10 things you should do with 10 hours in Seoul, Korea.

Yesterday I had a lengthy layover in Seoul on my way to Thailand. Never having visited Korea beyond Incheon airport, I decided to go exploring. After boarding an airport limousine bus, I was taken on a comfortable one-and-a-half hour ride and dropped off in the heart of Seoul's Jonggak district.

1. Take a walk down Insadong, a charming downtown neighborhood with a plethora of street vendors, narrow side streets, art galleries and charming restaurants in old Korean houses.



2. Eat some dak galbi (spicy Korean chicken barbeque).



3. Stop at any of the Pascucci coffee shops for some hot milk green tea. Very strong matcha flavor. Love it!



4. Visit Jogyesa Buddhist temple.




5. Stroll through Namdaemun market where you will find anything from traditional handicrafts to hats that resemble plush hello kitties.



6. Eat a hot steamy bowl of kimchi udon.



7. Take a walk through the trendy Myeongdong district, full of contemporary boutiques, street vendors and restaurants.



8. Walk past Jongno Tower.



9. Sample as much street food as possible.




10. Make sure you ride the most intricate subway system I've ever seen. It goes everywhere and is delightfully organized and navigable.