are toilets accessible everywhere?

Bukchon is the one spot where I'd tell you to just use the restroom at Anguk Station before you even surface, line 3, exit 6 puts you right at the edge of the neighborhood. The station ones are newer and cleaner than anything you'll find wandering the alleys, and you skip the awkward walk looking for a sign. Gyeongbokgung and Nami are both fine, but the palace gets packed with school groups around 10 AM, so if you can, do the grounds first and save the toilets near the ticket office for later.

Nami's main facilities near the ferry are the worst of the bunch, but there's one tucked behind the little souvenir row before you hit the main path, it's usually empty and they keep it warm in winter. Also, don't assume the door locks work in the older stalls, especially at outdoor spots, just kick the door shut and hold it, it's a common quirk. Carry your own hand sanitizer and a small pack of tissues, some of the rural stops on the way to Nami won't have paper stocked, it's not a big deal if you're prepared.

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honestly you'll be fine, just plan around the crowds. bukchon is the only annoying one since it's all hills and hanoks, so hit the toilet at the info center before you climb up to the photo spots. the ones at the top near the observatory are small and sometimes have a line, so don't wait until you're desperate.

for gyeongbokgung, skip the ones right at the main gate, they get packed with tour groups. walk toward the back near hyangwonjeong pond, there's a quieter restroom by the garden that's usually clean. also the national folk museum next door has good ones and you can sneak in without paying.

nami island is easy, but the ones near the jetty are chaos on weekends. go past the main path toward the metasequoia lane, there's a restroom by the little train station that nobody seems to use. also some of the outdoor ones have no soap, so yeah, bring sanitizer.

one thing nobody mentions, some older public toilets in seoul have no toilet paper at all, just a dispenser outside that's often empty. so always keep a roll in your bag, not just tissues. and if you're near a big department store like lotte or hyundai, just use theirs, they're spotless and have heating in winter.

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Most of the time it's fine, but the real issue is finding the right kind. Seoul's newer areas like Gangnam or the big subway interchanges have spotless western toilets, but the older neighborhoods, and some parts of Bukchon, still have squat style ones. Nami Island is fine, they've renovated a lot there, but the weekend crowds mean you'll be queuing at the main ones, so the quieter spots near the lakeside are your friend.

A trick locals use: the big department stores and shopping malls are basically public toilets with extra steps. If you're near Lotte or Shinsegae, just walk in and head for the basement or upper floors, those are always pristine and have soap and paper. Also, the free public toilets in Seoul have a rating system on the official app or site, you can check which ones are clean before you go, it's saved me a few times.

One thing I'd add, the palace and Nami Island both have toilets with heated seats in winter, which is nice, but the outdoor ones on Nami can get cold. And don't rely on finding paper, carry your own, even in places that look modern. It's just how it is here.

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Reserve the 2pm seating, gets packed after 3.

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the set, not a la carte

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Coming from Haebangchon, take line 6 to Itaewon then walk up, taxi is only like 6,000 won though. Skip the scones honestly, they're dry. Order the first flush darjeeling a la carte and a slice of their matcha roll.

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