r/koreatravel

just got back from a 2 week trip to seoul and wanted to share my honest breakdown for anyone building their itinerary.

5 things worth the hype:

1. doing a night picnic at banpo hangang park with ramen and convenience store drinks. the fountain show and city lights were unbeatable.

2. Getting a skin analysis and hydrafacial in gangnam. booked a nearby clinic with english support through unni and the facial left my skin glowing for the rest of the trip.

3.morning walks around ikseon-dong before the crowds show up. super aesthetic hanok alleys.

4. taking the arex express straight from incheon to Seoul station. saves so much energy.

5. Trying a private spa inside a traditional hanok building. getting a scrub and head spa in that setting was pure healing.

 

3 Overrated things:

-myeongdong street food stalls. honestly overpriced and pretty generic compared to local markets.

- waiting 2 hours for cafe Onion in anguk. good pastries but plenty of identical hanok cafes with zero line.

- visiting Namsan tower on a cloudy day. you literally see nothing

I have a native Korean friend who always tells me that if we walk into a small store and the owner/employee isn’t busy but doesn’t greet us back, it’s better to leave soon because she considers it rude. She says that, especially in a small shop where the customer and employee are right there, it’s normal to acknowledge each other. We say hello anytime we go into any store and rarely gets ignored other than a few times I’ve seen.

One time I was a bit red/swollen after skincare treatments, and I didn’t think anyone would really care especially because I was in Gangnam. I went into a really small convenience-type store. The owner/cashier said hello back to a few who walked in except me, and he gave me a really strange look when I entered. While I shopped he said hi to a few people coming in too. When I checked out, he was also acting noticeably differently toward me.

Hey everyone! I’m an Indian visiting Seoul, South Korea for the first time for a business trip. I’ll be working during the weekdays, so unfortunately I’ll have only weekends + evenings to explore.

I’d love some advice from people who live in Seoul or have travelled there recently, especially other Indians who have figured out the practical stuff.

Money / financial tips

How much Korean Won (KRW) should I carry in cash vs using cards?
Is it better to exchange INR → KRW in India, exchange in Seoul, or use an international/forex card?
Any tips to avoid bad exchange rates or unnecessary card/ATM fees?
Roughly how much should I budget per day for food + local transport + sightseeing if I’m trying to keep things reasonable?

Cheap & must-try Korean food

I’m looking for local food rather than expensive tourist restaurants.
What are some cheap/local dishes I absolutely shouldn’t leave Korea without trying? Also, recommendations for specific food markets, neighbourhoods, stalls or restaurants would be great.
Bonus points for:
Korean BBQ that isn’t ridiculously expensive
Street food
Korean fried chicken
Noodles
Breakfast options
Good convenience-store food
Vegetarian-friendly options

Also, how difficult is it to find food without pork/beef if needed?

Places to visit

Since this is a business trip, I won’t have much free time during weekdays. What would you recommend for 2 weekends in Seoul?
I’m interested in a mix of:
Classic Seoul/Korean cultural experiences
Beautiful viewpoints
Markets
Nightlife
Shopping
Interesting neighbourhoods
Anything that is genuinely worth visiting rather than just an Instagram spot
If you had only 2–3 days of free time in Seoul, what would be your absolute must-dos?

Things worth buying in Korea

What should I buy in Korea that is significantly cheaper/better/more easily available there than in India?
I’m particularly interested in:
Electronics/gadgets
Korean skincare
Clothing/sneakers
Watches
Korean brands
Souvenirs
Anything unique to Korea

I don’t want to waste money buying something in Korea only to discover it’s cheaper in India 😂

Gifts

I also want to bring back gifts for my parents, friends and family.
What are some genuinely good Korean gifts that aren’t just generic tourist souvenirs?
And specifically for my friends: are cigarettes worth buying in Korea compared with India? If yes, which Korean/local brands or varieties are interesting, and are there any customs/duty limits I should know about when bringing them back to India?

Other first-timer advice

Anything else an Indian travelling to Seoul for the first time should know?

