Seoul—often written “Seul” in French—blends 600 years of royal history with a pop-culture engine that never sleeps. Within a single subway ride you’ll move from tiled palace roofs to LED skylines, from temple bells to late-night street food. Over three efficient days, you’ll taste, wander, and look out over a city that rewards early walks and unhurried evenings.

Founded as Joseon’s capital in 1394, Seoul centers on the “Five Grand Palaces.” Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung anchor the historic core, while nearby hanok neighborhoods like Bukchon and Ikseon-dong preserve low-slung wooden houses and hidden courtyards. Markets—Gwangjang, Namdaemun—serve comfort classics from knife-cut noodles to mung-bean pancakes.

Practical notes: pick up a T‑Money transit card on arrival; subways are fast, bilingual, and cashless-friendly. Tap water is safe; tipping is uncommon. Palace closures rotate weekly—verify in the week you travel—while wearing a hanbok often grants free palace entry. For flights, compare fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com; if arriving from another Korean city, check Trip.com trains for KTX schedules.

Seoul

Welcome to a city of contrasts: morning serenity at temple courtyards, lunchtime bustle at steaming noodle shops, and evenings framed by river breezes or skyline lookouts. This 3‑day plan keeps your steps efficient and your plate full.

• Top sights: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong, Changdeokgung & Secret Garden, Cheonggyecheon Stream, Namsan Seoul Tower, COEX Starfield Library, Bongeunsa Temple, Hongdae, Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
• Where to stay: Search centrally on VRBO (Seoul) or compare hotels on Hotels.com (Seoul). Aim for Jongno/Insadong (history), Myeongdong (shopping + transit), Hongdae (arts & nightlife), Seongsu/Seoul Forest (hip café scene), or Gangnam (modern amenities).
• Getting in: From Incheon Airport, the AREX Express to Seoul Station takes ~43 min (~₩9,500). The all-stop train is ~60 min (~₩4,150). Taxis run 60–90 min depending on traffic (roughly ₩70,000–90,000 incl. tolls; late-night surcharge applies).

Day 1: Arrival, Insadong Alleys & Hanok Golden Hour

Morning: Travel to Seoul. If landing early, grab a T‑Money card at the airport convenience store and ride AREX into town. Coffee stop options en route to your hotel include Fritz Coffee Company (buttery pretzels, nutty house roasts) or Anthracite Hapjeong (single-origin pours in an atmospheric roastery).

Afternoon: Check in, then head to Insadong for a soft landing: calligraphy shops, ceramics, and tea houses. Settle into Osulloc Tea House for Jeju green tea and matcha roll cake, or slip into a quieter hanok tea room for omija (five-flavor berry) tea. Wander to Bukchon Hanok Village via Anguk; keep voices low—this is a living neighborhood—and pause at hilltop viewpoints for tiled-roof panoramas.

Evening: Dinner choices nearby: Tosokchon Samgyetang (near Gyeongbokgung; ginseng chicken soup, rich broth; expect lines; ~₩20,000–23,000) or a lively market crawl at Gwangjang Market (bindaetteok mung-bean pancakes sizzling on griddles, mayak gimbap “addictive” mini-rolls, yukhoe beef tartare). Stroll the lit Cheonggyecheon Stream, then cap the night with a refined cocktail at Bar Cham (a hanok bar in Jongno, seasonal Korean ingredients) or classic hotel glamour at Charles H (Four Seasons; reservations recommended).

Day 2: Palaces, Secret Garden & Sizzling BBQ

Morning: Enter Gyeongbokgung Palace for grand courtyards and mountain backdrops (allow 1.5–2 hours; admission ~₩3,000; guard ceremony often around 10:00 and 14:00—confirm week-of). If you’d like free entry, rent a hanbok nearby (typical 4‑hour rentals ~₩10,000–20,000). Coffee and pastry break at Cafe Onion Anguk, a restored hanok bakery famed for “pandoro” sugar-dusted brioche.

