Seoul: 5-day itinerary

The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (abbreviated DDP) is one of the must-see buildings in Seoul, and is best known for its unique architecture. Dongdaemun used to be really popular for its wholesale and budget shopping, but the DDP has since taken over as the icon of Dongdaemun. The DDP often has interesting exhibitions, and is also where the Seoul Fashion Week is held. Do check out the official website for a list of exhibits that are currently ongoing.

Recommended things to do: Take Instagram-worthy photos, visit exhibitions

🗺️ Address: 281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul

🕣 Opening hours: 10am - 8pm daily

⏰ Recommended time spent: 30 mins (excluding time for exhibits)

::callout[Walk from Dongdaemun Design Plaza to Cheonggyecheon Stream Estimated travel time: 5 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Cheonggyecheon Stream starts from Cheonggye Plaza, just off Sejong-ro Avenue. Cheonggye Plaza roughly covers an area of 2,500 square meters and is located at the starting point of Cheonggyecheon Stream. The square, created based on the design of traditional Korean bojagi (a colorful wrapping cloth), features the elegant beauty of traditional stonework that is colorful yet refined.

The area is designated as a vehicle-free zone on holidays, and the waterfront areas of Cheonggyecheon Stream and surrounding streets are a popular location for art and light installations, street performances, or other exhibits. The stream also gives the area a more laid-back vibe, making it a popular place for those seeking a temporary escape from the bustling Seoul.

Things to do: See the Candle Fountain and Palseokdamn wishing wells, take a stroll along the stream

::callout[Walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream towards Gwangjang Market Estimated travel time: 15 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Have lunch at Gwangjang Market, one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea, with a history dating back to 1905. The market is famous for its diverse selection of street food and traditional Korean dishes, including mung bean pancakes, blood sausage, and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). Apart from Gohyang Kalguksu — the store featured on Netflix’s “Street Food” — Gwangjang Market also has a variety of other food and snacks that you should most definitely try out.

The stalls in Gwangjang Market have varying opening hours. We recommend that you plan to arrive after 11am to get the most out of your visit there.

🗺️ Address: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Recommended food to eat:

🍽️ Chonggak’s Fish Shaped Bun

The fish shaped bun - also known as bungeo-ppang in Korean - is a popular Korean street snack made from a chewy cake-like batter molded into the shape of a fish and filled with red bean. It is similar to Japan’s taiyaki, and is a very popular treat especially during the cold, winter climate. Chonggak’s fish shaped bun is one of the most popular food item at the Gwangjang market. 🕣 Opening hours: 12pm - 5pm daily, closed on Wednesdays

🍽️ Gwangjang Market Sweet Rice Twisted Bread Stick

The stall at Gwangjang market specialises in traditional donuts, and sell a variety of donuts with fillings like red bean, black sesame, and sweet potato. We recommend that you try the traditional Chapssal Kkwabaegi - the glutinous rice twisted donuts. 🕣 Opening hours: 11am - 10pm daily

🍽️ Original Nude Cheese Gimbap

If you are familiar with Korea’s street snack Gimbap, you would be expecting to see cooked rice with various ingredients, wrapped in seaweed - somewhat similar to sushi. The original nude cheese gimbap at Gwangjang market has a different take to it, where the rice and tuna are on the outer layer instead. Although a difference in presentation, it doesn’t taste too different from how we would expect gimbap to taste like. We recommend that you order the japchae gimbap (3,000 KRW), as the japchae complements the kimbap really well! 🕣 Opening hours: 5.30am - 7.30pm daily, closed on Sundays

::callout[Take a bus from Gwangjang Market to Myeongdong. Alternatively, take a train to Euljiro 1-ga Station and walk 10 minutes to Myeongdong Shopping street. Estimated travel time: 15 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Spend the afternoon exploring the Myeongdong Shopping District and its surroundings. Myeongdong is one of the most popular shopping streets for locals and tourists in Seoul, and while it has been hit rather badly by the pandemic and has not recovered back to pre-pandemic levels, you should still most definitely visit the area. You can expect to find most of the Korean cosmetic and fast fashion brands at Myeongdong. Apart from the streets along Myeongdong, do check out the shopping malls and underground shopping centre for a wider variety of items.

