# Seoul: map, what to do and when to go

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, with Joseon dynasty palaces, markets, hanok neighborhoods and the Han River between mountains. It has about 9.4 million residents and was rebuilt almost from scratch after 1953.

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Seoul: how do you get from Incheon Airport to downtown?** At Incheon (ICN), check your terminal and choose transport according to your accommodation’s neighbourhood.
- **Seoul: how do you get to Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress?** 40km to the south; about 1 hour on subway line 1 to Suwon station, or about 35 minutes by express train.
- **Seoul: what's the currency and how much is the won worth?** The currency is the South Korean won (₩), with bills of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000; in 2026 the dollar is worth about ₩1,380 and the euro about ₩1,590, which puts ₩10,000 at around 7 dollars.

## One palace and the neighbourhoods of Jongno
Begin in the morning at Gyeongbokgung, which opens at 9am; check the calendar, since it normally closes on Tuesdays, with holiday exceptions. To see the changing of the guard, consult the programme and the day’s notices: arriving early does not guarantee the ceremony will take place. Also check admission and hanbok rules.
- Gyeongbokgung
- Bukchon Hanok Village

## The centre and Namsan, or a museum day
Choose the centre for the morning: walk a section of Cheonggyecheon towards Dongdaemun, according to your energy, the weather and access to the banks. There is no need to walk the entire stream.
- Cheonggyecheon
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza

## Jamsil and an afternoon in the south
Choose Jamsil for the morning and check the conditions of the Seoul Sky ticket at Lotte World Tower. The observatory occupies floors 117–123; check opening hours, admission type, last entry and visibility for your date. A purchase or selected time does not eliminate possible waiting.
- Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky

## Gyeongbokgung
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-gyeongbokgung
Jongno-gu
Joseon’s main palace, founded in 1395, destroyed during the 1592 invasion and rebuilt between 1865 and 1867, with further restoration since 1990. It opens at 9am and normally closes on Tuesdays; holidays can move the closure, and last admission varies by season. The changing of the guard usually has sessions at 10am and 2pm, subject to notices and weather cancellations. Check the calendar and admission conditions; free entry for hanbok wearers requires compliance with the palace’s dress rules.
Check access

## Changdeokgung and the Huwon garden
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-changdeokgung
Seul
Founded in 1405, rebuilt in 1610 after the 1592 invasion and used as the court’s main residence until Gyeongbokgung was rebuilt. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, it integrates its buildings and Huwon garden with the terrain. The garden requires its own ticket as well as admission to the palace buildings, with fixed times and limited places; advance and on-site sales depend on availability. It normally closes on Mondays, with holiday changes; check the calendar before choosing a date.
Check access

## Jongmyo
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-jongmyo
Jongno-gu
A shrine holding the ancestral tablets of Joseon kings and queens, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. Jeongjeon hall reached 19 bays through successive extensions. Guided visits with timed admission normally run on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; independent visits are available on Wednesdays, weekends and public holidays. It normally closes on Tuesdays, but holidays and events can change the arrangements. Check the session in your preferred language, availability and seasonal last admission.
Check access

## Hanyangdoseong wall
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-muralha-de-hanyangdoseong
Seul
The 18.6 km of wall from 1396 still stands along about 70% of its route, split into six walkable sections. The Naksan stretch is short and easy; the Inwangsan stretch climbs along granite rocks and gives the best view of downtown, with some sections under military watch where photography is banned in certain directions.
Check access

## Bukchon Hanok Village
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-bukchon-hanok-village
Buk District
Hanok streets between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, with homes where residents live. The red zone at Bukchon-ro 11-gil restricts tourist visits to 10am–5pm and provides for fines outside those hours; this does not make all of Bukchon a single enclosure with one opening time. Follow signs and local notices, keep your voice low and respect homes and people. The city also asks for a rest day for the alleyways on Sundays.
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## Namsan and N Seoul Tower
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-namsan
Yongsan-gu
N Seoul Tower combines broadcasting and observation on Namsan, in central Seoul. Choose a bus, cable car or walk to the access point according to your energy and route conditions; there is no single duration for every ascent. The paid observation deck and cable car have their own tickets and service. Check opening hours, last entry, weather, visibility and return before arranging the visit.
Check access

## Cheonggyecheon
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-cheonggyecheon
Seul · Up to half an hour
A 10.9 km stream restored between 2003 and 2005, when a six-lane elevated highway was torn down to reopen it. It runs 4 to 5 meters below street level, between Gwanghwamun and the eastern part of downtown, and serves as a walking route and a cool-air corridor in summer; the water is pumped in from the Han River.
Check access

## National Museum of Korea
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-museu-nacional-da-coreia
Yongsan-gu
Opened in 2005 in Yongsan, it's one of the largest museums in the world by floor area, with free admission to the permanent collection. The Room of Quiet Contemplation, opened in 2021, displays two gilt-bronze pensive bodhisattvas from the 6th and 7th centuries in a dark space designed just for them.
Check access

## Dongdaemun Design Plaza
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-dongdaemun-design-plaza
Seul · Up to half an hour
A Zaha Hadid building opened in March 2014, clad in more than 45,000 aluminum panels, no two alike. It hosts exhibitions and Seoul Fashion Week, and excavations during construction uncovered a stretch of the city wall and a 15th-century water gate, now preserved in the park next door.
Check access

## Lotte World Tower and Seoul Sky
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/seoul/#g-lugar-lotte-world-tower
Songpa District
Seoul Sky occupies floors 117–123 of the 555 m Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. It is a choice for seeing the city from above: check visibility, tickets, admission type and last entry before planning your visit. Namsan offers another view in the centre, with its own access and transport; the two viewpoints need not be part of the same day.
Check access

**Seoul: how do you get from Incheon Airport to downtown?**
At Incheon (ICN), check your terminal and choose transport according to your accommodation’s neighbourhood. The AREX Express runs directly to Seoul Station; the All-Stop also serves stations such as Hongik University, which may suit your destination better. Compare the final leg, transfers with luggage, fare and timetable for your arrival. An airport bus may avoid a transfer, but check the exact stop and the walk to your accommodation; do not assume a hotel-door drop-off. For a taxi, confirm its category and charging method, allowing for traffic and tolls. Gimpo (GMP) has AREX and subway connections, including Lines 5 and 9. Allow for immigration, baggage, waiting and access to the station; the advertised train time excludes those steps. If you arrive before check-in, confirm luggage storage with your accommodation before arranging visits.

**Seoul: how do you get to Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress?**
40km to the south; about 1 hour on subway line 1 to Suwon station, or about 35 minutes by express train.

**Seoul: what's the currency and how much is the won worth?**
The currency is the South Korean won (₩), with bills of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000; in 2026 the dollar is worth about ₩1,380 and the euro about ₩1,590, which puts ₩10,000 at around 7 dollars.

**Seoul: what's the climate like throughout the year?**
The climate is monsoon-influenced continental, with four clearly separate seasons and about 1,400mm of rain a year, more than half of it concentrated in July and August.

**Seoul: what's the etiquette for handing over money or objects?**
Money, cards, cups, gifts, and business cards are given and received with both hands, or with the right hand supported by the left forearm.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 3 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/seoul/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/seoul/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/seoul.md