{"id":7018,"date":"2026-08-27T09:00:20","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T07:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/what-to-do-in-seoul"},"modified":"2026-08-27T09:00:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T07:00:20","slug":"what-to-do-in-seoul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.travel.orange.com\/en\/what-to-do-in-seoul","title":{"rendered":"What to Do in Seoul: 10 Highlights of the Korean Capital"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.sayna-article .quick,.sayna-article .tip{background:#f4f7fb;border-left:4px solid #467AFF;border-radius:8px;padding:14px 18px;margin:20px 0}.sayna-article .tip{background:#fff7ef;border-left-color:#ff7900}.sayna-article .h{font-weight:700;font-size:1.05em;margin-bottom:6px;color:#0a0a0b}.sayna-article table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;margin:18px 0}.sayna-article th{background:#eef1f7;text-align:left;padding:10px 12px;font-weight:700;border-bottom:2px solid #dfe3ec}.sayna-article td{padding:10px 12px;border-bottom:1px solid #eef1f7}.sayna-article .faq details{border-bottom:1px solid #e5e8ee;padding:4px 0}.sayna-article .faq summary{font-weight:600;cursor:pointer;padding:9px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box{background:#fff5ec;border:1px solid #ffd8b0;border-radius:12px;padding:22px;text-align:center;margin:26px 0}.sayna-article .cta-box a{display:inline-block;background:#ff7900;color:#fff;padding:12px 26px;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;font-weight:700;margin-top:8px}<\/style>\n<div class=\"sayna-article\">\n<div class=\"quick\">\n<div class=\"h\">\u26a1 In short<\/div>\n<p>For a first trip, the <strong>essentials of Seoul<\/strong> are the royal palaces (start with <strong>Gyeongbokgung<\/strong>), <strong>Bukchon Hanok Village<\/strong>, the shopping and street food of <strong>Myeongdong<\/strong>, the nightlife of <strong>Hongdae<\/strong>, and a <strong>DMZ day trip<\/strong>. Three days covers it. Get around on the metro with a T-money card, and keep Naver Map running, because Google Maps does not work properly here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\"><span class=\"h\">Stay connected on arrival<\/span> Set up your <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/south-korea\">eSIM for South Korea<\/a> before you go: 100% online activation, no physical SIM to swap.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<nav aria-label=\"Table of contents\" class=\"toc\">\n<div class=\"h\">Contents<\/div>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#areas\">The neighbourhoods to know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#palaces\">The royal palaces<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bukchon\">Bukchon Hanok Village<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#myeongdong\">Myeongdong and shopping<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nightlife\">Nightlife in Hongdae and Gangnam<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dmz\">A DMZ day trip<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#3days\">Seoul in 3 days<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#connected\">Getting around and staying connected<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<p>Seoul is huge, fast and surprisingly green, a city where a 600-year-old palace sits a metro stop from a neon shopping district. First-timers can feel they are missing something because there is so much of it. There is no need to.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the highlights that genuinely earn your time, how I would rank them, and a three-day plan that links them without zigzagging across the city.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"areas\">The neighbourhoods to know<\/h2>\n<p>Seoul makes more sense once you map it by district. A quick lay of the land:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Jongno and Gwanghwamun:<\/strong> the historic heart, where the palaces and hanok villages cluster. Base yourself near here for a first trip.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Myeongdong:<\/strong> central, packed with shopping, cosmetics shops and evening street food.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hongdae:<\/strong> young, creative, the best nightlife and live music, around Hongik University.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Gangnam:<\/strong> south of the river, polished and upmarket, for high-end shopping and clubs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Itaewon:<\/strong> the international district, diverse food and bars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>My take on where to stay: pick Jongno or Myeongdong for a first visit. You will be walking distance from the palaces and on the metro lines that reach everything else.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"palaces\">The royal palaces<\/h2>\n<p>Seoul has five grand Joseon-era palaces, and you do not need all five. Two are essential.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gyeongbokgung<\/strong> is the largest and the one to prioritise, the original royal seat with its sweeping courtyards and the mountain rising behind. Time your visit for the <strong>changing of the guard ceremony<\/strong> at the main gate, and note it usually <strong>closes on Tuesdays<\/strong>. A money-saving local trick: rent a <strong>hanbok<\/strong>, the traditional dress, from a nearby shop and you get in <strong>free<\/strong>, which is why you see so many visitors in costume.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Changdeokgung<\/strong> is the quieter, arguably more beautiful one, a UNESCO site whose <strong>Secret Garden<\/strong> (Huwon) is the highlight. Access to the garden is by timed guided tour only, so book that slot when you arrive. If you must choose one palace, do Gyeongbokgung for grandeur; add Changdeokgung if you have the morning.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"bukchon\">Bukchon Hanok Village<\/h2>\n<p>Between the two palaces sits <strong>Bukchon Hanok Village<\/strong>, a hillside of preserved traditional <strong>hanok<\/strong> houses with curved tiled roofs and lanes that frame the city skyline. It is genuinely lovely and genuinely residential, which matters: real people live here.<\/p>\n<p>Be a considerate guest. Visiting hours are posted as <strong>10:00 to 17:00<\/strong> to protect residents from constant noise, signs ask for quiet, and early on a weekday morning is both the most respectful time and the one with the best light and fewest crowds.