Seoul Lite: A 3-Day Intro to Seoul, South Korea

After a 1-hour ride from the airport into Seoul, check into your hotel then spend the day at Banpo Hangang Park, which stretches 7.2km and offers beautiful views of the Han River and N Seoul Tower, one of Seoul’s most iconic landmarks.

• Take in the views of the Han River while enjoying lunch or dinner at Chavit Restaurant, located walking distance from the entrance to the park on Some Sevit Floating Islands.

• Rent a bike and ride along the Han and capture a photo of the man-made moon. It’s truly amazing to see a model of the moon just sitting there at the river’s edge!

• If you travel during the summer (May-July), explore the Hangang Moonlight Market. There you’ll find merchants offering unique products, areas to sit and relax or people-watch, musical performances and food trucks offering delicious Seoul bites.

• Don’t miss the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain & Light show, the longest bridge fountain in the world! The show lasts 20 minutes and is offered 4-6 times a day from April to October. The show is best enjoyed after sunset!

• Finally, consider taking a Hangang River cruise. If you time it right, you may even be able to see the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain show from the unique view of the cruise boat!

Most of the restaurants and attractions you’ll visit will have items listed in English for ease of selection. Getting around the city is also very easy. Most signs are in Korean and English and are well mapped out. Use the local map app Naver because Google maps often doesn’t have directions. Koreans are friendly and always willing to help if you’re in need. Finally, allow time to relax throughout your day. Seoul is huge so it’s easy to underestimate how tired you may get!

Seoul is made up of several districts, each with its own unique attractions. To get the most out of exploring, try exploring first within the same district, then working your way out to other districts. Travel between districts can take anywhere from 20-45 minutes. That way you can maximize your time and prevent getting stuck on the subway or taxi during rush hour.

• Before exploring, grab a meal at ALT.a. ALT.a offers a comprehensive selection of Korean and Chinese-style vegan dishes. I’m not vegan, but I thoroughly enjoyed the stir-fried tofu and the fried “meat” with microgreens and spicy sauce. Tip: In most restaurants in Seoul, it’s customary to select your own table before you order. Elevate your experience by sitting out on the terrace.

• Wander around Yongsan, where you’ll find the National Museum of Korea, which holds regular exhibitions from artists from all over the world. Head over to Yongsan Park near the museum to relax and unwind. End your evening at N Seoul Tower, best at night, where the tower will be lit up in different colors.

• Explore Haebongcheon or Freedom Village, where you’ll find lots of unique cafes. It is also the filming location for the popular K-drama “Itaewon Class”. While you’re there, check out Up Side Coffee.

• Be sure to explore hundreds of brands at Olive Young, Korea’s go-to for quality beauty products.

The Jongno district of Seoul has most of the traditional attractions. It’s a bustling area where you’ll see palaces and modern architecture coexisting together, creating a very unique skyline. The streets are wide and pedestrians abide by the walk signals (that means no jaywalking!). This area is a must if you want to get a feel of Korean culture as it was during the Joseon Dynasty.

• When exploring Jongno, it’s important to get an early start, as many of the attractions require at least 2 hours to enjoy. Another thing to note is that most cafes open after 10am (yes, late by our standards!) But there are a few that open at 7am, including Dongbaek Bakery, where you can enjoy fluffy souffle pancakes.

• Rent a hanbok, or traditional Korean dress for women (chima jeogori for men) and explore Gyeongbukgong Palace. They're available at a very affordable price and can be rented by the hour. Tip!: Most of the restaurants in this area close between 2pm - 4pm, sometimes 5pm. If you get hungry between these times, there are many cafes across from Gyeongbukgong Palace.

• Take a walk through the winding streets of Bukchon Hanok Village, where many of the wealthy literati lived during the Joseon Dynasty, more than 600 years ago. Here you’ll find many shops offering traditional Korean products and souvenirs. Have tea at Cha-teul traditional teahouse, a beautiful cafe that provides a good view with a lovely garden.

• Dinner at Umuljib, a Japanese-style upscale hotpot experience. Make sure to use the Catch Table app to make a reservation for the dining room with a view. The ambiance is unmatched with traditional and modern elements within the restaurant’s clean design. The ambient lighting puts you in the mood to enjoy the array of seasonal dishes and premium Korean beef hotpot, a perfect place to enjoy a quiet evening!