How To Spend 4 Days In Seoul, South Korea: An Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
From skincare and beauty to K-Pop and K-Dramas, Seoul has rapidly become a trending travel destination. But beyond the beauty and entertainment aspects, Seoul has a fascinating history, amazing food, and (in my opinion) friendly and kind people that make it worth the visit.
You could easily spend a week in Seoul alone, but since most people don’t spend that much time, here are my suggestions on how to spend 4 days in Seoul, South Korea.
How to Arrive Into Seoul
Chances are you are flying into Seoul, in which case the main international airport is Incheon, which is quite a bit out of the city centre. Taxis are quite pricey so I recommend taking the airport limousine buses. There are several depending on which neighbourhood you are going to and the buses have luggage storage underneath making it easy to travel with large suitcases or bags.
Tickets can be bought from machines or a staffed counter- just know the stop closest to your hotel, and they will help you figure out the rest. It’s actually very easy to navigate- even when you have been travelling for 20 hours!
Getting Around Seoul
Seoul is a massive city, and while many neighbourhoods are great to explore on foot, you will need to use transportation to get around. The T-Money card is your best bet for buses and subways. You can buy a physical card at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, but they can be annoying because you can only load them with cash if you are trying to top up at a metro station. Instead, I suggest downloading the app but reviews have said don’t add it to your Apple Wallet, keep it separate in the app or you could have issues. Overall, I found the public transit system very easy to use!
Taxis and Uber (or K.Ride which is the local app) are also available in the city and are handy if you need to trek to the train station with your luggage. However, I recommended the metro because there is quite a bit of traffic.
Where to Stay in Seoul
There are lots of different neighbourhoods in Seoul that people love to recommend. If you like clubs and partying, you might like Hongdae. Myeongdong is considered a main hub that appeals to some but might seem too chaotic to others. Personally, I stayed near Gyongbokgung Palace, and I loved this area. Tons of little restaurants and cafes, easy for airport bus and not too far from the main train station, and easy to get around on both bus and metro. I also felt super safe here as a solo female traveller.
It’s also a cool area because a lot of the accommodation options here are traditional Hanok stays.
I stayed at Hanok Hanok Boutique Hotel. It was very simple and and rooms did run on the small side. However, it was super affordable, clean, run by friendly staff, and in a great location. Plus the airport bus dropped me off right around the corer.
For something a little more upscale try NuileStay or The Chae which are also traditional hanok homes in this area.
How to Spend 4 Days in Seoul, South Korea
As mentioned, 4 days in Seoul is not enough to see it all, but you will see some of the highlights. If you have specific neighbourhoods that you have your heart set on, then prioritize those. But for those coming to Seoul just ready to explore and experience a mix, here are my suggestions.
Note: This is not necessarily meant to be followed in a specific order. Mix it up as you please!
Day 1: Arrive & Food Tour
Welcome to Seoul! Chances are it took you a long time to get here so today will be a little more chill but also still introduce you to the city. Once you have checked in and freshen up you can use this opportunity to explore the neighbourhood. If you are staying by Gyeongbokgung Palace, there is a food market called Tongin Traditional Market which is famous for its DIY lunch box experience. Alternatively, check out any of the cool cafes in the area as you wander, but don’t eat too much, because tonight you should join this food tour in Gwangjang market.
It’s a great introduction to Seoul and Korean food. Your guide will take you around the local market to stalls of popular Korean foods including a spot where Gordon Ramsay has eaten. You will even try hand-cut noodles from a woman who featured in a Netflix street food documentary episode!
There are so many delicious things to try, and you’ll learn some Korean drinking games along the way. It’s fun, social, and the perfect way to start your trip. Book this tour here.
Day 2: Hanbok Rental at Gyeongbokgung Palace & Jongno District
The Jongno district is considered to be the cultural and historical heart of Seoul and has tons to see and explore. Start your day with a photo storytelling session at Gyeongbokgung Palace with DaeHan Hanbok. This was one of my favoruite things I did in Seoul and you can book it here (but it fills up quickly, so reserve in advance!). The session includes traditional hanbok rental (men and women- plus sizes as well!) and, for women, hair styling. You will then join a small group with your photo guide on a mini tour around the palace where you will learn about Korean history and the royalty while getting some (epic) photos of yourself in the hanbok. I loved it and found it to be very good value.
You can keep the Hanbok for the day (wearing it gets you free entry into other palaces) or return it when you wrap up around 11am or so. From here, take the metro to Anguk station. This area has a couple more palaces and is known for it’s architecture as well as artisan shops. It’s perfect for spending the afternoon and evening exploring. Consider checking out:
- Changdeokgung Palace (there is also the secret garden, which needs separate tickets reserved in advance)
- Changgyeonggung Palace
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- Insa-dong Culture Street
There is also an amazing bakery in this area called Artist Bakery, and they have INCREDIBLE salt breads. Wow, so good! But it does get busy, and you may have to wait awhile, especially if you want a seat. But it’s worth it! (Lemon was my favourite!)
