One of the most visited and must-see countries in East Asia is South Korea. Seoul is a bustling city rich in culture, history, and a promising future when it comes to technology and a strong economy. Aside from that, what encouraged me to explore and wander this beautiful country is because of its picturesque sceneries that hooked me up whenever I watch Korean drama series (aka K-Drama), plus its mouthwatering Korean food and delicacies.Seoul has 25 districts (구), which are divided by the Han River that runs in the middle of the city. Each area has its uniqueness and characteristics that make it distinct among the other districts. For instance, Itaewon is for those who like to experience the nightlife, Gangnam is the business district and its best for luxury shoppers out there, Hongdae, on the other hand, is for those who want to explore Seoul’s youthful side. At the same time, Jongno is the place to be to experience the culture of Seoul.
With all that Seoul, South Korea has to offer, our five days four nights trip were not enough and want to make you stay for a couple of days more. So if you have the time and money, it’s highly recommended to stay in Seoul for around 7 to 10 days for you to say that your trip is worth it, and you’ve explored and experienced Seoul to its maximum extent.
When is the Best Time to Visit Seoul?
That is the question. In case you don’t know, South Korea has four seasons, namely: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. For us, we visited Spring because we’re fascinated with Seoul’s full bloom of flowers as well as the climate is not too cold nor hot for us. For more details, check this out:
- Spring – This falls between March and May, wherein various flora is in full bloom as well as if you’re lucky enough, you can experience and witness Korea’s version of cherry blossoms.
- Summer – It happens from June to August, where the city is out and about every single day because it’s summer vacation for those students. It’s not that advisable to visit the country during this season as the weather can be too hot and humid at the same time.
- Autumn – Experience fall foilage ala South Korea from September to November. It’s also one of the best times to visit Seoul because it’s not that costly, and the weather’s more favorable for you to travel. Plus, you may experience Korea’s Autumn Festival.
- Winter – It’s the time for skiing that happens every December to February. The temperature drops up to below zero degrees Celsius as well as accommodations and airfares. So, if the cold never bothered you anyway, this season is the best for you to visit Korea.
How to Get to Seoul?
International flights come and go to Incheon (ICN) International Airport, which is 40 minutes to an hour away from Seoul. In order to get to Seoul, you may check the following modes of transportation:
- Private Transfers or Taxis – This is one of the most convenient transfer as it no longer needs to transfer from one transportation to the other, plus it drops you off where your accommodation is. However, it’s the most expensive. If you’re a group of four or six, this mode of transportation might be best for you, and just divide the cost as a group.
- Airport Limousines/Buses – If you have a lot of luggage, you may consider booking an airport limousine or buses. It’s a shared airport transfer for different travelers who wish to go to Seoul from Incheon. The good thing about this mode of transportation is that there are limousines that travel P2P (point-to-point). This means that if your accommodation is located in the major areas in Seoul, they can drop you off there.
- Train – If you also have a lot of baggage and looking for a convenient yet inexpensive airport transfer to Seoul, the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) is your perfect option. AREX connects Incheon Airport and Seoul Station in a flash. Also, if you purchased a Discover Seoul Pass (DSP) for your trip to South Korea, it includes a one-way ticket for free! How good is that? You may use it upon your arrival or when you depart to Seoul back to the airport. Here is the AREX schedule for your reference:
Station | First Trip | Last Trip |
Seoul Station to Incheon Airport | 06:10 | 22:50 |
Incheon Airport Terminal 1 to Seoul Station | 05:23 | 22:48 |
Incheon Airport Terminal 2 to Seoul Station | 05:15 | 22:40 |
Must Visit Places in South Korea
As I said a while ago, four full days here in South Korea are jampacked and make you want to extend your trip a little bit longer. But, with thorough planning and research, you can make your dream itinerary work. One of the recommended must-buys for travelers is the Discover Seoul Pass. This is perfect, especially if you have a pretty packed itinerary for your whole stay.
The Seoul Tourism Organization offered the Discover Seoul Pass specially made for foreign tourists who wish, as the name goes, discover Seoul. It has a 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour pass variants. Here are some of the attractions that are covered in this pass (some of them are free too!):
- Lotte World Adventure
- MBC World
- Trick Eye & Ice Museum
- Royal Palaces
- N Seoul Tower Observatory
- Samsung Museum of Art
- Hanboknam
- Seoul City Tour Bus
- National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
- Running man Experience
For more information and to check if your dream places and activities to visit and experience are covered, visit Discover Seoul Pass’ website.
So, if you’re curious about how our trip went, here’s our journey! Until now, it still feels surreal to meet and experience the wonders of Seoul, South Korea.
When we went to Korea, it was Spring’s peak. The weather’s very tolerable as it is windy and chilly during early mornings and late nights while sunny from noon to late afternoons. That is why it’s a perfect date to stroll around this bustling city. We arrived at Incheon International Airport around 10:25 in the evening, and our tour guide upon our arrival welcomed us. Then we arrived at our hotel, The Recenz Dongdaemun Hotel, by midnight. So, there’s nothing much exciting upon our arrival since we arrived a bit late except for the complimentary arrival food courtesy of our tour guide – a Lotteria hamburger and soda!
