High-energy Seoul is home to nearly 10 million people, making South Korea’s capital one of the world’s most populated cities with a dizzying amount of attractions.
Scenic viewpoints, a cutesy cafe culture, war museums, K-Pop streets, serene palaces, glittering skyscrapers, lush parks, high-end shopping, Korean barbeque joints and skincare galore are just some of the highlights.
Like most visitors, we started our South Korea trip here as it’s home to the main international airport, opting to spend three days in Seoul before heading off to Busan and Gyeongju. Even with a baby in tow, we found that was long enough to see the main highlights without feeling too rushed—though pre-planning is key to account for the time it takes to get between each district, opening hours for sites and lineups at attractions when visiting in spring and summer.
Here’s how we pulled off our 3 day itinerary for Seoul, and even had time to sneak in a couple of K-Beauty treatments!
Seoul trip itinerary: 3 days
Day 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong Culture Street
Gyeongbokgung Palace
This picturesque royal palace was established as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty back in 1395, and is framed by Baegaksan Mountain in central Seoul. Despite severe damage over the years due to fires and war, it has been beautifully restored and is now the most visited attraction in Seoul.
Geunjeongjeon Hall is the main highlight, which once served as the throne hall of Joseon rulers; however, the sprawling site has about a dozen other buildings worth seeing and are best visited with a guide to properly understand the historical significance of each one.
Be sure to time your visit for the twice-daily Changing of the Palace Guard Ceremony at the square inside of Gwanghwamun Gate. It lasts about 15 minutes, and is a fascinating recreation of what it was like when royal guards were responsible for guarding the main city gates back in the 1400s featuring bright traditional costumes, flags, music and plenty of pomp and circumstance.
The Changing of the Guard happens at 10 AM and 2 PM in front of the main entrance—be sure to snag a front row spot at least 10 minutes before as it gets quite crowded and difficult to see otherwise.
Note: Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays; book a guided tour here.
Bukchon Hanok Village
The village of Bukchon Hanok is unassumingly nestled among a sea of highrises in the heart of central Seoul, offering peekaboo glimpses of the modern skyline between the famous tiled roofs.
Located a short walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace, these beautifully-preserved hanoks once served as the residences of aristocrats and high-ranking officials during the Joseon Dynasty, and are home to about 6,000 residents today.
Bukchon’s narrow alleyways that wind up the sloping hillside create photo-worthy backdrops, while artisan workshops, tea houses and small museums showcase Korean traditions.
Despite the tranquil surroundings and architecture, an astounding six million people visit this small area every year, so efforts are in place to ensure tourists are respectful of residents. There are numerous signs (including some held by enforcement officers) reminding tourists to keep noise levels down, not sit on doorsteps and pack out their garbage.
A curfew is also in place, with Bukchon Hanok Village open to non-residents from 10 AM-5 PM, Monday to Saturday.
Globe Guide tip: While Bukchon Hanok is definitely worth visiting, another option is to visit Eunpyeong Hanok Village in north Seoul which is equally enchanting and far less touristy (stop in at the Irin Iljan cafe for great views).
Wear a hanbok
A fun thing to do in Seoul is wearing a hanbok, which is traditional Korean clothing usually worn during holidays, birthdays and weddings which has a long historical and cultural significance.
There are lots of rental shops around touristy areas like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, which provide the perfect backdrop for photoshoots.
We paid about $20 each for a two hour rental, which to be honest felt pretty rushed since we were also trying to sightsee at the same time. I’d recommend booking here instead to get a full day rental for the same price so there’s enough time to wear it in multiple locations.
Day 2: Namsan Park, Nandaemun Market and Myeongdong Street
Namsan Park
For one of the best views in Seoul, head up to Namsan Park. The all-in-one attraction boasts walking trails, dozens of eateries, shops, an observatory and lookout points with mesmerizing views of the sprawling city.
The site can be accessed by walking, bus or taking a cable car up. The entrance for that is a 10 minute walk from the Myeongdong district, but be warned that lineups can be long and there are staircases which aren’t stroller/wheelchair friendly.
Namsan Park is home to the N Seoul Tower, a 236-metre-tall radio transmitting structure and the second highest point in Seoul.
Many of the park’s restaurants and attractions are found inside, as well as the observation deck with 360° city views. However, it’s not necessary to spring for admission since the free lookout points in the park are also quite impressive.
