Planning some time in Seoul as part of a South Korea trip? We’d always recommend spending as many days as possible in Seoul, but you can see a LOT of the best neighborhoods and surrounding areas with our 3 day Seoul itinerary.
From day-time activities like the Royal palaces, hanok villages and a spot of shopping, we also include a few day trip options from Seoul ideas plus suggest some sublime Seoul at night activities like baseball or beer and chicken in Hongdae.
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You can see some interesting places on the edge of Seoul too like Eunpyeong Hanok Village or do a half day tour of the DMZ, the border between North and South Korea.
From craft beer bars to cute cafes, K-Pop to Kalguksu Alley plus tips on transport, here is our 3 day Seoul itinerary with photos.
You might like – 100+ best things to do in Seoul >
South Korea checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Trazy or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
Check out our South Korea travel booking resources >
All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
Seoul 3 day itinerary Transport
Public transport in Seoul (and across South Korea) is simple to use, but it is even easier (and sometimes cheaper) with a T-money card (used nationwide) or a Climate Card (Seoul only).
In Korea, T-money cards are widely used plus there are several other transport card options including the Korea Tour Card and the Discover Seoul Pass.
The main ways to get around Seoul are by subway, bus, train or taxi / driving. T-Money cards are prepaid cards that can be used on most public transport and you tap on / tap off as you use them.
Alternatively, the Climate Card is a new Seoul transport card that allows unlimited travel.
Read our guide on how to buy and top up a T-Money card and Climate Card >
Be sure to download all the necessary Seoul transport apps – here are our 30 most recommended South Korea travel, transport, translation and useful apps >
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Where to stay in Seoul
If it is your first-time in Seoul, we’d recommend reading our guide to all the Seoul neighborhoods to see which is best for you.
We’d recommend Myeongdong as a place to stay as it is central, with lots of night-life and restaurants, a good transport network and most importantly, lots of hotel choices.
Read out Myeongdong hotel guide to suit all budgets >
We also often stay in Euljiro, currently referred to as Seoul’s trendiest neighborhood by the Korean Tourism Office. It is within walking distance of Myeongdong, has its own eateries and awesome alley’s of bars to explore plus the hotels are often cheaper.
For great night-life and food, you may also want to consider staying in Hongdae or Gangnam or for a quieter time but still central, Insadong or Ikseon-dong.
You might like – South Korea SIM card and eSIMs guide >
3 day itinerary in Seoul, South Korea
In our Seoul itinerary, we’ll provide suggested times and locations in a logical order but feel free to change around the days / timings based on the weather (some are outdoor activities) or your likes and preferences.
Day 1 in Seoul
Bukchon Hanok Village – 9am
One of the most popular things to do in Seoul, Bukchon Hanok Village is a historic hillside neighbourhood that is home to dozens of traditional houses (“hanok”, that date back to the Joseon dynasty).
The views are stunning and many people also rent traditional hanbok costumes from the clothing rental stores at the main entrance or from nearby Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Please remember that Bukchon Hanok Village is a residential area so please be mindful of people’s property and privacy – there are even local volunteers who monitor noise-levels and ‘shhhhush’ you if you are over exuberant.
However, it can get very busy so we suggest arriving around 9am before the tour buses – this is also when most of the hanbok rental shops open.
Check out this Seoul traditional clothing / hanbok rental or check out our guide to using a professional photographer for a hanbok photoshoot.
You might like – 40+ best things to do in South Korea >
Breakfast at Cafe Onion Anguk – 10am
From Bukchon Hanok Village, it is around a 10 minute walk to one of Seoul’s most famous cafes, Cafe Onion Hanok. Very Instagrammable, this is time for coffee and treats in a hanok style cafe.
Where iced coffee meets traditional chic, Cafe Onion Anguk is all about the experience – once you’ve picked your breakfast sweet-treats, grab a seat in the courtyard or one of the indoor hanok dining areas.
The sweet treat selection here is superb and there is so much choice – half your time will be spent deciding which perfect pastry or choice croissant to have.
You might like – Our guide to the best Korean street foods to try >
Dongdaemun District 11am
From Cafe Onion Anguk, it is a 15 minute Subway ride to Dongdaemun, known for its iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza building.
Seoul’s super cool design district, Dongdaemun has many historical and cultural attractions, but is best known for its massive budget malls and traditional markets that sell clothing, accessories and electronics, some of which are open 24 hours a day.
We’d recommend spending some time at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), containing a design museum (certain exhibitions are free), the design lab and a conference center, plus a handful of shops, restaurants and cafes.
