Two days one night in Seoul
Your Accomodation
To have a unique experience, I chose this Hanok guesthouse to stay for the night, located just a few minutes away from 경복궁 (Gyeongbokgung Palace). Hanok (한옥) Is a traditional Korean house and you have to take off your own shoes and enter the house in the slippers provided. It is located in Central Seoul, close to tourist attractions.
The check-in is at 3 pm, but the host kindly let me drop my luggage off before that so I could discover the city.
Recommended apps
- Air visual is a must-have app in Korea, as the air quality can be very bad, especially during the winter.
- Shows T-money card balance. This is what the actual app is called and the name pretty much explains what it does. By enabling NFC on your device and tapping your T-money card, you will see your balance. T-money cards can be bought from a lot of places and it is essential, as that is what you use for public transport.
- Trip.com, not just an app but a website too allows you to book tickets if you want to visit different cities, It is better to buy tickets in advance to avoid paying more. If you buy tickets from the official Korean transport company like KTX your foreign card will not be accepted. This is a great alternative.
For accomodation reservation I used Booking.com and Airbnb.
Day 1
After you have dropped your luggage off head out to find a Hanbok (한복) renting place. There are a lot around the palace. Hanbok is the traditional Korean wear that people like to rent while visiting palaces, it costs approximately 10,000KRW to rent, and depending on the place you can rent it for an hour or a day. Make sure to check opening times for the palace and the tours as it is not open every day of the week.
After you visit the palace, there are many places you could grab a bite, but keep in mind, as this is a tourist area prices are sky-high. I would recommend going to Myeongdong. It is very easy to go there and it only takes 20 minutes or so.
Myeongdong is one of the famous areas for foreigners. There are a lot of places you can find to grab a bite, but I would recommend Isaac Toast.
While you are in Myeongdong, visit the gorgeous Myeongdong Cathedral.
There is an underground shopping mall with restaurants and cafes as well if you decide to treat yourself after a long and exhausting day.
If you are a cat lover like me, grab a nice cup of coffee at the cat cafe. I enjoyed the place so much. I was a bit worried as the cat cafes I have been to before only had a few cats that were exhausted by all the pestering, but there were plenty of cats here who were friendly.
You had a long day, head back to your accommodation. If you are anything like me and you feel like you have some more energy left, have a walk around the palace at night. You won’t be disappointed. If you are tired, just stay at the accommodation and have a restful sleep.
Day 2
The accommodation provides breakfast, I highly recommend taking advantage of it. While food is relatively cheap, It is worth saving your money for a proper meal at a nice restaurant.
Chances are, you have seen Gwanghamun Park while you made your way to and from Myeongdong. If you haven’t stopped there then you must. You can find King Sejong’s statue there. He invented Hangul (한글) The Korean writing system. Make sure to visit the museum, which you can enter by the back of the statue.
Our next stop is the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History. The entry is free. If you are interested in the History of Korea, I highly recommend it.
Take a break after the visit. Sit in a cafe sipping a nice cup of coffee or even grab a bite If you feel hungry.
Cheongyecheon Stream is a must-visit place in Seoul. It flows through Seoul. During certain times of the year, it is gorgeously lit up. This place is perfect for a nice long walk.
If you are tired of walking and want to do something exciting I would recommend making your own craved stone stamp that Koreans use on certain documents instead of signing. Or attend a perfume-making workshop where you can create your perfume that you can have as a special gift for yourself or give as a gift to a loved one. Both activities take around 1 hour. The facilitators are very friendly and speak both Korean and English as well.
To finish the day I would recommend 2 places.
Have a nice picnic in Yeouido park which is a very popular spot amongst locals and foreigners as well. Get some beer, order some chicken and enjoy a nice picnic alongside of the river. Alternatively, you can also rent a bike and cycle alongside the river.
Or you can visit Namsan Tower which is also one of the popular spots in Seoul.
I hope you had an amazing time visiting these places. No matter where I go, I want to have a unique experience. While this guide consists of tourist spots, I hope you managed to have a wonderful time. Stay tuned for my upcoming guides offering a unique experience with more recommendations.
If you need further help with your trip, or you need more recommendations, feel free to check out my services.
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