11 Romantic Date Ideas in Seoul for K-Drama-Like Romance
Seoul feels like it was designed for couples, with tons of incredible date spots and romantic activities. My Korean fiancé and I have been on all kinds of magical and authentic dates throughout the city and here is our selection of the best date ideas in Seoul!
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TLTR? Here are the best dates in Seoul for each type of couple
✨ First date: Share a cozy bowl of ramen by the Han River
🏛️ History geeks: Rent Hanboks and explore Gyeongbokgung Palace
🍜 Foodies: Grab delicious French food and enjoy the Hanok architecture of Dugahun
📸 Instagram couples: Go to a self-photo studio for a fun and affordable photoshoot
Fun date activities in Seoul
Seoul is a date-spot-filled city, and modern Korean culture really revolves around being in pairs. Let’s go through my favorite date activities in Seoul!
Pro tip: Korean couples love wearing matching items, like matching sneakers or sweaters. If you want to blend in with the local dating culture, consider getting some matching pieces for your dates around Seoul!
1. Dress up in a Hanbok and explore Gyeongbokgung Palace
💵 Cost: ~₩15000-20000 (USD 12-15) per hanbok rental (or USD120 including a guide and photoshoot)
🚃 How to get there: Take subway line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station or Anguk Station. Alternatively, you can take line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station and walk up the beautiful Sejong-dae-ro (a historic street in Seoul)
👘 Hanbok rental: My fiancé and I rented ours at Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung and enjoyed the experience!
Wearing kimonos in Japan is a tourist thing, but wearing traditional clothing (AKA hanbok) in Korea is a sweet and common activity also done by local couples!
Gyeongbokgung Palace is a must-visit attraction in Seoul, and wearing a hanbok allows you to enter the palace without paying the ~₩ 3,000 (~2 USD) entrance fee. There, you’ll find tons of locals and tourists wearing traditional Korean clothing, setting a historic K-drama vibe.
Renting hanbok is easy as there are many rental shops in the areas surrounding the palace. The rentals are incredibly affordable, and you should expect to pay just USD 15-20 for the day.
For a fancy and educative spin on this date, you can add a Hanbok photoshoot & History Tour to make it even more memorable!
2. Share a cozy bowl of ramen by the Han River
💵 Cost: ~₩4000-5000 (USD 4) per bowl of noodles
🚃 How to get there: Go on subway line 5 to Yeouinaru Subway Station (여의나루)
🍜 Addresses of spots to go for ramen and sightseeing by the Han River: 7-11, E-mart 24, and you can find many as you walk around Yeouido Hangang Park!
A common date activity for locals is grabbing ramen and eating it by the Han River at Yeouido Hangang Park. You can choose to picnic or sit in the ramen shop seating areas.
These ramen places have stations where you can build your own noodles in a giant bowl as opposed to just adding water like your average cup noodles. Enjoying ramen in one of these spots along the Han River is a unique and authentic experience to have in Korea!
The view of the Han River is stunning both during the day and night, and sharing this experience with other couples and groups of friends adds a romantic, authentic touch to this classic Seoul date.
This activity is common year-long, but enjoying the warm ramen feels extra good during the winter months!
3. Get a couple’s photoshoot
💵 Cost: ~₩4,000-8,000 (USD 3-6) for a photo booth and ~₩50,000-100,000 (USD 40-80) for a self-photoshoot in a professional studio
📸 Photo studios: There are photo booths in every corner, but this one in Gangnam is my favorite! For my self-photo studio shoot, I went to odt.mode at Shilla Stay and loved it
There are fancy photo booths everywhere in Seoul, and stopping by one of them for a quick photoshoot is a must-do activity for couples in Korea.
Beyond the quick USD 3 photo booth experience, couples can go on a range of super fun photoshoots! Photo studios offer incredible packages that can match each couple’s personal style.
For an affordable but still professional and fun photo shoot, I recommend going to a self-photo studio. My fiancé and I went to one to take our engagement pictures and loved the experience!
In such studios, you can book a time slot (typically USD 40 for 20 minutes) and shoot your own pictures using a shutter. Self-photo studios in Korea are a trend, and the shutter appearing in the photo is often seen as an added charm!
Whatever photoshoot option you choose, you are sure to find professional lighting, high-quality camera equipment, and tons of props to make your pictures more fun!
Important to note: Since self-photo studios are popular, they tend to book out way in advance! Make sure to schedule a time, as these will likely not be available for walk-ins
4. Have fun at Lotte World and take a classic Seoul couple’s picture
💵 Cost: ~USD 26 per person (tickets can be easily purchased here)
🚃 How to get there: Take Line 2 or 8 to Jamsil Station and follow the signs to Lotte World. Around Jamsil Station there are tons of shops and the pretty Seokchon Lake.
Korea does not have Disneyland but it has Lotte World, which is just as amazing! This giant amusement park is easily accessible and is a common date spot for school-aged couples who head to the park in their school uniforms.
Funnily enough, older couples also enjoy heading to Lotte World wearing school uniforms! Often, locals wear their old uniforms from high school or simply rent a fake school uniform at the entrance of the park.