Afterwards, if you prefer shopping, there are several huge Seoul malls here like DOOTA, Hyundai Outlet Mall and Migliore but if you’d rather see some culture, we recommend a walk along the city wall.
For one of the best views in Seoul, take a stroll along Seoul’s historic City Wall. One of the main access points and best gates – Heunginjimun Gate, is a short walk from the DDP.
With the first part of the wall built in the 1390s to deter invaders (to coincide with the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace), Seoul City Wall is just under 20 km in length (although not all of it is fully walkable) – but this small section gives you a great taster before you walk to your next location.
You might like our 20+ things to do in Dongdaemun guide >
PS – If you fancy doing a hop off hop on bus tour instead of just walking today, all of the Seoul city bus tours depart from just outside the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). At least two of these tour bus companies are included as part of the Discover Seoul Pass >
Gwangjang Market – lunch Stop
Gwangjang Market is Seoul’s most famous food market, a myriad of market street food stalls selling some of the best food you’ll taste in Seoul (or anywhere in South Korea).
Gwangjang Market has bags of character, from the numerous (and competitive) stallholders who beckon you over (“Sit. SIT”!) to the huge array of awesome and authentic street food available.
Boiling hot in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter, Gwangjang Market is a foodie’s dream and a must visit when in Seoul.
Next to the market, you’ll find one of our favourite dessert shops in Seoul, Abebe Bakery Seoul & Jeju – South Korea’s most decadent dessert.
Check out our full guide to Gwangjang Market in Seoul >
South Korea Hallyu Tip – You might want to dine at the Be sure to also visit the famous Netflix Knife-cut noodle lady in Gwangjang Market (but be prepared to queue).
Cheonggyecheon River Walk – mid afternoon
One of the best walks in downtown Seoul any time of day, the Cheonggyecheon is a downtown public park and river walk that is lit up and open 24 hours.
You can walk it from Gwangjang Market all the way down to Deoksugung Palace or turn off to Seoul Plaza or Myeongdong.
Cheonggyecheon is an example of urban regeneration whereby this formerly neglected and run down riverside area was transformed in the early 2000s into a wonderful walk along a river, complete with benches, stepping stone bridges and a long concrete walkway (also ideal for jogging).
During festivals and Christmas in Seoul, the Cheonggyecheon stream sometimes has special lights and pop-up events. We visited the Seoul Outdoor Library here (open a few months a year) and it is such a delightful walk on the first day of your 3 day Seoul itinerary (free too).
You might like – Our guide to the best K-Beauty treatments, spas and salons >
Visit HiKr Ground K-pop Experience
One of the best free K-pop activities in Seoul, HiKR Ground is found on the upper floor of the Korea Tourism Organization Seoul Center overlooking the Cheonggyecheon Stream near Euljiro and Myeongdong.
The space has various K-Pop exhibitions and video screens showing famous videos as well as a mini “K-Pop museum” on the second floor (nothing on the scale of the one in Gyeongju).
Better still, you can recreate your own K-pop video in themed sets like the coin laundry from ‘Permission to Dance’ from BTS (don’t worry, you don’t need any coins)!
The K-pop section at HiKr Ground is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 7pm.
Read more in our guide to HiKR Ground. This is also one of our recommended Seoul with kids activities.
Jeongdong Observatory / Royal Deoksugung Palace
From HiKR Ground, continue your walk along Cheonggyecheon stream towards the giant sea-shell sculpture. Turn left and head towards City Hall Seosomun building – the free to visit Jeongdong Observatory is on the 13th floor.
Whilst the Jeongdong Observatory inside is nothing special, the view looking out is spectacular.
Here you’ll see an incredible Seoul cityscape unfurl in front of you plus you’ll have a perfect panoramic view of the Royal Deoksugung Palace below; alternatively just visit Deoksugung instead of the viewing deck.
Inside the Jeongdong Observatory, there is a popular cafe and tea-room (the prices are really cheap given the view) which is very popular with students and gets very busy at the weekend.
So for a brew with a view, this is an amazing free Seoul observatory and viewing deck. Just be aware that when you first arrive, the reception feels quite corporate as it is a City Hall office – just head to the first set of lifts you see when you first go in.
Seoul Day 1 Evening
Myeongdong
For your first night in Seoul, explore Myeongdong as there are so many things to do here.
