If you are a BTS ARMY reading this, you already know how big this is. BTS is BACK! ARIRANG is here, SWIM is out, and the world feels a little brighter because of it. After almost four years of waiting, the boys are finally back as seven. We experienced solo releases, military enlistments, and held on together as a fandom. They came back with everything! And now it’s time for BTS Festa!
If you’re visiting South Korea for BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN BUSAN and FESTA or in Seoul, here are the 7 spots to visit. Every ARMY absolutely needs to see these locations! Whether you are planning a trip to Korea, experience this comeback fully. Or enjoy the celebration from your couch on the other side of the world. 💜
Welcome back, BTS. We never stopped waiting.
7 Must-Visit Seoul Spots for Every BTS ARMY in 2026
Every baby ARMY should do a full BTS pilgrimage, especially if it’s your first time visiting South Korea. And even though you’ve been to these places already, going there every time is still a different feeling
1. Gwanghwamun Square & Gyeongbokgung Palace
This is the one! Last March 21, Gwanghwamun Square hosted BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG. It was broadcast live on Netflix. Visiting this square is an absolute must!
Stand in front of the iconic Gwanghwamun gate. You will be surrounded by Gyeongbokgung Palace and the mountains behind it. Then, you’ll understand exactly why BTS chose this place. It’s deeply Korean, breathtakingly beautiful, and full of meaning. Walk around, take photos, and soak it all in. This spot will give you chills.
Practical tip: Go early in the morning before crowds arrive. The lighting is magical at sunrise and you’ll get the most peaceful photos.
2. HYBE Building in Yongsan | BTS POP-UP : ARIRANG
Is HYBE Headquarters Still Worth Visiting? (Plus How to Book the 2026 ARIRANG Pop-Up)
The HYBE headquarters building in Yongsan is still absolutely worth visiting even though the HYBE INSIGHT permanently closed in 2023. The exterior is iconic, and standing in front of it as an ARMY just hits differently. Spend some time here, take your photos, and walk around the neighbourhood.
BUT!!! HYBE just announced that BTS POP-UP: ARIRANG will be happening from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026. You can reserve one timeslot on WEVERSE through this link.
Also, there are many cafes around the building. They usually host a cupsleeve event for BTS. This is especially common during a BTS member’s birthday or comeback. The entire cafe spaces are filled with photo spots and installations. They have custom cup sleeves and photocard freebies. I went to these cafes and the energy is something you genuinely can’t replicate anywhere else in the world.
3. Yoojung Sikdang: The Restaurant from BTS Trainee Days
Yoojung Sikdang is a humble Korean restaurant that BTS members have mentioned eating at during their trainee days. It is a place that is insignificant to those unaware of the story. However, it means everything to a BTS ARMY. The food is traditional and genuinely delicious. Eating here is a unique experience. Knowing I sat in the same seats where BTS sat before they were BTS makes it truly special.
This is not a tourist trap. It is a real, local restaurant that happens to carry a piece of BTS history. Treat it with that energy and it will give you one of the most meaningful meals of your trip.
⭐️ ARMY tip: Go for lunch on a weekday to avoid long waits. Order the Black Pork Stone-pot Bibimbap and kimchi jjigae. I promise you, you will not regret it!
4. First/Old Big Hit Entertainment Building (Mapo)
This one is for the fans who want to trace BTS back to the very beginning. The first Big Hit Entertainment building in Mapo is where it all started. Seven boys trained in a basement practice room. It had no heater and foggy mirrors. There was mold, and according to Jungkook himself at their Sowoozoo concert, there were cockroaches and even a ghost. And they still became the biggest act in the world. Standing in front of this building knowing all of that hits completely different.
It is a quieter, more personal stop compared to the bigger landmarks, which honestly makes it even more special. There is no big sign or tourist setup here. It is just you, the building, and everything you know about what happened inside it.
⭐️ ARMY wall tip: Right nearby you will also find the famous fan message wall at the Cheonggu Building. It is completely covered in handwritten notes, names, and love letters to BTS from fans all over the world. I visited this and it genuinely made me emotional.
5. Lotte World (Run BTS Filming Location)
Lotte World is one of the most magical theme parks in Seoul. For ARMY, it carries extra meaning because this is where BTS filmed a Run BTS episode. Watching them run around this park is chaotic and free. Standing in that same place yourself is such a full-circle moment.
What makes it even more fun is that you can rent a Korean high school uniform. It’s just like the ones in every kdrama. This is actually one of the most popular k-drama filming locations in Seoul too. I rented a pink one, obviously!
⭐️ TIP: Rent the high school uniform for the most kdrama-coded photos of your trip. The castle backdrop plus the uniform is pure main character energy.
6. Han River: Banpo Rainbow Bridge at Night
The Han River is woven through so much of BTS’s content and Seoul’s identity, and visiting it as an ARMY is genuinely one of the most peaceful and beautiful parts of any Seoul trip. But the secret that not every guide tells you is that the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show plays BTS music. Yes, really! Standing by the river at night watching a fountain show set to BTS songs while the bridge lights up in colour is an experience that is hard to put into words.
⭐️ Timing: The Rainbow Fountain show runs at set times in the evening. Check the current schedule before you go as it varies by season.
7. Bukchon Hanok Village + Cosmos Flower Field (RM Namjoon’s Spot)
Bukchon Hanok Village is one of the most breathtaking areas in all of Seoul. It is a hillside neighbourhood of traditional Korean hanok houses. The city spreads out beautifully below. This is extra special for ARMY because of the cosmos flower field near Bukchon. RM or Namjoon has a similar photo in this field.
The way I visited the place already like literally 2 days before he posted it! I just took photos there because the flowers are so pretty. So I was surprised he had photos there too. Not really sure if we crossed passed but hey at least we were breathing the same air that time lmao!
