One-day Seoul tour course for those who don’t have time
As one-fifth of the entire Korean population lives there, Seoul takes up a very large portion of Korean travel. Usually, 2 nights and 3 days is adequate, and if you have about a week, you can enjoy Seoul more leisurely.
However, if you are unfortunately only allowed one day for your Seoul trip, it is important to plan a course that allows you to experience Seoul’s various charms efficiently.
So today, I would like to recommend representative tourist attractions and schedules in Seoul. I made an itinerary that includes traditional culture and shopping as much as possible, and minimizes travel time so that you can visit more tourist attractions.
It may be a bit tight. You can skip the spot you don’t want.
Brief Itinerary
| time | Highlights |
| 9:00 – 10:00 | Gyeongbokgung Palace |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Bukchon Hanok Village |
| 11:00 – 12:00 | Cheonggyecheon |
| 12:00 – 13:00 | Lunch at Insa-dong |
| 13:00 – 15:00 | Myeong-dong |
| 15:00 – 16:30 | Namsan Seoul Tower |
| 16:30 – 18:00 | Dongdaemun |
| ~19:00 | Dongdaemun Night View & Dinner |
Detailed Itinerary
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace (9:00 – 10:00)
Start your day at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the most representative palace in Seoul. This place where you can see the palaces of the Joseon Dynasty is both historical and beautiful. You can also visit the National Folk Museum of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
In the case of Gyeongbokgung Palace, it takes about 1 hour including the round trip time.
2. Bukchon Hanok Village (10:00 – 11:00)
Bukchon Hanok Village, a 10-minute walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace, is a place where you can see traditional Hanok architecture. You can feel the charm of Korean tradition while walking here.
Since Hanok Village has many narrow alleys, it is good to walk for about an hour.
3. Cheonggyecheon(stream) (11:00 – 12:00)
You can reach Cheonggyecheon by walking for about 20 minutes from Bukchon. Cheonggyecheon is a beautiful stream that runs through downtown Seoul, and you can experience the modern charm of Seoul while taking a walk.
We recommend a walk of about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
4. Lunch at Insadong (12:00 – 13:00)
Enjoy lunch near Insa-dong. Insa-dong is a street where tradition and modernity come together, and there are many Korean restaurants, traditional tea houses, and souvenir shops, so you can have a variety of choices. It is also a good idea to take a break and enjoy traditional Korean food here.
5. Myeongdong (13:00 – 15:00)
After lunch, head to Myeong-dong and enjoy some shopping. Myeong-dong is a representative shopping street in Seoul, and you can buy various products such as cosmetics, fashion, and accessories. You can also enjoy street food, so you can enjoy the atmosphere of Seoul while shopping. You can spend about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours enjoying shopping and street food.
6. Namsan Seoul N Tower (15:00 – 16:30)
A 15-minute walk from Myeongdong is Namsan Seoul Tower. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery from the observatory where you can see the whole view of Seoul at a glance.
Spend about 1 hour 30 minutes at the observatory and enjoy the beautiful view of Seoul.
7. Dongdaemun (16:30 – 18:00)
Dongdaemun, located about 20 minutes away from Namsan Tower by subway, is a representative fashion center in Seoul. You can enjoy shopping while preparing dinner at **Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)** and various shopping malls. The area around Dongdaemun DDP is beautiful at night, so it is a good place to visit in the evening.
8. Dongdaemun Night View & Dinner (19:00~)
Enjoy the night view of Seoul while shopping at Dongdaemun, and have dinner nearby. There are many Korean restaurants and street food near Dongdaemun, so it is a good place to end your Seoul trip with traditional Korean food.
