Seoul Itinerary: 5 Days of Adventure

My very first trip to Seoul unfolded in an unexpected way. My wife, Kwang, received an invitation from a company partner to visit their factory in Seoul. She mentioned it would only take 2.5 days, which gave me the chance to join her after her work. So, I decided to fly solo for the first part of the trip, while Kwang would extend her return flight to meet me later.

I flew with a budget airline, ZipAir, just a few hours before Kwang arrived from BKK on Thai Airways. For the first 2 nights, I stayed alone in a small, dingy-looking (but surprisingly nice) hostel called Oppa Hostel near Hongdae.

Day 1: Exploring the Heart of Seoul

Bukchon Hanok + Changdeokgung + Ikseon-dong Hanok + Myeongdong

After an overnight flight with Zipair, I landed in Incheon around 9 AM. The airport was a breeze to navigate, and I made my way to the train station, hopping on a train to Hongdae.

Since I was traveling alone for the first two days, I decided to find a travel buddy. I posted in the r/seoul subreddit on a "seeking travel buddy" thread and got a response from a guy named Dominic.

After checking into my hostel, I was off to explore Seoul with my new friend!

First Stop: Noonaholdak Hongdae

We kicked off our day at Noonaholdak, where the chicken was honestly fantastic. Since my new Aussie friend couldn’t handle spicy food, we played it safe with soy garlic chicken & BBQ chicken.

Bukchon Hanok Village

Next, we headed to Bukchon Hanok Village. The place was bustling with tourists dressed in hanboks taking photos. It was so crowded that I decided to take candid shots of people instead of the usual sights.

From Bukchon, we walked down to Changdeokgung.

Changdeokgung

Unfortunately, when we arrived, it was closing time, so we just took photos outside.

Ikseon-dong Hanok Village

Next, we ventured to Ikseon-dong Hanok Village. Despite the similar ‘hanok’ names, Ikseon-dong feels quite different from Bukchon. While Bukchon is primarily a residential area with traditional Korean architecture, Ikseon-dong is more commercial, filled with cafes and restaurants housed in charming old-style buildings.

After exploring Ikseon-dong, Dominic and I parted ways, and I headed back for a nap.

Myeongdong

Once I recharged, I set off to Myeongdong just to wander around. There was a lively street food lane right in the middle of the Myeongdong shopping district—perfect for a solo traveler like me!

Day 2: Bukhansan Hike - Baegundae Summit

I penned a separate post about this hike, which you can check out here.

Hiking Bukhansan’s Baegundae Peak in 2024

For Day 2 of my Seoul trip in spring 2024, I decided to tackle a hike at Bukhansan National Park, particularly the popular Baegundae Peak. When planning my trip to Seoul, one of the highlights on my list was hiking Bukhansan—a stunning national park that is only a 1

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In short:
I chose the west entrance to Bukhansan National Park, closer to my Hongdae accoms. The trail was quiet and serene, and I found myself mostly alone. However, I almost lost my way at one point!

As the route converged, the challenge ramped up. The ascent was steep, with some sections requiring metal ropes to pull myself up.

The hike took 2.5 hours to reach the summit, and the descent was about 1.5 hours. All in all, it was a solid 4-hour round trip, but I’d recommend planning for at least 6 hours to fully enjoy the experience.

Day 3: Myeongdong + Cheonggyecheon Stream

I started the day by catching up on sleep, while Kwang went on a company outing.

Kwang had a company outing in the morning, so I took the opportunity to catch up on some much-needed sleep after the previous day’s hike.

For lunch, we met at Hongs Zzuggumi in Hongdae. This meal was one of the highlights of our trip—a dry spicy octopus stew mixed with vegetables.

Once the main dish was finished, the servers tossed in rice with the leftover sauce to create flavoured crispy rice. Service could have been better, but the food was great.

Afterward, we hit the shops in Myeongdong, where Kwang gleefully spent ages at Olive Young, as expected. I took some street photos along the way.

Dinner was at Odarijip, famous for its raw pickled crabs. 🦀 This was my first time trying it, and I was pleasantly surprised—it was sooo delicious!

My only regret? Not ordering more.

If you try to find this place on Google maps, you'll find the shop on the 2nd floor. If the queue is long, there'll be a server that directs you to another outlet just 2 minutes walk away. This way, you won't need to queue.

Post-dinner, we strolled from Myeongdong to the Cheonggyecheon Stream. I would recommend coming to here. It's situated amidst the city's chaos, provided a tranquil escape as we enjoyed the ambiance and listened to the buskers.

Day 4: Gyeongbokgung + Ikseong-Dong Hanok Village

This day began with us sleeping in. We emerged around 11am and headed straight to Gyeongbokgung. We rented traditional hanboks to immerse ourselves in the historical charm, reminiscent of “Jewel in the Palace” and other K-dramas.

