Lifestyle
3 visits, endless discoveries: Falling for Seoul again and again
In districts such as Gangnam, where beauty tourism has grown into a major industry, neon lit billboards and sleek aesthetic clinics reflect Seoul’s obsession with innovation and appearance. Foreign visitors to Korea’s beauty sector spent more than 1 trillion won (about $680 million) this year through November alone, a testament to the world’s growing fascination with K-beauty. And if you’re looking for a stylish yet affordable holiday focused on skin care and wellness, Seoul offers one of the greatest selections of beauty treatments on the planet.
South Korea’s captivating capital has evolved into one of Asia’s most vibrant destinations. Home to more than 11 million residents, Seoul is a city of contrasts: centuries-old royal palaces sit beside futuristic glass towers; traditional markets buzz alongside sleek designer boutiques; and peaceful temples exist just steps away from neon-soaked nightlife. Whether your passion is K-pop, Korean cuisine or UNESCO-listed heritage, Seoul consistently exceeds expectations.
I visited the city three times this year, and each time I was struck anew by its scale and energy. Seoul can feel overwhelming at first but that powerful sense of movement and possibility is exactly what makes it unforgettable.
From Istanbul, Turkish Airlines operates direct flights to Seoul Incheon International Airport seven days a week during the winter season, with additional flights scheduled from spring onward, making the journey both seamless and convenient.
Gwangjang Market
Made famous by Netflix, Gwangjang Market is one of the best places to sample authentic Korean street food under one roof. This covered market stretches across a vast area and is packed with colourful stalls offering everything from kimchi pancakes to handmade noodles. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and remains one of the city’s most atmospheric culinary landmarks.
Gyeongbokgung Palace, surroundings
Seoul’s historic treasures offer a window into its royal past. Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, stands as a powerful symbol of Korea’s cultural heritage. Visitors can witness the ceremonial changing of the guard and wander through elegant courtyards, pavilions and gardens. Nearby, Bukchon Hanok Village reveals traditional Korean life through beautifully preserved wooden houses dating back centuries.
Starfield Library
Set inside COEX Mall in Gangnam, Starfield Library is a dream destination for book lovers. Its soaring 13-meter-high bookshelves display more than 50,000 volumes and over 400 magazines. Open to the public and free of charge, it has become one of the city’s most iconic cultural meeting places.
Myeong-dong by Night
As night falls, Myeong-dong bursts into life. This lively shopping district is home to countless skin care boutiques, including the much-loved Olive Young, alongside international labels offering Seoul-themed capsule collections. It is the perfect neighbourhood to shop for beauty products or pick up a chic souvenir.
Seongsu Seoul’s ‘Brooklyn’
Once an industrial zone, Seongsu has reinvented itself as one of Seoul’s trendiest neighbourhoods, a creative playground of cafes, boutiques and concept stores. Often described as the “Brooklyn of Seoul,” it blends retro charm with modern edge, embodying what locals call the “newtro” spirit. If you enjoy slow café hopping and discovering independent fashion brands, Seongsu is unmissable. After several visits to Seoul, it has become one of my personal favourite areas in the city.
Ankara park
Thanks to the kind guidance of our Republic of Türkiye’s ambassador to Seoul, Murat Tamer, I discovered one of the city’s most meaningful places: Ankara Park. Located in Yeouido, Seoul’s financial hub and a key center of political life, this charming park was created in 1971 to commemorate the sister city relationship between Ankara and Seoul.
At the heart of the park stands Ankara House, a beautifully preserved example of a traditional Turkish vineyard home. The interior is furnished with authentic items once used in an Ankara vineyard, from handcrafted furniture to everyday household objects. Visitors can also see exquisite examples of Turkish craftsmanship, including silver-framed mirrors and traditional ceremonial costumes, a poetic reminder of our country’s rich cultural heritage.
Ankara Park also carries a deeply emotional resonance. It is the symbolic meeting place of Ayla and Korean War veteran Süleyman Dilbirliği, the moving story brought to life in the film “Ayla.” Here, the shared history between Türkiye and South Korea, marked by sacrifice, compassion and lifelong bonds, is kept alive not only in memory, but in a living, breathing corner of Seoul.
My favorite food and beverage spots:
Cafe Onion
One of Seoul’s most photographed cafes, Cafe Onion has become something of a style landmark. Housed in a converted industrial building in Seongsu-dong, it perfectly captures the city’s love of “industrial chic” raw concrete, exposed beams, minimalist design and an effortlessly cool atmosphere.
Beyond the aesthetics, the cafe serves excellent pastries, light bites and well crafted coffee, making it a favourite among both locals and visitors. It can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the spacious layout means there’s usually room to linger, people watch and, of course, take a few photos. Cafe Onion is the kind of place where Seoul’s creative spirit truly comes to life.
