The Perfect Day in Seoul, South Korea: A 24-Hour Itinerary for First-Timers

From the moment I first arrived in Seoul, I knew it was going to be quite the ride. I was coming off a torturous red-eye flight from Canada, half-awake, en route to my new teaching job on South Korea’s eastern coast.

I can still remember the blinding neon lights of Seoul piercing through the bus window to jolt me back to life. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. (Until I finally met Tokyo a few years later.)

Whether good or bad, Seoul always makes a first impression. At some moments, the capital city of South Korea felt like too much to handle; in others, I couldn’t get enough of it.

Now, I can confidently say that after visiting several times on weekend trips while working in Korea as a teacher, one day in Seoul isn’t enough time to come to grips with this complex city. (But, hey, sometimes we gotta work with what we’ve got.)

If you’re ready to explore South Korea’s capital, here’s how I’d spend my first 24 hours in Seoul as a first-time visitor…

My recommendations for what to do in Seoul in only 24 hours

Visiting a big city like Seoul on a time crunch is never easy. On my weekend visits from Gangwon-do, I always found a ton of interesting things to do, spreading far and wide.

Squeezing them all into a day or two is impossible. (I wouldn’t even recommend trying; it’s just a recipe for burnout!)

I designed this 1-day Seoul itinerary to give you a small taste of the city. I hope it’ll be enough to convince you to return again (and again)—or even inspire you to change your travel plans on the spot.

After exploring several of South Korea’s coolest places during my few months living here, I’ve concluded that there’s no place on the peninsula quite like Seoul.

And while I don’t think it would win many beauty awards, I also don’t believe there’s any city in South Korea that keeps travelers as well-fed, entertained, and engaged as the wild ride that is Seoul.

Here’s how I’d maximize a time-crunched visit…

Dig into Joseon history at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Let’s start our Seoul trip itinerary at none other than Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built as the main Joseon dynasty palace in the late 14th century, Gyeongbokgung is one of the city’s most endearing symbols.

After being able to squeeze this palace into my own first day in Seoul (and, unfortunately, I do mean squeeze), I think it’s an absolute must-see for first-time visitors.

Although it’s nowhere near as grand as it once was, Gyeongbokgung Palace still has the power to whisk you away to another time.

I made the mistake of rushing through on my first visit. Instead, I would recommend spending at least an hour exploring the palace grounds. From its halls and pavilions to its gates and bridges, I can’t think of a better introduction to Korea’s deep architectural legacy and culture around the capital.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is also home to the National Folk Museum of Korea and the National Palace Museum of Korea. If you’re a self-professed culture vulture or history buff like me, I’d suggest carving out some time to browse both at leisure.

Step back into time at Bukchon Hanok Village

From Gyeongbokgung Palace, it’s a short trek to Bukchon Hanok Village via Bukchon-ro 5-gil, only about 10 to 15 minutes on foot. Whereas most of the city consists of skyscrapers and nondescript apartment buildings, Bukchon Hanok Village wears the past on its sleeve. (And with spectacular grace, in my opinion.)

With origins reaching back almost 600 years, the old traditional Korean houses (called hanok) I stumbled past in this former village swept me back to a long-bygone era in Korea’s history. For me, the narrow alleyways of Bukchon Hanok Village form Seoul’s most interesting historic quarter to explore.

Unlike many of the Korean folk villages I visited around the country, this one isn’t just a showpiece. I could see that Bukchon Hanok Village is a living neighbourhood that’s home to hundreds of residents.

As I explored, I wandered past shops, teahouses, and cafés where you can stop to peruse or relax among the stunning scenery.

Should you crave a little more than just walking around, I also spotted a handful of museums and cultural centres in Bukchon Hanok Village.

One of the most popular stops for first-time visitors is the Bukchon Traditional Crafts Centre. Get involved and try making traditional Korean stationery, ornaments, paper dolls, or jewellery for something out of the ordinary.

Explore more Korean royal history at Changdeokgung Palace

Let’s trot east of Bukchon Hanok Village to stumble upon the glories of Changdeokgung Palace. With its lovely grounds, this palace is, in my opinion, the handsomest of Seoul’s Joseon palaces.

Although it was originally built as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung Palace spent almost three centuries as the main royal residence in Seoul. Its long history has left it with plenty of interesting historical landmarks to explore.

