Seoul is one of those city’s that has a distinct buzz about it. The buzz starts long before you arrive since it’s become more prevalent in our popular culture and it grows louder as you start to plan your trip. Arriving into the city, the sights and smells and sounds launch you right into Seoul city life. The sweet, nutty smell of hotteoks frying in the street, the bright neon lights of the department stores, the sound of late night chatter over a beer with friends. Seoul has made its way to the top of places I recommend when asked about where to travel and so here are 14 ways you can spend a weekend in the South Korean capital when you’re fixing your itinerary.
In May 2024 I was able to visit Seoul during a (very long) layover when flying from Australia to the UK. Although I suppose when it’s 7 days a layover stops being a layover and is really just an additional destination. South Korea had intrigued me for a while and in recent years, the desire to visit built so I was very happy to find great flight prices that allowed me to stay and see a small part of the country on this return journey. With six full days, I spent three of them exploring Seoul (two were to / from Busan) and one enjoying a day trip from Seoul which was a good amount of time to get stuck in but as ever, it could always be longer!
1. Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok village is probably the area that many envisage when they think of Seoul. The charming streets of this area have become the pretty face of the city and showcase its history as well how the UNESCO City of Design incorporates historic and modern alongside one another. It’s popular to visit because it is full of classic Korean hanok houses as well as pretty views and to get a feel for what the old city was like. There are tea houses to rest at and cultural centres amongst the guesthouses and homes. This is a residential area so it is important when you visit to be respectful of this and remember these are people’s homes.
2. Changdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden
One of the best things to do in Seoul is visiting the myriad of historic royal buildings that are situated in the centre of the city. I’m not sharing all of these, but I am sharing three of the best and the ones to prioritise if you’re short on time in Seoul. The first on this list is Changdeokgung Palace and its beautiful Secret Garden. Changdeokgung Palace was built in the Joseon Dynasty in the 15th century and is often admired for the way it combines the palace buildings with the natural landscape that it’s built within. The Secret Garden is the highlight of the Palace and it can only be visited on a guided tour. Only 100 tickets are available for each tour which disappear fast! 50 for each slot are available to book in advance and 50 are available from 9am each day so it’s best to get a reservation in advance. When you’ve secured your tickets you’ll be treated to a gorgeous garden with lakes, pavilions, fabulous details and of course interesting plants.
If you want to visit the royal sites by yourself then purchase an Integrated Ticket of Palaces at any one entrance to save compared to buying them individually but you can also join a guided tour to learn from a local guide and even include hanbok rental to step into the history.
3. Gyeongbokgung Palace
I’ve also added Gyeongbokgung Palace to this list because this is the most photographed and most famous of the Seoul palaces. Gyeongbokgung was built in 1395 during the Joseon dynasty and is the largest of the palaces. It was, however, left to ruin for a considerable period of time and only rebuilt in 1867 and was then destroyed again in the 20th century during the invasion of Japan. The palace is constantly being restored to its former glory and since 1963 it has been designated as a Heritage Site of Korea. The palace complex is amazing to explore and admire the scale of the buildings both in height but also in vastness of the site itself. There are incredible details everywhere you look and with a view to Bugaksan Mountain in the background, plenty of photo opportunities.
You must make sure to time your visit to catch the changing of the guard. It happens daily (except Tuesday) at 10am and at 2pm and it’s as much of a spectacle as you can imagine!
Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Seoul from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!
Holafly
4. Walk the City Wall
The Seoul City Wall was constructed in the 14th century as a defensive structure for the Joseon dynasty and designated a Historic Site of South Korea in 1963. The city walls stretch a 18.6km loop around a central area of Seoul so if you wanted to walk the whole route you’ll need to set out prepared with lots of water, food and layers depending on the time of year. There are smaller sections of wall that can be walked if you have less time but you do need to watch out that some parts of the hike can be closed, for example Inwangsan is closed on Mondays (I know this because of course that’s when I’d planned to hike – oops). Hiking a section of the city wall is an excellent way to stretch your legs in Seoul, out of the winding streets and to get a glimpse of the city from up high!
5. Jongmyo Shrine
If you’ve opted for the combination ticket for Seoul’s royal locations then Jongmyo Shrine is another one which is included in this great option and another great way to learn about South Korean history. Jongmyo was constructed in 1394-95 and it is where the deceased kings and queens of the country have their tablets enshrined and this is where the sacrificial rites are performed. It is a significant location for South Korean royalty. During the week it is only possible to visit via a guided tour whilst at the weekends you can learn at your leisure. I would say, this is somewhere it’s really worth having a guide to bring the stories of the royal history to life.
6. Get lost in Insa-dong
The Insa-dong neighbourhood is packed full of narrow alleyways, shops, tea rooms, cafes, bakeries, bars and more. You must come here at different times of the day to experience the different energy you feel in the area at each time. In the morning it’s generally quieter but as breakfast turns to brunch it becomes more bustling as cafes, tea rooms and bakeries open, the smell of bread baking filling the air. In the evening, cafes are still open but the bars begin to open for customers as well. There are some very charming, intimate places to uncover in Insa-dong. Make sure to keep your eyes open for souvenirs and gifts to take home as there are plenty of art galleries and market stalls here.