One of Seoul’s most popular shopping and restaurant districts, Myeongdong is a lively and vibrant neighbourhood popular with locals and tourists alike. A retail mecca by day and bustling street food destination by night, Myeongdong has many things to do and see.
Shopping in Myeongdong is also amazing with the recently opened Olive Young Myeongdong Global Store, a 12 storey Daiso plus you’ll go nuts for the ‘HBAF’ flavoured almond stores.
Make sure in Myeongdong on an empty stomach; the side streets are awash with restaurants galore, enjoy the famous Myeongdong night market or a whole street dedicated to fried chicken and beer establishments – heaven.
Some of our Myeongdong highlights include:
- Visiting one of Myeongdong’s many K-Pop shops
- Go and see the very funny NANTA Cooking comedy show, suitable for all ages
- Go sock shopping at Myeongdong Underground Mall
- Try divine dumplings, hand-cut noodles and a beautiful broth at Kyoja
- Grab a Seoul craft beer at Art Monster Myeongdong.
Then head back to your hotel and rest up the next part of our 3 day Seoul itinerary.
Day 2 in Seoul
Ikseon-dong Hanok Village – Morning
Your second day in Seoul starts in Ikseon-dong, a historic and happening neighbourhood packed full of cute cafes, tea-houses and beautiful bakeries.
To get to Ikseondong, take Seoul Subway lines 1, 3 or 5 and alight from Jongno 3-ga Subway Station.
We’d suggest having a walk around Ikseon-dong Hanok Village first (which is car-free) then picking one of the cafes for breakfast or brunch.
Our favourite Ikseon-dong cafes include Cheong Su Dang dessert cafe (very popular), Soha Salt Pond Bakery, Flippers Pancakes and Ramo Scone.
Check out our Ikseon-dong guide for these cafes and other recommended spots.
Afterwards, make the short 5 to 10 minute walk to Insadong.
Insadong – Mid Morning
Insadong is one of Seoul’s most popular neighbourhoods and shopping streets with a historic heart – start your visit by walking along Insadong Cultural Street, the main street lined with shops, restaurants and food carts.
From traditional tea-houses hidden down back alleys and ancient pagodas to modern shopping centres and even retro vinyl LP bars, Insa-dong has got it going on.
Insadong is also a great place to try your hand at customizable gifts. One of the current crazes in South Korea is for customizable shops where you can create your own keyrings or bags using embroidery, stickers, beads and more.
We’d also recommend a visit to Ssamzigil, a colourful and cute Seoul shopping mall full of quirky gifts, character and fashion stores plus several caricature artist kiosks.
Check out our things to in Insadong guide >
Seoul Royal Palaces – Early Afternoon
A short stroll from Insadong brings to two of the best known Seoul Royal Palaces – Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung Palace.
If you only have time for one Royal Palace, we’d recommend the grand Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in the 1390s and the largest and most majestic Royal Residence in Seoul.
Try to time your visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace with the changing of the Palace Royal Guard at 2pm (also at 10am) – it is very theatrical but the costumes and instruments are stunning.
If you intend to visit all of the Palaces, make sure you buy a combined admission ticket as it works out a lot cheaper than individual tickets for each Royal Palace in Seoul.
Unlike most other historic attractions in Seoul, please note that Gyeonbokgung is closed on Tuesdays – this means it can be visited on Mondays when most of the other Seoul city historic attractions are closed.
South Korea Hallyu Tip – the Royal Palaces are usually free admission if you hire hanbok costumes and enter wearing them.
Try hanbok hire with Klook or Trazy.
Seoul Day 2 – Evening
Hongdae at night or catch a baseball game
Option 1 – Hongdae
Hanging out in Hongdae is a happy way to spend your second night in Seoul. There are so many things to do in Hongdae from street performers to sharp shooting, 24/7 karaoke to Korean photo booths.
Hipster Hongdae is where all the cool kids, cafe connoisseurs and craft beer geeks hang out – there is something to suit all budgets and tastes, from thrift stores to late night theatre, K-Pop stores to tranquil parks.
The best way to reach Hongdae is to take the subway line 2 (dark green) to Hongik University Station, and take exit 9. It is just a short walk to the main shopping area.
Some of our Hongdae highlights include:
- Watch Hongdae Street Performers – you’ll witness dancers and singers on the streets, potentially the K-Pop stars of the future (this happens mostly on weekends).
- Shop in lots of flagship stores like Line Friends, Olive Young, Kakao Friends and Pop Mart.
- Dine on Hongdae Chicken and Beer street.