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"myeongdong\">Myeongdong and shopping<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Myeongdong<\/strong> is shopping central, famous for Korean cosmetics and fashion, but the real draw after dark is the <strong>street food<\/strong>. The evening stalls turn out everything from skewered cheese lobster to tornado potatoes, grilled scallops and egg bread. Come hungry around dusk, graze your way down the street, and treat the shopping as the side dish. For traditional goods and a more local feel, the nearby <strong>Insadong<\/strong> lane and <strong>Gwangjang Market<\/strong>, a legendary old food market, are better value.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"nightlife\">Nightlife in Hongdae and Gangnam<\/h2>\n<p>Seoul comes alive at night, and the two poles could not be more different. <strong>Hongdae<\/strong> is the young, indie heart of the city, with free street performances most weekends, live music, cheap bars and a buzz that runs late. <strong>Gangnam<\/strong>, across the river, is the polished, pricier scene of upscale clubs and bars. My steer for most visitors: start in Hongdae for energy and value, save Gangnam for one upmarket night if it suits you.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"dmz\">A DMZ day trip<\/h2>\n<p>The <strong>Demilitarised Zone<\/strong> on the border with North Korea is Seoul&#8217;s most striking excursion, and one you cannot do alone, so book an organised tour. Most include the <strong>Third Infiltration Tunnel<\/strong>, dug by the North and now walkable, and the <strong>Dora Observatory<\/strong>, where you look across the border into North Korea. It is sobering, fascinating and well worth a half or full day. <strong>Bring your passport<\/strong>, it is required, and book ahead because tours sell out and some sites close on Mondays.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"3days\">Seoul in 3 days<\/h2>\n<p>Short on time? This plan groups the sights by area so you walk more and commute less.<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Time<\/th>\n<th>Day 1: Old Seoul<\/th>\n<th>Day 2: Modern Seoul<\/th>\n<th>Day 3: DMZ<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Morning<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Gyeongbokgung &amp; guard ceremony<\/td>\n<td>Namsan &amp; N Seoul Tower<\/td>\n<td>DMZ tour (book ahead)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Midday<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Bukchon Hanok Village<\/td>\n<td>Myeongdong shopping<\/td>\n<td>Return to Seoul<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Afternoon<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Changdeokgung &amp; Secret Garden<\/td>\n<td>Gangnam or Insadong<\/td>\n<td>Gwangjang Market<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Evening<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Insadong dinner<\/td>\n<td>Hongdae nightlife<\/td>\n<td>Han River walk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 id=\"connected\">Getting around and staying connected<\/h2>\n<p>Seoul&#8217;s metro is one of the best in the world: fast, spotless, cheap and signed in English. Get a <strong>T-money card<\/strong>, tap in and out, and use the <strong>Naver Map<\/strong> or <strong>Subway Korea<\/strong> app to plan routes and exits. Remember that <strong>Google Maps is restricted in Korea<\/strong> and will not give you walking or transit directions, so those local apps are not optional.<\/p>\n<p>To use them, plus Papago for menus and Kakao T for the occasional taxi, you need data from the moment you arrive. Rather than hunt for a SIM at Incheon, activate an <a class=\"cta-inline\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/south-korea\">eSIM for South Korea<\/a> before you fly. You are online as you step off the plane, on Korea&#8217;s 4G\/5G network, among the fastest anywhere.<\/p>\n<div class=\"tip\">\n<div class=\"h\">\ud83d\udca1 Worth remembering<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Prioritise Gyeongbokgung; wear a rented hanbok to get in free.<\/li>\n<li>Gyeongbokgung usually closes on Tuesdays; book Changdeokgung&#8217;s Secret Garden tour on arrival.<\/li>\n<li>Visit Bukchon early on a weekday and keep the noise down; people live there.<\/li>\n<li>Myeongdong is best at dusk for street food, not just shopping.<\/li>\n<li>Book the DMZ tour ahead and bring your passport; some sites close on Mondays.<\/li>\n<li>Use a T-money card and Naver Map; Google Maps does not work for directions here.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>With Orange, the service from a brand trusted by <strong>over 300 million customers<\/strong>, you travel with peace of mind: <strong>200+ destinations<\/strong> covered, <strong>24\/7<\/strong> human support, and a <strong>full refund<\/strong> if you never use your eSIM.<\/p>\n<div class=\"cta-box\">\n<p>Explore Seoul without ever losing your way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travel.orange.com\/en\/buy-a-sim\/offers\/south-korea\">Discover the Orange Travel South Korea eSIM<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<section aria-label=\"Frequently asked questions\" class=\"faq\">\n<h2>Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>What are the must-see places in Seoul?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung&#8217;s Secret Garden, Myeongdong, Hongdae and a DMZ day trip. Add Namsan Tower and a Han River evening if you have time.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>How many days do you need in Seoul?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Three full days cover the essentials. Five days lets you add a cooking class, a jjimjilbang and a Han River evening at an easier pace.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Is Gyeongbokgung Palace worth visiting?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Yes, it is the grandest palace and the one to prioritise. Time it for the guard ceremony, note it closes on Tuesdays, and wear a rented hanbok to get in free.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>Can you visit the DMZ from Seoul?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">Yes, on an organised day trip, the only way to access most of it. Tours usually include the Third Infiltration Tunnel and Dora Observatory. Book ahead and bring your passport.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<details open=\"\">\n<summary>How do I get around Seoul?<\/summary>\n<div class=\"a\">The metro, with a T-money card and the Naver Map or Subway Korea app, since Google Maps is restricted. An Orange Travel eSIM keeps you connected to use them from arrival.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":7017,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"What to Do in Seoul: 10 Must-See Highlights for 2026 | Orange Travel","_seopress_titles_desc":"What to do in Seoul: palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong, Hongdae nightlife and a DMZ day trip, plus a 3-day itinerary. 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