Best things to do in Seoul – our 2 day itinerary
Seoul in South Korea makes an amazing budget overseas holiday flying Jetstar Australia – check out these free or cheap tourist attractions & historic sites we found!
Myeongdong Shopping Street in Seoul
Flying Jetstar Australia to Seoul is such a budget friendly trip! We spent two days in fabulous Seoul in South Korea, staying in the very heart of the city at the famous Myeongdong shopping area and using taxis, trains and buses to get around to our essential top attractions list!
Riding up the Namsan cable car in Seoul
Use our 10% off discount for many Seoul activities and attraction tickets online!
Klook are official South Korea attraction ticket sellers. You can get up to 10% off many attractions on Klook by using my exclusive discount code at checkout:
LETSGOMUMKLOOK
Buy your Seoul attraction tickets online at Klook here
Klook Partner. Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 5 times use. New customers can get 10% off and existing customers get 3% off. Find the exclusions list here. This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
With only two days to see the sights we went on fast-forward mode to cram in as much as we possibly could!
So, without further ado here are our Top 5 best things to do in Seoul we did in just 48 hours!
I will list the attractions in the chronological order that we did them, and not necessarily order of ranking!
DAY 1 SEOUL
The N. Seoul Tower makes a great tourist attraction
Tourist attraction no. 1 – N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower is a great place for tourists to visit, and it’s easily accessible from the Myeongdong Station and shopping center.
Suitable for all the family, highlights of 0ur Seoul Tower visit were catching the free shuttle bus from near Myeongdong Station Exit up to the cable car, and then riding the cable car up to the Tower.
At the top of the cable car is the base area of Seoul Tower. Here you will find the tower and observatory, some nice lunch cafes, love lock areas, souvenir stores and even cultural entertainment! We really enjoyed watching free warrior demonstrations, and a traditional drummer band.
The N Seoul Tower is definitely a Seoul tourist attraction must-do!
What is it like to ride the Seoul Tower Cable Car?
Watch my POV videos here which show you what it’s like to visit the Seoul Tower!
In this first video, come with us to catch the free tourist bus and then buy tickets to ride the Seoul Tower Namsan Cable Car.
What is there to do at the Seoul Tower?
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How much are tickets to the Seoul Tower Cable Car?
The Seoul Tower Cable Car ticket prices are 15,000 KRW ($16.68 AUD/$10.45 USD) per adult, return and 11,500 KRW ($12.79 AUD/$8.01 USD) per child, return.
What are the operating hours of the Seoul Tower Cable Car?
The Seoul Tower Cable Car operating hours are 10am to 11pm.
How much are tickets to the N Seoul Tower Observatory?
The Seoul Tower Observatory charges are 21,000 KRW ($23.33 AUD/$14.62 USD) per adult and 16,000 KRW ($17.88 AUD/$11.15 USD) per child & seniors.
What are the opening hours of the Seoul Observation Tower?
The N Seoul Tower Observation Deck opening hours are 10am to 10:30pm weekdays, and 11pm weekends.
Where is the N Seoul Tower?
The N Seoul Tower’s address is:
105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan District, Seoul, South Korea
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the N Seoul Tower is located
Tourist attraction no. 2 – The Myeongdong Shopping District
The Myeongdong night markets
Seoul family-friendly night life, restaurants and markets!
As we were staying right in the heart of the Myeongdong Shopping District we had the luxury of spending our first night exploring the shopping streets, knowing that we were just steps away from our hotel, the Skypark Central Hotel.
Well-lit and bustling with life and activity, Myeongdong is fabulous for market souvenirs right up to high-end fashion shopping.
Narrow laneways, street food vendors, restaurants, fast food outlets, shops, ATMS, tourist information, taxis and hotels make this busy tourist centre the perfect place for visitors to stay in Seoul.
What are the opening hours of Myeongdong Shops and Markets?
Myeongdong Shopping Street opening hours vary, with the night markets closing at 1am and some outlets operating 24 hours.
Where is the Myeongdong Shopping Street?
The Myeongdong Shopping Street is located at:
1-5 Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea.
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the Myeongdong Shopping Street is located
DAY 2 IN SEOUL
The COEX Aquarium is a great attraction for little and big kids
Tourist attraction no. 3 – The COEX Aquarium
Whist we are always up for visiting a new aquarium, there was a special attraction which drew our interest in the COEX Aquarium – their Mermaid Show!
The Seoul COEX Aquarium is located in the underground COEX Mall. This big mall is a great place to shop, and is also the home of the Instagram influencer photo spot, the famous Starfield Library of towering bookshelves – more about that next!
