How to Spend a Sunday Afternoon in Gangnam

Yeoksam-dong at night

Typically, I choose to makes plans with friends on Sundays for a few reasons. Sundays are generally less busy on public transportation, streets, restaurants and other places. Another reason is just because Sunday has become my fun day this time around in Korea. Saturdays is usually the day I rest now because I know that's when everyone is out. Gangnam is now my new favourite place to play. If you are looking for things to do in Gangnam then read the guide below!

Morning

Find inner peace at Bongeunsa Temple

Price: Free!

Bongeunsa Temple

Located in the heart of Seoul, Bongeunsa is a very intriguing buddhist temple. Although it is in a very busy part of the city, the temple itself is very peaceful and free from traffic noise. Another plus is that it is not very busy. It seems as though visitors prefer to go to other temples in the city. However, Bongeunsa is a great place to just wander around to get away from the madness of Seoul. 

Walk around COEX mall

Price: Free!

When I first came to Korea, COEX mall was just opening. COEX mall is the largest underground mall in Asia! So, it's a place you need to visit. Now, there a lot more stores and attractions in this mall to keep you entertained. This mall has also added a massive bookstore that looks like something of of Beauty and the Beast. This bookstore is an attraction on it's own!

Afternoon

Have a Cheap but Fancy Brunch at a Hotel/Cafe

Price: ₩10,000- 20,000

Brunch at Dorocy in Hotel

Gangnam is a great place for brunch, as there are so many new brunch cafes. Dorocy in Hotel is a cute three story cafe that serves brunch and dinner entrees. This cafe's interior is just like a hotel and on the outside is a Bellman's luggage trolley. They have typical brunch menu like French Toast, Eggs Benedict and some other dishes. It's a really cute place to go with friend or as a couple! 

Relax in a healing cafe

Price: ₩4,000- ₩10,000

Massages are fun, but they can also be really expensive. Healing cafes are a place where you can get a body massage for a cheap price. However, these body massages will not be as thorough because they are chairs but they do the trick. The price varies depending on how much time you want. The massages are in intervals of 20, 40 and 60 minutes. The chairs massage your feet, legs, arms, back and head plus you get a coffee after. It's a great way to pass the time if you are looking for things to do.

Visit the Kakao Friends Store

Price: Free!

Kakao Friends is a staple if you live in Korea. Stores are popping up everywhere with these cute characters. The Kakao Friends store has a variety of stationary, apparel, jewelry, toys, etc. for you to check out. If you aren't interested in buying then just wandering around and taking pictures is fun too. Each store also has areas set up for photos and also statues you can pose with. 

Get lost in the Gangnam backstreets

Price: Free!

Yeoksam-dong in Gangnam is such an enthralling area to get lost in. There are so many back and side streets with amazing authentic Korean restaurants, cool cafes and other places. Here you see crowds of young Koreans out and about with their friends. When a place is drawing with the younger crowd that is usually a place you want to be. Don't forget to look up while you walk around, as most places in Korea are built on top of each other!

Window Shop in Gangnam's subway station

Price: Free!

Gangnam Station is one of the busiest subway stops in Seoul. This station is widely known for it's underground shopping mall. Endless shoe, clothing, electronic and accessories stores which offer low to mid priced items make Gangnam Station is a fun place to window shop. 

Eat sushi from a conveyor belt

Price: ₩23,000 All-you-can-eat for one hour

Ever since experiencing sushi from a conveyor belt in Osaka, I have been obsessed with restaurants like this. Donghaedo is a Japanese restaurant a few minutes north from Gangnam Station Exit 11, where you can do just that. Here you can pick whatever sushi you would like to eat as it is all-you-can-eat for an hour. It's Korean style sushi, meaning that the sushi is different from what you may actually have in Japan. Nevertheless, it is still delicious!

Evening

Walk around the Beverly Hills of Korea-- Garosugil

Price: Free!

Between Sinsa and Apgujeong Station is where Garosugil is located. Garosugil meaning tree-lined street, is a trendy and fashionable place to hang out. It's even gained the nickname of "Korean Beverly Hills" which is extremely fitting. Summer is one of the best times to visit as the trees are all green and the area is most vibrant. Here you can find brand names like MCM, H&M and more! If you are hungry, there are also many amazing restaurants and dessert cafes with beautiful decor.

Watch a movie in one of Seoul's cool cinemas

Price:₩9,000-50,000

A great way to end your day would be to watch the latest movie. Korea has a fascinating range of cinemas with different themes. In Apgujeong you can find all kinds of cinemas like 3D, 4DX, IMAX, Cine de Chef, premium, private, tempur cinema and more! There used to be a Beats by Dre theatre where you use the actual head phones in the theatre to hear the movie but that is long gone. The tempur cinema is really interesting, you actually watch a movie in a tempur-pedic bed! How cool is that?! 

Read more: Tempur-Cinema