Venues included in this itinerary
Pictures are coming…
Immerse yourself in Seoul’s rich history and heritage as you explore iconic landmarks, traditional Hanok villages, and vibrant cultural districts with a local twist!
๐ฐ 1. Gwanghwamun Plaza ๊ดํ๋ฌธ ๊ด์ฅ (9:00 AM โ 10:00 AM)
Experience the vibrant atmosphere of this historical and cultural hub, where modern Seoul meets royal heritage.
๐ Subway: Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 2 or 9
๐ Highlights:
- Statues of King Sejong (creator of Hangeul) and Admiral Yi Sun-sin (turtle ship hero)
- Underground Hangeul Museum beneath King Sejong’s statue (free entry!)
๐ธ Photo Tip: Exit 9 offers the most epic plaza view with mountains in background
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: About 1 hour
๐ฏ 2. Gyeongbok Palace ๊ฒฝ๋ณต๊ถ (10:00 AM โ 1:00 PM)
Immerse yourself in the grandeur of this majestic palace that showcases traditional Korean architecture and royal history.
๐ Subway: Exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3 (orange line)
๐ Opening Hours:
- Mar, Apr, May, Sept & Oct: 09:00-18:00
- Jun, Jul & Aug: 09:00-18:30
- Nov & Dec: 09:00-17:00
- Closed on Tuesdays
๐ฐ Admission:
- 3,000 Won (adults)
- 1,500 Won (ages 7-18)
- Free for ages 1-6 and over 65
- Free for Koreans under 24
- FREE for anyone wearing Hanbok!
๐ฃ๏ธ Free Language Tours:
- English: 11:00, 13:30 & 15:30
- Japanese: 10:00, 12:30 & 14:30
- Chinese: 9:30, 11:00, 13:30, 15:00 & 16:30
๐ Special Events:
- Royal Guard Changing Ceremony: 10:00 & 14:00 (20 minutes)
- Public Training of Royal Guards: 09:35, 13:35 (15 minutes)
- Gate Guarding Ceremony: 11:00, 13:00 (10 minutes)
๐ Hanbok Rental: ‘Yes Hanbok’ at 133-6 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu
๐ก Pro Tip: Start at the National Palace Museum (left side), then explore the palace grounds, and finish at the National Folk Museum
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 3-4 hours
๐๏ธ 3. Bukchon Hanok Village ๋ถ์ด ํ์ฅ ๋ง์ (1:00 PM โ 2:30 PM)
Step back in time and explore this charming neighborhood known for its well-preserved traditional Korean houses.
๐ Subway: Exit 2 of Anguk Station, Line 3 (orange line), walk 10 minutes north
๐ Address: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul / ์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ๊ณ๋๊ธธ 37(๊ณ๋)
๐คซ Fun Fact: About 900 families actually LIVE hereโit’s not just for show!
๐ Must Do: Pick up a map at the Information Center to find all the best photo spots
๐ถโโ๏ธ Exploration Tips: Wander through the maze-like alleys to discover hidden courtyards and artisan workshops
๐ธ Photo Spots: Bukchon Observatory, Gahoe-dong Road 31-gil
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 1.5 hours
๐จ 4. Samcheongdong ์ผ์ฒญ๋ (2:30 PM โ 3:30 PM)
Discover this trendy artistic neighborhood filled with unique boutiques, galleries, and cafรฉs set in traditional buildings.
๐ Access: Walk east from Bukchon or use Gyeongbokgung/Anguk Station, Line 3
๐ Address: 107, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul / ์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ์ผ์ฒญ๋ก 107(์ผ์ฒญ๋)
๐ Highlights: Contemporary restaurants in traditional houses, art galleries, design shops
๐ฐ Note: Prices are higher here than other neighborhoods
โ Cafรฉ Recommendations:
- Cafรฉ Onion Anguk: Stunning renovated hanok with amazing pastries and aesthetic vibes
- ๊ณ ์ด ๋ถ์ด/Goi Bukchon: regional cozy cafe with aromatic coffee (์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ๋ถ์ด๋ก 64-2 (๊ฐํ๋)/64-2 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
- Old Mullae: Beautiful traditional teas served in an authentic courtyard setting
- ๋ํ์ฅ/The Hanok: a serene hanok cafe with great atmosphere (์์ธ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ๊ณ๋๊ธธ 75/75 Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 1 hour
๐๏ธ 5. Insadong ์ธ์ฌ๋ (3:30 PM โ 5:00 PM)
Dive into the rich cultural heritage of this bustling district renowned for traditional crafts, tea houses, and delicious street food.
