First time · Seoul

First time in Seoul서울

Seoul is a subway city: do the palaces and Bukchon before 11:00, stay indoors at midday in summer, and save Myeongdong and Hongdae for the evening.

Everything here is a short version of the Seoul guide. Prices and hours are estimates: check before you rely on them.

The honest verdict

Seoul's sights are spread over a wide basin, but the subway reaches all of them and runs late. The trips that go wrong pay for it in three ways: palaces on their closed weekday, hills with a suitcase in Bukchon, and a landing after 23:00 with a guesthouse door that locks. Four walking clusters cover a first visit; one bed is enough.

Five things not to miss

1Gyeongbokgung PalaceThe main Joseon palace with its throne hall, lake pavilion and gate ceremony; in a hanbok, entry is free.Best 09:00 opening; closed Tue · ₩3,000 (≈ US$3)
2Changdeokgung and the Secret GardenThe palace built to follow the hills, and a guided walk through royal pavilions and ponds in the woods behind it.Best Morning garden slot; closed Mon · ₩3,000 (≈ US$3) + ₩5,000 (≈ US$4) garden (check)
3Bukchon Hanok VillageLived-in lanes of tiled hanok roofs between two palaces, with views down to the towers.Best 10:00–11:30 on a weekday · Free
4National Museum of KoreaFree, vast and calm: gold crowns, celadon and the pensive Buddhas room.Best Any day; the rainy or hot afternoon · Free
5Gwangjang Market food eveningMung-bean pancakes, gimbap and makgeolli at the counters of Seoul's oldest covered market.Best 17:00–20:00 · ₩15,000–30,000 (≈ US$11–25)

The full top 10 →

Where to stay on a first visit

MyeongdongFor: First visit, 2–4 nights, shoppersOne stop from Seoul Station, flat streets and the most central hotels.

Compare every sleep area →

From the airport

Incheon International Airport (ICN)

Fastest: Taxi from ICN to your door (night surcharge and bridge toll) · about 55 min · about ₩85,000 (≈ US$65)
Cheapest: AREX all-stop train to Seoul Station · about 62 min · about ₩5,000 (≈ US$4)

Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.

Airport-to-bed timings →

How long to stay

1 day: A stopover or a first day after a morning arrival
2 days: A long weekend in the old city
3 days: First visit with the four clusters and a river evening
5 days: The city plus two days out

Itineraries by length →

Three mistakes to avoid

Taxis at Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and the airport that quote a flat price or skip the meter at night: use the taxi rank, a taxi app or insist on the meter.(Scams)
Palaces: no climbing on walls or steps; follow guard instructions.(Survive · red lines)
Cross at signals; drivers turn into crossings, so look before stepping off the kerb.(Survive · safety)

Scams and safety →

Money and SIM

Budget day: ₩50,000–90,000 (≈ US$40–65) excl. bed
Paying: Cards work almost everywhere, including taxis, markets' larger stalls and convenience stores; foreign cards occasionally fail at small shops and machines. Keep ₩30,000–50,000 (≈ US$25–40) in ₩1,000 (≈ under US$1) and ₩10,000 (≈ US$8) notes for street food, market snacks and T-money top-ups, which are cash-only at station machines.
Cash: Keep ₩30,000 (≈ US$25) in small notes for markets; use Global ATMs in convenience stores or banks, not on dark streets.
SIM: Tourist eSIM bought before you fly: Data only on most plans; cheapest and no queue. Some Korean apps and deliveries need a local number.

Money, SIMs and apps →

Etiquette: the top three

Shoes: Off where there is a raised floor or a shoe rack: homes, guesthouse rooms, floor-seated restaurants, temple halls.
Age and hierarchy: Greet elders first with a small bow; pour for others and turn your head slightly when drinking with seniors.
Two hands: Give and receive money, cards and drinks with two hands, or one hand supported by the other.

All etiquette notes →