Seoul – Day 1 of a 14-Day Trip in South Korea
This was my second trip to Korea. The first visit was about 5 years ago and I only visited Seoul (you can find my 4-day trip in Seoul on my blog as well!). This trip was longer and had a lot more cities on the list! We visited in October and the weather was very warm – between 20-24°C during the day. Day 1 started with a flight to Seoul. The flight was about 12 hours long and due to the time change, we lost a full day and arrived late in the evening. We flew Korean Air and I recommend the bibimbap for the first meal. It was a pretty good flight meal in my opinion. If you get snack-y on the plane, you can request a bowl of instant noodles free of charge as well. This is special to Korean Air. Arriving at Seoul, we were too tired to do anything other than head to the hotel that evening. So Day 1 was technically our Day 2 in South Korea.
Day 1
Seoul
Our day started with a breakfast from the convenience store – onigiri, kimbap, bag coffee and banana milk! A must is getting a cup of ice, filling it with bag coffee and adding banana milk. So good!
Day 1 was a day of visiting the Grand Palaces (Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Changdeokgung), shrines, and interesting neighbourhoods. Because it was a holiday weekend, all the temples and palaces were free to visit. Note: The normal admission is 1000-3000 won/adult depending on the palace, which is still very affordable. There is also a Palace combination ticket for 10000 won per adult which includes entry to the Palaces and the Secret Garden over 7 days. First location Deoksugung Palace. Deoksugung Palace was once inhabited by Korea’s Royal Family during the Joseon Dynasty until Japan took over Korea in 1910. At certain times of the day, there are changing of the guards. There are traditional structures, but also more modern buildings as well.
Next, we walked to Gyeongbokgung Palace, passing by Cheonggyecheon Stream. There is a pathway alongside the Cheonggyecheon Stream which would be a lovely spot for an afternoon stroll.
Gyeongbokgung Palace was built in 1395 and was the main Royal Palace during the Joseon Dynasty. It is the biggest of the Five Grand Palaces. The front gate was unfortunately under repairs during our visit.
We stopped by the National Folk Museum after leaving the Gyeongbokgung Palace as it was close by. The National Folk Museum is free to visit and has lots of information on the Korean traditional life. Next – lunchtime! We took the bus to Gwangjang Market where we sampled spicy raw crab, korean corn dog, mandu (dumplings), kalguksu (hand cut noodles), and sikhye (rice drink).
Afterwards, we walked to Jongmyo Shrine. Unfortunately the shrine was closed for renovations. We continued to the Changgyeonggung Palace, then the Changdeokgung Palace + Secret Garden. The Changgyeonggung Palace was originally built in the 15th century by King Sejong for his father. Changdeokgung Palace was built around the same time as Gyeongbokgung Palace and was another home for the royal family. The Secret Garden at the Changdeokgung Palace has a separate admission fee with limited daily and timed tickets. We had no issues buying tickets for the 3:30pm entrance with only 1 hour before 3:30pm. You can also reserve your ticket online ahead of time. The garden itself is lovely and much quieter due to the limited tickets.
Afterwards, we walked to the Bukchon Hanok Village, stopping by a photo booth store on the way to take cute couple pics. The Bukchon Hanok Village is filled with traditional homes, which people still live in. Close to the Village is a nice viewpoint.
We then walked to Ssamzigil Shopping Mall in Insadong. On the way, we passed by a 10 cent bread shop and the aromas of buttery sweetness meant we had to stop. The 10 cent bread was filled with melted cheese and delicious – my favourite snack in Korea. We also passed an art festival in the park. The park was filled with beautiful flowers as well. Ssamzigil is a 4 floor shopping mall with boutique stores. It is a great spot for nifty gifts and souvenirs.
It was about time for dinner so we headed to Doma Insadong. I ordered the beef set and he ordered the chicken set. The set came with spicy tofu soup, rice, and sides (kimchi, small fish, and seaweed). There’s also wasabi and herb seasoning at the table to add to the meat, which I highly recommend.
Next – dessert near Ikseon Hanok Street! Ikseon Hanok Street has many dessert shops, but we decided on Cheong Su Dang. The pathway leading to the entrance of the cafe is lined with bamboo. We ordered the pumpkin sikhye and the black sesame fromage cake. The cake was good, but nothing amazing. The cafe design was lovely though.
Complete Day 1 Itinerary
*Travel times may vary. Check Kakao or Naver Maps for most accurate travel details.
8:00am: Have breakfast from the Convenience Store (7/11, GS25, or CU).
9:00am: Visit Deoksugung Palace, Cheonggyecheon Stream (14 minute walk from Deoksugung Palace), and Gyeongbokgung Palace (20 minute walk from Cheonggyecheon Stream).
12:00pm: Have lunch at the Gwangjang Market (24 minute transit from Gyeongbokgung Palace).
2:00pm: Visit Jongmyo Shrine (18 minute walk from Gwangjang Market), Changgyeonggung Palace (28 minute walk from Jongmyo Shrine), Changdeokgung Palace (7 minute walk from Changgyeonggung Palace), and the Secret Garden.
5:00pm: Visit Bukchon Hanok Village (16 minute walk from Changdeokgung Palace), then explore the Ssamzigil Shopping Mall (10 minute walk from Bukchon Hanok Village) in Insadong.
6:00pm: Have dinner at Doma Insadong (1 minute walk from Ssamzigil).
7:00pm: Have dessert at Cheong Su Dang in Ikseon (8 minute walk from Doma Insadong).
14-Day South Korea Itinerary
Click “Download” below for an excel version of my 14-Day South Korea Itinerary. Feel free to use the excel file as a planning template for your own trip!
Travels with Carolyne 