๐ Subway: Exit 6 of Anguk Station, Line 3 (orange line) ๐ Opening Hours: Most shops 9AM-8PM, galleries 9AM-6PM ๐ถโโ๏ธ Weekend Note: Car-free on weekends (great for walking, but more crowded) ๐ Highlights:
- Ssamziegil spiral shopping complex with unique indie shops
- Traditional tea houses and Korean restaurants
- Affordable shopping for souvenirs and crafts
๐ฝ๏ธ Must Try: Street food like ํธ๋ก/hotteok (sweet pancakes) and ๋ถ์ด๋นต/bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries)
๐ก Hidden Gem: Check the tiny alleys off the main street for the best finds
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 1.5 hours
๐ณ 6. Tapgol Park ํ๊ณจ ๊ณต์ (5:00 PM โ 5:30 PM)
Find serenity in this historically significant green space, Seoul’s first modern park.
๐ Subway: Exit 1 or 5 of Jongno-3ga Station, Line 1 (navy blue line)
๐ Address: 99 Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
๐๏ธ Historical Note: Site of the 1919 Korean Declaration of Independence from Japan
๐ต Local Life: Watch elderly Koreans playing chess and socializingโauthentic Seoul vibes!
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 30 minutes
๐๏ธ 7. Jong-gak ์ข ๊ฐ (5:30 PM โ 6:00 PM)
Visit this bustling area famous for its historic bell pavilion, lively atmosphere, and vibrant nightlife.
๐ Subway: Exit 4 of Jonggak Station, Line 1 (navy blue line)
๐ Address: 54, Jong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul / ์์ธํน๋ณ์ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ์ข ๋ก 54(๊ด์ฒ ๋)
๐ Fun Fact: The bell is struck 12 times at midnight on New Year’s Eve with thousands gathering
๐ฝ๏ธ Restaurant Recommendations:
- ๋ฐฑ๋ ํ ์ข ์ผ๊ณํ/Baeknyeon Tojong Samgyetang: Famous for the best samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) in Seoul (์์ธ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ๋ถ์ด๋ก 41/41 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
- ๊นกํต๋ง๋/Kkangtong Mandu:ย authentic dumpling place (์์ธ ์ข ๋ก๊ตฌ ๋ถ์ด๋ก2๊ธธ 5-6/5-6 Bukchon-ro 2-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 30 minutes
๐ฆ 8. Cheonggyecheon ์ฒญ๊ณ์ฒ (6:00 PM โ 7:00 PM)
Explore this revitalized urban stream offering a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
๐ Access: Near Jonggak Station, Exit 4, Line 1 (navy blue line)
๐ Evening Highlight: Beautiful lighting system illuminates the stream after sunset
๐ฃ Summer Tip: Take off your shoes and cool your feet in the waterโlocals do it too!
๐ธ Perfect For: Night photography showcasing Seoul’s blend of nature and urban design
โฑ๏ธ Time Needed: 1 hour
๐ Travel Tips & Essential Info
๐ฑ Must-Have Apps:
- Naver Map (way more accurate than Google Maps in Korea)
- Papago (best translator for Korean)
๐ Transportation: Get a T-Money card for seamless subway/bus travel
๐ธ Photo Prime Time:
- Early morning at Gyeongbok Palace (fewer crowds)
- Golden hour at Bukchon (magical light through the alleys)
- Night shots at Cheonggyecheon (stunning illumination)
๐ก Seoul Hacks:
- Wear comfortable shoesโthis route involves lots of walking
- Carry a portable phone charger (you’ll take tons of photos!)
- Keep small cash for street food vendors
- Bring a reusable water bottle (Seoul has excellent public water fountains)
This route takes you through the soul of historic Seoul while keeping the adventure exciting! You’ll experience the perfect blend of royal grandeur, traditional living, and modern Korean creativity. Don’t rushโsometimes the best moments happen when you follow your curiosity down an unexpected alley! โจ