South Korea: 10-Day Itinerary and Budget

• • Day 1 – Arrive in Seoul and explore Myeongdong, the city’s main shopping district.
  • Day 2 – Northern Seoul:
    • Have breakfast on Insadong-gil Street, a traditional neighborhood filled with cafés and local shops.
    • Visit Bukchon Hanok Village, one of Seoul’s most photographed spots, where you’ll find traditional Korean houses and many visitors wearing hanbok while taking photos.
    • Gyeongbokgung Palace: Keep in mind that it’s closed on Tuesdays. You can check the opening hours here. Admission is 3,000 KRW (around €2.30).
    • Extra: If you have enough time, you can also visit Changgyeonggung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and the Huwon Secret Garden.
  • Day 3 – Namsan Park, N Seoul Tower & Itaewon:
    • Start the day by visiting N Seoul Tower. I recommend taking the cable car up to the top and then walking back down. A one-way ticket costs 11,000 KRW (around €8.20).
    • Walk down through Namsan Park to the neighborhood of Itaewon. The walk takes about 45 minutes.
    • Afterwards, explore the Yongsan area. We originally went there to visit the Hybe Insight exhibition (the entertainment company behind BTS, TXT, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, and LE SSERAFIM), although it’s currently closed and will reopen at a new location.
  • Day 4 – Hongdae, Seoul’s university district:
    • Take it easy today and simply wander around Hongdae, home to Hongik University. Start at Hongdae Shopping Street, stroll along Hongdae Mural Street, and pop into the many cafés and shops along the way.
  • Day 5 – Gangnam District:
    • Start the day with a great coffee at Arabica, then visit the incredible Starfield COEX Library, one of Seoul’s must-see attractions. Since it’s inside the shopping mall, you can also spend some time exploring the stores.
    • Leave the mall, where you’ll find the famous statue dedicated to PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” then walk along Teheran-ro toward Gangnam-daero, home to major flagship stores such as the Line Friends Store.
    • Continue north until you reach Sinsa-dong, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seoul. Don’t miss it!
  • Day 6 – Seongsu & Dongdaemun:
    • Seongsu is packed with countless cafés, making it the perfect place to start your sixth day.
    • Take the subway to Dongdaemun and visit the DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza).
    • Explore Ihwa Mural Village.
    • You can also head to Gwangjang Market for dinner or simply sample some delicious street food.
  • Day 7 – Train to Busan (sorry, I love the movie, so I couldn’t resist naming it this):
    • You’ll need to wake up early, but it’s absolutely worth it! I recommend booking your train tickets in advance, as trains can fill up quickly depending on the day and time. It’s also a good idea to book your return ticket at the same time. The journey takes around 3 hours and costs approximately €90 round trip from Seoul Station.
    • Visit Gamcheon Culture Village.
    • Explore the famous Jagalchi Fish Market.
    • Visit Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower.
    • Go shopping along Seomyeon Shopping Street.
  • Day 8 – Busan and return to Seoul (or stay two nights if you’d rather explore at a more relaxed pace):
    • Visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple on the coast.
    • Relax at Haeundae Beach.
    • If you have enough time, head to Oryukdo Island and the Oryukdo Skywalk by taking a bus (around 50 minutes) from Busan Station and getting off at Oryukdo Skywalk View Homun.
  • Day 9 – Return to Seoul and explore any neighborhoods or attractions you haven’t had the chance to visit yet.
  • Day 10 – Last-minute shopping in Myeongdong before flying home.

How to Get to South Korea

There are many airlines that fly from Spain to South Korea. If you live in Barcelona, you can take advantage of the direct flights offered by Asiana Airlines, which take around 13 hours. Besides Asiana, you can also check airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, KLM, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, or Alitalia. The lowest round-trip fares you can usually find start at around €550.

Visa and Entry Requirements

If you’re traveling to South Korea for tourism, you don’t need to apply for a visa. However, since 2025, South Korea has introduced a mandatory E-Arrival Card to speed up the immigration and customs process. You can now submit your information online within 72 hours before your arrival, avoiding the paper forms handed out on the plane or at the airport. Simply visit the official E-Arrival Card website, upload a photo of your passport, and complete your flight details, accommodation information, and some personal details (such as your occupation).

When to Visit South Korea

As a general rule, it’s very important to learn a little about the climate and the best times to visit before planning any trip to Asia. The weather in Seoul, for example, is similar to what I explained in my Japan itinerary, with a hot, humid summer reaching highs of around 30°C and a very cold winter with daytime highs of around 2°C and lows that can drop to -6°C. Below you’ll find a chart from the Korea Meteorological Administration with more detailed climate information for Seoul:     For that reason, the best time to visit is during spring or autumn, when you can enjoy both the cherry blossom season in April and the stunning red and orange autumn foliage in October and November. These are also the best months to avoid the rainy season, as it tends to rain frequently from July through early September.