You can expect to see some great marine displays in the COEX Aquarium. Seals, Penguins, Shark Shows…all the big aquarium favourites are there. Plus, some unique exhibitions you won’t find anywhere else such as a Korean native fish river system display. There are several wonderfully engaging spaces for children, including Octonauts themed areas, a LEGO display area, craft rooms and more. We loved the nibbling sucking fish!
What is it like to visit the COEX Aquarium?
Watch my POV videos here to see what it’s like to visit the COEX Aquarium.
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The COEX Aquarium Mermaid Show
The COEX Aquarium Mermaid Show certainly lived up to expectations! Performed in a large tank, the engaging Mermaid and the Prince tale was told in Korean, but we had no problem following the story. The talented swimmers and supporting bubble special effects and fish swimming by made this a show a delightful treat the audience enjoyed immensely.
What is the COEX Aquarium Mermaid Show like?
Watch my POV video here to see what the COEX Aquarium Mermaid Show is like!
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What is the Seoul COEX Aquarium ticket price?
The COEX Aquarium charges Adults (ages 13+) 26,000 KRW ($29 AUD/$18 USD), Children (ages 3-12) 23,000 KRW ($25.50 AUD/$16 USD).
What are the opening hours of the COEX Aquarium?
The COEX Aquarium opening hours are 10am – 8pm (Last entry at 7pm)
Where is the COEX Aquarium located?
The COEX Aquarium address is:
COEX Mall, 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the COEX Aquarium is located
Tourist attraction no. 4 – Starfield Library
The Starfield Library is a fascinating place to visit
While you are at the COEX Mall seeing the Aquarium, it’s just a 5 minute walk down to the other end of the Mall to visit the famous Starfield Library.
With floor to the ceiling bookshelves this two-story, visually stunning Instagram spot is well-worth a look – and of course lots of breath-taking photographs! Best of all, entrance to the Starfield Library is free.
What is the Starfield Library like?
Watch my POV video here to see what the Seoul Starfield Library is like!
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How much does it cost to go to the Starfield Library?
Admission to the Starfield Library is free.
Where is the Starfield Library located?
The Starfield Library is located at:
The COEX Mall, South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam District, Yeongdong-daero, 513
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the Starfield Library is located
Tourist attraction no. 5 – Gyeongbokgung Palace
Historical Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul is an essential tourist destination
Left with just an hour of free time on Day 2 due to enjoying our visit to the COEX Aquarium a little too much, we left the best tourist attraction for last during our two days in Seoul.
Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea has to be one of the most iconic places in South Korea, if not the world.
An amazing site packed full of majestic and historic appeal, one of the first things you’ll probably notice about the Gyeongbokgung Palace is that a lot of people are also roaming around in historic dress – and it may surprise you to learn that they are mostly the visiting tourists!
How do I rent a Hanbok?
The Hanbok is traditional style South Korean cultural dress. It’s actually common practice to rent and wear Hanbok clothing when visiting the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Many visitors can be seen promenading around the Palace looking just like they’ve walked out of a history book!
The nearby Hanbok rental stores are the place to rent yours. They even have smaller sizes for the kids so that the whole family can dress up. The overall effect of visitors clothed in traditional dress circulating around the Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of stepping back in time. Plus it makes for some fabulous photographs to boot!
That said, plenty of people don’t dress up, so don’t feel any pressure. We didn’t have time and honestly didn’t even know about the custom until we arrived. The icing on the cake is that any visitor dressed in a Hanbok can enter the Gyeongbokgung Palace free of charge!
What can you do at Gyeongbokgung Palace?
By the time our hour had passed we had walked through the huge main areas of the massive palace grounds, inspected inside the throne room and visited the cafe. Then our time was up and we needed to return to the hotel to grab our bags for the airport.
We really enjoyed our visit to the Gyeongbokgung Palace and vowed to revisit when we had more time to really appreciate this wonderful historic site. I would recommend at least two hours to do this great destination justice.
What is it like to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace?
Watch my POV video here which shows you what it’s like to visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace!
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How much are tickets to the Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The Gyeongbokgung Palace entrance price for Foreigners (ages 19-64) is 3,000 KRW ($3.34 AUD/$2.09 USD).
What are the opening hours of the Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The Gyeongbokgung Palace operating hours are 9am to 5pm (last entry 4pm) and later depending on the time of year.
What day is the Gyeongbokgung Palace closed?
The Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
Where is Gyeongbokgung Palace?