Nandaemun Market
Namdaemun Market is the largest traditional market in Korea, where everything from clothing to kitchenwares, art, flowers, sporting equipment and toys have been sold since 1964. Many of the goods are made directly by the storeowners, and is open all day long–even overnight! Note that many stalls are closed on Sundays.
Myeong-dong
Myeong-dong is one of the most happening areas in Seoul, with a fun mix of modern hotels, restaurants and oh-so-much shopping.
The pedestrian-only zone is where you’ll want to spend most of your time, especially in the evening when the night market starts up and you can sample all sorts of Korean specialties (I’m partial to the chicken skewers) and guided food tours are available.
If you’re in the market for skincare this is your spot–in fact, it’s actually quite overwhelming just how many K-beauty stores there are here. At all hours of the day you can expect someone to try to lure you into their store with a sample of innovative serum or the promise of discount on skincare masks and you’ll also find a couple of the famous Olive Young beauty stores here.
Day 3: Gangnam, K-Beauty treatments
It was pouring rain during one of our days in Seoul, so the Gangnam district (yes, THAT Gangnam district) was the perfect area to spend some time indoors.
Starfield COEX Mall
Our first stop was a giant bronze statue dedicated to Psy, the South Korean singer whose hit Gangnam Style took the world by storm. In case you forget the dance moves, there’s a small video player beside it that shows the iconic music video on repeat.
The statue is erected in front of the Starfield COEX Mall, a gargantuan complex housing more than 300 stores and restaurants.
We made a beeline for the COEX Aquarium, a fantastic kid-friendly activity where guests can see the likes of massive manta rays, sharks and colourful schools of jellyfish swimming right by.
The mall’s most popular attraction is the Byeolmadang Library, better known as the Starfield Library.
This Instagram-famous spot impresses with its two-storey, 13 metre high bookshelves which hold an astounding 70-thousand books, and you’ll likely see throngs of people riding the escalators up and down to get a shot in front of them. Did I mention this isn’t a very quiet library?
Globe Guide tip: Go early in the morning or later in the day to avoid the crowds.
K Beauty treatments
South Korea is famous for its innovative beauty treatments, which are also significantly cheaper than similar ones in North America so this is the place to get injectables, specialized facials and body contouring treatments.
There are a LOT of places to choose from and the best ones are typically found in the Gangnam district; I suggest reading this article which has more information on finding a reputable provider, and the concierge services like Himedi which are available to help.
Keep in mind that some facial treatments can be somewhat invasive, so you may want to time those appointments strategically (like scheduling for the day before flying home) so they don’t impact the enjoyment of your trip.
If it’s relaxation you’re after, there are also traditional Korean spas and 18-step Korean head spa rituals (sadly I didn’t have time to experience one, but Eco Jardin is highly recommended).
Book one of these recommended guided experiences in Seoul:
Getting around in Seoul
The Naver app will quickly become your best friend while travelling in South Korea, providing public transportation details, estimated costs for taxis versus transit, and real time traffic updates.
Seoul is absolutely huge and not walkable as the main attractions are quite spread out from each other, so you’ll need to rely on a combination of public transport, taxis and Ubers (which you can also order through the Kakao T app). Expect to spend a lot of time stuck in traffic.
Public transportation like subways and buses are well organized and reliable, and the buses often have dedicated lanes to avoid gridlock. However, this isn’t always the easiest option if you’re travelling with a baby like we did, so we primarily used taxis since they’re also relatively inexpensive.
I was very impressed with the inter-city train stations when we took the bullet train between Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju. Not only were our trains always right on time, but there was at least 15 minutes’ notice about which track it would arrive on as well as where to stand depending which car your seat was reserved for.
Be sure to read this article about what to know before visiting South Korea like how to use public transportation, tips for booking KTX trains, and the apps you’ll definitely want to download ahead of time.
Where to stay in Seoul
Aloft Seoul Myeongdong
We stayed at the Aloft for the first three nights of our Korea trip, and the location is absolute perfection for sightseeing in Seoul. This high-rise hotel is in the heart of the Myeongdong district, literally around the corner from the night market and shopping–can’t recommend it enough!
