한국어
A Winter Day in Seoul with Kids
From Ikseon-dong to Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum
I’d been meaning to take Liam out for a little adventure around Seoul, but you know how it goes—plans kept getting pushed back. Before I knew it, our time in Korea was almost over, and I realized we had to squeeze in a day trip while we still could. So we finally did it!
Here’s the route we took:
Jongno 3-ga Station → Ikseon-dong → Lunch → Insadong Cultural Street → Gwanghwamun → Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum → Jonggak
We took the subway and got off at Jongno 3-ga Station. The original plan was to visit the Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum, but we decided to start our day with an early lunch in Ikseon-dong since it was nearby and easy to get to.
If it had been warmer, I think we would’ve made a full day of it—maybe explored Myeongdong or even gone up to Namsan Tower. But since it was winter and most of the places on our list were outdoors, I figured it might be too much for Liam. So instead of trying to cram everything in, we kept it simple and focused on enjoying the museum.
Arrived at Jonggak Station!
No matter where we went from home, taking the subway usually meant at least 40 minutes to an hour of travel—and getting to Jonggak Station was no exception. It took us close to an hour, but I didn’t mind. It had been so long since I last wandered around central Seoul, and even though it was chilly out, I was honestly just excited to be there.
Ikseon-dong – Brunch at Ikseon Japbang
When you come out of Exit 6 at Jongno 3-ga Station, you’re right at the start of Ikseon-dong Street.
We planned to have brunch at a place called Ikseon Japbang, so we headed straight there.
I hadn’t been to Ikseon-dong in five years, but it was just as charming as ever. There were plenty of cute little shops to explore, making it really fun to wander around.
When we got to Ikseon Japbang, all the tables were already full. We had to wait about 10 minutes before we could get in. Looking at the menu, I realized there wasn’t much that Liam could eat. I felt a bit regretful about that, but since I wasn’t sure where else to take him, I just picked something quickly. We ordered something like a big Australian breakfast with a few sides.
Ikseon Japbang has a one-person, one-order policy, but since Liam is a kid and we each ordered a drink, it wasn’t really an issue. The food was simple but decent, and we finished up without any problems.
Insadong Cultural Street – Ssamziegil
We walked from Ikseon-dong over to Insadong.
Ikseon-dong, located in Seoul’s Jongno district, is a charming neighborhood where traditional hanok houses blend beautifully with modern vibes. In recent years, it’s become one of Seoul’s top spots, filled with stylish cafes, great restaurants, and unique shops.
Visitor Tips:
Location: About a 5-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station, which is served by Seoul Subway lines 1, 3, and 5.
Best Time to Visit: Weekends can get crowded, so weekdays in the afternoon or early evening are more relaxing.
Photography: The hanok alleys and cozy cafes make for perfect photo spots.
Since it had snowed, the streets were wet and felt colder than usual. The wind was really strong too, especially as we strolled toward Anguk Station.
On the way, we spotted Ssamziegil. I used to come here all the time when I was a kid, so seeing it again after such a long time, I just couldn’t pass it by.
Liam and I took a stroll around Ssamziegil. There wasn’t much to it, but we enjoyed looking around at the little shops. Liam kept saying he wanted to buy cute gifts for his friends. ^^
Since we still had a long way to go and it was so cold, we didn’t end up buying anything—our hands just couldn’t hold anything for too long!
We walked up toward Anguk Station and then all the way to Gwanghwamun.
The path from Anguk to Gwanghwamun was wide open, and the wind was brutal—like a sharp, biting wind that made my face feel numb from the cold.
I was worried Liam might say he was tired or too cold, but maybe because it was just the two of us, he kept up really well. He did ask to stop for the bathroom at one point, but he held on, and we made it to Gyeongbokgung without any problems.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung, built in 1395, is the first royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty and still stands majestically right in the heart of Seoul.
You can take a leisurely walk around the palace grounds and admire beautiful buildings like Geunjeongjeon Hall, Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, and Hyangwonjeong Pavilion. If you wear a hanbok (traditional Korean dress), admission is free, which makes for a great cultural experience. There are several hanbok rental shops nearby, so it’s easy to dress up and enjoy the palace fully. Don’t miss the changing of the guard ceremony—it’s a must-see if you time it right!
If you walk just a little further along the walls of Gyeongbokgung, you’ll reach the entrance. Even though the weather was cold, it seemed like we were having a good time.
First, we stopped by the restroom, then on the way to the Children’s Museum, we took a quick stroll around some old buildings nearby, snapped a few photos, and headed straight to the museum.
Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum
The Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum is located within the palace grounds, so it’s nice to visit both the palace and the museum together.
We decided to save exploring the palace for another time and focused just on the Children’s Museum this visit.
While looking around Gyeongbokgung, Liam asked me, “What is this place?” I told him it was where kings and queens used to live long ago. Then he cutely asked, “Did Mom and Dad live in that house when you were king and queen?” — I couldn’t help but smile. ><
The Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum offers various exhibitions and programs where kids can experience traditional palace life and culture firsthand.
You need to make an online reservation in advance to visit, but getting a spot is really like catching a star in the sky—it’s that hard! Koreans are very enthusiastic about these events. I kept checking the website many times trying to book for several days, but it was always sold out. One day, maybe because of a last-minute cancellation, I was able to snag the last two spots and we got to go. Admission is free, but you must book online ahead of time.
Website for booking the Children’s Museum
The Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum experience area was divided into two sections.
The Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum isn’t very big, but it offers plenty of fun activities like pounding rice cakes, drawing traditional rice cake shapes, and coloring nocturnal animals. Liam especially loved drawing and coloring, and he spent quite a bit of time on just those. I’d say around two hours is enough to enjoy the activities and explore the museum.
Heading home
After finishing up at the Gyeongbokgung Children’s Museum, we walked past Gwanghwamun Station and took the subway from Jonggak Station back home.
There had been a Christmas market at Gwanghwamun until the day before, but unfortunately, we arrived a day late and could only watch the dismantling.
The Cheonggyecheon Lantern Festival was still going on, and we had planned to catch a glimpse of it after sunset. But by the time we finished at the Children’s Museum, it would’ve meant waiting over an hour for nightfall. So, we canceled that plan, grabbed some ice cream as a snack, and headed home.
