6 Things to do at University Quarter (Seoul)

University Quarter is an area in Seoul that consists of two main areas: Sinchon and Hongdae. It is well-known for being an enclave of elite universities, fashion streets, hip cafes, restaurants and artistic zones. Below is a list of things to do at Sinchon and Hongdae respectively. There is also a rough map at the bottom of this article to give you an idea of the respective attractions. Feel free to leave any questions in the comments section below!

Sinchon:

1. Visit Ewha Womans University

We visited Ewha Womans University in the early morning and there were already LOADS of female students going to school. This is an all-female university in Seoul that was founded way back in 1886 by an American missionary.

We enjoyed strolling around the campus, which had beautiful manicured gardens, great scenery and charming neoclassical buildings interspersed with modern architecture. However, it felt a little weird as it almost seemed that I was the only guy in the entire area.

Directions:
Take Line 2 (Green) to Ewha Womans University metro station and go out from Exit 2 or 3. Walk straight for about 10 minutes. Check out the Google Maps directions to Ewha Womans University from the metro station.

2. Shop at Ewha Womans University Fashion Street

And of course, we did lots of shopping in the area around the college, commonly known as Ewha Womans University Fashion Street. Along the alleyways, there are loads of street stalls and malls selling clothes, shoes and other fashion accessories. Raevian managed to find many bargains here because the street stalls cater mainly to the female student population, and so the prices were quite affordable.

Surprisingly, there were many male items here too. I managed to get a few stylish bags here at just 10,000 KRW each. This was definitely a nice change from other shopping districts in Seoul which are mainly for female shoppers.

This area is also famous for its great alteration services and numerous hair salons.

Directions:
Take the metro to Ewha Womans University Station and go out from Exit 2 or 3. Walk towards the main entrance of Ewha Womans University. From here, if you turn into the alleys on the left, you will see lots of street stalls selling affordable fashion goods. If you turn into the alleys on the right, you will see designer shops and malls. We mainly shopped at the left alley.

3. Nightlife in Sinchon

Sinchon is famous for its night clubs and bars that have attractive prices catered to the budget-conscious student population.

Hongdae:

4. Shop at Hongdae

Hongdae is an area around Hongik University that has lots of stalls selling clothes and fashion accessories. This is a good area to shop but the prices were slightly more expensive than at Ewha.

Raevian had a ball shopping at the Style Nanda flagship store here. This is a famous retail brand popular with young South Koreans. The shop sells fashionable clothes, shoes, and the famed “3 Concept Eyes” cosmetic products. Luckily for me, there were some couches on the ground floor where I rested while waiting for Raevian to finish shopping.

For shopping of a different kind, be sure to visit the Hongdae Flea Markets, located just outside the main entrance of Hongik University. The flea markets are held on weekends between March and November, from 2pm to 6pm.These art markets provide young artists with the platform to showcase and sell their artwork, music, and performances.

Directions:
Take line 2 (Green) to Hongik University Station and go out from Exit 8. The shopping district starts from here. You can refer to the Google Maps directions to Style Nanda from Hongik University Station.

5. Hongdae Street Art

Not surprisingly, we found plenty of street art in Hongdae, further bolstering its image as an area rich in culture and artistic expression.

6. Nightlife in Hongdae

Along with Gangnam and Itaewon, Hongdae is a super popular nightlife district in Seoul. Some of the best clubs include Cocoon, Club M2, Club Vera and Mama Gorilla. Check out the list of best nightclubs in Hongdae. A convenient hotel to stay at here would be the Benikea Premier Marigold Hotel, which is located in the club district of Hongdae.

This article is part of our completely free and fantastic Ultimate Seoul Travel Guide. Why spend days researching when all your holiday information is simply a click away?

Map of Seoul’s University Quarter