KR · Seoul · 37.56°N 126.99°E

seoul

Palaces in hanbok, Myeongdong street food, K-beauty hauls and café hopping till late.

Best time
April for cherry blossoms, and September to November for clear skies and autumn leaves. Summer is hot and humid with monsoon rain, and winter often drops well below zero.
How long
4–5 days
Getting there
Direct flights from KL to Incheon take about 6.5 hours. The AREX airport train gets you to Seoul Station in about an hour.
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KR · Seoulseoul37.56°N 126.99°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Palaces in hanbok, Myeongdong street food, K-beauty hauls and café hopping till late.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingSeoulKR, Seoul
KLseoul
≈ 4,614 km from KL, as the crow flies
덕수궁의 낮

Photo: Eunmi Park · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

South Korea's huge, fast-moving capital, where Joseon-era palaces sit between glass towers. Most Malaysians come for the food, the shopping and the K-culture, and the subway makes it easy to hop between neighbourhoods.

Makan

  1. Korean BBQPork belly or marinated beef grilled at your table, wrapped in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang.Map ↗
  2. TteokbokkiChewy rice cakes in sweet, spicy chilli sauce, sold at street stalls everywhere.Map ↗
  3. Korean fried chickenHave it delivered to a Han River park, the classic Seoul evening.Map ↗
  4. BindaetteokCrispy mung bean pancakes, fried fresh at Gwangjang Market.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. GyeongbokgungThe grandest of the Joseon palaces. Rent a hanbok nearby; wearing one gets you in without a ticket.Map ↗
  2. Bukchon Hanok VillageHillside lanes of tiled-roof houses between two palaces. People live here, so keep your voice down.Map ↗
  3. MyeongdongStreet food stalls and K-beauty shops packed into a few busy blocks.Map ↗
  4. Gwangjang MarketOne of Seoul's oldest markets, where you eat at long counters in front of the stalls.Map ↗
  5. Hongdae and SeongsuYoung, busy neighbourhoods for buskers, indie shops and café hopping.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Malaysians have needed a K-ETA, Korea's online travel authorisation, in recent years. Check the current rules and apply on the official site well before you fly.
  • Get a T-money card for the subway and buses, and use Naver Map or KakaoMap. Google Maps directions are limited in Korea.
  • For halal food, head to Itaewon, around the Seoul Central Mosque.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.