Where to Stay in Seoul

Seoul is divided into 25 districts (see the map below), but these are some of the neighborhoods I recommend staying in during your visit:

• • Myeong-dong (Jung-gu District) is a shopping area fully geared towards tourism, packed with cosmetics stores, fashion boutiques, and neon-lit streets. From here, you can also take the free shuttle bus to Namsan Tower.
    1. Hotel Venue-G Seoul: from €60 per night (we stayed here and I recommend it 500%)
    2. Staz Hotel Myeongdong 2 from €62/night
    3. Hotel 8 Hours from €62/night
    4. Sunny Guesthouse Seoul City from €45/night
  • Insa-dong (within Jongno-gu District) is the neighborhood closest to Seoul’s main attractions, where you’ll be surrounded by traditional architecture and countless cafés (my personal obsession). Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace are all located here.
    1. Insadong Crown Hotel from €53/night
    2. Petercat Hotel Insadong from €42/night
    3. 24 Guesthouse Insadong from €37/night
  • Hongdae (Mapo-gu District) is one of my favorite areas in Seoul. It’s a lively university neighborhood with a more local atmosphere, full of art galleries, bars, and restaurants. It’s also said to have the city’s best nightlife! Most of the accommodations here are guesthouses:
    1. Grape Garden House from €40/night
    2. Bunk Guesthouse Hongdae2 from €41/night
    3. Hotel The Designers Hongdae from €70/night
  • Gangnam (Gangnam-gu District) is the area that reminded me the most of Tokyo thanks to its atmosphere and skyscrapers. It’s Seoul’s financial district, packed with shopping malls and considered the birthplace of the K-pop industry.
    1. Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam from €60/night
    2. K-Grand Hostel Gangnam1 from €45/night
    3. Hotel Star Gangnam from €60/night

Where to Stay in Busan

I recommend these two neighborhoods for staying in Busan:

• • Seomyeon if you want to explore as much of the city as possible:
    1. Lion Hotel from €52 per night
    2. Busan Seomyeon Business Hotel J7 from €40 per night
  • Nampo-dong if you’re more interested in shopping and staying near the waterfront.
    1. Aventree Hotel Busan from €70 per night
    2. Hotel Foret Premier Nampo from €70 per night

 

Transportation – Getting Around

To get around Seoul and Busan, I recommend buying a T-Money or Cashbee card and topping it up as needed. These cards can be used on subways and buses throughout the country. T-Money can also be used as electronic payment in many stores, although Cashbee offers even more retail payment options. If you top up your card at convenience stores, keep in mind that they only accept cash for recharges. The cards allow up to 4 discounted transfers per journey. To receive the discount, always tap your card before getting off the bus or when exiting the subway. The maximum transfer time is 30 minutes. You can top up your card with amounts ranging from 1,000 KRW to 90,000 KRW. Here are the main ways to get around Seoul:

1. 1. Subway: operates from 5:30 a.m. until midnight. You can purchase either a single-journey ticket or use a rechargeable T-Money card, available at convenience stores and subway stations. A single ride costs 1,250₩ (€0.93) with T-Money or 1,350₩ (€1.00) if paying in cash.
   2. Bus: Seoul’s buses are color-coded, and fares vary depending on the route:
      • Blue and green buses: 1,200₩ (€0.89) or 1,300₩ (€0.97) in cash
      • Local green buses: 1,100₩ (€0.82) or 1,000₩ (€0.74) in cash
      • Yellow buses: 1,100₩ (€0.82) or 1,200₩ (€0.89) in cash
      • Red buses: 2,300₩ (€1.71) or 2,400₩ (€1.79) in cash
      • Night buses: 2,150₩ (€1.60) or 2,250₩ (€1.67) in cash
   3. Taxi: There are three types—standard, deluxe, and jumbo—and not every driver speaks English. I found taxis to be reasonably priced.

And here’s how to get around Busan:

1. 1. Subway: Busan has four subway lines operating from 5:30 a.m. until midnight. Just like in Seoul, you can buy a single ticket or use a rechargeable T-Money card. A single ride costs 1,300₩ (€0.97) with T-Money or 1,400₩ (€1.04) in cash.
   2. Bus: Busan also has several color-coded bus routes. You can find more information here. The fare is 1,200₩ (€0.89) with T-Money or 1,300₩ (€0.97) in cash.
   3. Taxi: There are three types—standard, deluxe, and jumbo—and not every driver speaks English. I found taxis to be reasonably priced.

