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Christmas connects love, reminds us of the preciousness of family, and even brings wars to a halt. If you were waiting for Christmas hoping that a miracle might happen just like in a movie, where would be the perfect setting for such a film in which you are the main character? Here, we introduce romantic Christmas spots where it feels as if chance encounters and miraculous moments could unfold. All of them are indoors, places where you can leave your suitcase in temporary storage somewhere close by and wander around at leisure during the 4 hours before you need to head to the airport. Here’s hoping everyone will be able to make their own uniquely glistening memories of Christmas.

A Department Store Transformed into a Tree Village, Shinsegae Wonderland

In Seoul, the department store is where winter arrives first. From mid-November, giant trees, large electronic displays, and appropriately themed pop-up stores emerge, indicating that Christmas is approaching. Crowds gather as word spreads about the perfect spot for a beautiful photo, but outdoor venues are too cold and famous places often require advance reservations. The Christmas pop-up store at Shinsegae Gangnam Branch is a great place to enjoy the festive mood even without a reservation. The pop-up is located in the space connecting House of Shinsegae and Sweet Park on Basement Level 1.

This year, a Christmas market has opened its doors under the Europe-inspired theme of ‘Shinsegae Wonderland’, with 13 brands including The Village Shop, Lucia I, and J Dot Tree, all renowned for their signature Christmas decorations taking part. All of them are aesthetic lifestyle boutique shops with strong appeal among the MZ generation from areas like Seongsu-dong and Mangwon-dong. In addition to that, you will find many items such as candles and lighting, including German Advent calendars and hand-crafted ornaments, all giving off a cozy atmosphere, making them perfect to use throughout the winter even after Christmas has passed.

At the back of the market, there is a DJ space where music that enhances the Christmas atmosphere fills the air. A self-photo booth where you can eternalize fun memories with cute Christmas props is also available.. The highlight is the Tree Road installed along the passage connecting Sweet Park and House of Shinsegae, where large trees and photo-zones line the path. Meanwhile, at House of Shinsegae, a huge LED screen covering the entire exterior wall of the atrium shows year-end themed videos at the top of every hour. With lighting and music synchronized to the video, it creates a perfect Christmas mood. Shinsegae Wonderland runs until December 30.

Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam Branch

176, Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul

 Monday to Thursday(10:30 ~ 20:00) / Friday to Sunday(10:30 ~ 20:30)

A Santa Village with a Giant Tree, Yeongdeungpo Times Square

When you step into the first-floor atrium of Yeongdeungpo Times Square, a massive Christmas tree that seems to reach the ceiling welcomes you. It stands at an impressive 13 meters. Red Christmas houses surround the tree, making you feel as if you are strolling through a Santa village, and cute cat characters catch your eye. They are Times Square’s original characters, Tom’s Friends.

Tom’s Friends are a group that came from space to Earth to find Luca, a lost cat. The five characters include Tom, the leader, and his companion cat Luca, Joy the curious artist, Pie the chef who is passionate about food, and Mia, who is well-informed in everything. The cat wearing fashionable goggles and carrying a sack of gifts in the event zone is Luca. This year’s concept of the Times Square Christmas pop-up is Merry and Bright, combining adorable characters with classic ornaments and warm lighting to decorate the space.

Admission is free, and except for crowded weekends, you can usually enter without waiting. The most popular Christmas House photo-zone has a five-minute time limit per group. There is also an experience zone. If you follow the Tom’s Friends social media account and show the on-site staff, you can receive gifts such as a Luca doll key ring, a 2026 Tom’s Friends calendar, a Luca mouse pad, or Luca sticky notes. If you upload photos taken at the Christmas pop-up on Instagram with the designated hashtag, they will print an instant photo card for you as a memento.

