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Seoul, South Korea

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Low · Yellow dust days (sample)

Check the air index before long palace walks in spring.

Overview

Seoul palaces sit on one Jongno walk if you start early: Gyeongbokgung and Bukchon share the north grid; Insadong and Jogyesa are the same afternoon. Myeongdong and Namdaemun are a south hop, not a hike from Bukchon at dusk. Hongdae is a separate west-side evening. The DMZ is a booked dawn tour, never a same-day walk from Gyeongbokgung. T-money covers metro and buses; palace-to-palace walking beats Jongno taxis. Book timed palace hours and check yellow-dust mornings. Hanok alleys are quiet after last metro — keep voices down.

Highlights: April–May and October for palaces without monsoon heat.

T-money on metro and buses. Walking palace-to-palace in Jongno.

Rush hour is dense. Keep bags in front on Line 2.

Emergency: 112 / 112 · 112 works in most of Europe/Asia roaming.

Albums

Seoul, South Korea

12

Places

Insadong

Activity

Myeongdong

Activity

Changdeokgung

Attraction

Gyeongbokgung

Attraction

Jogyesa

Attraction

Food

Stay

Map

Guides

Best time to visit Seoul

Seasons, crowds, and packing.

Getting around Seoul

Transit passes, walking, and taxis.

What to pack for Seoul

Layers, rain, and what to leave out.

Tips

Accessibility

Metro lifts, palace thresholds

Major stations have lifts. Palaces have uneven courtyards — check the accessible gate.

Budget

Kimbap and T-money, not hotel BBQ

A Jongno office queue is the cheap meal. T-money beats taxis in Jongno.

Couples

Han river dusk, not Myeongdong tout street

A river path plus a booked table beats a neon BBQ strip.

Culture

Two hands for the card machine

A small bow goes far. Keep voices down in hanok alleys at night.

Emergency

112 police, 119 fire/ambulance

119 is medical and fire. Convenience-store staff will help you call.

Family

Palace morning, not hanbok crush

Gyeongbokgung just after opening is easier with kids than the photo peak.

Food

Queue for the steam, not the neon

A Jongno office queue beats an English-only BBQ on a hotel strip.

Internet

eSIM or airport SIM

Buy data before you need maps in underground mall corridors.

Local rules

Two hands for the card machine

Line up on platform marks. Keep voices down in hanok alleys at night.

Luxury

One hanok night, not three identical towers

Pay for a courtyard stay in Bukchon. Skip stacking rooftop bars in Gangnam.

Money

Cards and T-money, little cash

Even kimbap counters tap. Keep a little cash for tiny market stalls.

Packing

Four-season layers

Cold winters, humid summers. Autumn walks need a light jacket at palace hours.

Safety

Rush hour is orderly crush

Line up on platform marks. Zip bags on line 2 around Gangnam transfers.

Scams

Night-tour touts in Myeongdong

Skip unsolicited salon and bar touts. Use a mapped restaurant, not a flyer.

SIM

eSIM or airport SIM before Line 2

Activate before underground mall corridors. Convenience-store SIMs need a passport.

Solo

Kimbap counter for one

A Jongno stool is normal. Stick to lit streets after last metro.

Transport

T-money from a convenience store

Load at GS25 or CU. Metro plus bus covers palaces; walk between Gyeongbokgung and Insadong.

Visa

K-ETA and passport rules

K-ETA and passport validity change; confirm before you fly.

Weather

Check yellow-dust mornings

Spring palace walks need an air-index check. Summer storms are short and hard.

Weather

Oct 12, 2026

17–25°C

Clear

Oct 13, 2026

14–20°C

Rain

Oct 14, 2026

9–17°C

Clear

Oct 15, 2026

10–20°C

Clear

Oct 16, 2026

12–20°C

Clear

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