FREE Guide: Recommendations for Seoul (2023)
FREE Guide: Recommendations for Seoul (2023)
Jennifer H.
Available for hire
We visited South Korea in April-May 2023. Here is a summary of some highlights and my recommendations for Seoul!
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Prior to visiting Seoul
1. Verify any travel requirements like a tourist visa (K-ETA) or Q code to verify vaccination status
2. Download phone apps
-Taxi app: Kakao T
-Translation app: Papago
Where to stay
I would recommend a hotel in Myeongdong, as this neighborhood has an excellent night market, lots of shopping, and is centrally located for top attractions!
Our choice:
Four Points by Sheraton Josun, Seoul Myeongdong
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We stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton during our time in Seoul! This hotel was very nice and clean!
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Budget-friendly options:
dears Myeongdong
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LINE HOTEL MYEONGDONG
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Migliore Hotel Seoul Myeongdong
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The Stay Hotel
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Transportation
- Get a T money card for public transportation
- Taxis were pretty cheap especially if travelling in a large group
Top Things to Do
oneday hanbok
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Wearing a hanbok and taking pictures at the palace is a must-do!
We pre-booked on Klook for a 4-hour rental from Oneday Hanbok. This rental spot was perfect because it was central to all the main attractions
The process was smooth to get a hanbok, and the staff was helpful. You get 2 fitting chances. Hair accessories/bags and traditional hairstyle were included.
The hanboks can be pretty heavy, so try to do this on a less hot day!
NOTE: A deposit is required, so when you return the hanbok, make sure to get your money/passport back!
TIP: Visit as many palaces as you can since entrance is free if you wear a hanbok!
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Gyeongbokgung Palace
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This is one of the main palaces to visit in South Korea. Entrance is free if you wear a hanbok.
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Nami Island
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We booked a full-day tour to visit Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Gapyeung-gun rail bike, and Petite France. The first tour I linked is the one we chose. This was the best tour because it was the least expensive for the most attractions.
However, if you prefer a different combination of activities for the day trip, feel free to chose those instead!
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Starfield Library
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Very instagrammable! It's a touristy spot, but I thought it was worth visiting!
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TIP: When booking tours in advance, use Rakuten to get cash back!
If you don't have an account, sign up here:
Top Places to Eat
Gwangjang Market
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This a must-visit spot for foodie lovers! There's a ton of delicious street food, and this is the market where the famous Netflix lady (Cho Yonsoon) sells kalguksu noodles! The lines can be pretty long for her stall. We went on a Sunday, which seemed to be less busy
What I tried:
- Hodo kwaja (walnut cake)
- Kalguksu (knife cut noodles): noodles are made fresh right in front of you! The noodle soup doesn't come with protein, but some of the dumplings did.
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Myeong Dong Night Market
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This market has so many delicious options for street food! Here are some of the items we tried:
- Eomuk (fish cakes)
- Gyeran Bbang (egg bread): so savory/sweet!
- Lamb stick: it could have been more tender
- Mini crabs: fun to eat with a tasty sauce
- Eel: chewy with bones... I would pass on this
- Abalone: expensive but tasty!
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Cafes in Seoul
Seoul has an amazing cafe culture! You honestly could spend a full day cafe-hopping, and I suggest you do so! Sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee, peruse this list of cafes, and bookmark your favorites!
Table A
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Table A has a variety of animals, and you can feed some unique animals like meerkats! The meerkats were vicious. You can't pet the exotic animals. The cafe is a little sketchy-looking.
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Thanks Nature Cafe
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Sheep Cafe! Your ticket to hang out with the sheep is just to buy something at the cafe! So worth it!
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943 King's Cross
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Has multiple floors with Harry Potter vibes. Super long line. I got the hot chocolate, which came with a cute chocolate hat. The drink wasn't anything special, but the ambiance was cool
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Sinleedoga Cafe
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Elegant vibes. Got a cute bear cookie for the 'gram. Wasn't the tastiest
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Cafe Onion Anguk
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A quick google search, and you'll likely find Cafe Onion on the list of cafes to visit in Seoul! Lines are long, but they have tons of pastry options! We got a strawberry croissant because I was too full to try anything else
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Other cafes that we didn't visit, but I had bookmarked:
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Cheongsudang Café
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This place is very popular, so the wait list can be very long. The outside of the cafe has beautiful aesthetics, so even if you can't get inside, you can take pics from the outside. Some of the food items I bookmarked include the strawberry souffle castella and matcha fromage.
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If you want a detailed itinerary to maximize your time in South Korea, please see this itinerary:
We visited South Korea in April-May 2023. This itinerary was created to save you 20+ hours of research and hits the highlights of South Korea.
My style of traveling involves seeing the main attractions of each place and eating the best foods! My itinerary is packed efficiently so that you can maximize your time! Feel free to modify the itinerary according to your own pace and interests!
For our 1 week in South Korea, here is the outline:
- Day 1: Seoul (half day)
- Day 2: Nami Island Tour
- Day 3: Seoul
- Day 4: Seoul
- Day 5: Seoul***
- Day 6: Busan
- Day 7: Busan
*** Alternatively, go to Busan on Day 5 and 6. Fly to Jeju on the evening of Day 6. Spend 1 day in Jeju Island on Day 7
Adventure • Foodie • Photography
$5.00
Thank you for reading! Follow @Jenuine_reviews on Instagram for more food and travel inspirations! Feel free to send me a message with any questions, comments, or suggestions!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer H.
Available for hire
Hello! My name is Jennifer! I’m a pharmacist with a passion for traveling and trying new foods! As a busy healthcare professional, vacation time is limited, so I create jam-packed itineraries to make the most of my traveling experiences! I spend hours of research to make organized itineraries to optimize my time to see the most popular attractions in each place and to find the best food to eat! I'd love to share my experiences and tips with you!
If you have any questions, you can contact me via direct message on Instagram (@jenuine_reviews) or send me an email at Jenuine_reviews@yahoo.com!
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