Seoul
Ancient palaces, neon side-streets, the best transit in Asia.
- Airport → city
- AREX Express from Incheon → Seoul Station in 43 min (₩13,000). KAL/City buses from arrivals lobby.
- Passes worth it
- T-money card (₩3,000–4,000 at convenience stores; leftover balance refundable minus a ₩500 fee — the card price is not)Discover Seoul Pass (72 h ₩90,000 · 120 h ₩130,000, or a Pick-3 pass from ₩49,000; free entry to partner attractions)
Top sights
1Myeongdong Shopping Street명동1.5h · Free
Sights at a glance 8
- 1Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁
- Joseon dynasty’s grandest royal palace and the city’s top icon.
- ₩3,000 · Mar–May & Sep–Oct 09:00–18:00 · Jun–Aug 09:00–18:30 · Nov–Feb 09:00–17:00, closed Tue · 1.5h · Sejongno, Jongno-gu · Gyeongbokgung Stn (Line 3) Exit 5
- Free in hanbok, and free for foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65+
- Royal guard-changing ceremony 10:00 & 14:00
- 2Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을
- Hillside maze of restored hanok houses between two palaces.
- Free · Red zone (Bukchon-ro 11-gil): tourists 10:00–17:00 only — ₩100,000 fine outside those hours · 1h · Gye-dong, Jongno-gu · Anguk Stn (Line 3)
- Open-air alleys with city views, best for photos
- 3Changdeokgung & Huwon · Changdeokgung Palace Complex 창덕궁·후원
- UNESCO palace with a famed Secret Garden (Huwon).
- ₩3,000–8,000 · Feb–May & Sep–Oct 09:00–18:00 · Jun–Aug 09:00–18:30 · Nov–Jan 09:00–17:30, closed Mon · 2h · Waryong-dong, Jongno-gu · Anguk Stn (Line 3) Exit 3
- Palace free in hanbok and for foreigners 18 and under or 65+; Huwon is an extra ₩5,000 timed ticket (book online, sells out)
- 4Myeongdong Shopping Street 명동
- Cosmetics, fashion, and night street-food central.
- Free · Shops ~10:00–22:00; food carts evening · 1.5h · Myeongdong, Jung-gu · Myeongdong Stn (Line 4)
- Evening street-food carts and busking
- 5N Seoul Tower (Namsan) N서울타워(남산)
- Mountaintop tower with 360° city views and love locks.
- ₩23,000–29,000 · Mon–Fri 10:00–22:30 · Sat–Sun 10:00–23:00 (observatory) · 1.5h · Namsan, Yongsan-gu · Myeongdong Stn (Line 4), then Namsan cable car or bus
- Namsan Park trails and base plaza are free
- 6National Museum of Korea 국립중앙박물관
- Korea’s largest museum; sweeping history collection.
- Free · 09:30–17:30 (Wed/Sat to 21:00), closed New Year & Lunar/Chuseok days · 2.5h · Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu · Ichon Stn (Line 4 / Gyeongui–Jungang) Exit 2
- Permanent exhibitions free for all
- 7Gwangjang Market 광장시장
- Historic food market famous for bindaetteok and mayak gimbap.
- Free · Food alley to 23:00, open daily; other shops 09:00–18:00, closed Sun · 1h · Jongno 4-ga, Jongno-gu · Jongno 5-ga Stn (Line 1)
- Live cooking stalls and tasting culture
- 8Hongdae · Hongdae (Hongik University Street) 홍대
- Youthful arts district with busking, clubs, and indie shops.
- Free · Open access; liveliest at night · 1.5h · Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu · Hongik Univ. Stn (Line 2 / AREX)
- Street busking performances on weekend evenings
Multilingual names: Korea Tourism Organization · via data.go.kr
Must-do palaces
Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁Catch the 10:00 or 14:00 changing-of-the-guard. Closed Tuesdays.Make a cab card →Changdeokgung + Secret Garden 창덕궁 + 후원Book the Secret Garden tour online — it sells out.Make a cab card →Jongmyo Shrine 종묘Closed Tue. Mon, Thu & Fri entry is by timed guided tour only (English 10:00, 12:00, 14:00, 16:00); free wandering Wed, weekends and holidays.Make a cab card →
Where to eat
Gwangjang Market 광장시장Bindae-tteok + raw beef tartare. Cash beats card.Make a cab card →Mapo Galmaegi 마포갈매기Pork skirt-meat BBQ chain — beginner-friendly.Make a cab card →Tosokchon Samgyetang 토속촌 삼계탕Ginseng-chicken soup near Gyeongbokgung. Line moves fast.Make a cab card →Myeong-dong Kyoja 명동교자Kalguksu noodles + mandu. Cash-friendly, no reservations.Make a cab card →
Nights out
Euljiro 3-ga (Hipjiro) 을지로 3가Old industrial alleys turned hidden bars and craft breweries.Make a cab card →Hongdae 홍대Buskers + clubs + 24h karaoke around Hongik Univ. Station.Make a cab card →Itaewon / Hannam 이태원 · 한남International crowd, with bars and restaurants from many cuisines.Make a cab card →
Shopping you can't do at home
Olive Young Myeongdong Flagship 올리브영 명동K-beauty under one roof. English staff, tax refund onsite.Make a cab card →Dongdaemun Market 동대문 시장Wholesale fashion. Most stalls open late evening to dawn.Make a cab card →Starfield COEX Library 코엑스 별마당 도서관Free, photo-worthy. K-Pop pop-ups often run here.Make a cab card →
Day trips (1–2h out)
DMZ Tour DMZ 투어Passport required. Book with a DMZ tour operator — see our DMZ guide.Make a cab card →Suwon Hwaseong Fortress 수원 화성About an hour from central Seoul by subway Line 1 or a regional train. Walk the walls; eat kalbi.Make a cab card →Nami Island 남이섬Drama-famous, kids-friendly. ITX train from Yongsan → Gapyeong.Make a cab card →