Those who say you can't have it all clearly haven't visited Seoul. It's one of those destinations that strikes a rare balance: effortlessly stylish and trendy, without being gauche. There's rich historical significance with 14th century palaces, traditional Hanok villages, ancient shrines honoring dynasties of the past, and museums. All of that history is blended with the modern day energy of bustling night markets, futuristic high-tech K-beauty treatments, chef-crafted saucy Korean BBQ, globally sensational k-pop music from groups like Blackpink, BTS, and Stray Kids, and festivals. In fact, it’s the cultural trendsetter for everything from food, design, and fashion, to art, music, and skincare—everything that is cool comes straight from Seoul.
The city is a night owl—there's always something to do and always something going on. (When I visited, I just so happened to be there when much-obsessed-over K-pop boy band BTS held their epic comeback concert).
And, there’s never been a better time to visit. Seoul tourism just unveiled a new "365 Days of Festivals," aka, a push for zero off-season—which means there are endless exciting things to discover and experience. I'll be the first to say, I don't think 48 hours in Seoul is enough. The second I left, I started to build an itinerary for my next trip to this incredible destination. Here, all the highlights to catch if you only have a few days to visit Seoul.
WHERE TO STAY
Maybe it’s because I’ve never been to a country that was easier to navigate straight off the plane, or perhaps staying at the Andaz skewed my perception—whatever the reason, I immediately fell into a cool, collected rhythm after arriving in Seoul.
The Andaz is one of the best luxury hotels in town. It’s located just outside the Apgujeong Metro Station, a prime location perfectly situated in the ultra-luxe Gangnam neighborhood, and close to other cool areas like Cheongdam and Seongsu. The staff is generous, incredibly kind, and knowledgeable—they're a great resource for booking reservations, recommending dinner spots, and helping to navigate local maps.
The rooms—which have elements inspired by traditional Korean patchwork weaving art called Bojagi—are sensationally serene and polished, and you feel at ease the moment you walk in the door. It’s also worth noting that the hotel has a stunning spa that’s well worth experiencing (more on that later).
Andaz
WHAT TO DO
DAY ZERO
Most flights get into Seoul in the late afternoon/early evening—but you can still accomplish a lot on the way to the hotel. Straight off the plane, you want to have an appointment booked at Spa Bidan. I booked four days in advance, but I would suggest a week if you can. It’s a traditional Korean bathhouse that was recommended to me by a local, Sara Yoon.
Spa Biden is closer to the airport than it is to everything else in the city (so logistically, it’s a great stop en route to your hotel) and getting right to a spa treatment truly revived me post-14-hour-flight.
You begin by choosing your scented bath salts and massage pressure preference before entering your private room. Then, you get to enjoy a tea and soothing bath soak before you lay on a table (totally naked). I’m no stranger to exfoliation, but getting a traditional Korean body scrub and massage fundamentally changed my DNA. I was thoroughly scrubbed down, pulverized, kneaded, and polished like a slab of marble until my skin was the softest it’s been since I was a baby.
The K-Beauty Body Bathhouse Routine
It's no secret that I’m a bath lover. So I'll use any excuse to craft a new, elaborate bath ritual—and my trip to Seoul gave me the ultimate inspiration. Every Sunday, I do the full head-to-toe K-beauty bathhouse ritual at home. I buff this gel peel by Lilis on my dry skin before soaking in the bath (chock full of bath salts) for about 20 minutes. When I'm out, I layer on this cushiony body serum and body oil for the softest skin of my life.
To refuel, have dinner at Hwayeon Sanjang. It’s a no-frills Korean straw fire-grilled BBQ spot that’s absolutely delicious—order the Wudae Galbi (prime beef short ribs) for sure and it comes with all the accouterments (fluffy stone pot steamed egg, bossam kimchi rolls, salty dongchimi, and more). Then, head back to the hotel for a full night's rest.
DAY ONE
A lot of shops, restaurants, and cafes in Seoul don’t open until 10:00 or 11:00 a.m., so if you're a breakfast person, I recommend grabbing a bite at the hotel. At Andaz, the breakfast is incredible—every fruit your heart desires, bakery bites, the works—and the kimchi bacon egg breakfast sandwich is a must-try. That said, cafe culture is big, so you can always get a caffeine boost later in the day if you need it.
Start the day aimlessly wandering around Seongsu. Referred to as the "Brooklyn of Seoul”, it's an indie designer hub and one of my favorite neighborhoods I visited. Seongsu isn’t as touristy as some of the more popular areas, but there is always something going on and the energy is abuzz. The shopping is incredible (so much so, that I went back three times to shop even more). Visit: Nonfiction, a chic, minimalist Korean perfume store; Gentle Monster, an epic Korean sunglasses brand; INDIBRAND, which has unique lightweight knits and button downs; and Beaker Flagship Store, with its multiple floors of cool street style and up-and-coming Korean fashion brands.
