How to Spend 3 Days in Seoul South Korea: Epic Itinerary

Day 1 in Seoul

Breakfast

If you’re going to be spending a busy day in Seoul then I definitely recommend starting off with a good breakfast. Do note however that Koreans are night owls, so the standard opening times for most businesses may be later than what you’re used to (e.g. most shops open 10am – late).

My favourite breakfast was Eggdrop in Hongdae. These grab and go toasted sandwiches are yummy, filling and practical.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbokgung Palace is the perfect way to start off your visit to Seoul. You’ll completely immerse yourself in traditional Korean culture. This beautiful royal palace dates back to 1395 and covers a huge area complete with parks and lakes. I recommend wearing comfortable shoes as you can spend hours walking around. One of the best things about visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace is that you’re encouraged to rent a traditional Hanbok outfit to wear. This is clever as it means that all the other visitors become part of the attraction as they add to the atmosphere rather than taking away from it. Read my detailed post about visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace here.

Book a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Visit Some Quirky Cafes

Seoul is famous for its quirky (and sometimes quite bizzare!) cafes. A few notable ones include:

• C.Through Cafe (you haven’t seen latte art until you’ve been here)
• Old Ferry Donut (fluffy and light donuts)
• Peach Grey (paint with watercolours while you sip your coffee and eat souffle pancakes)
• Ddong Café (poo-themed cafe. Yes you read that correctly.)
• Cafe Promenades D’été (cute doggy-themed cupcakes)

Note that cafes in Seoul open and close frequently (especially the quirky ones) so if you have a specific cafe in mind make sure to check on Google Maps if it’s still open.

Starfield Library

Starfield Library is one of the most impressive modern libraries around. As an avid reader (Check out my book recommendations – themed by countries around the world.) I do love to visit libraries when I’m overseas. You may already actually recognise Starfield Library’s impressive 42 foot tall towering shelves and escalators as it seems to have become pretty Insta and TikTok famous! Found in the middle of the COEX shopping mall(!), Starfield Library (also known as Byeolmadang Library) is open to the public and free of charge. Read my more detailed post.

Dinner: Korean Barbecue

Korean barbecue is an absolute must when visiting Seoul. Restaurants can be found in all areas of the city. Note that this is a social meal in Korea, so you need to be in a group of at least 3-4 people as otherwise restaurants may not let you in. (Although there do seem to be more catering to smaller groups / people on their own now). Solo traveler? Don’t fret – you can book yourself onto a group Korean BBQ experience and meet like-minded travelers.

Book an Immersive Korean BBQ, Market, and Secret Pub Experience in Seoul.

Nightlife

Seoul comes alive at night. Many shops are open until 10pm and districts like Hongdae will be more busy at nighttime than during the day. Karaoke is popular and the streets have almost a fairground-like vibe. One thing that I noticed is there are photobooths on every corner where you can get some fun passport-style snaps – they have props like hats and headbands.

Day 2 in Seoul

Bukchon Hanok Historical Village

Be prepared to get up early as the best time to visit Bukchon Hanok Village is first thing in the morning. Bukchon Hanok Village can get very crowded during the day, but it’s more peaceful in the morning. Especially important if you’re prioritising photography! This village is home to traditional Korean houses (hanok) dating back over 600 years that have been lovingly restored, giving you an idea of what life was like in days gone by. These are real houses where people still live, so please be respectful. There are some small stalls here where you can rent a Hanbok (traditional korean clothing) to wear, but note that they will open slightly later in the morning. You can pre-order online and then pick up. The famous street with views over the rooftops is called Bukchon-ro 11ga-gil.

Tea and pastries at Cafe Onion Anguk: Hanok-themed Cafe

Fuel yourself up again with delicious pastries from Cafe Onion. This cafe is laid out like a traditional 14th century hanok with beautiful wooden beams and a sloped roof. There is a huge selection of sweet treats to choose from – just grab a tray and select what you like. They’ve become Insta-famous for their Italian-style pandoro topped with a mountain of powdered sugar. There are some normal tables, but the best are is where you can sit cross-legged on cushions on the floor with more traditional low tables. In these areas you’ll need to remove your shoes.

Jogyesa Temple

Jogyesa Temple is set right in the middle of Insadong district. It is an important temple of Korean Buddhism and dates back to the 14th century. It’s a beautiful building with colourful lattice work. It’s free to visit.

The Blue House

South Korea’s former presidential palace is a traditional-style building famous for its blue tiles. It is located in the royal gardens of the Joseon Dynasty. There is a museum attached. To get there on the subway, take Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station and leave via Exit 5.

Dinner: Myeongdong Night Market

Myeongdong Night Market is one of the best places to go if you want to try out South Korean street food. From fried chicken to grilled squid, pork belly to baked cheese, you can find everything. This area is also one of Seoul’s main shopping districts, and everything’s open late so you can browse some K-Pop merch after munching your way through the tasty food on offer. To get to Myeongdong Night Market take the subway to Euljiro 1-ga Station (Exits 5–7) or Myeongdong Station (Exits 5–8). Remember to bring cash.

Day 3 in Seoul

Take a Day Tour to the DMZ

No trip to South Korea would be complete without a visit to the DMZ (the Demilitarized Zone). This is the strip of land cutting across the Korean peninsula acting as a border between North and South Korea. This is best visited as part of a group tour so that you can learn about the history of the Korean Civil War. Notable landmarks include the Bridge of Freedom, the Mangbaedan Altar and the Third Invasion Tunnel.

Book a full-day group tour to the DMZ here.

Practical Guidance for Seoul, South Korea

Where to Stay in Seoul?

In order to make the most of your trip I recommend picking a central district of Seoul that has some attractions in it so that you minimise travel time (see transport in Seoul below). Some good areas are:

• Hongdae (this is where I stayed and it’s a very cool neighbourhood)
• Myeongdong (good for shopping and near Gyeongbokgung Palace)
• Gangnam (a luxury area and near Starfield Library)
• Itaewon (near lots of good restaurants and cafes)
• Insadong (another good area for culture)

Transport in Seoul

Seoul is a very easy city to get around. I highly recommend using the metro / subway system as it’s clean and efficient. Most of the signs are in both Korean and English. The metro runs from 5:30am until midnight. You’re best off buying a transportation card that you can then top up as much as you need. Note that you will need physical cash (Korean Won). I purchased mine at the airport subway station before getting the train into the city. It is also possible to buy single journey tickets but this will end up more expensive and time consuming.

Withdrawing Cash in Seoul in Korean Won (KRW)

To withdraw cash at the best rates, I highly recommend getting a WISE card before you go. This allows you to convert money into Korean Won (or any other currency!) at the best rates and then withdraw cash in Korea without hidden fees. Wise is a UK-based financial services company (available in most countries worldwide) and is highly regulated in the various regions it operates in (in the UK it is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority).

Get your WISE card here.

Travel Medical Insurance

Make sure that you have insurance to cover you for your trip. The type of insurance you need will depend on your personal circumstances and specific needs. To ensure peace of mind while travelling or living abroad, we recommend getting health insurance.

SafetyWing offer Nomad Insurance with globally mobile individuals in mind. Whether you’re a short-term backpacker or a longer-term remote worker, they have something for everyone. SafetyWing‘s Nomad Essential plan covers travel and medical emergencies with options for adventure sports and electronics theft. Their Nomad Complete plan offers comprehensive health coverage with routine healthcare, mental health support, and maternity, anywhere in the world, including in your home country, on top of all Essential benefits. Find out more about SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance here.

Read my other posts about South Korea here.

Read my recommendations for books set in South Korea here.