Travel in Korea

Seoul travel guide: neighbourhoods, sights and practical tips

Royal palaces next to glass towers, hanok alleys a few minutes from neon streets: Seoul rewards curious travellers. Here is how to arrive, where to stay and what not to miss.

Updated 3 October 2026 · 8 min read

Airport to city: About 45 minutes by AREX Express
Getting around: Subway with T-money or Climate Card
Must-sees: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Namsan
Areas to stay: Jongno, Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam

Arriving in Seoul

From Incheon Airport, the AREX Express train runs non-stop to Seoul Station in about 43 minutes from Terminal 1 (a little longer from Terminal 2). The all-stop AREX takes about an hour and stops at Gimpo Airport and Hongik University, handy for Hongdae. Airport limousine buses reach most hotel districts, and taxis are available around the clock.

Where to stay: the neighbourhoods

Jongno and Insadong — palaces, tea houses and craft shops; ideal for history lovers.
Myeongdong — central, lively and full of shops and street food; easy for a first visit.
Hongdae — the university district: street music, cafés and nightlife.
Itaewon — international restaurants and a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
Seongsu — converted factories, design shops and some of the city’s best cafés.
Gangnam — business district, shopping malls and K-pop agencies, south of the Han River.

Before you book Seoul

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Palaces and history

Start with Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace, and its changing of the guard. Changdeokgung and its Secret Garden are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as is the Jongmyo royal shrine. Visitors wearing hanbok, the traditional dress, enjoy free entry to the main palaces — rental shops surround Gyeongbokgung.

Between the palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village preserves hundreds of traditional houses. People live there: keep your voice down, and note that visiting hours now apply in parts of the village.

Views, markets and modern Seoul

Take the cable car or walk up Namsan to N Seoul Tower for the classic panorama, or go higher at Lotte World Tower. Zaha Hadid’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza is surrounded by night markets, and Gwangjang Market is the place for bindaetteok pancakes and fresh noodles. Evenings belong to Myeongdong, Hongdae and the riverside.

The Han River and green Seoul

The Han River parks are where Seoul relaxes: picnics, cycling on the riverside paths and evening chicken-and-beer. In the city centre, the restored Cheonggyecheon stream makes a peaceful walk, and Bukhansan National Park, reachable by subway and bus, offers real mountain hiking within city limits.

A simple first day in Seoul

Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace, then the alleys of Bukchon.
Lunch: Insadong, for traditional dishes and tea.
Afternoon: Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden (guided tour).
Evening: Namsan and N Seoul Tower at sunset, then dinner in Myeongdong.

Practical tips

Use Naver Map or KakaoMap rather than Google Maps for directions.
A Climate Card or T-money card makes the subway effortless — see getting around Korea.
Convenience stores are open 24 hours and sell almost everything, from SIM cards to hot meals.
Seoul is a late city: many restaurants and shops stay open well into the night.