We had time before checking in, so we started with Cheonggyecheon. My mother-in-law was with us, and I wanted to show the girls a little of central Seoul before settling into the hotel.
Table Of Content
- Our Seoul trip in photographs and film
- Down from the street to Cheonggyecheon
- A pause beside the water
- Children's clothes in Namdaemun, a gift from Grandma
- What we ate: galchi-gui baekban
- The girls' first look at Myeongdong
- A practical route for visitors, not a race between sights
- Small things worth checking before you go
- A few questions about our day
- Did you visit all three places in one day?
- Did you eat braised hairtail in the famous alley?
- Can I copy the stream-side part of your visit?
- A day of small stops
- More from our two days in Seoul
That was June 6, 2023. We left our car at The Westin Josun Seoul, then spent the day between the stream, Namdaemun and Myeongdong. There was a different kind of Seoul to look at in each place.
Our trip at a glance
Date: June 6, 2023
Before check-in: Hotel parking → Cheonggyecheon → lunch
After check-in: Meet my sister-in-law → Namdaemun → Myeongdong → hotel
Our group: Grandma, my wife and me, two daughters; my sister-in-law joined in the afternoon
For visitors: These were separate outings with a hotel stop between them, not an uninterrupted walking route.
Our Seoul trip in photographs and film
About three minutes, combining our photographs and short clips. On-screen captions are in Korean; this article provides the English story and visitor notes.
Down from the street to Cheonggyecheon
We walked down toward the water, looked around and took a family photograph. I told the children what Cheonggyecheon used to look like and how it had changed. It is the sort of conversation I find myself having when we take them somewhere new.
For visitors unfamiliar with the name, Cheonggyecheon (청계천) is a restored stream running through downtown Seoul. Roads once covered it, including an elevated highway; the restoration project began in 2003. The contrast between the water below and the city streets above makes that history easier to picture. Visit Seoul’s English introduction.
A pause beside the water
We sat down and dipped our feet in the water during that visit. The photographs show us sitting together in the shade, and we also watched a bird moving through the stream.
We had come here to fill the time before check-in, so there was no need to rush away after taking a picture. We could sit for a while before finding lunch nearby.
After lunch we went back to the hotel, checked in and unpacked. I still have a photograph from the meal, but not a reliable restaurant name, so I will not turn it into a restaurant recommendation.
Children's clothes in Namdaemun, a gift from Grandma
My sister-in-law met us after check-in, and we headed to Namdaemun. We had heard there was an area known for children’s clothing and wanted to look around. My mother-in-law bought each girl an outfit.
Namdaemun Market (남대문시장) is a traditional market, not a single department store. For our family, the children’s clothes were the reason to go, followed by dinner. Save the market name in Korean, and ask for a particular building or shop if clothing is your main purpose; finding the right section is more useful than simply reaching the market.
What we ate: galchi-gui baekban
We had galchi-gui baekban (갈치구이백반) in Namdaemun: a grilled-hairtail fish set meal with rice and side dishes. Galchi is hairtail, gui means grilled, and baekban refers to a rice-based set meal. If you want to order that dish, keeping the Korean name on your phone can help.
Our restaurant’s name is not recorded. Namdaemun also has a well-known alley for galchi-jorim, braised hairtail, but that is a different preparation from the grilled fish I remember eating. Check the actual menu rather than assuming every hairtail meal is the same. Visit Seoul’s introduction to the market’s food alleys.
The girls' first look at Myeongdong
On the way back to the hotel we stopped in Myeongdong. It was the girls’ first visit, and they enjoyed seeing so many people. We looked around with snacks in hand before returning to the hotel.
Myeongdong (명동) is a central shopping area with fashion and beauty shops, restaurants and street food. It felt quite different from our earlier time beside the stream. If you are visiting Korea for the first time, these two stops show very different sides of a day in the city. Visit Seoul’s Myeongdong guide.
Once we had finished looking around, we went back to our rooms. The hotel had packed wine and food because the children were too young for the lounge happy hour. That evening together is in the hotel chapter.
A practical route for visitors, not a race between sights
We drove to the hotel and explored from there. The station names below are planning references for readers using public transport, not a claim that we used these trains. Choose the entrance that fits your route, and leave time to sit down if children or grandparents are with you.
| Place to save | Useful orientation |
|---|---|
| 청계천 · Cheonggyecheon | For the downtown western end, Visit Seoul lists City Hall Station, Lines 1/2, Exit 4. The stream has many other access points. |
| 남대문시장 · Namdaemun Market | Hoehyeon Station, Line 4. The tourist information centre is near Exit 5. |
| 명동 · Myeongdong | Myeongdong Station, Line 4, or Euljiro 1-ga Station, Line 2, depending on which side you are approaching. |
| 웨스틴 조선 서울 · The Westin Josun Seoul | Our hotel stop between the morning and afternoon outings; 106 Sogong-ro. |
Sources: Cheonggyecheon, Namdaemun visitor information and Myeongdong. Checked September 10, 2026.
Small things worth checking before you go
Namdaemun’s tourist information centre lists English, Japanese and Chinese assistance, with hours of 10:00–19:00. It can be useful when you need help locating a market section. Individual shops keep their own hours, so check a specific clothing shop before making a trip just for it.
For clothes, bring the children’s current measurements and ask about trying items on or exchanging sizes. Read food prices before ordering, and ask about ingredients if needed. These are planning suggestions, not services I have confirmed at the shops we visited.
At Cheonggyecheon, follow closure barriers and weather warnings. The official guide notes that access can be restricted when it rains. With a stroller, check the access route before choosing a staircase down to the stream.
A few questions about our day
Did you visit all three places in one day?
Yes, but with check-in and unpacking at the hotel in between. I would not describe it as a single uninterrupted walk for a family with children and a grandparent.
Did you eat braised hairtail in the famous alley?
We ate grilled-hairtail baekban. I have not identified the restaurant or established that it was in that particular alley.
Can I copy the stream-side part of your visit?
Use the photograph as a memory of 2023, not an access guide. Observe the signs and any restrictions in place on your own visit.
A day of small stops
We came back with photographs beside the stream, clothes from Grandma and memories of the girls’ first visit to Myeongdong. The next morning, after breakfast and taking my sister-in-law home, we headed to Children’s Grand Park. This time I could show them the neighbourhood where I had lived as a child.
More from our two days in Seoul
- Part 1 · Our night at The Westin Josun Seoul
- Part 2 · Cheonggyecheon, Namdaemun and Myeongdong
- Part 3 · Back to Dad's childhood park
Travel dates: June 6–7, 2023. Visitor information checked September 10, 2026. Based on our family experience and photographs, with current planning notes kept separate. Confirm arrangements with the relevant operator before visiting.
