In This Guide
Planning a trip to Seoul, South Korea, and want to know everything there is to do in this incredible city? In this 3-day itinerary I’ll cover off everything that I did during my trip to Seoul, including ancient palaces and hanok villages, the best night markets and the awe-inspiring Starfield Library.
With its blend of ancient palaces, futuristic cityscapes, vibrant street food and buzzing nightlife, there’s so much to do in Seoul that planning a 3-day Seoul itinerary can be overwhelming.
This comprehensive Seoul travel guide will take you through the city’s must-visit attractions, hidden gems and the best places to eat.
I’ve structured the days based on my own experience and to help you avoid cultural fatigue (personally I think doing Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village on the same day is way too samey and a lot of walking, especially in the heat!).
I think that 3 days is the perfect amount of time to explore Seoul. It gives you enough time to see all the main sites, but also allows you to relax and enjoy the cafe culture and nightlife.
I visited Seoul as a long stopover on my way from New Zealand to the UK, and managed to squeeze loads into just a few days.
I recommend picking a central district of Seoul that has some attractions in it so that you minimise travel time. My preferred areas are:
See my separate post What Area of Seoul Should I Stay In? for a full comparison of the different neighbourhoods you can stay in.
More practical guidance at the end of this post.
My favourite breakfast in Seoul was Eggdrop. And if you’re going to be spending a busy day in Seoul then I definitely recommend starting off with a good breakfast.
I was staying in Hongdae, but Eggdrop is a chain and you can also find it in other areas like Myeongdong, Gangnam and Samcheong-dong (near Bukchon Hanok Village). This makes it an easy, reliable option for your first morning.
These grab and go toasted sandwiches (a modern take on the classic Gilgeori toast), are yummy, filling and practical. The one pictured is the “Avo Holic”.
Ordering from a machine is actually quite fun too, and suits Seoul’s whole futuristic city vibe. (It also makes ordering much easier for tourists who don’t speak Korean!)
If I had to pick only one attraction to see in Seoul it would be Gyeongbokgung Palace! It’s the perfect way to start off day 1 of your visit to Seoul.
This beautiful royal palace dates back to 1395 and covers a huge area complete with parks and lakes.
The best thing about visiting: you’re encouraged to wear a traditional Hanbok outfit. Wearing the hanbok gets you free admission! This is clever as it means that all the other visitors become part of the attraction as they add to the atmosphere rather than taking away from it.
I recommend wearing comfy shoes as you can spend hours walking around.
Insider Tip: Don’t miss the the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony! 10am and 2pm daily at Heungnyemun Gate and Gwanghwamun Gate areas.
You can book a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace if you’d like someone to come with you to explain the history of what you’re seeing.
It’s quite a large palace complex so I personally find it nice to have someone to help me understand what I’m looking at, and learning from locals is much more fun than just reading up on stuff.
Read my detailed post about visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace.
Seoul is famous for its quirky (and sometimes honestly quite bizzare!) cafes. And after a morning of history (and lots of walking!), it’s time for a tea break.
Here are some cafes located near Gyeongbokgung Palace:
Note that cafes in Seoul open and close frequently (especially the quirky ones) so if you have a specific cafe in mind make sure to check on Naver Map or Instagram if it’s still open. I was stung a few times by this and wasted a fair bit of time trying to visit cafes that no longer existed!
Insider Tip: do not rely on Google Maps, as it updates slowly in South Korea.
Starfield Library is one of the most impressive modern libraries around, and I was very excited to check it out during my visit to Seoul.
You may already actually recognise Starfield Library’s impressive 42 foot tall towering shelves and escalators as it seems to have become pretty Insta and TikTok famous.
Getting there: It’s a bit out of the way, but easy on the subway. From central Seoul, hop onto Subway Line 2 (the green loop line) and ride it straight to Samseong Station. Take Exit 5 or 6, which connects directly into the underground part of Starfield COEX Mall.
