Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Bukchon, Samcheong, Insadong, Seochon and Ikseon — the palace and hanok quarter.
Central Seoul was once ringed by a city wall, much of it survives, and a path runs alongside. Here’s the thing: the full circuit is a long way, so on a trip you pick one of six sections. Seoulog covers how to choose, why autumn means a morning start, what to pack, and what to do when you come down.
Gwangjang opened in 1905 and draws about 65,000 people a day; Tongin sells 500-won brass coins to build a lunchbox; Gyeongdong hides a Starbucks in a dead cinema. Here’s the thing: the fun is in the details—prices, hours, how much cash to carry and when to go. Seoulog lines up all three markets.
October 9 is Hangeul Day, and in 2026 it lands on a Friday, so Oct 9–11 is the month’s second three-day weekend. Here’s the thing: unlike Chuseok, commerce runs as normal, while Gwanghwamun Square and the free National Hangeul Museum turn into a festival. Seoulog covers the crowds, the closures and an Insadong calligraphy hour, in three parts.
From late October into early November, Seoul becomes its own foliage destination at zero transit cost. Here’s the thing: the color sits directly on your sightseeing lines—palace eaves, the Namsan loop at dusk, a national park on the subway, and a ginkgo encore a week later. Four tiers, sorted by travel time, each with its one correct answer.
Holiday Seoul comes with three bonuses: palaces that open free, a city that empties out, and a Dongdaemun that never sleeps. Here’s the thing—you don’t need a single booking. Any three days of 24–27 September work, and the rain substitutes are attached.
A gaming setup that costs thousands at home rents for 1,000–3,000 won an hour in a Korean PC bang. Here’s the thing: you order ramyeon from your monitor and it arrives on a cart, and T1 Base Camp and CHZZK LoL Park link by subway into a half-day route. The two snags—payment and servers—are covered too.
Gyeongbokgung’s special night opening runs only a few weeks each spring and autumn. Here’s the thing: every year it’s sold out by the time you hear about it. Spring’s terms were 19:00–21:30, ₩3,000, Interpark booking until the day before, free in hanbok. Autumn dates customarily drop around September—consider this page your watchtower, with a Plan B if the tickets are gone.
“Wear a hanbok and the palaces are free” was never a discount—it’s a policy that makes dressing up the official way to visit. Here’s the thing: ₩15,000–25,000 for four hours, a jeogori plus chima or baji to qualify, rent at 9 a.m., enter Gyeongbokgung as it opens, then Bukchon (10:00–17:00 only). The 2026 version, assembled.