Seoul
A Quick Seoul Stop Before Japan: 5 Days in the City of Cafés, Palaces & Karaoke Nights
Before jetting off to Japan, we made a quick stop in Seoul to visit my best friend—and I’m glad we did! We had about five days to explore this vibrant, fast-paced city, and if you’re already heading to Japan, Seoul is an easy add-on. It’s just a 2-hour flight away.
We stayed in Jamsil, just south of the river near the Lotte World Tower. My friend lives in this area, so it made sense, and our Airbnb had the dreamiest view overlooking Seokchon Lake and Lotte World Tower. Walking around the lake was such a peaceful way to start the day—and bonus, it’s a cherry blossom hotspot in spring! There were tons of cozy cafés and restaurants nearby, and the area felt super safe and clean. The only downside? It took us 30 minutes to an hour to get to most of the big sights, so plan accordingly if you're short on time.
Day 1: Starfield Library & Onion Café
Our first stop was Starfield Library in the Gangnam District. This place is a book lover’s dream, with floor-to-ceiling shelves and stunning architecture. It’s inside a mall, so it’s not exactly a destination spot, but if you’re already in the area, definitely swing by. Our Airbnb was only a 15-minute bus ride away, which made it a super easy stop.
Onion Café
Next, we visited Onion Café Anguk, right by Gyeongbokgung Palace. It’s super popular—and for good reason! The café is set in a traditional hanok-style building with floor seating and a serene vibe. We didn’t get the floor seating, but still enjoyed the aesthetic. The food and coffee were okay (not mind-blowing), but the atmosphere made up for it. If you’re in the area for the palace, this is a lovely stop for a quick bite and a break.
Gyeongbokgung Palace + Evening in Seongsu Dong
Just a 10-minute walk from the café is Gyeongbokgung Palace—and it is huge. We spent hours wandering around and still didn’t see it all. Built in 1395 and later rebuilt in the 1800s, this was the main royal palace during the Joseon Dynasty. Entry is just a few bucks, or free if you rent a Hanbok (which also makes for cute photos, just sayin’). It’s a must-see!
We also tried to visit Changgyeonggung Palace nearby, but it was closed. If it’s open when you go, it’s only a short walk away—worth checking out.
That evening, we walked around Ikseon-dong - this is a neighborhood you should definitely check out in Seoul, it’s vibrant with lots of cafés, shops, and street entertainment. We then grabbed tea, and had Korean BBQ in Seongsu Dong (shoutout to my friend for picking the spot—I have no idea what it was called, but it was delicious). Honestly, you can’t go wrong with Korean BBQ in Seoul. I wouldn’t stress about making dinner reservations this trip, we didn’t make any and it was very easy for us to find good food here.
Seongsu Dong is such a fun area at night! After dinner you can easily grab some drinks and do karaoke which is a must do in Seoul!
Day 2: DMZ Tour + Adventurous Eats
The next day was an early one—we did a DMZ tour booked through GetYourGuide. We chose the half-day option and I highly recommend it. You meet at 7 AM, hop on a bus, and start your journey into history.
First stop: a small outdoor museum where you learn about the Korean War and Korean/Japanese war. It’s heartbreaking, but important to understand.
Next up, we explored one of the invasion tunnels discovered by South Korea. The walk down is steep and humid—so heads up if you’re claustrophobic or have bad knees—but it doesn’t take long, and you get to peek into the North Korean side.
The highlight for me was the Observatory, where you can look directly into North Korea. We couldn’t take photos for safety reasons, but it was surreal. I felt totally safe the whole time—there’s plenty of security and other tourists around. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience, and yes, you can even buy uncirculated North Korean currency as a souvenir!
That night, we stayed local in Jamsil and had sashimi and san-nakji—yep, the infamous moving octopus dish! It’s not actually alive (just the nerves), but it’s definitely squirmy and chewy. Would I do it again? Probably not. But glad I tried it once!
We ended the night by grabbing a drink and doing some Karaoke. Karaoke is super popular in Korea and you’ll find these spots practically on every corner. You rent a private little room with your friends, crank up the volume, and sing your heart out. It might be a tiny space, but the vibes are unmatched and it’s so much fun!
Day 3: Slow Mornings & Sunset Views
We had a slow start with breakfast from Knickerbocker Bagels—seriously so good and super filling. Breakfast spots are hard to find in Korea (and Japan, FYI), so this was a gem.
Nuldam Café
We spent the afternoon shopping around Mapo-gu, had lunch, and then headed to Nuldam Café—one of my favorite places on this trip! Here, you can write a letter to yourself or someone else, and they’ll mail it on a future date. So unique, and they even have wax stamps! I can’t wait to get my letter next year.
Afterward, we made our way to Namsan Park and Seoul Tower to catch sunset views of the city. The view from the top is stunning—Seoul is massive, and seeing it light up at night is magical. We took the gondola up and hiked down (mistake—it got dark and cold and we got lost for a bit!). Definitely bring warm clothes; it was colder than we expected overall in Seoul.
Day 4: Cherry Blossoms & River Walks
Our last day was chill. We walked around Seokchon Lake and caught the very beginning of cherry blossom season (late March, early April is peak!). If you’re in Seoul during cherry blossom season, this is the place to go.
We also went to Seoul Forest Park, another beautiful spot for cherry blossoms and a relaxing picnic. We grabbed coffee and just soaked it all in.
For dinner, we had some epic Korean fried chicken (a must in Korea!) and ended the evening with a walk along the Han River at sunset. It was the perfect, peaceful end to our trip.
Shout out to my bestfriend Zarine for showing us around Seoul <3
Best Things to Do in Seoul
Café Hopping: Seoul is known for all their café culture - my favorite was the Nuldam Café just because it’s so unique and I think anyone will enjoy receiving a letter from South Korea. I love the activity being built into also enjoying some coffee with loved ones.
Gyeongbokgung Palace: You have to visit this palace when in Seoul - the size and beauty is astonishing.
Namsan Park & Seoul Tower: Amazing views of Seoul - could be a fun hike up if you do it early in the day. I always love watching the sunset amongst cities and watching them sparkle up at night.
DMZ Tour: Totally worth spending a half day checking this out, seeing into North Korea, and learning about the history.
Karaoke: Having a few drinks and doing karaoke makes such a fun night out in Seoul.
Parks: There’s multiple parks throughout the city and it’s such a good way to get a little break from the city buzz even if it’s not cherry blossom season. If it is though, Seokchon Lake and Seoul Forest will be great places to admire the cherry blossoms.
Tips for Traveling to Seoul
For a more convenient location to stay in Seoul, I’d recommend staying more central, just below or around Namsan Park above the river. The area we stayed in was beautiful and I loved having the lake across the street, but it took forever to get to places. Especially when taking the subway. However even staying more central, I still think it will take a long time getting from place to place because Seoul is just so big. So give yourself extra time when going from place to place. I did feel like the public transportation was much faster in Tokyo than in Seoul.
Do research on how to behave in public in South Korea. Don’t talk loudly in public transit, don’t walk and eat or stand and eat in a restaurant. Just make sure you are respectful and kind, be aware of the difference in cultures when traveling somewhere new.
Not many people speak English and you don’t find too much in English. Some menu’s are and the public transit is. Not a tip, just something to be aware of!
Seoul is huge and I’m sure you can find so many things to do but I think a 4-5 day trip will give you plenty of time to see all the attractions and do what you want to do (including the half day DMZ tour).