Quick Guide to Seoul
SEOUL is one of my favorite city because I love everything about this country! The people, the language, the foods, the K Pop craze, the trendy skin care/cosmetic products, culture..... just EVERYTHING!! I just can't get enough of this city even after several times of visits as I will always manage to discover new things about this city every time and personally I think Seoul is also one of the good city to travel solo (very safe) as I have been traveling solo to Seoul this time! Alright, so I am going to share my travel experiences on this exciting city and also useful tips for those who are planning to visit :)
What you need to know about traveling to South Korea (Seoul)
Weather
- South Korea is a Four seasons country
- Spring (March to May)
- Summer (June to August)
- Autumn (September to November)
I experience both Winter and Autumn and I love them both. Autumn is cooling with amazing autumn leaves scenery everywhere ; Winter can be cold and windy but you will have the chance to see snow in some areas.
Autumn
Winter
Language
- There will be staffs who speaks english/chinese in most of the cosmetic/skin care products shop or in shopping malls especially in those tourist hot spots but bear in mind that most of the taxi drives don't so make sure you note down the korean wording of the place you are going to visit by taxi to avoid misunderstanding.
Transportation
- Very easy to get around in Seoul even for first comers as the Subway Map in Seoul is easy to understand. I recommend you to purchase the Seoul T Money card as it can be used for most of the transportation in Seoul and you can even use it to purchase items from selected convenient stores (it's like EZ Link Card). It will make your travel in Seoul much more convenient for sure!
This is how my T Money looks like
Currency
- You can definitely get a higher exchange rate if you are exchanging from USD to KRW (Even if you have to exchange first from SG Dollars to USD in Singapore). As for Malaysian Ringgit, I am not so sure as due to the big fluctuation nowadays there will be no good exchange rate for Ringgit to exchange to any other currency I guess.
- I get to know one money changer at Myeongdong shopping area which offers great rates!!! even higher than the XE Currency rate (Unbelievable right?) but it's true! I don't know the exact location as I found this place by just walking around randomly and so far this is the money changer I found which offer the best rate ever.
How the money changer looks like
The money changer is just down this road*Update: ON my third visit, I found out the way to this money changer, from Myeongdong Station Exit 8, Walk all the way straight down until you see this noodles shop and turn right :)
Tax Refund
- As a tourist, you will be eligible for tax refund as long as you purchase goods above 30,000KRW in a single receipt from tax refund participating establishment (major tax refund company in Seoul are Global Blue & Global Tax Free).
- How to get tax refund ? It is very easy to get back the tax refund if you meet those requirements. You can either get immediate cash refund (but need particular credit card for deposit guaranteed) at some of the designated area in Myeongdong (the tax refund envelop which the staff give it to you will have all the information you need so don't be panic). There are also tax refund machines now at Incheon airport which make it very easy for tourist to get back their tax refund by scanning your passport and the bar code on the receipts and you will get the cash back in KRW (only). This is a good choice if you are traveling on a red eye flights as the tax refund counter is NOT open 24 hours. If you prefer to get back in other currency like USD, you will have to go to the tax refund counter instead (which most of the time it can be very crowded). Of course no matter which way you are going to take back you refund money, make sure you get the stamp from the customs before departure hall, if not your tax refund will not be valid!
- If you find tax refund procedures troublesome, you have another alternative is to directly shop at the duty free shopping malls like Shilla Duty Free Shop (Dongguk University Station, Exit 5) or go to Lotte Duty Free Shop at Seoul Station.
*Update: From my third visit, I found out that now is much more easier for tourist to get back their tax refund. Most shops now offers direct refund by deducting refund amount from your purchase item which is really good! However for those outlets which don't practice this way, you can still get stamp at the airport before entering departure halls and head to the the tax refund counter (the good thing is that now they hire a lot of staffs to just helping you to scan your passports and get refund etc) so you do not have to worry anymore if you do not know how to use the tax refund machine or whatever!
Shopping Tips
- If you have some cosmetic/skincare products to purchase, try to purchase it from a same shop as the more you purchase, the more free sample/free gifts you will get (those samples are really great to use for traveling.
- Compare items from different popular spots before buying any items (I encounter seeing same products but different prices from different spots, sometime it can be quite a big difference)
*Update: For clothes and bags definitely Ehwa University side is much more cheaper than Myeongdong or Dongdaemun so strongly recommend to shop at Ehwa first before heading to other area for shopping :)
- Download "Visit Korea" app to know more about the latest events and most importantly is to get the discounts coupons for different cosmetic/skincare brands or sight seeing tickets or even airport express ticket (there will be different coupons offers for different periods). Don't look down on all these small discounts as it can added up quite a lot to save. From my last trip this year, I saved up to 10,000KRW just by using all these available coupons for tourists so WHY NOT? Another tip for you is to get a copy of the tourist guide brochure/booklet at the the place where you will wait for your airport express because the booklet is full of instant coupons for you to use straight away! Shhhh...keep this secret to yourself okay:)
Budget Flights to SEOUL (http://www.airasia.com/my/en)
Airasia is the best (in terms of budget) option to fly from Singapore/Malaysia to South korea. There are cheap promotion fares time to time on this route. Even a lots of koreans take this flight as it is much more cheaper than any other airline which also fly on this route most of the time.
