Last updated on October 13th, 2025
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Here’s how to spend the perfect 5 days in Seoul, packed with unmissable sights, must-try Korean street food, and specific, unique things to do in Seoul for a fun, well-rounded trip.
Seoul is such a fun and unique city to explore, offering a distinctive blend of futurism and tradition—from the traditional streets of the Bukchon Hanok Village to the shiny buildings of Gangnam, and the bustling food stands of the Gwangjang Market.
There is so much to do, see, and eat in the South Korean capital.
Even after living in Seoul for three months with our circus job, I still left with a long wishlist of things to do.
So to save you from the feeling of running around like a headless chicken—as I did in my first few weeks—this 5 days in Seoul itinerary will guide you through all the main things you should do, see, and eat for the ultimate Seoul experience.
From visiting the iconic spots as a first-time visitor, to fueling up at the best coffee shops in Seoul, to exploring off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods, this itinerary will make you leave the city feeling like you saw all of Seoul’s different sides.
However, feel free to use this itinerary as a general guideline for your trip, and sprinkle your own interests into each day, or swap things around that fit more with your travel style.
⭐️ Planning your first trip to the South Korean capital? Make sure to read our Seoul travel guide for essential info on how to get around, where to stay, and practical tips before your visit.
How to spend the perfect 5 days in Seoul
📍 Where to stay in Seoul for first-timers:
An important thing to consider when planning your Seoul itinerary is choosing the right base for your trip to make the most of your time in the city. Some of the best areas to stay in Seoul as a first-time visitor are:
- Insadong: Close to Seoul’s top cultural attractions, like the Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is where I lived for 3 months and loved it!
- Myeongdong: Central, packed with great shopping, food, and bars.
- Gangnam: For the big-city Seoul vibes.
If you want an in-depth breakdown of the neighborhoods and hotel recommendations, check out our guide on where to stay in Seoul for first-timers.
Day 1 in Seoul: Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, and Myeongdong
If you were only spending 24 hours in Seoul, these are the top things you should see, do, and eat:
Breakfast at Salt 24 & morning coffee from Blue Bottle
Start your first morning in Seoul with a tasty pastry from Salt 24, a small bakery on the way to the Bukchon Hanok Village.
This spot was a short walk away from our accommodation in Insadong, and I was a devoted customer of their perfect pain au chocolat.
If you are not much of a sweet tooth person, they also offer some savory pastries, like ham and cheese croissants, and sausage rolls.
For your morning cup of coffee, make your way to the nearby Blue Bottle Coffee—one of the best coffee shops in the city, and one of my favorites in the world.
Really, it’s so good!
Wander the charming streets of the Bukchon Hanok Village
After fueling up, it’s time to start exploring, and the first stop during your 5 days in Seoul is the unmissable Bukchon Hanok Village.
The Bukchon Hanok Village is a charming and historic area of Seoul, consisting of hundreds of preserved traditional Korean houses, or hanoks.
Wandering this neighborhood will make you feel like you’re traveling back in time, or stepping into a small Korean town—it’s so unique!
Explore the area, get lost in the streets, and admire the beautifully decorated Hanoks, just make sure to do so quietly and respectfully, as this is all a residential area.
Admire the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace
Your next stop is the imposing Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is conveniently located right next to the Bukchon Hanok Village.
The Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of Seoul’s five palaces. What makes this everyone’s favorite is the fact that this is the largest and one of the most beautiful of the five.
Exploring the palace’s serene grounds is a must in any itinerary. If you’re spending 5 days in Seoul, I would recommend visiting this during your first day, to see more of the traditional side of Seoul before moving on to the big city vibes.
For a deep dive into the palace’s history, make sure to stop by the front desk at the main entrance and ask for the next available free English tour.
Lunch options near the Bukchon Hanok Village, and afternoon coffee
After spending the morning exploring the Bukchon Hanok Village and learning more about Gyeongbokgung Palace, it’s time for lunch—and I have two options for you.
Your first option is this locally-loved restaurant, KKangtong Mandu, a dumpling spot.
