Seoul by night from Namsan, with searchlights over the cityPhoto: Gije Cho / Pexels
1 day in Seoul: First-timer highlights
1 day of first-timer highlights, built around the places foreign visitors rate highest and grouped by neighbourhood so you're never criss-crossing the city. Day 1: Seoul's greatest hits in one day. Every stop is on the map, with Naver and Google links and transit directions between stops.
Every stop, day by day
Pins mark neighbourhoods, landmarks and markets — not specific businesses. Dashed lines show the order, not the walking path; use the "Transit to next stop" links for real directions. Google Maps doesn't do walking directions in Korea — use Naver Map for those.
Day 1 · Jongno → Myeongdong → Namsan
Seoul's greatest hits in one day
The single best day in Seoul for a first-timer: the top-rated palace, the hanok lanes, a tea house, Myeongdong's buzz and sunset from Namsan — all within a few subway stops.
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09:30
1Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁
Seoul's grandest palace — free entry in hanbok. Catch the changing of the guard. Closed Tuesdays.
Nearby: Gwanghwamun Square · National Folk Museum · Hanbok rental shops
Read: Rent a Hanbok, Walk into the Palace Free ↗ - 900 m · about 12 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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11:30
2Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을
The classic tiled-roof lanes. Visitors allowed 10:00–17:00 only; keep it quiet.
Nearby: Bukchon-ro 11-gil · Samcheong-dong-gil
Read: Bukchon Hanok Village: The Rules and the Best Views ↗ - 1.2 km · about 16 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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13:00
3Insadong 인사동 쌈지길
Lunch, then tea in a traditional tea house and a browse for crafts.
Nearby: Ssamziegil · Ikseon-dong alleys · Jogyesa Temple
Read: Insadong and Ikseon-dong: Old Seoul, Two Ways ↗ - 1.5 km · about 21 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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15:30
4Myeongdong 명동
K-beauty shopping, money changers and the street-food stalls that open late afternoon.
Nearby: Myeongdong Cathedral · Olive Young flagships
Read: The Myeongdong Beauty Crawl ↗ - 1.8 km · subway, bus or taxiRoute in Naver Map
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17:30
5N Seoul Tower N서울타워
Namsan cable car up, sunset from the top, walk down through the trees.
Nearby: Namsan cable car · Love locks · Namsan circular road
Read: N Seoul Tower at Sunset: How to Time It ↗
- Check palace closing days: Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays — swap your days around if needed.
- Where to stay: Myeongdong & Jongno is the easiest base — compare the areas in our where to stay guide. Wherever you are, a Climate Card makes the subway unlimited.
- Swap days freely. Each day is a self-contained neighbourhood loop — rain day? Move the outdoor day and see our rainy-day plan.
Add a day: Markets, Myeongdong & Namsan
Namdaemun → Myeongdong → Namsan
See the 2-day plan →DDP, the city wall & Euljiro nights
A late-starting afternoon-into-night: Zaha Hadid's DDP, the old east gate, a free night view from the city wall, whole-chicken hotpot and Euljiro's hidden bars.
Read the guide →Day trip: the DMZ
A guided tour to the border: the Third Tunnel, Dora Observatory and Dorasan Station. Book a few days ahead — your passport is registered in advance.
Read the guide →Every pin in your map
150 places near these stops, with Naver links and a Google My Maps file.
The map pack →Start over
Pick a different number of days or a different style.
Trip planner →