“You do not travel if you are afraid of the unknown, you travel for the unknown, that reveals you with yourself.” – Ella Maillart
First time traveling in Seoul? If you have no ideas where to go or what to do in Seoul, South Korea, here we are to help you plan your itinerary and make your trip the best!
Here, we’ve picked 4 not-to-be-missed sightseeing spots in Seoul, and you can visit all of them in one day! :D
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace, of all, is a must visit palace for first time Seoul visitors. It’s probably the most beautiful and the grandest of all five palaces remaining in Seoul.
Built in 1395, this palace is also commonly referred to as the “Northern Palace” because it is the furthest north when compared to the neighboring palaces of Changdeokgung (Eastern Palace) and Gyeongheegung (Western Palace). 
FYI, Gwanghwamun is the Southern main gate of the Gyeongbokgung Palace’s 4 gates!
You can also find this amazing pavilion built on pond! It’s called Gyeonghoe-ru Pavilion, where the king used to have joyous occasions and feasts. See more pics below. ;)
The palace holds various events and ceremonies, so check out their website, here.
The Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony
- 10 am – 3 pm (3 times per day, 10 am/ 1 pm/ 3 pm)
- 11 am/2 pm/ 4 pm : only the guard exiting ceremony
Admission
- Adults (ages 19-64): 3,000KRW / Group (over 10): 2,400KRW
- Children (ages 7-18): 1,500KRW / Group (over 10): 1,200KRW
*Tickets for Gyeongbokgung Palace are also valid at the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum.
2. Changdeokgung Palace
The second spot we highly recommend for the first time travelers is a royal palace called Changdeokgung Palace, which is recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s reputed as a well-preserved palace, so you will be able to learn a lot about Korean palace architecture here. For details and directions, click here.
- Regular Tour : Adults(3,000KRW) / Children(1,500KRW)
- Tours for the Secret Garden : Adults(5,000KRW) / Children(2,500KRW)
3. National Folk Museum
As we’ve mentioned before, the National Folk Museum is located on the compound of Gyeongbokgung Palace. And this museum has 3 permanent exhibition halls with over 98,000 artifacts!! WOW!
Look at the exterior of the building. Isn’t it beautiful?
In this museum, the retrospective of the traditional Korean lifestyle is exhibited, so try a visit and take a look!
For those who wants to feel like a local in Seoul, here’s Namdaemun Market. It is the largest street market in Seoul, especially popular for shoppers looking for bargains! ;) This historical marketplace is well-reputed for its cheap price and wide variety of products!
Try the delicious local street foods as well. The dumplings and steamed buns taste great! :) For directions, click here.
If you are looking for an easy, convenient way to look at all these spots and more, there’s a guided tour with 3 different options to make your day trip in Seoul better. The tour is available here!
Morning Tour (09:00~12:30)
Hotel→Blue House (pass by)→Changing of the Guard ceremony→Gyeongbokgung Palace (Deoksugung Palace on Tuesdays)→National Folk Museum (History Museum on Tuesdays)→Jogyesa Buddhist Temple→Ginseng Center→Drop off at City Hall
Afternoon Tour (13:00~17:30)
Hotel→Changdeokgung Palace(Hanok Village on Mondays)→Insadong Antique Shop Alley→Amethyst Factory→Namdaemun Market→Hotel
Full Day Tour (09:00~17:30)
Hotel→Blue House (pass by)→Changing of the Guard ceremony→Gyeongbokgung Palace (Deoksugung Palace on Tuesdays)→National Folk Museum (History Museum on Tuesdays)→Jogyesa Buddhist Temple→Ginseng Center→Lunch→Changdeokgung Palace (Hanok Village on Mondays)→Insadong Antique Shop Alley→Amethyst Factory→Namdaemun Market→Hotel
See Mastering Seoul in 1 Day.
Of course, there are plenty of landmarks and attractions for travelers to visit in Seoul. So, check out Seoul Palace TourorTop 10 Things To Do in Seoul to find out what kind of things you can do and make your trip the best!
