5 days in Seoul

Early in the morning, meet me at Seoul Forest Park. Bring water, shoes that hold, and no watch. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.6 out of 5 across 10,989 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: how to get there; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

Late morning, head to K-Star Road. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or also check Tiqets.

Later, I make my way to Central Asia Road. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.

In the morning, it’s Starfield Library. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (7,300 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line get your tickets in advance, otherwise compare on Tiqets.

Around noon, meet me at National Museum of Korea. Give it a good two hours, and leave before you are full: that is the secret to wanting to come back. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.7 out of 5 across 29,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or go through Tiqets.

After lunch, it’s War Memorial of Korea. I always pick two or three rooms rather than seeing everything. You walk out light. Unmissable, and for good reason. 4.6 out of 5 across 18,000 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Getting there: here is the route by public transport. To get a feel for it: travellers’ reviews.

To start, meet me at Changdeokgung. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Everyone goes; everyone is right. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (14,040 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.

Then, it’s Bukchon Hanok Village. The audio guides are worth it; otherwise, follow a group and steal three anecdotes on the way. Unmissable, and for good reason. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or compare on Tiqets.

In the afternoon, I make my way to Insa-dong Culture Street. It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or also check Tiqets.

In the morning, it’s N Seoul Tower. You’ve seen it a hundred times in pictures; in person it is bigger, closer, more alive. Everyone goes; everyone is right. 4.5 out of 5 across 68,637 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your tickets, otherwise go through Tiqets.

Around noon, I make my way to Namsan Palgakjeong (Octagonal Pavilion). It’s the kind of place that makes you go quiet for a moment, even when you thought you knew it all. 4.5 out of 5 across 200 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or go through Tiqets.

In the afternoon, head to Love Lock of Seoul Tower. Take the time to walk all the way around it; the best views are rarely at the entrance. 4.6 out of 5 across 433 reviews: few places are this unanimous. Practical: the public-transport route, and if you’d rather skip the queue, book your visit or compare on Tiqets.

To start, it’s Bukhansan National Park. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. Unmissable, and for good reason. Travellers give it 4.6 out of 5 (2,943 reviews) and I won’t argue with them. Practical: here is the route by public transport, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or also check Tiqets.

Then, head to Bugak Palgakjeong. This is the breath of the trip. Even one hour changes the day. Practical: how to get there, and if you’d rather skip the queue, get your tickets in advance or also check Tiqets.

After lunch, head to Naksan Park. Go late in the afternoon: the heat drops, the light softens and the photos take themselves. 4.6 out of 5 across 6,152 reviews: few places are this unanimous. To get organised: the public-transport route; skip-the-line book your visit, otherwise compare on Tiqets.