3 days in Seoul

Day by day

1. Day 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwangjang Market

   Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gwangjang Market and Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden, then N Seoul Tower and Namsan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Gwangjang Market

      Sit at a counter with a pancake and a bowl of makgeolli; go mid-afternoon on a weekday to avoid the evening crush.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Korean barbecue

      Barbecue restaurants in every district; Mapo and Sinchon are known for pork, and the alleys behind Jongno 3-ga for inexpensive grills.

   4. Afternoon

      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.

   5. Evening

      N Seoul Tower and Namsan

      Walk up through Namsan Park from Myeongdong in about 40 minutes, and stay for the city lights after sunset.

2. Day 2: Bukchon Hanok Village and Cheonggyecheon Stream

   Bukchon Hanok Village, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Jogyesa Temple, then Myeongdong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bukchon Hanok Village

      This is a residential area with restricted visiting hours in its busiest lanes; keep voices low and avoid peering into homes.

   2. Late morning

      Cheonggyecheon Stream

      An elevated highway was torn down in the 2000s to restore this stream, which now runs about 11 km through downtown Seoul below street level.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bibimbap

      Casual restaurants across Insadong and Jongno; vegetarian versions are easy to request.

   4. Afternoon

      Jogyesa Temple

      Visit in the evening in late April or May when the lanterns are lit.

   5. Evening

      Myeongdong

      Compare cosmetics prices between shops and ask about tax refunds at the till for purchases over the threshold.

3. Day 3: Insadong and Ssamziegil and Dongdaemun Design Plaza

   Insadong and Ssamziegil, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and National Museum of Korea, then Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Insadong and Ssamziegil

      Insadong-gil is lined with galleries, tea houses and shops selling hanji paper, celadon and calligraphy brushes.

   2. Late morning

      Dongdaemun Design Plaza

      Visit after dark, when the LED rose garden and the building's lit curves are most photogenic.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kimchi stew

      Office-worker lunch spots around Gwanghwamun, City Hall and Euljiro.

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of Korea

      Korea's largest museum covers the peninsula from the Paleolithic to the Joseon dynasty, with gold crowns from the Silla kingdom, Goryeo celadon and a ten-storey marble pagoda in the main hall.

   5. Evening

      Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky

      Clear autumn and winter days give the longest views; check the visibility forecast before buying tickets.

Before you go

• Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden: Secret Garden tours have limited places; reserve online in advance, especially in spring and autumn.

If it rains

• Swap in War Memorial of Korea (Yongsan): Combine it with the National Museum of Korea, about 15 minutes away by subway or taxi.
• Swap in Lotte World (Jamsil): Weekday mornings outside school holidays have the shortest queues.
• Swap in Starfield Library at COEX (Gangnam): Visit Bongeunsa afterwards for the contrast of a Buddhist temple facing the Gangnam towers.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Jongno and Insadong keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Myeongdong ($$$) suits first-timers, shopping and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 17–24 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Seoul
• 2 days in Seoul
• 4 days in Seoul
• 5 days in Seoul
• 7 days in Seoul

Questions travellers ask