Seoul Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors (2026)

The Han River divides the city. North of the river, Jongno holds the royal palaces, hanok lanes and old markets, and Myeongdong, Seoul Station and Hongdae are a few stops away. South of the river, Gangnam and Jamsil have COEX, Lotte World Tower and wide office streets.

Distances look short on a map, but every subway transfer adds walking and waiting time. Plan each day around one or two neighbouring areas instead of crossing the city several times.

For a first trip, one base is enough for three to five nights. Compare neighbourhoods in where to stay.

From Incheon Airport. The AREX train runs to Seoul Station. The all-stop train also calls at Hongik Univ. Station, so Hongdae needs no change. Airport buses and taxis are compared in Incheon Airport to Seoul.

From Busan by KTX. In Korail's timetable from 1 November 2026, the fastest KTX from Busan to Seoul Station takes 2 hours 26 minutes and most take 2 hours 40–50 minutes. Korail's fare table (from 1 September 2026) lists ₩54,400 in standard class. Some KTX trains also run to Suseo Station in south-east Seoul. See KTX and trains.

From Jeju or other domestic airports. Flights land at Gimpo Airport, which connects to AREX and the subway.

Subway. As of October 2026 an adult fare is ₩1,550 with a transit card for the first 10 km, plus ₩100 for each further 5 km up to 50 km (Seoul Metro). A single-journey ticket costs ₩100 more plus a ₩500 deposit. Buy a card first: see T-money and the Seoul subway guide.

Exits matter. Big stations have many numbered exits. Look for the number on the yellow 출구chulguExit signs. This page gives the exit for each sight.

Buses and taxis. The Namsan circulator buses charge ₩1,500 by card. City buses take the same cards and give transfer discounts; see city buses. After the last train, taxis are the usual way home: see taxis and Kakao T.

Map apps. Naver Map and KakaoMap show routes, exit numbers and last trains, and they work better here than Google Maps: see map apps.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

경복궁GyeongbokgungGyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of the Joseon-era palaces. Station: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3) Exit 5, or Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) Exit 2.

• Hours: 09:00–17:00 in November–February, 09:00–18:00 in March–May and September–October, 09:00–18:30 in June–August. Last entry is one hour before closing.
• Closed: Tuesdays. If a Tuesday is a public holiday, the palace opens and closes the next weekday instead.
• Tickets: ₩3,000 for foreign visitors aged 19–64. Free for ages 18 and under, 65 and over, and anyone wearing hanbok. Buy at the 매표소maepyosoTicket office.
• Free entry: the palace office lists free admission during the Korea Grand Festival, 29 October–15 November 2026 (Tuesdays still closed).
• Changing of the guard: in front of Gwanghwamun Gate at 10:00 and 14:00, except Tuesdays (Visit Seoul). It can be cancelled in heavy rain or snow.
• English tours: 11:00, 13:30 and 15:30 (Visit Seoul).

The National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum are inside the grounds.

Fee change pending. In August 2026 the Korea Heritage Service said new palace fees would start on 1 January 2027. On 8 October 2026 SBS Biz reported that the date was undecided. Check the palace portal before you go.

Bukchon Hanok Village

북촌한옥마을Bukchon Hanok MaeulBukchon Hanok Village is a hillside of lived-in hanok houses between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung. Station: Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 3, about 500 m.

Around Bukchon-ro 11-gil, a special management zone allows visitors only from 10:00 to 17:00. Jongno District started it on 1 November 2024 and began fining visitors from 1 March 2025. These are private homes, so keep your voice down and do not open gates.

Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon

창덕궁ChangdeokgungChangdeokgung Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage palace built to follow the hills. Station: Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 3, or Jongno 3-ga Station Exit 7.

• Hours: 09:00–18:00 in February–May and September–October, 09:00–18:30 in June–August, 09:00–17:30 in November–January. Last entry is one hour before closing.
• Closed: Mondays.
• Tickets: ₩3,000. The garden, 후원HuwonSecret Garden, needs a separate ₩5,000 tour ticket as well as the palace ticket.
• Huwon tours in English: 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 in March–November. December–February drops the 15:30 tour.
• Booking: half of each tour's places are sold online from 10:00 six days ahead until the day before. The other half go on sale at the palace from 09:00 on the day. Tickets sell out fast in April–May and October–November.