Left: Hwayeon Sanjang; Right: Nonfiction
Just like in France, the pharmacy is where it’s at in terms of skin care. Ready Young Pharmacy is a great example: it has knowledgeable pharmacists ready to answer your every question. Plus, it’s located right across from the newest multi-story Olive Young—Korea's ultimate beauty destination—which has every K-beauty product, tincture, powder, and more than you could imagine (at one point I found myself perusing cushiony shoe insoles and cloud-soft pillowcases).
K-Beauty Skin Obsessions
Stock up on all the coolest K-beauty creams, lotions, and potions while in Seoul (think: PDRN serums, ampoules, spicules, sheet masks, and more). VENN is a particular favorite of mine—the brand was created in Seoul and has an impressive state-of-the-art lab just outside the city where they use the newest Korean technology to innovate products. But if you, like me, don't have a lot of suitcase space, you can get the best of the best back home, too.
VENNRejuvenative PDRN-NE Ampoule$250.00shop nowAmpoules are hugely popular in Korea—between a toner and serum, they deliver an intense dose of powerful ingredients (like the famous salmon DNA-derived PDRN in this treatment that acts like a magic eraser for fine lines or wrinkles). VENN’s special nano-emulsion (NE) technology ensures the molecules are small enough for absorption.
VENNRegenerative 10B-EXO EGF Ampoule$250.00shop nowChock-full of EGF (a growth factor peptide), plant-derived exosomes, and bioactive ginseng extract—this is like a four-week intensive program for skin that conditions, plumps, restores, and rejuvenates.
VENNCollagen Intensive Phyto-Retinol Renewal Sheet Mask$50.00shop nowThis bakuchiol and collagen sheet mask cushions and drenches your skin in hydrating, plumping ingredients for fresh, bright, luminous glass skin.
VENNActive Liquid Shot 0.1$95.00shop nowThis is like liquid microneedling in a bottle. It uses spicules, another popular innovation in Korea, that are like tiny, needle-like structures to boost absorption, smooth texture, and stimulate collagen.
Have lunch at Grandmother’s Recipe, a traditional, home-cooked style Korean banchan. The entire meal is inexpensive, but the portions are generous and bursting with flavor (I recommend ordering the Gochujang Pork, which is a bit spicy, a bit sweet.)
Post-lunch, more shopping is in order. Casually stroll on over to Forrest Vintage to dig through some special, yet reasonably-priced vintage pieces like Sonia Rykiel cardigans and Celine bags.
In the afternoon, head down to the Yongsan District. A Korean head spa experience is a must (again, book ahead). The second I stepped foot inside Christian unv Headspa I knew it was going to be life-changing. They start off with a scalp analysis to evaluate the status of your hair and scalp. Mine was surprisingly in good shape (she explained that I had three hairs per follicle in most places), but I did have a fair amount of dryness and buildup on my scalp. There was no roughness or aggressive scrubbing—instead, the treatment involved a number of steps, including gentle cleansing, steaming, rinsing, and massaging. The exfoliating part felt like icy-cool menthol on my scalp, and the shampoo step lathered so much it felt like there was an entire can of whipped cream in my hair. They massaged hot stones on my neck and combed my hair gently. The ritual seemed to go on forever—I almost dozed off at one point. Afterwards, Rapunzel herself would have been jealous of my hair’s silkiness, and my scalp was very visibly clean.
Christian Unv Headspa
Bring The Korean Head Spa Ritual Home
After my five-star experience in Seoul, I now take my time with my rinse day routine. I pre-invigorate my scalp with a massage-slash-brush before I let the shower steam up, and then massage shampoo into my scalp for a good 5 to 10 minutes. When I get out, I hydrate my scalp with a few drops of serum to complete my hair routine.
Stumbling out of the spa in full good-hair-day bliss, you absolutely must stop at Jonny Dumplings for a meal (lunch or dinner). Don’t be misled by the Americanized name—it’s a local favorite and the best spot to go for perfectly crisped, juicy dumplings served with a side of mussels and broth. Then, head over to Big Lights—a cute tucked-away natural wine bar that also serves up excellent food.
DAY TWO
Start your day with a sauna, steam, and cold plunge hydrotherapy circuit in the subterranean spa of the Andaz. It’s the ideal antidote for jet lag, and helps you feel fresh and new before you head out for the day.
Next, head to the Jongno District for some classic sightseeing. Out of the five historic palaces to visit in the area, the most unique (and prettiest in my opinion) is Changdeokgung, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 15th century. And don't miss the lush, lily-pond-dotted Secret Garden (you need a separate ticket and timed entry to visit).