The Gyeongbokgung Palace is located at:
161 Sajik-ro, Jongno District, Seoul, South Korea.
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the Gyeongbokgung Palace is located
Our Seoul Hotel – Hotel Skypark Central Review
Skypark Central Hotel in Myeongdong, Seoul
During our Seoul visit we stayed two nights at the Hotel Skypark Central.
I couldn’t fault the location of our Seoul accommodation in Myeongdong at the Skypark Central Hotel. You really couldn’t get a hotel more centrally located to the vibrant centre of the Myeongdong shopping area.
The Skypark Central Hotel offers a manned guest reception with assisted self-check in. They have a range of different sized standard hotel rooms available.
The hotel offers a breakfast restaurant which we didn’t try out, opting for the nearby Starbucks. A Seven Eleven convenience store is located next to the hotel front door.
Whilst I rate the Hotel Skypark Central as a good three star rather than a four-star hotel as stated, the location is definitely five-star.
A well-priced mid range Seoul hotel, the Skypark Central Hotel is ten minutes walk from Myeongdong Station and five minutes walk from the Airport Limo Bus Stop around the corner (but be sure to book it in advance at hotel reception if you don’t want it to pass you by, like it did to us!).
What is it like to stay at the Hotel Skypark Central?
Watch my POV video here which shows you what it’s like to stay at the Hotel Skypark Central.
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How do I book a stay at the Hotel Skypark Central in Seoul?
You can book a stay in the Skypark Central Hotel at Tripadvisor here.
What is the Hotel Skypark Central’s phone number?
The Hotel Skypark Central’s phone number is +8227520022
Where is the Hotel Skypark Central located?
The Hotel Skypark Central is located at:
16 Myeongdong 9-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Use our Google Map to see exactly where the Hotel Skypark Central is located
More things to do in Seoul!
There is so much to do in Seoul, but our selection is a great start, and just one example of squeezing in a whole lot of fun in just 48 hours in Seoul! Here are some more ideas for you to consider for your own visit to Seoul…
How can I visit the North Korea border?
Given that Seoul is located close to the North Korea border, consider including a day tour to the DMZ – the demilitarized zone at the border between North and South Korea. This adventurous activity is a 7-hour day tour so you’ll need a spare day to do this Seoul activity. We decided that we didn’t want to lose a whole day, and so unfortunately didn’t have time this trip.
Are there any theme parks in Seoul?
Yes, there are several theme parks in Seoul, but perhaps the most well-known one is Lotte World. Known as the Disneyland of South Korea, Lotte World is a popular theme park in Seoul. With its own castle, parades, shows and thrill rides galore Lotte World is a top Seoul attraction.
Another Seoul theme park is Seoul Land Theme Park. A great park for some snow sledding fun, plus it happens to be the filming location of the hit Netflix series Squid Game Season 2!
Where can I go to learn Korean culture and history?
In addition to the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul above, you can take a day trip to Suwon to learn all about ancient Korean history and culture by visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Joseon Dynasty Hwaseong Fortress and Korean Folk Village. There you can find out about its rich history, plus at the Korean Folk Village learn all kinds of traditional arts. In addition, several popular Korean TV dramas were filmed here.
For more ideas for what to do in Seoul you can check out Klook’s list of Seoul activities – and don’t forget to use our up to 10% off code “LETSGOMUMKLOOK” at checkout!
Use our 10% off discount for many Seoul activities and attraction tickets online!
Klook are official South Korea attraction ticket sellers. You can get up to 10% off many Japan attractions on Klook by using my exclusive discount code at checkout:
LETSGOMUMKLOOK
Buy your Seoul attraction tickets online at Klook here
Klook Partner. Klook conditions: $50 min spend, $50 max discount, 5 times use. New customers can get 10% off and existing customers get 3% off. Find the exclusions list here. This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
What’s the best way to get from Australia to Seoul, South Korea?
We partnered with Jetstar Australia during our Seoul, South Korea trip. See Jetstar Australia’s cheap Seoul flights here
Jetstar Australia offer cheap fares from Australia to Seoul every day – check their website for their low South Korea air fares and frequent sales.
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The Let’s Go Mum family partnered with Jetstar Australia airlines during our South Korea trip. As always, all opinions are our own.
All prices and facts mentioned were correct as at January 2025. Please always re-check the source for current prices.
This page may contain affiliate links. If you book a stay or an attraction through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). Thank you for your support!
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5 Top Tourist Attractions in Seoul – our 2 day itinerary
