7 days in Seoul

Day by day

1. Day 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwangjang Market

   Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwangjang Market, then Cheonggyecheon Stream in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Gyeongbokgung Palace

      Jongno · 2–3 hours · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Gwangjang Market

      Jongno · 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. Evening

      Cheonggyecheon Stream

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

2. Day 2: Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden and Bukchon Hanok Village

   Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden and Bukchon Hanok Village, then Jogyesa Temple in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden

      Jongno · 2–3 hours · low cost. Secret Garden tours have limited places; reserve online in advance, especially in spring and autumn.

   2. Late morning

      Bukchon Hanok Village

      Jongno · 1–2 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Bibimbap

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

   4. Evening

      Jogyesa Temple

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

3. Day 3: N Seoul Tower and Namsan and Insadong and Ssamziegil

   N Seoul Tower and Namsan and Insadong and Ssamziegil, then Myeongdong in the evening.

   1. Morning

      N Seoul Tower and Namsan

      Namsan · 2 hours · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Insadong and Ssamziegil

      Insadong · 1–2 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kimchi stew

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

   4. Evening

      Myeongdong

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

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

      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.

5. Day 5: Dongdaemun Design Plaza and National Museum of Korea

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

   1. Morning

      Dongdaemun Design Plaza

      Dongdaemun · 1 hour · free.

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of Korea

      Yongsan · 2–3 hours · free.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tteokbokki

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

   4. Evening

      Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky

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

6. Day 6: Day trip to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

   About 1 hour by subway or train each way. Getting there: Subway Line 1 or Shinbundang Line, or train to Suwon Station.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

      About 1 hour by subway or train (Subway Line 1 or Shinbundang Line, or train to Suwon Station); about 35 km.

   2. Day

      Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

      Walking the walls takes about two to three hours.

   3. Evening

      Back in Seoul

      Dinner: try Mung-bean pancake.

7. Day 7: War Memorial of Korea and Lotte World

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

   1. Morning

      War Memorial of Korea

      Yongsan · 2 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      Lotte World

      Jamsil · Full day · expensive.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mung-bean pancake

      The pancake stalls at Gwangjang Market, where the batter is ground in front of you.

   4. Evening

      Han River parks and Banpo Bridge

      Do as locals do: order fried chicken for delivery to the riverbank and watch the fountain show.

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 7 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 27–36 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 5 days in Seoul

Questions travellers ask