Whilst South Korea is amazing, Seoul weather can sometimes be a little unpredictable – thankfully there are lots of Seoul rainy day activities to suit all ages and budgets.
From photo booths to K-Pop shopping, dinner buffets to designing your own gifts, there are lots of things to do in Seoul on wet weather days – plus at night, you can go crazy for karaoke, enjoy craft beer bars or go to the theater.
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And if you need to buy cheap rain weather gear in Seoul like umbrellas, macs and scarves, Daiso and 7-Eleven are your best bet.
Here is our guide to the best Seoul rainy day activities in 2025.
You might like – Our first timers guide to Seoul including Korean SIM cards and eSIMs
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For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
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Indoor activities – what to do in Seoul on a wet rainy day
1. Seoul Shopping
OK, we start with a very obvious Seoul rainy day activity – if you don’t like shopping, just skip to the next Seoul rainy activity on this list.
Seoul is shopping heaven, from high end fashion to cutesy cartoon character stores – South Korea’s capital city Seoul is packed full of big malls, many of which have quirky interiors (plus incredible food halls to ‘reward’ yourself afterwards in).
There are a ‘Lotte’ shopping centers and shopping malls in Seoul to choose from.
Given how big some of the shopping malls are plus all their awesome attractions inside like aquariums or adventure parks, cinemas or rooftop gardens, you could easily spend the whole day shopping in one mall in Seoul (if your credit card will allow it!).
From the sublime stylings of Starfield COEX mall in Gangnam to the high-end Hyundai Seoul (Seoul’s newest and most beautiful shopping centre), here is our guide to the best shopping malls in Seoul >
PS for more boutique shopping in Seoul, try Seongsu-dong or Hannam-dong.
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2. Korean Photo Booths
Usually open 24 hours, Korean photo booths are a super big business in South Korea (mainly to fill all the empty shops that were left after COVID).
The selfie kiosks are normally brightly painted small shops where you can borrow clothes and all sorts of fun props (like big sunglasses, animal heads etc) and then pose for selfies or take photos in booths for a small fee.
Often these Korean selfie photo booths allow you to print out stickers as a lasting reminder – popular selfie booth locations include Gangnam, Hongdae, Itaewon and Ikseon-Dong.
Read more in our guide to Korean photo booths >
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3. Visit a historic Korean tea house in Insadong
Visiting a traditional tea-house is a must thing to do when its raining in Seoul and one of the best (and most tasty) things to do in Insadong.
In terms of tea-tasting and historic tea-houses, you are spoiled for choice in Insadong. Down one particular alley (8 and 9 Insadong – gil), you’ll find both Shin Old Teahouse (Sinyet chatjip) and Namusae Tea house – both are hidden away and ooze history.
We visited Shin Old Teahouse one rainy afternoon and were amazed by its interior – the teahouse is wooden timbered with a variety of old furniture, warm snugs and indoor gardens.
Tea options at Shin Old Teahouse Insadong include the classic green tea, chrysanthemum tea plus ssanghwa tea (a mixture of herbs) which is effective (apparently) for physical and mental fatigue.
You might like these Seoul neighbourhood guides:
Hannam-dong
Hongdae
Myeong-dong
Insadong
Ikseon-dong
Gangnam
Seongsu-dong
Euljiro
Itaewon
Dongdaemun
Or check out our best neighbourhoods in Seoul Guide >
4. HiKR Ground
Overlooking Cheonggyecheon Stream in downtown Seoul, time to ‘K-Pop’ along to HiKR Ground, a free indoor cultural center dedicated to all aspects of Korean life.
Opened in 2022 and a modern visitor attraction brought to life by cutting edge technology, there are five floors of activities, pop-up exhibitions and a cafe – it is perhaps best known as the place in Seoul to shoot your own K-Pop style videos at no cost!
Many of the exhibitions are temporary so you never know what to expect at HiKR Ground – but most people head straight to floor two where there are permanent music K-Pop video stages where you take photos in a Korean laundry set, Seoul Subway recreation, a space-shuttle or on the epic and immersive ‘My Stage’.
Read our HiKR Ground Seoul guide >
5. Gwangjang Market
Gwangjang Market is Seoul’s most famous food market, a myriad of market street food stalls selling some of the tastiest food you’ll taste in Seoul.
Gwangjang Market has bags of character, from the numerous (and competitive) stallholders who beckon you over to the huge array of awesome and authentic street food available.
