4 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 Cheonggyecheon Stream in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gyeongbokgung Palace

      Allow 2–3 hours (low cost). Visitors wearing hanbok, rented from shops near the gate, enter the palaces free; arrive early to photograph Gyeonghoeru before tour groups.

   2. Late morning

      Gwangjang Market

      Upstairs and around the edges, traders sell silk, linen and vintage clothes.

   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

      Allow 2–3 hours (low cost). Spring blossom and late-October foliage are the best times for the Secret Garden.

   5. Evening

      Cheonggyecheon Stream

      Walk it in the evening on the way from Gwanghwamun to Gwangjang Market for dinner.

2. Day 2: Bukchon Hanok Village and Jogyesa Temple

   Bukchon Hanok Village, Jogyesa Temple and N Seoul Tower and Namsan, then Myeongdong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Bukchon Hanok Village

      Viewpoints on Bukchon-ro 11-gil look over the rooftops to the city towers.

   2. Late morning

      Jogyesa Temple

      Allow 45 minutes (free). Visit in the evening in late April or May when the lanterns are lit.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bibimbap

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

   4. Afternoon

      N Seoul Tower and Namsan

      The terraces at its base, hung with thousands of padlocks left by couples, are free; the observatory charges entry. Reach it on foot along the Namsan trails, by cable car or by bus.

   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

      Allow 1–2 hours (free). Even international chains display their names in Korean script here — look for the Hangeul shop signs.

   2. Late morning

      Dongdaemun Design Plaza

      The surrounding wholesale fashion malls trade late into the night.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kimchi stew

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

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of Korea

      Allow 2–3 hours (free). Don't miss the dimly lit Room of Quiet Contemplation, which displays two gilt-bronze pensive bodhisattva statues side by side.

   5. Evening

      Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky

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

4. Day 4: Day trip to DMZ

   Full-day organised tour each way. Getting there: Organised tour from central Seoul.

   1. Morning

      Travel to DMZ

      Full-day organised tour (Organised tour from central Seoul); about 55 km.

   2. Day

      DMZ

      Tours to the Demilitarised Zone visit observatories looking into North Korea, infiltration tunnels and Imjingak park. Access is controlled and itineraries change with the security situation, so go with a licensed tour operator and carry your passport.

   3. Evening

      Back in Seoul

      Dinner: try Tteokbokki.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 4 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 4 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
• 3 days in Seoul
• 5 days in Seoul
• 7 days in Seoul

Questions travellers ask