Introduction
Seoul is where centuries-old palaces sit in the shadow of LED skyscrapers and Buddhist monks share subway cars with K-pop idols. I’ve spent weeks wandering the city’s hanok-lined alleys, sipping citron tea in 300-year-old teahouses, and then dancing to synth-pop until 4 a.m. in Gangnam. Culture in Seoul isn’t cordoned off in museums—it spills into street markets, subway busking stages, and 24-hour noraebang booths.
This seven-day itinerary is my love letter to the capital, built for travelers who want to taste every layer: Joseon Dynasty palaces at dawn, cutting-edge art in repurposed factories, smoky tteokbokki carts at midnight, and sobering tunnels beneath the DMZ. By the end of the week you’ll know how to bow at a temple, where to catch the best busking in Hongdae, and why Korean grandmothers make the crispiest mung-bean pancakes on earth.
Before You Go: Seoul Essentials
Getting There
Incheon International Airport (ICN) is 48 km west of the city. After immigration, follow the AREX signs for the fastest ride downtown.
- AREX Express Train: 43 minutes nonstop, 9,500 KRW (~$7) to Seoul Station, every 25-40 min.
- Airport Bus: 60-75 min to Myeongdong or Gangnam, 15,000–17,000 KRW (~$11–$13).
- Standard Taxi: 70,000 KRW (~$52) to central Seoul, surcharge at night.
T-Money Card
Pick one up at any 7-Eleven or CU convenience store in arrivals. Cost: 4,000 KRW for the card, then load 10,000–30,000 KRW (~$7–$22). Tap to enter buses, metro, and even some taxis. Refill at kiosks or vending machines marked “T-Money.”
Best Time to Visit
| Season | Weather | Crowds | Cultural Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | 5–20 °C (41–68 °F) | High | Cherry blossoms, lantern festivals, palace gardens |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | 25–35 °C (77–95 °F), humid | Medium | Boryeong Mud Festival (day trip), late-night street food |
| Autumn (Sep-Nov) | 10–25 °C (50–77 °F), crisp | Medium-High | Fire-red maples, Seoul Lantern Festival, harvest moon parties |
| Winter (Dec-Feb) | −10–5 °C (14–41 °F) | Low | Lunar New Year markets, ice-skating at Grand Hyatt, hot kimchi jjigae |
Where to Stay
| Budget Tier | Price | Neighborhood | Perks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Guesthouse | ~40,000 KRW (~$30) | Insadong, Ikseon-dong | Ondol heated floors, shared kitchen, walk to palaces |
| Mid-Range Hotel | ~120,000 KRW (~$90) | Myeongdong, Jongno-3-ga | 24-hour desk, subway doorstep, airport bus stop nearby |
| Luxury Hotel | 300,000+ KRW (~$220+) | Hongdae, Gangnam, Dongdaemun | Sky-lounge, Korean spa, panoramic Han River views |
Day 1: Royal Seoul — Palaces & Traditional Village
Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace
Jaw-dropping gates open at 9 a.m.; be there by 8:45 to beat the tour buses. Entrance 3,000 KRW (~$2.20) but rent a hanbok (traditional dress) from one of the shops outside Exit 2 of Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3). Rental 15,000–20,000 KRW for four hours; wear it and you get free palace entry plus photos that scream “I belong in a K-drama.”
Afternoon: Bukchon Hanok Village
Leave the palace’s north gate and wander uphill. These 600-year-old hanok houses are still homes—so keep voices low. The best overlook is by Bukchon Observatory Café (latte 5,500 KRW) on the hill facing Samcheong-dong. Try the persimmon-collecting alley between Gyedong-gil and Changdeokgung-ro for the quintessential Seoul postcard shot.
Late Afternoon: Insadong
A 15-minute stroll south. Pop into Osulloc for matcha ice cream, then browse calligraphy brushes in the covered Ssamziegil mall (spiral walkway = no stairs). If the scent of hot kkultarae (honey-thread candy) wafts past, follow it.
Evening: Gwangjang Market
Take Metro Line 1 to Jongno-5-ga, Exit 8. Slip into the market’s center lane for bindaetteok puddles of mung-bean batter sizzling in oil (4,000 KRW) and drug-like “mayak” seaweed gimbap (1,500 KRW). Pair with makgeolli (rice wine, 3,000 KRW).
Day 1 budget: 50,000-80,000 KRW (~$37-$60)
Day 2: Mountain Views & Shopping — Namsan & Myeongdong
Morning: N Seoul Tower on Namsan
Wake early and ride the cable car from Myeongdong Station (Exit 3; 13,000 KRW round-trip). The glass-walled cabin climbs Seoul’s iconic peak in 3 minutes. Up top, the digital observatory (another 11,000 KRW) gives 360° views over the 10 million-strong metropolis. Budget travelers: hike the Namsan Trail instead (30–40 minutes) for free panoramas.
