4 Best Morning Trips to do in Seoul

Seoul is packed with everything to delight its visitors. As it’s packed with multiple destinations and attractions to enjoy the ancient city where history and traditions engage the modern world, many travelers still confuse where to go for there are many options. I wanted to do an in-depth of best places to do in certain time. Especially the morning trips.

As the center of South Korea (hereinafter referred to as Korea), the traveler can experience from cutting-edge technology and trend-setting culture to a remarkable history and traditions. There are tour packages here and there provided for travelers colorfully to engage all interesting things.

Many travelers wake up in the morning because they want to let the day well spent. These are places you can visit best in the morning. Each trip runs approximately from 09:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

1. Palaces Trip

You can start the journey of the palaces morning trip from the Blue House which located inside the famous palace in Seoul, Gyeongbok Palace.

The Route

Blue House or known as Cheong Wa Dae: Take the Seoul Subway Line 3 then Exit 5, go into the Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds and walk approximately 600m toward the East Gate Parking Lot; The Cheong Wa Dae Tour Information Booth is in the parking lot, in case you don’t get the tour, you can take the picture in front of the Blue House.

Changing of the Royal Guard Ceremony: From Blue House, you can walk inside the Gyeongbok Palace and watch the Changing of the Guard Ceremony that usually held at 10:00 AM and 14:00 PM. For this is a morning trip means you can watch them at 10:00 AM.

Gyeongbok Palace: This palace is a palace erected during the reign of King Taejo, founder of Joseon Dynasty which was the last dynasty (1392-1910). It was destroyed during the Japanese invasion in 1592, but it was reconstructed in 1868. It has 4 gates including the southern main gate, Gwanghwamun. Gyeongbok Palace is closed on Tuesdays, so change it to Deokso Palace if you plan to do this trip on Tuesday.

National Folk Museum: This museum located inside the Gyeongbok Palace, you can learn many histories about Korea in this museum. Since Gyeongbok Palace is closed on Tuesday, so do National Folk Museum, you can change it to History Museum on Tuesday.

Jogyesa Buddhist Temple: You don’t have to be a Buddhist to visit the Buddhist temple. This is the main temple as well as the district head temple of Jogye order in Seoul. Jogyesa Temple is the center of Korean Buddhism. This is the end of the Palaces trip.

2. National Museum of Korea & Cheonggyeongcheon Trip

Some people are able to combine this trip with the palaces trip, while the other decided to divide the trip. If you are a museum lover, then combine this trip with the palaces trip is not a good idea. As once you are inside the National Museum, you would love to spend more time there. All Admission to these places is free, except for special exhibitions.

The Route

National Museum of Korea: This museum endeavors to preserve, to exhibit, and to interpret Korea’s cultural heritage into the international scale. It also pointed out through international cultural exchanges. One or two hour is not enough if you are a museum lover. Though you are not, it’s still worth to visit.

Cheonggyeongcheon Stream: This is the favorite place in summer. Most of Korean, they like to sit and enjoy the day in the stream. Don’t be surprised if you see many people sit along the stream. The Rhythmic Wall Stream, lined with fine marble and sculptures, and Palseokdam adorn Cheonggyecheon Stream. One of a must-visit place in Seoul.

Gwanghwamun Square: In fact, is located close to Gyeongbok Palace. I put it on a different day for it took me half day in Gyeongbok Palace and all inside of it. I thought it would be better to have a different day to visit this place. There is the statue of King Sejong the Great located in the middle of the square, just below it, there is Sejong Center where you can learn about the invented of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Just close by there is the Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Shin.

3. Seoul Tower & Hanok Village Trip

Some places are supposed to go in the morning for the advantage to enjoy the site when there are no many people yet.

The Route

N Seoul Tower: It located at the top of Mt. Namsan in the heart of Seoul, N Seoul Tower is a 240-meter tall tower completed in 1975, often regarded as Asia’s most beautiful tower. This tower is also where you can get the most exciting view of Seoul. You can just take a picture in front of it without no cost at all. Yet, there are frees if you want to enter the observatory and the other services.

Admission Fees

Individual Admission Ticket
– Observatory: Adults 10,000 won / Children 8,000 won
– Ssentoy Museum & Showroom: Adults 8,000 won / Children 8,000 won
– Hello Kitty Island: Adults 8,000 won / Children 7,000 won

Morning View at Namsan

Namsangol Hanok Village: This village has five restored traditional Korean houses but only one of the Hanok houses is open to the public. The furniture in the houses is arranged to help guests understand the daily lives of the past, and the clean, traditional houses, as well as their antique items, provide a great photo. There are also a pavilion, traditional garden, performance art stage and a time capsule plaza. They have many traditional programs and activities to participate in.

I like it when I was entering the front gate, the vibe made me felt the taste of the traditional life which way different from the bustling city life.

The War Memorial of Korea: The museum houses approximately 33,000 artifacts with about 10,000 on display at indoor and outside exhibition halls. There are Memorial Hall, War History Hall, Korean War Hall, Expeditionary Forces Hall, ROK Armed Forces Hall, Defense Industry Hall, Large Military Equipment Hall. There are a lot. It closed on Mondays. Of course, the admission is free, except for special exhibitions.

4. World Cultural Heritage Trip

There are eleven Cultural Heritage Sites in Korea. Some of them are in Seoul. It is nice to visit and learn about them while you are in Seoul for the morning trips.

The Route

Changdeok Palace: This is one of the UNESCO World Heritage in Seoul. For me, this is the second palace I always remember in Seoul. It known as a place of rest for the kings, the rear garden boasts a gigantic tree that is over 300 years old, a small pond and a pavilion. The garden was kept as natural as possible and was touched by human hands only when necessary. It served as a resting place for the royal family members. Make sure to visit this place and the garden. It closed on Mondays.

Admission Fee:

Adults (ages 25-64): 3,000 won Group (over 10 people): 2,400 won.

Huwon Tour (Secret Garden)
Adults (ages 25-65) 8,000 won
Young adults (ages 19-24) 5,000 won
Children and Teenagers (ages 7-18): 2,500 won
Groups of 10 people or more: 7,400 won

Jongmyo Royal Shrine: The other UNESCO World Heritage is Jongmyo Royal Shrine. Just like in traditional Asian culture especially China and Korea, rite has been highly important.

In modern society preserving rite carries the meaning of maintaining basic social order. There are a number of rituals which are considered important forms of rite, and the most significant of these in Korea are the Jongmyo that is performed for deceased kings and the Sajik rituals that is performed for the Gods of Earth and Crops.

Admission Fee:

Adults (ages 19 and over): 1,000 won / Youth (ages 7-18): 500 won. Please note that it closed on Tuesdays.

Insadong Antique Shop Alley: This is a heaven for those who like antique goods. Insadong antique shop alley is full of authentically decorated tea houses that are serving an intriguing array of traditional teas, high-end antique galleries and delicious and innovation restaurants. This is a favorite stop for most travelers who know that this is the place to find a perfect Korean gift to take back home.