Quick answer: For a 5-day trip to Seoul, budget about EUR 90 per day (mid-range). Best time: April (cherry blossom) or October (autumn). Visa: Visa-free or K-ETA for most Western passports.
Seoul mixes palace mornings, mountain hikes and neon nights. Five days cluster the palaces, Bukhansan, and the neighborhoods that stay open until sunrise.
Best timeApril (cherry blossom) or October (autumn)
Budget / day~EUR 90
Suggested length5 days
VisaVisa-free or K-ETA for most Western passports.
5-day Seoul itinerary
- Day 1Gyeongbokgung (hanbok = free entry), Bukchon village, Insadong tea
- Day 2Bukhansan hike morning, Hongdae night
- Day 3DMZ half-day tour, Myeongdong street food
- Day 4Gangnam & COEX, Bongeunsa temple, Han river picnic
- Day 5Naksan wall walk, Dongdaemun DDP at night
Where to stay: neighborhoods that make sense
- Hongdaestudent nightlife, indie music venues and street performers; stay here for energy and late-night food
- Bukchon and Insadongtraditional hanok houses, tea rooms and craft shops; go early morning before tour groups arrive
- Myeongdongdense shopping and street-food stalls, very central but touristy; convenient first-timer base
- Seongsuconverted warehouses, third-wave cafes and pop-up stores; Seoul's current cool district east of the river bend
What to eat in Seoul
- Samgyeopsal (pork belly BBQ) grilled at your tablebudget 10-14 EUR per person with sides and soju
- Bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) at Gwangjang Marketfried fresh in front of you, about 4 EUR
- Kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) at Myeongdong Kyojafilling bowl with endless kimchi, about 7 EUR
- Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) from a street cartthe classic snack, 2-3 EUR a portion
- Chimaek (fried chicken and beer) in Hongdaea whole chicken to share runs 14-18 EUR
Mistakes most first-timers make
- Not loading a T-money card on arrivalbuy one at any convenience store; it works on subway, buses and even taxis and saves queuing for single tickets
- Tippingit is not customary in Korea and can cause awkwardness; just pay the bill as stated
- Booking a DMZ tour last minutereputable tours sell out days ahead and require your passport details in advance
- Only eating in Myeongdongprices there are inflated; the same dishes cost 30-40 percent less in Mangwon or university districts
Worth leaving the city for
- DMZ and Joint Security Area (about 1.5 hours by tour bus)the world's most fortified border, only accessible on a guided tour
- Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (1 hour by subway line 1)walk the full 5.7 km UNESCO wall around the old city
- Nami Island and Gapyeong (about 2 hours by ITX train plus shuttle) - tree-lined lanes and riverside scenery, pair it with the Garden of Morning Calm
Getting around
From Incheon Airport take the AREX all-stop train to Seoul Station for about 3.50 EUR (roughly 60 minutes) or the Express for about 7 EUR. In the city the subway is fast and signposted in English - rides cost about 1.10 EUR with a T-money card, and taxis start around 3.50 EUR for short hops.
Why this plan won't send you to a closed café
Almawander is an AI travel planner that remembers you across trips - it learns your pace, budget, diet and taste, checks places are still open, and bakes in your passport's visa rules.