Especially:
SIM/eSIM
T-money / public transport
Google Maps vs Naver/Kakao Maps
Translation apps
Useful Korean phrases
Weather/clothing
Common tourist scams or things to avoid
Cultural etiquette

Basically, if you could go back to your first trip to Seoul, what would you wish someone had told you beforehand?

Thanks in advance! 🙏🇮🇳🇰🇷

Which places not too far from Seoul would you recommend exploring? I'm already familiar with the main areas in Seoul, Incheon, and Suwon. I don't plan to travel too far from Seoul this time. I'm not interested in doing trendy stuff or shopping, I just want to explore. I have about a week and will be using public transport. Thank you!

Hi guys!

My husband and I booked a trip for Dec 22-31. This will be my first time going back to korea in 20 years since moving away as a child, and my husband has never been to Korea.

I have family in Seoul and they want to help us and be our guide for our trip, but asked us what we would like to do while visiting (or to give them at least an idea of what we would like to do and they would help us navigate and plan)

What is Christmas like in Korea? Any recommendations or advice? I would love to know some must visit places for first timers and what a realistic itinerary would look like during the holidays.

I wasn’t sure if most places are closed during holidays like some countries.

For both of us, only thing we know for sure is to do a photo studio session in traditional hanbok (and maybe get a small skin treatment if time allows)

I haven’t really kept in touch with my korean side past 20 years so this is very exciting and somewhat overwhelming to think of what I want to do! and also excited to show my husband the country i grew up in!

Thanks for your help! :)

Seeing some posts saying you need a korean 010 number to reserve restaurants in seoul, I want to share some of my understanding.

Restaurants:

CatchTable global works with just an email and foreign credit cards for most tourist-heavy spots. If there’s a tablet queue at the door, look for the global QR option. Tabling (mostly local bbq spots) still requires 010 number verification, but for standard tourist itineraries you honestly don't need a local number.

Food Delivery (where you actually hit a wall):

If you're staying more than a couple of weeks in an airbnb and want to use baemin or yogiyo at night, that’s where data-only esims fail. These apps require an incoming 010 number to receive an sms verification code just to finish account creation. No number = locked out of the delivery apps.

If you actually care about ordering delivery, get a carrier prepaid esims (the official lg u+ one has an incoming 010 option that receives sms fine). Just note that it won't pass strict identity verification for korean banking apps (still need an ARC for that), but it handles app signups and kiosk sms with no issues.

TL;DR: 1-week hotel trip eating out? Cheap data-only is fine. Staying a month+ and want late-night baemin delivered to your door? Grab an esmin with an incoming 010 line.

Hello!

I will be going to Korea in December and I am trying to finalize my itinerary. It is not our first trip! It will be just me (F) and my husband. We are foodies!
I have a 1 night/2 day gap between staying in Busan and going up to Seoul.

I am trying to decide between 대전 (Daejeon) and 원주 (Wonju), but open to suggestions!! We have been to Daejeon before. We want to go to a new city with good food & is on the way to Seoul.

We will be traveling by train/bus, so we would prefer if the city is accessible by public transportation.

Thank you!!

*Edit- thank you for all the suggestions!! We are already planning on going to 여수!
Jeonju > Yeosu > Busan > ?? > Seoul
Just trying to figure out the best city to stop in between without it being too much of a detour, as we wont have a car.

Hey all,

I have seen Cinderella hair treatment listed as organic keratin treatment for damaged hair in all korean salons. Has anyone ever tried it? Is it worth doing it? I know it's temporary for like a month or 2.

I have gotten it twice before where I live but it is all chemical based and has always increased my hairfall. So I was just wondering if korean one is really organic and free of chemicals or not.

Please share your personal experiences.

Thank you.

Asian Americans going to be in Seoul for Halloween this year. Not intentionally for Halloween but because husband’s milestone birthday is around then. Heard Seoul Halloween can get pretty crazy so looking for recommendations where to go that’s not over crowded but still a good vibe or experience. Can be general recommendations or preferably gay or LGBTQ+ friendly recommendations. Thanks!

