5 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

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

   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. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   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

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

   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. (1–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Cheonggyecheon Stream

      Walk it in the evening on the way from Gwanghwamun to Gwangjang Market for dinner. (1 hour, free).

   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. (45 minutes, free).

   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

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

   2. Late morning

      Dongdaemun Design Plaza

      Visit after dark, when the LED rose garden and the building's lit curves are most photogenic. (1 hour, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kimchi stew

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

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of Korea

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

   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. Best for first-timers and culture.

   3. Evening

      Back in Seoul

      Dinner: try Tteokbokki.

5. Day 5: War Memorial of Korea and Lotte World

   War Memorial of Korea, Lotte World and Han River parks and Banpo Bridge, then Deoksugung Palace in the evening.

   1. Morning

      War Memorial of Korea

      Combine it with the National Museum of Korea, about 15 minutes away by subway or taxi. (2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Lotte World

      Weekday mornings outside school holidays have the shortest queues. (Full day, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tteokbokki

      Street stalls in Myeongdong and markets, and the Sindang-dong tteokbokki alley near Dongdaemun.

   4. Afternoon

      Han River parks and Banpo Bridge

      Do as locals do: order fried chicken for delivery to the riverbank and watch the fountain show. (2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Deoksugung Palace

      Come in the early evening; the palace grounds are lit after dark and the guard ceremony takes place at Daehanmun Gate.

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 5 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 28–37 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 4 days in Seoul
• 7 days in Seoul

Questions travellers ask