Seoul in 5 Days: everything you need to know

How about dedicating each day of your trip to a different facet of Seoul so you don't miss anything? Start by getting to know the historic center of the city, spend a day shopping, discover the culture of the country, pay tribute to your senses by immersing yourself in nature, and enjoy its gastronomy.

Take note of all these suggestions below and adjust your 5-day itinerary to your preferences and pace, choosing the tours in Seoul that you find most interesting. It is a city of contrasts that will allow you to make each day a totally different experience. So, the important thing is to enjoy every moment and savor the experience without rushing!

Seoul has been the capital for 600 years (first, of Korea, and now of South Korea), so it is full of historical places that you will fall in love with. I'm going to tell you which are the main ones and why you will be interested in visiting them during your trip. Let's go!

Gyeongbokgung Palace

There are many temples in Seoul, and of various religious denominations. You will find them all over the city, but to make the most of your visit, the ideal is to visit one or two.

Without a doubt, I recommend starting your trip by exploring the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace, a jewel of traditional Korean architecture. Its name means "Palace of Happy Radiance", and as if it were Buckingham Palace, a spectacular changing of the guard takes place every hour in front of the main gate. Calculate the time well to be on time!

To give you an idea, in Seoul there are 5 large palaces, which belonged to the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of them, so I recommend you to visit it if you have to choose between any palace. But if you want to know a little about the others, these are the following, take note!

• Changdeokgung. This palace, known as the palace of "Eternal Prosperity", has a beautiful secret garden, called Huwon garden.
• Changgyeonggung. This is the palace of the "Solemn Prosperity", and was the summer residence of the royalty. It is noted for its beautiful pavilions.
• Deoksugung. The palace of "Virtue and Longevity" is the only one that incorporates elements of Western architecture. If you visit it, take a look to discover them!
• Gyeonghuigung. It is smaller than the others, but the "Happiness" palace was used as a secondary palace by the Joseon dynasty. Very interesting!

National Museum of Korea

After the palace tour, continue to learn about Korean culture with the impressive collection of art and historical artifacts spanning thousands of years of history at the National Museum of Korea.

Traveller Tip

Check out the display cases for the artifacts. They have seismic protection platforms so that the objects are not damaged in the event of an earthquake. Impressive!

On the second floor you will find the section dedicated to the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Middle Ages and Modern Ages. On the second, you will find the gallery of calligraphy and painting and the gallery of donation, with an extensive collection of art.

In case you feel like adding one more museum to your itinerary during your trip, you can count on the Leeum Museum of Art It was founded in 2004 by the Samsung Group, and its collection encompasses traditional Korean art and international contemporary art.

Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting works you can find there is "The Thinker", by the famous French sculptor Rodin.

If you want to have lunch in this area, a good option is Blind Spot. It is a beautiful and sophisticated restaurant where you will find a very varied menu, from coffees to cocktails, with both European and Asian cuisine.

This will make it easier for you to find the areas that are most interesting to you!

Bukchon Hanok Village

After lunch, ideally spend the afternoon in this charming traditional village, where you can explore its picturesque alleys and hanok houses, the traditional Korean-style houses.

The former nobility of Seoul lived here, hence its proximity to the palaces of Seoul. Today, its craft stores and wonderful views of the city make it the perfect place to travel back in time and relax!

Seoul is a city with a multitude of facets, so this second day of the trip I recommend a more "modern" plan: visit the most contemporary area and take the opportunity to shop and try some of the most outstanding dishes of Korean cuisine.

Fun fact: Did you know that Seoul is the headquarters of major technology companies of international relevance? For example, it is the headquarters of Samsung and LG. As such, it boasts high-speed technology facilities.

Seoul in the 21st century

Since the first day has been more cultural and historical, today it's time for modernity! Visit the Gangnam district, known for its upscale lifestyle and the famous Gangnam Crossing. Well, and you may also be familiar with the mythical Gangnam style song.

In addition, Seoul is now also the great capital of K-Pop, so if you are a fan of any of its bands, you will surely find a lot of merchandising stores Precisely, the Gangnam neighborhood is closely linked to music, and you will surely notice it when you walk through its streets.

Since there are many skyscrapers in the area, you have a unique opportunity to climb one of them to take your breath away with one of its panoramic views. I especially recommend you to enjoy this experience in the Lotte World Tower. It is about 25 minutes by public transportation from Gangnam neighborhood, so you can calculate the time to get to its observation deck before lunch.

Shopping in Myeongdong

To make the most of this very urban day, the ideal is to spend the afternoon browsing the stores in the most commercial area of Seoul, Myeongdong, and taste its delicious (and famous) street food. Let yourself be surprised by its flavors, its bookstores, and even religious stores near the cathedral.

To end the day, and if you feel like getting to know the nightlife of the Korean capital, I recommend you try a pub crawl in Seoul. You will have a great time, but with the peace of mind of having a local person accompanying you through the locals and streets - it's always safer that way in a city you don't know!