Boiling hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter, Gwangjang Market is a foodie’s dream and a must visit when in Seoul.
Check out our full guide to Gwangjang Market in Seoul >
6. Seoul customizable shops and market stalls
One of the current crazes in South Korea and a fun family rainy day activity in Seoul is to visit a customizable shop in Seoul where you can create your own keyrings or bags using embroidery, stickers, beads and more.
Choose what you want to be customised then select your extra items before having them attached or ironed on in next to no time – a very cool and unique souvenir to take home and for all ages.
One of the biggest customizable shops in Seoul is Wappen House in Myeongdong, but there are also several smaller customizable workshops and DIY stores in the same area, or check out the Insadong neighbourhood (there are several Design It Yourself stores there).
Read more in our guide to customizable stores in Korea >
7. Lotte World
What a ‘Lotte’ fun! One of Seoul’s largest theme parks and similar to Disney World in style and lay-out, Lotte World is well worth a visit (and not just for kids).
With a huge indoor amusement centre (plus the outdoor Magic Island – although not so great in rain), Lotte World is fun for all ages and also includes various entertainment like daily parades and live music shows.
Tip – if you have a Discover Seoul Pass, Lotte World is the best value / biggest discount attraction featured on the pass.
Skip the queues – book your discounted Lotte World tickets in advance >
You might like – 50+ things to do with kids in Seoul >
8. Dongdaemun Design Plaza
By daytime, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul is an aesthetically awesome design centre containing a design museum (certain exhibitions are free), the design lab and a conference center, plus a handful of shops, restaurants and cafes.
From afar, it looks like a huge silver UFO has landed in the centre of Seoul.
If you are staying in Dongdaemun on a rainy day in Seoul, you could easily spend a couple of hours visiting the shops, exhibitions and food court at the DDP.
We particularly recommend the DDP Design Store where you can buy lots of unique gifts plus Hechi merchandise (Seoul’s cute tourism mascot).
You might like – Our guide to Hechi, Seoul’s pink tourism mascot >
9. Kalguksu Alley
Located in Seoul’s Namdaemun Market, Kalguksu alley is an alleyway hot-bed (emphasis on the ‘hot’) of inexpensive noodle stalls.
Inside, you find an alley with two parallel lines of small food and drink stores, each with several chairs around them – think Gwangjang Market but in a much more compact space.
Kalguksu Alley is an alleyway hot-bed (emphasis on the ‘hot’) of inexpensive noodle stalls. It has around 20 to 25 different stalls, generally all run by elderly ladies (ajummas) who take great pride in their food and service.
The food stalls at Kalguksu Alley all looked incredible with noodles and bibimbap, the most popular Korean street food dishes to try – you can eat really well here for around 8,000 Won a dish.
Read more in our guide to Kalguksu Alley >
10. Drink at a Seoul craft beer bar
Seoul is renowned for its craft beer bars and one of the best rainy things to do in Seoul (especially in Seoul at night) is to grab a pint of beer direct from a brewery or taproom.
This could also be a nice way to reward yourself after a day of shopping and umbrella holding!
Itaewon is known as Seoul’s craft beer valley with a bevy of breweries and craft beer bars including Magpie Brewing and The Booth.
From the super-cool Singdang district Kokkari brewery to the ‘sickest’ brewery in Euljiro plus a secret brewery taproom hidden behind a fridge door, here is our guide to the best craft beer bars in Seoul >
Check out these Seoul beer and brewery tours with Viator >
11. Leeum Museum of Art
One of Seoul’s most famous museums and galleries, this is one of the best things to do in Hannam-dong at any time of the year – even the architecture and cool mirrored sculpture outside are magnificent.
As well as temporary exhibitions by world renowned artists, inside you’ll find two main sections at the Leeum Museum of Art, a traditional Korean gallery plus a section dedicated to more contemporary cultural pieces and paintings.
Whilst the permanent exhibition of ancient art is free to visit at Leeum Museum of Art, other exhibitions have a small fee.
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12. Kidzania Seoul
An indoor Seoul rainy day activity for kids, family fun comes to Seoul with this indoor city centre created and curated especially for children at Lotte World – there is even a second Kidzania in South Korea in Busan.
From flying an airplane to TV broadcasting, there are lots of awesome activities and ‘jobs’ that children can undertake and earn kidZos (a unique currency) that they buy rewards with in store. This shows them a world of grown-up jobs but in a fun way!
