You have just 24 hours in Seoul and are searching for a perfect one day Seoul itinerary to see as much of this city as you can?
You will not see all of Seoul in 24 hours, that is impossible, but this itinerary covers some of Seoul’s most iconic places. You will be starting your day peaking into traditional Korean culture exploring temples and traditional villages, then we visit the other contrasting half of Seoul, a modern mega city with cute cafes, delicious street food, quirky photobooths and neon lights.
This 1 day Seoul itinerary is, as expected, action-packed. I have carefully curated this to give you a blend of traditional and modern Seoul, along with minimal time on transport.
Before we begin, let me answer the one question that’s on your mind ….
Is one day in Seoul enough?
I am sorry but it really isn’t! It is a large and spread out city with many attractions. This is what makes Seoul so much fun to explore. Although you won’t see all of Seoul in just one day, you will see and experience a lot to leave you wanting more.
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Essential Seoul Information
- Use a T-money travel card to get around Korea
- For unlimited data download AIRALO e-sim to purchase a prepaid data package (Use TARA1104 to get $3 off)
- Travel around Korea on their high-speed rail. You can find a discounted rail pass here
- If you would like to take home some Korean snacks make sure to buy them from grocery stores rather than dedicated tourist souvenir shops.
- 7-11 and Family Mart have delicious on-the-go snacks. Gimbaps are perfect for filling up if you re tight for time.
One Day Seoul Itinerary Map
One Day Seoul Itinerary
8:00 – 10:00 Gyeongbokgung Palace
So begins our one day in Seoul! We are kicking off this itinerary with a visit to the beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace. Dating back to 1935 this palace has been rebuilt a number of times, but today it is an exact replica of the original palace. There is a lot to see her but 2 hours should be enough to comfortably see everything.
The must-see areas are Gwanghwamun Gate, Hyangwonjeong Pavilion and the changing of the guards ceremony twice a day (10 am and 2 pm ) at Gwanghwamun Gate.
I recommend leaving Gyeongbokgung Palace via the east gate (closest to the National Folk Museum) then turn left on Bukchon-ro. The way to Bukchon Hanok Village will marked by blue signs. You will soon start to see the famous rooftops of the hanoks. It should take about 10 minutes.
Want to learn more about Seoul’s palaces? This 3-hour tour will take you to Seoul’s 3 most important palaces and temples; Gyeongbukgong Palace, Changgyeonggung Palace and Joygesa Temple.
- Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays
10:00 – 12:00 Bukchon Hanok Village
Amidst the futuristic city is a peak into Seoul’s past, Bukchon Hanok Village, a village that dates back almost 600 years.
A hanok is a traditional Korean house. It is characterised by its wooden frame and slanting gabled roofs.
Exploring the narrow (and sometimes steep) alleys of Bukchon is interesting its with cute teahouses, craft boutiques and beautiful architecture. Many people like to rent a hanbok (traditional Korean dress) to take photos along the streets. Another popular thing to do here is to attend a tea ceremony.
There are also many cute cafes along bukchon-ro, most of which are in the style of a hanok. I recommend Cafe Onion, MIRROROOM or Tonti.
Bukchon is not a museum, it is actually a residential area where hundreds of Korean folk live. Please be mindful when taking photos to not invade residents’ privacy.
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12:00 – 12:30 Jogyesa Temple
If you don’t do the 3-hour palace tour I recommended above then I suggest stopping by Joygesa Temple, it’s on the way after all! This small temple is considered one of the most important temples in Korea. it goes all the way back to 1395 and was once the headquarters of the Jogye Order, the largest branch of Korean Buddhism.
Joygesa temple is a tranquil temple nestled in the busy Insadong district. Keep an eye out for the Chinese scholar tree located in the courtyard; it is an impressive 450 years old.
It is also the location for many Buddhist events. We were lucky to visit during Buddha’s birthday where the grounds were decorated with hundreds of colourful lanterns.
12:30 – 14:00 Insadong
Next up on this one-day Seoul itinerary is the cultural district of Insadong. You can find art galleries, wooden tea houses and craft boutiques here. It is one of the best areas of Seoul to pick up a souvenir with many items handmade by local artists. Most of the shops are on the pedestrianised Insadong Culture Street, a 630 metre stretch.
While wandering along Insadong Culture Street there are a few places to check out, Ssamziegil, a unique 3 story building full of boutiques by local artists (and a poop cafe!) and Museum Kimchikan, where you can learn about the process of making kimchi and then taste a bit at the end.
14:00 – 17:00 Myeongdong
No one day Seoul itinerary is complete without a visit to Myeongdong, the vibrant entertainment district packed with shops and food. The area is full of fun Korean stores from fashion and k-pop to seemingly endless Korean skincare products.
These are some of the shops in Myeongdong I recommend visiting:
- Wappen House – you can create fully customizable bags, aprons, dog leads and more. They have a huge selection of badges that they iron onto the chosen product.
- Nyunyu – this is a 3 story accessory shop with cute earrings, necklaces, rings, hair accessories, bags and socks. There is so much to choose from and they are all affordable.
- Socks – as you wander Myeongdong you’ll notice lots and lots of socks. These socks are insanely cute, you can buy single pairs for a great price.
- K-Skincare brands – it’s no secret that Koreans have incredible skin, the creators of “glass skin” you know their skincare is on point! There are many skincare shops to check out in Myeongdong, I recommend ALL MASK STORY No.2
- HBAF – fancy a free snack? HBAF’s a large almond store with a variety of flavours from lavender and cookie to seaweed and garlic. Each flavour has a taste box next to it where you can take a free almond to try.
