My kick ass weekend in Seoul, South Korea: A 3-day itinerary!

If you’re going to Seoul but short in time, you’ve come to the right place! Let me help you out on your vacation planning dear! Here is how you could maximize 3 days in the city without missing out on the must-see destinations & must-do activities!

DAY ONE- I arrived on a one fine Friday afternoon and started my gallivanting around the country’s capital straight away! Here’s how my day went!

NAMSAN TOWER

I jumpstarted my trip by visiting the Namsan Tower. N Tower is like the Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty and the Sydney Opera House of Korea. It’s that iconic, you gotta visit! The observatory offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and if you’re travelling with the love of your life, make sure to hang a love lock on the roof terrace!

HAN RIVER CRUISE

After seeing the city from above, I wanted to see the city from another perspective: this time from the water! While I enjoyed the sightseeing, live music and savory meals during the cruise, I cannot help but notice the cherry blossoms display around the embarkation area! Too pretty, perfect for the gram!

INSADONG

Last stop for the day was the busy alleys of Insadong! I came here to chow down on local Korean foods and good thing I came with an empty stomach, the street foods and traditional Korean dishes were the bomb!!! The colourful streets were full of artisan shops, traditional restaurants, teahouses, galleries and souvenir shops! I even found a shop that sells chocolate poo, oh dear it tasted so good!

DAY TWO- I woke up on the 2nd day still stomach full of all the food I ate from yesterday, but that’s okay! Another day, another adventure! Ready?

MYEONGDONG

Welcome to the home of K-pop, K-drama, Korean cosmetics and Korean food: the buzzing district of MYEONGDONG! Calling all the foodies and shopaholics out there, this place is your haven! I did not stop eating & I cannot believe how much makeup and clothes I shopped in a small period of time. There is something about this place that hypnotizes you to keep spending! You’ve been warned!

HONGDAE

There’s a lot of cool things to do in Hongdae making it one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Seoul. While youngsters and young adults come here for the quirky restaurants, the nightlife and edgy fashion boutiques, I came here to see the Hello Kitty café! It’s like a pink toy set that came to life and I got to sip a kitty in a cup! Love it!

COOKIN’ NANTA SHOW

Book a seat to watch the longest running show in Korean history: the Cookin’ Nanta! Non-stop fun and laughter from start to finish! The performers were hilarious, you don’t need to understand Korean to enjoy the night! A very energetic and comedic production, you would want to come back for more!

DONGDAEMUN

Another shopping mecca of Seoul is Dongdaemun! This is where you can shop till you drop until late! Some malls and retailers are open until 5am! Rule of thumb when buying Korean goods: Bargain! Negotiate prices politely and reasonably though! Okay? I’m sure you’ll be so hungry after shopping and sightseeing, don’t worry yummy street foods and restaurants are abundant!

DAY THREE- Last day of my trip and I made sure I get to stroll the streets of Gangnam, wear a traditional Hanbok, visit Gyeongbokgung palace and eat the best Korean barbecue in town!

GANGNAM

Gangnam was in my bucket list from the moment “Gangnam Style” by PSY became the most popular song in the world. Imagine three billion views and counting on Youtube, sensational! For the party people out there, this is where all the best clubs are! And for the K-pop addicts, this is where your K-pop dreams will come true-ish! K-pop merchandise everywhere from the street shops to the underground shopping centers! Enjoy!

HANBOK EXPERIENCE

One cultural experience in Seoul that must be on top of your itinerary is wearing a traditional Korean clothing called the “Hanbok”. A lot of small shops can be found around Gyeongbokgung Palace & Bukchon village renting out not only Hanboks but also bags and hair accessories to complete your look! For a moment you will feel like a celebrity as locals and tourists alike will want to take photos with you! And by the way if you’re wearing a Hanbok, entrance to Gyeongbokgung Palace is free!

GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE

3 days is too short to see all the museums and historical sites, but at least go out your way to visit the largest palace in Korea, the Gyeongbokgung palace! The palace looks so imposing you would want to stroll in every single corner! After visiting the grand pavilion and the historic halls, don’t forget to watch the changing of the Royal Guards! The guards are not camera shy, take a selfie with them after the ceremony!

BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE

After visiting the grand palace, visit an ancient Korean village! Walk around to enjoy the views and soak in the atmosphere of old traditional lifestyle! And while you’re around the area, I highly recommend dropping by at Binari for the best Korean barbecue experience! Hospitality is top-notch! Great selection of premium meats and Korean aunties will cook for you like you are in their own homes! Love it love it love it!

My 3 days in Seoul was packed with nothing but awesomeness! Kimchi, K-pop, Korean cosmetics, Korean food, cool neighbourhoods, Korean dramas plus so much more! While it could be overwhelming during your visit, just enjoy the ride guys! You will love every minute of it!

Book your tickets and start planning! I hope this travel guide has helped you in one way or two!

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Love from Korea,
The Travel Belle <3