Be sure to also stop by Myeongdong cathedral, one of the largest and most well-known Catholic Churches in South Korea. Best known for its acoustics and stunning architecture, the Myeongdong cathedral is definitely worth a visit for a glimpse into the religious history and cultural heritage of South Korea.

Things to do: Shopping, eat street food, have dinner, visit Myeongdong cathedral

🗺️ Address: 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕣 Opening hours: 10am - 8pm daily

⏰ Recommended time spent: 3 hours

💡 Tips: Seoul is very much a cashless city, so feel free to use your credit cards. However, in the event where you run out of cash and need more, you might be glad to know that the money changers at Myeongdong (the ones near the China embassy) offers one of the best rates in town!

When you are done with your shopping, have dinner at Myeongdong. There are lots of street food and popular options at Myeongdong that you could choose from. We recommend that you try Myeongdong Gyoza, an option that is popular both amongst locals and tourists. While they are called Myeongdong Gyoza, they are actually better known for their mandoo (steamed dumplings) and kalguksu (handmade noodles), both of which we highly recommend!

🗺️ Address: 29 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕤 Opening Hours: 10.30am - 9pm daily, last order at 8.30pm

::callout[Walk 15 minutes to Namsan Park, then hike up to Namsan Tower Estimated travel time: 45 minutes

Alternatively, from exit 3 of Myeongdong station, walk 10-15 minutes following the street of the right side of the Pacific Hotel (or take the Namsan Orumi from Namsan Tunnel 3) to reach the cable car station, and take the cable car up to Namsan Tower.]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

After dinner, head to Namsan Tower, one of the key landmarks of Seoul. From 480m above sea level, you will get a panoramic view of the city lights! If you are travelling as a couple or as a family, you might also want to consider getting a symbolic love lock while at Namsan! There are multiple ways of getting to Namsan Tower — by bus, by cable car, or by foot. If you are not too tired from the shopping, we recommend that you take a stroll up to Namsan Tower from Namsan Park. There is a relatively easy 2km trail leading from Namsan Park up to Namsan Tower, and will take about 30 minutes to complete.

🗺️ Address: 231, Samil-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul

🕣 Opening Hours of Observatory: Monday to Thursday: 11am - 10pm (last admission at 9.30pm) Friday - Sunday: 11am - 10.30pm (last admission at 10pm)

🕣 Operating Hours of Cable Car: 10am - 11pm daily

💰 Cost: Observatory: 16,000KRW for adult, 12,000KRW for child and elderly Cable car: 14,000KRW for adult return tickets, 10,500 for child return tickets

💡 Tips: If you did a lot of shopping at Myeongdong and do not want to carry your items with you up to Namsan, you can choose to deposit them at the paid lockers at the subway station.

Built in 1395, the Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of the four palaces in Seoul, and was the representative legal palace of the Joseon dynasty. There are free English guided tours in English that runs at 11am, 1.30pm, and 3.30pm daily.

If you are in Seoul from April to October, you might also want to check out the Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, a pavilion which was used to host royal banquets and receive foreign guests. A separate reservation is required for entrance to Gyeonghoeru, with only 4 sessions a day and a limit of 5 foreigners in each session. The guided tour to Gyeonghoeru is only available in Korean, but the view from the pavilion is definitely worth the additional effort. Make your reservations to visit Gyeonghoeru here.

Things to do: Go on a guided tour, rent a hanbok and get the full Joseon dynasty experience

🗺️ Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕣 Opening hours: 9am - 5pm daily, closed on Tuesdays (last admission at 4pm) From March to May, and September to October, the palace is opened until 6pm; and from June to August, the palace is opened until 6.30pm

💰 Cost: 3,000KRW for visitors aged 19 to 64, 1,500KRW for visitors aged 7-18, Free for visitors below 7 or above 64

⏰ **Recommended time spent:**2 hrs

💡 Tips: The changing of guards typically happens at 10am and 2pm daily, but this has been temporarily ceased due to COVID.

::callout[Walk from Gyeongbokgung to Tosokchon Estimated travel time: 12 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Tosokchon Samgyetang is probably the most famous restaurant around the Gyeongbokgung Palace, and is known for having the best Ginseng chicken in Seoul. Ginseng chicken soup is one of the must-eats if you are in Seoul, especially during the winter. Stuffed with glutinous rice and ginseng, the chicken and the soup are very flavourful and nourishing. If you are already at Gyeongbokgung, Tosokchon is definitely a pit stop for lunch!

