AIRPORT TRANSFER:
- from Incheon Airport cheapest option is taking the A’REX AirPort Express train. Runs every 15 mins. Approx CA$4-7. Once at Seoul Station transfer to subway line 1 to get to Insadong or subway line 4 to get to Myeongdong. If you book your ticket ahead of time on Klook (redeem voucher at Express Train Ticket Vending Machine) you get a discount. The ticket will show the car and seat number on it.
- To get to Grid Inn:
| Transfer to Subway Line 1 (Blue Line) at Seoul Station and get off at Jongno 3-ga Station. (3 stops from Seoul Station). 2 minute walk to hotel |
ACCOMMODATION:
- I stayed at the Grid Inn which was a central location to most sights, clean, well-priced and the staff were helpful and friendly. Easy to get to from the airport and close to the airport bus stop. Booked through Hotels.com
TO VISIT IN SEOUL
- Jogyesa Temple (3 gigantic buddhas & stupa). Open at 5am – 9pm
- Gyeongbokung Palace (changing of the guard at 10am & 2pm)
- Bukchon Hanok Village (traditional houses)
- Changeokgung Palace (take tour of secret garden, Huwon)
- National Palace Museum of Korea
- Jongmyo Shrine (have to visit as part of a tour that occur at 10am, 12pm, 2pm & 4pm except for Saturdays & last Wednesday of each month which is designated as Culture Day & can be visited for free)
- Namsan Park (find the Cherry Blossom path). Seoul Tower is in the centre of the park
- Tour to DMZ zone
- Explore Insadong neighbourhood w/ colourful shops, galleries & restaurants
- Gwangjang Market
- Street art at Ihwa Mural Village in Ihwa-dong (a.k.a daldongnae)
- Cheongye Plaza where Cheonggyecheon Stream starts (long boardwalk & weekend market near Gwangtongyo Bridge after 4pm on Sundays. Food trucks on Saturdays after 5pm)
- Noryangjin Fish Market (lively auctions start at 3am). Inexpensive place to eat. Vendors are associated to restaurants in different building and will cook what you purchase from vendor.
- Visit a Jjimjilbang (hot pools/saunas). Can stay overnight if you arrive after the night rate kicks in. Gender-segregated and naked OR visit Dragon Hill Spa which isn’t
- Take cruise on Han River
- Take ferry to Namiseom Island. Oasis in middle of Han River. Check out www.preparetravelplans.com/nami-island-guide/ for options to get there.
- Book food tour w/ Klook – Korean Night Dining Tour or w/ Get Your Guide
GETTING AROUND:
- easiest way to get around is by subway
- if planning to visit lots of major attractions purchase the 3-day Discover Seoul Pass. Free access to 34 tourist attractions, a free one-way A’REX Express ticket and can use the pass as a T-money recharge card to pay for public transport (need to top up card to pay for transport). Can be bought online w/ Get Your Guide and then picked up at airport on arrival.
- can also purchase the M-pass card if planning to use public transport a lot. You get 20 free rides daily on subway, bus or A’REX express. Pass purchased at Incheon airport
- hop-on-hop-off bus. Takes you to all major attractions and runs 3 different loops along with an additional night loop that takes you to illuminated landmarks after dark. Can book w/ Klook
EATS:
- Na Jeong-sun Halmae Jjukkumi (very spicy stir-fried baby octopus). Look for the bronze statue of the octopus near Jjukkumi Alley
- Han Chun Korean Fried Chicken Bar (best for fried chicken a.k.a chimaek)
- Yeontabal BBQ restaurant (grilled meat at your table over charcoal)
- after 4pm in Myeongdong, food carts line the streets (cash only!). Look for lobster tails, gyeranppang (egg bread), fried chicken
- On Saturdays after 5pm, food trucks set up near Gwangtongyo Bridge
- King’s Cross Harry Potter cafe (themed cafe)
- Hello Kitty cafe (themed cafe)
- Noryangjin Fish Market (Inexpensive place to eat. Vendors are associated to restaurants in different building and will cook what you purchase from vendor). Be sure to bargain!
- Gwangjang Market (vendors selling all types of food). Best place for traditional breakfast
- Hadongkwan (best beef bone soup)
- Jalppajin Memil (try boiled pork slices w/ pomelo sauce)
- Yuktongryeong (best bbq in Myeongdong)
- Grandma Yu’s Bibimbap (rice topped w/ veggies, egg, Chili paste and sliced meat)
- Manjok Ohyang Jokbal (best jokbal – pig’s feet cooked in soy sauce and spices)
- Myeongdong Kyoja (best kalguksu or knife-cut noodles)
- WooSung Galbi (serves only pork rinds and pork galbi)
- Wonjo Masan Halmae Agujjim (best ganjang gejang or raw crab marinated in soya sauce)
- Sulbing (bakery/desserts)
- Lotteria (chain restaurant all over). Try the Mozzarella Bacon Burger!
