Seoul, South Korea 2 Day Itinerary

Wearing a rented hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace gets you in free. That one detail captures Seoul’s approach to tourism: thoughtfully designed incentives that reward engagement with the culture rather than just showing up with a camera. The hanbok rental shops around Gyeongbokgung Station charge 15,000 to 25,000 KRW for a few hours, the palace entry saved is 3,000 KRW, and the photographs in the palace courtyards are substantially better than anything in street clothes. It is a good way to start the visit.

Getting from Incheon Airport to Seoul

Incheon International Airport is 60 km west of central Seoul. The Airport Railroad Express (AREX) is the standard choice: the direct express train to Seoul Station takes 43 minutes from Terminal 1 (51 minutes from Terminal 2) and costs around 11,000 to 13,000 KRW one-way. Trains run every 20 to 40 minutes. The All-Stop commuter train on the same line takes 56 to 60 minutes but costs only 4,150 to 4,750 KRW and covers more stations including Hongik University (Hongdae) and Digital Media City. If your hotel is in Hongdae or Mapo, the All-Stop train drops you closer than the express does.

The T-Money card, loaded at any convenience store (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) in arrivals, covers the AREX commuter trains, all Seoul metro lines, buses, and most taxis. Buy one before leaving the airport. A single metro journey within Seoul costs 1,400 to 1,700 KRW; the network is one of the most efficient in the world, with announcements in English, Japanese, and Chinese.

Day 1: Palaces, Hanok, and the Old City

Arrive at Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3. The palace was built in 1395 as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty, destroyed by Japanese occupiers in the early 20th century, and substantially restored since 1990. Entry is 3,000 KRW, free in hanbok. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate runs twice daily (10am and 2pm) and recreates the Joseon-era military changing ritual in full period costume. Give yourself 30 to 45 minutes for the palace grounds before walking north.

Bukchon Hanok Village is a 20-minute walk east of Gyeongbokgung through the Samcheong-dong neighbourhood. The village is a preserved cluster of traditional Korean wooden houses (hanok) from the Joseon period, built on steep lanes running down toward Anguk Street. It is a real residential neighbourhood: people live here, which means the etiquette matters. Keep noise down, do not peer into private courtyards, and visit before 11am or after 4pm to avoid the worst of the midday tour group crowds. Viewpoint 2 on Bukchon-ro 11-gil is the most photographed spot, with a long lane of hanok rooflines descending toward the city.

From Bukchon, walk south to Insadong, a street and district of tea houses, traditional craft shops, and galleries. Ssamziegil on the main street is a multi-level indoor courtyard of independent boutiques, a useful stop if you want to buy something that is not mass-produced. Nearby Tongin Market, open until 7pm, is a covered street market where vendors sell side dishes (banchan) and grilled items. The tteokbokki here (spicy rice cakes in gochujang sauce) is better than most of the Myeongdong tourist versions.

Myeongdong is 15 minutes south by metro (Line 4 to Myeongdong Station). It is Seoul’s main commercial and skincare district: every Korean skincare brand, K-beauty trend, and global fast-fashion retailer has a presence here. Street food vendors set up in the evening along the central pedestrian street with corn dogs, tteokbokki, and hotteok (sweet pancakes). Prices in Myeongdong trend higher than surrounding neighbourhoods because of the real estate, but the street food is reasonably priced at 3,000 to 6,000 KRW per item.

Evening: take Line 2 to Hongik University Station (Hongdae). This neighbourhood runs on a different clock from the rest of Seoul: the clubs and bars are just warming up at midnight and the fried chicken and ramyeon shops operate 24 hours. For Korean BBQ before the evening begins in earnest, Musoe Kimchi Samgyeop near the station specialises in grilled pork belly cooked on cast iron with kimchi, reasonably priced at around 15,000 to 18,000 KRW per person with rice and side dishes.

Day 2: Modern Seoul, Gangnam, and Markets

Start the morning at Gwangjang Market (Line 1 or 5, Jongno 5-ga Station). This covered traditional market has operated since 1905 and is one of the few major Seoul markets that has not been heavily touristified. The food section in the central hall is the draw: vendors making bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes), yukhoe (raw beef), and kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) from early morning. A full market breakfast of pancake and soup costs under 10,000 KRW. Go before 11am; it gets busy.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), a short walk from the market, is the other kind of Seoul: a 2014 Zaha Hadid-designed complex of curved steel and concrete housing fashion showrooms, design exhibitions, and a 24-hour shopping zone. The building itself is more interesting than most of what is inside it; worth a 30-minute walk through the grounds.

Cross the river to Gangnam by taking Line 2 to Gangnam Station or Line 3 to Apgujeong. Gangnam is the upscale southern district that Psy made internationally recognisable in 2012, but its actual character is less absurd than the song suggests. Garosugil, a tree-lined street running off Sinsa Station, is the neighbourhood’s better-designed street: independent cafes, design studios, and boutiques set back under sycamore trees, with outdoor seating that makes it a good afternoon stop.

COEX Mall at Samseong Station (Line 2) is genuinely large: one of the largest underground malls in Asia, with a food hall, bookshop (Starfield Library, a well-photographed room of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves), aquarium (around 29,000 KRW), and the SM Entertainment flagship store if K-pop is relevant to your visit.

For dinner in Gangnam, Ggupdang near Sinsa Station is considered one of the best pork shoulder restaurants in Seoul. The meat is aged 15 days and grilled over binchotan charcoal by staff who do the cutting tableside. Expect around 20,000 to 25,000 KRW per person for the meat with unlimited banchan, lettuce wraps, and doenjang soup.

Where to Stay

For the old-city experience (Day 1 neighbourhoods), hotels near Gyeongbokgung, Insadong, or Myeongdong keep you within walking distance of the morning attractions. Hotel Noctua in Insadong is a well-reviewed mid-range option (around 100,000 to 150,000 KRW per night). The more generic business hotels around Myeongdong Station cluster from around 80,000 to 130,000 KRW per night and are well-positioned for both Days 1 and 2.

For Hongdae specifically, numerous guesthouses and smaller hotels cater to the neighbourhood’s younger demographic from around 60,000 to 100,000 KRW per night. The Shilla Seoul in Jung-gu and Park Hyatt in Gangnam are the two most consistently recommended luxury options, both above 300,000 KRW per night.

Practical Notes

South Korea uses the Korean Won (KRW). Cards are increasingly accepted but cash remains useful for market stalls, smaller restaurants, and traditional shops. Convenience stores (GS25, CU) are open 24 hours everywhere and sell useful items including phone chargers, umbrellas, ready meals, and T-Money top-ups.

Kakao Maps and Naver Maps both work better in Korea than Google Maps for transit routing. Download one before arrival. Most metro station names are phonetically transliterated and announced in English.

Remove shoes before entering traditional restaurants, guesthouses, or any space where you see shoes lined up at the entrance. Tipping is not standard in Korea and can occasionally cause confusion in casual settings. In higher-end restaurants, service is included.

The best seasons are spring (late March through May) for cherry blossom and mild weather, and autumn (October through November) for foliage and clear skies. Summer (June through August) brings extreme humidity and monsoon rain from late June onward. Book accommodation at least three weeks ahead for spring peak periods.

One useful habit: the Korean convenience store triangle kimbap (rice with filling wrapped in seaweed) costs around 1,500 KRW and is a genuinely good quick meal. Do not underestimate it.