Seoul vs Shanghai
Seoul or Shanghai? Best season, ideal length of stay, neighbourhoods, dining and where to stay, compared side by side.
Seoul or Shanghai? Side-by-side on best time to go, ideal length of stay, neighbourhoods, dining, costs and where to stay — with a clear verdict.
Seoul, South Korea
Seoul pairs royal palaces and hanok neighbourhoods with some of Asia's most inventive dining, design and nightlife. Mountains frame the city and the Han River runs through it, so a luxury stay can move easily between historic Jongno, polished Gangnam and the creative streets of Hannam-dong.
- Getting around: Seoul's subway is efficient, inexpensive and labelled in English; a T-money card works on trains, buses and many taxis. Arrange a car with a driver from Incheon Airport, or take the AREX express train to Seoul Station. Taxis are plentiful, and a ride-hailing app avoids language barriers.
- What to avoid: Visiting Changdeokgung's Secret Garden without booking a guided tour slot in advance.,Assuming Google Maps will give walking directions; use Naver Map or Kakao Map instead.,Tipping, which is not customary in Korea.,Scheduling palace visits on their closing days; check before you go.
Where to base yourself in Seoul
- Jongno & Bukchon: The historic core around Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, with traditional hanok houses on Bukchon's hillside lanes. Best for Palaces, history, tea houses and hanok stays.. An early walk through Bukchon before day-trippers arrive.
- Hannam-dong & Itaewon: Hillside streets of design shops, galleries and some of the city's most talked-about restaurants. Best for Dining, design, art and nightlife.. The Leeum Museum of Art, then dinner nearby.
- Gangnam & Cheongdam: South of the river: flagship fashion houses, beauty clinics and glossy hotels. Best for Luxury shopping, modern hotels and K-culture landmarks.. The designer boutiques along Cheongdam's fashion street.
- Seongsu-dong: Former warehouses turned cafés, pop-up stores and concept shops. Best for Cafés, independent brands and a younger creative scene.. A coffee crawl through converted factories, ending at Seoul Forest.
Dining in Seoul
- Mingles: Modern Korean. The seasonal tasting menu, which reinterprets traditional fermented sauces (jang).
- Gwangjang Market: Korean street food. Bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) and mayak gimbap at the market stalls.
- Onjium: Korean royal and heritage cuisine. The tasting menu built on historic Korean recipes and seasonal produce.
Planning details for Seoul
- Rent a hanbok for your palace visit; wearing one gives free entry to Gyeongbokgung and other royal palaces.
- Time Gyeongbokgung for the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun gate.
- Book a DMZ tour only with a licensed operator, and carry your passport on the day.
- Check the K-ETA or visa rules for your passport before you travel.
Shanghai, China
Shanghai is China's most international city: Art Deco banks along the Bund face the glass towers of Pudong across the Huangpu River, while plane-tree-lined lanes in the former French Concession hide cocktail bars, boutiques and some of Asia's most ambitious restaurants. For luxury travellers it rewards a short, well-planned stay built around river views, food and architecture.
- Getting around: The metro is fast, clean and signposted in English. For door-to-door travel, ask your hotel to arrange a car with a driver, especially for Pudong International Airport, which is a long drive from the centre. The Maglev train runs between Pudong Airport and Longyang Road station.
- What to avoid: Arriving without a working mobile payment method or a card your hotel confirms is widely accepted.,Accepting invitations to tea houses or art shows from friendly strangers near tourist sights.,Planning to cross the city during weekday rush hours by car.,Visiting during Golden Week in early October, when domestic crowds peak.
Where to base yourself in Shanghai
- The Bund: Shanghai's historic waterfront, lined with early-20th-century Art Deco and neoclassical buildings facing the Pudong skyline. Best for First-time visitors, river-view hotel rooms, evening walks and rooftop bars.. A late-evening walk along the promenade when the Pudong skyline is lit.
- Former French Concession: Leafy streets of low-rise villas and lane houses, with independent boutiques, cafés and cocktail bars. Best for Walking, shopping, relaxed dining and a residential feel.. Wandering Wukang Road and the lanes around Anfu Road.
- Lujiazui (Pudong): The skyscraper district across the river, home to the Shanghai Tower and some of the city's highest hotel rooms. Best for Skyline views, business trips and observation decks.. The view back across the river to the Bund from a high-floor bar.
- Jing'an: Central and polished, around Jing'an Temple and the West Nanjing Road shopping strip. Best for Luxury shopping, central hotels and easy metro access.. Jing'an Temple, then the flagship stores on West Nanjing Road.
Dining in Shanghai
- Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet: Multi-sensory tasting menu. The single set menu served at one table for a small group, with projected sound, scent and imagery for each course.
- Fu 1088: Shanghainese. Classic Shanghainese dishes such as smoked fish and braised pork, served in private rooms of a 1930s villa.
- Jia Jia Tang Bao: Soup dumplings. Pork or crab soup dumplings (xiaolongbao), made to order.
Planning details for Shanghai
- See the Bund twice: early morning, when locals practise tai chi on the promenade, and after dark, when the skyline is lit.
- Visit Yu Garden at opening time to see the Ming-era garden before the surrounding bazaar fills up.
- Allow a half day for Zhujiajiao or another canal town if you want a slower contrast to the city.
- Check visa and transit-visa rules for your passport well before travel, as they change.
How to choose
- Seoul suits travellers who want its particular character
- Shanghai suits travellers who want its particular character
- Both sit in East Asia; check distance and transport before combining them.
Seoul city guide · Shanghai city guide
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Seoul against other cities
Shanghai against other cities
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Published by Peters Signature Travel.