Seoul Itinerary for 3, 4 or 5 Days: A First-Timer's Plan
Quick answer
- 3 days: palaces and Bukchon (day 1), Myeong-dong and N Seoul Tower (day 2), a DMZ trip from Imjingak (day 3). 4 days: add Nami Island. 5 days: add a KTX day trip to Jeonju.
- Plan around closing days: Gyeongbokgung usually closes on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays, with holiday exceptions. The DMZ Peace Tour has its own closures: Mondays, weekday public holidays and the main day of Seollal and Chuseok.
- Book two things ahead: the Secret Garden (Huwon) at Changdeokgung — online tickets open at 10:00 Korea time, 6 days before — and weekend KTX seats to Jeonju.
For a first trip, three days in Seoul covers the palaces and Bukchon, Myeong-dong with N Seoul Tower, and a DMZ trip; a fourth day adds Nami Island and a fifth a KTX trip to Jeonju. The one thing to plan around is closing days: Gyeongbokgung usually closes on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays (palace holiday rules can shift these), while the DMZ Peace Tour closes on Mondays and on weekday public holidays.
Source: Royal Palaces and Tombs Center and Paju City DMZ Peace Tour (Korean); checked Oct 28, 2026.
Each stop links to our full guide with fares, hours and sources. Times below are suggestions, not fixed tours — move days around to fit the closing days.
Check the closing days first
| Place | Usually closed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gyeongbokgung | Tuesdays | Open if the Tuesday is a public or substitute holiday; closes the next non-holiday instead |
| Changdeokgung | Mondays | Same holiday rule |
| DMZ Peace Tour | Mondays, weekday public holidays, main day of Seollal and Chuseok | Tickets 09:00–14:30 |
| N Seoul Tower | Open every day | Observatory to 22:30 weekdays, 23:00 weekends and holidays |
| Nami Island | Open every day | Ferries 08:00–21:00 |
Source: Royal Palaces and Tombs Center, Paju City, N Seoul Tower and Nami Island (Korean); checked Oct 28, 2026.
An easy order: for the plan below, start on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday — day 1 (both palaces) then avoids Monday and Tuesday, and day 3 (the DMZ) avoids Monday. Starting on a Saturday? Swap days 2 and 3 so the DMZ falls on Sunday. Check Korea's public holidays too — the holiday rules move palace closing days.
Day 1: Palaces, Bukchon and a market dinner
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Gyeongbokgung — the gate guard ceremony is at 10:00 (and 14:00), about 20 minutes. Foreign adults (19–64) normally pay ₩3,000; hanbok wearers enter free. Oct 29 – Nov 15, 2026: palace admission is free on opening days during the Korea Grand Festival (Changdeokgung's Secret Garden tour still needs its own ticket) |
| Late morning | Bukchon Hanok Village — sightseeing on Bukchon-ro 11-gil is allowed only 10:00–17:00; keep your voice down |
| Afternoon | Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden — the garden is a timed visit; book online 6 days ahead from 10:00 Korea time |
| Evening | Gwangjang Market food street (open until 23:00) — see our Gwangjang Market food guide and street food guide |
Source: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Changdeokgung and street food guides (each with official sources), and the Royal Palaces notice of Sep 30, 2026 (Korean); checked Oct 29, 2026.
Palace hours change by season — from November to February, Gyeongbokgung is open 09:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:00.
Day 1 is a full day. If your Secret Garden time slot, meals or pace don't fit, move Changdeokgung to day 2 (not on a Monday).
Day 2: Myeong-dong and N Seoul Tower
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | A slow start, or shopping — keep receipts for a tax refund |
| Afternoon | Myeong-dong area; get won or a card that works before markets |
| Late afternoon | Up Namsan by cable car from Myeong-dong (free shuttle from Myeong-dong Station) or bus 01A/01B (transit card only) |
| Sunset and after | N Seoul Tower observatory (adults ₩29,000), then down by cable car (runs to 23:00) |
| Dinner | Korean BBQ |
Source: N Seoul Tower and Namsan Cable Car (Korean), via our N Seoul Tower guide; checked Oct 28, 2026.
