Winter in Korea is an exciting and magical time, there are plenty of activities to make your visit unforgettable. If you are spending the winter or Christmas holidays in Seoul, you can expect exciting outdoor adventures, cultural celebrations, and cozy experiences that offer something for every type of traveler. Whether you’re looking for thrilling snow sports, cozy indoor activities, or warm comfort food, Korea has them covered. Let’s look at the 6 ways to spend Christmas holidays in Seoul!
What are the 6 ways to spend Christmas holidays in Seoul?
1. The Hyundai Seoul’s Le Grand Theatre
Every year, department stores in Korea really embrace the Christmas spirit with extravagant decorations! Specifically, the countryโs top three department store chainsโHyundai, Shinsegae, and Lotteโunveil large-scale, creative displays each year, highlighting their impressive flair for festive design.
At Christmas time, The Hyundai Seoul, a luxury department store in the Yeouido district of Seoul, transforms into a winter wonderland, with stunning decorations and festive displays that turn the shopping experience into a truly enchanting affair. This yearโs concept is called the โLe Grand Theatreโ and the decor consists of over 10,000 lights and 11 circus theatre tents. The main highlight of the village is the 8-meter-high rotating Christmas tree located in the grand theatre.
To make a reservation for entry, make your way to the 5th-floor Christmas Village entrance and find a staff member for assistance. Please inform the staff of your group size, and they will issue a waiting card with your designated entry time. Present the card at the specified time to gain entry. However, if the daily entry capacity is reached, entry may not be possible. Before the event ends on 31 December 2024, head down to the mall to spend your perfect Christmas holidays in Seoul! For more information, visit the event page here.
Besides the winter wonderland, there are also plenty of reasons to visit The Hyundai Seoul. It is home to a wide range of modern and contemporary fashion brands, home living stores, character shops, cosmetic boutiques, and restaurants offering delicious international cuisine. Even if you’re unable to enter the Christmas Village, you can still enjoy a panoramic view of the entire area from the food court on the sixth floor.
Closest subway station: Take Line 5 to Yeouinaru Station, exit 1 (์ฌ์๋๋ฃจ์ญ 5ํธ์ 1๋ฒ์ถ๊ตฌ)
2. Lotte department store’s Wonderful Showtime
One of the most iconic Christmas holidays in Seoul is participating in Lotte’s annual Christmas event. A festive celebration that offers visitors a delightful, winter-inspired shopping experience. This year, the theme is โWonderful Showtimeโ, set in a warm, enchanting atmosphere filled with sparkling lights, ornaments, and classic holiday music.
Opens through 5 January 2025, the market is situated in the square behind Lotte World Mall and Lotte Tower and features 41 booths and shops showcasing a range of Christmas-themed decorations and exclusive seasonal products along with various food options.
The event also features a Christmas tree and a carousel, which visitors can ride if they have a ticket (priced at 2,000 won). Additionally, there is an ice rink adorned with decorations from the fashion brand Chanel. Spend your epic Christmas holidays in Seoul at Wonderful Showtime before the event ends in early January next year!
Closest subway station: Take Line 2 to Jamsil Station, exit 4 (์ ์ค์ญ 2ํธ์ 4๋ฒ์ถ๊ตฌ)
3. Shinsegae department store’s Christmas Market
Are you planning for the winter or Christmas holidays in Seoul? Visit Shinsegae! Like the other two, Shinsegae also presents grandeur decorations this year. For the first time in 2024, Shinsegae Department Storeโs Gangnam Branch is hosting a Christmas Market at Sweet Park on the basement first floor! The event will be running until 25 December 2024.
The space is beautifully decorated with festive Christmas lights and decorations, featuring ten shops offering a variety of holiday items. Additionally, a large Christmas tree is displayed on the first floor of Central City, which is connected to the department store. Be ready to immerse yourself in the festive mood this winter!
