Seoul on Foot: A Walking Guide Through History & Food (1)

FLip Korea
10 minutes ago
6 min read

This article is part of a walking tour series exploring Seoul one tour at a time, on foot, at human speed.

Seoul is a city best understood by walking it. Skyscrapers and hanok roofs, royal palaces and buzzing markets, everything exists side by side.

This walk takes you through four iconic locations that show Seoul’s past, present, and everyday life: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Cheonggyecheon, and Gwangjang Market.

Lace up your shoes. Let’s go.

How to Get Around on This Walk

This route is mostly walkable and very beginner-friendly. You can do everything on foot if you enjoy walking, or mix walking with short bus or subway rides.

Total walking time (without long stops): about 1.5-2 hours
Best option: Walk + short public transport
T-money card recommended for buses and subway

Below, each stop includes walking directions and an easy public transport option.

Stop 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace: Where Seoul Begins

Getting to Gyeongbokgung

Subway (best option):
Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 5 → 2-3 minute walk to the main gate
Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5), Exit 2 → about 8-10 minute walk
Bus:
Get off at Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) or Gwanghwamun bus stops
Many city buses pass here, making it very convenient from most areas in Seoul
Taxi:
Tell the driver “Gyeongbokgung” (경복궁). It’s a well-known landmark
Walking:
If you’re staying in Insadong, Bukchon, or Jongno, this is an easy and pleasant walk

You start your walk at Gyeongbokgung, the heart of the Joseon Dynasty and the soul of old Seoul. The moment you step through the main gate, the city noise fades. Wide courtyards open up, mountains frame the palace, and suddenly Seoul feels calm, balanced, and grounded.

Walking through the palace grounds feels like moving through layers of history. Every hall had a purpose, every detail a meaning. If you arrive in the morning, you’ll catch the soft light hitting the tiled roofs, and if you’re lucky, the changing of the guard ceremony adds a cinematic touch.

Walk tip: Take your time here. This isn’t a place to rush. Wander, pause, and let the scale of the palace sink in.

Stop 2: Deoksugung Palace: Tradition Meets the Modern City

Getting there from Gyeongbokgung

Walking: about 25-30 minutes. Walk south toward Gwanghwamun Square and City Hall.
Easy option: Walk to Gwanghwamun Station (Line 5) → ride 1 stop to Seodaemun Station or walk directly to City Hall area.
Bus: Any bus heading toward City Hall (시청) from Gwanghwamun area works well.

From Gyeongbokgung, the walk toward Deoksugung takes you straight into modern Seoul. Office buildings, cafés, and busy intersections surround the palace walls, and that contrast is exactly what makes Deoksugung special.

Inside, the atmosphere is quieter and more intimate. One moment you’re walking past stone walls and royal halls, the next you’re standing near a Western-style building that hints at Korea’s modernization era.

Just outside the palace, the Deoksugung Stone Wall Road is one of Seoul’s most romantic walking paths. It’s especially beautiful in autumn and early spring.

Walk tip: Grab a coffee nearby and enjoy the palace from the outside too, it’s one of the best spots to feel old and new Seoul collide.

Just outside the palace, the Deoksugung Stone Wall Road is one of Seoul’s most romantic walking paths. It’s especially beautiful in autumn and early spring.

Walk tip: Grab a coffee nearby and enjoy the palace from the outside too, it’s one of the best spots to feel old and new Seoul collide.

Copyright: Copyright (c) 2021 trabantos/Shutterstock

Stop 3: Cheonggyecheon Stream: Breathing Space in the City

Getting there from Deoksugung

Walking: 15-20 minutes. Walk toward City Hall, then head east toward the stream.
Subway: From City Hall Station (Lines 1 or 2) → walk toward Cheonggye Plaza.
Bus: Short ride toward Cheonggyecheon / Jongno stops.

As you leave Deoksugung and head toward Cheonggyecheon, the city slowly transforms again. Traffic noise fades, replaced by the sound of flowing water.

