Travel guide · South Korea
Seoul travel guide
Joseon palaces, market food and late nights in a 24-hour capital
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Eunmi Park, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Seoul spreads along both banks of the Han River, with the Joseon-dynasty palaces, hanok lanes and markets of Jongno in the old city north of the river and the towers of Gangnam to the south. A fast, inexpensive subway connects everything, and the city's food — barbecue, stews, market pancakes and fried chicken with beer — runs late into the night. Mountains ring the city, so you can hike Bukhansan in the morning and shop in Myeongdong by evening. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–November.
Key facts
- Country
- South Korea
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–November
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- ICN, GMP
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$230 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue, K-pop and K-beauty and Hanok villages
Why visit Seoul
- Five Joseon palaces, led by Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, sit within walking distance of hanok villages and tea houses.
- Market food at Gwangjang, Korean barbecue and fried chicken with beer make Seoul one of Asia's great eating cities at moderate prices.
- K-beauty, fashion and design shopping runs from Myeongdong's cosmetics shops to Seongsu-dong's concept stores.
- Bukhansan National Park and the Han River parks put hiking trails and riverside cycling inside the city limits.
- A clean, fast subway with English signage makes it easy to cover the city and day trips to Suwon or the DMZ.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 18 things to do.
Palace · Jongno
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Built in 1395 as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty and largely reconstructed after Japanese-era destruction, Gyeongbokgung spreads behind Gwanghwamun Gate with the Geunjeongjeon throne hall, the Gyeonghoeru pavilion on its lotus pond and the National Folk Museum on site.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Kids
Viewpoint · Namsan
N Seoul Tower and Namsan
The communications tower on 262-metre Namsan mountain gives 360-degree views over the city and its ring of mountains.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Couples
- After dark
- Kids
Market · Jongno
Gwangjang Market
One of Korea's oldest covered markets, Gwangjang is best known for its food alleys: crisp mung-bean pancakes (bindaetteok) fried to order, small 'mayak' gimbap rolls, raw beef yukhoe and knife-cut noodles.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Palace · Jongno
Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Changdeokgung follows the slopes of its hillside rather than a rigid grid and was the favourite residence of many Joseon kings.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Couples
- Nature
Neighbourhood · Jongno
Bukchon Hanok Village
On the hillside between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, hundreds of traditional tiled-roof hanok houses line steep alleys, many still family homes.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
- Couples
Street · Insadong
Insadong and Ssamziegil
Insadong-gil is lined with galleries, tea houses and shops selling hanji paper, celadon and calligraphy brushes.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- History
Where to stay
Jongno and Insadong is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture, couples and families
Jongno and Insadong
Palaces, hanok lanes, tea houses and traditional craft shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Myeongdong
Cosmetics shops, street-food stalls and department stores
$$ · Best for nightlife, budget, solo travellers and shopping
Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong
University district of buskers, clubs, indie shops and cafés
$$$ · Best for nightlife, food lovers and couples
Itaewon and Hannam-dong
International restaurants, bars and hillside boutiques below Namsan
What to eat
- Korean barbecue — Thick slices of pork belly (or marinated beef galbi) grilled at your table, cut with scissors and wrapped in lettuce with garlic, ssamjang and kimchi.
- Bibimbap — Rice topped with seasoned vegetables, egg and gochujang chili paste, mixed together just before eating; the dolsot version comes in a sizzling stone bowl that crisps the rice.
- Kimchi stew — A spicy, sour stew of aged kimchi, pork and tofu served bubbling in a pot with rice and side dishes — Korea's everyday comfort food.
- Tteokbokki — Chewy rice cakes simmered in a sweet, spicy gochujang sauce with fish cakes, sold from street stalls alongside fried snacks (twigim) and blood sausage (sundae).
- Mung-bean pancake — Ground mung beans mixed with kimchi, bean sprouts and pork, fried in oil until crisp on the outside, best with makgeolli.
- Korean fried chicken and beer — Double-fried, crackling chicken served plain or glazed in sweet-spicy yangnyeom sauce, paired with cold beer; locals often have it delivered to the Han River parks.
When to go
The best times to visit Seoul are April to early June and September to November, when days are mild and dry and the city is at its most colourful with cherry blossom in April and foliage from late October. Summer is hot and humid with the monsoon in July, and winter is bitterly cold but clear, quiet and lower-priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Cherry blossom in early April and warm, green May; fine dust and yellow dust can reduce air quality on some days. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid, with the jangma monsoon bringing heavy rain from late June through July; river parks and night markets come alive. |
| Autumn | September–November | Clear skies, comfortable temperatures and fiery foliage on the mountains and in the palaces; the Chuseok holiday brings closures. |
| Winter | December–February | Bitterly cold with sub-zero nights and occasional snow, but sunny days, festive lights and lower prices. |
Getting there and around
Incheon International Airport is about 50 km west of the centre. AREX express trains reach Seoul Station non-stop in about 45 minutes, all-stop trains take about an hour, and airport limousine buses serve major hotel districts. Gimpo Airport, for domestic and some regional flights, is about 30 minutes from the centre by subway.
Seoul's subway, with more than 20 lines including suburban routes, is the fastest way around, backed by an extensive bus system. Signs and announcements are in Korean and English. For navigation, use Naver Map or KakaoMap rather than Google Maps, which gives limited walking and driving directions in Korea.
Plan your days
Three days covers the palaces, Bukchon, Insadong, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower and a market food crawl. Five days adds Hongdae, Gangnam or Seongsu, a Bukhansan hike and a day trip to the DMZ or Suwon; a week leaves room for Jeonju or a KTX run to Busan.
Practical information
- Currency
- KRW
- Language
- Korean
- Plugs
- Type C and F, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Seoul's tap water is treated to drinking standards, though most residents drink filtered or bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance), 1330 (tourist helpline)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Korea and can confuse staff.
Seoul has low street crime, but keep an eye on bags in crowded markets and nightlife areas. Check air-quality forecasts on fine-dust days in spring, and watch for flooding of underpasses during monsoon downpours.
Flights to Seoul
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Seoul?
Three days covers the palaces, Bukchon, Insadong, Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower and a market food crawl. Five days adds Hongdae, Gangnam or Seongsu, a Bukhansan hike and a day trip to the DMZ or Suwon; a week leaves room for Jeonju or a KTX run to Busan. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Seoul?
The best times to visit Seoul are April to early June and September to November, when days are mild and dry and the city is at its most colourful with cherry blossom in April and foliage from late October. Summer is hot and humid with the monsoon in July, and winter is bitterly cold but clear, quiet and lower-priced.
+What is Seoul known for?
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue, K-pop and K-beauty, Hanok villages, Street food markets, Nightlife and Han River parks. Five Joseon palaces, led by Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung's Secret Garden, sit within walking distance of hanok villages and tea houses.
+Is Seoul expensive?
Seoul is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$230 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Seoul?
No. Traffic is heavy, parking is scarce and public transport covers the city and most day trips.