The best fashion and gift stores Seoul 서울

Phenomenal! The COEX Mall is arguably one of the largest shopping malls in Asia (and perhaps the world). Housed in the basement of the Korea World Trade Center, it features 260 clothing boutiques (Korean, international, designer and luxury brands), a plethora of restaurants and trendy cafés. There's even an aquarium, a cinema and a museum dedicated to kimchi. On a rainy day, it's simply a golden destination, and you can easily spend a whole day there! THE shopping complex in Seoul!

Myeongdong was the fashion district in the 1980s, before the emergence of Apgujeongdong, which is now competing with it in the field of haute couture. Although a little less trendy than in the past, the number of clothing boutiques has not diminished. Don't miss a visit to this half-pedestrianized district, where you'll find a wide range of brands and a lively shopping scene. From time to time, a festival adds to the liveliness.

It's the cheapest market in Seoul: everything you need is sold there. It's small enough to be able to wander around, but it can be so crowded, both with people and shops (there are no less than 10,000 of them!) that it's not easy to find what you're looking for quickly. The market is divided into eight parts, each marked by an entry/exit door. There's a map and a description of the shops in front of each entrance. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, just go for the atmosphere: you are here in the heart of Seoul.

Lovers of fripe, china and second hand goods, this sector of the traditional market of Gwangjang should put stars in your eyes. You will be able to spend hours in this maze of unique, sometimes offbeat and often very original pieces of clothing. To top it all off, the rates are really great. Smart tip: if you want to leave in your suitcases with a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing), this is definitely the place to come as they are much cheaper than in specialist shops.

Kyobo is Korea's largest chain of bookstores. There are several in Seoul, but the best is here, with a good section of foreign-language books, including a French section. Korean textbooks are also available. There's also a good stationery shop, a cafeteria and a ticket office. Near the cafeteria is the road map section. There's also another sales outlet on Gangnam.

This street is famous for being the district of antique dealers and the arts. While there are some fine stores, they are not flea markets, and the area is very touristy: prices are very high, sometimes justified by the quality and age of the items, but beware of the tourist traps (which are fairly few in number). Calligraphy and other traditional paintings are also on sale in Insadong. Although not very extensive, this is the place where Korean folk art is concentrated in all its splendor.

This is one of the most popular shopping malls in the whole country: nothing less! The giant Lotte is indeed the leader of shopping malls and shopping culture in Korea. Here, on fourteen floors (yes yes you read correctly, there are fourteen of them), you will find everything the world makes of designers, brands or objects (cosmetics, fashion items, household items, toys...) It is a place resolutely for fashionistas and shopping lovers who will be able to spend hours there. Gigantic!

This music store will make Kpop fans happy! Adolescents and young adults of all nationalities flock in large numbers. Of course, you can find the latest albums (as well as the oldest ones) but also a lot of merchandise from the different bands! This is the place for BTS fans to go! If you have a niece, a cousin... Kpop fan in your entourage, you now know what to take as a souvenir. Prices are of course lower here compared to an order on the Internet. So we're enjoying it!

Proudly located in the center of Insa-dong street (you can't miss it), this vast and very trendy complex is home to about 70 shops offering tourists both souvenirs and creations by Korean designers (we admit that prices are sometimes a little high). Of course, there are also cafes and some restaurants (we are in Korea yes or no). We like the nice view of the main street of Insa-dong from the top floor terrace. Rutilating and crawling with people all day long.

One of the districts, with Myeong-dong in the city centre, to get a brand new look. Numerous foreign shops and Korean designers, but also 2 or 3 trendy second-hand shops. Here you will find everything to dress everyone regardless of age, look or budget, even if the prices are slightly higher compared to other places in the capital. If you don't want to buy anything, you can drop by to discover some Korean fashion items. Unsurprisingly, there are many restaurants, cafés...

This three-storey store is dedicated to Line friends (characters from the Asian instant messaging service Line), who are real stars in the region. Everything here bears the effigy of these cute and funny stickers. Giant plush toys, key rings, gacha balls... There's plenty of fun to be had, and plenty of goodies to fill your suitcases that can't be found in Europe. You too will fall for their adorable little faces! If you're not in the area, there's also a version in Itaewon and Myeongdong.

The mastodon of electronics Samsung (삼성) provides 2.0 enthusiasts with a huge showroom where you can discover the full range of their products (connected gadgets of all kinds, virtual reality headsets ...) but also touch tomorrow's technologies with your fingertips. Two entire floors are dedicated to the digital experience and another floor is of course planned for possible small purchases. To do if you're in the area or if you love new technologies, you won't be disappointed.

East of Seoul opposite the Dongseoul bus station, the huge Techno Mart shopping centre offers electronics, a 10-storey, discount hypermarket, a whole floor of restaurants and snack bars, and finally a cinema complex with late-night screenings. But it's mainly for electronics that we come here, because it's the biggest complex dedicated to it! If you need to change your phone and the latest Samsung is giving you the eye, now is the time!

This vast complex of boutiques is primarily intended for a female, rather young and trendy clientele who will find all the products of the world there. It is mainly about clothes and small accessories. While you're here, don't miss the Kakao Friends boutique (Kakao Talk is the Korean instant messaging service). It has lots of cute characters (A-Peach, Ryan, Muzi...) that can be found everywhere in Korea. Younger (and older kids) will love it! One of the most famous shops in the whole city of Seoul.

This vast shopping mall is located in the heart of Itaewon and offers on four floors everything you could hope to find in terms of cheap clothes, souvenirs and other small gadgets. For a long time it was the meeting place for foreign tourists in the capital, but it must be said that nowadays the shopping centre is quite old and you can find the same things as in other shops. It has lost some of its greatness, competing with newer, trendier signs. This is not the best place to shop in Korea.

Without a doubt, our favorite store in Seoul, and certainly the most beautiful and original we could find. 6 floors of clothes, shoes, make-up... decorated with style (pink, but not only). Every inch is Instagrammable. Our favorite decoration? An old-fashioned bathtub filled with fresh flowers. Even if we go there more to visit the place as a museum than to actually shop, it's a must-see when you're in Seoul. It's one of the city's must-sees!

It is one of the oldest clothing markets in the South Korean capital. Among its more than 2,000 shops, it is especially renowned for its hats and various small accessories. Second-hand books can also be found there. Originally, this market was mainly made up of North Korean refugees who settled here at the end of the Korean War and made cheap military clothing for American soldiers. To buy or to stroll around, they are happy to go there.

Located in the shopping district around Ewha University, this street is home to almost exclusively bridal gown boutiques, some of which rival one another in elegance and kitsch. There are reportedly almost 2,000 boutiques, making it a bride-to-be's paradise. There are also a large number of boutiques offering a wide range of cosmetics. Even if you're not planning to buy a dress here, you can always drop in to admire the different models.

Everything is available in this vast shopping mall, 10 storeys high. Clothing shops, mainly for young people and students, foreign and Korean brands, cheap clothes made in small workshops (attention to quality), there is something for everyone and for all tastes. The (national) brand can also be found in the cities of Busan, Ulsan and Daegu with the same standing and the same choices. A temple of consumption with Korean sauce, to be discovered at least once.

Welcome to the glitz and glamour of Gangnam. This is the most recognizable of the district's shopping malls, with its immense glass facade reflecting the daylight and lighting up at night. Everything the world has to offer in terms of luxury boutiques is gathered here, much to the delight of the locals. Be careful with your credit card, though, as spending can be very expensive here. It's always possible to admire the beauty of the place while window-shopping. The food court is also well worth a visit.