Afternoon: Myeongdong Shopping District
Descend straight into K-beauty heaven. Browse flagship stores—Olive Young, Innisfree, Etude House—and claim free sheet-mask samples. Street snacks beckon every ten steps: chewy tteokbokki (3,000 KRW), sweet hotteok pancakes filled with brown sugar (1,500 KRW), and spiral “tornado” potatoes on skewers (3,000 KRW).
Evening: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Metro Lines 2, 4, or 5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park. Zaha Hadid’s silver spaceship hosts free outdoor LED rose gardens after dark. Inside, rotating design exhibits run 18,000–20,000 KRW. After 10 p.m., the surrounding night market fires up—grilled squid, vintage clothes—until 5 a.m. for true night owls.
Day 3: Ancient Temples & Modern Art — Bukhansan & Hongdae
Morning Option A: Bukhansan National Park
From Exit 1 of Ui-dong Station (Ui-Sinseol Line), buses 704 or 1208 drop you at the Bukhansan National Park entrance in 10 minutes. The hike to Baegundae Peak (836 m) takes 2.5–3 hours, rewarding you with views clear to North Korea on crisp days. Free entry; bring 1.5 L water and kimchi-bap from a convenience store (3,500 KRW).
Morning Option B: Jogyesa Temple
If your legs protest, Metro Line 3 to Anguk Station, Exit 6. Seoul’s chief Buddhist temple is free, fragrant with pine incense, and hung with thousands of rainbow paper lanterns. Arrive at 10:30 a.m. to witness monks chanting; take your shoes off before entering the main hall.
Afternoon: Hongdae Neighborhood
Line 2 to Hongik University Station. The area buzzes with indie buskers, mural alleyways, and coffee labs serving charcoal latte art. Don’t miss Art Monsters (a graffiti gallery doubling as a café) or Object (stationery lovers’ rabbit hole). Street art crawls are free; pop into ZAPANGI vending-machine door café for quirky photo vibes.
Evening: Club Street or Board Game Cafés
If you still have energy, Hongdae’s Club Street thumps with techno, hip-hop, and K-indie until sunrise (cover 20,000–30,000 KRW). Prefer quieter thrills? Reserve a board-game room at Board Game Café Dice Latte (15,000 KRW/person for 2 hours, unlimited coffee).
Day 4: The DMZ — A Sobering History Lesson
Seoul is only 50 km from the DMZ—the world’s most heavily fortified border. A day trip here is chilling, fascinating, and essential.
| Tour | Price | Inclusions | Book Via |
|---|---|---|---|
| USO DMZ | $44 | 3rd Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Dorasan Station, Imjingak | USO office, Camp Kim SEO |
| Panmunjom + JSA | ~$75 | Joint Security Area, blue UN huts, face-to-face with North Korean guards | Koridoor (Coex), Viator |
| Private DMZ | $60-90 | Custom stops (Goseokjeong Pavilion, wine bunker), hotel pickup | GetYourGuide, Trazy |
Most tours depart central Seoul (Hotel President near City Hall) at 7:30–8 a.m., returning around 5 p.m. Passport required. Book 2–3 days ahead; JSA tours can be canceled with little notice during political flare-ups.
Day 5: Korean Art & Culture — Leeum Museum & Itaewon
Morning: National Museum of Korea
Line 4 to Ichon Station, Exit 2; the museum sits on a lake-filled campus. Entry is free. Start with the Paleolithic gallery, then the golden Baekje crowns, and finish in the serene celadon porcelain room. Audio guides 3,000 KRW. Cafeteria bibimbap 8,000 KRW.
Afternoon: Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
Back on Line 6 to Hangangjin Station, Exit 1. Mario Botta’s sandstone cube (traditional wing) and Jean Nouvel’s black-titanium tornado (contemporary wing) house 36,000+ Korean artifacts plus Damien Hirst and Warhol. Tickets 10,000 KRW (~$7.50); closed Mondays.
Evening: Itaewon
Line 6 to Itaewon Station itself. Once the foreigner ghetto, now Seoul’s multicultural hub. Eat Turkish kebabs, drink craft beer on rooftop bars, and walk uphill to Haebangchon (“Freedom Village”) for indie galleries and speakeasies.
Day 6: Gangnam & K-Pop Culture
Morning: Hybe Insight
Line 7 to Hakdong Station, Exit 2, then 8 minutes on foot. BTS’s parent company turned an old warehouse into a high-tech exhibition of holograms, lyric sheets, and mirror-ball dance practice rooms. Ticket 25,000 KRW; reserve online weeks ahead.
