← PlanAsiaTrips
Seoul
South Korea · Asia itinerary

Seoul

Palaces, neon districts and a non-stop food and café scene.

Suggested: 4–6 days Trip lengths 1–7 days Guide S$9.90
Build a free Seoul plan Preview the guide Get the guide · S$9.90
Ideal length
4–6 days
Trip lengths
1–7 days
Where to base
Myeongdong
Guide
S$9.90

A sample 4-day Seoul route

Core city plus a Seongsu, Leeum and Itaewon day; no place or meal twice.

If it rains: The palace halls and Insadong's covered Ssamziegil arcades give shelter; Gwangjang's food alley is under a roof.
Add if you have time: Tea at Shin Old Tea House in Insadong, or Jogyesa Temple, a five-minute walk from Insadong-gil.

This is one of several routes in the guide — change the length, budget and dates yourself in the workspace.

Tickets & tours in Seoul

Book the paid stops ahead. Each link opens the Klook page for that place's ticket or tour; prices, dates and what's included are on Klook.

Ticket links on this page are Klook affiliate links. If you book through them, PlanAsiaTrips may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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.

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

S$70–110 / day
  • Accommodation: Guesthouse / hostel / budget hotel near the metro (KRW 40,000–75,000).
  • Meals: Markets, street food and MICHELIN-listed bowls — Gwangjang stalls, Myeongdong Kyoja, Namdaemun kalguksu, 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

S$115–200 / day
  • Accommodation: 3–4 star or design hotel near the metro (KRW 90,000–180,000).
  • Meals: Mix of markets and Bib Gourmand sit-downs — Woo Lae Oak, Geumdwaeji Sikdang, Gaeseong Mandu Koong, 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

S$210–380 / day
  • 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

Rates and availability change constantly — confirm with the hotel or a booking site before paying.

Common Seoul mistakes to avoid

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.

Entry reminder: Many nationalities need a K-ETA travel authorisation (or are temporarily exempt) for short visa-free stays in South Korea, and rules change. Confirm your own passport's requirements on the official Korean immigration / K-ETA website before booking. This is a general reminder only — confirm your specific requirements on the relevant government website before booking. Last checked 2026-06-14.

Seoul travel guides

In-depth, free reads with real routes, Maps links, budgets and the mistakes to skip:

Browse all travel guides →

Plan a nearby trip

Easy to pair with Seoul on the same trip — tap through to a full guide.

Busan
Busan
South Korea
 Tokyo
Tokyo
Japan
 Osaka & Kyoto
Osaka & Kyoto
Japan
 Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR, China
 Taipei
Taipei
Taiwan
 Beijing
Beijing
China

See the best month to visit each city →

Plan Seoul your way

Start free, or unlock the full interactive guide with maps, food, day-by-day routes and a 1-click PDF.

What the Seoul Destination Pass adds

  • A day-by-day plan for your own dates and trip length, every stop timed with the travel time between them
  • Closed days and public holidays on your dates flagged before you go
  • Weather, sunrise and sunset for each day of your trip
  • Named places for every local dish, with 2–3 options and their hours
  • One-tap directions to every stop
  • Optional nights out: bars, rooftops and clubs that are open on your dates
  • Works offline once opened, plus a PDF and a calendar file
Free day-by-day plan Get the Seoul guide