Seoul in 5 Days:Markets, Palaces, Namsan and Han River Neighborhoods

Namdaemun Market has been trading since 1964, though merchants set up stalls near this gate long before that. Today it sprawls across dozens of narrow lanes just south of Seoul Station, a grid so dense that first-time visitors often give up trying to map it and just follow the flow of shopping carts instead.

Entry sits directly opposite Seoul City Hall on Sejong-daero, one of the most recognizable intersections in the city. Seoul City Hall Station (Line 1 or 2, Exit 2) drops you almost at the gate.

The most useful entry point is Cheonggye Plaza, at the stream's western end, reachable from Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5, Exit 5) or City Hall Station (Line 1 or 2, Exit 4/5), both a five-minute walk. If you'd rather join partway, Jonggak Station (Line 1, Exit 5) and Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station (Lines 2, 4, 5) both drop you within a couple of minutes' walk of the stream path.

- Myeongdong Station (Line 4), Exit 6 or 8 drops you directly into the main pedestrian shopping lane.

N Seoul Tower stands on Namsan Mountain, at 105 Namsangongwon-gil in Yongsan District. Three ways up: the Namsan cable car from Myeong-dong station (Line 4), a free shuttle bus from Myeong-dong or Jongno, or the hiking paths through Namsan Park.

The restaurant sits at 15 Usadan-ro 10-gil in Yongsan District, on the hill just below the Seoul Central Mosque, Korea's largest and oldest mosque, built in 1976. The easiest approach is Itaewon Station (Line 6), Exit 3. From there, walk uphill along Usadan-ro; the street climbs steadily and narrows into the alleys that make up what locals call the "Muslim street" or Halal Row, lined with Turkish, Pakistani, Egyptian, and Korean-halal-fusion eateries.

The museum sits at 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil in Yongsan District, on a residential slope above the main Itaewon strip, so the last stretch on foot is uphill and involves stairs. It's a walkable distance from Itaewon Station on Line 6, and also reachable from Hangangjin Station, also on Line 6, depending on which side of the neighborhood you're coming from. There's no direct subway exit at the museum's door, so plan for a ten-to-fifteen-minute walk either way and wear shoes you don't mind climbing in.

Take Seoul Subway Line 4 or the Gyeongui-Jungang Line to Ichon Station, Exit 2. From there it's a short, signposted walk through the park.

Take Seoul Subway Line 2 to Ttukseom Station, Exit 8, then walk north about 10 minutes. The Bundang Line's Seoul Forest Station, Exit 3, drops you even closer to the main entrance. Bike-share docks (Ttareungyi) sit at multiple park entrances if you'd rather cycle in along the riverside path. The park is open 24 hours daily and entry is free, though individual attractions like the insect house may run shorter hours.

The nearest subway access is Apgujeong Station or Apgujeong Rodeo Station on the Seoul subway network, both put you within a manageable walk of Eonju-ro. Because it's a newer opening, exact street numbering and signage can still be catching up online, so pull up the location in a map app before you leave rather than relying on memory.

Because exact address and access details can shift, confirm the current location and nearest subway exit on Zest's official channels or a reliable booking platform before you go. Gangnam Station (Line 2) and Sinnonhyeon Station (Line 9) are the general anchors for this part of the district.

The market sits at 88 Cheonggyecheon-ro, Jongno-gu, straddling the border of the Jongno and Euljiro districts. The most direct approach is Jongno 5(o)-ga Station on Line 1, Exit 8, which puts you almost at the market's doorstep after a one-minute walk. Euljiro 4-ga Station on Line 2 or Line 5 (Exit 4) is a slightly longer but equally workable alternative, useful if you're coming from Myeongdong or Dongdaemun.

The plaza sits directly over Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, served by subway Lines 2, 4, and 5. Take exit 1 for the Art Hall and Design Lab side, or exit 2 to come up right into the sunken plaza and LED Rose Garden. If you're coming from Myeongdong or Hongdae, it's a straightforward one-line ride with no transfer needed.

Gyeongdong Market sits in Dongdaemun District, on the eastern edge of central Seoul. If you're coming in from Ilsan or Goyang, plan for a 40–60 minute subway ride. The nearest stop is Jegi-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 1, with exits leading almost directly into the market's covered lanes.

Yeouinaru Station on Line 5 sits almost directly beside the park. Take Exit 2 or 3 and you're on the grounds within a couple of minutes, cherry trees or riverside promenade depending on which way you turn. Yeouido Station (Lines 5 and 9) is a slightly longer walk but useful if you're combining the park with the IFC Mall or the National Assembly Building.

The café sits at 87 World Cup buk-ro 4-gil, Mapo-gu, in the heart of Yeonnam-dong (the residential-turned-hip neighborhood just north of Hongdae. The most straightforward approach is via Sangsu Station (Line 6), from which it's a walk of roughly 15-20 minutes through Yeonnam's quieter side streets, or a short taxi ride if you'd rather skip the walk. Alternatively, many visitors arrive from Hongik University Station (Line 2 / Airport Railroad / Gyeongui-Jungang Line) and cut through the Gyeongui Line Forest Park (Yeonnam-dong section), sometimes nicknamed "Yeontral Park" by locals) a linear greenway built over a former rail line that connects Hongdae to Yeonnam-dong and makes for a pleasant approach on foot.

Mullae-dong isn't where most visitors expect to find one of Seoul's buzziest restaurant openings. For decades this pocket of western Seoul, sandwiched between Yeongdeungpo and Mullae Station, was known purely for metalworking, sheet-metal shops, welding sparks, and the clang of machinery. That industrial backbone never left, but over the past fifteen years artists priced out of other neighborhoods moved into empty workshop spaces, layering studios, galleries, and now destination-worthy food and drink on top of the district's gritty base.