Seoul itinerary
7 days, hour by hour · South KoreaOctober–May
- Days
- 7
- Stops
- 34
- Per day
- ≈ 94,300 KRW
- First stop
- 08:00
Short answer
The TripWalkers Seoul itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for October–May. The first three days:
- Day 1 Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon
- Day 2 Myeongdong and Namsan
- Day 3 Gangnam and COEX
Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Day 5 is a day trip out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about 94,300 KRW a day (excluding accommodation and flights).
Day 1 · 09:00–16:30
Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon
Culture
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The main Joseon palace. The guard-changing ceremony is at 10:00, entry is free if you wear a hanbok (rentals nearby cost 20,000 KRW), closed Tuesdays.
≈ 3,000 KRW per personCulture
National Folk Museum of Korea
A free folk museum inside the palace grounds.
FreeFood
Tosokchon Samgyetang
Ginseng chicken soup next to the palace, with queues since 1983.
≈ 20,000 KRW per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Landmark
Bukchon Hanok Village
Hanok houses and narrow lanes. Keep quiet, as people live here. There are 8 viewpoints.
FreeShopping
Insadong
Traditional crafts and tea houses, plus the Ssamziegil courtyard.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Gwanghwamun Jip Kimchi JjigaeKimchi stew: cheap and legendary.
- Changdeokgung Secret GardenA UNESCO-listed palace and secret garden, visited on a timed tour. Swap it in for Bukchon.
Day 2 · 10:00–18:30
Myeongdong and Namsan
Shopping
Myeongdong Shopping Street
Cosmetics and fashion, with street food stalls out in the afternoon.
FreeFood
Myeongdong Kyoja
Kalguksu (hand-cut noodle soup) and mandu dumplings. Michelin Bib Gourmand, since 1966.
≈ 12,000 KRW per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Nature
Namsan Cable Car
Take the cable car up from Myeongdong, or walk up Namsan in 40 minutes.
≈ 15,000 KRW per personLandmark
N Seoul Tower
An observation deck and love locks. Stay until 17:00 for sunset.
≈ 21,000 KRW per person- 1 h · travel, break, free time
Food
Namdaemun Market
Korea's largest traditional market, with a hotteok (sweet filled pancake) and kalguksu alley.
≈ 8,000 KRW per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Isaac Toast MyeongdongKorean-style toasties, and quick.
- Seoul Museum of ArtA free museum next to Deoksugung, good for a rainy day.
Day 3 · 09:30–16:30
Gangnam and COEX
Culture
Bongeunsa Temple
A Buddhist temple among the Gangnam skyscrapers, with a giant Buddha.
FreeLandmark
Starfield Library COEX
13 m bookshelves. Free, and great for photos.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Shopping
Gangnam Station Underground
An underground shopping arcade and K-pop shops.
FreeFood
Samwon Garden Gangnam
Korean BBQ and galbi (marinated short ribs) since 1976, with a garden.
≈ 50,000 KRW per person- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs
Joseon royal tombs and woodland in the middle of the city. Peaceful.
≈ 1,000 KRW per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Gangnam Myeongga GalbiMore affordable BBQ.
- Lotte World Tower Seoul SkyA 555 m observation deck with a glass floor. Swap it in for the tombs.
Day 4 · 10:00–18:30
Hongdae and Yeouido
Nature
Gyeongui Line Forest Park
A park on a former railway line, with cafes in Yeonnam-dong.
FreeShopping
Hongdae Street
A university district with street performances, vintage shops and photo booths.
FreeFood
Hongdae Jokbal Alley
Braised pig's trotters and bossam (boiled pork wraps), served to share.
≈ 15,000 KRW per person- 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Yeouido Hangang Park
A riverside walk in winter, with cafes.
Free- 30 min · travel, break, free time
Nature
Han River Cruise
A sunset boat from Yeouido, with views of bridges and skyscrapers.
≈ 18,000 KRW per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Hongdae Andong JjimdakBraised chicken in sauce.
- 63 Building Art MuseumA golden skyscraper in Yeouido, good for a rainy day.
