Seoul itinerary: 5 days for a first trip
Five days in Seoul for a first trip, one part of the old city at a time: Jongmyo Shrine, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung; Bukchon's hanok lanes, Gyeongbokgung and the National Folk Museum; Insadong, Tapgol Park and Ikseon-dong; Gwangjang Market, Dongdaemun Design Plaza and an evening on Cheonggyecheon; then Deoksugung, Myeongdong Cathedral and sunset from N Seoul Tower.
Every stop sits on one map, colored by day, so you can see how close the palaces, markets and hanok neighborhoods are. Want different days or a different pace? Wanderjoy drafts a Seoul plan around your dates on your iPhone, and you can change any stop.
The whole plan on one map
One color per day. Pick a day to see just its route.
How a plan looks in the app
A Seoul trip being revealed in Wanderjoy, pin by pin.
Day by day
Day 1Jongno District
Jongmyo Shrine9:30 AM
Changdeokgung Palace12:00 PM
Changgyeonggung Palace3:00 PM
Leave time for Chundangji Pond and the historic glasshouse as well as the palace halls.
Day 2Bukchon Village · Jongno District
Bukchon Hanok Village10:00 AM
Keep your voice down: the hanok lanes are residential.
Gyeongbokgung Palace12:00 PM
Allow about two hours for the main courtyards and the view across the pond to Gyeonghoeru Pavilion.
National Folk Museum of Korea3:00 PM
The permanent galleries explain everyday Korean life through clothing, homes, and seasonal customs.
Day 3Insadong Street · Jongno District · Ikseon Dong
Insadong-gil10:30 AM
Browse traditional paper, ceramics, and calligraphy supplies along the main street.
Tapgol Park1:00 PM
Look for the protected stone pagoda and the memorials explaining the March 1 independence movement.
Ikseon-dong Hanok Village4:00 PM
Walk the narrow hanok lanes before dinner, when the small courtyards and converted houses begin lighting up.
Day 4Jongno District · Dongdaemun Area · Central Seoul
Gwangjang Market10:30 AM
Look for mung-bean pancakes and small seaweed rice rolls at the food stalls.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza2:00 PM
Walk around the curved silver exterior.
Cheonggyecheon5:00 PM
Use the streamside paths for an evening walk.
Day 5City Hall · Myeongdong District · Namsan Park
Deoksugung Palace9:30 AM
Look for the contrast between traditional palace halls and the Western-style stone buildings inside the grounds.
Myeongdong Cathedral1:00 PM
Step away from the shopping streets to see the brick Gothic cathedral, keeping quiet if a service is underway.
N Seoul Tower5:30 PM
Arrive before sunset to see the city change from daylight to illuminated streets.
Plan your own Seoul trip
Different dates or a different pace? Wanderjoy drafts a plan around yours.
Get this trip on a map in the app
Tell Wanderjoy your dates and how you like to travel, and it drafts your own Seoul plan on a map.
Questions
- Can I change the plan?
- Yes. Add, edit or reorder stops, switch days around, and keep trip notes next to the plan.
- Can Wanderjoy make a different Seoul plan for me?
- Yes. Give Wanderjoy your dates and how you like to travel, and it drafts a day-by-day Seoul itinerary on a map for you.
