Do high fuel prices make you think twice about leaving the city? Seoul still has plenty of ways to offer a small escape. This weekend, check out the new Italian pavilion at Nowon Train Village, which takes visitors through famous landmarks in miniature. Or head to Namsan, where ByTofu serves tofu-centered vegan meals for runners and casual diners looking to recharge. Here, you don't need a plane ticket to take a trip through Italy. At Nowon Train Village in northern Seoul, a newly opened Italian

Spring has reached its most vivid point in Seoul, making it the perfect time to step outside to take it all in. At Yongsan Children’s Garden, a once off-limits military site reborn as a public park, wide lawns and quiet paths offer a rare sense of openness in the city’s core. For something more steeped in history, the Secret Garden at Changdeokgung Palace unfolds in gentle harmony with nature, its trails lined with blossoms, ponds and wooded hills. Both destinations invite a slower pace — an eas

From light pleasures to grand stages, The Korea Herald presents contrasting ways to spend the weekend. A design-focused stationery shop in Yeonnam-dong offers a charming escape, while the Sejong Center hosts a grand operatic production. A five-story stationery haven in Yeonnam If you’re a fan of all things cute — especially accessories and paper goods — you'll find a building entirely devoted to stationery in the streets of Yeonnam-dong in western Seoul. With five above-ground floors plus a base

Cherry blossoms set the stage for a lively atmosphere in Yeouido this weekend, where an outdoor concert series brings music to the banks of the Han River. On the other side of the city, near Seoul Forest, a quiet cafe in Seongdong-gu pairs coffee with knitting, offering an oasis of calming in the city. Stitching time away in a cozy Seoul Forest hideaway Located just steps from Seoul Forest in Seongdong-gu, Cafe Merino offers a quieter alternative to the surrounding bustle of Seongsu-dong — bring

Spring sets the stage for an easy weekend escape, and just 40 minutes from Seoul, a coastal park offers fresh sea air and a welcome pause from the city. Meanwhile, cold dishes typically enjoyed in the summer are making an early return, such as Pyongyang naengmyeon — chilled buckwheat noodles in a delicate, understated broth. The ocean is closer to Seoul than most people realize. A 40-minute drive south from the city center drops you at Baegot Hanul Park, a 5-kilometer coastal stretch that hugs t

Weekends in Seoul are often shaped by familiar rituals — a cafe visit, a gallery stroll or a quiet afternoon in the city. But sometimes a different kind of outing can make the day more memorable. This weekend offers two such options. At one spot, visitors can go beyond simply ordering a scoop and instead craft their own pint of ice cream, turning dessert into a playful act of creation. At another, an exhibition invites viewers to experience art not only with their eyes, but also with their hands

With spring stepping into the city, this weekend calls for plans that feel both fresh and a little unexpected. For those craving calm, a serene cafe at the entrance of Eunpyeong Hanok Village offers coffee with panoramic views of hanok rooftops and Bukhansan in the distance. If you’re in the mood for something more futuristic, Dongdaemun Design Plaza is hosting the Seoul AI Festival 2026, where 17 humanoid robots will be on display from Saturday to Sunday. This weekend, you can get a glimpse of

Winter is drawing to a close, but its lingering, mysterious aura remains in Seoul, where tunnels of light offer a glowing escape, like a passage to another world. For a contrasting experience, a small, intimate seafood restaurant in Sindang, central Seoul, invites diners to savor the freshest seasonal flavors in a quiet corner of the city. The following are The Korea Herald's picks for this weekend. Each February, the outdoor plaza at the foot of sky-piercing Lotte World Tower is given over to a

Still deciding how to spend the weekend or celebrate Valentine’s Day? Whether you’re in the mood for something sweet and romantic or playful and hands-on, these two spots offer refreshing but distinctly different ways to mark the occasion. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to follow your sweet tooth and seek out new chocolate havens around the city. Tucked away in a quiet corner, La Vie en Coco offers artisanal chocolates and a cosy retreat to those stopping by. The boutique has continued it

Tucked into Nakwon Sangga, one of the country’s largest instrument-focused shopping complexes, EDLS offers live jazz within a distinctly contemporary environment. Located in central Seoul and right in front of Jongno 3-ga Station on Subway Line No. 5, the venue is easily reachable via multiple transportation options. Its spacious interior is also designed to accommodate a sizable audience. Guests enter with a 15,000 won cover charge — drink order required — and are seated for high-quality live j