7. Starfield CoEx Mall & Lotte World Tower
On the southern side of the Han river in Seoul, there are two shopping centres to visit. The Starfield CoEx Mall is located in the Gangnam part of the city, made famous by the 2012 song ‘Gangnam Style’ by South Korean artist PSY. This is generally considered to be a wealthy, fashionable part of Seoul and the Starfield CoEX Mall plays a part in that. This is the largest underground shopping mall in Asia so if you’re wanting to hunt for gifts and presents to take home then make a visit. Outside the mall there is a statue of two golden hands in the signature Gangnam Style dance move pose. You’ll also find the Instagram famous Starfield CoEX Mall here which is well worth a photo even if a terrible place to try and work like a library – it’s super busy!
A little further East along the river, you’ll arrive at Lotte World Tower. This is another famous shopping mall in Seoul, but for different reasons. First is the Seoul Sky Viewpoint which is located at the top of the tower and one of a number of spots you can find a skyline view of the city. The other reason is the Lotte World theme park. I didn’t visit because I’m not super big on theme parks (to make them worth the entrance cost you generally need to spend all day which I’m not keen on when I’m on holiday!) but it’s said to be a fun place to head to.
8. Acorn Caricature
I discovered Acorn Caricature when someone I follow on Instagram shared a story of their visit. This is the cutest little place to take a souvenir home from. Generally when you think of caricatures, they’re not very nice and a bit more of a joke gift but at Acorn, they’re really very cute and flattering which I must admit is a much better look! It’s very cheap as well, only around £5 for a smaller size and the artists complete their drawings in less than ten minutes. There are a number of galleries around the city so you can add it in when you’re close to one of them already. I visited the one near Hongdae Street and you can find it on Google Maps here.
9. Seoul Cafe Culture
Seoul has a thriving cafe culture with more and more beautiful cafes popping up every month. There’s a complete mix of places in the city to enjoy a coffee and a pastry with themed locations as well as ones that have focussed heavily on aesthetics. The Insadong neighbourhood is particularly full with some of the icons like Soha Salt Pond, Nakwon Station, Mil Toast and Cheongsudang Bakery. I’ve written a specific post on cafes in Seoul so take a look at 10 cafes to visit in Seoul to find the ones to add to your Seoul itinerary.
10. Art Galleries
Since Seoul is a City of Design, it naturally has lots of art galleries to peruse for an afternoon. During my stay, I visited Leeum with its collection of contemporary work alongside traditional ceramics and paintings; all situated inside an eclectic building with the Insta worthy staircase of light. If you’re particularly a fan of modern art then tick off a visit to the MMCA or the quirky Kukje Gallery.
11. The Nanta
The Nanta is a whole lot of fun for the whole family! This unusual production is a comedy cooking show (with no words) and it’s certainly something a little different. The show brings together humour, slapstick, acrobats and tricks to create some wonderful light entertainment (with a little help from some audience members!). This is the longest running show in South Korea and it’s been around the world, including the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway in New York so bag yourself a ticket and prepare for some laughter, silliness and lots of vegetables!
12. DDP – Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Seoul is one of a handful of UNESCO Design Cities around the world and it was only the eighth to become designated as such. This means that Seoul is filled with innovation, interesting architecture and a melting point for creative minds. The DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) is at the heart of the fashion district of the city and it was a large part of why Seoul received its UNESCO Design City status. The structure is very futuristic, resembling liquid flowing. It’s interesting to explore around the outside, particularly if you’re interested in photography. Inside, the DDP houses museums, exhibition spaces, seminar spaces, the design shop and a conference hall.
13. Food Market
As South Korean cuisine has made its way around the globe, the world has opened its eyes (and its tastebuds) to the flavours of food from this Asian nation. I imagine if you’re visiting Seoul then the food is probably one of the things that has drawn you to travelling to South Korea and so of course you must get stuck into its food scene. I’ve already mentioned that cafes have got to be on your schedule and so too does a trip to a food market. Gwangjang Market is the most famous of Seoul’s food market and become more so thanks to a Netflix documentary about Street Food around the world. I joined a food tour here which was an epic way to learn about the market, Korean drinks and Korean food whilst trying things that I would never be brave enough to order by myself. Top choices include the twisted doughnuts, mung bean pancakes and tteokbokki.
You could also visit Namdaemun Market (alleys within the market are divided by what they sell making it easier to navigate), Myeongdong Night Market (in the busy shopping area of Myeongdong and you could grab a bite after watching The Nanta) or Tongin Market (buy a lunch tray to then fill up with treats from different stores).
14. Take a Day Trip
The last item on this is really for when you have longer than a weekend in Seoul (let’s call it a long weekend 😉) and you’ve already made the most of your time in the city. With three or more days for your city break then it’s worth considering a day trip for one of your days. There are plenty of options for what you can get up to depending on what you’re looking to add into your trip. You could experience another South Korean city with a trip to Busan although really it’s best to visit Busan with more time on your hands and spend a night there. For the the brave and curious, there are many trips to the DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) between North & South Korea where you’ll walk into the Third Tunnel and can do some exceptionally eerie people watching from a cafe.
Making the trip to the DMZ was not for me and so I opted for a tour to a more green setting and a jump into nature with a trip to Seoraksan National Park with a stop at Nami Island on the way. We had a couple of hours at each location. At Nami Island, this felt more than enough for me. It was the off season and mid week so it was quite quiet but this will get rammed in busier times because it’s a popular spot from a K-drama. I could have easily spent a day in Seoraksan enjoying the trails and the views so if you’re into hiking then you could either hire a car to get out here or join a tour that specifically takes you to the National Park only.
Cat x
Keep planning your trip to Seoul with some of my other posts 🇰🇷
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