Itinerary · 72 hours
3 days
in Seoul.
5-second answer
3 days, three themes.
- Day 1 morningGyeongbokgung + Tongin Market
- Day 1 eveningCheonggyecheon + Myeongdong
- Day 2N Tower → Gwangjang → Hongdae
- Day 3Gangnam + Han River sunset
- Where to stayMyeongdong night 1 · Hongdae nights 2-3
Trip budget estimator
What will this 3-day trip cost?
Before you board.
- Visa / K-ETA. 37 countries (USA, UK, JP, DE, AU, SG and others) are exempt through 2026. Full visa guide.
- Korean SIM or eSIM. Get an Airalo Korea eSIM before takeoff so you have data the moment you land. SIM options.
- T-money card. Pre-buy from Klook with airport pickup, or grab one at Incheon Arrivals. Transit guide.
- Cash mix. Korea is roughly 90% card-friendly, but markets and traditional eateries are cash-only. ₩50,000 in small bills covers three days of "card refused" moments.
- Tax refund prep. Bring your passport when shopping. 10% VAT back at the airport or in-store. How it works.
Where to stay.
Myeongdong puts you within a palace walk of day one's morning stops and a 50-minute AREX ride from Incheon. After day one wraps near the Cheonggyecheon stream, switch hotels to Hongdae for nights two and three: that's where day two ends late and day three starts on the AREX train one stop from the airport.
Or pick one neighborhood and use the subway. Twenty-minute rides cover most of the city.
Day 1: royal seoul + downtown classics.
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Morning
Gyeongbokgung Palace + Royal Guard changing
The largest of the 5 royal palaces. Royal Guard changing ceremony is 10:00 and 14:00 (closed Tuesdays). Wear hanbok for free entry (see hanbok guide). Plan 2 hours minimum.
₩3,000 entry, or free in hanbok
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Lunch
Tongin Market dosirak cafe
Buy ₩5,000 worth of brass coins at the info booth, walk the market stalls picking dishes for your "dosirak" lunch box. Old-Seoul market experience without language friction.
₩5,000 base, add coins as needed
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Afternoon
Bukchon Hanok Village + Insadong walk
Traditional hanok-lined alleys. Photo-popular but residents live here - voices down. Loop down to Insadong for traditional crafts + tea houses.
Free
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Evening
Cheonggyecheon stream + Myeongdong dinner
Walk the restored stream from City Hall east. Dinner in Myeongdong - street food (탕후루, hotteok, gyeranppang) or hot pot at one of the dense Myeongdong eateries.
Stay near Myeongdong or Jongno - close to where you start tomorrow.
Day 2: k-culture + youth seoul.
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Morning
N Seoul Tower (Namsan)
Cable car up from base station near Myeongdong Exit 3, or hike the Namsan trail (~30 min). Observation deck is paid. Locks at the base are an Insta classic, but the panorama is the actual draw.
₩7,000 cable car one way, ₩16,000 observation deck
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Lunch
Gwangjang Market street food
Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), mayak gimbap (skinny "drug" kimbap), tteokbokki. Sit at a stool, point at what others are eating. Best around 12-1 PM weekday for less crowd.
₩3,000-8,000 per item
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Afternoon
Hongdae street walk + indie shopping
Buskers in Hongdae Park afternoons + weekends. Try a K-beauty store (Olive Young is the chain everyone uses) + photo-card / K-pop merch shops near the main street. Stay for a coffee at one of the third-wave cafes.
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Evening
Korean BBQ dinner + Hongdae nightlife
Korean BBQ for dinner (see /korean-bbq-seoul for picks). After, walk over to Yeonnam-dong for quieter pourover-cafe / wine-bar vibe, or stay in Hongdae for live music.
Hongdae stay = walking-distance nightlife. Better for under-30s than Myeongdong.
Day 3: gangnam + modern seoul + han river.
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Morning
Bongeunsa Temple + Starfield Library
Bongeunsa is an actual working temple (free entry), 5 min walk to Starfield Library inside COEX mall - the 13-meter book wall is the IG-famous shot. Pair with a coffee at one of the COEX cafes.
Both free
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Lunch
Gangnam restaurant cluster
Apgujeong = K-beauty + designer brands. Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil = trendy cafes + bistros. Pick whichever fits your shopping intent for the afternoon.
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Afternoon
Lotte World Tower SkyView + shopping
555m tower, the SkyView observation deck is on floors 117-123. Glass floor on 118 if you have the stomach. Or skip the tower and do Lotte World theme park if traveling with kids (full-day commitment though).
₩31,000 SkyView, ₩62,000 Lotte World day pass
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Evening
Han River picnic (Banpo) + rainbow bridge
Han River park has chicken delivery direct to the park grass (download Coupang Eats). Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain shows 7-9 PM on weekends April through October. Picnic mats sold at convenience stores nearby.
~₩20,000 chicken + beer for two
Last night - stay flexible to where your flight is from. Yongsan/Hannam if morning flight (Yongsan is the central AREX station).
Book the activities.
Klook · Seoul activities Browse Seoul activities Hanbok, palace tours, N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, airport pickup. English support.What's not here.
- DMZ tour. Full day, needs a separate tour booking. Plan 4 days minimum if you want it.
- Nami Island or Gapyeong day trip. Two hours each way. Better as a 4-5 day add-on. Day trips guide.
- Jjimjilbang. Easy to fit on day one evening if you skip Cheonggyecheon. Spa guide.
- K-pop fan stops. Agency buildings and drama spots are scattered. Add half a day. K-pop tour.
- Specific restaurants. Seoul restaurants rotate fast. We point at neighborhoods and dish types instead. /eats has our weekly-updated curated list.
Last updated May 2026
