Seoul 5-Day Itinerary

How this 5-day Seoul plan works

Seoul deep-dive with DMZ

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Seoul rather than in transit. Seoul's subway is the world's most-used — 23 lines, English announcements, Wi-Fi throughout, ₩1,400–2,400 per ride. T-money card (₩4,000 at any 7-Eleven) taps for subway, buses, taxis and convenience stores. Kakao T is the local Uber. Incheon Airport: AREX Express to Seoul Station in 43 min (₩11,000); regular AREX in 60 min (₩4,750).

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1–3 — First-time itinerary.

• Day 2

  Day 4 — DMZ (Demilitarised Zone) full-day tour with JSA (advance booking essential).

• Day 3

  Day 5 — Ihwa mural village, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Han River picnic + chimaek.

Where to base yourself

• Myeongdong

  Cosmetics, street food, mid-range hotels — central and tourist-friendly.

• Jongno / Insadong

  Palace district (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung) + traditional tea houses. Best for culture.

• Gangnam

  Skyscrapers, luxury hotels (Signiel, Four Seasons), COEX Mall, K-beauty flagships. Best for business + shopping.

• Hongdae

  University nightlife, street performers, indie boutiques. Best for young travellers.

Best time to run this itinerary

April–May (cherry blossom + mild) and September–October (crisp autumn + Hanbok in ginkgo streets) are peak seasons. June–August is hot, humid and monsoonal. December–February brings sub-zero temperatures but clear skies and thin crowds; ski resorts within 2h.

Before you go

• Use Naver Map or KakaoMap — Google Maps is heavily limited in South Korea.

• T-money card taps for subway, buses, taxis and convenience stores; buy at any 7-Eleven.

• Restaurants often refuse tips; leave exact change or use a card.