Seoul travel guide

At a glance

capital and largest city of South Korea. For a first visit, Changdeokgung, Gyeongbokgung, Blue House are strong starting points. This guide brings together 11 places, practical 1/3/5/7-day routes and a concise food shortlist so you can understand the city before shaping the trip around your pace.

Highlight stops

• Changdeokgung — palace in Seoul, South Korea
• Gyeongbokgung — palace in Seoul, South Korea
• Blue House — former official residence of the president of South Korea
• National Library of Korea — the national library of South Korea
• Namdaemun — main gate of Seoul fortress; one of The Four Great Gates (cardinal) as one of The Eight Gates of Seoul as part of the Fortress Wall of Seoul, South Korea
• National Museum of Korea — Museum located in Seoul, Republic of Korea
• Lotte World Tower — Skyscraper in Seoul, South Korea
• Cheonggyecheon — stream in Seoul, South Korea

Food and drink

Use these well-documented flavours as a practical tasting shortlist; open an item to understand it and add it to your trip plan.

• Chapagetti — instant Jjajangmyeon noodles by Nongshim
• 10 Won Bread — South Korean pancake
• Ansungtangmyun — South Korean ramen
• Samyang Ramen — instant noodle brand
• dwaeji-gukbap — Korean rice soup category
• corn tea — beverage made by infusing roasted corn kernels

1-day itinerary

Day 1 · Parks and open air

Cheonggyecheon · Namdaemun · Gyeongbokgung · Joseon

3-day itinerary

Day 1 · Parks and open air

Cheonggyecheon · Namdaemun · Gyeongbokgung · Joseon

Day 2 · History and landmarks

Blue House · Changdeokgung · National Museum of Korea · National Library of Korea

Day 3 · Architecture and city fabric

Sampoong Department Store collapse · Lotte World · Lotte World Tower

5-day itinerary

Day 1 · Parks and open air

Cheonggyecheon · Namdaemun · Gyeongbokgung

Day 2 · History and landmarks

Joseon · Blue House · Changdeokgung

Day 3 · Museums and art

National Museum of Korea · National Library of Korea · Sampoong Department Store collapse

Day 4 · Parks and open air

Lotte World · Lotte World Tower

7-day itinerary

Day 1 · Parks and open air

Cheonggyecheon · Namdaemun

Day 2 · History and landmarks

Gyeongbokgung · Joseon

Day 3 · History and landmarks

Blue House · Changdeokgung

Day 4 · Museums and art

National Museum of Korea · National Library of Korea

Day 5 · Architecture and city fabric

Sampoong Department Store collapse · Lotte World

Day 6 · Architecture and city fabric

Lotte World Tower

Before you go

This route distributes nearby source-backed stops across balanced days. Opening times and ticket conditions can change; check the official source before visiting.