Seoul by night from Namsan, with searchlights over the cityPhoto: Gije Cho / Pexels
4 days in Seoul: First-timer highlights
4 days 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: Palaces, hanok villages & tea. Day 2: Markets, Myeongdong & Namsan. Day 3: Seongsu & the Han River. Day 4: Mangwon, Yeonnam & Hongdae. 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 · Gwanghwamun → Seochon → Bukchon → Insadong
Palaces, hanok villages & tea
The culture day — and the one visitors rate highest. Hanbok on for free palace entry, a quiet local lunch, the hanok lanes, a second palace, tea in Insadong and dinner at Gwangjang Market.
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09:30
1Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁
Enter through Gwanghwamun; catch the changing of the guard. Closed Tuesdays.
Nearby: Gwanghwamun Square · Hyangwonjeong Pavilion · National Folk Museum
Read: Rent a Hanbok, Walk into the Palace Free ↗ - 800 m · about 11 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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11:30
2Seochon & Tongin Market 통인시장
Exit west for Seoul's calmest old neighbourhood and a coin lunch box.
Nearby: Park No-su Art Museum · Suseong-dong Valley
Read: Seochon: The Quiet Village West of the Palace ↗ - 1.6 km · about 21 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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13:30
3Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을
Walk the upper lanes. Visiting hours 10:00–17:00.
Nearby: Samcheong-dong-gil · Bukchon viewpoints
Read: Bukchon Hanok Village: The Rules and the Best Views ↗ - 1.0 km · about 13 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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15:00
4Changdeokgung Palace 창덕궁
UNESCO-listed palace; book the Secret Garden tour ahead. Closed Mondays.
Nearby: Secret Garden (Huwon) · Changgyeonggung
Read: Rent a Hanbok, Walk into the Palace Free ↗ - 1.0 km · about 13 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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17:00
5Insadong & Ikseon-dong 인사동
Tea house, crafts, then golden hour in Ikseon-dong's alleys.
Nearby: Ssamziegil · Jogyesa Temple
Read: Insadong and Ikseon-dong: Old Seoul, Two Ways ↗ - 1.7 km · about 23 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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19:00
6Gwangjang Market 광장시장
Dinner at the food stalls — bindaetteok and makgeolli.
Nearby: Cheonggyecheon Stream at night
Read: Gwangjang Market: What to Eat and How to Order ↗
Day 2 · Namdaemun → Myeongdong → Namsan
Markets, Myeongdong & Namsan
An easy central day that works well on arrival: Seoul's biggest traditional market, K-beauty and street food in Myeongdong, then sunset from the tower.
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10:00
1Namdaemun Market 남대문시장
Seoul's biggest traditional market — hotteok stalls and a noodle alley.
Nearby: Sungnyemun Gate · Kalguksu alley
Read: Seoul's Traditional Markets, Compared ↗ - 1.1 km · about 14 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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12:00
2Myeongdong 명동
Money changers first, then K-beauty with your passport for tax refunds.
Nearby: Olive Young flagships · Brand flagship stores
Read: The Myeongdong Beauty Crawl ↗ - 250 m · about 4 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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14:30
3Myeongdong Cathedral 명동성당
A calm Gothic-style cathedral in the middle of the shopping streets.
Nearby: Myeongdong street food (from 5pm)
Read: The Myeongdong Beauty Crawl ↗ - 1.0 km · about 13 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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16:30
4Namsan Cable Car 남산케이블카
Ride up before the sunset queues — or walk the trail.
Nearby: Namsan Park trails
Read: N Seoul Tower at Sunset: How to Time It ↗ - 1.2 km · about 16 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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17:30
5N Seoul Tower N서울타워
Sunset from the deck, love locks, city lights.
Nearby: Palgakjeong Pavilion · Namsan circular road
Read: N Seoul Tower at Sunset: How to Time It ↗
Day 3 · Seoul Forest → Seongsu → Ttukseom
Seongsu & the Han River
Seoul's coolest neighbourhood: a park morning, warehouse cafés and brand pop-ups, then sunset by the river.
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10:30
1Seoul Forest 서울숲
Lawns, ginkgo paths and a deer enclosure — the slow start.
Nearby: Seoul Forest café streets
Read: Seongsu, Mapped: Seoul's Coolest Neighbourhood ↗ - 2.1 km · subway, bus or taxiRoute in Naver Map
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12:00
2Seongsu café streets 성수동 카페거리
Brunch and coffee in converted factories — stick to the side streets.
Nearby: Yeonmujang-gil · Handmade shoe street
Read: Seongsu, Mapped: Seoul's Coolest Neighbourhood ↗ - 550 m · about 8 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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15:00
3Seongsu pop-up streets 성수역
Brand pop-ups and concept stores north of the station. Weekdays are calmer.
Nearby: Concept stores · K-beauty pop-ups
Read: Seongsu, Mapped: Seoul's Coolest Neighbourhood ↗ - 2.7 km · subway, bus or taxiRoute in Naver Map
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18:00
4Ttukseom Hangang Park 뚝섬한강공원
Sunset picnic — chicken or convenience-store ramyeon by the river.
Nearby: Ramyeon machines · Bike rental
Read: The Han River Night Picnic ↗
Day 4 · Mangwon → Yeonnam-dong → Hongdae
Mangwon, Yeonnam & Hongdae
The young, creative west side: a local market, a riverside picnic, the park on an old railway line, then Hongdae's buskers, karaoke and clubs.
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11:00
1Mangwon Market 망원시장
A local market with cheap croquettes, fried chicken and snacks.
Nearby: Mangridan-gil cafés
Read: Seoul's Traditional Markets, Compared ↗ - 900 m · about 12 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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13:00
2Mangwon Hangang Park 망원한강공원
Eat your market haul by the river.
Nearby: Bike paths
- 3.1 km · subway, bus or taxiRoute in Naver Map
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15:30
3Yeonnam-dong 연남동 경의선숲길
Cafés and people-watching along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park.
Nearby: Yeontral Park lawns
Read: Hongdae After Dark ↗ - 1.3 km · about 17 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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18:00
4Hongdae street performances 홍대 걷고싶은거리
Buskers and K-pop dance crews from early evening.
Nearby: Chimaek pubs · Themed cafés
Read: Hongdae After Dark ↗ - 650 m · about 9 min on footRoute in Naver Map
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21:00
5Hongdae after dark 홍대입구역
Noraebang, bars and clubs. Plan your ride home — the subway stops around midnight.
Nearby: Coin karaoke · Sangsu cocktail bars
Read: Hongdae After Dark ↗
- Check palace closing days: Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays — swap your days around if needed.
- Late nights: the subway stops around midnight. Plan a taxi or night bus home, or stay near where you go out.
- Where to stay: Myeongdong & Hongdae 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: Gangnam, COEX & Jamsil
Sinsa → Apgujeong → Samseong → Jamsil
See the 5-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 →