Book your KidZania Seoul ticket online with Trazy >
13. See a Seoul Theater Show at NANTA Theatre
There are many theatre shows to see in Seoul on rainy days but perhaps the most famous (and long-running) is the NANTA theatre show.
This world renowned comedy cooking show has been packing in audiences worldwide since 1997. Possibly the best known Korean theatre show, NANTA Theatre has been performed over 50,000 times in over 60 countries and is a fun mix of slapstick and physical comedy.
There are very few spoken words used throughout so not understanding Korean (or English) won’t be an issue.
Myeongdong NANTA Theatre has at least two NANTA performances every day, with evening shows held at 5pm and 8pm Monday to Saturday (on Sundays, it is 2pm and 5pm).
Book your Myeongdong Nanta Theater Show Ticket >
14. Starfield Library at COEX Mall
As well as shopping at Starfield COEX Mall, you’ll also see Starfield Library, one of the most memorable and aesthetically pleasing spaces we’ve ever encountered in a Seoul shopping mall.
Surely this has to be the best looking and most accessible library in the world? So much so that it can be hard to get a book from the shelves with all the posing and photography going on (for real).
Unlike other libraries, you don’t need to be a registered user to read the books, and several cafes and coffee shops are ‘hidden’ amongst the gigantic bookshelves.
Did you know there is a second Instagrammable Starfield Library in Suwon? Here are 15 more things to do in Suwon, an easy ride from Seoul on the subway.
15. Myeongdong Hello Kitty Apple Cafe
One of the newest things to do in Myeongdong, if you are visiting Seoul with kids or love all things kawaii, then the Hello Kitty Apple Cafe in Myeongdong might be the place for you!
We popped in to escape the heavy rain in May 2025 and sat down for a couple of drinks – ordering is easy via a vending machine kiosk and you are given your beverages and snacks a few minutes later.
There is no minimum purchase as such but everyone is asked to buy at least one drink each.
They also have a selection of adorable Hello Kitty shaped cakes and sweet treats which look really good. The Myeongdong Hello Kitty Apple Cafe is set over 3 levels with seating on level 1 and 2, plus gift shops on level 1 and level 3 (the level 3 gift shop is much bigger).
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16. Hyundai Card Music Library
We did say Hannam-dong was a hive of hipsters (try saying that after several sojus) – part recording studio, part vinyl cafe, Hyundai Card Music Library is one of Hannam-dong’s more unique caffeine stops.
As well as vinyl, there is a cassette and CD selection and headphones are available to listen to beats with your brews – Hyundai Card holders can visit for free.
Outside there is a striking mural and a viewpoint looking out over Hannam-dong’s shopping side-streets – this is definitely worth a diversion.
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17. Gourmet 494 Food Court
Could this be Seoul’s most glamorous food court? As visited by RM from BTS, Gourmet 494 Food Court in Hannam is located below the Nine One Hannam, a modern apartment complex where many of Seoul’s rich and famous live.
This food court is much more sleek than anywhere else we’ve been in Seoul – the antithesis of say Gwangjang Market or Kalguksu Alley, but then the prices are a lot higher too!
We had lunch in Gourmet 494 Food Court one weekday afternoon so it was pretty quiet but we’ve read it gets very busy at the weekend (maybe it is people eating and wanting a meeting with K Pop stars who live upstairs)?
As well as classic Korean food, there are lots of international stalls like burgers and Italian – we opted for Vietnamese which was really rather good plus some tacos from Queen’s Blvd.
18. ShowFlix 쇼플릭
A musical bar and unique thing to do in Seoul at night, Sindang’s Showflix (we see what they did there!) combines cabaret and live performances with dinner and drinks.
Open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday through Sunday, every 30 minutes during your meal, a different performer will appear on stage – it is immersive too as performers might even leap off the stage to interact or bring you more drinks.
Check out this Showflix ‘dine and drink while watching a musical’ in Seoul’ via Klook or Trazy.
Like Sindang? Have a fun night out in Seoul’s Euljiro AKA Hipjiro >
19. Hyundai Motorstudio Seoul
Even if you aren’t into your sport cars or classic cabriolets, the Hyundai Motorsport Museum in Gangnam is well worth a visit – old and new Hyundai cars are on display over several floors with free admission.
The staff here greeted us in perfect English and led us over to the Hyundai PONY car on the ground floor, explaining how it was this car that took Hyundai onto the world-stage and became so popular in Korea in the 1970s and 1980s.
