5-9 Days Trip Itinerary for First Timers to Seoul, Korea | KoreaToDo (2024)

At Incheon Airport - Arrival Hall (public area after collecting luggage)

• Pick up pre-purchased WIFI Router & SIM Card at Incheon Airport (where applicable).

• Recommend to purchase T-money Card at any convenience store at the arrival hall of Terminal 1 (T1) or Terminal 2 (T2). Card deposit is ₩4,000. Suggest to top up at least ₩20,000 to ₩30,000 as the airport limousine fare is ₩17,000.

(The card can be used on airport limousine bus to city, bus, taxi, subway and convenience stores. Top up at any downtown convenience stores or subway stations.More details...)

💡If you can't get the card at the convenience store, you can walk a bit further to the subway station to purchase the card. Alternatively, you can get it at most convenience stores when you arrived in Myeongdong. Different stores carry different designs and you can pick your favouritetoo!

Take Airport Limousine Bus from Incheon Airport (T1/T2) to City (i.e. Myeongdong Station Bus Stop)

Bus #: 6015

Interval: 2-6 departures per hour

Duration: 80 mins

Fare: ₩17,000 (discount may apply when used with T-money Card)

No reservation required. Just join the queue and it is free seating on board.

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NSeoul Tower 남산서울타워

From N Seoul Tower, take the Shuttle Bus No. 01Bto the last stop (i.e. Namsan Yejang Bus Transfer Parking Lot). 13 mins bus ride. From there, walk towardsMyeongdong Station, 4 mins.

💡Myeongdong's main shopping area is right at Myeongdong Station's exit 5-8.

Myeongdong

Shopping

Depart 9:00 or earlier [in time for the 10:00 changing of guard ceremony at palace]

Using KakaoMap or Naver Map, take an easy leisure walk from your accommodation to Seoul Plaza (15 mins), located right next to City Hall Station (line 1, exit 5) and facingThe Plaza Seoul (hotel). The very popular Lotte Department Store (main branch) and the established Lotte Hotel Seoul that every taxi drivers know even in English are located nearby too.

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Seoul Plaza 서울광장

Cheonggyecheon Stream 청계천

Gwanghwamun Square 광화문광장

Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁

​To arrive before 10:00 for theChanging of the Royal Guard Ceremony (20 mins), followed by the optionalFree English Guided Tour at 11:00 (1-1.5 hrs). No reservation required.

The next Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony is at 14:00.

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For those who wish 'conserve' energy, you can take a taxi direct from Myeongdong to Gyeongbokgung Palace (20 mins, ₩7,200) or subway to Gyeongbokgung Station with 1 transfer (15 mins, ₩1,400). Use subway mobile app Metroid HD or KakaoMetrofor the lines and transfer station.

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Walk from Gyeongbokgung Palace to the popular Tosokchon Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) Restaurant. 10 mins.

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Tosokchon Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) 토속촌 삼계탕 @Seochon Village

Seochon (Sejong) Village 서촌마을

Walk back toGyeongbokgung Station (line 3).

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Take the subway from Gyeongbokgung Station to the next stop, Anguk Station (line 3, exit 2). Walk toBukchon Hanok Village (10 mins).

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Bukchon Hanok Village 북촌한옥마을

Walk from Bukchon Hanok Village back towards Anguk Station to Insadong. 3 mins walk from exit 6.

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Insadong 인사동

Dinnerat one of the quaint restaurants at Insadong.

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After dinner, walk back to Anguk Station (line 3). Take the subway back to Myeongdong Station (line 4, 1 line transfer, 10 mins).

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Alternatively, at any point along Insadong, you can take a taxi back to Myeongdong (11 mins, ₩5,600).

Gwangjang Market 광장시장속박물관

Take the subway from Myeongdong Station to Euljiro 4-ga Station(line 2/5, 1 line transfer, 11 mins, exit 4).5 mins walk to Gwangjang Market.

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Take the subway from Euljiro 4-ga Station to Hongik Univ. Station (line 2, 14 mins journey, exit 9).

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Hongdae / Kakao Friends Hongdae Flagship Store/ Line Friends Hongdae Flagship Store

Walk back to Hongik Univ. Station. Take the subway to Jongno 3-ga Station(line 1/3/5, 1 line transfer, 23 mins, exit 4/6).

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Ikseondong Hanok Village

Take the Airport Limousine Bus, #6015 (or #6001) from the same drop off stop (Myeongdong Station) to Incheon Airport (T1/T2)

Bus stop location:near exit 8 of Myeongdong Station and right in front of KB Bank.

Interval: 2-6 departures per hour

Duration: 80 mins (T1) / 90 mins (T2)

Fare: ₩17,000(discount may apply when used with T-money Card)

No reservation required. Just join the queue and it is free seating on board.

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First bus 04:35 | Last Bus 20:15 (refer to the information at bus stop for the latest schedule)