The restaurant is quite popular, with locals waiting in line for lunch and dinner. So if you feel like having dumplings for lunch, make sure to show up with a bit of time to spare.
The second option is another local gem, a popular ginseng chicken soup restaurant, Baeknyeon Tojong Samgyetang—perfect for a chilly day.
☕️ Afternoon coffee at Soodal Cafe: If, like me, you can always use a coffee, make sure to stop by Soodal Cafe—another one of my favorite coffee shops in Seoul, and my go-to spot while living here.
Souvenir shop at Insa-dong’s Culture Street
After coffee, head over to the Insadong Culture Street, a wide pedestrian street lined with picturesque craft shops, hand-made souvenir shops, art galleries, and more.
Besides being a charming street to explore, this is also the perfect place to do a little bit of souvenir shopping, as you will find many high-quality locally made products.
We got some ceramic pieces here, beautiful wall art, locally-made postcards, and even cozy cashmere socks.
Explore Myeongdong: Shopping and Korean street food
To finish off the first of your 5 days in Seoul, you’ll arrive at Myeongdong Shopping District in the afternoon, where you can easily spend a couple of hours hopping from shop to shop.
One shop you cannot miss, though, is the motherload of all Korean skincare: Olive Young. And the Myeongdong location is massive!
Definitely stop by this location to stock up on all your favorite Korean skincare goodies.
Once you’re done shopping, it’s time for ✨girl dinner✨, Korean edition, as you try some of the different Korean street food snacks in the popular Myeongdong Night Market.
My favorite dishes here are the dumplings, chicken skewers, and for something sweet, Bungeo-ppang, the fish-shaped pastry filled with red bean paste.
🍸 Cocktail bar near Insa-dong: To finish off your first day, stop by the cute Bar Abyss, a snug cocktail bar serving incredible drinks, all supervised by a cute feline manager.
Day 2 in Seoul: Gwangjang Market, N-Seoul Tower, and Gangnam district
For your second day, this itinerary is quite similar to my 2 days in Seoul itinerary; however, I’ve split it up a bit differently and moved some things to the third day to give room for a more relaxed vibe while exploring.
Breakfast at Gwangjang Market
For the second of your 5 days in Seoul, head over to Gwangjang Market to have breakfast like locals do.
Gwangjang Market, once a trading center, is now a massive wholesale market for all kinds of things, from fabrics to produce, seafood, traditional sweets, and so much more.
One of the most popular sections for tourists is the buzzing food market, where you can try all kinds of local dishes.
For breakfast/brunch, try Pajeon, Korean egg and scallion pancakes. They remind me of an omelette, so they are an easy entry into Korean cuisine for picky eaters.
For something sweet, you have to try Kkwabaegi, Korean twisted donuts dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar. You’ll probably find them if you look for the long line of people by the market entrance—they are SO good!
Take in the views from the N-Seoul Tower
For a change of scenery on your second day in Seoul, make your way to the N-Seoul Tower. To get there, you can take the public bus from Gwangjang Market, or Uber—Uber is quite affordable in South Korea.
The N-Seoul Tower is a city icon, a symbol that you can see from almost anywhere in town, as it stands tall on a hill, which means it’s the perfect city viewpoint.
For a relaxing experience, I would recommend taking the cable car up to the tower and then walking the way back down through the lush park.
Once you arrive at the N-Seoul Tower base, wander the grounds and admire the views of Seoul in the distance.
If you need a snack or a drink, don’t worry, there’s a cafe up there as well—so you’re covered!
Lunch at Oreno Ramen in Gangnam
Getting to, exploring, and coming back from N-Seoul Tower will surely take you into the afternoon, so if you are starting to get hungry, fear not, I have a top recommendation for lunch.
Your next stop in this 5-day Seoul itinerary is the buzzing Gangnam district, but before you go out to explore, head to Oreno Ramen for a hearty lunch.
While this is not a Korean meal, this Japanese-style ramen is a popular spot with locals, and it’s just so delicious that I think it’s worth mentioning.
