5-Day South Korea Itinerary: A Practical Travel Guide for Seoul and Beyond
Planning a trip to South Korea? In this post, I’m sharing our 5-day South Korea itinerary based on recent trip in November 2024. We visited Seoul, explored historic neighbourhoods, and joined two full-day tours (including the DMZ and Nami Island) before flying on to the next leg of our Asia tour in Vietnam.
This South Korea itinerary is filled with practical tips, suggestions we wish we’d known in advance, and honest opinions about what to prioritise (and what we’d skip).
It’s ideal if you’re planning a short trip to South Korea, combining it with Japan or Vietnam, or looking for a first-timer’s experience of Seoul and beyond.
South Korea Itinerary Overview
| Day | Destination | Highlights |
| Day 1 | Arrival in Seoul | Transfer to Myeongdong, explored the local market |
| Day 2 | Central Seoul | Bukchon Hanok Village, Jongyesa, Changdeokgung |
| Day 3 | DMZ Tour | Imjingak Park, Tunnel 3, Dora Observatory |
| Day 4 | Day Trip | Rail Bike, Nami Island, themed villages |
| Day 5 | Rest + Departure | Namdaemun Market, flight to Hanoi |
Day 1 – Arrival in Seoul + Exploring Myeongdong
We landed at Incheon Airport around 2.15 pm after flying in from Osaka, Japan. We pre-booked a hotel transfer, which took 1 hour and 45 minutes to reach Myeongdong due to heavy traffic.
While it is possible to take public transport into the city, I am a firm believer in reducing stress on arrival in a new destination and generally always book a private transfer. It is a little more costly, but we find it works for us.
Hotel: Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong
Book the Ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Myeongdong
📍 Next to the street market
🧖♀️ Rooftop spa and views
🛏 Comfortable, clean rooms
🍴 Easy access to food courts and bakeries
That evening, we wandered through the nearby market and grabbed some casual street food. It was the perfect low-key start to our trip to South Korea.
Day 2 – Seoul’s Traditional Neighbourhoods
We spent the day walking and exploring some of the city’s most traditional and historic sites.
Highlights:
- Bukchon Hanok Village: Free to explore, great views, and photogenic alleyways
- Jongyesa Temple: A Peaceful temple surrounded by flowers and colourful lanterns
- Baek In-je House & Bukchon Cultural Centre: Glimpse into upper-class Korean life in the 1910s
- Changdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden: A highlight. Entry to the garden is timed and guided only.
✅ Tip: Book Secret Garden tickets online or arrive early
✅ Transport app: Use Naver Map or KakaoMap (Google Maps is available but limited)
We ended the day with coffee at a French bakery and dinner near the hotel.
Day 3 – DMZ Tour from Seoul
This full-day tour provided us with an emotional and eye-opening glimpse into Korea’s recent history.
- 🕖 Pickup: 7.00 am
- 🕖 Return: 7.00 pm
Book this tour – Seoul: DMZ, 3rd Tunnel and Optional Suspension Bridge Tour
Included stops:
- Mijingak Park: Memorials and Freedom Bridge
- The Third Infiltration Tunnel: Doug walked it (steep and narrow). I skipped it due to suffering from claustrophobia.
- Dora Observatory: Viewing North Korea across the border
✅ Bring your passport – you’ll need it
🥶 Dress warmly – it was only 6°C in mid-November
✅ No lunch provided – bring snacks
This day was long but incredibly worthwhile. If you’re interested in the political history of Korea, this tour is highly recommended.
Day 4 – Rail Bike, Nami Island, and Autumn Colours
Tour Highlights:
- Gangchon Rail Bike: Scenic ride through the countryside (around 50 mins)
- Lunch: Korean BBQ is included in the tour
- Nami Island: Beautiful autumn colours, easy walking paths, cafés and shops
- Petite France & Italian Village: We didn’t love them as they felt tired and a bit gimmicky to be honest.
✅ Tip: If possible, choose a tour that skips the themed villages like this one
⏱ Return to Seoul: Took 2.5 hours due to traffic
📍 Drop-off: Not the same location as pickup — plan ahead
We also made a lovely connection with a Mum and daughter from Singapore (Rosie and Zhu), who we have recently caught up with again in Singapore.
Day 5 – Rest Day + Departure to Vietnam
By this point, I was unwell with what turned out to be pneumonia, so I took a full day to rest.
Doug explored Namdaemun Market, just 15 minutes from the hotel. It’s a huge, traditional market offering a wide range of goods, from winter clothes to souvenirs.
🕘 Open daily from around 9.00 am
💰 Most stalls accept cash only
That evening, we prepared for our early morning flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.
Flight info:
✈️ Airport: Incheon Terminal 2
🕓 Transfer time: 45 minutes (booked via hotel – approx. 85,000 won)
Final Tips for Visiting South Korea
- 🧣 Pack for cold weather if you are travelling in winter – we were there in November and it was much colder than we had expected.
- 💳 Use contactless or T-money cards. We used minimal cash while we were in South Korea.
- 📶 Connectivity: We purchased an Airalo eSIM for our travels in Asia (which included Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Cambodia) and it worked perfectly
- 🗺 Navigation: Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for accurate directions
- 📱 Tours: Book day trips early, and check pickup/drop-off points
- 🚇 Transport: Seoul’s metro is excellent, but be aware there are lots of stairs!
Before You Go
You might also like:
- Our Japan itinerary
- Tips for first-time visitors to South Korea
- Our Vietnam itinerary