Leedorim
The cafe is housed in a multi-story building near Gyeongbokgung, on Jahamun-ro. It uses three floors plus a rooftop. Leedorim presents both bakery and coffee offerings and includes vegan options. I must add it is truly an instagram friendly spots.
Yu yuan
One of the city’s most elegant culinary addresses is Yu Yuan, the Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul. Stepping inside feels like entering the glamorous world of 1920s Shanghai, where refined dining meets timeless style. The menu celebrates authentic Cantonese and regional Chinese cuisine, prepared with seasonal local ingredients and presented with an artistry that appeals to all the senses.
On the way to your table, you pass a gleaming cabinet where the restaurant’s signature Peking duck is proudly displayed, a favorite among regulars. While Yu Yuan is best known for its refined Cantonese flavours, the kitchen also showcases specialities from across China. Lunchtime dim sum remains especially popular, thanks to its generous variety and delicate execution. Among the standout dishes, the wok-fried Hoengseong Hanwoo beef with ginger is particularly memorable; a perfect example of how Yu Yuan blends premium Korean produce with classic Chinese culinary heritage.
Sooksoodoga restaurant
Located in Seoul’s lively Seongbuk district, Sooksoodoga has built its reputation on one thing above all: exceptional aged hanwoo beef. The restaurant carefully selects premium cuts and matures them using its own special techniques, anywhere from 46 hours to as long as 720 hours, with one clear purpose: to present diners with the finest expression of aged Korean beef.
The tasting menu allows guests to sample three different cuts, paired with an array of small Korean side dishes that showcase the depth of the local culinary tradition. There is also an a la carte menu for those who prefer to tailor their own experience. Thoughtfully calibrated prices make this refined style of aged beef more accessible, which is in itself a compelling reason to visit.
Sooksoodoga’s atmosphere is warm and understated, equally suited to relaxed dinners with friends and family. The kitchen’s philosophy is rooted in respect for ingredients: Flavors are allowed to speak for themselves, without unnecessary embellishment. Altogether, Sooksoodoga offers a dining journey that is both authentically Korean and refreshingly contemporary.
Daol Charcoal grill restaurant
In the heart of Seoul’s lively Myeong-dong district, Daol Charcoal Grilling, often simply called “Korean BBQ Daol,” delivers a quintessential Korean barbecue experience. Here, premium cuts such as marinated pork belly and LA galbi are grilled over glowing charcoal directly at the table, allowing diners to savour the meat at its freshest and most flavorful.
The restaurant was founded with a clear vision: to celebrate Korea’s barbecue tradition in its most authentic form. Today, Daol has become a favorite gathering spot for both locals and international visitors, thanks not only to its quality ingredients but also to its warm hospitality and classic Korean decor.
An array of banchan from crisp lettuce wraps to golden kimchi pancakes accompanies the main dishes adds balance and depth to the meal. With attentive service and a welcoming atmosphere, Daol Charcoal Grilling offers a true taste of Korean culinary culture in one of Seoul’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
A 190-year-old Greek Orthodox church in Kayseri, central Türkiye, whose restoration was completed last year, stands out for its striking wall paintings and is set to become part of the Cappadocia tourism circuit.
Built in 1836, the Church of St. Eustathios is an important historical and cultural landmark in Kayseri’s Incesu district and features numerous paintings and other remnants on its interior walls.
The three-aisled, vaulted church underwent restoration by the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality in 2021. Its load-bearing walls and historic fabric were reinforced using materials and techniques compatible with the original structure.
The stonework and frescoes, or wall paintings, inside the church were preserved, while Karamanlı inscriptions – Turkish written in the Greek alphabet – depicting various scenes, as well as charitable endowment records, reliefs and carvings on the walls, were conserved and brought to light.
Restoration of the church was completed last year using archival photographs and documents as references to ensure the building remained faithful to its original appearance. The site, known for its distinctive wall paintings, will serve as the Incesu City Museum.
More than 80% of the exhibition and interior arrangement work has been completed. The church is also being prepared for inclusion in the Cappadocia tourism circuit, with nearby destinations such as Avanos, Ürgüp and Göreme located 45 to 50 kilometers (28 to 31 miles) from Incesu.
Tayfun Talaslı, head of the municipality’s Historical Buildings and Museums Branch Directorate, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that the three-aisled, vaulted church, built on a rectangular plan, is an example of classical Greek Orthodox architecture in Anatolia.
Talaslı said the building served as a place of worship until the 1923 population exchange between Greece and Türkiye, after which it was used for various purposes, including as a military warehouse, archive, theater and vocational school.
He said restoration work began toward the end of 2021 under a protocol signed between the Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality and Incesu Municipality and was completed last year.
Talaslı emphasized that the main principle guiding the largely completed exhibition and interior arrangement work was to avoid causing any damage to the historic structure and said preserving the building’s original character was a top priority throughout the restoration.
