The Biggest Mistake Tourists Make in Seoul: Underestimating Its Size

Last Updated on October 1, 2025

If you’re planning a trip to Seoul, Korea and your itinerary includes hopping from your hotel to Gangnam over to Hongdae and back to your hotel in one day here’s your reality check: you’re going to spend more time underground than above it. Bright-eyed tourists show up with jam-packed plans to hit Gangnam, Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Insadong and what seems efficient ends up being a lesson in how to use the Seoul subway system (<- Yeah, I have a guide for that too).

Seoul is massive! It’s not just big in population or reputation, geographically, it’s a sprawling metropolis of 25 districts, each with it’s own vibe, attractions, and character. But here’s what most tourists get wrong: they treat it like a walkable weekend city. Spoiler alert, it’s not.

Your feet might ache from a long day sightseeing in Seoul, but make sure they ache from actual sightseeing and not just commuting.

• The Seoul Subway Shuffle
• Do Less To See More
• Seoul Itinerary Planning Isn’t For The Weak
• Tips So You See More Of Seoul

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The Seoul Subway Shuffle

On paper, a day hitting Gangnam and Hongdae might sound doable, but as someone who lived in Hongdae for 10 years, I can tell you Gangnam was my least favorite place to trek to, not because the avenues there are so much longer and wider than Hongdae so it’s not nearly as walkable as Hongdae, but also because just getting there could be horrendous at times on public transportation.

If you’re bouncing from one side of Seoul to the other, you’re not seeing the city, you’re seeing subway stations and train doors sliding open and shut. Sure, the Seoul subway jingle is fun to listen to, but it will get old fast if that’s all you get to listen to while you’re here.

This is just the biggest mistake tourists make, but for more, check out these other 15 mistakes tourists make when they travel to Korea!

Fun Fact: Seoul’s subway system has over 340 stations and spans more than 327km. That’s longer than the entire London Underground.

Now don’t get me wrong: Seoul’s subway system is world-class. It’s clean, reliable, and it will get you just about anywhere you want to go, including out to nearby islands and mountains! But when your day is built around multiple 45-minute subway rides, you’re not exploring, you’re commuting.

And let me tell you, Seoul commuters are on a mission! That’s not really fun for anyone, least the commuters. Instead of racing from place to place, slow down. Stay in one district for the day. Watch the ajummas bargain at the market, watch the buskers in Hongdae, discover the local eateries with only a few tables but the best coffee. There’s a rhythm to Seoul you can only catch when you give yourself the time and space to experience it.

Fun Fact: A ride from Hongdae to Gangnam takes about 50 minutes with transfers. That’s 1 hour and 40 minutes round trip, not counting walking time or navigation. By the time you’ve sat down and checked your watch, you’ll add up the time to at least 2 hours.

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Do Less To See More

Each district of Seoul is basically its own mini city, complete with its own identity, attractions, food, energy, and pace.

• Hongdae has a young vibe and is great for shopping and finding design shops.
• Gangnam is more polished and best for those beauty treatments.
• Euljiro is more gritty, creative, and industrial and you have to stumble around alleys to find the best gems.
• Seongsu has been called the Brooklyn of Seoul and has pop-ups around every corner.
• Insadong is the heart of all touristy adventures with souvenir shops, traditional tea houses, and delicious food.
• Myeongdong is where you’ll want to head for a one stop spot for all of the must-find shopping spots.

And I could go on and on. You could easily spend a full day in any of those neighborhoods without running out of things to do. Want even more options? Check out my Epic Guide to Seoul for the first-timer.

Fun Fact: Seoul covers over 605 square kilometers which is roughly the size of New York City, however, it’s denser and taller in many areas.

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Seoul Itinerary Planning Isn’t For The Weak

Don’t let your memories be of Seoul subway platform numbers and maps. Because I’ve had so many tourists over the years ask me to comment on their itineraries and I felt the urge to overhaul so many of their trips, I sat down and created my own itineraries for Seoul. I’m not trying to sell Seoul, Seoul sells itself. I wanted to solve one of the biggest frustrations I heard from travelers that thought Seoul would be an easy city to see in a weekend.

The Soul of Seoul Itinerary Pack is arranged into 15 full-day itineraries set up by district with no overlapping sights. Whether you have 3 days or 7 days, you can use these for way less stress, much more flexibility, and a guide for what areas of the city work best together. Seoul is awesome, but you need to see it the right way.

Personalized Itinerary by The Soul of Seoul

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Tips So You See More Of Seoul

1 Stick to one district per day

Seoul’s neighborhoods are dense, rich, and full of character. Don’t try to cram multiple districts into a single day. You’ll experience more by going deep in one area than by rushing through three.

2 Don’t underestimate travel time

When yo look at a navigation app, it’s easy to forget about all of the walking and navigating. It might look like a 30 minute ride, but then you add in the walking, the many many staircases in Seoul subway stations, and you won’t arrive until 45 minutes later or even an hour if you’ve got kids or a group.

3 Walk, don’t commute

I know I just said that Seoul isn’t walkable, but if you’re sticking to one district or area in a day, then you shouldn’t need to be hopping on and off subways, buses, or trains. Avoid the subway rides all together by building your itinerary around neighborhoods, not scattered landmarks.

4 Let the city set the pace

Observe, linger, and explore. Watch market vendors bargain, listen to street musicians, and take detours down back alleys. Seoul rewards those that slow down and use their “eye apps” as I like to refer to our eyeballs. Get off the screen and just take everything around you in.

5 Use a thoughtful itinerary

Seoul can be overwhelming and even some of the most-traveled people can get lost in the “tourist traps”, though I personally don’t think we have any Seoul. It’s all about your perspective, your assumptions, and what you want to achieve. Make sure to have the right itinerary for your goals.

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