Seoul · South Korea
Seoul, Palace to Plate
Joseon courtyards in the morning, Gangnam calm at night, fermentation in between.
6 min read · Updated September 2026
Seoul rewards visitors who split the city in two: the old north around the palaces, and the new south across the Han.
The subway stitches them together in twenty minutes, so there is no need to choose a side.
Day 1 — North of the river
09:30 · Do
Gyeongbokgung PalaceBe in place for the 10:00 guard-changing, then walk out through Bukchon's hanok lanes.
15:00 · Stay
Josun PalaceCheck in across the river; the club lounge on the upper floors is genuinely worth the upgrade.
Day 2 — South of the river
Know before you go
- — A T-money card covers subway, bus and most taxis — buy one at any convenience store.
- — Palaces close on Tuesdays; check before building a morning around one.
- — Late April and mid-October are the two reliably beautiful windows.