A ₩6,000 integrated pass covers Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine within six months of purchase. It does not include Huwon.

Deoksugung Palace

덕수궁DeoksugungDeoksugung Palace mixes wooden halls with early-1900s stone buildings. It opens late: 09:00–21:00, last entry 20:00. Closed Mondays. Ticket: ₩1,000. Station: City Hall Station (Lines 1 and 2) Exit 2, per the palace office. Visit Seoul lists Exit 1. A guard ceremony is held at Daehanmun Gate, except on Mondays.

Insadong

인사동InsadongInsadong is a street of craft shops, galleries and tea houses. Station: Anguk Station (Line 3) Exit 6. Ssamziegil, the spiral shopping arcade, opens 10:30–20:30 and closes on New Year's Day and Chuseok.

Myeongdong

명동MyeongdongMyeongdong is the main shopping street, with cosmetics shops, fashion stores and food stalls. Station: Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exits 5–10, or Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2) Exit 5. Shop hours vary. Tax-free shopping and exchange shops are covered in Myeongdong shopping.

N Seoul Tower and Namsan

The tower sits on top of Namsan. The tower's owner now brands the site YTN Seoul Tower, and the observatory is still called N Seoul Tower. Observatory: 10:00–22:30 on weekdays, 10:00–23:00 on weekends and holidays. Adult ticket (13+): ₩29,000.

To ride up, take Myeongdong Station Exit 5 and walk straight to Hoehyeon intersection. Then take the 남산오르미Namsan OreumiNamsan inclined elevator up to the 남산케이블카Namsan keibeulkaNamsan Cable Car. The tower site says this takes about 15 minutes. The cable car runs 10:00–23:00, and the inclined elevator stops for checks on Monday mornings until 14:00. Buses 01A and 01B also climb the hill from Chungmuro Station Exit 2. Private cars are not allowed.

Gwangjang Market

광장시장Gwangjang SijangGwangjang Market is a covered market known for its food alley. Station: Jongno 5-ga Station (Line 1) Exit 8. Most shops open 09:00–18:00 and close on Sundays. The food alley runs 09:00–23:00 every day.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

DDP's curved building hosts exhibitions and night markets. Station: Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4 and 5) Exit 1. It opens 10:00–20:00 (hours vary by space). It closes on 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok.

National Museum of Korea

Korea's largest museum is free (special exhibitions extra). It is open on Mondays. It closes only on 1 January, Seollal and Chuseok. Hours are 09:30–17:30, and until 21:00 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Station: Ichon Station (Line 4 and Gyeongui–Jungang Line).

Han River at Banpo

At Banpo 한강공원Hangang GongwonHangang Park, the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain runs off Banpo Bridge from 15 March to the end of October. Shows are at 12:00 and 19:30–21:00 every half hour, with an extra 21:30 show in June–September. There are no shows from November to mid-March. Station: Express Bus Terminal Station (Lines 3, 7 and 9) Exit 8-1, then about 1.1 km on foot.

Hongdae and Yeonnam

Hongdae's streets of clubs, buskers and shops start at Hongik Univ. Station Exit 9. Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a linear park on an old railway through Yeonnam-dong, near Exit 3.

Lotte World Tower: Seoul Sky

The observatory at the top of Lotte World Tower opens 10:30–22:00 Sunday–Thursday and 10:30–23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. An adult ticket costs ₩33,000. Station: Jamsil Station (Lines 2 and 8) Exit 2.

Try a market lunch at Gwangjang, Korean barbecue in the evening and noodles or stews at lunchtime. For Seoul in September 2026, the Korea Consumer Agency lists these average restaurant prices:

Many barbecue restaurants ask for at least two portions. How to order, call staff and pay is in ordering at a restaurant. For cheap breakfasts, see convenience stores.

• Spring: blossom season and comfortable walking weather. The Banpo fountain starts on 15 March.
• Summer: hot, humid and rainy at times. Palaces stay open until 18:30 in June–August.
• Autumn: clear days and autumn leaves in the palaces. In 2026, Gyeongbokgung is free from 29 October to 15 November.
• Winter: cold and dry. Palaces close earlier (Gyeongbokgung at 17:00 from November) and the fountain is off.

Monthly temperatures and what to pack are in weather by month.

For full plans, see 3 days in Seoul and 5 days in Seoul. Daily costs are in the budget guide.