Modern, clean, safe, and most of all, fun – that’s how I would describe Seoul. I planned on visiting South Korea as one of my best friends lives there (on Jeju island) – I was not expecting to love the city so much! I ended up only having five days here, due to an overbooked flight on my way to South Korea. I’d much rather have had a week – or even 10 days – but I still managed to see a lot. Here’s my top picks for what to do with five days in Seoul!

Visit the Palaces: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Changgyeongung Palace

If you plan on going to all of the palaces, I highly recommend buying a combination ticket. It’ll save you a bit of money. If you dress up in hanbok (a traditional South Korea dress), you get into the palaces for free! There are plenty of places to rent a hanbok by the hour for a photo shoot. The palaces are all so different, but it’s easy for them to blend together – I’d visit one or two each day.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

This is the main palace in Seoul and the biggest of all of them; it was built in 1395. There’s simply so much to see here, so give yourself at least 1-2 hours to do it justice. Make sure to pick up a map so you can see all the highlights!

Changdeokgung Palace

Changdeokgung Palace is home to beautiful buildings, as it was the primary royal residence for several hundred years. The real draw is the Secret Garden. It’s only accessible on a tour, which you need to book in advance. Spring and fall are the best times to visit, for blossoming flowers and colorful foliage!

Deoksugung Palace

This is a smaller palace, right next to City Hall. It’s much quieter than the other palaces – I think it gets a bit forgotten! There are some really stunning colorful roofs here.

Changgyeonggung Palace

Changgyeonggung Palace is adjacent to Changdeokgung Palace, and is also much quieter. There’s a large garden area, complete with a greenhouse, which used to actually house a zoo and botanical garden.

Stroll Around Bukchon Hanok Village

This area of the city is full of traditional houses, called hanok – some of which date back hundreds of years! It’s a photographer’s dream, especially the juxtaposition of the new city skyscrapers and the old historic houses. This is a great place for a wander and an Instagram sesh; you’ll probably see quite a few people dressed in traditional hanbok here. Remember to be quiet and respectful while you’re here – these are still residential homes!

Step Inside Jongmyo Shrine

Unfortunately, this was closed on the day I was planning to visit! But Jongmyo Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dating back to the 16th century, and one of the top attractions in Seoul. It was the main place of worship for the royal families of the Joseon Dynasty.

Eat Your Way Through Gwangjang Market

There are so many markets in Seoul, it’s hard to pick just one. If you want an authentic (read: chaotic) experience, head to Gwangjang Market. There are loads of shops and SO many local food vendors. Whatever kind of Korean food you’re in the mood for, I bet that someone here is selling it!

Walk the City Walls

Did you know Seoul has its own set of City Walls? I didn’t until I got here! Located in Dongdaemun (near Gwangjang Market), you can see the historic city walls. If you’re up for a long hike, there’s a trail along the walls that you can follow through the city. The Naksan Mountain Trail (Hyehwamun Gate to Heunginjimun Gate) is meant to be one of the best sections. But you can also just do a short part of the walls too, starting at Hyehwamun or Heunginjimun (two of the main historic gates). There’s also the City Walls Museum at Heunginjimun if you want to learn more.

See COEX Starfield Library in Gangnam

The Gangnam neighborhood of Seoul is a wealthy area and full of shopping malls and designer stores. But if you only go to one mall, it needs to be COEX – it’s home to one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, right in the middle of the mall! It’s pretty busy now that it’s Insta-famous (you’d be lucky to snag one of the comfy seats), but it’s one of the coolest places I visited in Seoul. And definitely one of my favorite libraries in the world!

Dance at the Gangnam Style Statue

Gangnam Style is the song that launched Gangnam (and I’d say Seoul in general) to the world. There’s a statue of Psy’s gold hands doing the dance outside COEX Mall. You can’t miss it if you’re in Gangnam!

War Memorial of Korea

This is a vast and excellent museum, covering so much more than just the Korean War. The exhibitions detail war and military history from thousands of years ago up to the present day. I spent nearly two hours here, although admittedly I was most interested in the 20th-century and Korean War exhibits. There are several memorials out front, along with flags from the countries that offered aid during the Korean War. There’s also an open-air part of the museum, which houses many different military planes outside.

Cafe Hop Around the City

If there’s one thing Seoul does best, it’s quirky, unique cafes. The city is absolutely full of them – you could spend five whole days just hopping from one cafe to the next! This is a classic activity, so give yourself time to try some new cafes and relax. I’d recommend the following cafes:

• Urban Plant – full of plants and greenery, it feels like botanical heaven.
• TYPE – boasting an incredible view over the Han River from the fifth floor!
• Cafe Layered – delicious cake and sweet treats in a posh, British setting.
• 943 King’s Cross – pretty expensive, but a must for Harry Potter fans visiting Seoul!