Alternative: SMTOWN Museum at COEX (Line 2 Samseong Station) for EXO and NCT memorabilia at 20,000 KRW.
Afternoon: Gangnam District Walk
COEX Mall—Asia’s largest underground shopping city—contains Starfield Library, a two-story, 13-m-tall bookcase perfect for Instagram. Free entry, but expect lines for the prime aisle shot. Pop into nearby Bongeunsa Temple, free and framed by skyscrapers—an only-in-Seoul juxtaposition.
Evening: K-Pop Concert or Noraebang
Check Interpark or Yes24 for same-day concert tickets (30,000–150,000 KRW). If you miss out, rent a private karaoke room (noraebang) on Gangnam’s “Norea Hill”: 15,000–25,000 KRW per hour, includes tambourines and a tambour of soju slushies.
Day 7: Seoul’s Hidden Gems & Farewell
Morning: Ihwa Mural Village
Line 4 to Hyehwa Station, Exit 2. Walk 10 minutes past Daehangno theaters to Naksan Park. Colorful stair murals, sculptured benches, and sweeping skyline views make this one of Seoul’s sweetest open-air galleries. Free.
Late Morning: Changdeokgung Palace + Secret Garden
Line 3 to Anguk, Exit 3. The palace itself is 3,000 KRW, but the highlight is the Secret Garden (Huwon), accessible only by guided tour at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 (12,000 KRW combined ticket). Reserve online a day ahead—slots sell out on weekends. Lotus ponds, pavilions, and 300-year-old junipers await.
Afternoon: Last Shopping
Namdaemun Market (Line 4 Hoehyeon) for 5,000-KRW socks and ginseng; or Dongdaemun for late-night fashion wholesalers until 5 a.m.
Departure Tips
AREX offers downtown check-in for Korean Air and Asiana—drop bags at Seoul Station up to 3 hours before flight, then glide to ICN stress-free. Last-minute duty free at ICN Terminal 1: walk through Shilla DFS for 30% off AmorePacific masks.
7-Day Seoul Budget Summary
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (7 nights) | 280,000 KRW ($210) | 840,000 KRW ($630) | 2,100,000+ KRW ($1,580+) |
| Transport (Metro + AREX) | 70,000 KRW ($52) | 70,000 KRW ($52) | 120,000 KRW ($90) (some taxis) |
| Food (mix street & restaurants) | 140,000 KRW ($105) | 280,000 KRW ($210) | 700,000+ KRW ($525+) |
| Activities & Tours | 120,000 KRW ($90) | 200,000 KRW ($150) | 350,000+ KRW ($260+) |
| Shopping & Souvenirs | 50,000 KRW ($37) | 200,000 KRW ($150) | 1,000,000+ KRW ($750+) |
| Total | ~500,000 KRW ($370) | ~1,200,000 KRW ($890) | ~3,000,000+ KRW ($2,250+) |
Getting Around Seoul: The Metro Guide
Seoul’s subway is spotless, on time to the minute, and covers every corner of the metropolitan area. Color-coded lines run from 5:30 a.m. to roughly midnight.
- Line 1 (dark blue) — historic core, Seoul Station.
- Line 2 (green loop) — circles the entire city; transfers everywhere.
- Line 3 (orange) — palaces, Insadong, Apgujeong.
- Line 9 (gold) — express to Gangnam in 20 minutes.
Fares range 1,400–2,150 KRW depending on distance. Recharge T-Money at any station vending machine.
Seoul Travel Tips for Culture Lovers
- Etiquette: Bow slightly when greeting elders; accept items with two hands.
- Wi-Fi: 4G pocket Wi-Fi from ICN booths 4,500 KRW/day (~$3.40) or a 10-day SIM at KT Olleh for 35,000 KRW.
- Plastic-free: Bring a reusable cup—Seoul cafés offer 300–500 KRW discount.
- Temple manners: Remove shoes, speak softly, no pointing at Buddha statues.
- Tipping: Not expected; feel free to round up in taxis.
- Payment: Cards accepted almost everywhere; still carry 10,000–20,000 KRW cash for markets.
- Language basics: 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) = thank you, 주세요 (juseyo) = please give me.
- Closures: Palaces closed Tuesdays; many museums Mondays.
- Shoe etiquette: Some guesthouses and all Korean spas require bare feet—pack socks with no holes.
Conclusion
Seven days in Seoul is like flipping through an entire civilization in fast-forward: royal drums echoing past hip-hop beats, incense mingling with espresso, and every meal a micro-lesson in fermentation and fire. Bookmark the Hanbok rental shop, save the KakaoMap offline, and start practicing your bow—Seoul’s culture won’t wait, but it will welcome you with both hands.
Pack light, bring curiosity, and I’ll see you on Line 2 somewhere between palaces and pulsing neon.