Pretty much every Seoul couple has a picture standing in front of the carousel at Lotte World, so make sure to get this classic picture during your date!
Lotte World is amazing year-round, and a significant section of it is indoors, so you are sure to enjoy the rides no matter the weather conditions!
Also nearby: The Bangi-dong Food Alley is a major attraction in Seoul and an incredible place to taste authentic Korean food!
5. Go on a walk around Bugak Palgakjeong and enjoy the view!
💵 Cost: Free
🚃 How to get there: By far, the best way to get there is by car (here is the address!) With public transportation, you can get to the vicinity by bus and walk 45 minutes uphill to arrive at Bugak Palgakjeong. The closest subway station is Hanseong University Station Line #4, and from there you can take Bus line 1111 or 1112 and get off at Seoul Dawon School.
Bugak Palgakjeong, located along the scenic Bugak Skyway, makes for a perfect date destination with the prettiest views and a romantic atmosphere!
During the day, you can enjoy panoramic views of all of Seoul. Sunset there is beautiful, and in the evening you can see the incredible city of Seoul all lit up!
6. Hike up Namsan Tower and put a lock at the top!
💵 Cost: Free
🚃 How to get there: There are many stations nearby! The most common way to get there is by getting off at Myeongdong (Line 4) or Chungmuro (Lines 3 and 4).
Namsan Mountain is a major landmark in Seoul, historically significant as a defense point and as a natural wonder frequently featured in Korean art form.
Putting a lock at the top of Namsan is almost a rite of passage date for Korean couples, and it is sweet to see many of them hiking up the trail together.
If you want to take part in this Korean love tradition, you can purchase a lock in one of the many shops there. The locks are very cute, and even make for a nice souvenir if you choose to not leave it there!
The hike up the mountain is 4 km (2.5 miles) long and moderate in difficulty due to a 224 m (735 feet) elevation gain. I find the hike quite worth it, as the trail offers beautiful views along the way!
Don’t want to go on a long hike? You can also reach the top of Namsam Tower by public transportation or car! Bus lines 01A or 01B can take you close to the top!
7. Get a set of couples’ rings
💵 Cost: To make a ring in a workshop, you should expect to pay anywhere from ~USD 15 ~USD 50 per ring depending on the thickness of the ring,
💍 Ring shop options: To shop for rings we recommend walking around Jongno Jewelry Shopping Street. To make a ring from scratch we recommend Banji-making Daehak-ro, and Banji-ya-nolja Jongno.
In Korea, it is common to wear “couples’ rings” when dating. These are not engagement rings or promise rings, they are just cute rings that symbolize being in a relationship!
It is a fun date activity to go shopping for the rings or to go to a workshop and do them together from scratch!
8. Go walk around a Hanok village and sit at a cute cafe
💵 Cost: Free!
🏛️ Hanok villages in Seoul: Namsangol Hanok Village, Bukchon Hanok Village, Iksun Hanok Village (this one is quite small but still cute!)
All over the country, you can find neighborhoods with traditional Korean architecture called Hanok Villages. Beyond the dreamy buildings, these villages often offer fair-like activities, with street food and sweet cafes!
Korean couples love heading to these villages for a fun day or weekend! My fiancé and I love these villages so much that we took a day trip from Seoul to spend a night at a traditional hotel in the Jeonju Hanok Village and had a magical and romantic time.
9. Shop at Coex Mall and visit the stunning Starfield Library
💵 Cost: Free
🚃 How to get there: Take Subway Line 2 to Samsung Station or Subway Line 9 to Bongeunsa Station
The Coex Mall is a major tourist spot in Seoul and also one of the best date spots in town! This giant (and fully indoor) complex includes shops and restaurants for all budget types.
The highlight of the Coex Mall is the Starfield Library with its stunning tall bookshelves. Starfield Library is more of an architectural gem than it is a coworking space. Although it is still a library, you can just walk around without worrying too much about making noise!
For a romantic date, grab a coffee and cute pastries at Coex’s food court and eat them while exploring the library.
Romantic restaurants in Seoul
A fun fact is that Koreans typically do not eat Korean food on their first few dates. Korean food can be often messy and smelly, so new couples typically prefer heading to Western restaurants!
Let’s go through my favorite restaurants in Seoul for dates!
10. Enjoy French food with Korean views at Dugahun
Dugahun is a well-known French restaurant among Seoul locals. They serve incredible French food in a space that is traditionally Korean and has a romantic atmosphere.
My fiancé and I enjoy their space and food quality so much that we considered hosting our wedding there!
11. Korean barbecue experience
Although K-BBQ is not on the list of best first dates, more seasoned local couples love going to them on more casual dates!
Cooking your own meat and tasting lots of Korean side dishes is a must-do for those visiting Seoul and can be a fun date for couples who already feel very comfortable around each other.
K-BBQ restaurants we love: Bang-i-byul-gwan, Yookji, Gamgyeok Sidae
The wrapup: best date ideas in Seoul
From authentic cultural experiences to gastronomical gems, Seoul feels tailor-made for sharing special dates.
My Korean fiancé and I have cherished every one of our dates, and we hope these date ideas in Seoul will be fun for you and your partner as well!
