Seoul: Your First 3 Days
The essentials
- Wear a hanbok and Gyeongbokgung, the other three main palaces and Jongmyo are free — rental shops cluster on Sajik-ro west of Gyeongbokgung; bring your passport.
- Since March 2026 you can buy single-ride subway tickets with an overseas card (Lines 1–8, 273 stations). Tap-to-ride with your own card starts in 2027.
- Three markets are enough: Gwangjang (Jongno 5-ga Station Exit 8, food alley 9am–11pm), Noryangjin fish market (24h, 2nd-floor stalls cook what you buy), Gyeongdong (Jegi-dong Station).
Related stories — new ones are added automatically · 40 stories
- K-Culture · Experience ·Aiming at a Target 20 Meters Away — Traditional Archery at Seoul's Hwanghakjeong
Location Hwanghakjeong Korean Traditional Archery Exhibition Hall (15-32 Sajik-ro 9-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul) · Getting there 7-minute walk from Exit 1 of Gyeongbokgung Station · Hours Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-17:00 (closed Mondays) · Experience fee 4,000 won for 10 arrows (2,000 won for an additional 10) · Eligibility age 8 and older · Inquiries 02-722-1600
- K-Food ·The Smell of Grilled Autumn Gizzard Shad at Noryangjin
Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market · 674 Nodeul-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul · About a 5-minute walk from Noryangjin Station (Subway Lines 1 and 9) · Open 24 hours for auctions and retail; the 2nd-floor food stalls will cook what you buy on the spot.
- K-Culture ·Why You Should Rent a Hanbok Right by Gyeongbokgung
Wearing hanbok gets you free admission to Gyeongbokgung and Korea's other three main palaces, plus Jongmyo Shrine · Rental shops cluster along Sajik-ro, just west of Gyeongbokgung · Rental periods usually run 2 to 4 hours · An ID (passport) is required to rent.
- Travel Safety ·How to Dodge Myeongdong's Late-Night Taxi Overcharging
Report overcharging to the Dasan Call Center at 120 (foreign-language support available) or the Tourist Police at 1330 · Confirmed violations carry a license suspension of up to 30 days · The best defense is booking through an app like Kakao T, which locks in the fare before you ride.
- K-Food ·Follow the Smell of Herbs and You'll Find the Greens Alley — Autumn at Gyeongdong Market
Location around Gyeongdong Market, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul (near Jegi-dong Station, Subway Line 1) · What to see market alleys lined with wild-greens and dried-goods stalls that flow straight into a traditional herbal-medicine district.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·Making Mulberry Paper With Your Own Hands — Hanji Craft at Namsangol Hanok Village
Location 28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (Namsangol Hanok Village Traditional Craft Center) · Running April 3-Oct. 25, 2026, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday · Hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (excluding lunch break noon-1 p.m.), about 50 minutes per session · Choose from hanji paper craft, embroidery craft, bojagi wrapping-cloth craft, mother-of-pearl inlay, making traditional sweets, making accessories, or making a traditional bow · Group inquiries 02-6358-5538.
- K-Entertainment ·TXT's 'STEAL THE WIND' Seoul Concert: When Should International Fans Start Ticketing?
Dates November 13-15, 2026 (Fri-Sun) · Venue KSPO DOME (424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul; Olympic Park Station, subway lines 5 and 9) · Ticket schedule Korean membership presale Oct. 1, global membership presale Oct. 2, general sale Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. KST · Ticketing sites Korea: nol.yanolja.com, Global: world.nol.com.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·Can You Experience a Mountain Temple in a Single Day? Jingwansa's Day-Program Templestay in Seoul
Location Jingwansa Temple, 73 Jingwan-gil, Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul · Day-program fee roughly 20,000-30,000 won (varies by program) · Reservations search the temple's name at templestay.com · Some programs offer English guidance · Inquiries Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism, +82-2-2031-2000.
- ·Free Pass to 12 Seoul Palaces and Royal Tombs Available at the Airport Through Oct. 11
runs September 19 to October 11 · free, first-come first-served distribution at four tourist information centers, Incheon Airport Terminal 1 (east and west) and Terminal 2, and Gimpo Airport · Myeongdong Welcome Center October 1-8, near Myeongdong Station Exit 6 · 20 percent discount on Han River cruises from the Yeouido pier · Seoul Culture Lounge programs September 19-October 10 (11th floor, Samil Building, 85 Cheonggyecheon-ro) · website autumn.sto.or.kr.