Located in the middle of the COEX shopping mall, Starfield Library is open to the public and free of charge. It also has air conditioning so it’s a nice break after walking around the palace grounds in the morning.
Read my more detailed post about visiting Starfield Library in Seoul.
Do you also like reading? Join me in some armchair travelling by reading books set in various different countries all around the world.
Korean barbecue is an absolute must when visiting Seoul. Restaurants can be found in all areas of the city. You can stay in the Gangham district near the library to try this, or hop back on the subway to Hongdae/where your hotel is located.
Note that Korean BBQ is traditionally a social meal in Korea, so it’s best to be in a group of at least 3-4 people as otherwise some restaurants may not let you in. (Although there do seem to be more now catering to smaller groups / people on their own).
Solo traveller? Don’t fret, you can book yourself onto an Immersive Korean BBQ, Market, and Secret Pub Experience in Seoul.
Seoul comes alive at night. Many shops are open until 10pm or later and districts like Hongdae are even more busy at nighttime than during the day.
My hotel (L7 Hongdae by Lotte) was in Hongdae and the streets were EMPTY when I set off in the morning, and absolutely buzzing when I got back in the evening!
Karaoke is popular and the streets have almost a fairground-like vibe. One thing that I noticed is there are photo booths on every corner where you can get some fun passport-style snaps. They have props like hats and headbands.
Bukchon Hanok Village is home to traditional Korean houses (hanok) dating back over 600 years that have been lovingly restored, giving you an idea of what life was like in days gone by.
These are real houses where people still live, so please be respectful. The famous street with views over the rooftops is called Bukchon-ro 11ga-gil.
From here you can see the N Seoul Tower (Namsan Seoul Tower) in the distance, a striking contrast between old and new.
You can rent a Hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) from Hanboknam Bukchon to wear for visiting Bukchon Hanok Village.
Pre-order online and then change into your hanbok 5 minutes from the village. You get free hair styling too, and lockers are provided.
Important! There is now a tourist curfew from 5pm to 10am daily in Bukchon Hanok Village to combat overtourism. Older guides will recommend visiting early in the morning, but since 2024/25 visitors are not allowed in this area before 10am or after 5pm. The fine for breaking this rule is 100,000 KRW (£58/$72).
Read my detailed Bukchon Hanok Village guide for how to legally avoid these restrictions.
Fuel yourself up again with delicious pastries from Cafe Onion, just a 10-15 minute walk from Bukchon Hanok Village.
This cafe is laid out like a traditional 14th century hanok with beautiful wooden beams and a sloped roof.
There is a huge selection of sweet treats to choose from. Just grab a tray and select what you like. They’re famous for their Italian-style pandoro topped with a mountain of powdered sugar.
The best experience is to sit cross-legged on cushions at traditional low tables. In these areas you’ll need to remove your shoes. There are some higher tables too if you prefer.
From Cafe Onion Anguk it’s a short walk to Insadong, the perfect area in Seoul to explore Korean culture.
It’s great for food as there are a multitude of restaurants and traditional teahouses packed into its narrow streets.
You can taste tteok (rice cakes) and hotteok (sweet pancakes), or opt for some savoury Korean dumplings.
Jogyesa Temple is set right in the middle of Insadong district. It’s a beautiful building with colourful lattice work, and is an important temple of Korean Buddhism and dates back to the 14th century. Jogyesa temple is free to visit.
Insadong is also amazing for shopping as there are loads of cute shops and boutiques.
Myeongdong Night Market is one of the best places to go if you want to try out South Korean street food. From fried chicken to grilled squid, pork belly to baked cheese, you can find everything.
Visit between 5pm and 10pm when all the stalls are set up. Popular dishes to try at Myeongdong Night Market are:
This area is also one of Seoul’s main shopping districts, and everything’s open late so you can browse some K-Pop merch after munching your way through the tasty food on offer.
To get to Myeongdong Night Market take the subway to Euljiro 1-ga Station (Exits 5–7) or Myeongdong Station (Exits 5–8). Remember to bring cash.
