Seoul is a city of dynasties and dazzling neon, where 14th-century palaces share a skyline with glass towers and rooftop gardens. Founded as Hanyang under the Joseon dynasty, it’s now a kinetic capital famed for K-pop, K-fashion, design-forward cafés, and food markets that stay awake long after midnight. This 7-day Seoul itinerary balances history, museums, hiking, shopping, and local-only experiences.

Expect a city that moves fast but welcomes lingering: sip pour-overs in restored hanok cafés, stroll lantern-lit streams, and tuck into steaming bowls of kalguksu at mom-and-pop institutions. Gyeongbokgung’s royal guard ceremony feels timeless; just across town, Seongsu’s repurposed factories host galleries, concept stores, and roasteries. Day trips to the DMZ and Nami Island add context and scenery to your urban adventure.

Practical notes: buy a T-money transit card for the subway and buses; tipping isn’t customary. Gyeongbokgung is closed Tuesdays, and you’ll need your passport for DMZ tours. Spring and fall are ideal for hiking Bukhansan; summers are humid, winters brisk but clear. Wi‑Fi is ubiquitous, and convenience stores are mini-lifelines for snacks, ATMs, and mobile top-ups.

Seoul

Seoul’s neighborhoods are characters unto themselves: stately Jongno with royal palaces and Bukchon Hanok Village; creative Seochon and Ikseon-dong with alleyway eateries; trend-setting Seongsu (“the Brooklyn of Seoul”); glossy Gangnam with K‑beauty flagships; and youthful Hongdae/Yeonnam with street art, indie shops, and buskers.

• Top sights: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, N Seoul Tower, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Leeum Museum of Art, National Museum of Korea, MMCA, Seoul Forest.
• Local favorites: Gwangjang and Tongin Markets, Euljiro Nogari Alley pubs, specialty cafés in Seongsu and Anguk, jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse) culture, and late-night chimaek (chicken and beer).
• Day trips: DMZ for modern history, Nami Island and Garden of Morning Calm for nature, rail biking in Gangchon for quirky fun.

Where to Stay

Search a broad range of stays on VRBO Seoul or compare hotels on Hotels.com Seoul. For a high-budget stay, consider:

• The Shilla Seoul (classic service, urban resort feel): The Shilla Seoul
• Lotte Hotel World (connected to Lotte World & mall; great for shopping and amenities): Lotte Hotel World
• Hotel 8 Hours (smart-value, central Myeongdong/City Hall area): Hotel 8 Hours
• Hostel Haru (boutique hostel with private rooms near Jongno/Insadong): Hostel Haru

Getting There & Around

Search flights to Seoul on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com Flights. From Incheon Airport, the AREX All-Stop Train takes ~58 minutes (~₩4,150) and the AREX Express ~43 minutes (~₩9,500) to Seoul Station; taxis run ~60–80 minutes depending on traffic.

For intercity rail within Korea, check schedules on Trip.com Trains. In the city, the subway is clean, fast, and English-friendly—tap in/out with a T‑money card.

Day 1: Arrival, Insadong and Bukchon, Night Market Feast

Morning: In transit to Seoul. Hydrate, and download Naver Map and Papago for on-the-ground navigation and translation.

Afternoon: Check in, then ease into the city with Insadong’s calligraphy shops and teahouses. Pause at O’Sulloc Tea House for matcha roll cake, or slip into hanok-style Café Onion Anguk for a buttery pandoro and pour-over. Wander to Jogyesa Temple’s ancient trees and up to Bukchon Hanok Village for tiled rooftops and artisans’ studios.

Evening: Kick off with a guided food crawl:

Night Market Food Tour in Seoul

Expect tteokbokki, bindaetteok mung-bean pancakes sizzling on griddles, mayak gimbap, and soju/maekju pairings (from around ~$85 per person). If you prefer a sit-down backup, try Jin Ok Hwa Halmae Dakhanmari in Dongdaemun for a classic whole-chicken hotpot.

Day 2: Private Seoul Highlights (Palaces, Hanok Lanes, Skyline)

Make your first full day effortless with a tailored city tour (hotel pickup included, great for a high-budget trip):

Full-day Customizable Private Seoul Highlight Tour

Customize stops like Gyeongbokgung (watch the guard ceremony; free entry if wearing hanbok), Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, and N Seoul Tower. Your guide can weave in a hanbok dress-up, tea ceremony, or street-food detours. Budget from ~$250–$450 per group depending on inclusions. Lunch ideas en route: Tosokchon for ginseng chicken soup near the palace, or Myeongdong Kyoja for knife-cut noodles and mandu.

Day 3: Bukhansan Hike, Jjimjilbang Recovery, Seongsu After Dark

Morning: Fuel up at Fritz Coffee Company (butter pretzels, superb roasts) and head to Bukhansan National Park. Aim for Baegundae Peak via Bukhansanseong—moderate to strenuous, ~3–4 hours up and ~2 down, granite slabs with railings near the top and sweeping city views. Pack water and grab gimbap for a summit snack; hikers celebrate with pajeon and makgeolli post-trail.

