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Seoul, South Korea · Free itinerary
3-Day Seoul Itinerary: Best Things to Do
Seoul is South Korea's dynamic capital where 600-year-old royal palaces and serene Buddhist temples sit beside neon shopping districts and the soaring Lotte World Tower. Three packed days take you from the Joseon-era heart of Jongno to the Namsan skyline and the glossy boutiques of Gangnam.
3 days18 sights + 9 food & drink stopsSeoul, South Korea
✅ Complete your trip to Seoul
Book the essentials and keep this itinerary handy on the road.
1
Royal Palaces, Bukchon & Insadong
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1h 15mCafe Onion Anguk 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:15 AM📍 Anguk (Jongno-gu), SeoulTrendy bakery-cafe in a restored hanok serving pastries and coffee for an early start (opens 07:00 weekdays).
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9:20 AM – 9:30 AM· Walk to Gyeongbokgung Palace ·0.8 km ·10m
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1h 45mGyeongbokgung Palace 🏛️ Landmark9:30 AM – 11:15 AM📍 Sejongno (Jongno-gu), SeoulSeoul's grandest Joseon-era royal palace, famous for its throne hall and changing-of-the-guard ceremony (closed Tuesdays).
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11:25 AM – 11:30 AM· Walk to National Folk Museum of Korea ·0.3 km ·5m
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1hNational Folk Museum of Korea 🖼️ Museum11:30 AM – 12:30 PM📍 Sejongno (Jongno-gu), SeoulFree museum within the palace grounds tracing everyday Korean life through the centuries (closed Tuesdays).
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12:34 PM – 12:45 PM· Walk to Tosokchon Samgyetang ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 15mTosokchon Samgyetang 🍴 Food12:45 PM – 2:00 PM📍 Sajik (Jongno-gu), SeoulBeloved restaurant serving ginseng chicken soup (samgyetang) just west of the palace.
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Walk to Bukchon Hanok Village ·1.3 km ·17m
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1h 20mBukchon Hanok Village 🏛️ Landmark2:15 PM – 3:35 PM📍 Bukchon (Jongno-gu), SeoulHillside maze of preserved traditional hanok houses with classic palace-and-rooftop views.
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3:37 PM – 3:45 PM· Walk to Changdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden ·0.6 km ·8m
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1h 45mChangdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden 🏛️ Landmark3:45 PM – 5:30 PM📍 Waryong (Jongno-gu), SeoulUNESCO-listed palace whose wooded Secret Garden, visited by timed guided tour, is one of Seoul's loveliest retreats (closed Mondays).
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5:32 PM – 5:45 PM· Walk to Jogyesa Temple ·1.0 km ·13m
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45mJogyesa Temple ⛪ Religious site5:45 PM – 6:30 PM📍 Gyeonji (Jongno-gu), SeoulThe main temple of Korean Jogye Buddhism, lit with paper lanterns in the heart of the city.
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6:40 PM – 6:45 PM· Walk to Insadong-gil & Ssamziegil ·0.3 km ·5m
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50mInsadong-gil & Ssamziegil 🛍️ Shopping6:45 PM – 7:35 PM📍 Insadong (Jongno-gu), SeoulArts-and-crafts street lined with galleries, teahouses and the spiral Ssamziegil mall.
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7:40 PM – 7:45 PM· Walk to Gaeseong Mandu Koong ·0.1 km ·5m
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1h 15mGaeseong Mandu Koong 🍴 Food7:45 PM – 9:00 PM📍 Insadong (Jongno-gu), SeoulMichelin Bib Gourmand hanok dumpling house famous for its Kaesong-style mandu.
2
Myeongdong, Namdaemun & Namsan
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1h 10mHadongkwan 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:10 AM📍 Myeongdong (Jung-gu), SeoulCentury-old Michelin Bib Gourmand institution serving rich beef gomtang soup, a classic Seoul breakfast (opens 07:00, closed Sundays).
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9:18 AM – 9:30 AM· Walk to Deoksugung Palace ·0.9 km ·12m
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1h 30mDeoksugung Palace 🏛️ Landmark9:30 AM – 11:00 AM📍 Jeong-dong (Jung-gu), SeoulCompact palace blending Korean halls with Western-style stone buildings beside City Hall (closed Mondays).
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11:06 AM – 11:15 AM· Walk to Sungnyemun (Namdaemun Gate) ·0.7 km ·9m
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35mSungnyemun (Namdaemun Gate) 🏛️ Landmark11:15 AM – 11:50 AM📍 Namdaemun (Jung-gu), SeoulKorea's National Treasure No. 1, a grand 14th-century wooden gateway and former city wall entrance.
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12:17 PM – 12:30 PM· Walk to Myeongdong Kyoja ·1.0 km ·13m
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1hMyeongdong Kyoja 🍴 Food12:30 PM – 1:30 PM📍 Myeongdong (Jung-gu), SeoulMichelin Bib Gourmand noodle house renowned for its hand-cut kalguksu and mandu since 1966.
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1:34 PM – 1:45 PM· Walk to Namdaemun Market ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 20mNamdaemun Market 🛍️ Shopping1:45 PM – 3:05 PM📍 Namdaemun (Jung-gu), SeoulSprawling traditional market packed with bargain goods, street food and bustling alleyways.
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3:19 PM – 3:30 PM· Walk to Myeongdong Shopping Street ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 15mMyeongdong Shopping Street 🛍️ Shopping3:30 PM – 4:45 PM📍 Myeongdong (Jung-gu), SeoulNeon-lit pedestrian district of cosmetics flagships, fashion stores and street-food carts.
