The spa-worshiper in you will kick up a major fuss if you don’t take yourself to a Jjimjilbang—one of Seoul’s expansive, gender-segregated public bathhouses—while in town. These complexes hold hot tubs, showers, Finnish-style saunas and massage tables for every bodylicious treat you can imagine. Not only will you get a glimpse of some truly great aspects of this unique facet of Korean culture, you’ll achieve one of the most relaxing days of your life! There are unisex areas so if you are traveling with a mate, you can part your ways for treatments and reunite at the snack bar, or in the lounge replete with wide-screen televisions and computers. There are sleeping quarters with either bunk beds or sleeping mats, and jjimjilbangs usually operate 24 hours, so they are popular weekend getaways for Korean families to relax—parents spending time soaking in tubs or lounging and sleeping while the kids surf on the PC’s.
Jjimjilbangs are also a great deal if you’re a cost-conscious traveler. For 6,000-10,000 Won, you can sleep overnight, enjoy the bathhouse and sauna, and wake up fresh and ready to travel the next morning. If you have bags and backpacks with you that are too big to fit in the lockers, the front desk will usually watch them at no extra charge for the length of your stay. The Dragon Hill Spa is know as a standout among these popular places as the staff speaks English, Korean and Japanese.