5 days in seoul seoul itinerary 5 days what to do in seoul for 5 days

As one of the leading development countries in Asia, South Korea attracts a large number of visitors from all over the world by its modern, dynamic, as well as its unique cultural traditions. Especially, this is also where the policy of tax reduction for tourist visa is extremely attractive. So, the annual tours to Seoul are always hunted is also easy to understand. When Korean is not a popular language of most visitors, and Koreans also are not good at communicating in English, so psychological concerns in a strange place is understandable. However, you can completely master your journey to the land of Kimchi if prepared well. So, what to do in Seoul for 5 days (Seoul itinerary 5 days 4 nights)? Let’s check it out our Seoul itinerary blog (Seoul itinerary 5 days blog) with recommended Seoul itinerary on how to spend 5 days in Seoul perfectly? for self-sufficient travelers who want to fullest explore the capital of Korea.

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Namsan mount and tower and Seoul city at sunset
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Deoksugung Doldam-gil road in autumn.
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Bukchon Hanok Village
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Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul
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Hongdae night street.
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Street food stall in Seoul
Namdaemun Market seoul (1)
Namdaemun Market

Some things you should note before your trip

A very romantic scene in Bukchon's ancient village
A very romantic scene in Bukchon ancient village
  • Always bring your passport. It is not only your “ID card” in the foreign country but also is the condition to get your tax refund directly in some shops and shopping malls.
  • Convert your money to Korean Won (₩). You should consider exchange in Vietnam or selecting exchange banks in Korea. Do not exchange at the airport because of much higher exchange rate.
  • You should choose a flight in the evening to enjoy a full day of sightseeing in the next morning.
  • Prepare the 4G Sim Card and Wifi before your trip is always the most necessary after the entry papers if you intend to travel self-sufficient. You can pre-order at travel agencies such as KKDay, Klook and receive the 4G Sim Card at the airports.
South Korean won
South Korean Currency

South Korea 4G LTE Prepaid SIM Card

Seoul itinerary 5 days — Day 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, Itaewon Street.

Incheon International Airport Hub
Incheon International Airport Hub

After landing at Incheon International Airport, you have 3 ways to getting to the city center of Seoul. However, taxi is not the best means of transportation because of the high cost. In addition, if you catch the night flight and in the case you come at peak business hours of Korean in the morning, it is easy to fall into a complicated traffic condition. Depending on the location of your hotel, you can choose the other two vehicles: Limousine bus or Express train.

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express train of incheon airport
Inside Express train of Incheon Airport to Seoul

Read more: How to getting from Gimpo & Incheon airport to Seoul?

Morning: Visit Gyeongbokgung Palace

Gyeongbok, Heungnyemun Gate, the entrance into Gyeongbokgung Palace
Heungnyemun Gate, the entrance into Gyeongbokgung Palace

The palace dates back up to 600 years, saving and preserving Korea’s brilliant culture of Joseon dynasty. The best time to visit Gyeongbokgung palace is in the spring (March – May) and autumn (September – November), the natural scenery began transform itself within the famous royal garden of the Palace. If you want to admire the beauty of ancient Korea in the snow and ice, you can visit here in the winter (December – February).

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Gyeongbokgung in Spring
Autumn in Gyeongbokgung Palace,South Korea. Stock Photo - 85855713
In autumn
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The main gate into Palace, Gwanghwamun Gate

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Changing of the guard ceremony
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Yeongjegyo bridge
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Wall of Palace
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Exit gate: Sinmumun
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Sujeongjeon Hall
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National Palace Museum of South Korea
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National Folk Museum of Korea
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Hyangwonjeong Pavilion
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The royal garden. Credit: 5 days in seoul blog.

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At here, there are 5 highlights activities for you to discover on the first morning in Korea: Watching the Royal Guard-Changing ceremony at Gwanghwamun Gate, taking pictures in traditional costumes, watching the royal garden, visiting ancient architecture, visit the museum.

Gyeongbokgung palace hanbok

Gyeongbokgung palace hanbok

Gyeongbokgung palace hanbok

Gyeongbokgung palace hanbok

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Gwanghwamun Gate at night. Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.
Gyeongbokgung
At night

Gyeongbokgung Palace
Address: 161 Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: Nov-Feb 9am-5pm / Mar-May 9am-6pm / Jun-Aug 9am-6:30pm / Sep-Oct 9am-6pm (Last entrance: 1 hr before closing)
Entrance fee: Adults (ages 19-64): 3.000 won / Children (ages 7-18): 1.500 won.
Url: http://www.royalpalace.go.kr/
Getting there:
Tram: Take Line 3 Seoul Subway, down at Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5.
Bus: Take one of buses No. 1020, 7025, 109, 171, 172, 601 or 606 and get off at the Gyeongbokgung Palace bus stop.

Namsan Tower (N Seoul Tower)

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Located about 38 minutes by taxi from Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Seoul Tower is the next wonderful tourist destination. This is an observation deck from the hanging tower, extremely romantic that you have seen in the hit Korean movies. It can be said that this is also considered as one of symbols of Seoul. And it is also on the list of “not visited, not visit Seoul yet”. The tower also has a place to save the love locks of two people inspired by the famous love bridges in the world. In addition, there is a Ssentoy Museum & Showroom and Hello Kitty Island which exhibit the character of Hello Kitty, etc…

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From Namsan tower you can admire the whole city of Seoul
Autumn view of Namsan Seoul Tower
Autumn view of Namsan Seoul Tower
N Seoul tower
The observation deck. Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.

