Geunjeongjeon, the two-storey throne hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace with curved roofs, behind a large stone courtyard with a mountain in the background
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Seoul in 2 days

  • 2 days
  • 8.3 km on foot
  • 17 stops
  • Audio guide

With two days you can finally step inside the palaces rather than just admiring them from the gate. Day one is devoted to the Joseon court, from Gyeongbokgung to the Secret Garden, with Deoksugung's legends in the evening. Day two changes scale: history in the morning, then the shopping streets of Myeongdong and the whole city spread out below Namsan mountain.

Day 1A day at the Joseon court

Set out early on “Palaces, Hanok Alleys and Tea in Insadong” so you cross Bukchon mid-morning, then lunch on seolleongtang at Imun Seolnongtang, next to Jogyesa. In the afternoon, go back to the palaces you saw from outside: explore Gyeongbokgung and, if you've booked, join the guided tour of Changdeokgung's Secret Garden. Take a break in a teahouse before “Secret Seoul”, which starts at Daehanmun Gate at dusk and finishes at Gwangtonggyo Bridge. From there, follow the Cheonggyecheon to Gwangjang Market for a dinner of bindaetteok.

  1. Morning

    Palaces, Hanok Alleys and Tea in Insadong

    Mixed · 3.2 km · 2 h 15 min

    1. Gyeongbokgung PalaceThe great palace of the Joseon kings, razed twice and rebuilt piece by piece.
    2. Bukchon Hanok VillageA hillside neighbourhood of traditional houses where people still live, so keep your voice down.
    3. Changdeokgung PalaceThe palace that follows the mountain rather than dominating it, home to kings for nearly three centuries.
    4. Ikseon-dongA maze of 1920s hanok turned into the liveliest corner of Jongno.
    5. Insadong and SsamziegilThe street of antiques, hanji paper and teahouses, with a spiralling market.
    6. Jogyesa TempleThe heart of Korean Buddhism among skyscrapers, with 500-year-old trees and thousands of lanterns.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Seolleongtang, milky ox-bone soup at Imun Seolnongtang (이문설농탕). Ujeongguk-ro 38-13, Jongno-gu, Seúl

  3. Afternoon

    Inside Gyeongbokgung Palace

    Beyond the gate lie the Geunjeongjeon throne hall and Gyeonghoeru Pavilion, standing over its pond. The changing of the guard takes place in front of Gwanghwamun a couple of times a day. Entry is usually free if you wear hanbok: check the conditions.

    Directions

    Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon)

    The kings' pleasure garden behind Changdeokgung, with pavilions set by ponds such as Buyongji among wooded hills. It can usually only be visited on a guided tour, with timed slots and limited places, so it's best to book ahead.

    Directions

  4. Early evening

    Secret Seoul: Royal Escapes, Guardian Beasts and Cursed Stones

    Mysteries & legends · 2.7 km · 1 h 55 min

    1. Daehanmun Gate, Deoksugung PalaceThe gate of a palace where an emperor died in 1919 amid rumours that set a country alight.
    2. Deoksugung Stone Wall RoadSeoul's most romantic stroll comes with a superstition: couples who walk it end up breaking up.
    3. Old Russian LegationA lone white tower keeps alive the memory of the night Korea's king fled his own palace.
    4. The Haechi of GwanghwamunTwo horned stone beasts that, according to popular belief, guard the palace against fire.
    5. Gwangtonggyo BridgeA king used stones from his stepmother's tomb to build a bridge the whole city would walk over.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  5. Dinner

    Try Bindaetteok, mung bean pancake at Mercado de Gwangjang · Sunhee-ne Bindaetteok (순희네빈대떡). Jongno 32-gil 5, Jongno-gu, Seúl

Day 2From Jongno to the top of Namsan

Begin at Gwanghwamun with “Six Centuries of Seoul”: King Sejong, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Bosingak bell and Jongmyo Shrine, home to the spirit tablets of the kings. From Jongmyo, the subway has you in Myeongdong in a few minutes for a lunch of kalguksu at Myeongdong Kyoja. Spend the afternoon wandering the neighbourhood, then head up Namsan to N Seoul Tower; aim to reach the top shortly before sunset to watch the city light up.

  1. Morning

    Six Centuries of Seoul: From Joseon Kings to the Streets

    History · 2.4 km · 2 h

    1. Gwanghwamun GateThe great gate of Gyeongbokgung: burned, moved, rebuilt in concrete and finally returned to its rightful place.
    2. Statue of King SejongThe 15th-century monarch who decided his people deserved an alphabet of their own.
    3. Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sinThe admiral said never to have lost a naval battle has watched over the avenue since 1968.
    4. Bosingak PavilionThe bell that opened and closed the city, and that now rings in each new year before a huge crowd.
    5. Tapgol ParkHere, on 1 March 1919, Korea's Declaration of Independence was read aloud.
    6. Jongmyo ShrineThe shrine that holds the spirit tablets of the Joseon kings, still honoured with 15th-century music.

    Start the audio guide See the route

  2. Lunch

    Try Kalguksu, knife-cut noodles at Myeongdong Kyoja (명동교자). Myeongdong 10-gil 29, Jung-gu, Seúl

  3. Afternoon

    Myeongdong

    Seoul's busiest shopping district: cosmetics and fashion stores and, as evening falls, street food stalls. At one end stands Myeongdong Cathedral, from the late 19th century. It sits at the foot of Namsan, so it links easily with the tower.

    Directions

    N Seoul Tower and Namsan

    The communications tower crowns Namsan, the mountain whose ridge carried the old city wall on the south side. You can walk up the park trails, take a bus or ride the cable car near Myeongdong. The views from the base are already good; the upper observatory charges admission.

    Directions

The map

Seoul in 2 days, on the map

Each route’s stops are numbered in order; the stars are the extra sights.

Mixed Mysteries & legends History Extra sight

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Before you go

Tips for Seoul in 2 days

  • Secret Garden places sell out fast in peak season: book your slot as soon as you know the date, then fit Gyeongbokgung before or after it depending on the time you get.
  • For day two, a T-money card is usually the easiest option: you can buy and top it up at convenience stores and stations, and it works on both subway and buses. See whether a tourist version suits you.
  • Spring and autumn are the best seasons: cherry blossom in April, red leaves in the Secret Garden and on Namsan in late October. Summer is hot, humid and rainy; winter is cold and dry.

Questions

Seoul in 2 days: your questions

Are two days enough for Seoul?

Two days are enough for the historic centre with the palace interiors, Myeongdong and the views from Namsan. You'll miss the districts south of the river such as Gangnam, plus the National Museum and the DMZ. If you can add a third day, the 3-day plan covers them.

How far will I walk in 2 days?

The routes add up to about 8.3 km: 5.9 on day one (the essential route and the mystery route) and 2.4 on day two. On top of that comes walking inside the palaces and the Secret Garden, and the climb up Namsan if you do it on foot, which is steep.

How do you get up to N Seoul Tower?

There are three ways: on foot along the trails of Namsan Park, by the buses that run up to the base, or by the cable car that leaves from near Myeongdong. The upper observatory requires a ticket; the views from the terraces at the base are free.

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