Go Out for the Night in Hongdae

Seoul is a city that never sleeps – if you want to party all night, Seoul is a great destination. I had a fantastic night out in Hongdae, one of the best neighborhoods for bars and clubs. Unfortunately, I have no idea where I went, but I had a blast dancing on tables until 5am! Pre-game with some beers from a convenience store as the locals do, before hitting the bar.

Hike Baegundae Peak in Bukhansan National Park

Did you know Seoul is actually an incredible hiking city? Despite the skyscrapers and mass urban sprawl, there are lots of amazing hikes that are easily accessible from the city for a daytrip! One of my favorite things I did in Seoul was hiking up Baegundae Peak in Bukhansan National Park. This is the highest peak in the Seoul area – the mountain is 836 meters!

Take a bus to Bukhansanseong (the entrance to the national park), and after a short 10-minute walk you’ll reach the start of the trail. Remember to bring lots of water, snacks, and food. I highly recommend sturdy hiking boots (I love my Scarpa Mistral boots!) and hiking poles if you have them. It is a proper mountain hike and it is hard! To get to the actual summit, you’ll need to use the cables to get up and down safely – so I’d also bring a pair of gloves.

Baegundae Peak Trail in Bukhansan National Park:

• Distance: 5.75 miles
• Time: 4 hours and 30 minutes
• Elevation: 769 meters elevation gain
• Cost: free – no national park fees!

Take a Daytrip to the DMZ

One of my favorite things I did in Seoul was taking a daytrip to the DMZ. Seeing Imjingak Peace Park, the 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory and North Korea itself was a surreal experience. You can’t miss it if you’re visiting Seoul or South Korea in general. Read my full DMZ guide to find out what the day was like! You can book the exact tour I did here.

Feast on Korean Food

The world is slowly catching onto the incredible cuisine in Korea – and Seoul is an great destination for foodies! That is, providing you’re not vegan or vegetarian; Korean food is very heavy on the meat. I ate SO much good food in Seoul, and I regret nothing. You can’t leave South Korea without trying Korean BBQ, ttebottki (rice cakes in a spicy sauce, topped with cheese), bibimbap (mixed rice, meat, and veggies), mandu (dumplings), gimbap (like sushi but without the fish, rice/meat/veg rolled in seaweed), Korean fried chicken, and bingsu (a shaved ice dessert).

Planning Your Trip to Seoul

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, and the biggest city in the country with a population of nearly 10 million people. The official currency is South Korean won (KRW) and the official language is Korean. Seoul has two major airports. Incheon is the international airport, and Gimpo airport is for domestic flights. I use Skyscanner to book my flights. Seoul is very well-connected by train to other destinations around South Korea – there are long-distance coach buses too, but trains will likely be much faster. Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. I found Seoul to be an extremely safe city – petty theft isn’t a thing, and violent crime more or less unheard of. But unfortunate things can happen anywhere.

Getting Around Seoul

There is an excellent public transport system in Seoul – 9 main subway lines criss-cross the city (although there are 23 lines in total), and buses and trams can get you pretty much everywhere in-between. To use public transport, you’ll need to buy a T-Money card and pre-load it in advance. This can ONLY be done with cash, you can’t use card! Note that when you’re exiting the Metro station, there will likely be many different exits – check in advance which exit is most convenient for you. Know the final destination/direction of the Metro train you need. Make sure to download Naver or Kakao Maps in advance, as Google Maps doesn’t (really) work in South Korea.

Where I Stayed in Seoul

I stayed at Zzzip Guesthouse in Seoul in a 6-bed dorm. This is one of my favorite hostels I’ve ever stayed in! There is a great social atmosphere, and it’s very easy to meet people and make friends (important for going out to eat as a group!) as a solo traveler. The owners, Jinah and Brian, are really lovely people, and full of tips and advice. They also kindly allowed me to cancel one night free of charge, extremely last minute, when my flight to Seoul was overbooked and I was delayed by a day. There’s free breakfast, keycode security for the main gate, hostel, and each room, and the bathrooms were super clean. I can’t recommend this hostel enough! If you stay here, try to find my picture on the wall (March 2023). If you’re not wanting to stay in hostels, you can search hotels and other accommodation here, or using the map below.


Booking.com

Thinking of a tour? There are so many options – here are just a few!

Seoul is a fascinating city, with so many attractions and so much history to explore. While you could easily spend more than five days here, if you’re pressed for time you can still see the main sights and eat your way through some mouth-wateringly delicious Korean food. Daytrips to the DMZ and Bukhansan National Park are easily doable! I hope this guide helps planning your trip to Seoul.

Have you visited Seoul? What are your top picks on what to do in the city?

You might also like my posts:

Visiting the DMZ in South Korea as a Daytrip From Seoul in 2023

What to See and Do on Jeju, South Korea

25 Places You Can’t Miss in London

25 Things You Must Do in Moscow

A Budget Guide For Visiting Athens

What to See and Do in Marrakech, Morocco

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