Yeongdeungpo Times Square

15, Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

 Monday to Sunday(10:30 ~ 22:00)

Transformed into a Fairy-Tale Christmas Forest, Another Side

Another Side is a large indoor cafe with a ‘Green Mind, Green Life’ theme’. The space is designed like a forest, with several sturdy trees planted all around the café. Another Side changes themes based on the current season,, becoming a lilac forest in spring and a luxurious Mediterranean resort in summer. When the cold wind starts to blow, it transforms into a fairy-tale Christmas forest. Sparkling lights and cute ornaments hang from the trees, making it a perfect place to sit under in a tight circle and relax as if around a campfire. Throughout the cafe, winter-themed characters and dolls adorn the space, creating many photo-zones.

Opened in 2022, Another Side is the specialty coffee brand of GNFood, the company behind Goobne Chicken as a place offeringrelaxation in the city without having to travel far. They serve fresh specialty coffee using beans produced that year. Signature drinks include the Another Signature Latte made with steamed aged milk and dark-blend espresso, and the Black Sesame Einspenner, which combines milk, dark-blend espresso, black sesame, and sesame seeds. Pair them with croffles baked on a stone plate or the mousse cake Creme d’Anjou, which looks like a forest path recreated in a cafe. In addition, they offer a variety of herbal teas and drinks made with house-made syrups.

This year, for the Christmas season, they have released Marshmallow Choco Latte, Another Strawberry Latte, Winter Signature Vin Chaud, and Sweet Potato Latte, along with Strawberry Fresh Cream Croffle Cake and Fresh Strawberry Signature Cake.

Cafe Another Side

318, Gangseo-ro, Gangseo-gu, Seoul

 Monday to Friday(9:00 ~ 23:00) / Weekend(10:00 ~ 23:00)

Christmas in an English Home, Manhole Coffee Western Bookstore

In Dangsan-dong, there are three spaces operated under the name Manhole Coffee. The name holds the unique meaning of a new world unfolding before you when you open a manhole cover and venture underground. Even without special Christmas decorations, the vintage European home atmosphere naturally creates a year-end mood, earning it the reputation as a Christmas hotspot.

The first branch is modeled after an English home from the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries. The warmth and coziness of solid wood, along with bookshelves, fireplaces, vintage decorations, trays, and teacups, create a rich European vibe. The second branch is Manhole Coffee Western Bookstore, designed like a log cabin inspired by the American West. The basement, filled with rough-textured wood and items marked by time, is perfect for quietly working or reading. The second floor, furbished like a secret attic space from someone’s childhood, is ideal for chatting while enjoying board games.

Manhole Coffee roasts a variety of beans every day, and you can choose your beans after smelling their aromas yourself. The Manhole Cream Coffee, with its perfect harmony of smooth cream and coffee, is the signature menu item. The Amaretto Latte, made with apricot and almond syrup, is also a special treat. The large financiers and cheesecakes baked fresh every morning are so popular that take-away customers often line up. The space is decorated each season to reflect the time of year, and currently deliberately decorated Christmas trees are on display.

It became even more famous after the girl group Aespa filmed their own original content there, and now many foreign visitors stop by. Nearby is Manhole Coffee Western, which has a cozy and warm atmosphere. Unlike the bookstore, it is more minimalist, making it a comfortable place to enjoy drinks.

Manhole Coffee Western Bookstore

24, Yeongdeungpo-ro 27-gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

 Wednesday to Sunday(12:00 ~ 21:30) 

When Christmas arrives, beautiful trees are set up all around Seoul, cheerful carols fill the air, and the streets glow with sparkling lights. The Christmas tree began in 1419 at the Hospital of the Holy Spirit in Freiburg, Germany, spread throughout Germany in the 1600s, and then reached England, where it became popular in the nineteenth century under the influence of Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It later spread to the United States and, as Western culture became widespread, turned into the symbol of Christmas. In the early days, trees were decorated with apples symbolizing the fruit of good and evil, and bread symbolizing the Eucharist. You do not need to understand the complex histories or symbolisms. If you can spend the last days of the year with warmth in a festive manner and welcome the new year with hope, that is enough.

From Christmas markets to light festivals, a variety of Christmas events take place across the city. We hope you will be able to create your own miraculous memories that will let you remember the winter of Seoul for a long time to come.