- K-Food ·Follow the Smell of Sizzling Oil to Gwangjang Market's Pancakes and Addictive Gimbap
Location near Exit 8, Jongno 5(o)-ga Station, between Cheonggyecheon 3-ga and 4-ga, Seoul · Market hours 9am-6pm, closed Sundays · Food alley hours 9am-11pm, open every day.
- K-Entertainment ·Hwang Min-hyun's Asia Tour Opens in Seoul: What to Know Before You Book
Event 2026 HWANG MINHYUN FANMEETING [Peach-Blossom] in Seoul · Dates Oct 16 (Fri) 8pm, Oct 17 (Sat) 6pm, Oct 18 (Sun) 5pm KST · Venue Coex Artium, Woori Bank Hall (513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) · Ticket price 110,000 won, all seats the same · Exclusive ticket seller NOL (Interpark Global) · Inquiries 1661-5628.
- K-Culture · Hands-On ·A Seongsu Backstreet Pottery Class: Throwing Your Own Mug by Hand
Location 2F, 328-18 Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · Duration about 1 hour · Cost 50,000 won · Booking required in advance through Mocha Class (mochaclass.com) · The finished piece cannot be taken home the same day — it still needs drying and a first firing.
- Transport & Payments ·Can You Ride Seoul's Subway With Just an Overseas Card? What Works Now and What Changes in 2027
Card payment at machines available since March 17, 2026; tap-to-ride rollout begins in 2027 / Coverage: Seoul subway Lines 1-8, 273 stations, 440 new machines / Accepted cards: Visa, Mastercard and other overseas-issued credit and debit cards, plus Kakao Pay and Naver Pay / What you can buy: single-journey tickets, purchase and top-up of the Climate Card (Seoul's unlimited transit pass), and 1/2/3/5/7-day short-term passes (30-day passes not yet supported) / Average service fee: about 3.7% / Contact: Seoul Metro, T-money.
- K-Beauty · Shopping ·Myeongdong's Three Shopping Routes Compared: From Instant Refunds to Duty-Free
Location Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul (eight Olive Young stores alone, one to three minutes apart on foot) · Olive Young Central Myeongdong Town opened March 26, 2026 — three floors, about 1,000 brands, roughly 15,000 items · Roadside instant tax refund available on purchases of 30,000 won or more (passport required) · Expect a 15-30 minute wait at refund counters on weekends.
- K-Entertainment ·The King of Singers Takes the Stage — What Overseas Fans Should Know About Cho Yong-pil's November Concert
"2026 Cho Yong-pil & Widae-han Tanseng Concert" in Seoul · Nov 27 (Fri) 7pm, Nov 28 (Sat) 6pm, Nov 29 (Sun) 5pm · KSPO DOME (Olympic Gymnastics Arena), Songpa-gu, Seoul · Tickets sold exclusively through YES24 · Prices from 110,000 won (A seats) to 176,000 won (VIP).
- Transit Guide ·No More Missing the Last Train — AREX Extends Chuseok Night Service to Seoul Station
Sept 26 (Sat)-27 (Sun), two nights only · Northbound last train from Incheon Airport Terminal 2, previously ending at Digital Media City Station, extended to Seoul Station (arriving 12:57 a.m.) · Southbound last train from Seoul Station, previously ending at Geomam Station, extended to Incheon Airport Terminal 2 (arriving 1:07 a.m.) · Incheon Subway Lines 1 and 2 will also add six late-night trains each on both nights, 12 extra runs in total.
- Heritage & Holiday Guide ·Chuseok's Four Free Days: Seoul's Royal Palaces and Jongmyo Open Without Charge
Sept 24 (Thu)-27 (Sun), four days · Free admission to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs · Jongmyo, which normally requires a reserved guided-tour slot, can be visited without reservation during this period · Inquiries: Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center.
