Seoul is an exciting city where there is always something to see or do. In order to maximise your time, I’ve clumped together activities in order to make the most of your time there. Here is what I would do if I had 3 full days in Seoul.

Day 1

AM: A visit to Seoul is not complete with a visit to one of the palaces in the city centre. I would recommend Gyeongbokgong Palace but if you want a more quiet palace then maybe Changgyeonggung Palace might be a better option. If you decide to rent and wear a hanbok, entry to the palaces are free.

Nearest metro stations: Gyeongbokgong Station or Gwanghwamun (so you can walk past the King Sejong statue in the newly renovated Gwanghwamun Square). Anguk Station for Changgyeonggung Palace

PM: While you’re in this area, take some time to visit the Bukchon Hanok Village and find yourself some lunch or snacks. Better yet, why not stay a few nights there for a traditional hanok stay experience like I did. My recommendations for food in this area would be:
– Oreno Ramen Insa (오레노라멘 인사점) for some chicken ramen
– Cityfood Noodles – Myung-ga (국수명가) for traditional Korea noodle dishes
– Bukchon Son Mandu Samcheong-dong (북촌손만두 삼청동점) for Korean dumpling dishes

PM: After walking around, head down to south to Insadong where you can find many souvenirs, free art galleries to walk into and traditional tea houses. For my list of traditional teahouse recommendations, click here. If you prefer a more hip area with instagram worthy decor in cafe’s and restaurants, head over to nearby Ikseondong Hanok Village.

Day 2

AM: Start the day with fresh air by walking up to the N Seoul Tower. This park is beautiful with tree covers, plenty of walking space and many visitors and locals exercising. There are rest areas, water bubblers and toilets. At the top, you can take in the views, have a snack or even go up the tower for a small fee.
Nearest metro station: Dongguk Univ. (walk in the direction of going through the park). If you prefer to take the bus, you can get on here or at Chungmuro station. There is also a cable car option from Myeongdong but lines can be long.

PM: From N Seoul Tower, you are going to head down towards Namdaemun Market to have lunch. Find the little alleyways which will lead you to delicious, cheap and quick meals before wondering around for sweets or more souvenirs or accessories.

From here, spend the afternoon along the Han River (or come straight here for some ramen lunch) catch the metro on the same line to Ichon station and walk towards the Han River. You can walk along the river, rent a bike, eat at the convenience store or bring a mat and have a small picnic while waiting for sunset.

PM: For dinner, head on the same metro line back to Myeongdong to walk the streets filled with street food vendors and big name stores if you need anymore shopping. Alternatively, walk through the alleys to find a restaurant for some dinner.
My recommendations for food would be:
– the famous Michelin star cheap eats restaurant Myeongdong Kyoja Main Store (명동교자 본점)
– Korean bbq chain Wangbijip Myeongdong (왕비집 명동)
– (If you are in for pig trotters) Myth Jokbal Myeongdong (미쓰족발 서울명동점)

Day 3

For the final day in Seoul, I would actually recommend a day trip to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). Tours run everyday and you will need to book this trip ahead of time but it’s a fascinating place to see (and be able to see). I wrote about my day trip here.

Alternatively, if you prefer to remain in Seoul then here are some options depending on what you want or like.

Shopping: Head to the south side of the river and walk around Gangnam and when you get bored, head over to the Starfield Coex Mall.

Outdoor activities: There are a few hiking trails along the wall that you can do and are free. There is Inwangsan, Baegaksan or Naksan (the easiest of the 3).

Food: Visit Gwangjang Market for lunch for mungbean pancakes, tteokbokki, noodle soup (kalguksu), dumplings and dessert.

Museums: Both the National Museum of Korea and National Folk Museum of Korea are a treasure trove where you can easily spend a few hours in. Located near the National Museum of Korea is the War Memorial of Korea (also free entry). For art, I highly recommend the Leeum Museum of Art or MMCA (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art). Both are paid entry. Leeum Museum of Art has a free Korean Art exhibit but you will still need to ‘reserve’ a ticket online.

Hopefully this was helpful to you in planning your visit to Seoul if you are visiting for the first time. Are there any must see or must do on your list for Seoul? I’d love to hear them.

Related Blog Posts:
– Helpful travel trips and customs for South Korea
– 7 fruits to try in South Korea
– Cafe’s of South Korea