Seoul 3-Day Itinerary

This plan keeps each day in one part of the city, so you spend your time walking and eating rather than changing trains. Book the Secret Garden tour at Changdeokgung before you arrive, and get a T-money card at the airport.

Day 1: Palaces and hanok

Morning: Gyeongbokgung as the gates open, in hanbok if you like. Walk to Hyangwonjeong at the back first, then return for the changing of the guard at Gwanghwamun.

12pm: Lunch in Samcheong-dong. Sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) is a local favourite.

1.30pm: Walk through Bukchon's lanes towards Anguk, well before the 5pm visitor curfew. Our palaces guide has the route.

3.30pm: Insadong for tea houses and craft shops, and a look into Jogyesa temple.

Evening: Dinner and drinks in the lanes of Ikseon-dong.

Day 2: The Secret Garden, the market and the mountain

9.30am: Changdeokgung and your Secret Garden tour.

12.30pm: Gwangjang Market for bindaetteok and mayak gimbap. See our street food guide.

2.30pm: Walk the Cheonggyecheon stream west into the centre, then on to Myeongdong.

5pm: Up Namsan by cable car or on foot, timed for sunset from the base of N Seoul Tower.

8pm: Back down to Myeongdong's street food carts, or barbecue in Euljiro.

Day 3: Modern Seoul and the river

10am: Seongsu. Coffee in a converted factory, then the pop-up stores along Yeonmujang-gil.

12.30pm: Lunch, then a walk through Seoul Forest.

3pm: Subway line 2 across to Hongdae. Walk the Gyeongui Line Forest Park into Yeonnam-dong.

6pm: Buskers on Hongdae's main street, then dinner in Mangwon Market.

8.30pm: Chicken and beer in Mangwon Hangang Park, watching the lights on the bridges.

If your legs give out by day three, drop Seongsu and give Hongdae the whole afternoon. It is the closer of the two to the river park.

With a fourth day, take one of the trips in our day trips guide. The DMZ is the one most people remember; Suwon is the easiest to do alone.