N seoul tower

The rest room
N Seoul tower
The love lock fence and broken chair . with the legend that There was a bear on the Namsan Mountain broke the chair so that the lovers could get closer

N Seoul tower

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Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.

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N Seoul tower 5 days in seoul recommended seoul itinerary seoul itinerary 5 days what to do in seoul for 5 days
N Seoul Tower. One of the best places to visit in Seoul, South Korea.

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N Seoul Tower
Address: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan 2(i)ga-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82-2-3455-9277, 9288
Hours: Observatory: Sun-Fri: 10am – 11pm / Sat: 10am – 12pm
Entrance fee: Observatory: Adults 10,000 won / Children 8,000 won; Ssentoy Museum & Showroom: Adults 8.000 won / Children 7.000 won. Hello Kitty Island: Adults 8.000 won / Children 7.000 won
Url: http://www.nseoultower.co.kr/eng/
Getting there: This is quite complicated, only the Namsan bus can reach the N Seoul Tower, the bus will park at the foot of the mountain (tower at the top of the mountain), then you can choose to climb or take the cable car.

n seoul tower observatory
View from N Seoul Tower observatory

Read more: Visiting N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower) — A tourist icon of Seoul, South Korea.

Evening: Strolling in the Itaewon area

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Walking down an alley in itaewon at night.

Itaewon is the same area as Bui Vien Street in Saigon of Vietnam, a western street. This place gathers a small number of foreign tourists and foreigners settled in Korea. After a morning tour to learn about the Korean culture and traditions, nothing is more perfect than changing the feeling of 360 degrees to the different European, Asian and African cultures in the heart of Seoul. No need to explain much about Itaewon, when you come here you will know what you need to play and things to do.

itaewon

itaewon Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.
Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.

itaewon

Credit: 5 days in seoul blog. seoul-street-food-1533289916-1000X561
Credit: 5 days in seoul blog.

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itaewon bar
Itaewon bar

Itaewon
Hours: 24 hours
Free entry
Getting there: Itaewon is about 40 minutes drive from Namsan Tower. You can take the subway to save more time. Use the Metro Line 6 to get to the Itaewon Station (Exit 1-4).

Itaewon area, Itaewon street Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.
Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.

Itaewon area, Itaewon street

Itaewon area, Itaewon street

Itaewon area, Itaewon street
Image by: what to do in seoul for 5 days blog.
itaewon Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.
Photo: seoul itinerary 5 days blog.

itaewon

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Itaewon area, Itaewon street

TIP: At the Itaewon Station there are lockers that keeps items (clothes, bags, etc…) with only cost about 2,000 won so you do not have to be bulky or heavy to free walking on the street.

What to do in Seoul for 5 days — Day 2: North – South Korean Demilitarized Zone, Myeongdong Shopping Street, Seoul Nanta Cooking Show

Morning: Visiting the Demilitarized Zone of South Korea and North Korea

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The history and the process of separating Korea becomes South and North Korea make curious to many visitors. The cold wars, the two opposite worlds are actually separated by a thin stone slab of less than 5 centimeters. The DMZ, the world’s most mysterious demilitarized border, will be a great choice for your second day (in 5 days in Seoul) in Seoul. Because this is a special sightseeing site, visitors should refer to the 1 day tour of KKDay or Klook tourist agencies. The tour will pick you up at the hotel and drop off at the Myeongdong area at 5pm, which is a good chance for your night excursion.

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4-DMZ-tour-korea
Credit: 5 days in seoul blog.

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4-DMZ-tour-korea

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dmz korea4

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Afternoon: Shopping at Myeongdong Street

Myeongdong street
Myeongdong street

This is the busiest shopping area in Seoul. After the tour of the demilitarized zone, the shuttle bus will return you to Myeongdong Station. This shopping street has a variety of cuisines ranging from cheap, budget, mid-range, to high-end, from street food to fine dining restaurants that suit all types of travelers. You can enjoy both meals dinner and supper at here.

Myeongdong Street shopping

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fish cake Myeongdong Street food
Famous Fish cake at Myeongdong Street

Myeongdong Street food1

Osulloc (오설록) Tea House in Myeongdong
Osulloc (오설록) Tea House in Myeongdong

Osulloc (오설록) Tea House in Myeongdong

Tip: Genuine Korean cosmetic paradise exists right on this street, so you remember to bring your passport to get a tax refund and give sample items when you purchased.

Evening: Enjoy the extremely famous Nanta show

Nanta Show (Nanta Cooking Show). One of the best live shows in Bangkok

This is a non-verbal show that was first produced in Korea, portraying the humor of the kitchen scene by integrating traditional Korean rhythms. Thanks to the familiar scene of the kitchen, theme of cooking is familiar but strange when performed by the artists, audiences of all generations can enjoy and have fun with Nanta Show Seoul!

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Nanta Show Seoul is available at 5pm and 8pm at Myeongdong Nanta Theater. So, on the second day you barely have to pay for traveling, mostly strolling and watching the streets on your feet.

Famous throughout the world cooking show
Famous throughout the world cooking show

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Image by: what to do in seoul for 5 days blog.

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nanta-show-seoul
Credit: 5 days in seoul blog.

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Myeongdong NANTA Theatre
Address: 26, Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu | UNESCO Hall 3F, Seoul 04536, South Korea
Show time: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Hours: 10:00 ~ 20:20
Tickets: from $32.86
Url: https://www.nanta.co.kr:452/Nanta/en/About/nantaTheater02.aspx

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