3 Days in Seoul: Hidden Highlights & Local Spots

Are you the kind of person who wouldn’t think twice skipping the Eiffel Tower in Paris or skipping Times Square in New York? Yes? Amazing.

Then I have just the perfect itinerary for you to spend your 3 days in Seoul. Whatever the majority of other tourists do, we won’t.

No, we’re not renting a hanbok and going into Gyeongbokgung. No, we’re not going to Bukchon Hanok Village, either. Why?

Because cultural sights, no matter how significant, lose a bit of their grandiosity when they’re overrun by a million tourists trying to snap Instagrammable photos.

Luckily, after 17 visits (and counting) to Seoul, I know there are always better alternatives to the big cultural sights, where you get to immerse yourself in the local vibes without running into other foreign tourists.

Yes, you get a palace and a hanok village, but everything will be slightly off the main tourist tracks because we need our quieter space!

Is This Seoul Itinerary Right For You?

If you value your peace and quiet over seeing the big tourist sights, then you’ll love this.

While we’re still visiting important cultural sights (because I can’t help myself), we’ll be going to less-visited ones than, say, Gyeongbokgung or Seoul Tower.

Assuming this is your first time in Seoul, this itinerary will help you get acquainted with the main vibes of the city while avoiding big crowds.

Granted, domestic tourism is booming in South Korea, so you will run into crowds, just not the all-foreign ones. Be ready to mark the following locations on your map, or bookmark the itinerary for later!

Day 1: History, Cafes, and Hanoks

No matter which city I’m going to, I always schedule the historical sites and museums for the first few days. This is to give myself some grounding on the country’s foundation and what influences its modern culture.

Because everybody else and their cousins go to Gyeongbokgung, we will move a bit away from there and visit another palace instead.

Morning: Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret Garden

Believe it or not, Changdeokgung is the only UNESCO World Heritage among the 5 palaces in Seoul.

It served as Joseon’s secondary palace from the early 15th century until the Japanese Invasion in 1592, and as the main palace for 270 years after that.

The most magnificent thing about Changdeokgung is the garden hidden behind it.

Called the Secret Garden because only the royal family knew what it looked like, you can join one of the timed tours to enter the garden and take your royal walk.

I recommend lining up to buy your entrance ticket earlier than 9 AM, so the tour spot doesn’t run out. There are 2 English-language tours before noon, one at 10:30 AM and another at 11:30 AM.

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)
• Admission Fee: KRW 8,000 (Palace and Secret Garden)
• Location: 99 Yulgok-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: Metro line 3 to Anguk Station, exit 3

READ MORE: Changdeokgung Palace Visiting Guide

Lunch: Biwon Handmade Kalguksu

After having your fill of Changdeokgung’s grandiosity, exit the side gate and walk 3 minutes north to find your lunch spot.

This inconspicuous place doesn’t have any Michelin-level accolades, but their Kalguksu will warm up any soul. One other upside: I promise you’ll be the only foreigner in the entire place. I was.

Tip: Use your Papago Translator on the menu.

• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM daily
• Location: 9-1 Changdeokgung 1-gil, Wonseo-dong, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: 3-minute walk from Changdeokgung
• Must-Try: Basic Kalguksu

Afternoon: Ikseondong Hanok Cafes

From Biwon Kalguksu, digest your hearty bowl of lunch by walking 10 minutes south to Ikseondong Hanok Village. It’s hidden from main street views, so you’ll have to follow some alleyway in.

For approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, feel free to browse the countless chic cafes in the village to your heart’s content.

One caution: Don’t overstuff yourself just because all the cakes look pretty. Don’t be like me.

• Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
• Location: Ikseon-dong, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: 10-minute walk from Biwon Kalguksu
• Recommended Cafes: Cheongsudang, Onhwa

More Cafe Recommendations: My Top 10 Cafes in Seoul

Late Afternoon: Jongmyo Shrine Tour

Around 3:30 PM, exit Ikseondong to Jongmyo Shrine, just next door.

This is the main ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty and another UNESCO World Heritage site. Ooh… we’re visiting all the UNESCO sites today, aren’t we?