🗺️ Address: 5 Jahamun-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕣 Opening hours: 10am - 10pm

A unique display of the dynasty architecture and Joseon way of life, the Bukchon Hanok Village has a lot of cultural centers and museums that gives you a glimpse into the Joseon dynasty. The juxtaposition between modern and traditional aspects of the city is also one of the key reasons why the Hanok Village is so attractive. Do note that the village is an actual residential area, so keep your volume down and be sure not to take a photo of a private space without prior consent.

Things to do: Visit O’sulloc tea house, visit the Bukchon culture centre, visit Baek Inje’s house

🕣 Opening hours: 10am to sunset

⏰ Recommended time spent: 2 hours

::callout[Walk from Bukchon Hanok Village to Changdeokgung Palace Estimated travel time: 13 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Changdeokgung Palace was built in 1405 as a secondary palace for King Taejong, the third king of the Joseon dynasty. Its most outstanding charm by far is the use of nature throughout the palace, and the beauty of the extensive gardens made this palace more popular than Gyeongbokgung for the Joseon kings to spend their time. Changdeokgung Palace is the most well-preserved of the four palaces in Seoul, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. One of the main attractions of the Changdeokgung Palace is the “Secret Garden”, which is only accessible by signing up for a guided tour.

English guided tours of the palace are available at 10.15am and 1.15pm daily; and the English guided tour for the Secret Garden takes place at 10.30am, 11.30am, 2.30pm, and 3.30pm daily from March to November. From December to February, there will not be a 3.30pm tour for the Secret Garden.

🗺️ Address: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕣 Opening hours: 9am - 5.30pm Tuesday - Sunday, closed on Mondays (last admission at 4.30pm) From February to May, and September to October, the palace is opened until 6pm; and from June to August, the palace is opened until 6.30pm

💰 Cost: 3,000KRW for visitors aged 19 to 64, 1,500KRW for visitors aged 7-18, Free for visitors below 7 or above 64. Separate charges apply for admission to the secret garden.

⏰ Recommended time spent: 1hr (excluding Secret Garden tour); the secret garden tour will take approx. 70 -90 minutes.

🔗 Reservation link: http://www.cdg.go.kr/eng/cms_for_cdg/contents/c3_1.jsp

Jongmyo Shrine was the primary place of worship for kings and their queens throughout the Joseon dynasty. It is the supreme state shrine where the royal ancestral tablets of deceased kings and queens are enshrined and sacrificial rites are performed for them. The shrine was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1995 for its well-preserved ancient customs, such as memorial services and traditional music. There are guided English tours happening at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm on weekdays.

🗺️ Address: 157 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕣 Opening hours: 9am - 5.30pm daily closed on Tuesdays (last admission at 4.30pm) From February to May, and September to October, the palace is opened until 6pm; and from June to August, the palace is opened until 6.30pm

💰 Costs: 1,000KRW for visitors aged 19-64, 500KRW for visitors aged 7-18, free for visitors below 7 or above 65

⏰ Recommended time spent: 1hr

::callout[Walk from Jongmyo Shrine to Insadong Estimated travel time: 15 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Insadong is a cultural place with many galleries displaying traditional Korean fine art, paintings, sculptures, and other traditional goods. The area is also lined up with traditional teahouses, cafes, and restaurants. Spend some time exploring the alleys and unique shops at Insadong, and experience the Korean culture first-hand. On weekends, you can also see some traditional performances and exhibits, along with traditional candy stalls and fortune telling booths. End your day at one of the teahouses or traditional restaurants at Insadong. For a more immersive experience at Insadong, stray away from the main street and wander into the alleys!