Make time to experience Gwanghwamun Square and have a wander through Cheonggyecheon—it's an outdoor city park that feels like a nature escape, but it's smack dab in the middle of the city. It's also close to Namdaemun Market, the ultimate stop for both souvenirs (fantastic socks, vintage watches, and other trinkets), as well as mouthwatering street food like tteokbokki (rice cakes), mayak gimbap (veggie seaweed rolls), and odeng (fish cake skewers). Just note, if you’re easily overstimulated, you might want to skip the markets.
As the day stretches on, enjoy a cocktail over at Bar Cham. If you can, get a reservation in advance, but it's still worth the wait if you don't. The drinks are uniquely creative and distinctly Korean—there's soju and yakju sourced from tiny, local distilleries, as well as artisanal cocktails with edible flourishes like a rice cake or sesame oil that make it an out-of-this-world experience.
Head back down to the Cheongam area to peruse Boon the Shop for some cool luxury goods and stop in the seemingly never-ending Optima Wellness Museum Pharmacy, which has an impressive assortment of K-beauty skincare, wellness supplements, and more. As a huge book nerd, I also had to visit Starfield Library, a massive public space where you can browse thousands upon thousands of magazines and books.
To conclude your trip, head back to the hotel for a more elegant multi-course dinner at Jogakbo Kitchen. The menu offers contemporary Korean flair with delicious drinks and courses like radish kimchi fried rice, grilled galbi sauce marinated ribeye, and pork croquettes with a sour soy sauce pearl—all inspired by "juansang," the Korean tradition of setting a table for hosting guests.
Left: Andaz Spa; Right: Cheonggyecheon
The Down-Low on Seoul Skin Treatments
It’s no secret that South Korea has been a mecca for lasers, injectables, facials, and beauty procedures of all kinds. But if you’d like to try any beauty treatments while in Seoul, it's crucial to plan them in advance and ensure you vet the clinics (like in the US, you want to work with an accredited, reputable establishment.) And, if you want to do any heavier-duty beauty treatments that need downtime or multiple sessions, it’s best to do at the latter end of your trip, after head spas, massages, and facials.
Reservations are encouraged in advance. A lot of local beauty pros recommend working with a beauty concierge service to help plan, organize, and confirm appointments—they can also translate everything step-by-step, plus help patients understand the risks and downtime of procedures. Aneue Concierge, Aura Plus, and Docent, came highly recommended to me (but of course, do your own research before booking).
CClime is a great place for or depuffing and sculpting facial massages or simple radiofrequency (with a new space in Seongsu). Sara Yoon and celebrity makeup artist Nam Vo recommend Relieve Clinic—they offer pain-free Rejuran, skin boosters, CO2, pico, majesty lasers, stem cell microneedling, XERF, and more.
I had limited time on my trip so I only visited First Cheongdam Dosan dermatology and plastic surgery clinic, which came highly recommended to me by a friend who visits often, because her parents live in South Korea. It has a premium and discreet vibe with high-profile clientele. Flo, an on-site English translator, walks you through the process step-by-step so it's incredibly easy to understand what you’re getting and aftercare. They take a skin analysis with a multi-spectral imaging system that captures high-resolution 3D images of your face to evaluate your skin health before walking you through the different options depending on your particular goals. Then, they'll break down the individual costs of everything before proceeding.
Also, in South Korea, they numb you before any injectable (including botox!) which I think is a huge plus. Because I only had one appointment (I was leaving the next day), I just got botox and a new collagen-regenerating filler called Elravie Re2O. My one suggestion is to be conservative—unless you plan to make multiple trips for follow-ups, or you're extremely well-versed in what you want/how your skin reacts.
Other Tips for a Seamless Seoul Trip
Before your trip, download the NAVER app, which will help you navigate your way around the city by foot, car, or the subway. You can also book certain appointments (spas, stores, etc.) right within the app for ease.
Make sure you have Whatsapp (a messaging app that is more popular internationally because it doesn't trigger international SMS charges) if you don't already. Often, if you book a treatment service, they will message you on Instagram or Whatsapp to coordinate—and some require down payments to reserve appointments that you can pay via PayPal.
Uber works in Seoul and I highly recommend using it to get around quickly with ease. However, the subway is an incredibly efficient way to travel about town (and it has high-speed WiFi). Buy a T-Money card (kind of like a subway card) at any convenience store for easy subway and bus access.
Most places take credit cards but some of the cool vintage markets and night food markets only take cash—it works even better because the won (Korean dollar) is at an all-time low, so it’s worth exchanging cash.