– Myeongdong Food Street
Every evening, from about 4 pm, Myeongdong transforms into an outdoor food market with vendors lining both sides of the street. Admittedly it’s best experienced at night but we have got more places to see before the end of the day so I suggest stopping by during the day. Don’t worry, the food is still great, there are just fewer people.
Myeongdong food street is a highlight of the best of Korean street food. K-Dogs, gimbap, hotteok, fried chicken, pancakes, jimchae, eomuk and tangulu are some of the must eat options here.
If you would like to go for a sit-down meal rather than street food I recommend Yeji Sikdang for Bibimbap and Andong for chicken Jjimdak. Also, if you are in need of a caffeine fix upnd Coffee Roaster is located in the centre of Myeongdong.
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17:00 – 19:00 Sunset On Namsan Tower
By now you should be full of k-dogs and gimbap after exploring Myeongdong food street. Next, we are off to watch the sunset from an iconic Seoul landmark. You can’t spend 24 hours in Seoul without watching the sunset.
Namsan Towers, also called N Seoul Tower, is a 279 metre (915 feet) observatory located on Namsan Hill. From the top, you are treated to sprawling views of the city skyline, you can even see Seoul’s tallest. building, Lotte Tower. To get to the top you can either walk up a steep path for 30 minutes or take a 3-minute cable car ride. Considering today’s time limit, I encourage you to take the cable car to the top. The cable car departs from here and costs 15,000 KRW for a round trip.
At the top of Namsan, there are restaurants, shops and a love lock fence, you can purchase a lock from a vending machine at the top. There is also a 7-11 where you can grab a beer to watch the sunset.
Because sunset is a very popular time to visit Namsan Tower I recommend that you book tickets in advance to secure your spot on the cable car.
To plan correctly please check here for the approximate time of sunset for the month you are visiting.
19:00 + Hongdae
The final stop on this one day Seoul itinerary is a Hongdae! This part of Seoul is trendy, youthful and full of life! It is livelier at night but in the day there are many cafes to explore.
First on the agenda is dinner, what better way to reflect on the day’s activities than over a K-BBQ. Pig Company and ungteori saenggogi are located in Hongdae, they are both great options for a K-BBQ, especially first-timers.
After dinner, Hongdae should be getting busier with locals and tourists out for the evenings. Here are a few things I recommend you do while you are in the area.
Things to do in Hongdae
- Hongdae Shopping Street is where to go for all the latest fashion trends, with lots of boutiques and cute accessory stores. One thing to watch out for it the clothes tend to be one-size only and you cannot return them once purchased.
- Hongdae Square has performers hoping to get discovered. They are so talented, we watched a rock band and a K-POP group that could easily be the next big thing.
- Photobooths are everywhere in Seoul but Hongdae has a noticeably larger number of them. It’s all a bit silly and fun with props and filters, you then have a lifelong souvenir!
- Karaoke is big in Korea, a place for hardworking locals to blow off some steam. The karaoke booths here are extra! You can find ones with floor-to-ceiling glass windows where people put on performances for those watching outside, you can’t hear them but you can assure see them! Unleash your inner pop or rock star at either 수노래연습장 홍대 본점 and Su Noraebang (럭셔리수노래방), both are very fun.
That’s the end of this one day Seoul itinerary! If you plan to revisit this incredible city (and you should!) then check out my 10-day Seoul itinerary which has day trips, hikes and other areas of Seoul not covered in this itinerary.
Where To Stay In Seoul
I wrote a more detailed guide on the 8 best areas to stay in Seoul however with this itinerary in mind these are the best areas for this plan.
Considering this itinerary ends in Hongdae and the last subway is at about 11:30 pm, Hongdae is the most convenient place to stay. Especially if you want to experience the famous nightlife (I’m impressed if you still have energy left!). For budget travellers, The Blossom Yeonnam Guesthouse is a fantastic option, while Hotel Baroato 2nd offers compact yet spaciously designed rooms for mid-range travellers.
Additionally, Myeongdong is conveniently located next to the train station for those who need to reach the airport in the morning. It is also within walking distance to all the places mentioned on this itinerary. You would just need to leave Hongdae before the last metro. Huga Inn is a comfortable mid-range hotel in the heart of Myeongdong.
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Getting Around Seoul
The metro is the fastest way to travel around Seoul. I recommend purchasing a t-money travel card which you load with money and then use to board the metro. You can also use these in convenience stores like 7-11 and Family Mart.
You can purchase this card in advance and collect it from the airport or purchase it from a self-serve machine in the airport.
Incheon Airport To Seoul
Incheon is Seoul’s main airport, it is located 50 km from Seoul but is very easy to travel between the city and the airport. The most cost-effective option is to take the express AREX train to Seoul station. You can purchase this ticket in advance, you will then need to reserve a seat for a specific time on the AREX website with the 13-digit code generated by Klook.
Moreover, the journey takes just 43 minutes to reach Seoul Station.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you remain in the airport you do not need a K-ETA. However, if you plan to spend a few hours exploring Korea during your layover you will need a K-ETA. Citizens from some countries are exempt from the K-ETA, check here to see if you need one.
If your layover is more than 6 hours I would encourage you to go for it! The AREX express train can get you to Seoul Station in 43 minutes. From Seoul station, you can get to Myeongdong in 15 minutes or Hongdae in 20 minutes on the MRT, that’s enough time to climb Namsan Tower or cafe hop around Hongdae. If you don’t want to go it alone you can book a private tour or reserve a spot on one of Incheon Airport’s layover/transfer tours.
Tipping is not the norm in South Korea, it can even be considered rude. A simple “gamsahabnida” (thank you) is enough.
