Seoul City, DMZ and Nami Island

Classic Seoul neighborhoods plus two day trips to the DMZ and Nami Island, with a stop at Incheon Chinatown on the way back.

Stay in Myeongdong throughout. Over four days in the city, you'll cover palaces and hanok neighborhoods, Jamsil in Gangnam, Seongsu-dong and the Han River. On day three, join a guided tour to the DMZ in Paju to see Imjingak and the Third Infiltration Tunnel. On day four, take the ITX train to Nami Island and Morning Calm Arboretum. On departure day, spend the morning exploring Incheon Chinatown, Songwol-dong Fairytale Village and Wolmido Island before heading to the airport. Suited to a first-time visitor on a week-long holiday, with an unhurried pace.

Nami Island's ginkgo trees and autumn foliage are at their most beautiful from late October to early November. The DMZ is closed on Mondays and some public holidays.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrival: Namdaemun, Myeongdong and Namsan

Seoul（Namdaemun Market、Myeongdong、N Seoul Tower）

Take AREX from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station, about 1 hour. Walk to Namdaemun Market and Myeongdong. In the evening, take the cable car or a bus up Namsan.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 2 · Palaces, Bukchon and Insadong

Seoul（Gyeongbokgung Palace、Bukchon Hanok Village、Changdeokgung Palace、Insadong）

Take subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station, then walk through Bukchon, Changdeokgung and Insadong, about 4 km in total.

Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays and Changdeokgung on Mondays, so visit both between Wednesday and Sunday.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 3 · DMZ Day Trip in Paju

Seoul（Imjingak & DMZ、Dongdaemun Design Plaza）

Join a DMZ tour departing central Seoul at about 8:00 and returning to the city between 15:00 and 16:00. The one-way drive takes about 1 hour. In the evening, take the subway to Dongdaemun.

Bring your passport and book 2–3 days in advance. The Third Tunnel and Dora Observatory are closed on Mondays. Panmunjom JSA remains closed to the public.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 4 · Nami Island and Morning Calm Arboretum

Chuncheon & Gapyeong（Nami Island (Namiseom)、The Garden of Morning Calm）

Take ITX-Cheongchun from Cheongnyangni or Yongsan for about 1 hour to Gapyeong Station. Then take a taxi or shuttle bus to the Nami Island pier and take the ferry across. The arboretum is about 20 minutes by taxi from the pier.

Nami Island gets crowded after 10 a.m., so arrive early. Morning Calm Arboretum closes at sunset, and there is a light festival in winter.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 5 · Gangnam COEX and Jamsil

Seoul（Bongeunsa Temple、Starfield Library (COEX Mall)、Lotte World Tower & Seoul Sky、Seokchon Lake）

Take subway Line 2 to Samseong Station; Bongeunsa Temple and COEX are within walking distance. Then take Line 2 to Jamsil Station to visit Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake.

Sunset-time tickets for the Seoul Sky observatory sell out quickly, so buy them online in advance.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 6 · Seongsu-dong and the Han River at Night

Seoul（Seoul Forest、Seongsu-dong、Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain）

Take the Suin-Bundang Line subway to Seoul Forest Station and explore Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong on foot. In the evening, take the subway to Express Bus Terminal and walk to Banpo Hangang Park to see the fountain show.

The Rainbow Fountain usually runs from April to October. In winter, when it's turned off, you can visit Yeouido Hangang Park instead.

Stay: Myeongdong

Day 7 · Incheon Chinatown and Departure

Incheon（Incheon Chinatown、Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village、Wolmido）

Take subway Line 1 from Seoul Station for about 1 hour to Incheon Station and explore on foot. Then take a taxi for about 40 minutes or a bus to Incheon International Airport.

You can store your luggage at Seoul Station or bring it along. A late-evening flight makes the day more relaxed.

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