South Korea
Seoul
Korea's capital of palaces, markets and late-night neighborhoods. Stay 4 days. This guide pulls together 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov
- Warmest month
- August
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- July
4 See · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink
Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan
from our route notes
28°C / 83°F avg high
1°C / 33°F avg high
about 361 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Seoul
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Seoul across Jongno, Bukchon and Namsan. 2 of them are free.
Photo: 아삭 · GoogleSeeGyeongbokgung Palace
The largest of Seoul's Joseon palaces, with a guard-changing ceremony at the main gate.
Tip Entry is free if you wear hanbok; rental shops line the nearby streets.
Photo: Bgag · CC0SeeBukchon Hanok Village
Hillside lanes of traditional tiled-roof homes between two palaces.
Tip Residents live here; visiting hours are restricted to daytime, so keep voices down.
Photo: Tony Lin · GoogleSeeN Seoul Tower
Tower atop Namsan with a cable car and city views stretching to the mountains.
Tip Walk up the Namsan trails instead of queuing for the cable car.
Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0SeeNational Museum of Korea
Free national collection spanning gold Silla crowns to Joseon ceramics.
Tip Do not miss the quiet Room for Contemplation with two pensive Buddhas.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Seoul.
Photo: Peter Fainsan (Peeta) · GoogleOutdoorsChangdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon)
Guided walks through a royal garden of ponds, pavilions and old trees behind Changdeokgung.
Tip Tour slots are limited; book online days ahead.
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Geomr~commonswiki assumed (based on copyrig · CC BY-SA 3.0OutdoorsBukhansan National Park
Granite peaks inside city limits; the Baegundae summit hike takes about 4 hours round trip.
Tip Start early on weekdays; trails crowd on weekends.
Eat
2 places to eat across Jongno and Myeongdong, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Bgag · CC0EatGwangjang Market
Century-old market with stalls frying mung bean pancakes and serving yukhoe and mayak gimbap.
Tip Go after 6pm when the food alleys are fullest.
Photo: 명동교자 본점 · GoogleEatMyeongdong Kyoja
Long-running spot for kalguksu knife-cut noodles and dumplings since 1966.
Tip Lines move fast; free noodle refills are offered.
Drink
1 bar or café in Euljiro for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: HOYOUNG LEE (outlllaw) · GoogleDrinkEuljiro Nogari Alley
Plastic tables, cheap beer and dried pollack snacks spill into the street each evening.
Tip Busiest Thursday and Friday nights after work.
How to fit Seoul into a trip
Seoul is stop 1 of 3 on our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan route. Follow it as-is or lift Seoul into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan
Palaces, Silla tombs and a beach-city finish
- Trip length
- 9 days
- Best season
- Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov
- Pace
- easy
- Next: Gyeongju
Getting here and onward
- Seoul to GyeongjuGyeongju is about 276 km / 172 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Seoul month by month
Average daily highs run from 1°C / 33°F in January to 28°C / 83°F in August. July is the wettest month, with about 361 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan1° / 33°F average high
- Feb3° / 38°F average high
- Mar9° / 48°F average high
- Apr15° / 60°F average high, in our recommended season
- May21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jun26° / 78°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul28° / 82°F average high
- Aug28° / 83°F average high
- Sep25° / 76°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct19° / 65°F average high, in our recommended season
- Nov11° / 51°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec3° / 37°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Seoul weather and the best time to visit →
Near Seoul
2 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.
Seoul questions, answered
How many days do you need in Seoul?
Our route notes suggest 4 days in Seoul. On our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 9-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 16 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Seoul best known for?
Korea's capital of palaces, markets and late-night neighborhoods. Stay 4 days. Standouts on our list: Gyeongbokgung Palace (The largest of Seoul's Joseon palaces, with a guard-changing ceremony at the main gate); Bukchon Hanok Village (Hillside lanes of traditional tiled-roof homes between two palaces); N Seoul Tower (Tower atop Namsan with a cable car and city views stretching to the mountains).
When is the best time to visit Seoul?
Our Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan route is best Apr – Jun, Sep – Nov. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in August (28°C / 83°F), the coolest in January (1°C / 33°F) and the most rain in July (about 361 mm).
What are the best things to do in Seoul?
Start with Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon), Bukchon Hanok Village, N Seoul Tower and Bukhansan National Park. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 4 sights, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Seoul?
Our picks: Gwangjang Market (Jongno); Myeongdong Kyoja. Go after 6pm when the food alleys are fullest (Gwangjang Market).
What is near Seoul?
The closest destinations in our guides are Gyeongju (about 276 km / 172 mi) and Busan (about 325 km / 202 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Seoul with your crew
Open the Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.