Afternoon: Walk or short bus to Changdeokgung, the most harmonious of the palaces. Book the Secret Garden tour on-site; the landscaped ponds and pavilions feel worlds away (tour ~60–90 minutes; garden ticket ~₩10,000; palace ~₩3,000). For lunch, try Tongin Market’s dosirak (lunchbox) experience—swap cash for old-style brass tokens, fill your tray with jeon (savory pancakes), japchae, and banchan, then eat upstairs (₩6,000–10,000 depending on tray size). Alternative: Myeongdong Kyoja (since 1966; knife-cut kalguksu noodles, pork mandu dumplings; ~₩10,000–14,000).

Evening: Fire up a classic Korean BBQ night. Go old-school at WooSung Galbi (Yaksu; charcoal-fired marinated short ribs; smoky and convivial; expect a short wait), or opt for polished service at Maple Tree House (Itaewon; premium cuts, good ventilation). After, choose your vibe: Hongdae for street buskers and indie bars; or Le Chamber in Cheongdam (award-winning speakeasy behind a bookcase) for a grown-up cocktail. Night view seekers can ascend Namsan Seoul Tower (observatory ~₩16,000; cable car available; the park’s walking paths are lovely at dusk).

Day 3: Modern Seoul, River Breeze & Departure

Morning: Cross the river to COEX Starfield Library—30‑foot bookshelves under a glowing atrium, free to enter. Slip across the street to Bongeunsa Temple for a tranquil loop among lanterns and stone pagodas (donation-based). Coffee options abound: Blue Bottle Samseong for precise pour-overs, or Center Coffee (Seongsu) if you prefer to explore Seoul’s “Brooklyn” neighborhood of refurbished warehouses and design-forward cafés.

Afternoon: Quick, satisfying lunch before you go: near Dongdaemun, try Jin Ok Hwa Original Chicken Restaurant for dakhanmari—a whole chicken simmered in a garlicky broth, customizable with noodles and rice cakes (hearty + shareable; ~₩28,000–35,000 for 2). If you’re closer to Myeongdong, Hadongkwan serves clear, beefy gomtang in copper bowls (since 1939; simple, restorative). Time-permitting, rent a bike at Yeouido Hangang Park (₩3,000–5,000/hour) for a river spin or order a classic chimaek (fried chicken + beer) picnic to the park. Head to the airport via AREX—budget ~2 hours from central Seoul including station transfers.

Evening: Most travelers depart this afternoon or evening. If you have a final hour, pop into Myeongdong for last-minute skincare shopping (tax refund eligible at many stores) and a dessert stop like bingsu (shaved ice) before boarding.

Where to stay (use these search links, then filter by neighborhood):

• Jongno/Insadong: Walkable to palaces and hanok streets. Search on VRBO or compare on Hotels.com.
• Myeongdong: Great transit + shopping and loads of eateries at night. Check Hotels.com.
• Hongdae/Mapo: Youthful, music-forward, good access to airport rail. Browse VRBO.
• Seongsu/Seoul Forest: Design cafés, boutiques, and quiet green space. Try VRBO or Hotels.com.
• Gangnam: Sleek stays, shopping, quick access to COEX/Bongeunsa. Compare on Hotels.com.

Getting to/around Seoul: Compare fares on Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com. If you’re combining cities, the KTX from Busan to Seoul is ~2.5–3 hours (₩30,000–60,000 depending on time/class)—check schedules on Trip.com trains. Inside the city, subways reach nearly every sight; taxis are plentiful; and walking links palace districts beautifully.

In three days, you’ll trace Seoul’s arc—from dynastic courts to design libraries—punctuated by street snacks, tea rituals, and charcoal smoke curling from BBQ vents. Keep a light schedule, follow your appetite, and leave room for a river breeze at sunset. You’ll be planning a longer return before your plane lifts off.