Should I spend 1 or 2 weeks in Seoul?
Should you spend 1 or 2 weeks in Seoul?
Not sure how much time you'll need in Seoul, South Korea? Most people spend at least 3 or as many as 7 days in Seoul during their visit. After all, the cultural city will let you soak up the big city atmosphere, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, enjoy the live music scene, and go shopping.
Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. It's a high tech city that has many skyscrapers and a modern subway system. There's also a long history with many temples and palaces to explore. The city is a foodie paradise with many street markets as well as award winning restaurants. While its not as popular a tourist destination as some other major Asian cities, it has an authenticity that makes it a unique destination.
Do you have one or two weeks to visit Seoul? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one week enough time in Seoul?
One week is more than enough time to see everything that Seoul has to offer. Many visitors prefer to spend three to seven days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the big city activities, the cuisine, the live music, and the quaint shops at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.
How to spend a week in Seoul
Given that Seoul is a large and popular city, give yourself a full day to uncover the diverse neighborhoods, captivating attractions, and engaging activities scattered throughout the area. Be sure to include visits to some of the city's premier landmarks and quintessential neighborhoods, too. Despite its long history, this city is filled with modern technology and glitzy high rises.
A few tour suggestions include:
- DMZ Tour: 3rd Tunnel, Option(Suspension Bridge, Boat) from Seoul ($55)
- Best 2 Days Guided DMZ and Seoul City Tours from Seoul ($110)
- Seoul Urban Nature Bike Tour along Han River ($47)
The delicious food of Seoul is one of the main highlights of a trip to the region. Dining out is one of the highlights of a trip. Make sure you take the time to taste as much of it as possible during breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour or cooking class. You can easily fit one into your schedule since many are just a few hours or half a day. Food is a cultural obsession here, and you'll find everything from world class street food to award winning restaurants. The dishes are so much more diverse than Korean barbecue and kimchi. Many dishes are very spicy, with popular local foods including gamjatang (pork and potato soup) and jeon (savory pancakes).
A few tour suggestions include:
- Night Market Food Tour in Seoul ($73)
- Korean Cooking Class with Full-Course Meal & Local Market Tour in Seoul ($91)
- Soju Tasting at Distillery - story of 3 pigs ($41)
Seoul is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Many neighborhoods are fun to explore on foot but do take note that parts of the city are very hilly and the weather can be bitter cold during the winter months.
Shopping in Seoul is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. This bustling city offers traditional local items as well as Korean cosmetics and trendy fashion. Although shopping malls are spread throughout the city, some of the most popular shopping areas are found around Myeong-dong and Dongdaemun.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Seoul: City Highlights and Historical Experience No Shopping ($56)
Live music is very popular in Seoul, so make sure you spend the evening exploring some of the more popular venues. K-pop has put the city on the map for music, but you'll actually find a wide range of genres here including rock music and electronic dance music.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Gugak Korean Traditional Music and Dance Performance in Seoul ($12)
- Live Korean Traditional Music Performance with Museum Tour ($45)
Public transit in Seoul is easy and efficient. In just a few days, you should be able to get around the city quite easily. The modern and clean transportation system includes both a subway and buses.
Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Seoul a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. The museums and landmarks are diverse, with notable sights including N Seoul Tower, the Bukchon Hanok Traditional Village, and the National Museum of Korea.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Seoul Night Tour (Gwangjang Market, Royal Palace and Naksan Park) ($45)
- Seoul City Full Day Tour - Changdeok Palace (wearing Hanbok) ($99)
- Premium Private DMZ Tour & (Suspension Bridge or N-Tower) include lunch ($198)
This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. This is definitely a work hard/play hard city, with locals working long hours during the day and then partying hard late into the night. The nightlife scene is strong both during the week and on weekends. There are bars, clubs, and lounges that are frequented by locals and tourists alike.
A few tour suggestions include:
- The Seoul Pub Crawl [official] ($22)
- Seoul Nightlife Tour Palace Tour Cheonggyecheon Night View ($195)
Perhaps the most famous place in Seoul is Gyeongbokgung Palace, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Seoul.
After you've explored most of Seoul, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.
A few tour suggestions include:
- K-pop boyband Film Location Private Day Trip ($204)
- Mt. Seorak+Nami Island+Garden of Morning Calm Day Trip from Seoul ($92)
- Day Trip to Nami Island with Rail bike and The Garden of Morning Calm ($73)
Because the nightlife scene is so popular here, you'll want to take full advantage of it more than once. From the bars and pubs to the nightclubs, there's something for everyone. Or, get some tickets to another show at the theatre such as a ballet or opera.
With so much time here, you should absolutely take another day trip to one of the many nearby destinations around Seoul. Plenty of amazing options are available.
As the live music scene is so popular in Seoul, make sure you spend another evening finding more of the area's best places to take in a show. Often, many of the local venues are near one another, so you can hop from place to place.
Seoul is such a huge city that you can easily spend another day in one of the neighborhoods that you haven't visited. Look for those hidden gems and local spots where most tourists don't go. Or, pick another neighborhood with local charm that you haven't fully explored yet.
There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Seoul.
Is 2 weeks enough time in Seoul?
Two weeks is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Seoul. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. You could also use Seoul as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.
Gyeongbokgung Palace at night, Seoul, South Korea
How to spend 2 weeks in Seoul
With 2 weeks in Seoul, you'll have plenty of time to enjoy everything the city has to offer at your own relaxed pace. You'll want to spend plenty of time experiencing the city's neighborhoods, dining at local restaurants, hanging at the music venues, and browsing the shops. You can also relax at your hotel, or casually explore this city looking for hidden gems. Also, consider taking some day trips to nearby destinations where you can explore more of the region.
A few trip suggestions:
- K-pop boyband Film Location Private Day Trip ($204)
- Mt. Seorak+Nami Island+Garden of Morning Calm Day Trip from Seoul ($92)
- Day Trip to Nami Island with Rail bike and The Garden of Morning Calm ($73)
- Gangchon Elysian Ski Day Trip from Seoul ($41)
- Day Trip to Yongin Daejanggeum and Korean Folk Village from Seoul ($140)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about Seoul, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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