There are several options for getting to and from the airport: you can either buy a single ticket or start using your transport card right away. One very important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to buy the card at a convenience store or the information desk after leaving the airport, and payment is CASH ONLY:

1. 1. AREX Train (Airport Railroad Express) from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. There are two types of trains, and you’ll need to add a 500 KRW deposit to the fare, which will be refunded when you arrive at the station:
      • All-stop train: takes about one hour and makes 11 stops before reaching Seoul Station. It costs 4,750 KRW (€3.54) from Terminal 1 and 4,150 KRW (€3.10) from Terminal 2, with a 100 KRW discount when using a transport card.
      • Express Train: travels directly to Seoul Station without any intermediate stops. It takes 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 52 minutes from Terminal 2. The fare is 9,000 KRW (€6.70).
   2. Bus: buses depart from the first and third floors and connect to Incheon, East Incheon, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeonggi, and Seoul. The journey to Seoul takes around 70 minutes. There is also a deluxe bus service. Prices range from 9,000 KRW to 15,000 KRW, with discounts available when paying with a transport card. You can find more detailed route information here.
   3. Taxi

Important tip! In South Korea, Google Maps is of very little use. As strange as it sounds, this is because Google has been restricted from using the country’s official maps “for security reasons related to the conflict between South Korea and North Korea.” The main limitations affect walking directions, driving routes, and 3D maps. For this trip, I recommend downloading Citymapper or using Naver Maps.

Internet

Although Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere in Seoul, I think it’s still important to have mobile internet, especially for checking train schedules, navigating the city, and finding your way around. In South Korea, you have several options:

• • eSIM: This is now the most common option, so here’s a 5% discount link for Holafly. If the discount isn’t applied automatically, you can enter the code “WHERETOFINDJESS” during checkout.

• • Data SIM card: This is the option I always choose. You can buy a SIM card as soon as you arrive at the airport. There are also shops throughout the city, but I prefer to be connected from the very beginning. The three main mobile providers are SK Telecom, Korea Telecom, and LG U+. The first two are the most recommended, although Korea Telecom mainly offers data-only SIM cards. A SIM card for around 10 days costs approximately €28.
  • Pocket Wi-Fi: This is a portable device that you can rent to provide internet access until the battery runs out. It’s small, lightweight, and allows you to connect multiple devices at once. You can rent one from official SK Telecom stores.

Travel Insurance

For this type of trip, I always take out an IATI travel insurance policy for extra peace of mind in case something goes wrong. We once had an incident in Japan, and it was absolutely worth it. We usually choose the “IATI Basic” or “IATI Standard” plan, although depending on the destination, you may want to consider the “Star” or “Backpacker” options. You can also add or purchase cancellation insurance. The “IATI Premium Cancellation” policy has been specifically designed to cover the costs associated with trip cancellations (flights, accommodation, excursions, and more), up to a limit of €6,000, if you’re unable to travel for one of the reasons covered by the policy. By clicking this link, you can purchase any IATI insurance policy with a 5% discount: https://www.iatiseguros.com?r=81717716852618.

Money While Traveling – N26 Card

South Korea uses the South Korean Won (₩, KRW). As a rough reference, 1,000 KRW is approximately €0.70. We used our credit card for virtually everything during the trip without any issues. The only drawback to keep in mind is that if you get a public transport card and want to top it up at convenience stores (such as 7-Eleven), they only accept cash. I got this card before a trip to Iceland, and it has worked brilliantly on every trip ever since. Over the past few years, I’ve travelled to Japan and many other countries outside the Eurozone, and I got tired of paying exchange fees at airports and currency exchange offices, the roughly 3% fee my bank charged for every card purchase abroad, or additional ATM withdrawal fees. So I looked for a solution because, even though those percentages seem small, they really add up over the course of a trip. That’s why whenever I travel, I pay for everything with my N26 prepaid card. You can order it through this link. A few things worth knowing:

• • I opened my account free of charge and can withdraw cash from ATMs in Spain and across the Eurozone, provided they are contactless.
  • If you’d like the physical card, you can order it for €10.
  • Adding money to the card is very easy, as it’s done via bank transfer.
  • Some important things to keep in mind while travelling with this card:
    • • You can pay in any currency other than the euro. N26 does not charge any foreign transaction fees, even when another currency is involved. The exchange rate used is the one provided by Mastercard.
      • If you have a standard N26 account and withdraw cash from an ATM outside Europe, you’ll pay a 1.7% foreign exchange fee (but no ATM transaction fee). With an N26 You or Metal account, this fee is waived. I personally use the Standard account.