A guided tour is required to enter on a weekday. If that is the case, the last English-language tour of the day takes place at 4:00 PM.

TIP: Head over to buy your ticket and then enjoy Ikseondong cafes while you wait.

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Closed on Tuesdays)
• Admission Fee: KRW 1,000
• Location: Seoul, Jongno District, Jong-ro, 157 종묘관리소
• Getting There: 15-minute walk from Changdeokgung

Dinner: Gwanghwamun Gukbap

K-drama fans know this all too well, but Gukbap, or Korean Rice Soup, has been a go-to dish for the locals since Joseon times.

So, why not end your first day with one? A Michelin-level one, to be specific.

Make no mistake, there will be a line to go in, and 99% of them will be Koreans. Write your name and party number down on the waitlist and hang out nearby. Their turnaround time is impressive.

• Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:30 PM – 9:40 PM (Closed on Sundays)
• Location: 53 Sejong-daero 21-gil, Sogong-dong, Jung District, Seoul
• Getting There: Metro line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station, exit 6
• Must-Try: Pork Gukbap

Day 2: Choose Your Day Trip

The best way to get the most out of Seoul is to also know what’s around it.

On day two, you’ll head out of the city to a nearby destination of your choice. One is more typical, but historically important, and the other is a whimsical hidden gem.

Day Trip Option 1: DMZ Tour (For History)

The Korean Demilitarized Zone, or the DMZ, is a strip of land along the 38th parallel ceasefire line.

No civilians are allowed inside that strip of land, but you can get right up to the South Korean DMZ border with a guided tour. Walking through an infiltration tunnel was especially exciting!

Also included on the tour is a visit to the memorial, where South Korean families gather on their Thanksgiving holiday to remember their northern relatives.

Not sure if this would be worth your time? I have a full review of the tour I took to help you decide!

Day Trip Option 2: Pocheon Art Valley (For Art and Nature)

Originally a granite quarry that fell out of use, the most amazing thing about Pocheon Art Valley is how it went from scheduled-for-demolition to what it is today.

Not only is it an arts and culture park popular among Korean families with younger children, but it is also a trendy dating spot for Korean couples.

But you don’t have to be either of those to enjoy a good puff of fresh air here.

• Opening Hours
  • Monday-Thursday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Last admission 6:00 PM)
  • Friday-Saturday and Public Holidays: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Last admission 8:00 PM)
  • Sunday: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Last admission 7:00 PM)
• Days Off: First Tuesday of every month
• Admission Fee: 5,000 KRW (Free for senior citizens and children under 7)
• Location: 234 Art Valley-ro, Sinbuk-myeon, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Pocheon can be tricky to get to from Seoul if you know zero Korean. I have step-by-step instructions in my Pocheon Art Valley Guide.

However, feel free to book this highly recommended tour for a safer option.

Evening: Cheonggyecheon Stream

Once you’re back in Seoul, head to the Cheonggyecheon Stream and take long walks along the trail like a local.

Although the stream starts close to Gwanghwamun Square, it runs far eastward, so you can find an entrance closest to where you are.

The stream changes every block or so. Sometimes, it’s surrounded by lush green, and sometimes, you can see fish. I even saw a Stork once.

Walk in the direction of Gwangjang Market because that’s where your dinner is.

• Open 24 hours
• Location: 1 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno District, Seoul

Dinner: Gwangjang Market

Refill your energy from the long day and the Cheonggyecheon walk at the traditional Gwangjang Food Market. There are more restaurants and carts than you can count here.

Most of them sell street food like Gimbap and Ddeokbokki.

I highly recommend trying the Mung Bean Pancakes with Makgeolli. Yes, it has to be Makgeolli. It can’t be any other kind of alcoholic drink. Thank me later.

• Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 10:30 PM daily
• Location: 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: Directly next to Cheonggyecheon
• Must-Try: Bindaeddeok (Mung Bean Pancakes), Beef tartare, Ddeokbokki

Trying to navigate the market alone can be overwhelming. I highly recommend this Gwangjang Market tour. It’s the same one I joined when I first dove into Korean cuisine!

Day 3: Local Hikes, Murals, and Sauna Culture

Because you’re trying to get acquainted with Seoul at an inhuman speed, we’re going all in and visiting the local-only spots on your last day.