- Play arcade games, sing late night karaoke or enjoy fashion and thrift-store shopping.
You might like our things to do in Hongdae guide or our Seoul craft beer and brewery guide.
Alternatively, if Hongdae doesn’t sound like your kind of place, how about a Seoul baseball game?
Option 2 – Seoul Baseball
South Korea’s most popular sport is baseball so after a day of exploring Seoul, why not catch a game of baseball at the Jamsil baseball ground?
The baseball season in South Korea runs approximately from April to September every year, and Seoul is fortunate enough to have two home baseball teams – the Doosan Bears and the LG Twins.
There will often be several baseball games a week played at Jamsil stadium (it is a huge stadium, holding 25,000 spectators).
Foreigners can buy Seoul baseball tickets at Jamsil stadium for as little as 13,000 Won (around £8 / $10 USD).
We went to see the Doosan Bears take on the Samsung Lions at Jamsil Stadium and had an amazing time watching the baseball (and eating, singing, dancing…)
Click here to read our guide on how to buy Seoul baseball tickets >
Seoul 3 day itinerary – final day
For day 3 in Seoul, we’re going to give you a few different itinerary choices as we know everyone has different interests.
There are a few day trips from Seoul to consider or spend your third day in Seoul exploring, eating and enjoying the city even more.
Day 3 option 1 – stay in Seoul
Eunpyeong Hanok Village – 10am
One of Seoul’s most sublime suburbs, Eunpyeong Hanok Village feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city – and yet it is only a short bus ride away.
Likely less busy than Bukchon Hanok Village from day 1 of this Seoul itinerary, Eunpyeong Hanok Village has cute cafes, tranquil temples, nature walks, museums plus beautiful views of Bukhansan Mountain.
A relatively new hanok village established in 2014 to help promote Korean culture, several K-dramas have been filmed at Eunpyeong Hanok Village including ‘Somebody’ (Netflix), ‘The Third Marriage’ and ‘Moving’.
For the best aerial views of Eunpyeong Hanok Village and the surrounding mountains, head to 1in1jan cafe for breakfast / brunch. This six storey restaurant and cafe offers incredible panoramic vistas of Namsan mountain and the houses below.
Read our ultimate guide to visiting Eunpyeong Hanok Village in Seoul >
Namdaemun Market / Kalguksu Alley – Lunch
The journey from Eunpyeong Hanok Village to Namdaemun Market will take just over an hour – you can take a direct bus (701 or 709) or a slightly shorter journey is to take a bus to Gupabal Metro Station, change at Chungmuro Station then jump on the blue line no 4 to Hoehyeon Station.
From here, walk to Namdaemun Market, a sprawling shopping area frequented by locals and tourists alike in search of bargains.
There are thousands of market stalls and shops in Namdaemun Market, spread across several blocks so navigating it can seem quite tricky when you first arrive.
Handily, Namdaemun Market is handily broken down into several sections where the same types of shops and products are grouped together.
Key shopping sections that are signposted at Namdaemun Market near Myeongdong include:
- Bedding Street
- Hardware Street
- Children’s Wear Street
- Fashion Street
- Camera Street
- Grocery Street
- Watch Street
Lunch at Kalguksu Alley
Kalguksu Alley is a densely packed indoor strip of food stalls hidden away in the depths of Namdaemun Market.
A hotpotch of bibimbap and knife-cut noodle dishes, Kalguksu Alley has around 20 to 25 different stalls, generally all run by elderly ladies (ajummas) who take great pride in their food and service.
On busy days and at peak hours, expect to queue for a seat as the small alley can get very busy.
From prices to etiquette, here is our guide to eating at Kalguksu Alley >
Sungnyemun gate / Changing of the Guards – mid afternoon
Just a couple of minutes walk from Namdaemun Market and Kalguksu Alley, Sungnyemun is one of the main gates that was once part of the historic Fortress Wall that encircled Seoul (parts of the city still have the wall).
Sungnyemun isn’t as old as many may think as the wooden original was destroyed in a fire in 2008. It also has a free ‘changing of the guard’ ceremony held most days (and a lot less crowds than the similar ceremony at the Royal Palaces).
The afternoon changing of the guard times at Sungnyemun gate are 1pm, 1.40pm, 2.20pm, 3pm and the closing ceremony each day at 3.30pm.
Day 3 in Seoul – evening
After night 1 in Myeongdong and night 2 in Hongdae, we have a couple of choices for your third night in Seoul – the bright lights of Gangnam or Seoul’s trendiest neighborhood, Euljiro.
