3 days in Seoul
At a glance
Trip budget estimator
Before you board
Visa / K-ETA
37 countries (USA, UK, JP, DE, AU, SG and others) are exempt through 2026. Full visa guide.
Korean SIM or eSIM
Get an Airalo Korea eSIM before takeoff so you have data the moment you land. SIM options.
T-money card
Pre-buy from Klook with airport pickup, or grab one at Incheon Arrivals. Transit guide.
Cash mix
Korea is roughly 90% card-friendly, but markets and traditional eateries are cash-only. ₩50,000 in small bills covers three days of "card refused" moments.
Tax refund prep
Bring your passport when shopping. 10% VAT back at the airport or in-store. How it works.
Where to stay
Booking.com · Night 1 Browse Myeongdong hotels Downtown, palace-walk distance, AREX from ICN. Booking.com · Nights 2-3 Browse Hongdae hotels Youth quarter, late-night food, AREX to airport. Deeper guide All 6 Seoul neighborhoods compared Itaewon, Bukchon, Gangnam, Yongsan, Hannam.Day 1: Royal Seoul + downtown classics
Gyeongbokgung Palace + Royal Guard changing Morning · Anguk / Gyeongbokgung Station
The largest of the 5 royal palaces. Royal Guard changing ceremony is 10:00 and 14:00 (closed Tuesdays). Wear hanbok for free entry (see hanbok guide). Plan 2 hours minimum.
₩3,000 entry, or free in hanbok
Tongin Market dosirak cafe Lunch · Tongin-dong (5 min walk from Gyeongbokgung)
Buy ₩5,000 worth of brass coins at the info booth, walk the market stalls picking dishes for your "dosirak" lunch box. Old-Seoul market experience without language friction.
₩5,000 base, add coins as needed
Bukchon Hanok Village + Insadong walk Afternoon · Anguk / Jongno-3-ga
Traditional hanok-lined alleys. Photo-popular but residents live here - voices down. Loop down to Insadong for traditional crafts + tea houses.
Free
Cheonggyecheon stream + Myeongdong dinner Evening · City Hall / Myeongdong
Walk the restored stream from City Hall east. Dinner in Myeongdong - street food (탕후루, hotteok, gyeranppang) or hot pot at one of the dense Myeongdong eateries.
Day 2: K-culture + youth Seoul
N Seoul Tower (Namsan) Morning · Myeongdong / Hoehyeon
Cable car up from base station near Myeongdong Exit 3, or hike the Namsan trail (~30 min). Observation deck is paid. Locks at the base are an Insta classic, but the panorama is the actual draw.
₩7,000 cable car one way, ₩16,000 observation deck
Gwangjang Market street food Lunch · Jongno-5-ga
Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), mayak gimbap (skinny "drug" kimbap), tteokbokki. Sit at a stool, point at what others are eating. Best around 12-1 PM weekday for less crowd.
₩3,000-8,000 per item
Hongdae street walk + indie shopping Afternoon · Hongik Univ Station Exit 9 / Hapjeong
Buskers in Hongdae Park afternoons + weekends. Try a K-beauty store (Olive Young is the chain everyone uses) + photo-card / K-pop merch shops near the main street. Stay for a coffee at one of the third-wave cafes.
Korean BBQ dinner + Hongdae nightlife Evening · Hongdae / Yeonnam-dong
Korean BBQ for dinner (see /korean-bbq-seoul for picks). After, walk over to Yeonnam-dong for quieter pourover-cafe / wine-bar vibe, or stay in Hongdae for live music.
Day 3: Gangnam + modern Seoul + Han River
Bongeunsa Temple + Starfield Library Morning · Samseong / COEX
Bongeunsa is an actual working temple (free entry), 5 min walk to Starfield Library inside COEX mall - the 13-meter book wall is the IG-famous shot. Pair with a coffee at one of the COEX cafes.
Both free
Gangnam restaurant cluster Lunch · Apgujeong or Sinsa
Apgujeong = K-beauty + designer brands. Sinsa-dong Garosu-gil = trendy cafes + bistros. Pick whichever fits your shopping intent for the afternoon.
Lotte World Tower SkyView + shopping Afternoon · Jamsil
555m tower, the SkyView observation deck is on floors 117-123. Glass floor on 118 if you have the stomach. Or skip the tower and do Lotte World theme park if traveling with kids (full-day commitment though).
₩31,000 SkyView, ₩62,000 Lotte World day pass
Han River picnic (Banpo) + rainbow bridge Evening · Banpo Hangang Park
Han River park has chicken delivery direct to the park grass (download Coupang Eats). Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain shows 7-9 PM on weekends April through October. Picnic mats sold at convenience stores nearby.
~₩20,000 chicken + beer for two
Book the activities
Klook · Seoul activities Browse Seoul activities Hanbok, palace tours, N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, airport pickup. English support.What's not here
DMZ tour
Full day, needs a separate tour booking. Plan 4 days minimum if you want it.
Nami Island or Gapyeong day trip
Two hours each way. Better as a 4-5 day add-on. Day trips guide.
Jjimjilbang
Easy to fit on day one evening if you skip Cheonggyecheon. Spa guide.
K-pop fan stops
Agency buildings and drama spots are scattered. Add half a day. K-pop in Seoul.
Specific restaurants
Seoul restaurants rotate fast. We point at neighborhoods and dish types instead. /eats has our weekly-updated curated list.
Last updated June 2026
