1. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul's main royal palace from the Joseon era, with grand gates, a lakeside pavilion and two museums inside the grounds (the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum of Korea).
- Area
- Jongno / Gwanghwamun
- Hours
- Seasonal: Sept.–Oct. 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Nov.–Dec. 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (March–May 9–6, June–Aug. 9–6:30, Jan.–Feb. 9–5). Last entry one hour before closing. Closed Tuesdays
- Price
- ₩3,000 for adult foreign visitors; free if you wear full hanbok (Korean traditional dress)
- Getting there
- Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5), or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 2)
- Tip
- English guided tours run at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (not Tuesdays). If a public holiday falls on a Tuesday, the palace opens and closes the next weekday instead.
2. Bukchon Hanok Village
A hillside neighbourhood of traditional Korean houses (hanok) where people still live. It's known for quiet lanes and views over the old city.
- Area
- Jongno (between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung)
- Hours
- Tourists may enter the restricted residential "red zones" only from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The lower shopping area near Anguk Station has no such limit
- Price
- Free
- Getting there
- Anguk Station (Line 3) is the gateway to the lower area; the village sits between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces
- Tip
- Be out of the red zones before 5 p.m. and stay on the marked walking routes. Be quiet and keep away from private homes. Large tour buses (over 16 seats) are banned, with a ₩300,000 fine for the operator.
3. Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (Secret Garden)
A palace built to fit its natural setting. The Huwon rear garden, with ponds and pavilions among old trees, can only be seen on a guided tour.
- Area
- Jongno
- Hours
- Palace: Sept.–Oct. 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Nov.–Jan. 9:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; last entry one hour before closing. Closed Mondays. Huwon: guided tours only, English tours at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (fewer in Dec.–Feb.)
- Price
- Palace ₩3,000 (adults); Palace plus Huwon tour ₩8,000 (adults), per a travel guide. The official Visit Seoul page lists Huwon at ₩5,000 for adults, bought separately from the palace ticket · book ahead
- Getting there
- Line 3 to Anguk Station (Exit 3), about 6 minutes' walk
- Tip
- Huwon is limited to 100 people per tour and some tickets can be reserved online ahead of time; the rest are sold on the day. Book early for the English tours.
4. National Museum of Korea
One of the largest museums in Asia, with Korean art, ceramics, Buddhist sculpture and archaeology. It's a good rainy-day stop and the entry is free.
- Area
- Yongsan
- Hours
- Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri. and Sun. 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Wed. and Sat. 9:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Closed Jan. 1, Lunar New Year, Chuseok, and the first Monday of March, June, September and December
- Price
- Free
- Getting there
- Line 4 or Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station (Exit 2), about 5 minutes' walk
- Tip
- Wednesday and Saturday evenings are open late, so it works well after a day at the palaces. English guided tours are offered.
5. N Seoul Tower (Namsan)
A tower on top of Namsan mountain with an observatory looking over the whole city.
- Area
- Namsan / Yongsan
- Hours
- Weekdays 10:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; weekends 10:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.; last entry 30 minutes before closing. Open all year
- Price
- Observatory ₩29,000 (adults), ₩23,000 (children). Cable car ₩15,000 round trip (adults), ₩11,500 (children)
- Getting there
- Line 3 or 4 to Chungmuro Station (Exit 2), then the Namsan cable car or Namsan circular Bus 01 to the tower stop
- Tip
- Go in the late afternoon to see the city by daylight and then lit up. The bus is the cheaper way up.
6. Myeongdong
A compact, car-free shopping district known for Korean skincare shops, department stores and evening street food.
- Area
- Jung-gu
- Hours
- Shops roughly 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; street food carts are busiest from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m.
- Price
- Free to walk around
- Getting there
- Line 4 to Myeongdong Station (Exits 5–8), or Line 2 to Euljiro 1-ga Station. Seoul Station (airport train) is two stops away
- Tip
- Street food stalls are busiest in the evening. Nothing in our source says they are halal, so check each stall before eating, or have a halal meal first (see our halal travel guide to Seoul).
- Muslim-friendly
- The source does not cover halal options in Myeongdong, so check each stall or restaurant for halal certification before eating.
7. DMZ and Panmunjom (Joint Security Area) tour
A day trip to the border zone that has divided the Korean Peninsula since the 1953 ceasefire. Panmunjom is where the armistice was signed and where inter-Korean talks are held.
- Area
- Paju, about 50 km north of Seoul
- Hours
- Panmunjom tours run Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; closed Mondays, Thursdays, Sundays and UN Command holidays. About 3 hours at the site
- Price
- Free at the site per the Korea Tourism Organization, but you must book through an approved tour operator. Half-day JSA tours from Seoul cost about ₩80,000–₩130,000 per person, per one travel guide · book ahead
- Getting there
- Tour operators pick up in central Seoul. You cannot visit Panmunjom on your own
- Tip
- Bring your physical passport (no photocopies). Children 7 and under are not allowed in Panmunjom. A dress code is strictly enforced: no shorts, ripped jeans, sleeveless tops or flip-flops. Book weeks ahead in busy months; tours can be cancelled for military or diplomatic reasons.
8. Lotte World Adventure
A big theme park with an indoor section (22 rides) and an outdoor Magic Island (17 rides), plus a folk museum and shopping on site.
- Area
- Jamsil / Songpa
- Hours
- Mon.–Thu. and Sun. 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Entry closes 1 hour before closing. Outdoor rides may close in bad weather
- Getting there
- Lines 2 or 8 to Jamsil Station (Exit 3), about 270 m from the entrance
- Tip
- Check ticket prices on the park's own website before you go; the Visit Seoul page doesn't list them. Weekdays are usually less busy.
- Muslim-friendly
- A guide lists a prayer room on the 3rd floor of Lotte World Adventure (9:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m.). Confirm at the information desk when you arrive.
9. Seoul Central Mosque
Korea's first mosque, opened in 1976 on a hill in Itaewon, with blue and white tiles and Arabic calligraphy at the entrance. The streets around it have halal restaurants and bakeries.
- Area
- Itaewon
- Hours
- One guide lists it as open 24 hours daily; visiting times for non-Muslims are not confirmed, so please check on arrival
- Price
- Free
- Getting there
- Line 6 to Itaewon Station (Exit 3), then walk about 500 m up Usadan-ro
- Tip
- The mosque holds about 800 worshippers at Friday prayers, so expect it to be crowded around midday on Fridays. The men's prayer hall is on the 2nd floor and the women's prayer room is on the 3rd.
- Muslim-friendly
- Muslim visitors can pray here. The mosque also welcomes people who want to learn about Islam, and lectures are held at weekends.
Hours and prices were checked October 1, 2026 on the sources below and can change. Tour links search GetYourGuide and Klook; some earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.
