5-Day Seoul Itinerary

Arrive and check in near Myeongdong

Land at Incheon, take the AREX express train into the city, and drop bags at a hotel in the Myeongdong or City Hall area.

Recover with coffee and hotteok

Grab a cinnamon-and-nut filled hotteok pancake from a street cart and a coffee to fight jet lag before exploring.

Wander Myeongdong's shopping lanes

Browse Korean skincare shops and clothing stores through Myeongdong's pedestrian streets, sampling tteokbokki and fish cakes along the way.

First Korean BBQ dinner

Sit down for samgyeopsal pork belly grilled tableside with soju at a no-frills Myeongdong barbecue joint.

Gyeongbokgung Palace and the guard ceremony

Catch the changing-of-the-guard ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate, then explore the palace's throne hall and Gyeonghoeru pavilion.

Hanbok rental and palace grounds

Rent a colorful hanbok for free palace entry and photos among the pavilions and stone bridges.

Bukchon Hanok Village alleys

Climb the sloped lanes of preserved hanok houses between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, pausing at scenic viewpoint number 8.

Dinner in Ikseondong's hanok cafes

Eat modern Korean fusion in a converted hanok in Ikseondong, a pocket of tiny courtyards turned bars and eateries.

Namsan cable car and N Seoul Tower

Ride the cable car up Namsan Mountain to N Seoul Tower for panoramic views over the Han River and skyline.

Locks of love and Namsan trail

Walk the padlock-covered fences near the tower before descending through pine-shaded Namsan Park trails.

Hongdae street style and indie shops

Browse vintage clothing racks and K-pop merch stores around Hongik University's main street.

Busking and bar-hopping in Hongdae

Watch street performers at Hongdae's Playground before hitting a hip pojangmacha tent bar for late-night snacks.

Depart for the DMZ

Board a guided tour bus north from central Seoul toward the Demilitarized Zone and Imjingak Park.

Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory

Descend into the Third Infiltration Tunnel, then peer into North Korea from the Dora Observatory binoculars.

Dorasan Station and Unification village

Visit the eerily empty Dorasan Station, built to one day connect to Pyongyang, and browse the DMZ gift shops.

Back to Seoul for army stew

Return to the city and warm up with budae-jjigae army stew, a bubbling pot born from postwar rations.

Gwangjang Market bindaetteok and mayak gimbap

Sample crispy mung bean pancakes and tiny 'drug' gimbap rolls at this century-old covered food market.

Insadong antique and craft street

Browse calligraphy shops, ceramics, and antique stalls along Insadong's main pedestrian street.

Traditional tea house break

Sip omija berry tea or roasted barley tea in a quiet hanok tea house tucked off Insadong's alleys.

Galbi feast in a hidden alley grill house

Order marinated LA galbi short ribs grilled at the table with banchan side dishes and cold naengmyeon noodles.