Oreno specializes in paitan ramen, a creamy chicken broth, that is so comforting, it feels like a hug in a bowl. Having a Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition, you know this stuff is gooood!
Explore the famous Gangnam district
An unmissable district in Seoul is Gangnam, a name that rose to fame due to the hyper-catchy Gangnam-style song.
This Seoul district extends far and wide with many little city pockets, which you will get to explore more of on your third day.
For your second day, I think it’s worth focusing on the main section of Gangnam and the top attractions here.
Gangnam is a district known as the businessy side of Seoul, a cosmetic clinic hub, as well as being a popular destination for dining and shopping in the city.
Take your time exploring the main avenue, Gangnam-daero, before visiting the Instagram-famous Coex Mall, where you can find the eye-catching Starfield Library, with bookshelves from floor to ceiling.
Outside the mall, close to the East entrance, you’ll also find the famous Gangnam Hands Sculpture.
☕️ Afternoon coffee at % Arabica: If you need a little pick-me-up while exploring the Coex Mall, make sure to stop by %Arabica, a popular Japanese coffee chain known for its strong-tasting 100% Arabica brews.
Korean BBQ at Yeongdong Traditional Market
To finish off your second day in Seoul, it’s time to try some Korean BBQ, so head over to Yeongdong Traditional Market to join the crowds.
During the day, you can find locals here doing their produce shopping, but at night, the place comes alive with crowds diving into the many local restaurants and BBQ spots.
We walked around here one night and simply followed the crowds into what looked like a locally-approved BBQ spot. That technique got us one of the best meals of our whole stay in Seoul—sadly, I cannot find the place anywhere on maps.
So, just follow our lead, walk around, and choose a spot that’s packed with locals—you can’t go wrong this way.
🍸 Cocktails at Bar Jangsaeng: For a little closing drink, Bar Jangsaeng is right around the corner from the market. This popular bar—featured in an episode of the Netflix show Midnight Asia—is known for its creative approach to using local flavors and modern mixology. The drinks are very unique, but still very tasty!
Day 3 in Seoul: Trendy Seongsudong, upscale Sinsadong, and foodie Ikseondong
Brunch at Summer Lane
If you are a breakfast lover, you won’t mind starting the day with a little detour to get some delicious breakfast at Summer Lane.
During the three months that we lived in Seoul, I found it hard to find good breakfast options. According to my local friend, Koreans will have savory meals for breakfast that could also be considered lunch or dinner.
The closest thing you can find to a Western breakfast is the pastries at coffee shops, but a lot of the time, they only have cake slices. Which is great, but sometimes all you need is a good Eggs Benedict, you know?
And Summer Lane is an Aussie spot that will make all your breakfast dreams come true. Their Eggs Benedict are delicious, as is their coffee, and even their fresh juices.
We came here on so many days off, as it was the perfect brunch spot before spending the day wandering around Sinsadong. Which is where we are headed later.
Aesthetic coffee shop hopping in Seongsu-dong
After breakfast, it’s time to explore an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood that I doubt a lot of first-time visitors get to, Seongsudong.
Seongsudong used to be a warehouse area in Seoul that has recently been taken over by lots of young businesses—from small boutique shops to fashion houses, and my favorite, lots and lots of super unique coffee shops.
The neighborhood is so up-and-coming that a few of the places I visited here seem to have closed since, but there is so much movement in the area that I’m sure other cool businesses have replaced the old ones already.
Take your time wandering around and exploring all the aesthetic Korean cafes. If you feel like taking a nature walk, you can grab a coffee and go for a stroll through Seoul Forest Park.
☕️ Coffee shops to visit in Seongsudong:
- Ongeundal: Spacious industrial-looking cafe with a small garden with a water feature and lots of seating space upstairs. If you can, grab one of the cozy nooks by the window on the second floor.
- Daelim Changgo: Industrial-style massive warehouse of a coffee shop, offering a few small bites, pastries, and coffee.
- Lowide Coffee Bakery: Minimalist coffee shop serving the rare savory treats, such as savory croissants with ham and cheese, and, of course, many decadent-looking pastries.
