A Real Weekend in Seoul: 2 Days, 1 Night - Full Schedule Revealed

The other day, I went to Seoul for a 2-day, 1-night trip.

I have been working in the travel industry for about 26 years. I would like to share my real schedule to show you what kind of trips I actually take.

▶︎Day 1

09:00 Depart Haneda Airport via Asiana Airlines
I didn't want to be full from the in-flight meal, so I booked a fruit meal in advance. If you want to eat as much as possible in Seoul even during a short stay, eating the in-flight meal might mean you won't have room for lunch... This time, since my return flight was also shortly after lunch, I chose the fruit meal for both ways. It might depend on the season, but the fruit from Korea felt sweeter and more delicious overall.

11:20 Arrive at Gimpo Airport
It takes about two and a half hours from Haneda. Gimpo Airport is compact and easy to navigate, so I definitely recommend it for short stays. I was able to get through immigration on a Saturday in about 15 minutes.

13:00 Lunch in the Gangnam area
Since several of my regular hotels are in the Gangnam area, I travel by subway. I stayed near Sinnonhyeon Station on Line 9 for this trip, so I could get there easily from the airport without any transfers.

Once I arrived in Gangnam, I went to a place I frequent for a bossam set meal. It's a classic Korean dish where you wrap tender boiled pork with kimchi and vegetables. I'm also happy that this place offers individual set meals.

14:00 Go to a cafe
I took a break at a nearby cafe I had checked out in advance.
There are as many cafes in Seoul as there are convenience stores, so I check out different ones every time I visit.

15:00 Skin care at a beauty clinic
I went to my regular clinic, which I had already booked. This is a must-do when I come to Seoul. If you can find a clinic that suits you, I feel that the cost-performance is higher and the techniques are more reliable compared to Japan.

16:00 Shopping at Daiso and convenience stores
The selection at Daiso in Korea is completely different from Japan, so it's fun just to look around. Especially recently, beauty-related items have become quite extensive and popular, haven't they? At the convenience store, I picked up some snacks and packs of rice that I buy every time.

17:00 Rest at the hotel
I get tired if I'm out all the time, so I rested a bit to prepare for the night. Being able to decide what to do on the spot according to my own energy levels is the best part of traveling alone. I enjoyed lounging around in my room. lol

19:00 Walk around the Gwanghwamun area and dinner
I took the subway and walked around the Gwanghwamun area at night. It was the weekend and there was an event going on, so it was very lively. For dinner, I had bibimbap at a restaurant I just wandered into. It was simple, but it really is delicious when it's authentic.
A restaurant filled with Korean locals is almost never a mistake. Even if you can't read Hangul, a translation app works perfectly fine.

22:00 Return to hotel
Blissful time relaxing in my room.
I also love taking the time to carefully do my skincare routine using the face masks I just bought.

▶︎Day 2

9:00 Shopping at Olive Young and the pharmacy
I head to Olive Young as soon as it opens. It's the go-to spot for Korean beauty products, so I stock up on the items I use daily. I also stop by a pharmacy to buy a bunch of things that are hard to find in Japan.

10:30 Return to hotel and pack
I pack my shopping haul into my suitcase. lol

11:00 Check out
After checking out, I headed to the newly opened CHAGEE in Gangnam. I had already placed my order and paid via the app, so pickup was smooth. I'm not a fan of milk-based drinks, so I went with the sugar-free peach oolong tea; it was refreshing and delicious with just the right amount of bitterness and a subtle hint of peach.

12:00 Lunch
I had lunch at my favorite sandwich shop. Pumpkin soup is a staple there too. I feel like many bakeries in Korea offer both pumpkin soup and mushroom soup. The quality of bread in Seoul is high, so I always make sure to visit one of my favorite bakeries during my stay, and for this moment, I enjoy my flour without worrying about it.

13:00 Travel to Gimpo Airport by subway
15:45 Return flight departure
Since I had golf scheduled for early the next morning, I took an evening flight back instead of a night flight. Now that I'm in my mid-40s, my ironclad rule is not to overbook my schedule.

▶︎Recommendations for a Weekend in Seoul

Dining, cafes, beauty, shopping—you can manage to get through quite a lot in just 2 days and 1 night, even if you pack in everything you want to do. It's close, there's no time difference, it's still reasonably priced compared to the dollar or euro zones, and no matter how many times I go, it's always fun and a little comforting. Yet, it's still stimulating. That is the charm of Seoul for me.

My next trip to Korea is in June.
I plan to stay a bit longer next time, for about a week, so I'm looking forward to enjoying a more relaxed schedule.