Quick verdict: 3 days in Seoul hits Gyeongbokgung Palace + Myeongdong + Hongdae + Gangnam + Korean BBQ. K-pop + K-drama + Korean food + tradition in a perfect short trip.
The day-by-day plan
Day 1: Royal Palaces + Insadong
Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace (free if wearing hanbok). 10am changing of the guard ceremony. Bukchon Hanok Village (traditional Korean houses) adjacent. Lunch in Insadong (tea + galbi). Afternoon: Changdeokgung Palace + Secret Garden tour. Evening: Korean BBQ dinner.
Day 2: Myeongdong + Namsan
Morning: Myeongdong shopping + Korean skincare stores. Lunch: tteokbokki + Korean street food at Myeongdong night market. Afternoon: Namsan Cable Car up to N Seoul Tower for panoramic views. Evening: Hongdae nightlife – indie clubs + street food till 3am.
Day 3: Gangnam + Departure
Morning: Gangnam district. K-pop entertainment HQs (SM + JYP + HYBE) for fans. Apgujeong shopping. Lunch in Gangnam. Afternoon: COEX Mall + Starfield Library (Instagram famous). Last cosmetics shopping. Evening: depart Incheon Airport (40 min by AREX express train).
What to book ahead + practical tips
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.