Cheonggyecheon is not just a stream, it’s a pause button. Locals sit along the edge, couples walk hand in hand, and office workers take quiet breaks during lunch hours. Walking here feels slower, cooler, and lighter.

The stream stretches for kilometers, but even a short walk gives you a different perspective of Seoul, one where nature and city life coexist.

Walk tip: Walk along the stream instead of the street whenever possible. It’s one of the most relaxing urban walks in Korea.

As you leave Deoksugung and head toward Cheonggyecheon, the city slowly transforms again. Traffic noise fades, replaced by the sound of flowing water.

The stream stretches for kilometers, but even a short walk gives you a different perspective of Seoul, one where nature and city life coexist.

Walk tip: Walk along the stream instead of the street whenever possible. It’s one of the most relaxing urban walks in Korea.

Stop 4: Gwangjang Market: End with Flavor

Getting there from Cheonggyecheon

Walking: 25-30 minutes along the stream (highly recommended).
Subway: From Jonggak Station (Line 1) → get off at Jongno 5(o)-ga Station (Line 1).
Bus: Any eastbound bus along Jongno will stop near the market.

Blue buses: 100, 103, 143, 150, 160, 201, 260, 262, 270

Green buses: 7212

You finish the walk where Seoul’s energy comes back full force: Gwangjang Market.

The smell hits first, savory pancakes, freshly steamed dumplings, spicy tteokbokki. Vendors call out, pans sizzle, and plastic stools fill up fast. This is where walking turns into eating.

Try classic bindaetteok, hand-cut mayak gimbap, or a warm bowl of noodles. Whether you sit down or eat standing up, this is the perfect ending point, a reminder that Seoul is not only seen, but tasted.

Walk tip: Come hungry. One dish is never enough.

Route Overview

Gyeongbokgung Palace → Deoksugung Palace → Cheonggyecheon Stream → Gwangjang Market

Total distance: ~4 km
Total walking time: 1.5-2 hours (without long stops)
Best for: First-time visitors, casual walkers, culture + food lovers

Step-by-Step Walking Map

① Gyeongbokgung Palace (Start)

Nearest Subway:

Line 3: Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 5)
Line 5: Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 2)

Bus Stops: Gyeongbokgung / Gwanghwamun

Blue buses: 100, 101, 103, 109, 143, 150, 160, 260, 262, 270

Green buses: 1020, 1711, 7016, 7018, 7212

Walk or take public transport

② Deoksugung Palace

From Gyeongbokgung: 25-30 min walk

Bus: Any bus toward City Hall (시청)

Blue buses: 100, 103, 143, 150, 160, 260, 270

Green buses: 7016, 7022

Subway: City Hall Station (Lines 1 & 2)

Walk

③ Cheonggyecheon Stream

From Deoksugung: 15-20 min walk

Subway Stop: Alternative (also works, slightly farther) Jonggak Station / 종각역

From 종각역, it’s about a 5-7 minute walk to Cheonggyecheon.

Bus Stop: Cheonggye Plaza / 청계광장

Blue buses: 101, 103, 150, 160, 260, 270

Green buses: 7018, 702

Entry Point: Cheonggye Plaza

Walk east along the stream for the most relaxing route

Continue walking or take subway

④ Gwangjang Market (End)

From Cheonggyecheon: 25-30 min walk

Subway: Jongno 5(o)-ga Station (Line 1)

Bus Numbers:

Blue: 100, 103, 143, 150, 160, 201, 260, 262, 270
Green: 7212

Must-eat: Bindaetteok, Mayak Gimbap, Kalguksu

Seoul, One Walk at a Time

This walk connects royal history, modern life, nature, and food, all within a single route. It’s proof that Seoul doesn’t need to be rushed or rushed through.

This is just one chapter of a longer journey. In this series, we’ll keep walking, through neighborhoods, hidden streets, markets, cafés, and moments that make Seoul what it is.