Seoul: Your First 3 Days
The essentials
- Wear a hanbok and Gyeongbokgung, the other three main palaces and Jongmyo are free — rental shops cluster on Sajik-ro west of Gyeongbokgung; bring your passport.
- Since March 2026 you can buy single-ride subway tickets with an overseas card (Lines 1–8, 273 stations). Tap-to-ride with your own card starts in 2027.
- Three markets are enough: Gwangjang (Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 8, food alley 9am–11pm), Noryangjin fish market (24h, 2nd-floor stalls cook what you buy), Gyeongdong (Jegi-dong Station).
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- Travel Tips ·Show Up at Gyeongbokgung on Tuesday or Changdeokgung on Monday and You'll Find It Closed
Gyeongbokgung and Jongmyo close every Tuesday · Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung close every Monday · when a closing day falls on a public holiday, the site sometimes opens as normal instead.
- Travel Tips ·Lining Up at Five Ticket Booths? One Integrated Ticket Covers All Five for 6,000 Won
Integrated Admission Ticket, 6,000 won · valid for six months from the date of purchase · one admission each to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Jongmyo Shrine (Changdeokgung's rear garden not included) · sold at the ticket booth of any of the five sites.
- Travel Tips ·Gyeongbokgung Admission Is 3,000 Won — 0 Won If You Wear Hanbok
Gyeongbokgung's standard admission is 3,000 won · free admission if you wear hanbok (both traditional and modernized versions count) · the rule applies at Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs · address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul.
- K-Food ·Whole Autumn Loaches in a Red Broth: Seoul-Style Chutang, Served on the Same Corner Since 1932
Yonggeumok · 24-2 Dadong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul · 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. · closed on the second, fourth and fifth Sunday of each month · phone 02-777-1689 · the house dish is chutang, with fried loach as a side · a five-minute walk from Euljiro 1-ga Station on Subway Line 2, right beside the Cheonggyecheon stream · single portions available
- K-Culture ·One Silk Cord, a Knot Identical Front and Back — Hands-On Korean Craft in a Bukchon Hanok from 5,000 Won
▲Address: 24-5 Bukchon-ro 12-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, about a ten-minute walk from Anguk Station on Subway Line 3 ▲Hours: 10:00–18:00 from March to October, 10:00–17:00 from November to February; closed only on Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok day ▲Sessions: four a day, at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 ▲Fee: 5,000–20,000 won depending on the program, paid on site ▲Discount: 10% for foreign visitors holding a Korea Tour Card ▲Capacity: minimum 1, maximum 7 per session ▲Eligibility: elementary-school age and above ▲Booking: Seoul Public Service Reservation (yeyak.seoul.go.kr) or by phone at 02-741-2148; online booking closes at midnight seven days before your date, first come first served ▲Cancellation: up to three days before ▲Parking: none ▲Multilingual tourist interpretation: 1330
- How Far Into Korea? · No.22 ·Two Hours Forty Minutes From Seoul by Train, Then a Boardwalk Across 5.4 Square Kilometers of Reeds — Suncheonman Wetland
08:00–19:00 in March, April, September and October, with ticket sales closing at 18:00 · Closed the last Monday of every month · Combined ticket 10,000 won for adults, 7,000 won for teenagers, 5,000 won for children — that one ticket also covers Suncheonman National Garden, 7 kilometers away, on the same day · Address 513-25 Suncheonman-gil, Suncheon · About 35 minutes from Suncheon Station on city bus 66 · Inquiries 061-749-6052
- Money & Cards ·Your First 24 Hours in Seoul, Without Getting Stuck at the Card Reader
Incheon Airport Terminal 1 · shared ATMs open 24 hours (1st floor public area near Exits 4, 6, 9 and 11; 3rd floor public area near check-in counters C, E, J and L; basement level 1 beside the all-stop airport train ticket machines) · Woori Bank ATM open 24 hours (3rd floor public area near check-in counter H) · KB Kookmin foreign-currency ATM, 06:00–22:00 (3rd floor public area near check-in counters F and M) · 24-hour currency exchange (1st floor public area near Exits 6 and 11) · tourist hotline 1330
- K-Food ·After Chuseok, Noryangjin's Male Blue Crab Prices Spiked — How to Enjoy Autumn's Peak Season Without Getting Burned
Location: 674 Noldeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul — 150m from Line 1 Exit 9, or 70m via underpass from Line 9 Exit 7. Hours: open year-round, standard seafood 1:30am-10pm (busiest with visitors roughly 10am-3pm). Price: male blue crab around ₩18,000/kg (as of second week of Sept 2026). Second-floor dining extras: table-setting fee ₩2,000-4,000/person, spicy fish stew ₩4,000-5,000/person, steaming/cooking fees vary by shop. Contact: Noryangjin Susan Corp., 02-2254-8000.