Shopping in trendy Sinsa-dong
After exploring the up-and-coming Seongsudong, it’s time to go south of the river to explore another fun neighborhood, Sinsadong.
Sinsadong is a charming neighborhood with a more upscale vibe compared to the alternative Seongsudong, packed with great shopping and, you guessed it, great coffee shops.
This neighborhood of Gangnam has a more relaxed vibe, with lots ot pedestrian streets to explore, hopping from one shop to the next, until it’s time to sit down at a cafe.
If you get hungry while exploring, you could do a casual lunch consisting of some GS25 onigiri—it’s cheap, delicious, and practical. I can’t even tell you how many of these I had during my three-month stay.
⭐️ Some of my favorite spots in Sinsadong:
- Jung Saem Mool Plops: Famous Korean makeup brand, known for its incredible cushion foundations.
- Gentle Monster Flagship: An iconic Korean sunglass brand. I got a pair and love them!
- Milestone Coffee: This coffee shop has the most decadent hot chocolate ever!
- Café Kitsuné Seoul: Spacious cafe with a cute outdoor seating area.
- LayBricks Coffee Roasters: Cozy coffee shop with exposed brick walls.
Dinner in the picturesque Ikseondong Hanok Village
Once you’ve shopped till you dropped, it’s time for dinner! And for this, you will be exploring a new area of Seoul, the picturesque foodie alleys of Ikseondong Hanok Village.
Ikseondong Hanok Village, similar to the Bukchon one, is a charming area of preserved Hanoks.
What sets Ikseondong apart is the modern use of the Hanoks, as inside these traditional houses, you will find boutique shops, international cuisine restaurants, and cute coffee shops.
The area is so cute, you will want to arrive earlier than dinner to wander around and explore the alleys, maybe visit some shops, before deciding on what to have for dinner here.
I’d recommend a spot, but the dumpling place we went to here has closed since.😭 So wander around and follow your cravings.
Day 4 in Seoul: Day trip from Seoul & night in Itaewon
If you have 5 days in Seoul, it’s worth it to use one of those days to explore something a little more out of the city, and there are a few day trip options depending on your interests:
1) DMZ Tour
If you are a history buff, then the perfect day trip from Seoul for you is going to be a guided DMZ tour.
While the name suggests otherwise—DMZ means demilitarized zone—the DMZ is a heavily fortified buffer zone between North and South Korea.
Taking a DMZ Tour will allow you to learn more about Korea’s history, see some of the tunnels that were dug by North Korea during the war, and walk through the Mt. Gamak Suspension Bridge.
I personally did not do this tour as I’m not too comfortable going through tunnels, but my boyfriend did it and loved learning more about the area and its history.
Book your TMZ tour dates before it sells out:
2) Nami Island
For those of you out there that also aren’t keen on being underground for that long but still want to explore something else outside of Seoul, then a day trip to Nami Island might be the option for you, especially if visiting Seoul in autumn.
We were lucky enough to be in Seoul during October, which means we got to experience fall in Nami Island—and it was just magical!
A small fairytale island in the middle of a river, Nami is a serene escape from the city, with bunnies, squirrels, and peacocks wandering freely through the place.
Take a walk in the woods, rent a bike or a boat, and enjoy a peaceful day on this picturesque island.
You can make your way out there with public transportation, but if you want a hassle-free day trip, consider booking a tour from Seoul to Nami Island.
Check availability for the best-rated Nami Island tour here:
3) Hike Bukhansan National Park
If you are an outdoors person, and your feet are just itching to hike something, then a hike in the Bukhansan National Park is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Again, if visiting Seoul during the autumn, you are in for a treat while hiking in the park, as the whole place turns into the most colorful autumnal kaleidoscope. It’s so stunning!
Just note that the hike to the top is quite steep and not for beginners. You actually have to climb the last bit, but if you are fit and have fun with outdoor activities, you will surely love this.
Dinner and drinks in Itaewon
If you are up to keep exploring after your day trip, then head over to Itaewon for dinner and drinks in the young, party neighborhood of Seoul.