On this third day, I propose you a very special plan: explore different aspects of traditional Korean culture. It will be super interesting and will help you understand much better the character and traditions of the country. Go ahead!

Jogyesa Temple

How about starting the day with a visit to the traditional Jogyesa Temple? It is a quiet oasis of Zen Buddhism in the middle of the bustle of the city. Inside you will find, in addition to the temple itself, a museum and a printing press, which prints Buddhist texts.

This temple offers meditation classes, in case you want to experience Zen meditation first hand in a breathtaking setting.

Insadong

Next, ideally head to Insadong, a neighborhood famous for its antique stores, art galleries and traditional craft stores. In addition, if you like tea, you will enjoy its many stores dedicated to this ancient beverage.

I especially recommend that you stop by the Insadong Ssamziegil. It is a shopping mall that resembles, you could say, a spiral alley. You will find jewelry stores, clothing stores, art galleries, handicrafts... I am sure you will be fascinated by its stores and atmosphere.

Hanbok Experience

And as a finishing touch to this day, why not rent a hanbok, the traditional Korean costume? There is no better way to feel like a Korean and enjoy this exotic experience.

These costumes are characterized by their vibrant colors and simple lines. It's formal wear for celebrations, but, if you think about it, your trip is a celebration in itself!

By the way, if you want to get to know the "darker" version of Seoul and you are curious about these themes, you can't miss the Seoul Ghost Tour- a different way to get to know the city!

And, where can you get your hands on one of these costumes? Since you'll be on your third day of travel, you're sure to have already visited a few souvenir, craft or antique stores and come across one of these costumes.

After the thrills of the previous three days, how about a bit of nature? This experience will make your visit even more varied, and I'm sure you'll be captivated by Seoul's natural environment. Check out my plans for you!

Namsan Park

I have always said that in every city, there is a park to visit. And in the case of Seoul, this is undoubtedly the Namsan Park.

This park is also a mountain, so going up to its N Seoul Tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, plus it has an impressive revolving restaurant. Not before calmly walk through this beautiful park!

Traveller Tip

You can adjust your schedule so that your climb to the Tower coincides with the sunset, because the night views from here, with the whole city illuminated, are wonderful.

Han River

To make the most of the afternoon of this fourth day of your trip, you can relax by the Han River. If you feel like it, you can rent a bicycle (there is a public bicycle network that you can use) or just enjoy a picnic while enjoying a placid Seoulite afternoon. You are sure to see many people playing sports or strolling among the cherry trees.

On the last day of your trip, it is best to take it easy and not have a tight schedule. Therefore, I recommend you to reserve for the end of your trip to discover an impressive viewpoint and taste some typical Korean food.

The 63 Sky Art viewpoint

To end with a somewhat different experience, and make your last day also memorable, I recommend this viewpoint where you will also see sharks. And not that there are sharks in the Han River. I'll tell you.

The 63 Sky Art viewpoint includes a visit to the Aqua Planet 63, so you will have panoramic views of the city and the Han River from 264 meters high. But also, in the aquarium, you will see many marine species, although you will surely be most surprised by the penguins and sharks. Why not combine views and nature in the same space?

Street food

There are still some culinary delights to try! Explore what the street food stalls have to offer. You can't miss the tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and hotteok (honey pancake).

I especially recommend the kimchi. If you dare with different flavors, you have to try it. It is a traditional Korean recipe based on fermented vegetables. It is usually made with cabbage and turnip, and is usually served with a delicious spicy marinade. You will love it!

Farewell on Nami Island

End your trip with an excursion to the beautiful Nami Island and the Morning Calm garden. Disconnect from the pace of the capital and culminate your "zen" experience with this little trip full of scents, flowers and trails with beautiful trees. What better way to end your trip than on an island?

Depending on the time of your return flight, you can count on this full night or just the morning or afternoon of this day, but you can adjust the last hours of your trip to say goodbye to Seoul in style with a beautiful experience like this.

With these five days, you will have experienced many of the facets that Seoul has to offer. From history and tradition to modernity and gastronomy. There is no doubt that this city will leave an indelible impression and a great appreciation for South Korea, I'm sure!

Besides, it is always necessary to have a visit to make when you go on a trip, so there are reasons to come back in the future! By the way, if you have a little less time, with three days in Seoul you can also take advantage of the most important attractions of the city.

An interesting option to visit monuments and move around the city of Seoul is the Discover Seoul Pass. You can choose between 24, 48 or 72 h. to use it, and it will speed up a lot the access to places you want to visit and move around the different means of transport in the city.

It includes public bicycle service, airport express train, discounts and access to more than 50 tourist attractions.

There is an important aspect to take into account: Seoul is a fairly large city, with more than 9 million inhabitants, and it can be complicated to move from one tourist spot to another on foot.

Its subway is one of the largest and fastest in the world, so moving around will save you a lot of time, no doubt.

That is why your best ally can be the tourist card to go from one point to another, and once you are in the place you are going to visit at that moment, walk around the area.