Besides exploring the amazing architectural masterpieces of Changdeokgung, I’d suggest carving out time to wander around the palace’s Huwon Secret Garden. Spanning almost 80 acres, the Secret Garden was one of my favorite spots I discovered on my weekend visits to the city. It’s filled with beautiful natural landscapes and pavilions that are ripe for exploration.

Got a little flexibility in your South Korea travel plans? I would recommend visiting Huwon Secret Garden in autumn. As the leaves start to change colour, the garden bursts into a fall scene that’ll leave you truly mesmerized.

The entrance fee for Changdeokgung is ₩10,000, which includes a tour of the Secret Garden in English, Japanese, or Korean.

Check out art galleries, boutique shops, and teahouses in Insadong

Now that we’ve had our spirits uplifted by Changdeokgung and the Huwon Secret Garden, let’s head southwest toward the artistic and cultural enclave of Insadong. The walk via Yulgok-ro should take no more than 15 minutes.

If Bukchon Hanok Village is the residential heart of old Seoul, Insadong is its commercial side.

I’d suggest settling into Insadong by brushing through the alleyways and side streets emanating from its main drag, Insadong-gil.  The first time I walked around the area, I loved slipping into art galleries, craft shops, bookstores, and teahouses to get a taste of what Insadong is all about.

After exploring several neighbourhoods on my weekend trips to the city, I’ve also concluded that Insadong is one of the best places to eat in Seoul. Grab a small street-side Korean snack along the way. Some of my own favorite street foods here include tteokbokki (sweet and spicy rice cakes) and hotteok (sweet pancakes). 

Just don’t eat too much—I’ve got plenty more delicious Seoul food to come soon!

Get lost in the maze of Korea’s largest market: Namdaemun Market

From Insadong, let’s hop onto the efficient Seoul subway system to make our way toward Namdaemun Gate (officially Sungnyemun Gate) via Seoul Station.

Sungnyemun Gate, built in the 14th century, was the first declared National Treasure of Korea. It’s one of the three main gates of the original eight that once opened along Seoul’s former fortress walls.

(Although it’s impressive, I think Gwanghwamun at Gyeongbokgung edges it out a tad.)

Entry to Sungnyemun Gate is free, should you want to check it out. (It’s closed on Mondays.)

At the eastern fringes of Sungnyemun is one of Seoul’s wildest attractions, Namdaemun Market. Yes, it’s overwhelming and a tad crazy. And that’s part of the reason why I believe you absolutely need to stop here on your first day in Seoul!

Elbow-to-elbow crowds greeted me at nearly all times of the day whenever I walked through this jam-packed market on my weekend trips to Seoul. I saw what seemed like thousands of stores blooming from the streets and in the surrounding multi-storied buildings. And it makes sense: Namdaemun Market is the largest and oldest market in South Korea.

There’s a never-ending supply of all the consumer goods one could imagine here. But here’s my real reason for bringing you to Namdaemun Market: It’s one of the most famous places in Seoul for eating local street food.

Peruse the stalls around Namdaemun Sijang 4-gil to chow down on market specialties like kalguksu (hand-cut wheat noodles) and galchi (hairtail fish).

Whenever I’ve wandered through the market, I’ve also seen plenty of other delicious Korean specialties like mandu (Korean dumplings), eomuk (fish cakes), tteokbokki, hotteok, and, of course, Korean chicken.

Go on a shopping spree in Myeongdong

Let’s walk east from Namdaemun Market. Soon, we’ll find ourselves in the grips of Myeongdong, which is, in my opinion, one of the hippest neighbourhoods in Seoul. Like in Tokyo’s Ginza neighborhood, Myeongdong is where Seoulites pound the pavement in search of all the latest trends.

Okay, so I must admit: Shopping for Korean cosmetics or fashion accessories doesn’t tickle my fancy. But I still loved wandering through the busy streets here.

And, of course, Myeongdong isn’t just about shopping. Like in some of the other neighborhoods I’ve guided you through, eating yummy street food is among my favorite things to do in Myeongdong.

Don’t be shocked when you follow your nose to seemingly un-Korean selections around Myeongdong, like grilled cheese lobster, French fry-coated hot dogs, and tornado potatoes.

(Actually, on second thought, I’m gonna push you to try the grilled cheese lobster. Ya, it’s totally gringo—or, as Koreans might say, oegugin—but it’s also freakin’ epic.)

