3 Days in Seoul: A First-Timer's Itinerary With Transit Times (2026)

• Check the weekday. Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays. Changdeokgung and Deoksugung close on Mondays. If day 1 is a Tuesday, swap days 1 and 2.
• Book the Secret Garden. Changdeokgung's 후원HuwonSecret Garden is by tour only. Online tickets go on sale at 10:00 six days before your visit (excluding the visit day).
• Get a transit card. A T-money card works on the subway and buses. A ride costs ₩1,550 for the first 10 km.
• Where to stay. A base near Anguk, Myeongdong or Seoul Station keeps days 1 and 2 short. See where to stay.

Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace

Arrive at 경복궁GyeongbokgungGyeongbokgung Palace for the 09:00 opening (Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3, Exit 5). The changing of the guard is at 10:00 in front of Gwanghwamun Gate. Allow about two hours inside. An adult ticket costs ₩3,000. Entry is free if you wear hanbok, and for everyone during the Korea Grand Festival, 29 October–15 November 2026.

Then: walk east to Bukchon, about 15–20 minutes.

Late morning: Bukchon Hanok Village

Visitors may enter the core lanes around Bukchon-ro 11-gil only from 10:00 to 17:00. Walk quietly; people live in these houses. Head downhill for lunch in Insadong, about 15 minutes.

Afternoon: Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden

From Insadong, walk about 10 minutes to Changdeokgung (Anguk Station, Exit 3). English Huwon tours start at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 in March–November, and there is no 15:30 tour in December–February. You need both a palace ticket (₩3,000) and a tour ticket (₩5,000).

If day 1 is a Monday: Changdeokgung is closed. Visit Jongmyo Shrine instead (Jongno 3-ga Station, Exit 11), which is open on Mondays with guided entry. English tours start at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00, and the ticket costs ₩1,000.

Evening: Gwangjang Market

The food alley at 광장시장Gwangjang SijangGwangjang Market is open until 23:00. From Changdeokgung, walk to Jongno 3-ga and take Line 1 one stop to Jongno 5-ga (Exit 8), about 15 minutes in all. Afterwards, walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Morning: National Museum of Korea

The museum opens at 09:30, is free, and stays open on Mondays (Ichon Station, Line 4). Choose two or three galleries; the building is large. On Wednesdays and Saturdays it stays open until 21:00, so you can flip this day around.

Afternoon: Myeongdong

Take Line 4 from Ichon six stops to Myeongdong, about 15 minutes. The shopping streets start at Exits 5–10. For tax-free shopping and currency exchange, see Myeongdong shopping.

Alternative: Deoksugung Palace, at City Hall Station one stop from Euljiro 1-ga on Line 2, stays open until 21:00 (closed Mondays, ₩1,000).

Evening: N Seoul Tower

From Myeongdong Station Exit 5, walk to Hoehyeon intersection and take the Namsan Oreumi inclined elevator to the cable car. The tower site says this takes about 15 minutes. The cable car runs 10:00–23:00. The observatory is open until 22:30 on weekdays and 23:00 on weekends. An adult ticket costs ₩29,000. Come down by cable car, or take bus 01A or 01B (₩1,500 by card).

Morning: Hongdae and Yeonnam

Start at Hongik Univ. Station (Line 2 and AREX). Exit 3 leads to Gyeongui Line Forest Park, a long park built on an old rail line. Exit 9 leads to the main Hongdae streets.

Afternoon: Seongsu and Seoul Forest

Ride Line 2 east from Hongik Univ. to Seongsu, 15 stops and about 35 minutes. Seongsu's old factory buildings now hold cafés and pop-up stores. Seoul Forest is one stop back, at Ttukseom Station Exit 8, or Seoul Forest Station on the Suin–Bundang Line, Exits 3 and 4.

Evening: the river or the tower

• 15 March to 31 October: watch the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain at Banpo Hangang Park. Shows run every half hour from 19:30 to 21:00, plus 21:30 in June–September. From Seongsu, take Line 2 to Konkuk Univ. and change to Line 7 for Express Bus Terminal (Exit 8-1). The trip takes about 30 minutes, plus a 1.1 km walk.
• November to mid-March: the fountain is off. Go up Lotte World Tower's Seoul Sky instead. It is 5 stops from Seongsu on Line 2 to Jamsil (Exit 2), and an adult ticket costs ₩33,000.

Flying out tonight? The AREX all-stop train from Hongik Univ. or Seoul Station reaches Incheon Airport; see Incheon Airport to Seoul.

• Rain: move day 3 indoors. Dongdaemun Design Plaza (Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, Exit 1) opens 10:00–20:00, and Gwangjang Market's food alley is under a roof.
• Late start on day 1: skip Bukchon and go straight to Changdeokgung for the 14:30 Secret Garden tour.

Approximate costs per adult as of October 2026, not including accommodation:

The meal range uses the Korea Consumer Agency's Seoul averages for September 2026. The low end is gimbap (₩3,923), a kimchi-stew set meal (₩8,846) and bibimbap (₩12,000). The high end adds a 200 g barbecue portion (₩21,321). Without the hotel, three days come to roughly ₩140,000–₩195,000 with the all-stop airport train, plus ₩33,000 if you add Seoul Sky. Room rates and daily totals by travel style are in the budget guide.

Staying longer? See 5 days in Seoul.