South Korea
Second trip to South Korea: a week exploring Seoul in depth, between palaces, trendy neighborhoods, and specialty coffee shops
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Essential: Naver Map
- Day-by-Day Itinerary
- My Favorite Neighborhoods
- Coffee in Seoul
- Photos
- Tips for a Return Trip to Korea
Introduction
After a first trip to South Korea in 2024 where I traveled the country from Seoul to Busan, I decided to return in March 2026 - this time focusing solely on Seoul for a week. The goal: take the time to truly explore the city in depth, neighborhood by neighborhood, without rushing.
I settled in Dongjak-gu - a residential neighborhood slightly off-center, which I chose for the accommodation price. Honestly, it’s not ideal location-wise (expect 20-30 min by metro to reach central neighborhoods), but the budget was unbeatable. If you can, opt for accommodation around Jongno-gu, Mapo-gu, or Yongsan-gu to be more central.
The result? An incredible week between historic palaces, creative neighborhoods, street food, and specialty coffee shops. Seoul is a city that reinvents itself with every visit.
"A first trip lets you discover a country. A second trip lets you understand it.— Raphael
The Essential: Naver Map
Google Maps works very poorly in South Korea. Walking directions are often wrong, public transport is poorly referenced, and many places simply don’t appear. Naver Map is the essential app for getting around Seoul. It’s the Korean Google Maps, and it is infinitely more accurate for metro, bus, and walking routes.
Why Naver Map is essential:
- Public transport: Precise metro + bus routes with real-time schedules
- Place search: Restaurants, cafes, shops - everything is there, with Korean reviews
- Walking navigation: Much more reliable than Google Maps in Seoul’s alleyways
- English mode: The app has an English version that is more than sufficient
- Saved places: You can prepare your trip by pinning all your spots in advance
Prepare your visits ahead of time by creating favorite lists on Naver Map. During the trip, you just need to open your list to see all your spots on the map.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Here is the detail of my week in Seoul, from March 13 to 21, 2026.
Day 0 - Friday March 13: Arrival
Jour 0
Arrival in Seoul
Arrival at Incheon Airport
📍 Incheon International Airport (ICN)
💡 Take the AREX (Airport Express) to reach Seoul - fast and affordable
Check-in and rest
💡 Take the opportunity to buy a T-Money card at the airport convenience store
Day 1 - Saturday March 14: First Steps
Jour 1
Myeong-dong & getting your bearings
Airport to accommodation transfer, settling in
💡 If you haven't downloaded Naver Map yet, now is the time!
Exploring Myeong-dong
📍 Myeong-dong, Jung-gu
💡 Must-try street food: tteokbokki, hotteok, Korean corndog
Strolling and resting - adjusting to jet lag
💡 The time difference with France is +8h in winter
Day 2 - Sunday March 15: Gangnam & Surroundings
Jour 2
COEX, Bongeunsa Temple & Lotte Tower
COEX Mall - The largest underground shopping center in Asia
📍 COEX Mall, Gangnam-gu
💡 Don't miss the Starfield Library, a monumental library right in the middle of the mall
Bongeunsa Temple - An oasis of peace in the heart of Gangnam
📍 Bongeunsa Temple, Gangnam-gu
💡 A thousand-year-old Buddhist temple among the skyscrapers - the contrast is striking
Lotte World Tower & Lake Seokchon
📍 Lotte World Tower, Songpa-gu
💡 The Seoul Sky observatory on the 117th floor offers a 360° view of the entire city
Day 3 - Monday March 16: History & Tradition
Jour 3
Palaces, Bukchon & traditional neighborhoods
Gwanghwamun Square & King Sejong Statue
📍 Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu
Gyeongbokgung Palace - The jewel of the Joseon dynasty
📍 Gyeongbokgung Palace, Jongno-gu
💡 Renting a hanbok (traditional outfit) = free entry to the palace! Many rental shops are located nearby
Bukchon Hanok Village - Traditional alleyways
📍 Bukchon, Jongno-gu
💡 Go early in the morning if possible - it's a residential area, be respectful of the quiet
Ikseon-dong - The hipster quarter in renovated hanok
📍 Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu
💡 Full of trendy little cafes and restaurants in traditional houses - unique atmosphere
Insadong - Traditional art and crafts
📍 Insadong, Jongno-gu
Back to Myeong-dong for street food
📍 Myeong-dong, Jung-gu
Day 4 - Tuesday March 17: Creative & Student Neighborhoods
Jour 4
Itaewon, Hongdae & Ewha
Itaewon - The international and multicultural neighborhood
📍 Itaewon, Yongsan-gu
💡 Head up to Gyeongnidan-gil for cafes and restaurants with a view
Hongdae - The young, artistic, and musical neighborhood
📍 Hongdae, Mapo-gu
💡 Street art vibes, street performances, and incredible energy even during the day
Ewha University (Edae) - Spectacular modern architecture
📍 Ewha Womans University, Seodaemun-gu
💡 The campus is stunning with its sunken ECC building - a must-see for architecture lovers
Day 5 - Wednesday March 18: Marathon Day
Jour 5
Bukchon, Cheongdam, Gwangjang, Namsan & Han River
Return to Bukchon - Enjoying the morning calm
📍 Bukchon, Jongno-gu
💡 Early in the morning, the alleys are nearly deserted - best time for photos
