5 Best City Trips to Take in 2017 (See the Original)

Seoul ranked in the second of the 5 best cities to take in 2017. All you need to do is turn your gaze to Seoul, South Korea’s capital. Greater Seoul, with its population of 25 million people, can make even the most hardened urbanite feel like a country bumpkin.

Start in Gangnam, the flashy section of Seoul south of the Han River, which acts as a kind of border of its own, neatly bisecting the city, dividing the old Seoul of palaces, markets, and government ministries from the new Seoul of cloud-scraping high-rises, cutting-edge restaurants, and tottering fashionistas.

Then rocket up an elevator to the observatory deck of N Seoul Tower—located on Mount Namsan, an idyllic 859-foot promontory—to behold the immensity of Seoul.

Do you desire some old-school imperial Korea? Cruise on down—via cable car, regally—to Changdeokgung, the Palace of Illustrious Virtue, the home of Korea’s last emperor.

Restore your humanity with a walk through the alleyways of Bukchon Hanok Village, where more than 900 traditional Korean homes and guesthouses have been carefully preserved. Then make your way to nearby Hyoja-dong, long a home for craftsmen, but increasingly known for its avant-garde art galleries.

And now you’re hungry, of course. What Seoul does really well is street food. Spicy rice cakes and Korean fried chicken are ubiquitous. Nearly every Korean, it seems, is passionate about food. And you soon understand why. Korean cuisine is not subtle. Every bite is a carnival of tastes. -J. Maarten Troost

Discover more about Seoul.