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4:49 PM – 5:00 PM· Walk to Namsan Cable Car ·0.8 km ·11m
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40mNamsan Cable Car 🎭 Entertainment5:00 PM – 5:40 PM📍 Hoehyeon (Jung-gu), SeoulShort aerial cable-car ride up wooded Namsan mountain toward the tower.
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Walk to N Seoul Tower ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 30mN Seoul Tower 🌄 Viewpoint5:50 PM – 7:20 PM📍 Namsan (Yongsan-gu), SeoulIconic mountaintop tower whose observatory offers 360-degree views over the whole city at dusk.
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7:27 PM – 7:45 PM· Walk to Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong Myeongdong ·1.4 km ·18m
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1h 20mKang Ho Dong Baekjeong Myeongdong 🍴 Food7:45 PM – 9:05 PM📍 Myeongdong (Jung-gu), SeoulLively Korean BBQ chain grilling premium pork belly tableside, a hearty dinner finale.
3
Gangnam, COEX & Lotte World Tower
🗺️ Day route — numbered stops in order (static map)
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1h 15mButterfinger Pancakes (Cheongdam) 🍴 Food8:00 AM – 9:15 AM📍 Cheongdam (Gangnam-gu), SeoulA cheerful American-style brunch spot in Cheongdam serving fluffy pancakes and eggs benedict from 07:00.
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Walk to Seonjeongneung Royal Tombs ·1.4 km ·19m
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1h 15mSeonjeongneung Royal Tombs 🌳 Park9:30 AM – 10:45 AM📍 Samseong (Gangnam-gu), SeoulUNESCO-listed Joseon royal burial mounds set in a tranquil forested park amid Gangnam towers (closed Mondays).
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11:04 AM – 11:15 AM· Walk to Bongeunsa Temple ·0.8 km ·11m
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1h 15mBongeunsa Temple ⛪ Religious site11:15 AM – 12:30 PM📍 Samseong (Gangnam-gu), SeoulThousand-year-old Buddhist temple with a towering Maitreya Buddha statue facing COEX.
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12:38 PM – 12:45 PM· Travel to Gangnam Myeonok ·2.2 km ·7m
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1h 15mGangnam Myeonok 🍴 Food12:45 PM – 2:00 PM📍 Sinsa (Gangnam-gu), SeoulLong-running Gangnam institution famed for galbijjim braised short ribs and cold naengmyeon.
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2:07 PM – 2:15 PM· Travel to Starfield Library ·2.5 km ·8m
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1hStarfield Library 🏛️ Landmark2:15 PM – 3:15 PM📍 Samseong (Gangnam-gu), SeoulDramatic free public library with soaring two-story bookshelves inside COEX Mall.
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3:20 PM – 3:30 PM· Travel to Garosu-gil ·3.3 km ·10m
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1h 30mGarosu-gil 🛍️ Shopping3:30 PM – 5:00 PM📍 Sinsa (Gangnam-gu), SeoulGinkgo-lined Sinsa boulevard packed with designer boutiques, flagship stores and cafes.
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5:09 PM – 5:30 PM· Travel to Seoul Sky Observation Deck ·7.1 km ·21m
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1h 30mSeoul Sky Observation Deck 🌄 Viewpoint5:30 PM – 7:00 PM📍 Jamsil (Songpa-gu), SeoulObservation deck near the top of Lotte World Tower, Korea's tallest building, for sunset city views.
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7:12 PM – 7:30 PM· Travel to Samwon Garden ·6.1 km ·18m
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1h 30mSamwon Garden 🍴 Food7:30 PM – 9:00 PM📍 Sinsa (Gangnam-gu), SeoulLandmark hanwoo Korean BBQ restaurant since 1976, set around a leafy garden courtyard.
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Travel to Lotte World Tower Plaza ·6.2 km ·18m
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45mLotte World Tower Plaza 🎭 Entertainment9:15 PM – 10:00 PM📍 Jamsil (Songpa-gu), SeoulRiverside plaza and illuminated fountains at the base of the glittering tower to end the night.
🏨 Where to stay
Real, vetted stays near your route — check the reviews, then book.
Bukchonmaru Hanok Guesthouse★★
Bukchon (Jongno-gu)
A traditional hanok guesthouse on a quiet lane minutes from Bukchon Village and the palaces.
Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 2★★★★
Myeongdong (Jung-gu)
A polished modern hotel steps from Euljiro and Myeongdong shopping.
L7 Myeongdong by Lotte★★★★
Myeongdong (Jung-gu)
A stylish lifestyle hotel with a rooftop bar in the center of Myeongdong.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Seoul?
3 days are a great amount of time to explore Seoul. This itinerary covers 18 sights and 9 food & drink stops across 3 days, giving you a thorough introduction to the city.
What are the best things to do in Seoul?
Some of the best things to do in Seoul include Gyeongbokgung Palace, National Folk Museum of Korea, Bukchon Hanok Village. Seoul is South Korea's dynamic capital where 600-year-old royal palaces and serene Buddhist temples sit beside neon shopping districts and the soaring Lotte World Tower. Three packed days take you from the Joseon-era heart of Jongno to the Namsan skyline and the glossy boutiques of Gangnam.
Where should I stay in Seoul?
Popular options in Seoul include Bukchonmaru Hanok Guesthouse and Nine Tree by Parnas Seoul Myeongdong 2. The city centre also has a range of hotels for every budget — book in advance for the best rates.
What's the best time to visit Seoul?
Much of this itinerary is indoors — 7 of its 18 sights are museums, entertainment venues, or shopping stops — so Seoul holds up outside peak season too. Book the popular indoor attractions ahead in busy months, and check the seasonal climate for South Korea before you go.