Top 10 Things to Do in Seoul

Using this list

Ten of Seoul's landmark experiences as a checklist — palaces, markets, neighbourhoods, and the views. Seoul is large but its subway is one of the world's best, so the list is comfortably coverable.

Wear hanbok to the palaces if you like a bargain

Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung both waive admission for visitors in traditional hanbok, which can be rented nearby for a modest sum. It's a genuinely good deal and the photographs are the reason most people do it.

Time your visit at Gyeongbokgung for the changing of the guard, which runs several times daily. Changdeokgung's Secret Garden is a separate guided ticket and books out — reserve ahead.

Neighbourhoods are the real attraction

Bukchon Hanok Village is a living residential area, so keep noise down and respect the posted quiet hours. Insadong for crafts, Hongdae for the student energy, Gangnam for the modern city, Ikseon-dong for the renovated alleys. Each is a different Seoul.

Eat late and communally

Korean dining is shared by default and much of it happens well into the evening. Street food at Gwangjang Market is a meal, not a snack. Convenience stores are excellent and open all night.

Practicalities

Get a T-money card for the subway and buses. Subway signage and announcements are in English. Winters are genuinely cold and summers are hot and wet — pack for the season rather than the average.

Timing

Run it plain, or add due dates from your arrival date.