To provide an even more immersive experience for visitors, Shinsegae prepared a special vintage newspaper frame photo booth, available until November 28, followed by Sihyunhadaโs Christmas-themed four-cut photo booth from November 29 to December 25. What a fantastic way to capture memorable moments during your perfect Christmas holidays in Seoul!
Closest subway station: Take Line 3 to Express Bus Terminal Station, exit 8 (๊ณ ์ํฐ๋ฏธ๋์ญ 3ํธ์ 8๋ฒ์ถ๊ตฌ)
4. Lotte World Adventure
Another magical experience part of the Christmas holidays in Seoul you must not miss is at Lotte World! You might be worried about the harsh cold climate during winter but at Lotte World, not only do they feature an outdoor theme park, but the indoor theme park is one of the largest in the world.
If you are not a big fan of thrilling rides and concerned about being outdoors in cold temperatures, the indoor area regularly features live performances, parades, and themed shows. Especially in winter, the park is decorated according to the Christmas theme, adding a romantic festive atmosphere.
From now till 31 December 2024, Lotte World features a variety of Christmas-themed performances such as the Happy Christmas Parade, Santa Village Tour, and Lotty’s Christmas Fantasy, mainly featuring Santa Claus and fairies from the dream Santa Land. In addition, there are also band performances like the Carol Band Show and Christmas Big Band Show, showcasing various styles of carol music.
We recommend planning a full-day itinerary at Lotte World which may include enjoying the outdoor rides, and indoor performances, trying food and snacks, or visiting other facilities like Lotte World Folk Museum and Lotte World Aquarium. If you intend to spend the Christmas holidays in Seoul, consider visiting Lotte World!
Closest subway station: Take Line 2 to Jamsil Station, exit 1/2 (์ ์ค์ญ 2ํธ์ 1/2๋ฒ์ถ๊ตฌ)
5. Seoul Lantern Festival
The Seoul Lantern Festival is a vibrant, annual event that takes place in the heart of Seoul. Itโs one of the most exciting and visually stunning festivals, drawing both locals and tourists to experience its breathtaking illuminated displays. This winter, the theme of the festival is โSOUL LANTERN: Play with the Light of Seoul.โ which will light up Cheonggye Plaza and the Cheonggyecheon Stream area from 13 December 2024 to 12 January 2025.
The main focus of this festival is the beautiful decorations of Hanji (Korean traditional paper) lanterns. Some lantern designs include animals, flowers, historical figures, and traditional Korean motifs like lotus flowers, dragons, and phoenixes.
Although it might not be Christmas-themed, the combination of Hanji lanterns with dynamic LED lighting creates enchanting sculptures that bring Korean traditions to life in a contemporary, visually captivating form, making the festival one of the most amazing Christmas holidays in Seoul for anyone visiting in the winter season.
Closest subway station: Take Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, exit 5 (๊ดํ๋ฌธ์ญ 5ํธ์ 5๋ฒ์ถ๊ตฌ)
6. Shopping for Christmas tree decorations
Although this may not be similar to the ones above if you love the Christmas season and enjoy spending the Christmas holidays in Seoul, what about getting your own Christmas tree and decorations? In this way, you can take a piece of Seoul home with you and keep it as a memorable souvenir. Let us tell you where you can get them!
The best place you can visit is the flower wholesale market located at Express Bus Terminal. From Christmas trees to adorable decorations, you’ll find a wide variety of ornaments to choose from. Furthermore, the items are reasonably priced, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
To get there to the market, alight at Express Bus Terminal, and walk towards the Gyeongbu line, there you will see an elevator. Take the elevator from B1 to the 3rd floor. The market is on the 3rd level. Happy shopping!
Closest subway station: Take Line 3 to Express Bus Terminal Station (๊ณ ์ํฐ๋ฏธ๋์ญ 3ํธ์ )
Here we sum up our picks on the 6 ways to spend Christmas holidays in Seoul. Share with us some of your favorite winter or Christmas holidays in Seoul when you visit!
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