Seoul in 4 days: a 3-night itinerary with palaces, cafés and night views
With three nights you can add Seongsu's cafés and the Lotte World Tower observatory to the palaces and markets, without rushing. Keeping each day to two or three areas means less time in transit.
Last checked: October 2026
Open this itinerary in My Trip Plan
This example assumes landing at Incheon around midday and flying home in the evening of the last day. Open it in the planner to adjust for your flight times and closing days.
Day 1: Myeongdong and night views
From Incheon AirportAREX all-stop train → change at Seoul Station → Line 4 · ~72 min · ~₩6,300
15:00 Myeongdong 42
Drop your bags and explore Myeongdong, with dinner from the street-food stalls.
Spots: Myeongdong Shopping Street
Day 2: palaces, hanok lanes and market food
From the hotel (Myeongdong)Line 4 → change at Chungmuro to Line 3 · ~15 min · ~₩1,550
9:00 Gyeongbokgung · Bukchon 3
Tour Gyeongbokgung in hanbok, then walk through Bukchon to Samcheong-dong's gallery street.
Spots: Gyeongbokgung Palace · Bukchon Hanok Village · Samcheong-dong
Getting thereWalk · ~15 min
13:00 Ikseon-dong · Insadong 315
Lunch in Ikseon-dong, then souvenir hunting for traditional crafts in Insadong.
17:30 Ikseon-dong · Insadong 315
Dinner of bindaetteok and yukhoe at Gwangjang Market, then a stroll along lit-up Cheonggyecheon.
Spots: Gwangjang Market · Cheonggyecheon Stream
Day 3: Seongsu cafés and Lotte World Tower
From the hotel (Myeongdong)Line 2 · ~20 min · ~₩1,550
11:00 Seongsu 2SB
Café-hop and browse pop-ups in Seongsu, then take a break in Seoul Forest.
Spots: Seongsu cafés & pop-ups · Seoul Forest
Getting thereLine 2 · ~10 min · ~₩1,550
16:00 Jamsil 28
Walk around Seokchon Lake, then watch sunset turn to night from Seoul Sky in Lotte World Tower.
Day 4: Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong, then the airport
From the hotel (Myeongdong)Line 2 · ~15 min · ~₩1,550
11:00 Hongdae · Yeonnam 2A
Brunch in Yeonnam-dong and shopping in Hongdae, then AREX to the airport from Hongik Univ. Station.
Spots: Yeonnam-dong cafés · Hongdae Street
To the airport~52 min to Incheon Airport (same route as on arrival)
Tips for this itinerary
- Gyeongbokgung closes on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays — swap them to suit day 2.
- Enter Seoul Sky about 30 minutes before sunset to see both the sunset and the night view.
- On a rainy day, swap day 3 for indoor spots such as The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido or the Starfield Library at COEX.
- Some Gwangjang Market stalls are cash only, so keep a little won on you.
Travel times and fares are estimates as of 2026-10 (adult, transit card).
Open this itinerary in My Trip Plan
FAQ
What should I not miss on 4 days in Seoul?
Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon, Myeongdong and the view from N Seoul Tower are the classics. For trends, visit Seongsu; for an observatory, Seoul Sky in Lotte World Tower.
How many areas can I see in a day?
Two or three. Grouping neighbouring areas keeps travel time short.