You will find tons of food options in Itaewon, surely many BBQ spots, but for some reason, when we were there, we ended up having tacos at Crispy Pork Town, and they were SO good!
They earned my Mexican stamp of approval.
If you, understandably, want to opt for a Korean meal, then JD BBQ is a highly rated Korean BBQ spot in the neighborhood.
To finish off the night, follow the crowds and go bar hopping in this neon-packed, vibrant area of Seoul before your last full day in the city.
Day 5 in Seoul: Relaxing last day in Seoul
Breakfast at Joe & the Juice
As we have established, finding Western brunch options is not the easiest in Seoul, but thankfully, there is a Joe & the Juice on the way to the first stop of the day.
Joe & the Juice is a Danish company specializing in healthy “fast foods”, such as wraps, salads, smoothies, porridge bowls, and more.
According to maps, there’s one close to our next stop. If that fails, try London Bagel, close by, or as a last resort, you could get a banana and a yogurt from GS25.
Spa treatment at Sulwhasoo Flagship Store
Now, for one of the highlights of the trip. You cannot come all the way to Korea and not indulge in a little spa treatment, and my favorite one I did was at the Sulwhasoo Flagship Store.
The Sulwhasoo Flagship Store is located in an upscale part of Gangnam, surrounded by expensive fashion houses—the building itself is a piece of art.
We did a girls’ day here, and it was incredible!
They offer different types of facials, each targeting different problems. I cannot remember which one I got, but it was about an hour, and it was followed by one of the most relaxing massages I have ever gotten.
A true day of pampering!
Make sure to book your spa treatment in advance, though.
Stop by Seoul City Hall and follow Cheonggyecheon Stream
After that relaxing morning, you can do some relaxed sightseeing to savor your last full day in Seoul.
A few spots you could hit while strolling through the city are the Seoul City Hall, a fun building with traditional at the front and futuristic vibes at the back.
Walk towards Cheonggye Plaza, the starting point of Cheonggyecheon Stream, a stream lined with greenery that runs through the middle of an avenue.
Sometimes there are events or street markets on the plaza.
To continue the relaxing vibes from the morning, you could go down to the stream level and walk along it for a while, hop over the rocks to the other side, or simply sit down and enjoy this unique city oasis.
If you need an afternoon pick-me-up, grab a coffee from the nearby Blue Bottle before heading off to follow the stream.
Peak slow travel vibes—my favorite!
Late lunch/early dinner at Daily Beer in Myeongdong
Make sure to exit the stream level around Myeongdong to make your way to the late lunch spot of the day.
Something you cannot leave without trying is delicious Korean fried chicken, and our go-to spot while living in Seoul was Daily Beer fried chicken—it’s SO good!
We had one location close to us in Insadong, but luckily, there are a few around the city, including one in Myeongdong.
Beware, they open at 4 pm, that’s why the late lunch, but if you can last until then to try it, it will be worth it!
Last round of Myeongdong
To finish off your last day in Seoul, take a last round of Myeongdong.
Maybe do some last-minute shopping… buy even more Korean skincare at Olive Young. You know you want to!
Get a dessert or a last snack at one of the street food stands at the Myeongdong Night Market, and then say goodbye to Seoul as you walk nostalgically back to your place.
Final thoughts on how to spend the perfect 5 days in Seoul
While there are so many ways and variations of how you could spend 5 days in Seoul, I consider this itinerary to be the perfect mix of must-sees, off-the-beaten-path, and unique experiences.
Complemented by an open option for a day trip, based on your personal preferences.
Covering the main sights like the Bukchon Hanok Village and Gyeongbokgung Palace, taking you to the most modern side of town, like Gangnam, to the trendy, up-and-coming Seongsudong, this itinerary shows you so many areas of Seoul.
So you can leave feeling like you truly saw this city, and all its phases.
While every itinerary is customizable, I hope my 5-day Seoul itinerary provides you with a good, solid base to plan your own trip to this incredible city.
Is there anything else that you would like to add to your 5 days in Seoul? Or something that you would swap? Let us know in the comments.