Hey guys!
I want to book train tickets for a day trip from Busan in Geyngou.

how much time should we be there?

i want to book from maybe 09:00 am to around 18:00-20:00.
should you book in advance?

I'm afraid that We would like to leave earlier than that. can I change the ticket before? should I wait with ordering ticket to the day?

what do you think?

also is Korail+ app legit?

thank you!!

would also like any recommendations for Geyngou

I kept seeing wildly different numbers thrown around for the "treat yourself" stuff people do around concerts/trips in Seoul, so I went through actual booking pages this month and noted the real ranges. Prices in USD, all bookable as a foreigner without a Korean phone number:

| Thing | Range (USD) |

|---|---|

| Idol-style hair salon session | 18–106 |

| Nails | 9–113 |

| Hanbok rental | 7–77 (palace entry is FREE while wearing one) |

| Craft workshop (mother-of-pearl, hanji) | 11–49, take it home same day |

| Studio portrait | 21–39 |

| Sesin body scrub (the real Korean bathhouse kind) | 50–62 |

| Massage | 35–114 |

| Head spa | 28–177 |

| Personal color analysis | ~102 |

A few things that surprised me:

- The hanbok + free palace entry combo is genuinely the best deal in Seoul. A 7 USD rental gets you into Gyeongbokgung for free.

- Sesin has almost no cheap/expensive spread — it costs what it costs (50–62) because it's a fixed service, not a luxury ladder.

- Head spa has the widest spread (28–177). The 28 one and the 177 one are very different experiences — check what's included.

- Heads up on palace days: Gyeongbokgung closes Tuesdays, Changdeokgung closes Mondays.

Ranges are wide because shops differ — these are floor-to-ceiling from real listings, not averages. Happy to be corrected if anyone's paid outside these ranges recently, genuinely curious.

Hey everyone,

so I will be in Seoul in October from 3rd to 7th.
I already created a small itinerary and would love some feedback or advice. Maybe even stuff you say I definitely have to add and food recommendations

03.10: Arrival at 1pm, and check in hotel. Still have the whole day, for dinner I set Nekkid Wings. Otherwise nothing planned

04.10: Changdeokgung in the morning - DDP Dongdaemun Desing Plaza afterwards - lunch I want to try Black Bean Noodles - Sunset at Inwangsan

05.10: Gyeongbokgung - Bukchon Hanok Village - Gwangjang Market

06.10 Baegak Trail (Start from Changuimun Gate and stop at Hyehwamun - T1 Cafe & Arena - Starfield Library

07.10. Nothing planned yet, my flight will be at 4pm, so maybe just walking around a bit before going to the airport.

I also read somewhere that maybe during this time the International Firework Festival could be, so I will keep watch for that to add it to my plan.

Do you have any advice, corrections and tips?

I am thankful for any help!

I am European and I would say we take our brunch pretty seriously. As much as I love living in Korea, finding a good brunch spot with actual brunch food here isn't that easy. I am not trying to be the brunch police or anything, but I was honestly really surprised the first time I found out burgers and pasta are considered typical brunch food here...

That's why I wanted to share a few spots I have actually liked, in case you are also craving a proper brunch while traveling or living here. Tried to spread these across different areas so there is something for everyone.

MitBord (밋보어) in Seongsu
서울 성동구 성수일로 1 1층 6~8호
Mon–Sun 11:00–18:00

Danish brunch café. Almost didn't include this one because it's my favorite and I don't want it packed every time I go, but here we are. My go-to order is the Danish bread platter, rye bread (hard to find in Korea, sourdough is also an option), half-cooked egg, salted butter, and actual real cheese, not the plastic sandwich stuff they try to sell as cheese. The Basil Green Lasagna is also amazing! And if you are not into savory, they rotate seasonal tarts and cakes. Of course, they also have a full coffee and non-coffee drink menu.