Afternoon: Soothe muscles at Silloam Sauna near Seoul Station (five-story jjimjilbang with hot/cold baths and kiln rooms), or go big at Aquafield (Goyang/Hanam) for panoramic spa zones. Late lunch near the mountain: simple kimchi-jjigae and haemul pajeon in Bukhansanseong Village hit the spot.

Evening: Explore Seongsu’s warehouse-chic blocks. Start with a tasting flight at Amazing Brewing Company Seongsu, then dinner at Hanchu in Sinsa (pepper-stuffed fried chicken and crisp draft beer) or charcoal BBQ at Samwon Garden (aged hanwoo cuts, leafy wraps, attentive service). For a mellow nightcap, stroll Under Stand Avenue’s illuminated walkways or duck into a vinyl bar nearby.

Day 4: DMZ History and Han River Sunset

Understand Korea’s modern story on a full-day DMZ excursion (passport required; early hotel pickup):

Ultimate Korea DMZ Tour from Seoul (Gondola & Suspension Bridge)

Expect the 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, and an optional gondola/suspension bridge segment, with sobering context from your guide (from ~$70–$95 per person; ~6–8 hours door-to-door). Back in Seoul, decompress with a golden-hour bike ride along the Han River or a picnic under Banpo Bridge’s rainbow fountains (seasonal). Dinner ideas: Jangsu Galbi (Mapo-style BBQ) or refined temple cuisine at Balwoo Gongyang if you crave something serene.

Day 5: Museums, K‑Beauty, and Ikseon-dong Evenings

Morning: Start at Leeum Museum of Art (contemporary and Korean heritage works in striking spaces), then hop to the Amorepacific Museum of Art for rotating exhibitions in a photogenic building. Coffee break at Café Layered Anguk (British-style scones, gingham charm) or minimalist Center Coffee by the river.

Afternoon: Shopping time: browse Gentle Monster Haus Dosan for an art-meets-eyewear fantasy, then Tamburins for sculptural perfumes and hand creams. Swing through Garosu-gil for indie Korean designers and a flagship Olive Young for K‑beauty hauls. If it’s drizzly, detour to The Hyundai Seoul—a biophilic mega-mall with an excellent food hall (think artisanal tteok, noodle bars, patisserie).

Evening: Explore Ikseon-dong’s lantern-lit alleys. Dinner options: modern Korean tasting menus at Mingles or Jungsik (book ahead), or hanok-bistro fare at Ikseon Jip. Slip into a speakeasy-style cocktail bar afterward. For a view, end atop Namsan with a ride to N Seoul Tower—classic skyline shots at night never disappoint.

Day 6: Nature Escape — Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Rail Bike

Trade city lights for tree-lined lanes, flower gardens, and river views:

Nami Island & Garden of Morning Calm & Gangchon Railbike Tour

Stroll Nami’s gingko-lined paths, wander themed gardens perfect for photos, and pedal an old rail line over rivers and fields. Hotel pickup makes it easy; plan for 9–11 hours total (from ~$55–$85 per person). Back in Seoul, keep it casual with late-night tteokbokki and soondae at a neighborhood pojangmacha (street tent).

Day 7: Yeonnam & Hongdae Mornings, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: Browse Yeonnam’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park (“Yeontral Park”) and indie boutiques. Coffee at Coffee Libre Yeonnam (third-wave stalwart) or Peer Coffee, then pop through Hongdae’s weekend Free Market (if Sat/Sun) for local crafts and buskers.

Afternoon: Early lunch before you go: classic beef soup at Hadongkwan (Myeongdong; decades-old seolleongtang), or grilled short ribs at Mapo Jeong Daepo if you prefer a BBQ sendoff. Pick up final snacks—honey butter almonds, seaweed, artisanal yakgwa—from a convenience store or department-store basement food hall. Head to the airport via AREX Express (~43 minutes) or taxi depending on luggage and timing.

Evening: Departure day—safe travels and see you next time for Busan and Jeju!

Optional Add-Ons If You Have Extra Energy

• Museum deep-dive: National Museum of Korea (Silla gold crowns, Buddhist art), or MMCA Seoul for contemporary Korean works.
• Local cooking: Book an immersive class like a market-to-table session to master kimchi and banchan techniques.
• Sports and shows: Cheer at a baseball game (spring–fall) for true local spirit, or catch a non-verbal performance like NANTA.

Need a Small-Group Culture Focus Instead?

If you prefer a guided city overview with palace rituals, consider this alternative for Day 2:

Small-Group Royal Palace and Seoul City Tour (hotel pick-up)

Note: If you select this, swap it with the private highlights day above to keep the itinerary balanced.

Summary: In one week, you’ll trace Seoul’s arc from royal courts to cutting-edge design, hike a granite ridge above the skyline, taste your way through night markets, and step into the DMZ’s living history. With day trips to Nami Island and evenings in Seoul’s trendiest neighborhoods, this itinerary packs culture, cuisine, nature, and shopping into a polished, deeply local experience.