FreePhoto: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Myeongdong Cathedral
명동성당
Historic site · Jung-gu
The Gothic cathedral that symbolises Korean Catholicism. The heated and cooled sanctuary is a good break from Myeongdong shopping, and the basement 1898 arcade has cafes and restaurants.
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Source: mdsd.or.kr
Nearby in Jung-gu
Seoul YWCA Sports Center
₩8,000Sports facility · Euljiro 1-ga Stn. (Line 2)
Public indoor pool with open swim sessions.
History Museum of the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres
FreeMuseum · Myeongdong Stn. (Line 4)
The museum collects and studies the belongings and records of sisters who devoted their lives to spreading the Christian message in new cultures, conveying Christian culture through the visual language of exhibition.
Postage Stamp Museum
FreeMuseum · Euljiro 1-ga Stn. (Line 2) Exit 6, Myeongdong Stn. (Line 4) Exit 5
A compact free museum on the history of stamps. In the middle of Myeong-dong, so it's a handy escape from the heat or cold.
Seoul Film Center
Partly freeCulture space · Euljiro 3-ga Stn. (Lines 2, 3) / Chungmuro Stn. (Line 4)
Seoul's film complex in Chungmuro, opened in 2025. It has three screening rooms including one for 35mm film, plus a cinema lounge, special exhibition hall, multipurpose room on the 7th floor, archive on the 9th and Cinema Sky, a rooftop open-air theater on the 10th. The lounge and exhibitions are free.
Bank of Korea Money Museum
FreeMuseum · Hoehyeon Stn. (Line 4)
The 1912 Renaissance-style former bank building, a listed heritage site, is a sight in itself. Easiest to reach by subway.
Woori Bank Museum of Banking History
FreeMuseum · Hoehyeon Stn. (Line 4)
A small free museum in the basement of Woori Bank's head office. Open weekdays only, so a lunchtime visit works best.
Other historic sites in Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Free if eligibleJongno-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.
Changdeokgung Palace
Free if eligibleJongno-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.
Changgyeonggung Palace
Free if eligibleJongno-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.
Deoksugung Palace
Free if eligibleJung-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.
Jongmyo Shrine
Free if eligibleJongno-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.