Morning: Naksan Seoul City Wall Hike

Starting the day at my favorite place in Seoul, the Naksan section is one of the few old city walls that remain and are accessible to the public today.

It is also the lowest mountain surrounding Seoul, so your hike will be nice and calming.

The trail has two entrances and, in effect, two exits.

I prefer starting from Heunginjimun Park in the Dongdaemun area. The view is more beautiful, and your way up is much less steep than starting from the other side.

More About the Trail: Naksan Seoul City Wall Hiking Guide

• Open 24 hours
• Location: 70 Jongno 6(yuk)-ga, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: Metro line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station, exit 1

Late Morning: Ihwa Mural Village

Fifteen minutes into the City Wall trail, and you’ll automatically arrive at the back entrance of Ihwa Mural Village. This is my other favorite spot in Seoul for a relaxing sip of coffee.

Exploring the colorful murals in the village takes about 20-30 minutes and a bit of stair-climbing. Most boutique coffee shops here open at noon.

Chill at Ediya Coffee if you don’t want to wait that long.

LEARN MORE: Full Guide to Ihwa Mural Village

• Open 24 hours
• Location: 49 Naksan 4-gil, Jongno District, Seoul
• Getting There: Hike the city wall for 15 minutes to find the back entrance

Lunch: Naengmyeon at Woo Lae Ok

I’ll say it, cold noodles are not for everyone. But if you’d like to live like a true Korean soul, you will have to eat Naengmyeon at least once.

No better place to do that than the oldest running Naengmyeon restaurant in Seoul.

Mul Naengmyeon, or clear water naengmyeon, originally came from Pyeongyang, the capital of North Korea. Woo Lae Ok was the first Pyeongyang Naengmyeon restaurant to open in Seoul after the end of the Korean War.

There will be an hour-long wait to get a table. It’s okay.

Put your information in at the kiosk and get a cue number. Go inside and see the attendant if you don’t have a Korean phone number. He’ll give you a paper cue card instead.

• Opening Hours: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM (Closed on Mondays)
• Location: 62-29 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jung District, Seoul
• Getting There: Metro line 4 from Hyehwa to DDP, change to line 2 to Euljiro 4-ga, exit 4
• Must-Try: Mul Naengmyeon

Afternoon: Jjimjilbang Sauna Experience

I saved the most Korean item for last.

Spend your last afternoon and evening in a jjimjilbang, or Korean spa.

This place is where you will find a lot of the locals congregating after work or on the weekends. They’re literally here all day, chatting, watching TV, reading, etc.

The reason most foreigners don’t try a jjimjilbang is that the etiquette is intimidating. Don’t worry. I wrote a guide to visiting a jjimjilbang to help you feel more at ease about it!

Are you a woman? Good. I recommend my favorite jjimjilbang, Spa Lei. Are you not a woman? I’m sorry… I’ve yet to find a good and open all-gender jjimjilbang after Covid.

• Open 24 hours
• Admission Fee: KRW 19,000
• Location: 5 Gangnam-daero 107-gil, Seocho District, Seoul
• Getting There: Metro line 2 to Euljiro 3-ga, change to line 3 to Sinsa Station, exit 5

Deciding Where to Stay During Your 3 Days in Seoul

Here’s a quick look at every spot you’ll be visiting during these three days.

Looking at things this way will help you decide on the most convenient area to base yourself in. Because Seoul is bigger than you think, staying in the wrong area can cost you a lot of time.

Browse the rest of my South Korea guides for more ideas.

Helpful Travel Tips for South Korea

Most visa-free visitors to South Korea need a K-ETA in order to enter Korea. Check if you need one and apply about a week before you travel. This replaces the arrival form.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Papago AI Translator, Naver Maps, Kakao Metro

Read up on how to get from Incheon into the city, so you don’t run into surprises.

Don’t forget to learn some important dos and don’ts in Korean culture, as well as some useful Korean phrases, before you arrive!

Grab My South Korea E-Checklist

To make sure you don’t leave anything important out of your preparations, I’ve made a digital checklist to help you get ready. I leave 2 pages blank for you to customize your own checklist, too!

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