Namjoon has always been known for seeking out the quieter corners of Seoul. He prefers the more artistic and culturally rooted areas. This area is exactly that. Standing in the same flower field with the same gate behind you is a soft, personal ARMY moment. You know he stood there too. It does not need to be loud to mean everything.
⭐️ Photo tip: The cosmos flowers bloom in autumn around September to October. If you visit in summer, you will still enjoy the hanok village and surroundings, which are stunning year-round. Go early morning before crowds arrive, wear something soft and flowy, and take your time in the village alleys too.
💜 Bonus: Spring Day Bus Stop in Gangneung 💜
This one is not in Seoul but I could not write this guide without including it. The Spring Day bus stop is located at Hyangho Beach in Jumunjin, Gangneung. It is a replica of the one from the Spring Day music video. This song is one of BTS’s most beloved of all time. Standing at that bus stop with the beach right there is an experience ARMY describes as healing. I completely understand why! It would be so iconic to go there now. We waited for years, and now the boys are finally back!
The good news is that Gangneung is very doable as a day trip from Seoul. Take a KTX train from Seoul Station to Gangneung Station. The journey is only about 2 hours. Then, grab a taxi to Hyangho Beach in Jumunjin. Or if you want more adventure, you can take a bus which I did before. It’s so easy but the travel time is a bit longer.
While you are there, walk along the beach and explore the area. Gangneung itself is a stunning coastal city worth the trip. It’s worth visiting even beyond the BTS connection.
💜 Bonus: N Seoul Tower / Namsan Tower 💜
You cannot wrap up a BTS Seoul itinerary without heading up Namsan Mountain to the iconic N Seoul Tower. This spot is deeply woven into BTS history most famously, RM and Jin starred here together for the city’s MY SOUL SEOUL tourism campaign, specifically filming the “snapshotSeoul” edition right on the Namsan cable car!
Also, most of the time they usually light up the tower purple for every BTS major events so most likely it will happen to during this BTS Festa this June.
Practical Tips for Your BTS Seoul Trip for BTS FESTA
Get a T-money transit card at Incheon Airport for seamless subway and bus travel across the city
Download Naver Maps instead of Google Maps for the most accurate Seoul navigation
The official BTS fan platform Weverse is your best source for any real-time updates on events, pop-ups, and comeback announcements during your visit
Bring your ARMY Bomb light stick
Public transit in Seoul runs until around midnight so plan for later nights accordingly
ARIRANG Concert: Busan Asiad Main Stadium
If you are traveling to South Korea in mid-June, you absolutely cannot miss the epicenter of the 2026 celebration. While Seoul holds the history of their trainee days, Busan Asiad Main Stadium is where the monumental anniversary dates for the ARIRANG World Tour are happening on June 12 and 13!
This is the ultimate highlight of Festa week, making these specific concert dates deeply special for the fandom.
What to Expect for BTS THE CITY ARIRANG (Busan Edition) BTS FESTA
The entire city of Busan is transforming into a massive festival zone from June 5 to June 21. If you make the trip down from Seoul via the KTX, here are the absolute must-visit activations happening around the concert:
🛸 Gwangalli Beach Drone Show: On June 12 and 13 at 10:00 PM, a massive 1,000-drone light show will light up the night sky right over the illuminated Gwangan Bridge.
🎪 ARMY “MADANG” Fan Zone: Head over to The Bay 101 (June 10–14) for dedicated fan lounges, photo zones, and interactive pop-ups by Samsung Galaxy and Google Gemini.
🛍️ SHINSEGAE Centum City Pop-Up: An official BTS POP-UP: ARIRANG merch shop and showroom is taking over the B1/B2 floors of the mall from June 5 to June 14.
📌 Concert Pro-Tip: The stadium is utilizing a massive 360-degree in-the-round stage production, meaning there’s an incredible view from every single section. Because parking is completely restricted on-site, make sure to load up your T-Money card in advance and take the Busan Metro to Asiad Stadium Station or Sports Complex Station!
Take the Pilgrimage With You: Free Downloadable Guide Book
Planning a trip across South Korea for Festa week and the ARIRANG tour can be a beautiful whirlwind. I’ve compiled this entire post into a premium, beautifully designed offline PDF guide book for your phone.
What’s Packed Inside the PDF Edition:
- Complete Offline Maps & Logistics: Exact transit line station numbers and exit guides for both Seoul and Busan.
- Editorial Photo Prompts: Specific angles, frames, and golden hour times to capture your aesthetic memories flawlessly.
- Busan Festival Map Details: Hidden tips for caching your Weverse passes and timing the 1,000-drone Gwangalli Beach light show perfectly.
- Minimalist, Phone-Friendly Design: Beautifully styled for quick swiping and offline reading while navigating crowds.
Format: Interactive Mobile PDF • Size: 2.4 MB • No Sign-up Required
Let’s Connect in the Comments! Whether you are standing in Gwanghwamun Square re-living the livestream backdrop, catching RM and Jin’s sunset views from the Namsan Cable Car, or screaming your heart out under the lights at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, I want to hear all about your journey!
Which of these iconic spots is at the absolute top of your travel itinerary this month? Are you heading down to Busan for the anniversary dates or celebrating Festa from home? Drop your travel logs, tour dates, or questions below—let’s chat and share tips! 💜
Packing the right gear is just as important as planning your route. To capture those crisp, cinematic vertical videos on the go without carrying a massive camera setup, see my full breakdown on why I love the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 as a content creator to see how I film my travel vlogs
Are you planning your trip for Festa or counting down the days to the Arirang concert? Let me know in the comments below which spot is at the absolute top of your travel checklist, and don’t forget to save this guide for your itinerary! Safe travels, and may your journey be filled with magic. 💜
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