Every payment I’ve made in countries that don’t use the euro has been converted at an excellent exchange rate (Visa’s rate applies in this case). I regularly compared it with online currency converters, and the rate used by the card was often even better than the one shown online. If you have any questions about this, feel free to send me an email and I’ll be happy to help. The whole process is very straightforward. Here’s the link again: N26.

Food

Here’s a short list of Korean dishes that you absolutely have to try while you’re there:

• • Korean BBQ (of course) 고기구이
  • Bibimbap: mixed rice with vegetables and meat, 비빔밥
  • Tteokbokki / Ddeokbokki: spicy rice cakes, 떡볶이
  • Chi-maek: fried chicken and beer, 치맥
  • Dakgalbi: spicy stir-fried chicken, 닭갈비
  • Kimchi-jjigae: kimchi stew, 김치찌개
  • Kimbap / Gimbap: Korean-style sushi rolls, 김밥
  • Bulgogi: thinly sliced marinated beef grilled with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic, 불고기
  • Dakkochi: grilled chicken skewers with spring onions, 닭꼬치
  • Gyeran Bbang: Korean street food egg bread, 계란빵

 

Fun Facts

1. 1. South Korea is the country with the highest alcohol consumption (according to the WHO), and soju (the Korean equivalent of sake) is the best-selling alcoholic drink in the world. Drinking is part of everyday culture, and refusing an alcoholic drink is considered impolite. In fact, employees often go out drinking with their bosses, and many business deals are made in bars.
   2. K-POP: I can’t really call this a fun fact because I’m completely obsessed with it, but if you haven’t already, it’s time to give it a listen. Long live BTS. End of my fangirl moment. You’ll often find people gathering in the streets to play K-POP songs and dance together in public. I’ve included a video below that I absolutely love.
   3. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating: Google Maps is of very little use in Seoul. As crazy as it sounds, South Korea restricted Google from using the country’s official maps “for security reasons related to the conflict between North and South Korea.” The biggest limitations affect walking, driving routes, and 3D maps.
   4. In Korea you’ll notice that many people share the same surname. That’s because there are only around 300 surnames in the entire country, with the most common being Kim (around 30% of the population), Lee (17%), and Park (6%).
   5. Seoul has the highest number of cafés per capita in the world.
   6. They drive terribly. Seriously.
   7. There are almost no public bins on the streets.
   8. They’re obsessed with their food. Even when they travel abroad, they still look for Korean restaurants wherever they go.
   9. Almost every dish, no matter how spicy, has a slightly sweet flavour.
   10. When entering many shops, you’ll find a set of cup holders where you can leave your drink while browsing, so you don’t accidentally spill anything.
   11. The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul (한글), consists of 24 letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It can be written both horizontally and vertically.
   12. English isn’t widely spoken, and once you leave the tourist areas, most signs and menus aren’t translated. I recommend learning or writing down a few useful words beforehand, especially for ordering food in restaurants.

Budget for Two People in Seoul

1. Main flights – 700€ per person. 1,400€ for two people. 2. Local transportation

• • T-Money card: 25€ per person. 50€ for two people.
  • Round-trip airport transfer: 13€ per person (Express Train). 26€ for two people.
  • Round-trip KTX high-speed train to Busan: around ₩120,000 (90€) per person. 180€ for two people.

3. Accommodation

• • Seoul: 600€, 9 nights, two people.
  • Busan: 60€, 1 night, two people.

4. Entrance fees

• • Gyeongbokgung Palace: ₩3,000 per person (2.23€)
  • Deoksugung Palace: ₩1,000 per person (0.74€)
  • N Seoul Tower cable car: ₩11,000 (8.20€) one way

5. Other expenses

• • eSIM card: 32€ per person. 64€ for two people.
  • Food (convenience stores, restaurants, and fast food): 400€ for two people, including around 50€ spent on Korean BBQ.
  • Travel insurance: 58€ for two people.

APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST FOR 2 PEOPLE – 2,800€*

*This does not include souvenirs or other little extras you may buy along the way. It only covers the essential travel expenses. I hope this inspires you to visit! South Korea is honestly my second favourite country after Japan, and if I could, I’d go back every single year. I promise it’s absolutely worth it.

A few years ago, I visited South Korea for the first time for 5 days, and it definitely wasn’t enough. That’s why, at the end of 2022, I decided to return for more than a week and finally visit Busan, a city I had also been wanting to explore. In this article, I’ll show you a South Korea itinerary that’s very easy to follow if you’re planning a trip. South Korea has a population of around 51 million people, and today, Seoul alone is home to approximately 10 million residents, while its metropolitan area has around 24.5 million people. To give you an idea of just how vibrant this city can be, the United Nations declared in 2012 that Seoul’s quality of life ranked above other capitals such as New York and London. Does that make you even more curious to visit?