You are free to wander between floors admiring the cars – it is also their flagship Hyundai showroom in Seoul so you can view the latest models (and potentially buy one if you are feeling flush!)
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20. Get your nails done at Dongdaemun’s famous nail mall
A huge nail salon and other beauty shops located next to Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul’s Migliore Mall late-night nail shop has gone ‘viral’ on social media.
The row upon row of nail products and K Beauty items has featured in countless TikTok videos plus customisable clothes and fashion items – some of the stalls stay open until as late as 2am on some days!
Get glam at Seoul’s ‘Nail Mall’ on the 16th floor, with thousands of nail polishes, dip powders, acrylic sets, stickers and UV lamp lights!
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21. The ColorPool Museum (Colourpool)
A firm family favourite and fun children’s activity in Seoul, The ColorPool Museum is located on the top floor of the Anyoung Insadong shopping complex and is like a rainbow brought to life.
The Colorpool Museum in Insadong, Seoul comprises 9 rooms (or zones), each with its own colour (sorry, color) theme – think pink ball pits, unicorn utopias, rainbow walls and more inflatables than your local swimming pool.
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22. Try Seoul’s most decadent dessert
South Korea’s Abebe Bakery cream filled donuts (cream bread) is Seoul’s hottest dessert right now, with a new bakery location near the famous Gwangjang Market.
With over 40 different flavors of cream filled donut from Jeju Orange and Matcha, join the queue at Abebe Bakery for one of Seoul tastiest sweet treats.
Hailing from Jeju Island and now with branches in Seoul and Tokyo, Japan, find out why Abebe Bakery is the sweetest spot in Seoul >
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23. Seoul rainy day karaoke time
Time to let off a little steam after traipsing around the streets of Seoul all day – Hongdae is the go-to place in Seoul for karaoke and letter your inner K-Pop escape. For wet weather days, why not sing ‘It’s Raining Men’, ‘Here Comes The Rain Again’ or ‘Only Happy When It Rains’.
With dozens of private karaoke booths in huge high-rise karaoke ‘towers’, sing to your heart’s content in Hongdae without fear of anyone hearing you (unless you want to be heard).
Private karaoke booths in Seoul are charged on an hourly rate (prices vary depending on the time of day) and they sometimes do special tourist discounts if you show your overseas ID or passport.
There is an extensive food and drink menu (note there is a minimum spend on food and drink on top of the karaoke booth hire). English, Japanese and Korean songs are usually available as part of the karaoke song selection.
You might like – Our guide to the best K-pop activities in Seoul >
24. Play Arcade Games
A very ‘amusing’ thing to do in Seoul on a rainy day, there are many games arcades across Seoul such as Zzang Games Arcade (it has many branches).
It is a palace of new and retro games, from electronic darts machines to dance mats, claw machines to driving simulators – we would say this is more suitable for teenagers / adults more than smaller children.
Seriously, Zzang Games is usually buZzing when we visit (and it is great to see the sport of darts taking ‘flight’ in Seoul, especially given Seoul baseball is so popular).
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25. Drunken Bean Cafe
Seoul is never short on themed cafes but Drunken Bean 드렁큰빈 in Gangnam has to be one of our top 5 cafe experiences – it is an awesome NYC subway themed basement cafe hidden away in the backstreets of Gangnam.
The attention to detail is incredible, and the coffee isn’t bad either! As soon as you arrive, the entrance looks like a genuine entrance to the New York Subway, even down to authentic American style ‘garbage bins’ – you walk down the steps of the Metro through the turnstiles.
The coffee shop wouldn’t look out of place in a movie but the star of the show has to be the recreation of Subway carriage exterior. It was a popular photo spot and it feels like you are drinking on the actual platform.
Gangnam Drunken Bean 드렁큰빈 is located here >
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26. Stock up on souvenirs in Korea’s tallest Daiso
Most people have been to a branch of the famous Japanese discount store Daiso before but did you know a 12 storey Daiso recently reopened in Myeongdong in early 2023 after a major renovation?
Said to be either the tallest Daiso in South Korea, the 12 storey Myeongdong Daiso takes over an entire building with a different theme / range on each floor.
Each of the 12 Daiso stories is themed e.g. one floor is food and drink, one is homeware and one is sports etc. This is a great place to stock on travel essentials too like padlocks or inflatable pillows.