- K-Entertainment ·TXT's New World Tour Opens Nov. 13 in Seoul — 3 Things to Check Before Ticket Sales Open
Tomorrow X Together (TXT) opens its new world tour "STEAL THE WIND" with three shows, November 13-15, at KSPO Dome inside Olympic Park, Songpa District, Seoul. …
- K-Beauty Experience ·Miss the Booking, Lose ₩52,000: A Hands-On K-Beauty Experience at AMORE Seongsu
On a Tuesday afternoon, a five-minute walk from Exit 2 of Seongsu Station brings you to a building where a glass-walled garden sits behind a concrete facade -- …
- Transport & Luggage ·Getting Through Seoul Station and Incheon Airport With Luggage or a Stroller
AREX Express, 11,000 won, 43-51 min, no stops. AREX local, from 5,050 won, 59-66 min, 14 stops. Limousine bus, ~17,000 won, 60-90 min, under-seat luggage space. Seoul Station lockers: 2,000/3,000/4,000 won (S/M/L) per 4 hrs, open 5:00-24:00. City Airport Terminal: B2, open 5:20-19:00, limited airlines. Luggage courier: 18,000-30,000 won.
- Festivals & Events ·Tonight in Seoul: Watch a Free Joseon-Era Palace Banquet at Changgyeonggung
September 24 - October 4 (closed Mondays) · 5:00-8:30 p.m. · Paid experience: 50,000 won per ticket, covering one costumed participant plus up to two family members, maximum two tickets per person · Missed the advance reservation? Up to 70 free walk-in spots per session, first-come, first-served · Munjeongjeon Hall area, Changgyeonggung Palace, 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul · Inquiries: 1522-2295.
- K-Culture · Experience ·Aiming at a Target 20 Meters Away — Traditional Archery at Seoul's Hwanghakjeong
Location Hwanghakjeong Korean Traditional Archery Exhibition Hall (15-32 Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) · Getting there 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gyeongbokgung Station · Hours Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 (closed Mondays) · Experience fee 4,000 won for 10 arrows (2,000 won for an additional 10) · Eligibility age 8 and older · Inquiries 02-722-1600
- K-Food ·The Smell of Grilled Autumn Gizzard Shad at Noryangjin
Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market · 674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul · About a 5-minute walk from Noryangjin Station (Subway Lines 1 and 9) · Open 24 hours for auctions and retail; the 2nd-floor food stalls will cook what you buy on the spot.
- K-Culture ·Why You Should Rent a Hanbok Right by Gyeongbokgung
Wearing hanbok gets you free admission to Gyeongbokgung and Korea's other three main palaces, plus Jongmyo Shrine · Rental shops cluster along Sajik-ro, just west of Gyeongbokgung · Rental periods usually run 2 to 4 hours · An ID (passport) is required to rent.
- Travel Safety ·How to Dodge Myeongdong's Late-Night Taxi Overcharging
Report overcharging to the Dasan Call Center at 120 (foreign-language support available) or the Tourist Police at 1330 · Confirmed violations carry a license suspension of up to 30 days · The best defense is booking through an app like Kakao T, which locks in the fare before you ride.
- K-Food ·Follow the Smell of Herbs and You'll Find the Greens Alley — Autumn at Gyeongdong Market
Location around Gyeongdong Market, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (near Jegi-dong Station, Subway Line 1) · What to see market alleys lined with wild-greens and dried-goods stalls that flow straight into a traditional herbal-medicine district.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·Making Mulberry Paper With Your Own Hands — Hanji Craft at Namsangol Hanok Village
Location 28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Namsangol Hanok Village Traditional Craft Center) · Running April 3-Oct. 25, 2026, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday · Hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (excluding lunch break noon-1 p.m.), about 50 minutes per session · Choose from hanji paper craft, embroidery craft, bojagi wrapping-cloth craft, mother-of-pearl inlay, making traditional sweets, making accessories, or making a traditional bow · Group inquiries 02-6358-5538.
- K-Entertainment ·TXT's 'STEAL THE WIND' Seoul Concert: When Should International Fans Start Ticketing?
Dates November 13-15, 2026 (Fri-Sun) · Venue KSPO DOME (424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul; Olympic Park Station, subway lines 5 and 9) · Ticket schedule Korean membership presale Oct. 1, global membership presale Oct. 2, general sale Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. KST · Ticketing sites Korea: nol.yanolja.com, Global: world.nol.com.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·Can You Experience a Mountain Temple in a Single Day? Jingwansa's Day-Program Templestay in Seoul
Location Jingwansa Temple, 73 Jingwan-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul · Day-program fee roughly 20,000-30,000 won (varies by program) · Reservations search the temple's name at templestay.com · Some programs offer English guidance · Inquiries Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, +82-2-2031-2000.