10-Day South Korea Itinerary (Seoul & Busan)

• • Day 1 – Arrive in Seoul and explore Myeongdong, the city’s main shopping district.
  • Day 2 – Northern Seoul:
    • Have breakfast on Insadong-gil Street, a traditional neighborhood filled with cafés and local shops.
    • Visit Bukchon Hanok Village, one of Seoul’s most photographed spots, where you’ll find traditional Korean houses and many visitors wearing hanbok while taking photos.
    • Gyeongbokgung Palace: Keep in mind that it’s closed on Tuesdays. You can check the opening hours here. Admission is 3,000 KRW (around €2.30).
    • Extra: If you have enough time, you can also visit Changgyeonggung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and the Huwon Secret Garden.
  • Day 3 – Namsan Park, N Seoul Tower & Itaewon:
    • Start the day by visiting N Seoul Tower. I recommend taking the cable car up to the top and then walking back down. A one-way ticket costs 11,000 KRW (around €8.20).
    • Walk down through Namsan Park to the neighborhood of Itaewon. The walk takes about 45 minutes.
    • Afterwards, explore the Yongsan area. We originally went there to visit the Hybe Insight exhibition (the entertainment company behind BTS, TXT, ENHYPEN, NewJeans, and LE SSERAFIM), although it’s currently closed and will reopen at a new location.
  • Day 4 – Hongdae, Seoul’s university district:
    • Take it easy today and simply wander around Hongdae, home to Hongik University. Start at Hongdae Shopping Street, stroll along Hongdae Mural Street, and pop into the many cafés and shops along the way.
  • Day 5 – Gangnam District:
    • Start the day with a great coffee at Arabica, then visit the incredible Starfield COEX Library, one of Seoul’s must-see attractions. Since it’s inside the shopping mall, you can also spend some time exploring the stores.
    • Leave the mall, where you’ll find the famous statue dedicated to PSY’s “Gangnam Style,” then walk along Teheran-ro toward Gangnam-daero, home to major flagship stores such as the Line Friends Store.
    • Continue north until you reach Sinsa-dong, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Seoul. Don’t miss it!
  • Day 6 – Seongsu & Dongdaemun:
    • Seongsu is packed with countless cafés, making it the perfect place to start your sixth day.
    • Take the subway to Dongdaemun and visit the DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza).
    • Explore Ihwa Mural Village.
    • You can also head to Gwangjang Market for dinner or simply sample some delicious street food.
  • Day 7 – Train to Busan (sorry, I love the movie, so I couldn’t resist naming it this):
    • You’ll need to wake up early, but it’s absolutely worth it! I recommend booking your train tickets in advance, as trains can fill up quickly depending on the day and time. It’s also a good idea to book your return ticket at the same time. The journey takes around 3 hours and costs approximately €90 round trip from Seoul Station.
    • Visit Gamcheon Culture Village.
    • Explore the famous Jagalchi Fish Market.
    • Visit Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower.
    • Go shopping along Seomyeon Shopping Street.
  • Day 8 – Busan and return to Seoul (or stay two nights if you’d rather explore at a more relaxed pace):
    • Visit Haedong Yonggungsa Temple on the coast.
    • Relax at Haeundae Beach.
    • If you have enough time, head to Oryukdo Island and the Oryukdo Skywalk by taking a bus (around 50 minutes) from Busan Station and getting off at Oryukdo Skywalk View Homun.
  • Day 9 – Return to Seoul and explore any neighborhoods or attractions you haven’t had the chance to visit yet.
  • Day 10 – Last-minute shopping in Myeongdong before flying home.

How to Get to South Korea

There are many airlines that fly from Spain to South Korea. If you live in Barcelona, you can take advantage of the direct flights offered by Asiana Airlines, which take around 13 hours. Besides Asiana, you can also check airlines such as Emirates, Lufthansa, KLM, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, or Alitalia. The lowest round-trip fares you can usually find start at around €550.

Visa and Entry Requirements

If you’re traveling to South Korea for tourism, you don’t need to apply for a visa. However, since 2025, South Korea has introduced a mandatory E-Arrival Card to speed up the immigration and customs process. You can now submit your information online within 72 hours before your arrival, avoiding the paper forms handed out on the plane or at the airport. Simply visit the official E-Arrival Card website, upload a photo of your passport, and complete your flight details, accommodation information, and some personal details (such as your occupation).