Read more in our guide to Myeongdong’s 12 floor Daiso store >
27. Get a cartoon caricature or funny illustration
Insadong, Ikseon-dong, Hongdae and Myeongdong are all home to quirky cartoon caricature studios, where street cartoonists have set up studios to do fun family portraits.
Prices vary but starting at 9,000 Won per person based on a minimum of two people, these are really good value caricatures.
28. COEX Aquarium
Located within the COEX Mall, this awesome aquatic adventure is a welcome respite from the shops and boutique stores that surround it.
With 16 themed zones and a huge number of sea species (including sharks), the COEX Aquarium is the largest aquarium in Seoul. Highlights include a ‘real-life’ mermaid, a parade of penguins plus jelly-fish galore.
Prices start from 33,000 won per adult as of April 2025 or from 24,000 won when booked in advance online.
South Korea Hallyu Tip – COEX Aquarium admission is now included as part of the Discover Seoul Pass >
29. K-Pop Shopping
Hello to ‘Hallyu’! Korean popular music has gone global, with K-Pop groups now worldwide stars – from BTS to Blackpink, Seventeen to Stray Kids, there are dozens of K-Pop groups to enjoy.
If you are visiting Seoul soon and want to buy K-Pop music or merchandise on a rainy day, the highest concentration of Seoul K Pop stores is in Myeongdong.
And the Seoul K-Pop stores in South Korea don’t just sell K-Pop music or books – you’ll find all manner of K-Pop merchandise from BTS LEGO through to chocolate bars with your favourite K-Pop bands etched on them (too good to eat?)
From Seoul K-Pop stores in malls to market stalls and shops, here is our guide to the 15 best Seoul K-Pop stores in Myeongdong >
South Korea Hallyu Tip – Kwangya K-Pop flagship store in Seongsu-dong is also very good!
30. BTS Cafe – Yoojung Sikdang
The beloved BTS cafe in Gangnam where the K-Pop band used to dine before they were superstars, Yoojung Sikdang has now become the ultimate K-Pop pilgrimage in Seoul (and tasty too).
Yoojung Sikdang a cosy cafe located in Gangnam’s sidestreets which is literally covered in posters and BTS merchandise – like there isn’t a single surface spared.
We visited Yoojung Sikdang one weekday lunch time, and even managed to sit at BTS’s favourite table!
Busy with locals and international tourists of all ages, the food here was good and still very reasonably priced (the bibimbap was particularly good).
The BTS boys have been back here several times since to film videos or segments – so who knows when BTS might pop up?
You might like – Our guide to the best K-Pop activities in South Korea >
31. Korean skincare and beauty stores
There are many places to buy beauty products but Myeongdong, Hongdae, Seongsu-dong and Gangnam are the ultimate shopping destinations if you are looking for some K-beauty and skincare products and salons.
Popular K-Beauty shops include Olive Young, Nature Republic, Holika Holika, Skin Food, Laneige, Innisfree and StyleNanda 3CE.
Not surprisingly, one of the most asked questions in our South Korea Travel Planning Facebook group is which salons should they go to and which are the best products to buy in stores like Olive Young or InnisFree.
So from colour analysis to booking apps, skin tests to scalp treatments, here is our guide to the best Seoul / South Korean K-Beauty treatments and Korean beauty experiences >
32. The Painters show
‘The Painters’ in Seoul is the world’s first live painting show combined with music – a few people have asked recently about an alternative to the ‘Nanta Cooking / Comedy Show’ and we’d recommend ‘The Painters’. It is on 7 nights a week in Seoul at 8pm (and 2pm and 5pm).
To be honest, we thought it was going to be naff (terrible) but it was surprisingly good and the theatrics and artistry were amazing. Even if you don’t like K-Pop style shows, the way they create incredible paintings from nothing is spellbinding.
Korean ‘idols’ recreate famous paintings such as Michelangelo’s ‘Creation of Heaven’ and Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Self-Portrait’ with splendid choreography and live drawings. It sounds like it will be kitsch AF but we both loved it. There is also a photo opp with the boys at the end.
For more info and tickets, check out ‘The Painters’ on Klook >
33. Naduke Sinsa Gangnam
Gangnam’s Naduke Sinsa dessert place is likely the craziest / cutest croissant shop you’ll ever come across.
Join the eager queue outside before being let in by staff wearing baguette trousers and look in awe at the huge giant croissant that greets you inside (talk about an Instagram moment).
