Five days let us cover Seoul at a comfortable pace — traditional and hyper-modern, without feeling rushed on either side.
Here's exactly how we spent it, day by day, including where we ate.
Quick Facts
| Duration | 5 full days |
|---|---|
| Base | Myeongdong (The Westin Josun Seoul) |
| Getting around | T-Money card — covers metro, bus, and convenience stores |
| Who we travelled with | Zé's parents, for most of the trip |
Day 1: Arrival — Myeongdong, Namsan, Haebangchon, Itaewon
Arrival into Incheon in the morning, immigration and transport to the hotel by mid-morning. A light day to recover from the flight.
Lunch: Hansik Wangbijib, Korean BBQ, Myeongdong.
Afternoon: Namsan — the Oreumi elevator followed by the cable car up, then the N Seoul Tower observatory and Namsan Park.
Late afternoon: Walk down toward Haebangchon (HBC) along the fortress wall path — cafés, murals, a genuinely local feel.
Evening: Itaewon's Gyeongridan-gil for a wander — international restaurants, independent shops, a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Dinner: Odarijip, soy-marinated crab, Myeongdong.
Day 2: The DMZ
A full day out. Early breakfast, then pickup around 8am near Myeongdong Station or City Hall with a tour operator (we used VIP Travel via GetYourGuide). The tour covers Imjingak, the Bridge of Freedom, the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, the Dora Observatory, and the JSA Museum, returning to Seoul by early evening.
Breakfast: Isaac Toast, Myeongdong — quick, before an early start.
Dinner: Something easy near the hotel — we didn't want to plan much after a long, emotionally heavy day.
Read our full breakdown in our DMZ tour review.
Full guides for each day
Day 3: History and Tradition — Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Gwangjang Market, Insadong, DDP, Solbam
Our favourite day of the trip, and the one with the most packed itinerary.
Morning: Changing of the Guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace, followed by the palace grounds (renting a hanbok gets you free entry).
Midday: Bukchon Hanok Village.
Lunch: Gwangjang Market — bindaetteok, mayak kimbap, and more. Part of the experience is simply grazing your way through it.
Afternoon: Insadong, Seoul's cultural and craft district.
Late afternoon: DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza).
Evening: A taxi to Gangnam for dinner at Solbam, a Michelin-starred tasting menu — our one proper splurge of the trip, and worth every bit of it.
Day 4: Modern Seoul — Bongeunsa, COEX, Seongsu
A day on our own, split between Gangnam in the morning and Seongsu in the afternoon.
Morning: Bongeunsa Temple, a Buddhist temple sitting improbably in the middle of Gangnam.
Mid-morning: Starfield COEX Library and the COEX Mall for cosmetics, fashion, and tech shopping.
Midday: A quick pass through K-Star Road.
Lunch: Hanmiok, Gangnam.
Afternoon: Metro to Seongsu, then a full facial, treatment, and head spa.
Evening: Wandering Seongsu's cafés, concept stores, and independent brands, followed by a low-key dinner nearby.
Day 5: Departure
Breakfast at the hotel and transport to Incheon (AREX train or taxi), timed to arrive at least 3 hours before the flight.
Where We Stayed
The Westin Josun Seoul, in Myeongdong — a central base that put us within easy reach of everything above, from the DMZ tour pickup point to an easy taxi ride to Gangnam. See our full where to stay in Seoul guide.
FAQ
Is 5 days too much for Seoul?
No — it let us move at a comfortable pace, including a full day for the DMZ, without ever feeling like we were rushing between sights.
What would you change about this itinerary?
We'd build in more time for Hongdae's nightlife and a proper Han River picnic — both were on our radar but didn't make the final cut with everything else going on.
Do you need a car for this itinerary?
No — everything above is covered by Seoul's metro and taxis, using a T-Money card.
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