When to Visit South Korea

As a general rule, it’s very important to learn a little about the climate and the best times to visit before planning any trip to Asia. The weather in Seoul, for example, is similar to what I explained in my Japan itinerary, with a hot, humid summer reaching highs of around 30°C and a very cold winter with daytime highs of around 2°C and lows that can drop to -6°C. Below you’ll find a chart from the Korea Meteorological Administration with more detailed climate information for Seoul:     For that reason, the best time to visit is during spring or autumn, when you can enjoy both the cherry blossom season in April and the stunning red and orange autumn foliage in October and November. These are also the best months to avoid the rainy season, as it tends to rain frequently from July through early September.

Where to Stay in Seoul

Seoul is divided into 25 districts (see the map below), but these are some of the neighborhoods I recommend staying in during your visit:

• • Myeong-dong (Jung-gu District) is a shopping area fully geared towards tourism, packed with cosmetics stores, fashion boutiques, and neon-lit streets. From here, you can also take the free shuttle bus to Namsan Tower.
    1. Hotel Venue-G Seoul: from €60 per night (we stayed here and I recommend it 500%)
    2. Staz Hotel Myeongdong 2 from €62/night
    3. Hotel 8 Hours from €62/night
    4. Sunny Guesthouse Seoul City from €45/night
  • Insa-dong (within Jongno-gu District) is the neighborhood closest to Seoul’s main attractions, where you’ll be surrounded by traditional architecture and countless cafés (my personal obsession). Bukchon Hanok Village, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Changdeokgung Palace are all located here.
    1. Insadong Crown Hotel from €53/night
    2. Petercat Hotel Insadong from €42/night
    3. 24 Guesthouse Insadong from €37/night
  • Hongdae (Mapo-gu District) is one of my favorite areas in Seoul. It’s a lively university neighborhood with a more local atmosphere, full of art galleries, bars, and restaurants. It’s also said to have the city’s best nightlife! Most of the accommodations here are guesthouses:
    1. Grape Garden House from €40/night
    2. Bunk Guesthouse Hongdae2 from €41/night
    3. Hotel The Designers Hongdae from €70/night
  • Gangnam (Gangnam-gu District) is the area that reminded me the most of Tokyo thanks to its atmosphere and skyscrapers. It’s Seoul’s financial district, packed with shopping malls and considered the birthplace of the K-pop industry.
    1. Dormy Inn SEOUL Gangnam from €60/night
    2. K-Grand Hostel Gangnam1 from €45/night
    3. Hotel Star Gangnam from €60/night

Where to Stay in Busan

I recommend these two neighborhoods for staying in Busan:

• • Seomyeon if you want to explore as much of the city as possible:
    1. Lion Hotel from €52 per night
    2. Busan Seomyeon Business Hotel J7 from €40 per night
  • Nampo-dong if you’re more interested in shopping and staying near the waterfront.
    1. Aventree Hotel Busan from €70 per night
    2. Hotel Foret Premier Nampo from €70 per night

 

Transportation – Getting Around

To get around Seoul and Busan, I recommend buying a T-Money or Cashbee card and topping it up as needed. These cards can be used on subways and buses throughout the country. T-Money can also be used as electronic payment in many stores, although Cashbee offers even more retail payment options. If you top up your card at convenience stores, keep in mind that they only accept cash for recharges. The cards allow up to 4 discounted transfers per journey. To receive the discount, always tap your card before getting off the bus or when exiting the subway. The maximum transfer time is 30 minutes. You can top up your card with amounts ranging from 1,000 KRW to 90,000 KRW. Here are the main ways to get around Seoul:

1. 1. Subway: operates from 5:30 a.m. until midnight. You can purchase either a single-journey ticket or use a rechargeable T-Money card, available at convenience stores and subway stations. A single ride costs 1,250₩ (€0.93) with T-Money or 1,350₩ (€1.00) if paying in cash.
   2. Bus: Seoul’s buses are color-coded, and fares vary depending on the route:
      • Blue and green buses: 1,200₩ (€0.89) or 1,300₩ (€0.97) in cash
      • Local green buses: 1,100₩ (€0.82) or 1,000₩ (€0.74) in cash
      • Yellow buses: 1,100₩ (€0.82) or 1,200₩ (€0.89) in cash
      • Red buses: 2,300₩ (€1.71) or 2,400₩ (€1.79) in cash
      • Night buses: 2,150₩ (€1.60) or 2,250₩ (€1.67) in cash
   3. Taxi: There are three types—standard, deluxe, and jumbo—and not every driver speaks English. I found taxis to be reasonably priced.

