4 Relaxing Things to Do in Seoul: Tea, Temples & a Foot Bath
Updated October 15, 2026 · All times are Korea Standard Time.
Looking for relaxing things to do in Seoul?
Leave an afternoon open for a walk at Seonjeongneung, tea at Osulloc Tea House Bukchon, a visit to Bongeunsa, or an herbal foot bath at Seoul K-Medi Center. Each offers a different way to give a busy itinerary a little breathing room.
These places are spread across Gangnam, Jongno and Dongdaemun-gu. Choose one or two that fit the area you are already exploring, and leave time to enjoy them. The guide below includes practical prices, addresses and details to check before setting out.
Four relaxing things to do in Seoul at a glance
| Place | Area | Choose it for | Price to plan around |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seonjeongneung | Gangnam-gu | A walk among trees and royal tombs | Standard adult admission: KRW 1,000 |
| Osulloc Tea House Bukchon | Jongno-gu | Tea and dessert | Pay for your order |
| Bongeunsa | Gangnam-gu | A temple visit near COEX | Free general entry |
| Seoul K-Medi Center | Dongdaemun-gu | An herbal foot bath | KRW 6,000 per bath, up to two people |
Prices refer to the activities listed; eligibility-based discounts and additional experiences are separate. Royal-tomb admission and foot-bath details are published by the operators; VISITKOREA lists free entry at Bongeunsa.
- Seonjeongneung: take a greener path through Gangnam
Seonjeongneung is the collective name for the Seolleung and Jeongneung Royal Tombs. The grounds combine royal burial sites with paths and trees, offering a reason to spend part of your Gangnam visit outdoors. Give yourself enough time to walk, look around and enjoy the setting.
- Address: 1 Seolleung-ro 100-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
- Standard individual admission: KRW 1,000 for foreign visitors aged 19–64; exemptions apply to eligible visitors.
- Regular closure: Monday. If that falls on a public or substitute holiday, the site opens and closes on the next non-holiday instead.
Seasonal hours published by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center are:
| Season | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| March–October | 06:00–21:00 | 20:00 |
| November–January | 06:30–17:30 | 16:30 |
| February | 06:00–18:00 | 17:00 |
Use the full place name and address when searching your map. Before an evening visit, check the operator’s current hours and notices and follow on-site access guidance.
- Osulloc Tea House Bukchon: leave time for tea
Osulloc’s Bukchon branch occupies a reimagined 1960s house. It is a place to build a tea-and-dessert pause into a Jongno afternoon. Choose something you would enjoy lingering over, and leave enough time to sit with it.
- Address: 45 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
- Monday–Thursday: 11:00–20:00.
- Friday–Sunday: 11:00–21:00.
- Budget: menu prices vary; tea courses have separate booking arrangements.
For current menu and course information, use Osulloc’s official Bukchon page.
- Bongeunsa: make room for a temple visit near COEX
Bongeunsa gives a COEX-area itinerary a cultural stop with space to slow your pace. Walk around the grounds respectfully, keep your voice low during prayers and follow any signs about access or photography. It remains an active place of worship.
- Address: 531 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
- Subway: Bongeunsa Station, Line 9, Exit 1.
- General entry: free.
- Access to particular spaces may vary with Buddhist services and prayer schedules.
Consult the Seoul Tourism Organization’s visitor guide for access information and VISITKOREA for the general-entry listing. Any organised temple programme should be checked separately.
- Seoul K-Medi Center: try an herbal foot bath
At Seoul K-Medi Center, you can sit beneath a traditional-style pavilion and soak your feet in warm water prepared with seasonal herbs. The posted experience lasts about 20 minutes and costs KRW 6,000 per bath for up to two people.
The official foot-bath page lists first-come registration for time slots at the first-floor information desk. Availability can be affected by weather and operating conditions. Museum admission and other experiences are priced separately.
- Address: 26 Yangnyeongjungang-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.
- Centre hours, March–October: 10:00–18:00.
- Centre hours, November–February: 10:00–17:00.
- Last centre admission: one hour before closing. These are building hours; confirm available foot-bath sessions separately.
See the centre’s operating information for opening hours, closure notices and other admission charges.
How to fit these places into your Seoul itinerary
Start with the neighbourhood you already plan to visit. Here are three ways to work a stop into your day:
- A Gangnam day: consider Seonjeongneung and Bongeunsa. Check the route between them and allow for travel time.
- A Bukchon or Jongno afternoon: make Osulloc your tea stop and leave the rest of the afternoon flexible.
- A visit around Jegi-dong: make Seoul K-Medi Center your main stop and check foot-bath availability before arranging the rest of the day.
Keep a little of the afternoon unplanned. If you find a place you want to stay longer, let the schedule make room for it.
Visiting in late October? Seoul Wellness Travel Week 2026
Seoul’s official festival listing schedules Seoul Wellness Travel Week for October 29–November 4, 2026, with Gangnam hubs including Bongeunsa and Pilgyeongjae and activities linked to the city’s Wellness 100. Check the event website for individual programmes, prices and booking requirements.
The four places in this guide are REPUTIS.MAG’s editorial selections, not a confirmed four-stop festival route.
Questions before you go
Which option is free?
Bongeunsa has free general entry. Tea orders, the foot-bath experience and any separately booked programmes have their own charges.
Can I visit Seonjeongneung on a Monday?
It is usually closed on Mondays. If Monday is a public or substitute holiday, the site opens and the closure moves to the next non-holiday. Check the operator’s notice for your date.
Do I need to visit all four places in one day?
Choose the stop that fits your plans, or pair the two Gangnam locations. Keeping the number of stops small leaves more time for the experience you came for.
Save this guide for a day you want to leave a little space in your Seoul plans. For more Korean beauty, wellness and culture, come explore with @reputis.mag.
Visitor information was checked against the linked official sources on October 15, 2026. Recheck opening hours, session availability and event notices before travelling.
Official source URLs
fees: https://royal.khs.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/R703000000.do
hours: https://royal.khs.go.kr/ROYAL/contents/R702000000.do
tombs: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=111887
tea: https://www.osulloc.com/kr/ko/store-introduction/312
temple: https://english.visitseoul.net/attractions/Bongeunsa/ENP000411
temple_fee: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=104722
foot: https://museum.ddm.go.kr/experience/experience1.php
center: https://kmedi.ddm.go.kr/guide/guide1.php
event: https://festival.seoul.go.kr/festival/main/festivalView.do?festacode=354
programme: https://www.seoulwellnesstravel.com/
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