There are several fantastic day trips that you can take from Seoul. So, if you’re visiting for 3 days (or more), I recommend choosing one.
No trip to South Korea would be complete without a visit to the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone).
This is the strip of land cutting across the Korean peninsula acting as a border between North and South Korea. This is best visited as part of a group tour so that you can learn about the history of the Korean Civil War.
Notable landmarks include the Bridge of Freedom, the Mangbaedan Altar and the Third Invasion Tunnel.
Book a full-day group tour to the DMZ.
I find modern Korean history absolutely fascinating. A nation being divided into two separate states is bewildering (apparently it was originally only meant to be temporary!), especially as North and South are now so completely different.
I found reading Pachinko by Min Jin Lee really helpful in understanding some of the nuances of Korea’s history from a human perspective, and also the relationship between Korea and neighbouring Japan.
If the DMZ is not your cup of tea, you can take a 3-in-1 day tour to Mt. Seorak and Nami Island/Garden of Morning Calm instead.
Getting to all these locations independently in one day would be a struggle, but a fully organised tour takes care of all the logistics. It’s long (14 hours) but packs a lot in, allowing you to really make the most of your final day in Seoul.
Book a Full Day Tour to Mt. Seorak, Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm
South Korea visa rules vary by country so make sure to check the rules for your country of citizenship.
If you’re eligible for visa-free entry, you generally need to apply for a K-ETA via the official K-ETA website.
British nationals are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026.
Most visitors to Seoul will land at Incheon International Airport (ICN). From the airport, it’s an easy 45-minute train or bus ride into the heart of the city.
There are two airport trains, both leave from inside the airport building itself:
Tickets are available online or at station ticket machines.
If you’re arriving late or simple want a hassle free journey to your accommodation, I recommend booking a pickup transfer in advance using Welcome Pickups.
Seoul is a very easy city to get around. I highly recommend using the metro/subway system as it’s clean and efficient. Most of the signs are in both Korean and English. The metro runs from 5:30am until midnight.
1. The regular transport pass is called the T-Money transportation card. You can then top up as much as you need.
Credit/debit card transaction fees are quite high (3.75% – 5% service fee), so you’re better off topping up with physical cash (Korean Won).
I purchased mine at the airport subway station before getting the train into the city. It is also possible to buy single journey tickets but this will end up more expensive and time consuming.
2. Alternatively you can get a Climate Companion Card. This is a pass for a fixed price that allows unlimited transport on the subway and buses:
| Pass Type | Price |
|---|---|
| 1-day Pass | KRW 5,000 |
| 2-day Pass | KRW 8,000 |
| 3-day Pass | KRW 10,000 |
| 5-day Pass | KRW 15,000 |
| 7-day Pass | KRW 20,000 |
Credit/Debit cards are widely accepted in Seoul. However, you will need cash for topping up your transport card at better rates, and for the street food markets like Myeongdong Night Market.
To withdraw cash in local currency at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Korean Won (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then withdraw cash in Korea without hidden fees.
Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).
Get your WISE card here.
I highly recommend getting an eSIM with Airalo. You can set it up before you travel. The main advantages of purchasing an eSIM (enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount) are:
Get your Airalo eSIM here. Enter the referral code ROWAN1271 for a discount.
I recommend downloading the following apps before your trip to Seoul:
Group Tours in South Korea
If you’d rather explore South Korea as part of a group, these small group tours with G Adventures are ideal. Designed for travellers who crave authentic, adventurous and culturally rich experiences.
Call of the World is proud to promote G Adventures as an affiliate: recognised for their “G for Good” ethos, ChildSafe certification for robust child-welfare protections, leadership in sustainable travel & climate action and ethical partnerships with community projects worldwide.
Plan Your Trip to Seoul: Useful Travel Resources
Check out my favourite travel resources page that I use to make sure all my trips go smoothly, from the best currency exchange apps to travel insurance, my preferred eSIMs and the walking tours I use to explore new cities and meet other travellers and everything in between.
Hover over/press each icon to discover more.
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