- ·Free Pass to 12 Seoul Palaces and Royal Tombs Available at the Airport Through Oct. 11
runs September 19 to October 11 · free, first-come first-served distribution at four tourist information centers, Incheon Airport Terminal 1 (east and west) and Terminal 2, and Gimpo Airport · Myeongdong Welcome Center October 1-8, near Myeongdong Station Exit 6 · 20 percent discount on Han River cruises from the Yeouido pier · Seoul Culture Lounge programs September 19-October 10 (11th floor, Samil Building, 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro) · website autumn.sto.or.kr.
- K-Food ·Follow the Smell of Sizzling Oil to Gwangjang Market's Pancakes and Addictive Gimbap
Location near Exit 8, Jongno 5(o)-ga Station, between Cheonggyecheon 3-ga and 4-ga, Seoul · Market hours 9am-6pm, closed Sundays · Food alley hours 9am-11pm, open every day.
- K-Entertainment ·Hwang Min-hyun's Asia Tour Opens in Seoul: What to Know Before You Book
Event 2026 HWANG MINHYUN FANMEETING [Peach-Blossom] in Seoul · Dates Oct 16 (Fri) 8pm, Oct 17 (Sat) 6pm, Oct 18 (Sun) 5pm KST · Venue Coex Artium, Woori Bank Hall (513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) · Ticket price 110,000 won, all seats the same · Exclusive ticket seller NOL (Interpark Global) · Inquiries 1661-5628.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·A Seongsu Backstreet Pottery Class: Throwing Your Own Mug by Hand
Location 2F, 328-18 Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · Duration about 1 hour · Cost 50,000 won · Booking required in advance through Mocha Class (mochaclass.com) · The finished piece cannot be taken home the same day — it still needs drying and a first firing.
- Transport & Payments ·Can You Ride Seoul's Subway With Just an Overseas Card? What Works Now and What Changes in 2027
Card payment at machines available since March 17, 2026; tap-to-ride rollout begins in 2027 / Coverage: Seoul subway Lines 1-8, 273 stations, 440 new machines / Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard and other overseas-issued credit and debit cards, plus Kakao Pay and Naver Pay / What you can buy: single-journey tickets, purchase and top-up of the Climate Card (Seoul's unlimited transit pass), and 1/2/3/5/7-day short-term passes (30-day passes not yet supported) / Average service fee: about 3.7% / Contact: Seoul Metro, T-money.
- K-Beauty · Shopping ·Myeongdong's Three Shopping Routes Compared: From Instant Refunds to Duty-Free
Location Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul (eight Olive Young stores alone, one to three minutes apart on foot) · Olive Young Central Myeongdong Town opened March 26, 2026 — three floors, about 1,000 brands, roughly 15,000 items · Roadside instant tax refund available on purchases of 30,000 won or more (passport required) · Expect a 15-30 minute wait at refund counters on weekends.
- K-Entertainment ·The King of Singers Takes the Stage — What Overseas Fans Should Know About Cho Yong-pil's November Concert
"2026 Cho Yong-pil & Widae-han Tanseng Concert" in Seoul · Nov 27 (Fri) 7pm, Nov 28 (Sat) 6pm, Nov 29 (Sun) 5pm · KSPO DOME (Olympic Gymnastics Arena), Songpa-gu, Seoul · Tickets sold exclusively through YES24 · Prices from 110,000 won (A seats) to 176,000 won (VIP).
- Transit Guide ·No More Missing the Last Train — AREX Extends Chuseok Night Service to Seoul Station
Sept 26 (Sat)-27 (Sun), two nights only · Northbound last train from Incheon Airport Terminal 2, previously ending at Digital Media City Station, extended to Seoul Station (arriving 12:57 a.m.) · Southbound last train from Seoul Station, previously ending at Geomam Station, extended to Incheon Airport Terminal 2 (arriving 1:07 a.m.) · Incheon Subway Lines 1 and 2 will also add six late-night trains each on both nights, 12 extra runs in total.
- Heritage & Holiday Guide ·Chuseok's Four Free Days: Seoul's Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Open Without Charge
Sept 24 (Thu)-27 (Sun), four days · Free admission to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs · Jongmyo, which normally requires a reserved guided-tour slot, can be visited without reservation during this period · Inquiries: Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center.
