Museums and galleries

Most of the national museums open their permanent galleries free. They are large enough that trying to see everything eats the day — pick a floor or a theme instead. They are also the strongest option in rain and in deep winter.

Mondays are the common closing day. National museums generally shut then, and some private galleries run on timed booking.

9 courses

Full day

Jongno, Seoul

Gwanghwamun & Gyeongbokgung

The square, the palace, and the museum beside it. All three are adjacent, so there's almost no travel between them.

3 stops4h 13m

Half day

Yongsan, Seoul

National Museum & Hangeul Museum

Two museums five minutes apart on the same grounds, both with free permanent galleries. Don't try to see everything — pick a floor and do it properly.

2 stops4h 5m

Half day

Yongsan, Seoul

War Memorial Half-Day

A big exhibition centred on the Korean War. Indoors is free, and there are real aircraft and tanks in the yard outside.

1 stops2h 30m

Half day

Jongno, Seoul

Samcheong Museums Half-Day

A contemporary art museum, a folk museum and a craft museum strung along one road. All three are within a ten-minute walk of each other, so bad weather does not break it.

3 stops3h 44m

Half day

Jung-gu, Seoul

Deoksugung & Jeongdong Half-Day

Starts at the one palace where Western stone buildings stand among wooden halls, then follows the stone-wall road to a museum of art and a museum of the city. All three connect on foot, and most of it is free.

3 stops3h 39m

Half day

Yongsan, Seoul

Leeum, Hannam Half-Day

Traditional and contemporary art on one site, in three buildings by three different architects. People come for the buildings as much as the shows.

1 stops2h

Full day

Gangseo, Seoul

Aviation Museum & Seoul Botanic Park

Starts in a round building packed with real aircraft and ends in a glass conservatory. Both have indoor halls, so weather matters less — and the airport line reaches both straight from Incheon.

2 stops4h 45m