Seoul walking route: Royal Palaces to Gangnam Tech Hub
Explore Seoul's 57.6 km route connecting major districts from Jongno's Royal Palaces through Gwanghwamun Plaza, Namdaemun Shopping District, and Seoul Station, then south via Namsan Cable Car and N Seoul Tower to Yeouido Financial District and Gangnam's Teheran Valley tech hub.
- Distance
- 57.6 km
- Duration
- 11 h 32 min
- Mode
- route
- Start
- 1:13 – Geographic Context (Weather, Latitude)
- End
- Cable Car Landmark
- Stops
- 15
- Video author
- travmap
- Updated
Stops on this route
- 1:13 – Geographic Context (Weather, Latitude) — Seoul sits at 37°N latitude with four distinct seasons, experiencing cold winters and humid summers typical of continental East Asia's climate patterns.
- 4:46 – Jongno District & Royal Palaces
- 5:23 – Gwanghwamun Plaza & Seoul Plaza — Central civic gathering spaces honoring Korean independence leaders and national symbols, serving as Seoul's primary venue for celebrations and public demonstrations.
- 6:06 – Namdaemun Shopping District
- 6:28 – Seoul Station & Busan Connection — Major transportation hub connecting Seoul to nationwide rail networks, offering high-speed trains and regional services linking the capital to Korea's coastal and provincial…
- Dongdaemun Design Plaza — Zaha Hadid-designed architectural landmark hosting museums and galleries in historic center
- 7:54 – Yeouido Financial District
- 8:31 – Gangnam District & Teheran Valley
- Royal Palace — One of Seoul's major royal palaces where kings resided and worked, located in Jongno district
- Historic Gate — Historic gate where guard change ceremonies are performed
- Central Square — Large public square in the heart of Seoul hosting various events and gatherings
- Urban Stream — Ten-kilometer long scenic river covered with trees and commercial buildings
- Central Plaza — Public plaza in front of Seoul City Hall serving as a venue for events
- Historic Gate and Shopping District — One of eight gates in the fortress wall built in 1398, now a major shopping area with approximately two million daily visitors
- Cable Car Landmark — Beloved landmark operating daily for almost 60 years on Namsan Mountain
Useful for your trip
- Transport
- Seoul Subway is the second best in the world after Hong Kong. It has heated seats, Wi-Fi, and cellular coverage at all stations. It processes over 8 million passengers daily and is closely integrated with the country's railroad network.
- Transport
- Take a high-speed train from Seoul Station to reach the resort city of Busan in just 2.5 hours.
- Save money
- Taxis are very affordable. You can travel for 30 minutes and spend just about $12. No tipping is required in Korea.
- Transport
- Incheon International Airport serves Seoul and nearby cities and has regularly been called the best airport in the world.
- Tip
- Seoul was named World Design Capital in 2010. Talking loudly or on cell phones is frowned upon in the subway—Koreans are very disciplined about this.
- Food
- Korean food is very spicy. Every meal comes with tons of side dishes, rice, and kimchi (spicy cabbage). Korean barbecue restaurants let you cook your own meat at the table.
- Food
- Visit Namdaemun or Noryangjin Fish Market for extremely fresh seafood. At Noryangjin, you can buy seafood and have adjacent restaurants slice and cook it for you.
- Where to stay
- If renting as an expat, be aware of the deposit (Jeonse/Kimchi money), which is usually at least a couple thousand dollars. You get it back when you leave.
- Tip
- Seoul is ultra-safe with very low murder rate and petty theft. Even solo female travelers can walk alone at night comfortably.
- Timing
- Seoul has a humid continental climate. Winters are cold due to Siberian high pressure influence. Summers are hot and humid with East Asian monsoon from June to September.
- Tip
- Most Koreans do not speak good English. 60% are not religious; Christianity is surprisingly the most popular religion with many Protestant churches.
- Transport
- In 2015, Seoul introduced the first bicycle sharing system for getting around the city.
Video on this route
Seoul South Korea 4K .City - Sights - People