For many years, Korea lived in my mind and my notebook.
It started when I was seven, growing up in the Philippines, where K-dramas and Korean music gave me my first taste of Korean culture through a screen. I've wanted to go ever since. On August 13, 2026, that someday finally showed up.
Of course, I did my research first. Cafe Onion in Anguk, the hanok café that tourists and locals alike love on Instagram, was high on my list. But I kept hearing the line gets very long unless you go at off-peak hours, and that wasn't worth it for me.
Long story short: I skipped it and found quieter, more secluded cafés inside Bukchon Hanok Village instead.
I strayed from my original plan a bit more and that was fine. With only five days in Seoul(with day 5 being go home day) as a first-timer, I still managed to hit the places I didn't want to miss. We grouped sights that were close together to cut down on commuting and make the most of our time.
Our days usually started around 9 to 10 am and ended around 10 pm. Breakfast? Not really a thing for us. Instead, our morning ritual was a quick stop at GS25 for the famous banana milk and an iced coffee mix and somehow that was enough fuel to start walking.
Some days were packed, others more relaxed. We learned the hard way that doing too much in one day is exhausting, not just from all the walking, but from the heat. Sadly, I didn't get to wear a hanbok, even though I really wanted to stroll through a palace in one. It was way too humid, comparable to Miami or Manila. Mind you, I already had a mini portable fan with me and even that wasn’t enough. So if you plan to wear a hanbok in the summer heat, just be prepared!
Without further ado, here's how it went.
Day 1
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Arrived at ICN at 5:30 pm
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Dinner at 정통집 영등포점
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My friend from Busan met up with his friend from Seoul, who took us here. It's a humble local restaurant, nothing fancy or "Instagram-worthy" (whatever that means), but it served the best kimchi rice I've ever had. It's not a popular tourist street. I saw only locals, and the only tourists were me and my friend from Chicago.
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Hongdae stroll
Day 2
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Gwanghwamun Square
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Garden of Gratitude
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I didn't have time for the War Memorial of Korea museum, so I stopped here instead. It gave me a quiet moment of reflection and left me so grateful for this trip. It's also a great introduction, if you plan to visit the museum afterward.
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Gyeongbokgung Palace
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Lunch at Jaedong Sundubu
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The Coffee Club (photo above)
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My favorite hidden gem: A small, cozy café in a traditional Korean house. Maybe it's because we visited in the off-season, but there were only about four other people besides our group of three.
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Bukchon Hanok Village
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Shopping at Olive Young
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Namsan Tower
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Myeongdong street food
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Han River and ramen dinner
Day 3
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Kimchi-making class in a hanok
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A once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience
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Changdeokgung Palace
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Sooyeonsanbang
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Another hidden-gem hanok café serving traditional desserts and drinks, where you sit on the floor. We saw mostly locals here too.
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Eunpyeong Hanok
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One of the highlights of my trip: I hadn't planned on going. I'd only seen it come up on Instagram last minute and almost skipped it, especially since it was a bit far from most places we visited, but I'm so glad I didn't. Located a bit outside the city, with beautiful hanok houses and majestic mountains as the backdrop, it felt like stepping into a historical Korean drama. It's still a residential area, so it was quiet with far fewer tourists. There are cute cafés and restaurants too, including the famous 1in1, which has rooftop views of the hanok roofs.
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Space Helena:
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We originally planned to visit 1in1jan, but its prices felt comparable to fine-dining restaurants back in Chicago. Since our group was on a budget, we stumbled upon Space Helena instead. It turned out to be a lovely alternative, with delicious pastries, a cozy ambience, and breathtaking views of the mountains framed by traditional hanok rooftops. While it doesn't offer the same elevated panoramic views as 1in1jan, the scenery is still absolutely worth it!
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Myeongdong and Hongdae shopping time
Day 4
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Gangnam shopping
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Starfield Library
Was four days nearly enough? Not really, but it was enough to remind me how I want to travel.
Even with my list, I didn’t want this trip to feel like a checklist, where you rush to a spot, take the photo and move on to the next one. The moments that stayed with me were the slow ones: sitting on the floor of a hanok café, making kimchi by hand, wandering a quiet neighborhood with no plan. Taking the time to learn about a place, how people live there, what they like to eat, and what they say, is what turned sightseeing into something I’ll actually remember.
So wherever you go, I hope you give yourself room to savor it. Talk to people, try the local food, ask questions, and use the few words you know, even if you’re nervous. A place is so much more than a stop on a list.
Planning your own trip to Seoul?
Feel free to use my itinerary as a guide, not a rulebook. Everyone travels at a different pace. Some of my days were packed and others were slow, and what worked for me, my group, and the summer heat may not work for you. Swap in your own must-sees, skip what doesn’t fit, and leave room for the unplanned spots, because some of my favorite moments weren’t originally on my list. If you have any questions about the places, the pacing, or anything else about visiting Seoul, DM us on our social media pages or send us an email. We’d love to help.
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