Seoul in 5 Days: everything you need to know

How about dedicating each day of your trip to a different aspect of Seoul so you don't miss anything? Start by getting to know the city's historic centre, spend a day shopping, discover the country's culture, indulge 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 of 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 savour 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 should visit them during your trip. Let's go!

Gyeongbokgung Palace

There are many temples in Seoul, and of various religious denominations. You'll find them all over the city, but to make the most of your visit, it's best to visit one or two.

I would definitely recommend starting your trip by exploring the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace, a jewel of traditional Korean architecture. Its name means 'Palace of Happy Radiance', and like Buckingham Palace, a spectacular changing of the guard takes place every hour in front of the main gate. Check the time to be on time!

To give you an idea, there are 5 major palaces in Seoul, all of which belonged to the Joseon dynasty. Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of them, so I recommend you visit it if you have to choose between palaces. But if you want to take a look at the others, these are the next ones, 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 "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 palace that incorporates elements of Western architecture. If you visit it, take a look to discover them!
• Gyeonghuigung. 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 National Museum of Korea's impressive collection of art and historical artifacts spanning thousands of years of history.

Traveller Tip

Take a look at the display cases. They have seismic protection platforms to protect the artefacts from damage in the event of an earthquake.

On the first floor you'll find the Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age, Middle Ages and Modern Age sections. On the second floor, you will find the calligraphy and painting gallery and the donation gallery, with an extensive art collection.

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

One of the most interesting works you can find there is undoubtedly "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 quaint lanes and hanok houses, the traditional Korean-style houses.

Seoul's former nobility lived here, hence its proximity to Seoul's palaces. Nowadays, its craft shops 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 on this second day of your trip I recommend a more "modern" plan: visit the more contemporary area and take the opportunity to do some shopping 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. That's why it has such high-speed technology facilities.

21st century Seoul

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 legendary Gangnam style song.

In addition, Seoul is now also the capital of K-Pop, so if you're a fan of any of its bands, you're sure to find plenty of merchandising shops Precisely, the Gangnam neighbourhood is closely linked to music, and you will surely notice it when you walk through its streets.

Since there are numerous 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 at the Lotte World Tower. It's about 25 minutes by public transport from Gangnam, so you can time your trip to the observation deck before lunch.

Shopping in Myeongdong

To make the most of this urban day, ideally spend the afternoon browsing the shops in Seoul's most popular shopping area, Myeongdong, and sampling its delicious (and famous) street food. Let yourself be surprised by its flavours, its bookshops, and even religious shops 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 around Seoul. You'll 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: to explore different aspects of traditional Korean culture. It will be very interesting and will help you to understand the character and traditions of the country much better. Go ahead!

Jogyesa Temple

How about starting the day with a visit to the traditional Jogyesa Temple? It is a tranquil oasis of Zen Buddhism amidst the hustle and bustle of the city. Inside, in addition to the temple itself, you'll find 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 stunning setting .

Insadong

Next, head to Insadong, a neighbourhood famous for its antique shops, art galleries and traditional craft shops. And if you like tea, you'll enjoy the many shops dedicated to this ancient beverage.

I highly recommend a visit to Insadong Ssamziegil. It is a shopping centre that resembles, one might say, a spiral alley. You will find jewellery shops, clothes shops, art galleries, handicraft shops... I am sure you will be fascinated by the shops and the atmosphere.

Hanbok Experience

And to round off the 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 characterised by vibrant colours 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" side of Seoul and are curious about these themes, don't miss the Seoul Ghost Tour- a different way to experience the city!

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

After the excitement 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 surroundings. Check out the plans I have for you!

Namsan Park

I've always said that in every city, there's a park to visit. And in the case of Seoul, this is definitely Namsan Park.

This park is also a mountain, so by climbing the N Seoul Tower, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city, as well as an impressive revolving restaurant. But not before taking a leisurely stroll through this beautiful park!

Traveller Tip

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

Han River

To make the most of the afternoon on 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 Seoul evening. You're sure to see plenty of people playing sports or strolling among the cherry trees.

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

The 63 Sky Art observation deck

To finish with a slightly different experience, and to make your last day a memorable one too, I recommend this viewpoint where you will also see sharks. Not that there are sharks in the Han River. Let me tell you.

The 63 Sky Art observation deck includes a visit to Aqua Planet 63, so you'll have panoramic views of the city and the Han River from 264 metres up. But also, in the aquarium, you will see many marine species, although the penguins and sharks are sure to surprise you the most. 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. Don't miss the tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and hotteok (honey pancake).

I especially recommend the kimchi. If you dare with different flavours, 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 served with a delicious spicy marinade - you'll love it!

Farewell on Nami Island

End your trip with a trip 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 mark on you and a great appreciation for South Korea, I'm sure!

Besides, it's always a good idea to leave something to visit when you go on a trip, so you'll have 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 city's most important attractions.

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

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

There is one important aspect to bear in mind: Seoul is a fairly large city, with over 9 million inhabitants, and it can be difficult to walk from one tourist attraction to another.

Its underground is one of the largest and fastest in the world, so getting around on it will save you a lot of time, no doubt.

So your best ally may be the tourist card to go from one point to another, and once you are at the site you are going to visit at that moment, walk around the area.