Travel guides › How to Plan 3 Days in Seoul: A Realistic Route for First-Time Visitors
How to Plan 3 Days in Seoul: A Realistic Route for First-Time Visitors
Seoul has so much to see that if you get greedy, a whole day can disappear into getting around. This article proposes a 3-day course that groups nearby places into each day. The times and order are only examples, so drop or swap things to suit your taste.
Things to know before planning
The most important principle in planning Seoul is to group places in the same area into one day. Seoul's subway is good, but once you add transfers and walking, two points can feel farther apart than you expect. Fit in about three or four places a day and include meals and rest to leave some breathing room.
- Check closing days: palaces and museums have weekly closing days. Gyeongbokgung is known to close on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays, but this can change, so check the official guide before you go.
- Mind the time of day: popular restaurants and markets have long lines at lunch and dinner. Going a little earlier or later can cut the wait.
- Prepare for weather: on days with lots of outdoor plans, line up indoor alternatives (museums, malls, cafes) in case of rain.
Day 1: a day walking through history and tradition
Start in the morning at Gyeongbokgung. Walking slowly from Gwanghwamun through Geunjeongjeon to Gyeonghoeru takes two to three hours. Renting a hanbok and walking through the palace is popular too, but whether there are entry perks for hanbok wearers varies by period, so check. For lunch, bibimbap or a Korean set meal near Anguk Station or Insadong works well.
In the afternoon walk through Bukchon Hanok Village and browse traditional crafts and tea houses on Insadong street. Bukchon is still a neighborhood where people live, so moving quietly is good manners. In the evening take the subway to Gwangjang Market and try market food such as bindaetteok and gimbap, and if you have time left, end the day with a walk along Cheonggyecheon.
Day 2: city views and shopping
Head up Namsan in the morning. A cable car or circulation bus takes you to the N Seoul Tower area, where you can look over all of Seoul, and if you have time you can also walk the Namsan loop trail. Have a light lunch such as kalguksu or dumplings in Myeongdong, then browse the cosmetics shops and fashion stores in the afternoon.
In the evening move on to Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). The night view of the curved building lit up is worth seeing, and the Dongdaemun fashion district around it stays lively late. If you plan a lot of shopping, find out about the VAT refund system in advance too.
Day 3: modern Seoul and the Han River
For day 3 pick one of two directions according to your taste.
- Jamsil direction: combine the Lotte World Tower observatory and mall with a stroll around Seokchon Lake, then move to a Han River park in the evening.
- Seongsu direction: browse the cafes and pop-up stores of Seongsu, stroll Seoul Forest, then enjoy the dusk view at Ttukseom Hangang Park.
In the evening you can enjoy busking and street food in Hongdae, or watch the bridge fountain show at Banpo Hangang Park. The show's hours and season change by time of year, so check Seoul city's notices.
Useful points about getting around
- Check each day's route in advance with Naver Map or KakaoMap. They show the number of transfers and even exit numbers.
- Seoul has many hills and stairs, so you end up walking a lot each day. Comfortable shoes are a must.
- Last and first train times differ by line, so check them if you plan to be out late.
If you have more or fewer days
If you have four days or more, I recommend using one day for a day trip from Seoul. Places such as Suwon Hwaseong, Namhansanseong and Bukhansan show scenery you cannot see inside Seoul. If you stay only two days, trim to the palace plan of Day 1 and the Namsan and Myeongdong plan of Day 2, and market food can be replaced by a single lunch. Whatever the plan, leaving one stop in each day empty on purpose gives you room to meet a good shop or alley you did not expect.
Official sources
Rules, fares and opening hours change often. Check the latest details on the official sites below.