6, Myeongdong Station, Subway Line 4
9. HANHWA RESORT SLEDDING
With the coming of the winter season snow should be in the forefront of your mind. Although we’ve had two snowfalls already that pesky climate change situation has, so far, left us with no white Christmas in sight. However, if the powder does fall and stay I suggest hitting up the Hanwa resort for some seasonal sledding. My previous trip there was for a school outing and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. You could even book at night at the resort and make it a Hanhwa Resort Hotel overnight trip. Of course if there’s no snow don’t expect much in the way of sledding to happen.
Admission: 10,000 KRW for sledding
Address: Shinbok-Ri, Okcheonmyeon, Yangpyeonggun, Gyeonggi-province , Yangpyeong, 141-5
Directions: Take the Cheongnangni Station train to Yangpyeong in Gyneonggi-do. Then take the shuttle bus in front of the YangpyeongTheater which is about 100 meters south of the subway station.
10. Go Skiing or Snowboarding at Bearstown or Phoenix Park
Yeah, I know it’s not exactly in the city of Seoul, but there are resorts close enough for a day trip of fun on the slopes! Resorts cover Korea, but the two I suggest are close proximity to Seoul (only ninety minutes to two hours away) and boast ample facilities. First up, there’s Phoenix Park. It’s going to be part of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games. Best thing ever is that you can catch a shuttle from either Jamsil Sports Complex or Samseong Station. Contact the Resort for more info. Option number two is Bearstown and its much closer being about fifty minutes from Seoul. They have approved slopes from the International Ski Federation. There are 11 slopes for you to try, ranging from beginning to expert. For Ski shuttle times check out their website here.