Where to STAY (Budget yet awesome)
My number one accommodation choice -------> The Boot Guesthouse (http://www.theboot.co.kr/)
Why? because the price is CHEAP but you get great location (Just one station away from Myeongdong & surrounded by many convenient stores & restaurants), great service (owner is a korean who speaks english), free Wifi, great reviews in AGODA from many travelers, great clean & cozy environment, great security, great free breakfast selections (included in the room rates), great extra services provided in house (printing, internet, laundry, travel guides books, TV) so what more to ask for! Here are some pictures I took on my latest trip to Korea this year in November.
3rd Floor toilet (pretty right lol)
Dining/Kitchen Area 
Breakfast Selections
Breakfast Drinks Selections
Overview of Kitchen/Dining Area
They provides free korea cup noodles as well!
you can drop your used towers here
Main Living Room Area with lots of travel guides/books
Staircase up to 3rd floor
you can print documents here or use the computer for wifi
Cozy Area 
Lockers in the dorm room
My cozy bed for the entire stay in Seoul
You will be amazed by the quality that a korea guesthouse can offer with budget price. They are serious in providing quality environment for their guests and I strongly recommend this place especially for SOLO travelers out there! You can also meet new friends and people all around the world. If you are traveling as a family, they do have also one traditional korea room as well but you need to book earlier in advance! I have confident you will love this place like I do:)
*Update: Unfortunately, due to high competition in Seoul nowadays, the hotel owner decided to close down this guesthouse :( but still this is my favorite guesthouse so far across so many countries.
What To EAT
No doubt, there are lots of good foods in Korea (Seoul)! Kimchi, Ginseng Chicken, Korea BBQ are those common popular foods which most of the people know about. However, there are still more of it. What I love most of Korean Cuisine is that there are always healthy elements in their foods but yet still very delicious. On the other hand, korean desserts also is incredible delicious, colorful and trendy. Here are some of the foods that I do like it lots and I think that you should also try once in your lifetime if you happens to visit Korea - Seoul :)
Egg Bun @ Myeongdong (extremely good on a cold winter)
Colorful Cotton Candy@ Myeongdong
(*can simply found from anywhere in Seoul)
Watermelon Milk, Sandwiches & Hanjuku Egg
(from convenient store)
Tom Yam Vietnamese Pho
(*not a korean food but found extremely delicious @ Doota Shopping Mall)
Beef Bimbibap @ Ehwa University area
All sorts of yummy pudding (from Lotte Mart)
Korea Juk/Porridge
(*can be found in many places @ Myeongdong)
Korea Bingsu/Shaved ice Dessert
(* can be found in many places)
Where To Go
I am going to recommend some unique places for those who are more interested to see another side of Seoul other than the common tourist route. I pick the few best attractions which I personally love it a lot and some are those where the local themselves love to visit too so if you want to travel like a local just visit these places below!
- Common Ground Shopping Mall @ konkuk University, Exit 6
Is a new popular area for youngsters or those who loves trendy & fashion stuff, the entire mall is uniquely build by blue cargo containers. Just a few minutes walk from the subway station. There are lots of local talented designers shops and also some nice cafes out there if you plan to have a trendy place to have your lunch, this place will be a good choice, great for pictures taking as well!
2. The Garden of Morning Calm
The taxi stop in front of the shuttle bus stop @ Cheongpyeong Station
3. Petite France
I absolutely love the garden of morning calm, it is extremely calming, stunning, rejuvenating & revitalizing! A lot of great nature scenes. One of the must go if you are a nature lover! It is one of the garden located at Gapyeong Area and you can experience different views from different seasons.
Gapyeong is a big area which covers different popular attractions like Petite France (where the popular drama "you who come from the stars" are filmed) and also the famous Nami Island. I recommend you to take the Gapyeong Tourist shuttle bus (cost about 3,000KRW per person) to travel around this area as there will be several spots which you wish to go in this area and you can go around by the tourists shuttle bus very easily by hopping on and dropping off at the designated shuttle bus stop plus it is the cheapest way to travel several spots within these area as well! There will be shuttle bus timetable brochure available at the Gapyeong Station so just take one with you and you are off to go!
Visit this website ( http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_4_10_19.jsp) to find out more of the details. Plan your shuttle bus route ahead will be a smarter choice! Each location will need to spend about at least 2 - 3 hours so one day is recommend to tour around Gapyeong area.
Another nature lover paradise! A lot of locals love to come here during weekend just to have a stroll or spend time with their loves ones or family. It is another spots which I love to visit for rejuvenating experiences. There are actually several different parks located near to the world cup stadium station but Hanuel park is the one which you need some efforts to enjoy the view of the park as you will need to climb up to a small mountain from the build in staircase. However, the beautiful scenery definitely worth the efforts! My favorite spots within the hanuel park is the large field of holly grass! Many great scenery for photo taking:)
5. SM Town @ Samseung Station, Exit 5 & 6
For K Pop fans, this is the place to go! SM Town is a building with all K Pop entertainment in one. There are Cafes, shops, hologram concert & more. Just beside the SM Town, there is a new shopping mall named COEX Mall which is also a good place to hang around.
Other common area which I personally loves to visit and also recommend includes Myeongdong, DongDaemun, Ehwa University, Gangnam District & Ihwa Culture Village. If you have more days, you might consider visiting Insadong, Hongdae area.
Lastly, I will share some of my pics which I took in this beautiful city this year November :) Hope you like my sharing !
- The End -
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Have a great day guys :)
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