Dive into the buzzing Namdaemun Market, Seoul's oldest and largest shopping hub, where every alley teems with quirky finds, local street food, and endless haggling.
21 Namdaemunsijang 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea Get directions
"Tucked Behind the Skyscrapers: Namdaemun Market Among the biggest and most chaotic markets in Korea, Seoul 's Namdaemun Market is the capital's oldest, dating to the 1400s. Today you can find ANYthing here, if you're willing to brave the crowded alleyways tucked in behind skyscrapers: cellphones, fried fish cakes, ginseng liqueurs, bulk stockings, cosmetics, lacquerware, underwear, noodles, squid, seaweed... Street snacks abound, along with the occasional street musician. Watch out for the motorcycle stacked 10 feet high with you-name-it (pantyhose?calculators?), weaving its way through the sea of pedestrians. And don't forget to haggle. To get here via subway: Hoehyon station, Line 4, Exit 5."
"Tucked Behind the Skyscrapers: Namdaemun Market Among the biggest and most chaotic markets in Korea, Seoul 's Namdaemun Market is the capital's oldest, dating to the 1400s. Today you can find ANYthing here, if you're willing to brave the crowded alleyways tucked in behind skyscrapers: cellphones, fried fish cakes, ginseng liqueurs, bulk stockings, cosmetics, lacquerware, underwear, noodles, squid, seaweed... Street snacks abound, along with the occasional street musician. Watch out for the motorcycle stacked 10 feet high with you-name-it (pantyhose?calculators?), weaving its way through the sea of pedestrians. And don't forget to haggle. To get here via subway: Hoehyon station, Line 4, Exit 5."
"Since the city never sleeps, it’s also possible to find street food past midnight, particularly around wholesale shopping districts like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun." - Lara Dalinsky
"This is South Korea’s oldest and largest market, with roots dating to the 1400s. It's a constant hive of activity, buzzing with shoppers in search of the latest fashion, electronics, crockery, and, of course, good food. Merchandise is organized on themed streets: kids' clothing over there, military gear and opticians this way. On the grub front, you’ll see salarymen digging into steaming bowls of stewed beltfish, mackerel, and pollock along Galchi Jorim, a.k.a. Stewed Beltfish Alley. In the nearby Foodie Alley (yup, different from Beltfish Alley and arguably better smelling), it’s all about street eats like dakkochi (grilled chicken skewers) and tteokbokki, glutinous rice cakes in a spicy red sauce."
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