- K-Food ·Where to Find Real Yakgwa in Seoul Before Chuseok: Jongno Tradition Meets a Modern Twist
Jongno Bokddeokbang (Jongno 2-ga, Jongno-gu, Seoul; opened 1965) · Cafe Eum (36 Seogang-ro 11-gil, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the Gyeongui Line Forest Park trail) · Chuseok holiday 2026: September 24-26.
- K-Entertainment ·Roy Kim's November Seoul Concert Sold Out: How to Chase Cancellation Tickets and Reach KSPO DOME
'2026-27 Roy Kim LIVE TOUR [R:O:Y] in SEOUL' · November 21-22, 2026 · KSPO DOME (424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, inside Olympic Park) · Tickets via NOL (Interpark) · Fan-club presale September 16, 8 p.m.; general sale September 17, 8 p.m. (both Korea Standard Time) · Sold out.
- K-Culture ·Hohyeondang: A Free Tea Ceremony You Brew Yourself on Namsan
Hohyeondang, San 1-44, Hoehyeon-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul (inside Namsan Park) · Tea ceremony program 'Simsimdapa,' every Wednesday and Saturday, 10-11:30 a.m. · Free of charge · Book through Seoul's public service reservation site (yeyak.seoul.go.kr) · Inquiries: Hohyeondang 02-318-5233, Jungbu Park & Leisure Center 02-3783-5995.
- K-Beauty ·No Reservation Needed: Getting a Free Skin Scan at AMORE Seongsu
7 Achasan-ro 11-gil, Seongsu-dong 2-ga, Seongdong-gu, Seoul · Open daily 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (closed Mondays and on Lunar New Year's Day and Chuseok) · Admission and the basic skin scan are free; custom-made products cost extra · Inquiries: 02-469-8600.
- K-Entertainment ·Gangnam Festival K-Pop Concert on October 4 — What Fans Traveling to Korea Should Know
Date/time Sunday, October 4, 2026 — pre-show at 18:00, main performance 19:00–21:00 (the festival overall runs October 3–5) · Venue A temporary stage near Hyundai Motorstudio on Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Ticketing Ticketlink, sales open 8 p.m. Korea time on Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- K-Culture ·Crafting Your Own Liquor by Hand Beside the Jars: The Traditional Liquor Gallery in Jongno
Traditional Liquor Gallery (inside Hansik Culture Space Ieum), 18 Bukchon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul · About 130m on foot from Exit 2, Anguk Station (Line 3) · Hours Tue–Sun 10:00–19:00 (closed Mondays) · Inquiries 02-555-2283, reservations via Naver Reservation ("Jeontongju Gallery") or email soolgallery2@gmail.com
- Cultural Heritage Guide ·Gyeongbokgung's Geunjeongjeon Woldae Off-Limits Until Late October — Palace Etiquette Campaign Also Underway
Restricted area Woldae, the broad stone platform in front of Geunjeongjeon Hall (the palace's main throne hall) at Gyeongbokgung Palace · Restriction period September 2–October 31, 2026 · Information Korea Heritage Service Royal Palaces and Tombs Center official website (royal.khs.go.kr)
- K-Food ·A Wish Shaped Like a Half-Moon: Making Songpyeon in Seoul Five Days Before Chuseok
venue Seoul Culture Lounge, 11th floor, Seoul Tourism Plaza (85 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul) / dates September 19-October 10, 2026, open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm / program songpyeon-making, traditional dance lessons and more, run as part of "2026 Seoul Welcome Week," all free of charge / inquiries +82-2-3788-0800.
- K-Entertainment ·&TEAM at KSPO Dome Oct 3-4: What Fans Flying to Seoul Should Know
shows October 3 (Sat) 6:00pm and October 4 (Sun) 5:00pm KST / venue KSPO DOME, 424 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul (inside Olympic Park) / tickets General KRW 165,000, Sound Check KRW 220,000, Meet & Greet KRW 253,000 / booking Interpark Tickets, with an English-language page available for overseas users via NOL World / inquiries NOL Global Customer Center (help.global@nol-universe.com).
