South Korea / Seoul & Around / SeoulSeoul
Palaces, K-Culture and Street Food in the Capital
Korea's capital and the arrival city for flights from India. Stay around Myeongdong or Jongno for the Joseon palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung and its Secret Garden), the hanok lanes of Bukchon and Insadong, Gwangjang Market and N Seoul Tower; Hongdae is the student quarter for street performers, cafes and nightlife. The DMZ, the border with North Korea, is a day trip by tour bus. Indian restaurants cluster in Itaewon; temple food restaurants in Insadong serve fully vegan meals.
Highlights
- Changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung
- Changdeokgung's Secret Garden
- Hanok lanes of Bukchon
- Insadong tea houses and craft shops
- N Seoul Tower at sunset
- Myeongdong street food
- Gwangjang Market bindaetteok
- Hongdae buskers and nightlife
- DMZ day trip to the Third Tunnel
- Han River picnic and night cruise
- Lotte World Tower observation deck
- Indian food in Itaewon
Things to do
- Gyeongbokgung Palace & the changing of the guard (rent a hanbok for free entry)Morning · 2h 30m
- Bukchon Hanok Village lanes (residents' area: visit 10:00-17:00, quietly)Morning · 1h 30m
- Changdeokgung & Secret Garden guided tourAfternoon · 2h 30m
- DMZ day tour: Imjingak, Third Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory (passport needed)Morning · 7h
- Gwangjang Market food crawlEvening · 2h
- Myeongdong street food & skincare shoppingEvening · 2h 30m
- N Seoul Tower via Namsan cable car at sunsetEvening · 2h
- Hongdae street performers and cafesEvening · 3h
- Han River cruise from YeouidoEvening · 1h 30m
- National Museum of KoreaAfternoon · 2h 30m
- Insadong craft shops & the Ikseon-dong hanok alleysAfternoon · 2h
- Jongmyo royal ancestral shrineMorning · 1h
- Bongeunsa temple & the Starfield Library at COEXAfternoon · 2h
- Bukhansan hike to Baegundae peakMorning · 5h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – May, September – November
Worth knowing
Jangma: the Summer Monsoon
The monsoon (jangma) brings days of heavy rain from late June to late July, hot and humid in between. Flash floods can close riverside parks, mountain trails and some roads. Plan museums, markets and indoor days, carry an umbrella, and keep hiking days flexible.
Worth knowing
Seollal (Lunar New Year) Travel Rush
Seollal falls on 6 February 2027 (holidays 5-7 February). Trains, express buses and Jeju flights sell out weeks ahead, expressways jam, and many small restaurants and shops close for the three days. Book every train and flight that week early, or stay in one city over the holiday.
Worth knowing
Chuseok Holiday Rush
Chuseok, the harvest holiday, falls on 15 September 2027 (holidays 14-16 September; in 2026 it was 24-26 September). KTX and bus seats for the holiday sell out within hours of opening, roads are gridlocked, and many shops and family restaurants close. Stay put over the three days and book any train before or after them.
Heads up
Cherry Blossom Crowds
Peak cherry blossom (late March on Jeju and around Busan, early to mid-April in Seoul and Gyeongju) brings huge weekend crowds to the famous spots and higher hotel prices. Go on a weekday morning, and book rooms early.
Heads up
Autumn Foliage Season
Late October to mid-November is the most popular time of year: palaces, temples and tree-lined avenues (Nami Island, Gyeongju) are at their best and at their busiest at weekends. Book rooms early and visit the big sights on weekdays.
Heads up
Hard Winter Cold
December to February is dry and bitterly cold: Seoul averages around -2 °C in January with cold snaps to -15 °C and below, colder in Gangwon with the wind. Bring a down jacket, gloves, a hat and thermals; heated floors and hot soups make up for it. Sunny days are good for palaces and ski slopes.
Heads up
Fine Dust Days
Fine dust and yellow dust from the west are worst from late winter to spring: on bad days the sky is hazy and the air-quality index tells people to stay indoors. Check AirKorea or a weather app each morning and carry a KF94 mask (sold in every convenience store).
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) — Three days of family holiday when much of Korea travels home: KTX, SRT and express-bus seats sell out weeks ahead, Gimpo–Jeju flights are full, and many small restaurants, markets and shops close. Palaces and the big sights stay open, often with folk games and free entry days. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last day.
- Chuseok (harvest festival) — Korea's biggest holiday: tens of millions travel to their home towns, trains and buses sell out the day bookings open, expressways jam, and many family restaurants, markets and shops shut for the three days. Seoul's palaces and folk villages hold events. Plan to stay put in one city over the holiday, and book any train before it.
- Cherry blossom festivals — Blossom opens on Jeju and around Busan (Jinhae's Gunhangje festival, the biggest) in late March and reaches Seoul (Yeouido, Seokchon Lake) and Gyeongju (Bomun Lake) in the first half of April; peak bloom lasts about a week and the forecast moves with the weather. Weekends at the famous spots are packed and nearby hotels double.
- Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) — Before Buddha's Birthday, a lantern parade of tens of thousands runs down Jongno from Dongdaemun to Jogyesa on a Saturday evening; temples across the country hang lanterns for weeks. Jogyesa's lantern canopy in Insadong is free to see.
- Seoul Lantern Festival — Lit figures along the Cheonggyecheon stream in the city centre, evenings from November into December; free.
Part of a longer route
Seoul is a stop on a curated circuit through South Korea.