Day 1: Visiting the Iconic K-Drama Shooting Locations
Our first day here in Seoul is pretty much exciting! We visited some of the famous shooting locations and, at the same time, tourist attractions here in Seoul. First off on our list is Petite France.
Petite France
If you’re familiar with the book, Little Prince, then Petite France is a visual attraction to relive some of the iconic Little Prince scenes. It is a French-themed village located in Gapyeong, where you can take lots of Instagrammable and picturesque photos to treasure. Aside from its colorful and pastel-like houses and buildings, you’ll enjoy the scenic view of the Cheongpyeong Lake and mountains.
Also, it’s one of the shooting locations for My Love From the Star, Secret Garden, Running Man, and more! Indeed, Petite France is a must-visit when you’re here in Seoul.
Nami Island
Nami Island is 20 minutes away from Petite France. It is a crescent-shaped island located in Chuncheon that will make you fall in love with Seoul more. This is perfect for those who are into nature and parks.
Just like Petite France, every corner in Nami Island, may it be in the woods or scenic tree lanes, is photogenic! Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to witness the full bloom of cherry blossoms here; nevertheless, we enjoyed Nami Island’s lush green tree lanes and numerous full-bloom flowers everywhere.
We only had an hour and a half to stroll around this crescent-shaped island, so we weren’t able to see Winter Sonata’s statue as well as try biking on the island. I’ll make sure to tick this off on my bucket list when I come back!
N Seoul Tower
Also known as the Namsan Tower, this famous skyscraper allows you to take a glimpse of the breathtaking and panoramic view of Seoul. Aside from that, it’s also a popular tourist spot for lovebirds because of Namsan’s lovelocks!
N Seoul Tower is the highest point in Seoul that has a lot to offer! There’s an observatory, revolving restaurant, themed museums, LED Displays, and so much more. We strolled around the Seoul Tower Plaza and Namsan Park since there are a lot of people queueing for the observatory as it was nearing to sunset when we went there.
We highly recommend for you guys to visit N Seoul Tower in the late afternoon to have a picturesque view of the city while you’re in the cable car or observatory chasing the sunset.If you’re into binge-watching Korean drama and series, you’ll know that Namsan Seoul Tower has been a shooting spot for several popular KDramas like Boys Over Flowers, Legend of the Blue Sea, My Love From the Stars, and many more! Also, if you’re heading here through public transport, you might want to visit Heo Joon Jae’s house from the series, Legend of the Blue Sea! It’s now a filming gallery which is along the way to the Namsan Tower Cable Car.
Day 2: Everland Experience
For our second day, we had nothing on our list but to enjoy and experience Everland. It is dubbed as one of the most beautiful and exciting amusement parks in Asia. And I can attest to that.
The Disneyland of Korea has a lot to offer. Even those who are not into extreme rides, like me, will surely enjoy Everland. We arrived there by lunchtime as they usually operate from 10:00 am until 10:00 pm. This enormous amusement park is divided into five main theme zones namely:
- Global Fair – this is located at the entrance of Everland which caters to various restaurants, souvenirs, and architectures all around the world.
- American Adventure – Want to experience a glimpse of America through the years? Then pay a visit to American Adventure where you can ride Colombus and a guitar-themed extreme ride ala Elvis Presley, the King of Rock & Roll.
- Magic Land – this is the land of hopes and dreams. Magic Land is perfect for kids who are fond of fairytales and reliving their favorite childhood stories to life.
- European Adventure – we stayed longest in this area wherein you’ll feel like a princess in the European Adventure. It’s filled with a majestic royal garden that has a lot to offer all year round. The flora changes according to season and this is where you can experience Korea’s biggest roller coaster, T-Express.
- Zootopia – this is the Zoo park of Everland where you can see a real panda! There are various water adventures wherein you can encounter some of their in-house animals too!
- Before we call it a day, we strolled around the streets of Dongdaemun and checked out some souvenir items we can bring back home. There are a lot of good finds in Dongdaemun. From Korean fashion, skincare, cosmetics, KPop merchandise – name it, they have it! Plus, you can also haggle if you are buying in bulk. Just a tip, most of the items sold in Dongdaemun are also found in Myeongdong and Hongdae. Some are cheaper than the other, so just make sure you’ll know where you can find a good steal.
Day 3: Traditional Hanbok Experience
Our third day is allotted to go on a trip down memory lane and know more about the history of South Korea. We first visited a Ginseng Center and a Cosmetic shop that shared the benefits of their products, how it is made, and the likes. After this, we had a quick lunch and headed to our main agenda for the day – palace hopping while wearing hanboks.
Initially, we are only visiting the major palaces but our tour guides are kind enough to allow us to rent hanboks and stroll around the palaces like princes and princesses at our own expense. If you have purchased a Discover Seoul Pass, you can make use of it at Hanboknam. If you’re like us, there are a lot of hanbok rentals around the area.
The traditional hanbok experience is one thing you must not miss when you’re in Korea. In case you don’t know, hanbok means Korean clothing for men and women. During the Joseon period, hanbok is used for formal or semi-formal events such as traditional rituals and celebrations. For women, hanbok consists of a puffy skirt (chima) and shirt blouse(jeogori). On the other hand, men’s hanbok consists of jeogori and trousers (baji).