Right next to the palace, we discovered a street lined with hanbok rental shops. We quickly chose one, but I’d advise against being too selective—the options are largely similar in style and price.

I wore a ‘lower rank official’ hanbok, while Kwang looked regal in her ‘princess’ attire. Prices ranged from $20 to $40, hats included.

We spent hours wandering the palace grounds, taking photos, and soaking up the atmosphere.

I suggest budgeting at least a few hours to truly enjoy Gyeongbokgung. Initially, we thought an hour or two would suffice, but the sprawling grounds made it highly enjoyable to linger.

Onion Cafe

After our palace adventure, we went to queue for Cafe Onion. Yes, we fell into the tourist trap! While the bread was decent, it didn’t live up to the queue and hype.

Dinner was back at Ikseon-dong, where we had K-BBQ at Jongno6(yuk)ga. This restaurant is surprisingly popular with Thais. I don't know why.

The K-BBQ was nothing spectacular, but it did hit the spot. We even tried our hand at airsoft shooting afterward—a fun way to end the day.

Day 5: Ehwa's Women Uni + Starfield Library + Yeouido Park

Our morning started at Ehwa Woman’s University. This might sound like an unusual stop, but Ehwa’s aesthetic architecture, especially this long dramatic walkway, make it a popular destination, especially with the sakura 🌸 in bloom.

After wandering Ewha for about two hours, we stumbled upon this mom-and-pop eatery serving one of the best kimchi jjigae meals I've ever had. The atmosphere was cozy, filled with locals enjoying their meals.

Starfield Library and COEX Mall
Next, we visited the famous Starfield Library at COEX Mall. To be honest, it didn’t live up to the hype. While the architecture was impressive, the crowds made it nearly impossible to capture any decent photos.

Bongeunsa Temple
We spent just 15 minutes in the library before making our way to Bongeunsa Temple, located right across from COEX. This temple, nestled amid the concrete jungle, provided a refreshing escape.

We wandered through the grounds, enjoying the peaceful gardens—exactly what we needed after the hectic Starfield library.

After Bongeunsa, we headed to Yeouido Hangang Park. Unfortunately, it was another disappointment.

The park was overrun with people, making it hard to navigate. We had hoped for a relaxing picnic dinner, but the atmosphere felt off due to the crowd. The view of the Han River was nice, but not as picturesque as we expected.

Day 6: Heading back home

On our final day, we ventured to Namdaemun Market for brunch, where we had traditional Korean noodles. Delicious, yes, but the portions were hefty, which made the meal feel a bit monotonous after a while.

We spent some time shopping for inexpensive souvenirs, browsing through stalls filled with scarves, Korean-style utensils, and trinkets.

Finally, we made our way back to Sinchon area, where we took one last look at the beautiful cherry blossoms before heading to the airport.

Seoul Recommendations

Overall, our Seoul trip was a solid experience—nothing mind-blowing, but Seoul does have its unique charm. I found myself drawn most to the blend of traditional and modern architecture. These places gave the city an out-of-place feel, which was refreshing.

The food was a mixed bag, though. While we had some memorable meals, the inconsistency stood out. For every great dish, there seemed to be a disappointing one.

Overrated places in Seoul

In terms of attractions, I found certain spots to be overrated, such as the Starfield Library, Yeouido Park, and Onion. They didn’t live up to the hype.

Meanwhile, I found that other popular spots like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream and Bukhansan National Park, are worth a visit.

Seoul may not have blown us away, but it’s a city I’d recommend for anyone interested in experiencing both the modern and traditional aspects of South Korea.

Is 5 days Enough for Seoul?

Here's a summary of what we did in Seoul in 5 days.

Day 1:
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Changbokgong palace
- Ikseon-dong

Day 2:
- Hike up Bukhansan's Baegundae peak
- Dinner & Shopping at Hongdae

Day 3:
- Namdaegun market
- Myeongdong
- Cheonggyecheon Stream

Day 4:
- Gyeongbokgung palace
- Cafe Onion
- K-BBQ at Ikseon-dong

Day 5:
- Ehwa Woman's University
- Lunch at Gonaengji
- Starfield library, COEX mall, Bongeunsa Temple
- Yeouido Hangang Park

A 5 days itinerary in Seoul offers a taste of the main attractions and ample time to indulge in shopping. However, there's so much to see, we found ourselves skipping a few popular spots, like Gwangjang market and Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP).

If you’re keen on day trips, such as visiting the DMZ, five days may feel a bit rushed. But if you’re focusing solely on exploring Seoul, 5 days is a well-rounded introduction to Seoul if you are discerning and skip some of the overrated spots.