Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs

Historic site · Seolleung Stn. (Line 2, Suin-Bundang Line)

▷ The story of Seolleung: Seolleung holds the tombs of Seongjong, the 9th king of Joseon, and his third queen, Queen Jeonghyeon of the Yun clan. It is a dongwon igangneung, with one T-shaped shrine serving burial mounds set on two separate hills

Library · Seolleung Stn. (Line 9, Suin-Bundang Line)

Public library in Gangnam-gu. Free entry and reading, with heating and air conditioning.

Art gallery · Seolleung Stn. (Line 2, Suin-Bundang Line)

POSCO Art Museum leads the way in putting "art in daily life, daily life in art" into practice.

Park · Samseongjungang Stn. (Line 9)

Home to Bongeunsa Temple, the park offers plenty of Buddhist experience programmes, and as a historic-site park it holds designated cultural properties including the commentary woodblocks of the Avatamsaka Sutra, the 'Panjeon' plaque written by Chusa Kim Jeong-hui in his later years, and the Seonbuldang hall.

Library · Samseong Stn. (Line 2), Bongeunsa Stn. (Line 9)

Famous for its 13m-high shelves, this is a photo hotspot inside COEX Mall. Ideal escape from summer heat and winter cold, with plenty of seating.

Sports facility · Hanti Stn. (Suin-Bundang Line)

Public indoor pool in Gangnam-gu, with a 6-lane 25m adult pool and a toddler pool. Open swim costs 10,000 won per session. Open-swim time slots change monthly, so check before you go.

Jongno-gu · Gyeongbokgung Stn. (Line 3) Exit 5

Joseon's foremost royal palace. Free on the last Wednesday of the month or in hanbok. The changing of the guard ceremony (10:00 and 14:00) is always free.

Jongno-gu · Anguk Stn. (Line 3) Exit 3

A UNESCO World Heritage site famed for autumn foliage. Free entry applies to the main palace only; the Secret Garden requires a separate booking.

Jongno-gu · Hyehwa Stn. (Line 4) Exit 4

A palace with a Grand Greenhouse and the Chundangji pond. Linked internally to Changdeokgung, and beautifully lit during night openings.

Jung-gu · City Hall Stn. (Lines 1, 2) Exit 2

A downtown palace where Seokjojeon sits alongside traditional halls. Open until 9pm, it's popular for evening strolls and the stone wall road; the changing of the guard is free.

Jongno-gu · Jongno 3-ga Stn. (Lines 1, 3, 5) Exit 11

A World Heritage shrine housing the spirit tablets of Joseon kings and queens, with a meditative path through dense woods. Self-guided visits on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are the most relaxed.