“We used old photographs of the church as references during the restoration. We also based the project on art history reports that took into account the oral histories of people who once lived here,” he said.
He said the remaining work is expected to be completed soon, after which the museum will open to visitors.
“We are creating a museum on the ground floor of the building, which we have repurposed as the Incesu City Museum, focusing on the city’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage,” Talaslı said.
“Visitors will be able to trace Incesu’s history, learn about notable figures who were born here or left their mark on the city and explore its architectural heritage,” he said. “We will highlight a wide range of local treasures, from the Kara Mustafa Pasha Complex to the Roman-era milestone that has become one of the symbols of Incesu.”
Talaslı said visitors will also be able to see ceramics and other archaeological finds unearthed in Örenşehir, while the museum will offer a broader look at Incesu’s heritage, from its cuisine and population to the 1923 population exchange and the city’s historical development.
“We will cover everything from who the building was commissioned for to the area’s flora and fauna, geological structure, agriculture and grape production,” he said.
The Karaelmas Touristic Express, which operates between Ankara and Zonguldak, will return to the rails on Oct. 2, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced, offering travelers a chance to explore the region’s natural, historical and cultural treasures by train.
In a written statement, Uraloğlu said the tourist train, launched by TCDD Transportation in cooperation with the Western Black Sea Development Agency (BAKKA) and the Zonguldak Provincial Special Administration, contributes to tourism-focused rail travel between Ankara and Zonguldak.
The train will begin this year’s service Oct. 2, Uraloğlu said.
The Ankara-Zonguldak service will depart on Oct. 2, 16 and 30 and Nov. 13, while trains traveling from Zonguldak to Ankara will depart on Oct. 3, 17 and 31 and Nov. 14.
Trains from Ankara to Zonguldak will leave at 11 p.m. on Fridays, while return services will depart Zonguldak at 11 p.m. on Saturdays. The train will have a total of seven carriages, including six sleeper cars and one dining car, with a capacity of 120 passengers.
The Karaelmas Express first operated as a tourist service in 2025, completing four outbound and four return journeys along the Ankara-Zonguldak-Ankara route, for a total of eight trips.
Since its inaugural journey, the train has offered passengers a different way to discover the Western Black Sea’s natural, cultural and industrial heritage, Uraloğlu said.
“For the 2026 schedule, passengers traveling from Ankara to Zonguldak will make sightseeing stops in Yenice, while those on the return journey will stop in Çankırı and Kalecik,” Uraloğlu said. “This journey, stretching from Yenice’s natural beauty and Zonguldak’s history to Çankırı’s cultural heritage and Kalecik’s local treasures, will bring rail travel and tourism together.”
Venice is looking at expanding its tourist entry fee, applying it for a longer period of the year and raising the daily charge to as much as €30 ($34), a senior official in the city government has said.
Budget and taxation councilor Michele Zuin said the current fee of €5 to €10 ($5.7 to $11.5 ) was too low to safeguard against overtourism, but said the new price for 2027 would have to be discussed and agreed with the government.
“The current €5-10 charge is affordable for virtually everyone; the risk is that it no longer has the deterrent effect that this measure is supposed to have,” Zuin told the Sunday edition of regional daily Il Gazzettino.
In remarks that were widely picked up by national media on Monday, the councillor said there was “even talk of (going up to) €50 ($57),” but added that authorities could settle for a maximum charge of €30.
The tourist fee, applicable only to day-trippers, was introduced in 2024, in a world first. Early bookers get to pay the lower rate and there are several exemptions, including for children under 14.
In 2026, it was operational on selected days from April 3 to July 26, from 8.30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and brought into city coffers more than €5.2 million ($5.9 million) from the sale of just under 680,000 entry tickets.
In a city that has long suffered from overtourism and depopulation, local officials say the scheme is meant to encourage visitors to avoid the most crowded periods of the year, such as the May Day public holiday.
Tokyo tourist hot spot Shinjuku will impose a ban on more than half of its holiday rentals, including homes on Airbnb, an official said Monday, after a surge in complaints about visitors.
Known for its buzzing commercial and entertainment district, the ward hosts nearly 10% of Japan’s 42,000 short-term rentals.
But it also has a large residential population, who have become increasingly exasperated with tourists who fail to properly dispose of rubbish, smoke where they’re not supposed to, and make too much noise.
A Shinjuku official supervising holiday rentals told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the district was “planning to revise the current ordinance … to ban private lodging” in residential zones and areas near schools.
“As the number of private lodging businesses has risen, complaints and troubles around them have increased,” the official said on customary condition of anonymity.
More than 50% of short-term rentals in Shinjuku face a ban under the new rules, he said, adding that the plan would formally be announced by the Shinjuku mayor on Tuesday.
Shinjuku’s policy will apply to existing properties, he added.