Day 3: Myeong-Dong, Hongdae, and a Spooky Walking Tour
Myeong-Dong and Hongdae are two of the trendiest areas in Seoul, and while I personally wouldn’t recommend staying in either, I think they are both worth checking out and can easily be combined in one day.
Myeong-Dong is where you are going to find all things K-Beauty. Olive Young is, of course, the best known beauty shop with all kinds of Korean skin care and beauty options. It can be very overwhelming, so I suggest doing a bit of research ahead of time and know what you want rather than going in blind. Staff are always super busy, so it’s not easy to get help.
Even if you aren’t into makeup, the skin care options are great. I got the birch juice sunscreen, which is meant to be much better than anything I can get in Canada, along with a skin barrier repair cream that I read up on as being really good for dry damaged skin. I also stocked up on moisturizing lip balms and face masks. You can also get tax-free if applicable, so bring your passport!
On the skincare theme, there are tons of beauty procedures you can book in advance too, a lot of clinics are in this area. I wanted to do a skin analysis and I did a free one at the Mixsoon flagship. It was really quick, but they gave me a breakdown of my problem areas and recommended products to help. I ended up buying their face wash which I LOVE and now want to find more of their products.
I will say when it comes to beauty treatments, a lot is meant to be less expensive than in Western countries. However, nails do not fall under that category. I had mine done (desperately needed it after a month diving/snorkelling in the Maldives) and it cost significantly more than it would have at home.
Hongdae has a reputation for being the cool clubbing area, and while I can’t speak to that, I can say it’s fun to wander around a bit in the afternoon just for the vibes. Lots of shopping here as well. My favourite souvenir from South Korea is from here; I got to make a custom perfume at Maison de Parfum 121. They have dozens of scents to choose from and mix and you can even pick the colour of the label, cap, and name it. It was really fun, and I like this it’s a souvenir I will use.
Finally, in the evening, if you are someone who likes haunted things and ghost tours, then I highly recommend the Seoul Ghost Walk with the Dark Side of Seoul. They offer two different tours, I did the Dark Side of Seoul: Ghostlore and Urban Legends ghost walk with Shawn on recommendation from a friend and it was really interesting. Not going to lie, there were a couple of bits that definitely creeped me out (I’m a big baby when it comes to supernatural stories) but I did find it SUPER interesting and Shawn is an excellent storyteller. It’s a fun way to spend an evening a learn a little more about the folklore and legends of the local culture. You can book this tour here.
Day 4: DMZ Tour
You could absolutely explore another neighbourhood in Seoul, but I really think the DMZ tour is worth it. It’s fascinating and a history that many of us from Canada and the US especially, know nothing about. There are a bazillion options but based on my own experience I suggest you pick one that is smaller (around 12 people) if you are solo, because then you at least know someone is looking out for you and you are memorable as other groups can be quite large. Also, make sure what you choose includes an opportunity to hear a defector speak. There is also an add on for a suspension bridge. In my opinion, the bridge wasn’t worth it, but that’s up to you. This is the company I used, and you can choose the bridge add on or private tour option when you select your date.
Note that as of my visit (Oct 2026) no photos are allowed from the observatory or in the tunnel. The tunnel is very steep and very low at the bottom, so keep that in mind as well if you have any mobility issues.
Final Tips for 4 Days in Seoul
Seoul is so fun and as I said I found it incredibly easy to navigate, however, the usual apps many of us use are not relevant here!
For getting around and maps you want to download Naver Maps, as Google Maps does not work.
Papago is great for translating (again, Google translate struggles in South Korea.)
And again T-money for public transit. There is also Uber, or you can use k.ride which is the local version.
I loved my time in Seoul but it did take a bit of planning just because there is so much to see and do. So, I hope this itinerary comes in handy for your 4 days in Seoul!
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Don’t forget travel insurance!
Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. New Nomad Essential users can get 8 weeks of free electronic coverage for free with promo code HL10.
For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad for competitive insurance pricing.
*As always, make sure to read the fine print to understand exactly what your insurance covers.
Book your accommodation
I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save.
Book your tours
My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers.
Get connected
If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I have used esims around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA- they are super easy and you don’t risk losing your home sim! There are two brands I have used and recommend so I suggest comparing both.
Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.
Sim Local: Another easy to use alternative with competitive pricing. Here’s my link with a promo code.
Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.
Not sure what to pack?
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