Hello dear! My apology if our Korea Travel Diary took some time to finish but we are finally on the last leg.
Our last day in South Korea was full of sight seeing and MORE shopping, of course!
Our first stop was the National Palace Museum of Korea. It took us less than an hour to get there via subway. There were so many students and tourists when we arrived so we opted just to stay outside and took some photos.
National Palace Museum of Korea houses over 40,000 artifacts and royal treasures, from the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire, of which 14 are National Treasures of South Korea. It displays records, state rites, architecture, clothing, royal life, education, culture, paintings and music of the dynasty’s ruling era. It also has among its collection the royal seal of King Gojong of Joseon, which was used for his personal letters to Russian czar and Italian emperor after 1903. It disappeared during Japanese rule and was recovered from a US-based Korean collector in 2009. source
After taking some photos, we headed to the subway station and moved on to our next destination – Ewha Womans University Shopping Street.
It was around 12 in the afternoon when we arrived so everyone decided to enjoy a hot bowl of porridge for lunch.
The place is called Korean Traditional Porridge Restaurant, located a few meters away from the station and right in front of YES aPM mall.
The university has Ewha Campus Complex which is Korea’s largest underground campus. The first level consists of lecture rooms and an eco-park while the lower levels have the library, bookstore, gym, movie theater, cafes, and many more.
Ewha Womans University area is one of the most popular shopping spots in Seoul, South Korea.
You will find tons of fashion outlets of feminine style clothes such as dress, sweater, tops and etc. Prices start from 5000 won ($5) for an item.
You can also find beauty stores from popular brands like Nature Republic, Tony Moly, Labiotte and many more. I have read somewhere that it is cheaper to buy beauty products in Ewha Street than in Myeongdong and I can attest to that. I asked on few products and found out that they may have the same price but you can get more freebies in Ewha.
After a few hours, we stopped by at Cafe Pasiya right beside the university to try out Korean Bing-su, a popular Korean ice dessert. Also, since it’s time for Cloud’s afternoon nap, Hubby allowed me to continue checking the area and spend some me-time while our son is still sleeping. Thanks Daddy! I know it is too late but please watch out for my Korean Haul post.
At exactly 4 in the afternoon, we were ready to leave the place and proceeded on to our last location – the Hello Kitty Cafe. That day, we’ve been using their subway system a lot and we enjoyed how smooth and fast us to get from one place to another. For our last destination, we took off the subway at Hongik University Station Line 2 Exit 9.
We passed by another shopping district called Hongdae, also known as Hongik Univesity Street. It is a street full of youngsters and a great place to find cheap fashion goods. There are also some street performers for live music shows.
Hello Kitty Cafe is something you should definitely not miss when visiting South Korea.
I’m not a Hello Kitty fan but I must admit, this is the cutest cafe I’ve ever been. It screams Hello Kitty from the entrance to the tiniest detail of the place.
From the wallpaper to the couch and the bathroom, everything is Hello Kitty and super cute in pink! Everything is Instagram-worthy!
The Hello Kitty room is something every girl has been dreaming of. So perfect!
Prices range from 4000 to 6000 won for a meal. The food tastes great (especially the fresh salad) but kinda overpriced maybe it is because of the Hello Kitty signature.
They also have a gift shop filled with, of course, none other than Hello Kitty!
Feast your eyes with these adorable Hello Kitty collectibles! If you are a big fan of HK, visiting this cafe would like a dream come true.
There are two more branches of Hello Kitty Cafe located in Myeongdong and Sinchon. But this one in Hongdae is the biggest among others. You can visit http://www.hellokittycafe.co.kr/en/ for more details.
That’s a wrap everybody! I hope you enjoyed the places we’ve visited as much as my family did. Until next!
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Day 1 in Korea: Incheon International Airport, Loisir Hotel, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower
Day 2 in Korea: Everland Resort
I really went to Korea but there is no chance to get the money next year
i miss korea already!! really like the food, specially ice dessert! always look nice and taste great!
What an interesting travel story! I haven’t been to Korea but would love to visit it at least once in my lifetime 🙂
This sure is going to be useful to us. We are heading out to Seoul with our three year old son in a week’s time. Thanks!
Great post! Thanks for sharing so many interesting places of Hongdae. The Hello Kitty Cafe looks so fun and cute. Looks like you had a lot of fun there. Looking forward for your korean haul.
Omg there a lot of place you go. I would to visit korea!!!! My dream vacation.
The Hello Kitty shop would be my must see place. I love how they did the coffee.
What a great travel post! I love how you shared all those photos. I would love to visit the Hello Kitty Cafe it looks so neat.
OMG those desserts look so delicious and the hello kitty hotcakes are so cute.
There is Hello Kitty Cafe in BGC but checking your photos, mas maganda yung sa SoKor. If ever we will go to Korea, I will definitely try the Bingsu and porridge. I always see that whenever I watch Kdrama. 🙂
Reading your post makes me feels like wanna fly to Korea now.. Hello kitty so cute!
Never tot of going to Korea. But ur post make me feel like going,
Have been to Korea years back during the Asia Pasific Film Festival but during that time it was not developed like now… so must visit again…
OMG… the Hello Kitty cafe! So pretty and lovely.
The National Palace Museum of Korea would be amazing to see in person. I would love to go to the Hello Kitty Cafe.
I have never been out of the country! Korea would be the trip of a lifetime, looks like you had an amazing time! The cafe looks like a fun place to visit.
One of the countries I want to visit next year! It’s a great place to explore. I am also interested with their food.
Wow – it all looks amazing! Especially the Hello Kitty Cafe — I really want to go! Thanks for sharing your great trip!
I really wish I can visit Korea one day. Your photos and articles on Korea trip make me strive to work harder. Your husband is really sporting to enjoy Hello Kitty Cafe as well!
Looks like an awesome family trip! The place looks great and that Hello Kitty Cafe is adorbs!
i loved the national musuem… it was a lot of fun there… want to go back to KOREA soon… I missed out going to ehwa university
There’s a Hello Kitty cafe in Korea? I would eat there in a hot minute.
It sounds like you had a wonderful time in Korea. I would love to visit the National Palace Museum of Korea. It has so much history to see. The Hello Kitty Cafe would be so much fun to visit. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
That sounds like such an amazing experience! I would love to visit one day. Love the pictures you shared.
Seems like a very lively place. The hello Kitty Cafe seems interesting. Those kitties on the coffee are so cute.
Amazing blog post really interesting to read about the hello kitty cafe! Sounds like you had a fab time!
I have been to Korea but did not do much sightseeing. Hopefully, on my next trip, I will be able to do that.
Your photos are so beautiful! I would love to visit a Hello Kitty coffeeshop. This must have been such a fun experience!
Wow sobrang ganda ng Hello Kitty cafe! Hello Kitty fan here… kainggit! Buti nalang meron maliit dito sa BGC, gotta go there soon. And the bing-su, looks so yummyyy!
Awww! such a lovely trip, I tried the Korean Traditional Porridge when i was in seoul also. Its alright but I don’t really fancy it. Still prefer Korean BBQ.
I’ve always wanted to go to Korea. But with two kids in tow, medyo dinedelay pa namin ang trip overseas. Hope to visit this country soon 🙂