And here’s how to get around Busan:

1. 1. Subway: Busan has four subway lines operating from 5:30 a.m. until midnight. Just like in Seoul, you can buy a single ticket or use a rechargeable T-Money card. A single ride costs 1,300₩ (€0.97) with T-Money or 1,400₩ (€1.04) in cash.
   2. Bus: Busan also has several color-coded bus routes. You can find more information here. The fare is 1,200₩ (€0.89) with T-Money or 1,300₩ (€0.97) in cash.
   3. Taxi: There are three types—standard, deluxe, and jumbo—and not every driver speaks English. I found taxis to be reasonably priced.

There are several options for getting to and from the airport: you can either buy a single ticket or start using your transport card right away. One very important thing to keep in mind is that you’ll need to buy the card at a convenience store or the information desk after leaving the airport, and payment is CASH ONLY:

1. 1. AREX Train (Airport Railroad Express) from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. There are two types of trains, and you’ll need to add a 500 KRW deposit to the fare, which will be refunded when you arrive at the station:
      • All-stop train: takes about one hour and makes 11 stops before reaching Seoul Station. It costs 4,750 KRW (€3.54) from Terminal 1 and 4,150 KRW (€3.10) from Terminal 2, with a 100 KRW discount when using a transport card.
      • Express Train: travels directly to Seoul Station without any intermediate stops. It takes 43 minutes from Terminal 1 and 52 minutes from Terminal 2. The fare is 9,000 KRW (€6.70).
   2. Bus: buses depart from the first and third floors and connect to Incheon, East Incheon, Gyeongsang, Chungcheong, Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeonggi, and Seoul. The journey to Seoul takes around 70 minutes. There is also a deluxe bus service. Prices range from 9,000 KRW to 15,000 KRW, with discounts available when paying with a transport card. You can find more detailed route information here.
   3. Taxi

Important tip! In South Korea, Google Maps is of very little use. As strange as it sounds, this is because Google has been restricted from using the country’s official maps “for security reasons related to the conflict between South Korea and North Korea.” The main limitations affect walking directions, driving routes, and 3D maps. For this trip, I recommend downloading Citymapper or using Naver Maps.

Internet

Although Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere in Seoul, I think it’s still important to have mobile internet, especially for checking train schedules, navigating the city, and finding your way around. In South Korea, you have several options:

• • eSIM: This is now the most common option, so here’s a 5% discount link for Holafly. If the discount isn’t applied automatically, you can enter the code “WHERETOFINDJESS” during checkout.

• • Data SIM card: This is the option I always choose. You can buy a SIM card as soon as you arrive at the airport. There are also shops throughout the city, but I prefer to be connected from the very beginning. The three main mobile providers are SK Telecom, Korea Telecom, and LG U+. The first two are the most recommended, although Korea Telecom mainly offers data-only SIM cards. A SIM card for around 10 days costs approximately €28.
  • Pocket Wi-Fi: This is a portable device that you can rent to provide internet access until the battery runs out. It’s small, lightweight, and allows you to connect multiple devices at once. You can rent one from official SK Telecom stores.

Travel Insurance

For this type of trip, I always take out an IATI travel insurance policy for extra peace of mind in case something goes wrong. We once had an incident in Japan, and it was absolutely worth it. We usually choose the “IATI Basic” or “IATI Standard” plan, although depending on the destination, you may want to consider the “Star” or “Backpacker” options. You can also add or purchase cancellation insurance. The “IATI Premium Cancellation” policy has been specifically designed to cover the costs associated with trip cancellations (flights, accommodation, excursions, and more), up to a limit of €6,000, if you’re unable to travel for one of the reasons covered by the policy. By clicking this link, you can purchase any IATI insurance policy with a 5% discount: https://www.iatiseguros.com?r=81717716852618.

Money While Traveling – N26 Card

South Korea uses the South Korean Won (₩, KRW). As a rough reference, 1,000 KRW is approximately €0.70. We used our credit card for virtually everything during the trip without any issues. The only drawback to keep in mind is that if you get a public transport card and want to top it up at convenience stores (such as 7-Eleven), they only accept cash. I got this card before a trip to Iceland, and it has worked brilliantly on every trip ever since. Over the past few years, I’ve travelled to Japan and many other countries outside the Eurozone, and I got tired of paying exchange fees at airports and currency exchange offices, the roughly 3% fee my bank charged for every card purchase abroad, or additional ATM withdrawal fees. So I looked for a solution because, even though those percentages seem small, they really add up over the course of a trip. That’s why whenever I travel, I pay for everything with my N26 prepaid card. You can order it through this link. A few things worth knowing:

• • I opened my account free of charge and can withdraw cash from ATMs in Spain and across the Eurozone, provided they are contactless.
  • If you’d like the physical card, you can order it for €10.
  • Adding money to the card is very easy, as it’s done via bank transfer.
  • Some important things to keep in mind while travelling with this card:
    • • You can pay in any currency other than the euro. N26 does not charge any foreign transaction fees, even when another currency is involved. The exchange rate used is the one provided by Mastercard.
      • If you have a standard N26 account and withdraw cash from an ATM outside Europe, you’ll pay a 1.7% foreign exchange fee (but no ATM transaction fee). With an N26 You or Metal account, this fee is waived. I personally use the Standard account.