Option 1 – Euljiro
Hello to ‘Hipjiro’ – better known as Euljiro and Seoul’s current trendiest neighbourhood, this once industrial area is now home to some of the city’s coolest cafes and bars, plus alley upon alley of delicious food.
Our Euljiro evening highlights are:
- Nogari Alley – an epic ‘epic enclave of Euljiro eateries’ popular with locals, particularly the afterwork crowd. Several restaurants have outdoor areas and it is one of Seoul’s best ‘chimaek’ (beer and chicken) streets. Try the garlic fried chicken at Hipjiro pub.
- Brewery Bars like Euljiro Brewing (a neon lit taproom), Geek Brewing or The Ranch Brewing, where you enter through a hidden fridge door.
- Oldies Tacos – see that huge line of people queuing up? Welcome to Seoul’s best taco joint!
You might like our things to do in Euljiro guide >
Option 2 – Gangnam
Gangnam style! Although arguably most famous outside of Seoul as the title of Psy’s global K-Pop hit, Gangnam in Seoul has a unique identity of its own and is an ideal place to stay spend a night
Gangnam is a trendy district and an urban utopia of high-end shopping and choice cultural spots. It also has some of the best bars and night clubs in Seoul.
Our favorite Gangnam brewery pub is Artmonster. It is a neon nirvana of brightly lit signs, copious craft beer and self pour technology – perhaps the Bladerunner of breweries in Seoul?
Your experience begins as you first enter via the alley way out front chock full of Hong Kong style neon street signs to entice you in.
In fact, Artmonster Gangnam, has featured in multiple music videos, dramas and TV chat shows (we know as they show a video of all its TV appearances on loop in the upstairs bar).
Best of all, you can pour beers yourself using a smart bit of technology. As you are seated, you are given an electronic wristband which you can use to pour your own drinks.
Check out our guide to the best Seoul craft beer bars >
You might like our 30+ things to do in Gangnam guide >
Day 3 option 2
DMZ Tour half day tour
A DMZ tour is a must visit when in Seoul and a solemn reminder of the current division in the country.
The DMZ is the heavily controlled border separating North Korea and South Korea – DMZ tours from Seoul have various border elements you can visit including the Third Tunnel, Freedom Bridge and the Dora Observatory where you can peer into North Korea using powerful binoculars.
We’ve written a guide to all the different types of DMZ tours from Seoul here but most start very early (usually between 6am and 7) with pick-ups in Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Hongik University and drop you off mid afternoon.
So if you do a DMZ tour, you could always then go to say Lotte Tower / Seoul Sky for a sunset view or Lotte Adventure World after if you are in Seoul with kids.
Read more in our guide to visiting the DMZ from Seoul >
Day 3 option 3
Nami Island / Garden of Morning Calm
Another day-trip from Seoul, Nami Island is home to wonderful woodland walks along the river, beautiful landscapes and an incredible array of wildlife including hundreds of wild rabbits.
Popularised by a starring role in the romantic K Drama ‘Winter Sonata” (there is even a commemorative statue of the characters), Nami Island has dozens of cafes and other attractions to enjoy, from zip lines to boat hire.
We visited Nami Island in autumn and were amazed by the incredible colours and fall foliage of the red maple leaf and yellow ginkgo trees.
Here is our detailed Nami Island ultimate guide with all the things to do >
If you are doing a Nami Island tour, many of the group tours also visit the Garden of Morning Calm. With 30 gardens to explore and cute cafes overlooking gorgeous green spaces, South Korea’s The Garden of Morning Calm is one of the most incredible arboretums in the world.
Staying longer than 3 days in Seoul?
Lucky you – if you have 4 or 5 days in Seoul, remember to check out our day trips from Seoul guide >
We’d also recommend exploring Seongsu-dong neighborhood if you have an extra day.
A hipster hang-out and super cool area of Seoul to stay in, Seongsu-dong was once an enclave of industry with limited appeal that has recently reinvented itself.
A homely hybrid of street-art, pop up stores with weird and wonderful warehouse spaces, this is one of the best spots to shop til you drop – then reward yourself with a craft beer or delicious desserts.
A cradle of counterculture and the place to be seen in Seoul, Seongsu-Dong is a chock full of top spots from shipping container malls to cute coffee shops and clothing stores to K-Pop shops.
Still mainly under the radar to most visitors to Seoul, there are also gorgeous green spaces and some village vibes to enjoy in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. Check out our Seongsu-dong guide >
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