Day 5 · 08:00–15:00Day trip
The DMZ
Landmark
Imjingak Park
DMZ tour (~70,000 KRW). Passport required, book 1-2 weeks ahead, no tours on Mondays. See the Freedom Bridge and the bullet-riddled train.
FreeCulture
Third Infiltration Tunnel
A tunnel dug by North Korea. It is a 350 m sloping walk, and you wear a hard hat.
FreeLandmark
Dora Observatory
Look through binoculars at a North Korean village and a propaganda tower.
FreeLandmark
Dorasan Station
A train station with no trains to Pyongyang.
Free- 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time
Food
Paju Provence Village
On the way back, a cafe town themed on a French village. Stop for lunch and bakeries.
≈ 15,000 KRW per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Tongilchon Village RestaurantSoybean dishes in the DMZ village.
- Heyri Art VillageAn artists' village. Swap it in for Provence.
Day 6 · 09:30–16:30
Gwangjang and Dongdaemun
Culture
Jogyesa Temple
The centre of Korean Buddhism, with a lantern festival in May.
FreeLandmark
Ikseon-dong Hanok Village
Restored hanok cafes and boutiques, with the most photogenic lanes.
FreeFood
Gwangjang Market
Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and mayak gimbap. The market was featured on Netflix, and you eat on stools.
≈ 15,000 KRW per personNature
Cheonggyecheon Stream
A restored stream in the middle of the city, with a 5 km walking path.
FreeLandmark
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Zaha Hadid's silver building, with exhibitions and a night market.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Ikseon-dong Farm BBQHanwoo (Korean beef) and Iberico BBQ in Ikseon-dong.
- Dongdaemun Market Night ShoppingWholesale fashion, after 23:00.
Day 7 · 10:00–14:30
Seongsu and a gentle farewell
Landmark
Seongsu-dong
Seoul's Brooklyn, with old factory cafes and pop-up stores.
FreeNature
Seoul Forest
A deer park and a ginkgo path, golden yellow in autumn.
FreeFood
Onion Seongsu
A cafe in a former factory, with pastries and coffee for a farewell treat.
≈ 12,000 KRW per personLandmark
Seoul Station AREX
The AREX express to Incheon takes 45 minutes. Time to say goodbye.
Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
- Seongsu GalbiGalbi, instead of a cafe.
- Ttukseom Hangang ParkA riverside park, instead of the forest.
Getting around: get a T-money / Climate Card
Works on the metro and buses. The 7-day Climate Card is unlimited (~20,000 KRW).
Good to know: 6 things that make a Seoul trip easier
- The T-money card works everywhere. The Climate Card gives 7 days of unlimited travel (~20,000 KRW). The AREX to Incheon takes 45 minutes, and Naver Map beats Google Maps.
- October to November is the best season for autumn colours. Winters drop to -10°C, the palaces look beautiful in snow, the ondol (heated floor) is warm, and there are bathhouses (jjimjilbang).
- Korean BBQ for two costs 50,000-80,000 KRW, and street food at Gwangjang is 5,000-10,000 KRW. Tipping is not expected.
- Palaces close on Tuesdays (Gyeongbokgung) or Mondays (Changdeokgung). Entry is free in a hanbok.
- Take your passport on the DMZ tour and book 1-2 weeks ahead. The JSA (Panmunjom) tour is separate and rarely available.
- Cafes are part of Seoul culture: try Seongsu, Yeonnam and Ikseon-dong. Coffee costs 5,000-7,000 KRW.
Spending: ≈ 660,000 KRW per person for 7 days
- Food350,000 KRW
- Entry and tours170,000 KRW
- Local transport60,000 KRW
- Other80,000 KRW
Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.
On world lists: 2 places in this city
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Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Seoul?
This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 5; skip it on a short stay.
How much does a day in Seoul cost?
In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about 94,300 KRW per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.
What time should you start the day in Seoul?
The first stop is at 08:00. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.
Which season is this itinerary for?
This page covers October–May. There is a separate plan for June–September: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.