- K-Food ·Where to Find Real Yakgwa in Seoul Before Chuseok: Jongno Tradition Meets a Modern Twist
Jongno Bokddeokbang (Jongno 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul; opened 1965) · Cafe Eum (36 Seogang-ro 11-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the Gyeongui Line Forest Park trail) · Chuseok holiday 2026: September 24-26.
- K-Entertainment ·Roy Kim's November Seoul Concert Sold Out: How to Chase Cancellation Tickets and Reach KSPO DOME
'2026-27 Roy Kim LIVE TOUR [R:O:Y] in SEOUL' · November 21-22, 2026 · KSPO DOME (424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, inside Olympic Park) · Tickets via NOL (Interpark) · Fan-club presale September 16, 8 p.m.; general sale September 17, 8 p.m. (both Korea Standard Time) · Sold out.
- K-Culture ·Hohyeondang: A Free Tea Ceremony You Brew Yourself on Namsan
Hohyeondang, San 1-44, Hoehyeon-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (inside Namsan Park) · Tea ceremony program 'Simsimdapa,' every Wednesday and Saturday, 10-11:30 a.m. · Free of charge · Book through Seoul's public service reservation site (yeyak.seoul.go.kr) · Inquiries: Hohyeondang 02-318-5233, Jungbu Park & Leisure Center 02-3783-5995.
- K-Beauty ·No Reservation Needed: Getting a Free Skin Scan at AMORE Seongsu
7 Achasan-ro 11-gil, Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · Open daily 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (closed Mondays and on Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok) · Admission and the basic skin scan are free; custom-made products cost extra · Inquiries: 02-469-8600.
- K-Entertainment ·Gangnam Festival K-Pop Concert on October 4 — What Fans Traveling to Korea Should Know
Date/time Sunday, October 4, 2026 — pre-show at 18:00, main performance 19:00–21:00 (the festival overall runs October 3–5) · Venue A temporary stage near Hyundai Motorstudio on Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Ticketing Ticketlink, sales open 8 p.m. Korea time on Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- K-Culture ·Crafting Your Own Liquor by Hand Beside the Jars: The Traditional Liquor Gallery in Jongno
Traditional Liquor Gallery (inside Hansik Culture Space Ieum), 18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul · About 130m on foot from Exit 2, Anguk Station (Line 3) · Hours Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00 (closed Mondays) · Inquiries 02-555-2283, reservations via Naver Reservation ("Jeontongju Gallery") or email soolgallery2@gmail.com
- Cultural Heritage Guide ·Gyeongbokgung's Geunjeongjeon Woldae Off-Limits Until Late October — Palace Etiquette Campaign Also Underway
Restricted area Woldae, the broad stone platform in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall (the palace's main throne hall) at Gyeongbokgung Palace · Restriction period September 2–October 31, 2026 · Information Korea Heritage Service Royal Palaces and Tombs Center official website (royal.khs.go.kr)
- K-Food ·A Wish Shaped Like a Half-Moon: Making Songpyeon in Seoul Five Days Before Chuseok
venue Seoul Culture Lounge, 11th floor, Seoul Tourism Plaza (85 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul) / dates September 19-October 10, 2026, open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm / program songpyeon-making, traditional dance lessons and more, run as part of "2026 Seoul Welcome Week," all free of charge / inquiries +82-2-3788-0800.
- K-Entertainment ·&TEAM at KSPO Dome Oct 3-4: What Fans Flying to Seoul Should Know
shows October 3 (Sat) 6:00pm and October 4 (Sun) 5:00pm KST / venue KSPO DOME, 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (inside Olympic Park) / tickets General KRW 165,000, Sound Check KRW 220,000, Meet & Greet KRW 253,000 / booking Interpark Tickets, with an English-language page available for overseas users via NOL World / inquiries NOL Global Customer Center (help.global@nol-universe.com).
- Festivals & Events ·Changgyeonggung Night Banquet Opens Sept 24 — Free to Watch Even Without a Ticket
dates September 24-October 4 (closed Monday, September 28); hours 5:00-8:30 p.m. (main performance 7:10-8:00 p.m.); venue Munjeongjeon Hall, Changgyeonggung Palace, 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul; experience ticket 50,000 won each (max 2 per person; each ticket covers 1 participant plus up to 2 accompanying family members); booking via Ticketlink (credit card payment only); inquiries 1522-2295 (phone booking also available for visitors 65+, people with disabilities, or national merit recipients).
- Festivals & Events ·Last Day Today: What to See Free at Seoul Street Arts Festival 2026
dates September 19 (Sat)-20 (Sun, today only); venue Ttukseom Hangang Park to Seoul Forest (near 10 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul); admission free; inquiries 02-2088-7349; website ssaf.or.kr.