Seoul
Palaces, neon districts and a non-stop food and café scene.
A sample 4-day Seoul route
Core city plus a Seongsu–Itaewon–museums day, ending light and central.
- Day 1Palace quarterJongno
- Day 2Myeongdong, Namsan & HongdaeMyeongdong · Hongdae
- Day 3Gangnam & the Han RiverGangnam · Yeouido
- Day 4Seongsu, Itaewon & museums (light)Seongsu · Itaewon
This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.
Where to eat in Seoul
MICHELIN & Bib picks show the year awarded — selections are revised yearly, so confirm current status before you go. Every name links to a Google Maps search.
- Myeongdong Kyoja Bib Gourmand
Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup)
- Eulji Myeonok Bib Gourmand
Mul naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)
- Tosokchon Samgyetang MICHELIN
Samgyetang (whole young chicken stuffed with rice & ginseng)
- Mingles (modern Korean) ★ MICHELIN
Seasonal Korean tasting menu
- Jungsik (new Korean) ★ MICHELIN
Contemporary Korean tasting menu
Pork belly (samgyeopsal)
When to go to Seoul
Weather, blossom and foliage timing vary year to year. Treat this as general guidance and check a forecast and official bloom forecasts close to your dates.
Spring Mar, Apr, May
Mild and pleasant, roughly 8–22°C.
If blossom spots are mobbed, swap to a quieter palace garden or a riverside walk; carry a mask on high-dust days.
Look out for: Cherry blossom (early April), Lotus-lantern festival near Buddha's Birthday
Summer Jun, Jul, Aug
Hot and humid, often 26–33°C.
Front-load outdoor palaces in the morning; use COEX, museums and cafés for the wet/hot afternoons; do the Han River after sunset.
Look out for: Han River summer nights, Indoor museum season
Autumn Sep, Oct, Nov
Crisp and clear, roughly 8–24°C — often the best weather.
For foliage day trips, start early; central palace gardens are quieter alternatives to crowded mountains.
Look out for: Autumn foliage, Clear palace days
Winter Dec, Jan, Feb
Cold and dry, roughly −8 to 5°C; snow is common.
Lean into indoor markets, museums, cafés and hot soups; keep outdoor time short between warm stops.
Look out for: Winter illuminations, Lunar New Year (some closures)
What Seoul costs
Per person, per day, excluding flights. A rough guide only — your costs depend on season, area and pace.
Budget
- Accommodation: Guesthouse / hostel / budget hotel near the metro (KRW 40,000–75,000).
- Meals: Markets, street food and Bib Gourmand bites — Gwangjang stalls, Myeongdong Kyoja, gukbap (KRW 6,000–15,000/meal).
- Transport: T-money metro + buses; walk within districts.
- Attractions: Palaces (cheap) and free museums; one paid view at most.
- Evening: Myeongdong street food, a Han River convenience-store picnic, Hongdae buskers.
Mid-range
- Accommodation: 3–4 star or design hotel near the metro (KRW 90,000–180,000).
- Meals: Mix of markets and Bib Gourmand sit-downs — Eulji Myeonok, Tosokchon, Korean BBQ (KRW 15,000–45,000/meal).
- Transport: Metro + occasional Kakao T taxi.
- Attractions: Add the Secret Garden tour, a tower view and a hanbok palace visit.
- Evening: Korean BBQ or chimaek, a tower at sunset, a café crawl.
Comfortable
- Accommodation: 5-star or landmark hotel (KRW 250,000–500,000).
- Meals: Good restaurants plus one Michelin-starred dinner — Mingles or Jungsik (book ahead) (KRW 45,000–400,000/meal).
- Transport: Kakao T / hotel car where convenient; metro for quick hops.
- Attractions: Add premium experiences, a hanok tea ceremony, a spa.
- Evening: Starred Korean tasting menu, then a Gangnam or hotel bar.
Where to stay in Seoul
Stay near a metro interchange — Myeongdong and Jongno put you among the palaces and street food, Hongdae is best for nightlife, and Gangnam for modern shopping. Seoul is well-priced mid-range; rates climb during cherry-blossom and autumn-foliage peaks.
Myeongdong
First-timers; central, shopping, easy metro/AREX
Jongno / Insadong
Palaces, hanok lanes, traditional culture
Hongdae
Nightlife, cafés, younger crowd
Gangnam
Upscale shopping and business
By budget
- Budget — S$40–75 · Guesthouses, Hostels, Budget hotels
- Mid-range — S$90–180 · 3–4 star hotels, Design hotels
- Comfortable — S$250–500 · 5-star and landmark hotels
- Pick a hotel within a few minutes of a metro station — Seoul is spread out.
- Myeongdong and Seoul Station have the easiest AREX airport links.
- Book early for early-April blossoms and late-October/November foliage.
Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.
Common Seoul mistakes to avoid
- Wearing a rented hanbok but forgetting it gives free palace entry — wear it to Gyeongbokgung.
- Trying to see palaces on a Monday or Tuesday when one or more are closed.
- Underestimating distances — use the metro rather than walking between districts.
- Only shopping in Myeongdong — Seongsu, Hongdae and Gwangjang have far more character.
- Booking a DMZ tour for a Monday (many DMZ sites close Mondays).
Good to know
Where to stay
Myeongdong, Hongdae, Jongno / Insadong, Gangnam.
How long to go
4–6 days suits most visitors. Shorter and longer routes are built in, so you are never padding a trip to fill days.
Seoul travel guides
In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:
- Seoul for Shopping & Food: A 4-Day Itinerary
Myeongdong beauty halls and Insadong crafts, Gwangjang market stalls and Korean BBQ, Hongdae cafés and COEX malls — a four-day Seoul plan built around shopping and eating, with Maps links.
Plan a nearby trip
Easy to pair with Seoul on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.
Plan Seoul your way
Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.