Day 3: The DMZ (not on a Monday)
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Early morning | Gyeongui–Jungang Line to Munsan (about 1 hour), then a taxi to Imjingak (about 13 min) |
| Morning to early afternoon | DMZ Peace Tour — Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory, about 3 hours; tickets sold 09:00–14:30 |
| Evening | Back in Seoul |
Source: Paju City DMZ Peace Tour (Korean) and KTO, via our DMZ guide; checked Oct 28, 2026.
Bring your original passport. Don't plan on a JSA (Panmunjeom) visit: the Ministry of Unification says it isn't running tours for foreign visitors. From Nov 23 to 30, 2026, only the Third Tunnel is open.
Day 4: Nami Island
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | ITX-Cheongchun from Yongsan to Gapyeong (about 60 min), then walk 20 min or take bus 10-4 or a taxi to the dock |
| Day | Nami Island — ₩19,000 for adults including the return ferry |
| Evening | Last regular ferry back at 21:05 (autumn 2026 has extra late boats — see the Nami guide); train to Seoul |
Source: Nami Island (Korean), via our Nami Island guide; checked Oct 28, 2026.
Prefer not to change trains? A direct shuttle bus leaves Hongdae at 09:00 (book ahead).
Day 5: Jeonju by KTX
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | KTX from Yongsan to Jeonju, about 1 hour 40 minutes — how to book |
| Day | Jeonju Hanok Village — free to enter |
| Lunch | What to eat in Jeonju |
| Evening | KTX back to Seoul |
Source: our Jeonju day trip guide (Korail and Jeonju City sources); checked Oct 28, 2026.
Jeonju's tourism office says weekend and holiday KTX seats sell out quickly, so book early.
Getting around
- Arriving: Incheon Airport to Seoul or Gimpo Airport to Seoul.
- In the city: the subway and taxis, with a T-money card and Naver Map.
- When to come: see the best time to visit Korea.
- More in Seoul: Noryangjin Fish Market, Lotte World and Seoul Sky and how a jjimjilbang works.
- Beyond Seoul: Seoul to Busan by KTX, bus or plane, Gyeongju, Andong, Gangneung and Tongyeong.
Before you go
- Match your days to the closing days (Mon: Changdeokgung, DMZ · Tue: Gyeongbokgung).
- Book the Secret Garden 6 days ahead at 10:00 Korea time.
- Pack your passport for the DMZ day.
- Book KTX to Jeonju early for weekends.
- Run through the first-timer checklist.
FAQ
How many days do you need in Seoul?
Three days cover the main palaces, Bukchon, Namsan and one day trip such as the DMZ. With four or five days you can add Nami Island and Jeonju.
What should I not miss on a 3-day Seoul trip?
Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung with Bukchon in between, the N Seoul Tower view at night, and a DMZ trip from Imjingak.
Which days are Seoul's palaces closed?
Gyeongbokgung usually closes on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays. If that day is a public or substitute holiday, the palace opens and closes on the next non-holiday instead.
Can I visit the DMZ on a Monday?
No. Paju City's DMZ Peace Tour is closed on Mondays, weekday public holidays and the main day of Seollal and Chuseok.
Is Nami Island worth a day from Seoul?
It makes an easy day trip: about an hour by ITX-Cheongchun to Gapyeong, a 5-minute ferry, and ferries until 21:00.
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — Gyeongbokgung hours (Korean)
- Royal Palaces and Tombs Center — Changdeokgung hours (Korean)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Notice on restrictions for tourist visits to Bukchon
- N Seoul Tower — Hours (Korean)
- Paju City — DMZ Peace Tour (Korean)
- Nami Island — Ferry times (Korean)
- Korea Tourism Organization — Gwangjang Market
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details can change — please confirm with the official source before you travel.
We publish new guides regularly and update old ones when fares, rules or hours change. Follow our free RSS feed in any feed reader (such as Feedly or Inoreader), or check the latest guides on our homepage.