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Gyeongbokgung Palace has been the principal palace originally built by King Taejo way back. It was destroyed during the Japanese colonization and rebuilt again after. This palace is huge which caters to the king, queen, prince, and entire royal family. Each of them has a chamber and their personal space.
Currently, this historical palace serves as a museum, ornamental gardens, and a sight to see with regards to Korea’s architecture. Also, don’t miss the chance to witness the ceremony of changing of guards at the entrance of the palace called Gwanghwamun.
Deoksogung Palace & Stonewall
Deoksogung Palace is one of the major palaces here in Seoul. It is located at the very heart of Seoul as it is near Seoul’s City Hall. Unlike Gyeongbokgung Palace, Deoksogung is a fusion of traditional Korea and western Korean flavors.We haven’t had the chance to explore the interiors of this palace, unlike Gyeongbokgung. However, we visited the Daehanmun Gate, one of the gates of the palace which is located on the east side, as well as the famous stonewall walkway which was featured in the Korean drama series, Goblin.
Myeongdong
This street is heaven for those who love shopping! Just like Dongdaemun, Myeongdong is a one-stop-shop for all your needs. You can also try their local street food as well in Myeongdong. This is like Tokyo’s Shibuya or Taipei’s Ximending.
One realization we had during our trip is that we visited the most expensive stores and boutiques first during our stay here. Now that our trip is about to end and we’re here in Myeongdong, we’re almost broke, yet all the good finds are here! So, make sure to plan carefully your shopping itineraries and prepare a checklist of the things you want to buy as well as prioritize them to avoid overspending your budget.
There are a lot of discounts and good deals here! For example, you can buy another pack of ten face mask sheets for free when you buy ten. There are also fridge magnets and souvenir shirts that are discounted when you buy more than three.You can also check out Myeongdong’s Underground Mall. This is the perfect place when you’re looking for discounts from fashion pieces to KPop merchandise. Another reason why it’s a place that you should visit is that prices here are much cheaper than those stalls in the street proper.When you’re in Myeongdong, you’re like in an endless maze of boutiques and street food stalls. There’s a lot of variety, too – from cheesy lobsters, grilled skewers, spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), fishcakes (odeng), to chocolate-coated strawberries. Some street food can be a little bit pricey, so you may opt to look for other vendors who are selling it at a lower price.
Day 4 & 5: Hyundai Cruise & MBC World
Hyundai Cruise & Gimpo Premium Outlet
This is our last tour day in South Korea as our flight back home is at 01:00 am Korea Standard Time. Our itinerary for today is to experience the Hyundai Cruise with a lunch buffet while there are performers on stage as if you’re in Las Vegas.
The Hyundai cruise tours you around the Han River where you can see some seagulls and majestic sceneries around the Han River. For those who are not familiar with Han River, it is a major river in South Korea, and one of the biggest rivers in the peninsula.
We also had a side trip at Hyundai Premium Outlet after the cruise. You can also opt to shop here as it can offer tax refunds that can be claimed at the airport before your departure.
Kimchi School
Another agenda for today is how to prepare kimchi. We are fortunate enough to have attended a short but meaningful kimchi-making session at Kimchi school. Let’s admit it, their kimchis are to die for! Plus, I have learned that there are various types of kimchi too!
MBC World
Before we head back to the airport and we still have some time to spare, our tour guide toured us in the broadcasting stations spot in Seoul, particularly MBC World. The fangirling saga continues as it is one of the most famous broadcasting stations in Korea. They are known for various series such as W, Jewel in the Palace, Coffee Prince, and more.
We also strolled around the Star Park and checked out their mini-Hollywood Hall of Fame. We looked for our favorite Korean stars and check if our hands are compatible (lol!). Aside from that, we are wishful if we can meet some idols at the park for real. But, it’s okay, better luck next time.
Endnote
Here are some tips and tricks that I can share for your future travel in the Land of the Morning Calm:
- Plan your itinerary ahead of time. Make some research with regards to the best dining spots per area, public transport, weather, accommodation, and the likes.
- Plan your OOTDs and pack them wisely. Also, have some allowance for your shopping items in Korea. Bring an extra suitcase or an expandable duffle bag. For sure, you’ll have a lot to bring home, so also make sure to have an extra baggage allowance on your flight back home.
- Read beforehand the culture and personalities of Korea. Know the do’s and don’ts when you’re in Korea as a sign of respect to their country.
- Learn some basic Korean words as some do not know how to speak and understand English.
- Have fun and enjoy your trip to Korea!
Me too! I can’t wait to go back. Thank you for your lovely comment. I appreciate it. Keep safe and healthy!
I can’t for this pandemic to be over and go back to Korea! Keep up the good work. More articles for you, please
Hi! Many thanks for appreciating my work and articles. ❤ will definitely share more travel articles showcasing the beauty of the world with everyone. Stay safe & healthy!
More & More!!! By far the best you wrote. Can’t wait for more articles (and trips) soon. xoxo