High ceilings, very European interior, staff is super friendly and speaks basic English, menu is in English too. This place gets full on weekends with a mix of foreigners and locals. Prices are fair for a European-style spot: bread platter is ₩14,000, Americano ₩5,500.

Danish Bread Platter and Seasonal Signature Menu

Grain Seoul (그레인서울) in Yeonhui (near Hongdae)
서울 서대문구 연희로11가길 53 2층
Mon–Fri 9:00–17:30

Build-your-own-brunch format, you get a checklist of items and pick whatever you want. The price scales with how many items you choose (6 items ≈ ₩18,000, 4 items ≈ ₩12,000). My usual is sourdough, smoked salmon, tomato mozzarella salad, plus something sweet like fruit yogurt, banana bread, or a croissant. You can also build your own breakfast bowl, or go with one of their fixed menus (open sandwiches, pancakes, etc).

Grain Seoul definitely feels more foreigner-frequented than local, which isn't bad, just an observation. Weekends get busy enough that you will likely be on a waitlist and have to wait for a table. The surrounding neighborhood Yeonhui-dong has a lot of small boutiques and is way calmer than Hongdae or Yeonnam, so it's nice for a walk while waiting for your turn.

https://preview.redd.it/q1f6ohlvfhkh1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=bbe58a09cee035e141b2e978d3c73c21efcf34af

Rika by Paprika (리카바이파프리카) in Hannam/Itaewon
서울 용산구 한남대로27길 66 2층
Tue–Fri 9:00–18:00 / Sat–Sun 9:00–19:00 (last order 17:30/18:30)

Not to be dramatic but this was the best sandwich I have had in my life. In Korea of all places. I ordered the Jambon Honey Mascarpone open sandwhich and still think about it weeks later. They bake their own bread in-house and itheir ingredients all seem very high quality. That does reflect in the price (₩17,000–19,000 for open sandwiches) but it's still worth it. Brunch here is easy to pair with shopping around Hannam!

Jambon Honey Mascarpone Sandwhich and Paprika Everything Sandwhich

Stringbean (스트링빈) in Songpa/Jamsil
서울 송파구 백제고분로46길 3-7 1층 101호
Daily 10:00–18:00 (last order 17:30)

More Korean-style brunch and mostly a local crowd. They have soups, omelettes, pasta, open and closed sandwiches, full drink menu. Their Burrata Tomato open sandwich is excellent! (if you were wondering about what a good sandwhich for me is: it's the bread. If the bread is not sweet and has a crispy outer layer and is soft inside, it's a win). This place is also a bit pricey (₩13,000–19,000), but it's right by Lotte World, Lotte World Tower, and Seokchon Lake, so it's easy to combine with a visit there.

Chicken Cream Pasta and Burrata Tomato Sandwich

Since I live here, I plan on posting more of my favorite restaurants and cafés from time to time, so stay tuned if this was useful!

Hi all!

Heading to Korea for the first time in 2 weeks and am so excited!

We are going to be going to Sokcho from Seoul for 3 days to explore seoraksan, and I am not sure whether its best to pre-book bus tickets (or if I even can?) or if its best to just buy day of at the bus station? We are going to be traveling there on Sept 16 and returning the 19th.

Do we think this route is popular and will we have any issues getting tickets day of? Just don't want to be left stranded and unable to get there!

Any insight would be so helpful!

hey everyone! im in korea from 30th september to 13th october this year and and Im so excited!!

I would love to go to Jeju for a couple of days to make a bicycle tour around the island (because i cannot rent a car and i really like biking :))

ill arrive and depart from seoul incheon airport and since i havent booked anything else yet im quite flexible.

my problem is, i dont know when its "safe" to book a flight to jeju because im scared that ill arrive during a time where its really rainy/bad weather in general or when it is really packed. i also dont know how fast the prices for hostels, flights and ferries spike/sell out.

when did you decide on the dates of traveling to jeju? was it spontaneous, or weeks/months in advance? is there any rule of thumb?

thank you