- try Kimbap or Gimbap (Korean sushi)
- try Hweori Gamja (Tornado Potato)
- try Yangnyeom Tongdak (Fried Chicken)
- try Eomuk (fish cakes)
- try Hotteok (sweet pancake)
- try eating at a pojangmacha (a small tented space serving street food and beer)
TIPS:
- bring cash as credit/debit cards don’t always work
- Consider getting the Discover Seoul Pass which covers entry to 35 of Seoul’s best tourist attractions and can be used as T-money rechargeable card for public transport
- If visiting all the palaces buy the Four Palaces Ticket (cheaper & can be purchased at any of the main temples)
- book tix for attractions online as it’s generally cheaper (Get Your Guide)
- SIM cards are best purchased at airport or through Get Your Guide and purchase the: Incheon Airport Traveler SIM & T-money Transportation Card (this is what I did and it was perfect). SIM card & public transport card in one. Load card for public transport. Pick up at LG U+ Counter in Terminal 1 btwn gate 10 & 11 or Terminal 2 btwn gate 4 & 5.
- Download Naver Maps (Google Maps doesn’t work in Korea)
- Best area to stay in is Myeongdong or Isadong
SAMPLE 4 DAY ITINERARY:
DAY 1:
- Gyeongbokgung Palace. Opens at 9am. Closed Tuesdays. English guided tours at 11am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Tix 3000 won each. Largest, most beautiful & popular palace. Changing of guard at 10am and 2pm except Tue
- National Folk Museum (accessed when you’re at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Look for large pagoda)
- Changdeokgung Palace, the most well-preserved palace. Opens at 9am & closed Mondays. English guided tours at 10:15 & 1:15pm. Entry through Donhwamun Gate. Take tour of “secret garden” and book it ahead as it’s very popular. Palace and Secret garden is 8,000 won. Can book combo ticket that includes 4 palaces, secret garden and Jongmyo Shrine for 10,000 won.
- Best photo spots at Changdeokgung Palace are: Donhwamun Gate, Injeongjeon (Hall of Benevolent Rule), Seonjeongjeon, Staircases between the Tongmyongheon & Yanghwadang and the Yeongchunheon & Jipbokheon buildings, and Gate of Eternal Youth
- short walk from palace is Gwanghwamun Square with statue of King Sejong. Open 9-7pm
- continue on to Jogyesa Temple, most important Buddhist temple in Seoul. Very colourful. Open 5am-9pm & is free (they were doing refurbishing while I was there and it was underwhelming)
- continue on to Isadong district. Traditional district w/ galleries, coffee shops and tea houses.
- finish day at Bukchon Hanok Village
- relax along Cheonggyecheon Stream
DAY 2:
- visit Ihwa Mural Village to see lots of street art
- Heunginjimun Gate Park to see the old wall
- head to Gwangjang Market, a traditional street market. It has absolutely everything incl amazing food. Best place to try a bunch of different dishes for cheap
- explore Myeongdong district. Full of eateries and hip neighbourhood. Check out Myeongdong Cathedral.
- head to Namsan Park and look for the Cherry Blossom path. The N Seoul Tower is also in the park. Can take cable car, yellow bus or walk to top of Mt Namsan for view
- end the day in Hongdae district near Hongik University. Hello Kitty themed cafe and street art in the Wausan-ro 22-gil alleyway next to the university. After sunset there’s street performances along Eoulmadag-ro St.
DAY 3:
- Take tour to DMZ (half or full day options)
DAY 4:
- Subway and Ferry to Nami Island from Myeongdong: catch Line 4 subway from Myeongdong Stn to Dongdaemun Stn. Then transfer to Line 1 to Hoegi Stn. Change to Gyeongchun Line from Hoegi Stn to Gapyeong Stn. Will take about 1.5hrs. Take taxi or Gapyeong City Tour Bus from Gapyeong Stn to Gapyeong Wharf (8,000 won). At wharf take ferry to Nami Island for 5 mins. Ferry is 16,000 won round-trip.
- Shuttle bus to Nami Island: can catch them in Myeongdong, Dongdaemun and Hongdae locations. Book on Klook. Download the app and save voucher on phone
