Instagram has gone crazy about this district. After dark, real life begins here

Every year, Time Out magazine prepares a list of the coolest districts in the world. It is a chance for tourists around the world to get to know places that are distinguished not only by fashionable places, but also by character, street life and a strong local community. In 2026, experts and editors assessed, among others: gastronomic offer, nightlife, culture, quality of life and general atmosphere of the place. The list included 40 districts from different parts of the world, and the first one went to a unique part of Seoul.

Korean soul in a modern version

Jongno 3-ga is where the two sides of Seoul meet. In the heart of the district, Ikseon-dong, tourists will see traditional hanoks, or Korean wooden houses, dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Today, however, there are fashionable cafes and restaurants there, constantly attracting Instagram users.

However, real life in this part of the city begins only after dark, when the narrow streets are filled with iconic pochas, i.e. night food stalls. In the past, they were mainly used by office workers and workers finishing work. Today, with low prices and an inimitable atmosphere, they attract crowds of young residents and foreign guests. Another place worth visiting in the area is Seosulla-gil, a place with independent craft workshops and intimate bars.

Two European cities in the top five

Second place in this year’s “Time Out” ranking was taken by the L’Ocean district in Rabat. In third place was the Neos Kosmos district in Athens, sandwiched between the Acropolis and the Athenian Riviera, and fourth place went to the famous Chinatown in Los Angeles. The top five was rounded off by another proposal from Europe, Govanhill in Glasgow.

Unfortunately, this year’s forty did not include any districts from Poland. It was different in 2024 – Zabłocie in Krakow took a high, 11th place.