Recommended food to eat:

🍽️ Sinyet chatjip

Sinyet chatjip is a traditional old tea house buried in one of the alleys of Insadong. Away from the hustle of the main street, enjoy the sweet fruit tea and rice cakes in the quaint and cozy tea house. 🕤 Opening hours: 11am - 9.30pm daily

🍽️ Gaeseong Mandu Koong

Gaeseong Mandu Koong is a dumpling specialty store that has been serving mandu for three generations. The mandu are all hand made, and they are really generous with the filling of the mandu. Note that the Gaeseong Mandu Koong requires each person to order a dish on their own, so you can’t order just one bowl of mandu for sharing among two people. 🕤 Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday: 11.30am – 9.30pm Sunday: 11.30am – 8pm

Start your day with some nature at the Seoul Forest, a large park that is very popular with locals for its cherry blossoms in Spring and Ginko trees in Autumn. If you’re in Seoul during other seasons, the Seoul Forest is still a city-park that you can spend a relaxing morning at! For those who are into K-pop, the SM Entertainment building was relocated to an area near Seoul Forest in 2022, resulting in the renaming of the subway station to “Seoul Forest (SM Town)”.

For the adventurous, you can take a 5km hike up to Eungbongsan Mountain. Otherwise, there are many cafes and bakeries around Seoul Forest where you could have a hearty brunch to start your day. Half Coffee, Camel Coffee, and Farmers’ Cafe are some of the cafes that you could possibly check out!

Things to do: Picnic, Take a stroll through the Seoul Forest, visit the culture and art park, see the animals at the Eco Park

🗺️ Address: 273 Ttukseom-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

::callout[Take the subway from Seoul Forest Station to Bongeunsa Station Estimated travel time: 20 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

Starfield COEX Mall is a mall that combines fashion, food, culture, and entertainment. Some of the most notable attractions in the Starfield COEX Mall are the COEX Aquarium and Starfield library. The COEX Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in Seoul, and the Undersea Tunnel exhibition has been featured in many K-dramas before. Apart from the aquarium and Starfield library, COEX mall also has many local and international brands that you can shop at.

Things to do: Shop, visit COEX Aquarium, take a photo at the Starfield library

🗺️ Address: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕤 Opening Hours: 10.30am - 10pm

⏰ Recommended time spent: 1 - 1.5 hours (excluding COEX Aquarium)

💰 Cost: 32,000KRW for adults, 28,000KRW for child

::callout[Take the subway from Bongeunsa Station to Express Bus Terminal Station Estimated travel time: 16 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

The underground mall (the Goto Mall) at Seoul Express Bus Terminal is the largest underground mall in Seoul, with over 600 stores. The underground mall not only sells clothes, but also a variety of other items like flowers and tableware. The items at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal are budget friendly, making it a shopping haven for many. For a sense of the latest fashion trends in South Korea, the Seoul Express Bus Terminal is the place to be at. However, do note that the apparel at the underground mall is heavily skewed towards female apparel.

🗺️ Address: Banpo 1(il)-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕤 Opening Hours: 10am - 10pm

⏰ Recommended Time Spent: 1 - 1.5 hours

::callout[Take the subway from Express Bus Terminal Station to Sinsa Station Estimated travel time: 6 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

The Sinsa and Apgujeong area of Seoul is an upscale area where you would see more designer stores. Garosu-gil, a street lined with Ginko trees that run from Sinsa Station to Hyeondae High School, is one of the most popular streets and has been featured in many films and dramas. Spend the rest of the day exploring the area around Sinsa and Apgujeong. You can check out the Apgujeong Cafe Street for a place to spend a relaxing afternoon. As night falls, Apgujeong Rodeo Street also has many bars and pubs for a chill night out.

Recommended food to eat:

🍽️ Kkupdang

Korean barbecue is a must when in Seoul. Kkupdang is a barbecue restaurant located right in front of Sinsa station. It specialises in grilled pork shoulder that is cured for 15 days. The meat at Kkupdang is very tender and melts in your mouth, and definitely worth the calories. 🕤 Opening Hours: 3pm - 11pm daily 🗺️ Address: 615 Gangnam-daero, Jamwon-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🍽️ OUR Bakery

Our Bakery rose to popularity some time in 2017, and remains one of the most popular bakeries in Seoul. A stylish cafe that is has a very relaxing vibe, if you got a seat by the window, you could easily spend the afternoon people watching, with a cup of coffee and some bread. 🕤 Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm daily 🗺️ Address: 39 Gangnam-daero 162-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🍽️ Alice Cheongdam

Alice Cheongdam is a bar that is inspired by Alice in Wonderland. One of Asia’s 50 Best Bars in 2022, the cocktails at Alice Cheongdam are a good balance of accessible, fun, and imaginative. 🕤 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 6pm - 2am; and Friday - Saturday: 6pm - 3am 🗺️ Address: 47 Dosan-daero 55-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Mullae Art Village is an area where the metal working industry and art studios co-exist. In the morning, the industrial workshops are up and running, and the smell of metal could be a little overwhelming. As it crosses into mid-day, these industrial workshops start to quieten down as trendier cafes and studios spring to life. While a rather small area, you can wander through the streets at the Mullae Art Village to get a different Seoul experience.