Naduke is a patisserie and coffee shop from Gentle Monster, famed for their fabulous flaky creations like onigiri style cream croissants (Oniwassants). The croissant theming continues throughout, something we’d describe as pastry pastiche.
Fun but also incredibly tasty, other signature creations at Naduke Sinsa Gangnam include a Croitteok (a croissant hotteok mix) and the epic (and expensive) Peak Cake (squid ink and matcha mix dessert). Go for the experience, stay for the oh la la Oniwassants.
34. Catch a fish auction at Noryangjin Fish Market
One of the more unusual Seoul activities, Noryangjin Fish Market is open 24 hours a day to buy fresh fish and have it cooked upstairs in one of the numerous restaurants on level 2.
As featured in the Seoul episode of the Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil (series 3 episode 4), Noryangjin Fish Market is an interesting place to visit although possibly not for the squeamish.
Many of the fish and sea creatures here like octopus and crabs are still alive – the octopuses seem very keen to escape and often make a dash for it.
Noryangjin Fish Market often has very late (or should that be very early) fish auctions at around 3am. Note that whilst the site is open 24 hours, most of the stalls and restaurants close for large chunks of the day so check in advance before visiting.
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35. Dine at Seoul’s famous Myeongdong Kyoja restaurant
One of Seoul’s most popular and inexpensive restaurants, Myeongdong Kyoja has been serving up delicious hand-made dumplings and hand cut noodles to hungry locals for decades.
Founded in the 1960s, Myeongdong Kyoja has a simple but succulent menu comprising just a handful of dishes.
With just a handful of branches in Seoul, Kyoja is one of the most popular cheap eats in the city and queues of diners dying for delicious dumplings and knife-cut noodles is not uncommon.
From marvellous freshly steamed mandu to banging bibimguksu, read our guide to all things Myeongdong Kyoja Restaurant in Seoul >
36. Take Shelter in a sublime Seoul Starbucks
Starbucks in Seoul is a popular place for travellers and locals to enjoy a cup of coffee or even buy a unique Starbucks Korea mug – with almost 2,000 coffee shops in Korea, Starbucks South Korea is ranked fourth in the world in terms of number of cafes, after the USA, China and Japan.
There are some rather unique Starbucks in Korea including the famous Korea Starbucks Hanok cafe, Daegu Starbucks Jongro Old House – but Seoul Starbucks has some of the most beautiful and unique Starbucks in the whole of Korea if not the world.
From a floating Seoul Starbucks on the River Han to a Starbucks in an old Seoul theater, here is our guide to the 5 best Seoul Starbucks >
37. Fried Chicken and Beer (‘Chimaek’)
One of the best foods in South Korea, you don’t need to use the rain as an excuse to seek our ‘clucking good’ fried chicken (and possibly beer).
Known locally as ‘Dakgangjeong’, Korean Fried Chicken usually consists of chicken wings or boneless chicken covered in a spicy and sweet sauce glaze with additional seasonings like cut up peanuts or sesame seed.
It can be bought from street food stalls but we’d recommend trying Dakgangjeong / Korean fried chicken with a nice pint of cold Korean beer (like Cass) in a craft beer bar. Fried chicken and beer combined is known as ‘Chimaek’ in Korean – so cheers to Chimaek at night!
One of the best places to have Korean fried chicken in Seoul at night is beer and chicken street in Myeongdong, Nogari Alley in Euljiro, Itaewon World Street or in Hongdae or Gangnam.
38. Seoul Sky Observatory at Lotte World Tower
Get high in Seoul – well, kind of, Lotte World Tower is the tallest tower in South Korea (and the sixth tallest in the world) and is located not too far from Gangnam in nearby Jamsil. It opened to great fanfare in 2017 and offers incredible panoramic views of the Seoul skyline.
The observation deck area is called ‘Seoul Sky’ which is spread across several floors (levels 117 to 123). At the tip, you’ll find a glass floor walkway (not for the faint hearted), plus a posh lounge, a couple of cafes and a sky terrace.
The views might be may be limited though if the rain is very heavy!
Lotte World Tower is open daily from 10.30am until 10pm (last admission to Seoul Sky is at 9pm).
Discounted Lotte World Tower tickets can be bought in advance from Klook >
39. Be a Seoul Sharp Shooter – try Korea’s Shooting Galleries
After a busy day of exploring it might be time to relieve some stress in Seoul!