The move comes as other cities around the world attempt to crack down on private lodgings available on Airbnb and other platforms, including New York City and Barcelona.
Like elsewhere, overtourism has emerged as a major issue in Japan.
Residents of Kyoto and other hot spots have expressed annoyance at selfie-taking crowds as well as traffic congestion and soaring land prices.
In Shinjuku, the number of complaints over vacation rentals increased by around 40% in the fiscal year to March, the official said.
“Many complaints are about the violation of trash disposal rules while others include smoking and trespassing,” he said.
Shinjuku’s ban comes after the Japan Tourism Agency in July gave municipalities the right to regulate short-term lodgings if “a tranquil living and educational environment” is under threat or if they “hinder the maintenance of a permanent population and local community.”
Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto is also considering a ban on short-term lodging, but only for new rentals within residential and industrial areas.
Several Airbnb hosts contacted by AFP declined to comment.
Visitors to Hasankeyf, one of southeastern Türkiye’s major tourism destinations, are exploring the district’s historic and natural attractions through boat tours on the Ilısu Dam reservoir.
Located in Batman province, Hasankeyf is considered one of the world’s oldest settlements and continues to attract visitors with traces of civilizations that have shaped the region over centuries.
The district is known for historic landmarks including the Imam Abdullah Tomb, Zeynel Bey Tomb, Artuqid Bath, Hasankeyf Museum and Er-Rızk Mosque. The Ilısu Dam reservoir has also given the area a new character, offering visitors an opportunity to experience its landscape from the water.
Domestic and international tourists visiting Hasankeyf can tour its historic sites before taking boat trips across the reservoir to see its canyons and Hasankeyf Castle.
Before setting off, guides brief passengers on safety rules and provide information about the historic castles, caves and canyons along the route. The boat tours last about an hour, allowing visitors to take in the area’s natural and historic scenery.
‘The boat tour was excellent’
Mustafa Yıldız, who traveled from Manisa as part of a tour of the southeastern Anatolia region, said his group visited Hasankeyf after stopping in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin.
“I really liked Hasankeyf. The boat tour was especially excellent. We really enjoyed seeing the canyons and caves,” Yıldız told Anadolu Agency.
Ramazan Kızar, who traveled from Batman to visit the district, said Hasankeyf was an important destination for cultural and historical tourism.
Kızar said the boat tour gave him the chance to see the historic castle and canyons.
“Thanks to the boat tour I took with my daughter and wife, we are exploring Hasankeyf’s unique beauty,” he said.
52,000 visitors take boat tours
Şehmus Batıhan, a captain and member of the Hasankeyf Kale Tourism Cooperative, said the cooperative operates eight boats offering tours of the reservoir.
Hasankeyf becomes particularly busy with domestic and international visitors during the summer months, Batıhan said, adding that the boat tours have brought additional activity to the district alongside its historic sites.
Visitors are picked up at the harbor and taken on a tour covering the area where the old settlement once stood. The tours last approximately one hour, he said.
“About 52,000 guests have taken advantage of the boat tours in the past eight months,” Batıhan said. “We also provide our guests with information about Hasankeyf’s history during the tours.”
He added that many visitors from European countries join the boat trips.
“Visitors can see many important historical works here and they really enjoy the boat tours,” Batıhan said.
Bosnia’s capital, Sarajevo, is enjoying a robust summer season, with concerts, cultural events and its internationally renowned film festival drawing visitors from across Europe and beyond.
More than 100,000 tourists visited the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina in July, according to the Federal News Agency, as the city increasingly attracts travelers for its music, cinema, gastronomy and natural attractions alongside its historical heritage.
Three concerts by regional music star Dino Merlin at Kosevo Stadium in late July and early August attracted more than 200,000 people in total.
Visitors traveled from across the Balkans and other parts of Europe, putting hotels and private accommodation under significant pressure.
Sarajevo recorded nearly 78 million euros ($91 million) in fiscal turnover during the three concert days, with restaurants, cafes, shops and transportation companies benefiting from the influx.
The concerts were followed by a performance by British electronic music group The Prodigy on Aug. 13 and by the opening of the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival (SFF) the following day.
Established in 1995 during the final year of the siege of Sarajevo, the festival has developed into one of southeastern Europe’s leading film events. This year’s guests included Woody Harrelson, Emily Watson, Pawel Pawlikowski, Diego Luna, Asghar Farhadi and Celine Sciamma.
In addition to these entertainment and cultural events, Sarajevo offers a blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian architecture, along with landmarks linked to the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and sites preserving the memory of the 1992-1995 siege.
Its proximity to the Olympic mountains of Trebevic, Bjelasnica, Igman and Jahorina also allows travelers to combine a city break with hiking, cycling and winter sports.
Major events are becoming increasingly important for Sarajevo’s tourism economy by attracting new visitors, extending stays and boosting spending across the city.
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