Seoul Day 1: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon & Ihwa Mural Village

Day 1 is old Seoul: a royal palace, a hanok village and a hilltop walk along the 600-year-old city wall. Part of the 3 days in Seoul itinerary.

Morning: Gyeongbokgung Palace

The biggest of Seoul’s five Joseon palaces, first built in 1395. Go early, and rent a hanbok nearby if you like — visitors in hanbok get in free.

• Subway: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3)
• Tip: closed Tuesdays
• More: Gyeongbokgung guide

Lunch around Anguk

The streets between the palace and Anguk Station are full of small Korean restaurants, tea houses and bakeries. A good, unhurried lunch stop.

Bukchon Hanok Village

A hillside neighborhood of traditional hanok houses, a short walk from the palace. People live here, so keep your voice down. The core lanes limit tourist visits to daytime (roughly 10am–5pm) — check the signs.

• Subway: Anguk Station (Line 3)

Afternoon: Ihwa Mural Village & the city wall

Want a quieter village? Head to Ihwa on the slopes of Naksan. Artists painted murals here from 2006 to save the old “moon village” from demolition. Then walk the Seoul City Wall trail downhill — the views over the city are the reward.

• Subway: Hyehwa Station (Line 4)

Evening: Insadong

Craft shops, galleries, tea houses and plenty of Korean barbecue. Ssamziegil, the spiral shopping courtyard, is worth a quick look.

Next: Day 2 – markets & modern Seoul

More Korea travel guides

• 3 Days in Seoul Itinerary: The Easy First-Timer Plan
• Seoul Day 2: Gwangjang Market, DDP, Cheonggyecheon & Myeongdong
• Seoul Day 3: Seokchon Lake, Starfield Library & the Han River
• Gyeongbokgung Palace Guide: Free Entry in Hanbok & Tips
• Gwangjang Market: What to Eat (and How to Order)
• Han River Parks in Seoul: Ramyeon, Bikes & the Rainbow Fountain
• Busan 2-Day Itinerary: Beaches, Temple & Seafood
• Gyeongju 1-Day Itinerary: Bulguksa, Royal Tombs & Wolji Pond
• Seoul First-Time Tips: T-money, Subway & Apps

Photo credits — Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Korea.net / Korean Culture and Information Service (Jeon Han) / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.