Two days in Seoul is enough to see the city's royal past and its modern energy side by side. This itinerary pairs the historic palaces and shrines of the old city center with a museum stop, a mountaintop view, and the buzzing shopping districts that define Seoul today.
Begin at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul's largest and grandest royal palace, ideally timed for the changing of the guard ceremony at the main gate. While there, duck into the National Palace Museum and the National Folk Museum on the palace grounds for context on royal life and everyday Korean tradition. Walk over to nearby Gwanghwamun Gate before strolling through the hanok-lined lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village. In the afternoon, visit Changdeokgung Palace, known for its beautifully preserved Secret Garden, then pay respects at Jongmyo Shrine, the solemn Confucian shrine to the Joseon royal ancestors. Spend the evening browsing the tea houses and craft shops of Insadong, and cap the night with a cable car ride up to N Seoul Tower for panoramic views of the illuminated city.
Devote the morning to the National Museum of Korea, one of the largest museums in Asia, covering thousands of years of Korean history and art. From there, head to the War Memorial of Korea for a sobering look at the Korean War, or if art is more your interest, substitute a visit to the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art or the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA). Take a peaceful break at Jogyesa Temple or Bongeunsa Temple, both active Buddhist temples tucked amid the city's high-rises, or seek out the quieter hillside temple of Gilsangsa Temple. In the afternoon, wander through Deoksugung Palace, notable for its mix of traditional and Western-style buildings. Finish the day with shopping and street food in Myeongdong, then head to Lotte World Tower for sweeping views from one of the world's tallest buildings, or swap in the youthful nightlife of Hongdae (Hongik University Area) for a livelier finish.