SEOUL · 4-5 DAYS
A city best understood
one neighborhood at a time.
Seoul is vast, but a good first visit does not need to feel rushed. Pair one historic area with one modern neighborhood each day and let the subway do the long-distance work.
BASE
Where to stay
Jongno for palaces and traditional streets; Hongdae for airport access and nightlife; Myeongdong/Euljiro for a central first-time base. Stay near a subway station rather than chasing a famous hotel address.
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Getting around
Use the subway for most trips and buses for short cross-neighborhood hops. Load a T-money card at a convenience store. Naver Map or KakaoMap gives more reliable routes and place data than Google Maps.
4 DAYS
Suggested itinerary
- Day 1: Gyeongbokgung, Seochon and an evening in Euljiro.
- Day 2: Bukchon early, Changdeokgung, Ikseondong and Cheonggyecheon.
- Day 3: Mangwon Market, Yeonnam and Hongdae after dark.
- Day 4: Choose the National Museum + Hannam, or Seongsu + Seoul Forest.
GOOD TO KNOW
Small practical wins
Reserve popular palace tours in advance, avoid commuter rush hour with luggage, and check closing days: many museums close on Monday while some palaces close on Tuesday.
PACE
What to skip
Do not combine every palace, Gangnam and Hongdae in one day. Seoul rewards shorter transfers and evenings left open for a market, river walk or neighborhood dinner.