The Aloft has a subway entrance and multiple bus stops on its doorstep, the airport bus is just down the block and it’s just a 10 minute walk to Namsan Park.
The updated, clean hotel has great city views from the higher floors, yet the street noise never seemed loud. The front desk staff are very helpful with answering questions, and there’s an on-site restaurant, coin-operated laundry, gym and rooftop terrace. Click here to book
Fairmont Ambassador Seoul
This luxe property absolutely wows from the moment you step through the front doors, thanks to its high-impact, dazzling design features and skyline views. It also smells incredible: staff tell me that the hotel has a custom scent blended which changes with every season–I wish I could have bottled it up!
Located along the south banks of the Han River next to the high-end Hyundai Seoul department store and IFC Mall in the Yeongdeungpo district, the Fairmont is more popular with the business crowd since it’s a bit far from the touristy landmarks.
However, leisure travellers will still appreciate this spot–especially during a quick layover–since there’s an airport bus stop directly out front and it feels like an oasis of calm despite the busy surroundings.
All of the modern rooms aside from the suites and penthouse are similarly styled with large comfortable beds, a desk, coffee bar area, lounger, closet and sleek marble bathroom.
There’s plenty of space to move around which is a bit of a rarity when it comes to hotel rooms in Seoul and cleverly, the walls slide around to reconfigure the spaces between the entrance, bathroom and closet area.
A highlight is the on-site dining with two restaurants, a sleek rooftop cocktail bar and sunny Atrium lounge. We frequented the Spectrum all-day dining venue, which serves up buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But this isn’t your usual hotel buffet. Not even close.
We literally gasped when we arrived for dinner at Spectrum, where an incredible display of east-meets-west cuisine was beautifully set out. Peking duck, Tomahawk steak, sashimi, succulent lamb chops, lobster and steaming red sea scallops were just some of the offerings, alongside a made-to-order pasta station, salad and dessert bar and unlimited wine.
A chef rolled a cart right up to our table to make fresh sushi rolls, and we made sure to save just enough room for dessert: flambé Grand Marnier crêpes with a dollop of sweet cream, also prepared tableside right before our eyes. It just so happened to be my foodie-loving partner’s birthday, and enjoying this feast for the senses was the perfect way to celebrate.
Globe Guide tip: If you have an American Express Platinum Card, be sure to reserve the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program for late checkout and complimentary breakfast at Spectrum.
Other amenities at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul include one of the largest, well-equipped hotel gyms I’ve ever seen, a spa, indoor pool for guests aged five and up, and Korean saunas.
Staying here was a great option for our last night in Seoul after returning from Busan at the end of the trip, giving us the chance to see a different part of the city, have easy access to the airport and unwind like a real vacation before the long flight home. Click here to book
Day trips from Seoul
If you’re able to stretch your Seoul travel itinerary out a couple more days, it’s worth heading out on a day trip to explore more of South Korea. Popular picks are:
The DMZ
A half or full day excursion to the Korean Demilitarized Zone is a bucket list excursion for many, and only one hour north of the city. Walk across a scenic suspension bridge stretching over what was once a fierce battlefield, peek into the tunnels built to invade South Korea from the North side and learn about the historical significance of this infamous area from a well-versed guide.
Nami Island
This peaceful island is lovely to visit all year round, best known for its massive Garden of Morning Calm with acres of manicured foliage, flowers and pathways. Interestingly, Nami Island declared its cultural independence and was reborn as the Naminara Republic, resulting in its own national flag, anthem, currency, passport and certification of citizenship. There’s also an option to add to your tour and hop on the Instagrammable Rail Bike for a spin around on a former rail bed through the countryside overlooking the Bukhangang River.
Seoraksan National Park
Trade the hustle and bustle of the city for fresh air and breathtaking vistas by heading to Seoraksan National Park. Famed for its craggy, towering peaks and cascading waterfalls, there are fantastic day hikes like the Biseondae Rock trail to accommodate most skill levels (along with a cable car for those who aren’t feeling the exertion).
It’s the perfect place to see South Korea’s natural landscapes, and accommodations can be found nearby for those who want to stay overnight to properly explore this scenic spot. While it’s best to do as an overnight trip to allow enough time for hiking, it’s also possible as a day trip as it’s only about a 2 ½ hour drive east of Seoul.
Book an organized day trip from Seoul:
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