- Festivals & Events ·Changgyeonggung Night Banquet Opens Sept 24 — Free to Watch Even Without a Ticket
dates September 24-October 4 (closed Monday, September 28); hours 5:00-8:30 p.m. (main performance 7:10-8:00 p.m.); venue Munjeongjeon Hall, Changgyeonggung Palace, 185 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul; experience ticket 50,000 won each (max 2 per person; each ticket covers 1 participant plus up to 2 accompanying family members); booking via Ticketlink (credit card payment only); inquiries 1522-2295 (phone booking also available for visitors 65+, people with disabilities, or national merit recipients).
- Festivals & Events ·Last Day Today: What to See Free at Seoul Street Arts Festival 2026
dates September 19 (Sat)-20 (Sun, today only); venue Ttukseom Hangang Park to Seoul Forest (near 10 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul); admission free; inquiries 02-2088-7349; website ssaf.or.kr.
- K-Culture ·Ssamziegil in Insadong: A Half-Day of Hands-On Craft Making
Ssamziegil, 44 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Gwanhun-dong) · Open year-round, hours vary by shop · Craft experiences require booking or on-site sign-up at individual workshops
- Holiday Guide ·Korea's 4-Day Chuseok Break: Grand Palaces Open Free, Small Shops May Close
Chuseok holiday Sep 24 (Thu)–26 (Sat), effectively Sep 24–27 (Sun) · The four grand palaces (Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung), Jongmyo Shrine and the Joseon royal tombs open free of charge throughout the holiday (excluding Changdeokgung's rear garden) · Inquiries: Korea Heritage Service, Royal Palaces and Tombs Center
- K-Food ·Noryangjin Fish Market: How to Enjoy Fresh Sashimi Without Overpaying
Located at 674 Nodeul-ro in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, the Noryangjin Fisheries Wholesale Market is Korea's largest seafood wholesale market and is a short walk from No…
- K-Culture ·Renting a Hanbok Near Gyeongbokgung: What It Costs and How It Works
Hanbok rental shops catering to foreign tourists cluster densely around Exit 3 of Gyeongbokgung Station, as well as in Bukchon and Insa-dong. Visitors wearing h…
- Travel News ·Seoul Welcome Week Opens Sept 19 With Free Palace Pass
Seoul and the Seoul Tourism Organization are running the "2026 Seoul Welcome Week: Autumn Edition" for 23 days, September 19 to October 11 -- timed to overlap w…
- K-Culture ·When Deoksugung Opens at Night: Inside the Korean Empire's Palace
Through October 18, Deoksugung Palace's Seokjojeon Hall in central Seoul runs its "Night at Seokjojeon" program. Organized by the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center…
- K-Entertainment ·Cosplay Fans: Head to Seoul Land on September 19-20
The 94th "Cos & Comic Festival" (CoCo Festival) runs September 19-20 at Seoul Land in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do. General visitors, cosplayers, and photographers can…
- K-Food ·Mayak Gimbap & Bindaetteok: A Foreigner's Guide to Gwangjang Market
Step into the alleys of Gwangjang Market in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and you're greeted first by the sizzle and savory smell of bindaetteok (mung bean pancakes) frying…
- Travel News ·Siheung Getgol Festival Opens Sept 18 With Tidal-Flat Salt Fields
The "Siheung Getgol Festival" runs for three days, September 18-20, at Siheung Getgol Eco Park in Gyeonggi-do. Hosted by Siheung City, admission is free (only s…
- K-Entertainment ·ATA Festival at Nanji Hangang Park: What Visiting Fans Need to Know About Tickets and Transport
The "2026 Asia Top Artist Festival (ATA Festival)" runs September 19 (Saturday) and 20 (Sunday) at Nanji Hangang Park in Seoul's Mapo District, from noon to 9 p…
- Arrival Basics · USA ·When American Tourists Tap to Pay in Seoul, Nothing Happens
Outside a convenience store in Seoul's Jongno district, an American tourist fresh off the airport express train from Incheon holds up an Apple Watch to pay for …
- Travel News ·One-Day 'Gangnam Youth Festival' Underground at Gangnam Station on Sept. 19 — Free Wellness Event
On Saturday, September 19, the "Gangnam Youth Festival" will take place for one day at Gangnam Square, an underground plaza beneath Gangnam Station in Seoul. Co…