You may be surprised to hear that amongst all the karaoke bars and K Beauty stores, there are a number of popular shooting ranges in neighbourhoods like Hongdae and Ikseon-dong including Airsoft Shooting Range and Hongdae Landing Operation BB Gun Shooting range.
Indoor shooting ranges where you shoot at targets using BB guns are popular with younger crowds who often hold mini competitions in groups to see who is the sharpest shooter.
Better yet, you can win prizes at Airsoft Shooting Range if you are on target plus you can either take home your hopefully ‘holey’ target or decorate it and add it to the walls of the shooting club.
Hongdae shooting range prices usually start around the 10,000 Won mark for a pouch of pellets, BB Gun hire and use of the targets.
40. Museum Kimchikan / Kimchi Museum
The Museum Kimchikan (formerly Kimchi Museum – because even kimchi deserves a rebrand) is a uniquely South Korean museum and once named as one of the top 10 food museums in the world by CNN (hands-up if you can name the other 9).
The process of making kimchi is UNESCO designated, such is its cultural significance. At Museum Kimchikan, you can learn about the history of kimchi, the different types and how it is made.
Note the museum is closed on Mondays and admission price is 5,000 Won per adult (around £3) as of April 2025.
Check out this Korean Kimchi making day experience in Seoul >
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41. See a film in a Seoul Cinema
Take the family to the largest cinema screen in the world!
If you are looking for wet-weather family activities in Seoul, one of your best bets is going to the cinema – big boxes of popcorn ahoy!
Two of the best cinemas for families in Seoul are the CGV Starium and Megabox Cinema Gangnam.
Times Square Mall is home to the CGV Starium – the largest cinema screen in the world (as listed in the Guinness World Record Book). With almost 3,000 seats and 12 screens spread over 5 floors, you’ll be spoilt for cinematic choice here. You can even hire a private cinema or go Gold Class!
Megabox Cinema in Gangnam is located in the basement area of COEX Mall. This good-looking Gangnam movie theater has 17 screens plus one hell of a beautiful coffee shop in its lobby. Megabox COEX cinema screens a variety of movies including arthouse fare and occasional live streams of events.
42. Hongdae Board Game Cafes
If you are ‘bored’ of hanging out in Hongdae at night (not possible to be fair), how about a game at one of Hongdae’s board game cafes like the Devil’s Dice or Holmes & Lupin?
Inspired by the Sherlock Holmes novels, Holmes and Lupin is a particularly good Hongdae Board Game cafe with some cute theming like London style Baker Street signs and red brick interiors.
Most board game cafes charge by the hour (usually around 3,000 Won to 4,000 Won plus drinks) and are open until very late. Holmes & Lupin is open daily from 1pm until 1am (and opens at noon on weekends).
43. Ashley Queens Buffets
If you are looking for an easy evening meal or cheap lunch when it is wet in Seoul, check out South Korea’s most popular family restaurant buffet chain – Ashley Queens (there are almost 150 branches)
A weekday lunchtime buffet is 19,900 won per person which is £10.75 or $14.20 USD. The price is most expensive for dinner and during weekends. If you want to eat steak or drink beer you need to pay a supplement.
The selection of food is huge! It’s definitely not the best quality food, however for the price, it is brilliant value and the place was full of locals filling their plates up high! And kids will enjoy making their own waffles and all the sweet treats at the end.
44. Cat’s Playground – Myeongdong Cat cafe
Fur real. A ‘purrfect’ way to spend a rainy afternoon, Seoul has several cat cafes and Myeongdong is no exception.
Promising over 50 cute kitties (although many will likely be taking a cat nap when you visit), the Cat’s Playground is hidden on the second floor of a small side street building – just look for the flashing a-boards or person in a cat suit.
As of summer 2025, The Cat’s Playground in Myeongdong costs around 13,000 won to enter which includes a drink and access to the cats. Note that the cat food is an additional cost and is around 2,000 Won.
You might like – Best Korean street foods you must try in South Korea >
Our final thing to do in Seoul on a rainy day
45. Bank of Korea Money Museum
A quick mention about the Bank of Korea Money Museum, as it is one of the free things to do in Myeongdong, open Tuesdays to Sundays (although a reservation is required for weekend visits).
Built in the early 1900s and a very grand building, The Money Museum at the Bank of Korea was classified as one South Korea’s National Historic Sites in 1981.
Learn about the history of the Korean currency and get hands on with money related exhibits. Free tours of the Bank of Korea Money Museum are available – 11am and 3pm daily for tours in Korean (English tours are held every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday).
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