Every payment I’ve made in countries that don’t use the euro has been converted at an excellent exchange rate (Visa’s rate applies in this case). I regularly compared it with online currency converters, and the rate used by the card was often even better than the one shown online. If you have any questions about this, feel free to send me an email and I’ll be happy to help. The whole process is very straightforward. Here’s the link again: N26.

Food

Here’s a short list of Korean dishes that you absolutely have to try while you’re there:

• • Korean BBQ (of course) 고기구이
  • Bibimbap: mixed rice with vegetables and meat, 비빔밥
  • Tteokbokki / Ddeokbokki: spicy rice cakes, 떡볶이
  • Chi-maek: fried chicken and beer, 치맥
  • Dakgalbi: spicy stir-fried chicken, 닭갈비
  • Kimchi-jjigae: kimchi stew, 김치찌개
  • Kimbap / Gimbap: Korean-style sushi rolls, 김밥
  • Bulgogi: thinly sliced marinated beef grilled with soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic, 불고기
  • Dakkochi: grilled chicken skewers with spring onions, 닭꼬치
  • Gyeran Bbang: Korean street food egg bread, 계란빵

 

Fun Facts

1. 1. South Korea is the country with the highest alcohol consumption (according to the WHO), and soju (the Korean equivalent of sake) is the best-selling alcoholic drink in the world. Drinking is part of everyday culture, and refusing an alcoholic drink is considered impolite. In fact, employees often go out drinking with their bosses, and many business deals are made in bars.
   2. K-POP: I can’t really call this a fun fact because I’m completely obsessed with it, but if you haven’t already, it’s time to give it a listen. Long live BTS. End of my fangirl moment. You’ll often find people gathering in the streets to play K-POP songs and dance together in public. I’ve included a video below that I absolutely love.
   3. I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating: Google Maps is of very little use in Seoul. As crazy as it sounds, South Korea restricted Google from using the country’s official maps “for security reasons related to the conflict between North and South Korea.” The biggest limitations affect walking, driving routes, and 3D maps.
   4. In Korea you’ll notice that many people share the same surname. That’s because there are only around 300 surnames in the entire country, with the most common being Kim (around 30% of the population), Lee (17%), and Park (6%).
   5. Seoul has the highest number of cafés per capita in the world.
   6. They drive terribly. Seriously.
   7. There are almost no public bins on the streets.
   8. They’re obsessed with their food. Even when they travel abroad, they still look for Korean restaurants wherever they go.
   9. Almost every dish, no matter how spicy, has a slightly sweet flavour.
   10. When entering many shops, you’ll find a set of cup holders where you can leave your drink while browsing, so you don’t accidentally spill anything.
   11. The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul (한글), consists of 24 letters: 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It can be written both horizontally and vertically.
   12. English isn’t widely spoken, and once you leave the tourist areas, most signs and menus aren’t translated. I recommend learning or writing down a few useful words beforehand, especially for ordering food in restaurants.

Budget for Two People in Seoul

1. Main flights – 700€ per person. 1,400€ for two people. 2. Local transportation

• • T-Money card: 25€ per person. 50€ for two people.
  • Round-trip airport transfer: 13€ per person (Express Train). 26€ for two people.
  • Round-trip KTX high-speed train to Busan: around ₩120,000 (90€) per person. 180€ for two people.

3. Accommodation

• • Seoul: 600€, 9 nights, two people.
  • Busan: 60€, 1 night, two people.

4. Entrance fees

• • Gyeongbokgung Palace: ₩3,000 per person (2.23€)
  • Deoksugung Palace: ₩1,000 per person (0.74€)
  • N Seoul Tower cable car: ₩11,000 (8.20€) one way

5. Other expenses

• • eSIM card: 32€ per person. 64€ for two people.
  • Food (convenience stores, restaurants, and fast food): 400€ for two people, including around 50€ spent on Korean BBQ.
  • Travel insurance: 58€ for two people.

APPROXIMATE TOTAL COST FOR 2 PEOPLE – 2,800€*

*This does not include souvenirs or other little extras you may buy along the way. It only covers the essential travel expenses. I hope this inspires you to visit! South Korea is honestly my second favourite country after Japan, and if I could, I’d go back every single year. I promise it’s absolutely worth it.