Cheongdam-dong - Seoul's luxury district
📍 Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu
💡 Luxury boutiques, K-beauty flagship stores, and modern architecture
Gwangjang Market - Street food paradise
📍 Gwangjang Market, Jongno-gu
💡 Try the bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and mayak-gimbap (addictive mini rolls) - an absolute must
Walk along the Cheonggyecheon
📍 Cheonggyecheon Stream
💡 A restored stream in the heart of downtown - perfect for digesting after Gwangjang
Namsan Tower - Panoramic view of Seoul
📍 Namsan Seoul Tower, Yongsan-gu
💡 Walk up via the trails to enjoy the forest walk, or take the cable car
Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain
📍 Banpo Bridge, Seocho-gu
💡 The colorful water jet show starts every evening at 8:30pm (April-October). Settle on the Han riverside on the Banpo side for the best view
Night walk along the Han River
📍 Han River (Hangang), Banpo
💡 Seoul locals come to picnic here in the evening - order chimaek (fried chicken + beer) for delivery on the spot via an app
Day 6 - Thursday March 19: Seongsu & Trendy Neighborhoods
Jour 6
Seongsu, Seoul Forest, Apgujeong & Garosu-gil
Seongsu-dong - The Brooklyn of Seoul
📍 Seongsu-dong, Seongdong-gu
💡 Former industrial district converted into a creative hotspot - warehouses turned into cafes, galleries, and concept stores
Seoul Forest - A green lung in the city
📍 Seoul Forest, Seongdong-gu
💡 Gorgeous park for a nature break, especially in spring
Apgujeong Rodeo - Fashion, beauty, and designer cafes
📍 Apgujeong, Gangnam-gu
💡 The neighborhood of K-beauty and Korean fashion concept stores
Garosu-gil - The tree-lined avenue
📍 Garosu-gil, Gangnam-gu
💡 Cafes, independent boutiques, and a chic but relaxed atmosphere
Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping Mall
📍 Goto Mall, Seocho-gu
💡 A huge underground shopping mall for cheap shopping - clothes, accessories, souvenirs
Day 7 - Friday March 20: Coffee Day
Jour 7
Specialty Coffee Shops ☕
BEANBROTHERS COFFEEHOUSE SEOUL
📍 Mapo-gu, Sangsu-dong 354-12
💡 An incredible specialty coffee shop in Sangsu - house-roasted, warm atmosphere, the kind of place where you stay longer than planned
Coffee hopping across Seoul's neighborhoods
💡 Seoul is the world capital of specialty coffee - every neighborhood has its hidden gems. Let yourself be carried away!
My favorite coffee discovery of this trip. Located in Sangsu-dong (Mapo-gu), it’s a specialty coffee shop with on-site roasting. The atmosphere is perfect for taking your time. Find it on Naver Map ↗ .
My Favorite Neighborhoods
After a week in Seoul, here is my personal ranking:
Coffee in Seoul
Seoul is without exaggeration one of the best cities in the world for specialty coffee. There are cafes absolutely everywhere, and the average level is very high.
What struck me:
- The quantity: There is literally a cafe every 10 meters in some neighborhoods
- The quality: Many local roasters of very high caliber
- The design: Korean cafes compete in architectural inventiveness
- The prices: An americano costs between 4,000₩ and 6,000₩ (2.70€ to 4€)
Photos
Here is a selection of photos from this week in Seoul.
Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gyeongbokgung under the March sun
Songpa-gu, Seoul
The Lotte Tower from the lake
Jongno-gu, Seoul
Gwangjang Market
Namsan, Seoul
Namsan Tower illuminated
Seongsu-dong, Seoul
Industrial cafe in Seongsu
Bukchon, Seoul
The rooftops of Bukchon
Hongdae, Seoul
Hongdae - The night is just beginning
Hangang, Seoul
Sunset over the Han
Tips for a Return Trip to Korea
Some lessons learned from this second trip:
⚖️ Second trip vs first trip
✓ Avantages
- ✓ You already know how the metro and T-Money work
- ✓ You know what to eat and where - you go straight to the good spots
- ✓ You take time to soak in the neighborhoods instead of rushing
- ✓ Naver Map is already installed and configured
- ✓ You dare to venture off the beaten path
✗ Inconvénients
- ✗ Less surprise effect than the first trip
- ✗ You may tend to go back to the same places
- ✗ The budget isn't necessarily lower (you know the good spots...)
Even if you already know Seoul, every neighborhood evolves very quickly. Seongsu-dong for example changes every 6 months - new cafes and concept stores open constantly. Don’t hesitate to re-explore areas you think you know.
Essential Apps
- Naver Map - Navigation, transport, place search (ESSENTIAL)
- Papago - Korean/English translation (also by Naver)
- KakaoTalk - The messaging app EVERYONE uses in Korea
- Coupang Eats - Food delivery (handy for ordering by the Han River)
- T-Money - Topping up your transport card
Weekly Budget
💰 Budget for a Week in Seoul (March 2026) (par jour)
| Catégorie | Estimation |
|---|---|
| Accommodation Airbnb / Guesthouse | 25 - 45 € |
| Meals Street food, local restaurants, cafes | 15 - 35 € |
| Transport Metro T-Money | 3 - 8 € |
| Activities Palaces, observatories, admissions | 5 - 15 € |
| Coffee Specialty coffee (yes, it's a separate budget) | 5 - 10 € |
| Shopping Souvenirs, clothes, cosmetics | 5 - 20 € |
| Total estimé | 58 - 133 € |
Frequently Asked Questions
"Seoul is not a city you visit once. It’s a city that calls you back.— Raphael