🗺️ Address: Dorim-ro 128-ga 13-8gil, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul

⏰ Recommended Time Spent: 30 mins - 1 hour

Times Square is one of Seoul’s largest shopping malls. It contains various leisure, entertainment, and dining establishments. While most of the brands are relatively similar to what you would see at other malls, you could spend some time just looking around in case you find something exciting.

🗺️ Address: 15 Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕤 Opening Hours: 10.30am - 10pm

⏰ Recommended Time Spent: 30 mins - 1 hour

::callout[Take a bus from Yeongdeungpo Station to Yeouinaru Station, and walk 5 minutes Estimated travel time: 20 minutes]{icon="🚶‍♀️"}

The Hangang Parks are a place you most definitely should visit. There are a total of 11 parks, but the Yeouido Hangang Park is probably the most accessible and most popular. The Yeouido Hangang Park is also one of the best places to view the cherry blossoms in Seoul during Spring, and there will also be occasional night markets and events held at the park. You will be able to rent picnic mats and picnic equipment from the stalls that are there. For those looking to cycle, there are also bicycle rentals available.

Take the chance to try out the local experience of having a bowl of ramyeon by the Hangang river! Just head over to the convenience stores, pick up a pack of ramyeon (or instant noodles) and ingredients that you would like to have alongside it, and cook it using the automated machine!

Alternatively, you can try out Korea’s food delivery services by ordering fried chicken or Chinese food and having them deliver to the designated pick-up point. If you don’t have a local number or can’t speak the language, you could try seeking help from a local who’s also ordering food!

Things to do: Picnic, cycle, eat ramyeon by the Hangang river, try food delivery in Korea

🗺️ Address: 330 Yeouidong-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

⏰ Recommended time spent: 1 - 2 hours

Spend the rest of the day at the Sinchon, Hongdae, and Yeonnamdong, which are possibly the trendiest area in Seoul. With numerous universities located in the area, you can expect the place to be really vibrant, young, and energetic. Hongdae is also where you should look if you are into Korean street fashion. Just a train station away from each other, you could easily walk from Sinchon to Hongdae as you shop around and explore the area. Yeonnamdong has also recently risen in popularity for its trendy eateries, cafes, and lifestyle stores.

Aside from shopping, you can also check out the busking street at Hongdae. From late afternoon and into the night, buskers will start to take their positions to put on an enjoyable show for onlookers. For those interested, Hongdae also has a vibrant night life with numerous Pocha (tent bars) and clubs.

There are also many food options that you could consider. Choose from one of the many fried chicken stores, try the jokbal (pig trotters) from Myth Jokbal, or have Korean barbecue at the Piggy Bank Stone Grill Korean BBQ!

Lotte World is a huge complex offering a variety of options. In addition to the indoor and outdoor theme parks, the complex also has a skating rink, aquarium, museum, restaurants, and a mall. Spend the day at the theme parks, head over to the aquarium or skating rink, and take the chance to do your last minute shopping for local snacks and souvenirs at the Lotte Mart in the mall!

🗺️ Address: 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea

🕤 Park Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 10am - 9pm; Friday - Saturday: 10am - 10pm

💰Cost: 62,000KRW for adult, 54,000KRW for youth, 47,000KRW for child, 15,000KRW for baby

🕤 Aquarium Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10am - 8pm; Friday - Sunday: 10am - 10pm

💰Cost: 33,000KRW for adult and youth, 29,000KRW for child and elderly

🕤 Lotte Mart Opening Hours: 10am - 11pm; closed on the second and fourth Sundays every month

🕤 Shopping Mall Opening Hours: 10.30am - 10pm daily