Seoul itinerary — 3 days
Day 1 — Seoul
6 stops · ≈ 6 h 15 minOne of Seoul's Five Grand Palaces of the Joseon Dynasty, notable as the royal residence of Emperor Gojong during the tumultuous Korean Empire. The palace uniquely juxtaposes traditional wooden royal halls like Junghwajeon with Seokjojeon, a Western neoclassical stone palace. Visitors love strolling along the romantic stone-wall pathway (Doldam-gil) and watching the colorful changing of the royal guard at Daehanmun Gate.
An elevated park some 17 metres above street level: a 1970 highway overpass beside Seoul Station converted in 2017 into a walking path more than a kilometre long. The name 7017 marks the road's rebirth from 1970 to 2017. Along the way sit hundreds of planters, cafes housed in the old on-ramps and views over rail tracks and skyscrapers. The walkway is free and lit until late, with Namdaemun Market a ten-minute walk away.
Lotte Mart Zettaplex is a large Lotte hypermarket in the complex of the same name at Seoul Station. The main draw for travelers is the grocery floor: ramyeon of every brand, seaweed snacks, chocolate, sweets, cosmetics and a big gift section cheaper than downtown. Visitors wheel suitcases straight through before catching a KTX train; a half-hour stop is enough. Cafes operate above, and a covered passage leads to the platforms and subway.
A night street-food market in Seoul's main shopping district: by evening hundreds of carts fill the streets with tornado potatoes, grilled squid, hotteok pancakes, ice-cream toasts and black-bean noodles. All around are cosmetics shops, flagship stores and department malls, and card payments are accepted almost everywhere. The crowd peaks after 19:00, with queues at the most photogenic stalls.
Seoul's oldest continuously operating covered market, established in 1905. The bustling ground-floor intersections are celebrated globally for authentic street food, where vendors sizzle golden bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) in hot oil, roll addictive mayak gimbap, and slice fresh sashimi. The upper floor is a renowned hub for traditional silk textiles, handmade custom hanbok, and vintage fashion.
A futuristic urban landmark in central Seoul designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. The monumental neo-futurist structure features fluid curves clad in 45,000 unique aluminum panels with virtually no straight angles. Serving as a creative hub for design, fashion, and technology, the complex encompasses exhibition halls, art shops, and a public park, mesmerizing evening visitors with striking illumination.
Reserve
8If you have time left — worth it too.
Seoul's premier entertainment complex, opened in 1989 along Seokchon Lake in Songpa District. It combines a massive indoor theme park beneath an enormous glass dome with Magic Island, an outdoor artificial island featuring a fairytale castle and thrill rides like the Atlantis roller coaster and Gyro Drop. The venue also houses an Olympic-sized indoor ice skating rink, an overhead monorail, and a rich Korean Folk Museum.
Coffee Hanyakbang is tucked inside a narrow alley in the hip Euljiro district of Seoul. The retro cafe stands on the site of Hyeminseo, a Joseon-era royal dispensary where physician Heo Jun treated commoners. Its interior evokes early 20th-century Korea with mother-of-pearl lacquer furniture, vintage gramophones, and antique lamps, while baristas brew freshly roasted filter coffee behind the counter.
Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) is located right along the picturesque stone wall walkway of Deoksugung Palace. The museum occupies the historic 1928 former Supreme Court building, where the stately red-brick Renaissance facade was meticulously preserved before light-filled contemporary galleries. SeMA is renowned for its permanent collection of pioneer modern artist Chun Kyung-ja, international art exhibitions, and an outdoor sculpture garden.
A conversion park in the Mapo district, near the 2002 World Cup stadium and Haneul Park. Six oil tanks built in the 1970s against an oil crisis were reimagined in 2017 as a cultural venue: T1 became an exhibition hall, another tank an open-air stage, with gardens, covered passages and paths between them. In the evening the lighting comes on, and the brutalist cylinders turn unexpectedly poetic.
Opened in 1970 near Seoul's East Gate, Dongdaemun General Market is the largest textile and fabric hub in Asia. Across its multistory halls, thousands of stalls offer silk, lace, ribbons, buttons, yarn, beads, and notions. Serving as the creative core of South Korea's fashion industry, it attracts both professional fashion designers sourcing fabrics and craft lovers seeking unique DIY supplies.
A national park of granite peaks right inside Seoul's city limits, established in 1983. Its highest point is Baegundae, 836.5 m, reached by popular trails, with the Bukhansanseong fortress wall and Joseon-era gates running along the ridges. The paths are among the busiest in the country — on weekends the ascent turns into a procession of hikers of every age in full gear. The view of the megacity from the granite tops is the reward.
On the banks of the Han River, which flows through Seoul, Hangang Park actually consists of 13 different parks, and a wide range of leisure activities is on offer for visitors. With swimming pools, bicycle paths, and football fields next to tennis courts and large green spaces, there is something here for everyone, and plenty of water sports such as yachting and water skiing are also offered. Relaxing in the nature of Hangang Park will refresh you and prepare you to explore the rest of Seoul's amazing attractions. Located along the banks of the Hangang River (hence the name), Hangang Park is another slightly different part of the city to explore. The park has an open trail along which visitors can cycle or simply take a stroll. A visit to the park is a change of scenery from the hustle and bustle of the city and a great place to unwind and perhaps even do some people-watching.
Prominent mountain offering hiking, picnic areas, a broadcast tower & sweeping city views.
- Download a translation app for easier communication.
- Use a T-money card for convenient public transport access.
- Learn basic Korean phrases to enhance your experience.