Seoul Weekend Itinerary – Places to Visit
Seoul is becoming a go-to destination for me. This beautiful city is always on top of my mind whenever I wanted to go out of the country for a weekend trip. Only takes about 4 hours by plane, Seoul is also one of those destinations that is now very easy to go to. There are also several airlines servicing flights from Manila to Seoul. If you’re lucky, you would also be able to score cheap flights. Because of these, Seoul a destination that Filipinos can now easily visit even if you intend to spend just a few days. Here, I share a Seoul weekend itinerary that might be of help for those people who wish to visit the city for a quick vacation.
Places to visit in Seoul
Seoul is a dynamic city filled with mix of things. Palaces, temples, nature, pop culture, these are just some of the few things that the city features. There are also historical sites and modern attractions that tourists will definitely enjoy. But if you have only a few days in the city and want an unforgettable getaway, here I list some of the most important tourists spots to include in your Seoul weekend itinerary.
Deoksugung Palace
A historical site in the heart of Seoul, this mid-15th century palace houses traditional palace buildings. It also features forested gardens, a statue of King Sejong the Great and the National Museum of Art that holds special exhibitions. The palace also offers a popular Changing of the Royal Guard ceremony.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm; closed on Mondays
Location: 99 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: KRW1,000
Gyeongbokgung Palace
One of the places not be missed when planning for a Seoul weekend itinerary is the the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Built in 1395, this was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. It served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings’ households, as well as the government of Joseon. The palace has a long and storied history making this a significant and one of the most iconic sights in Korea. This is also the largest among all the five palaces. Gyeongbokgung is also the most popular. Within the premises of the palace, it also houses the National Palace Museum of Korea and the National Folk Museum.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm; closed on Tuesdays
Location: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: KRW3,000
Changdeokgung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace is a grand royal residence located east of Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is also one of the five Grand Palaces in Korea. A beautiful and huge ancient palace, Gyeongbokgung Palace was also recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Changdeokgung Palace is also a favorite among visitors because the complex features expansive garden. Next to Changdeokgung Palace is another historical landmark to visit called Changgyeonggung.
Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm; closed on Mondays
Location: 99, Yulgok-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: KRW3,000
Seokchon Lake Park
A beautiful lake park to include in your Seoul weekend itinerary is the Seokchon Lake Park. It is one of the nicest places to visit in the city surrounded by trees. Lotte World, a theme park in Seoul, is also located nearby. While on the Seokchon Lake, visitors can also see and visit the tallest building in Korea. This park is also a hotspot during the Cherry Blossom season.
Opening hours: Daily 6:00am to 10:00pm
Location: 136, Samhaksa-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: None
Haneul Park
Often known as the Sky Park, this is the most popular of the five parks of World Cup Park in Seoul. On the hilltop it features lush grass land and sweeping views of Seoul. Tourists most often go here for picture opportunities. Not known to many, this park also features a metasequoia trail that is equally beautiful to what Nami Island has.
Opening hours: Daily 9:00am to 6:00pm
Location: 487-48 Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: Fees on transfers only
Bukchon Hanok Village
One of the historical places to visit in Seoul is the Bukchon Hanok Village. The village is filled with narrow streets lined with traditional houses called hanok. But today, most of these hanoks operate as cultural centers, guesthouses, restaurants and tea houses. There are also residences so when touring the village, tourists must be quiet. People who live here don’t want to be disturbed.
Opening hours: Daily 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: 37, Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: None
N Seoul Tower
This iconic Seoul landmark also known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul Tower is a communication and observation tower. It is located on Namsan Mountain and marks the highest point in the city. On top, it offers panoramic views of the city and features a revolving restaurant.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00am to 11:00pm
Location: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Ticket price: Fees on transfers only
Myeong-dong Market
This walking street is a shopping paradise in Seoul. It is one of South Korea’s main shopping district where there are department stores, boutiques and independent shops. There are also restaurants, café and in the middle of the street, you’ll find stalls selling food and Korean traditional delicacies. If you love shopping, you should definitely add Myeong-dong to your Seoul weekend itinerary.
Opening hours: Daily 10:00pm to 10:00pm
Location: Myeong-dong, Seoul
Sample Seoul Weekend Itinerary
Here’s a sample Seoul weekend itinerary that you may use when planning for a quick vacation in Seoul.
Day 0
- Late evening flight from the Philippines
Day 1
- Early morning arrival in Seoul
- Check in at the hotel
- Bukchon Hanok Village
- N Seoul Tower
- Hongdae Shopping Street
Day 2
- Deoksugung Palace
- Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Changdeokgung Palace
- Myeong-dong Market
Day 3
- Seokchon Lake Park or Haneul Park
- Check out at the hotel
- Late evening flight from Seoul
Accommodations in Seoul
These are some of the properties that I stayed during the previous trips I had in Seoul.
- Hongdae – Hongdae Orange Guesthouse
- Itaewon – Hotel ITW
For other hotel options in Seoul, please use the Agoda search box below.
Tours
Have a wonderful weekend in Seoul by booking amazing travel experiences with Klook. Find the best activities, attractions and fun things to do with exclusive discounts.
Got some questions? Put it in the comment section below!
Related links:
Seoul: Wandering around the City
A Full Day Palace Tour in Seoul
Nami Island Day Tour
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