It’s officially the best time of the year!Although I personally don’t love the cold that comes with winters here, I’ve really enjoyed our new tradition of getting a cup of hot cocoa and checking out the beautiful Christmas lights on a snowy night in Seoul. As a major city, Seoul goes all out for Christmas decor and rivals the displays you can find in NYC and London. While you can typically find very festive Christmas displays all over Seoul, these are the top 7 worth checking out this holiday season.

SHINSEGAE DEPARTMENT STORE in Myeongdong

This is one of the most popular Christmas spots in Seoul, boasting over 3.5 million lights at a major intersection in Myeongdong. Some of the best photo spots are across the street in either direction so you can capture most of the building within the frame. Make sure you explore the nearby streets of Myeongdong which are filled with local vendors selling warm street foods like hotteok (a Korean pancake filled with brown sugar cinnamon) and egg bread.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2021

LOTTE WORLD TOWER in Jamsil

This is one of the most iconic spots in Seoul’s skyline, so it’s no surprise that they do a big display every year. You can usually find some type of pop-up both outdoors by the lake, and inside towards the luxury end of the mall. Last year there was a beautiful Chanel ice-skating rink outside that was free to enjoy but required prior reservations on Naver.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2021

LOTTE DEPARTMENT STORE in Myeongdong

This location is top of my list this year as it is STUNNING. The extravagant lights and window displays remind of New York City during Christmas. This is nearby Shinsegae Department Store, so I recommend visiting both and making a night of it in Myeongdong.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2022 by @spot_editor on Instagram.

THE HYUNDAI SEOUL

This is one of the newest and most popular malls in Seoul, so it’s no surprise that they’ve joined the list with a beautiful Christmas village complete with Christmas trees and cabins. While you’re there spend the afternoon exploring 600 stores in this Instagram-worthy mall.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2022 by @spot_editor on Instagram.

STARFIELD LIBRARY at the COEX Mall in Gangnam

This Instagram-famous library in Gangnam gets fully decked out every year with a huge tree and hanging lights. Be sure to also get a few shots of the tree from the escalators.

This mall is a short subway ride from the Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, so you can easily check out both in one evening.

Naver pin here.

*photo is from 2021

TIMES SQUARE

Another popular shopping mall, Times Square usually focuses their display around a massive Christmas tree with beautiful lights around it. This pretty spot is actually pretty close to the Hyundai mall, so you could easily see both in the same evening.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2022 by @hyeonini_ on Instagram

GARDEN OF MORNING CALM

This beautiful garden North of Seoul remains a popular attraction all year long by including a massive Christmas light display during the winter nights. You can find different themes throughout the garden and multiple light tunnels for a magical Christmas feeling. You will definitely want to wear several layers and bring hand warmers as it is extremely cold at night. While the garden is a bit secluded, they have a restaurant and some snack food stands on site or you find a few Korean restaurants next to all of the pensions as you exit the area.

Naver pin here.

*photos are from 2021

Bonus. In addition to these 7 spots, you can definitely find very festive displays at all of the theme parks, luxury hotels, local malls, and honestly most aesthetic cafes.

I hope you’re able to enjoy some of these spots with your friends and loved ones this holiday season, let me know which one is your favorite or if there’s any spots I forgot to mention.

For more Korea content and tips, check out my Instagram and TikTok.

xoxo