For something a little more Seoul-ful (sorry, not sorry), try the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) or hotteok (sweet Korean pancakes), or eomuk (fish cakes).

Soak in beautiful city views at N Seoul Tower

From Myeongdong Station, in the heart of the district, let’s go for a short 10- to 15-minute walk through winding streets to the base of Namsan. This mountain towers 262 metres over Seoul from the south.

If the weather’s not too muggy and you’ve got some energy to burn, I’d recommend tackling the climb up Namsan Mountain. It’s a relatively easy 30-minute hike without much drama. 

Otherwise, hop onto the Namsan Cable Car. This 0.6-kilometer tramway jets up the mountain toward Seoul’s most popular viewpoint, N Seoul Tower. (More on that in sec.)

The fare for the Namsan Cable Car is ₩15,000 for a return ticket.

N Seoul Tower is one of Seoul’s true icons. At a dizzying height of over 230 metres, it offers spellbinding 360-degree views over the city.

Although I’d argue from my experience that the scene at the observation deck (₩26,000) is at its best at sunrise, sunsets at N Seoul Tower are a close second, even if slightly more crowded.

Cross your fingers for a clear day. If you’re lucky enough, you’ll be able to see well beyond the city into the mountainous hinterlands.

Is your appetite still not satiated? I recommend booking a table at n.GRILL to continue admiring Seoul from above over dinner. Tuck into delicious French-inspired dishes like lobster gruyère gratin or sea bass steak with beurre monté.

(QUICK TIP: With an advance reservation, eating at n.GRILL will get you free entrance to the observatory!)

End the evening with shopping and dinner at Dongdaemun

Let’s head back down to Myeongdong Station to zoom a couple of stations north to Dongdaemun. If the prices at the boutiques of Myeongdong left your wallet hiding in fear, I think you might just find what you’re looking for at Dongdaemun!

Whatever time of day or night I found myself here, the whole city seemed to have the same idea. Seoulites love perusing the shops of Dongdaemun Market, knowing that they offer some of the city’s best deals on clothing and other goods.

Unlike other shopping areas in the city, retailers at Dongdaemun Market won’t shy away from cutting a deal. Sharpen your bargaining skills and haggle over prices to run away with some stellar deals on new clothing and accessories.

When I visited, I noticed that most shops dealt in cash only, so stack up your won! (I’ll be honest: It’s been a minute since I visited so that might have changed. But better safe than sorry.)

Of course, like at my favorite night markets in Seoul, Dongdaemun is also a fantastic spot for evening foodie hijinks.

I’d recommend taking a walk down Dongdaemun Market Food Street to try out chicken soup at Jinokhwa Halma Original Dak Hanmari (18, Jong-ro 40ga-gil) or bulgogi at Dokkebi Bulgogi (38 Eulji-ro 43-gil).

(You can quote me on those.)

Where to stay

After travelling through the Korean capital and seeing its endless sprawl, I can say with certainty that choosing where to stay in Seoul can be difficult.

Fortunately, compared to other large East Asian cities, I always found a slew of options, even in my favorite neighbourhoods, that offer excellent value to independent travelers. Here are a few of my favs:

Getting there

By air

Two major airports serve Seoul: Seoul Gimpo International Airport (GMP) and Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). Most of the international flights I’ve found fly into ICN.

Several airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, serve Seoul Incheon International from most major North American and European cities.

More itinerary ideas

Got time to squeeze in some more attractions? Here are a few last-minute tweaks I’d recommend to make this trip all your own:

• Want to party till the sun comes up? The gritty Itaewon area is a favorite for nighthawks who want to dip their toes into the insanity of Seoul’s party culture. (It wasn’t my favorite area in the city, but, hey, you might just love it.)
• Craving more architectural beauty? Throw in a quick visit to Jongmyo Shrine. I think it’s one of the most beautiful structures in Seoul. It’s just south of Changdeokgung Palace.
• Can’t get enough of Seoul’s markets? Plug your nose and start your day watching the early-morning fish auctions at Noryangjin Fish Market. This bustling seafood market is the largest of its kind in Korea. Otherwise, I’d recommend adding a visit to Gwangjang Market for some of the Korean capital’s tastiest treats.
• Ready to see Seoul at its quirkiest? There are a ton of weird & wacky things to do in Hongdae. Although it’s a little far from most of our stops, this artsy and youthful neighborhood in the Mapo-gu district is one of my favorite places in the city. 

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