*This is an ongoing project, and am still filling in the gap as I am traveling around Korea. So it will be filled after I experience myself and let you know the truth about the food, activities and hotels. Please comeback everyday, or put it on your bookmark to get the updates!

OUTLINE

• Why Should You Go to Seoul, Korea?
• Best Area to Stay in Korea & Which Hotels Are the Best?
• When Should I Go to Korea?
• How Long Should I Stay in Korea
• Arriving and Leaving – Buying SIM Card, Currency, Transportation to Seoul, VISA
• Top Dishes & Restaurants to Eat in Korea
• Top Things to Do in Korea
• Transportation
• Where to Go after Seoul, Korea
• Do We Give Tips in Korea?
• Is It Safe in Korea?
• What Are the Etiquette in Korea?

Why Should You Go to Seoul, Korea?

Is it Worth Going to Seoul, Korea?

It really depends on what you want to achieve in Seoul, Korea. I think the biggest attraction is the food and K-pop related activities. It truly is a foodie country and this is one of the reason I am staying in Korea for a month.

If You Are Traveling to Eat Good Food, Seoul, Korea Should Be on Your Travel List for Sure

Second, drinking culture is literally on fleek. You will find a bar everywhere in Seoul that opens till 10 AM. I mean everywhere.

 

Hong Dae is probably the number one town for the party all night with a lot of college students and Itaewon is the second best. I will write more about these two towns later.

Beauty, Fashion Products and Plastic Surgery Are Huge in Korea & There Are People Coming All Over the World for Plastic Surgery Expedition (?)

Third, fashion and beauty are another attraction. Fashion and beauty have become so important and the trend is brutally fast. You will see 1000’s of plastic surgery hospitals and beauty products shop everywhere.

Other Asian country travelers will come to Korea and buy thousands of face mask and go through some “dental work” that will change your whole face to Angelina Jolie. If you want to know about the best hospitals for a little “nip and tuck” we will let you know. You can ask below comment. 

 

 

What Is Not to Go to Seoul, Korea for?

 Korea has amazing nature, but compared to China and Japan, it is still not strong. So, don’t come expecting to see a breathe taking nature and historical attractions.A lot of my friends were slightly disappointed when they visited Korea to see the historical attractions (especially after coming from China). 

 

The attractions are not grandiose but rather cute and quant. It is still beautiful and worth a visit if it is your first time visiting Asia. 

Don’t Come to Korea for a stunning nature or grandiose historical attraction & PLEASE Don’t Tell Me Why the Korean Guys Don’t Look Like K-pop Idols

PLEASE don’t come to Korea dreaming of meeting a K-pop idol looking people. They are the fantasy. Normal people just don’t look like that. I saw few of the youtube videos saying how disappointing Korean men looked. And YES! We are just a normal looking people. And the K-pop stars are all kind of manufactured, if you know what I mean. 

 

Is It for You Visiting Seoul, Korea?

I think it is for the people who love to eat and party. There are endless places to eat and sleepless nights to party. Also, it is a great place to come if you want to learn about beauty and fashion trends.

 

Best Area to Stay in Seoul, Korea (Which Town Is Foreigner Friendly)?

Related: Top 5 hotels in Seoul, Korea you have to check it out

There are four major towns for travelers to stay:

• Itaewon
• Hong Dae
• Shinsa Dong
• Myungdong

Because this is the overall post of everything you need to know about Seoul, Korea, I will write more about best area to stay in Korea and best hotels on a separate post. 

Related Post: Which Area in Seoul Is Best for My Personality and Which Hotel Should I Stay?

Itaewon

Itaewon is the most foreign friendly and tourist friendly town. The town was built around the U.S. military, so the town is more opening and welcoming. Also, they have few of the famous and popular hotels from Grand Hyatt, Shila Hotel and Banyan Tree hotel.

Who Is It For?

General travelers, party goers and travelers looking for a good location. Before you start reading, I wrote a long post about the top 5 star hotels in another post, and if you want to know more in detail, please click here for future reference. 

 

Hong Dae

Hong Dae is a town of drinking and partying. It is catered for the famous Hong Ik University students and young people in general. A lot of South East Asians and East Asians come here to party because on the weekends the road is so packed you can’t even move. If you are coming here to party, this is the town for you.

Who Is It For?

Party Goers and Budget Travelers.

 

Gangnam (Shinsa-Dong)

This is the town of beauty, fashion, plastic surgery and K-pop. If you are coming to Korea for those reason, you have to stay around here. 

Who Is It For?

Medical Purpose (Plastic Surgery), Shopaholics, Luxury Lifestyle people and hipsters

Myungdong and near by towns

This is where the famous Myungdong is at. Myungdong is a street full of shops and restaurants. It is also closed for just pedestrians so it’s a good place to walk around. Also, it is close to all the tourist attraction from Gyung bok goong to chung Gae river. 

Who Is It For?

Tourists looking to Sight See – I recommend this area for the first time visitors. 

 

 

 

How long Should I Stay in Korea?

Korea is a wonderful country with so many different colors. It is also the second biggest city after Mexico City. If you try to see all parts of neighborhood in Korea, it can even take more than a month. 

For travelers, I think 4 full days is enough for me. The first day will be getting your bearings. The second day will be touring and learning about Korean culture. The third day will be eating and eating and eating.

 

 

 

Best Time to Visit Korea?

The best time to go to Korea is between the shoulder season of March and September and the high peak of April, May, early-June and October and November. You can also read more about the weather situation here to get a better idea.

 

 

 

Arriving and Leaving (How To)

SIM card Korea

Buying a SIM card is not easy as it seems like other south east Asian Country. So the easiest way is to buy it at the airport arrival. Go for KT Olleh Telecom. They offer from buying a SIM card (only telecom that offers currently) to renting a phone to wifi router. You can also find the details and comparison of each telecom and where to buy it here.

Currency in Korea and Changing Money

Again, using a ATM can be painful with no English options sometimes. I am currently using CITI Bank and it has been rejected so many times. I will make a thorough video of how I did it soon. If you need it now, please let us know below comment!

 

How to Incheon International Airport to Seoul

* Incheon International Airport is the main airport near Seoul and the closest to Seoul. There is Gimpo airport which is closer than Incheon Airport. But it is mostly for domestic. 

There are few options to get to the Seoul City Center from Incheon Airport. The easiest and fastest way is to get a taxi. There are few different types of taxi, and read it here to choose the right one for you. You can also, take an express bus or a train to the city. It will depend on which neighborhood you are going. Both bus and train are pretty straight forward, but for your convenience we took some photos and directions of the airport bus and train, so you can check it out here. 

Visa

America gives you 90 days with no visa application. But for other countries, you can check it out on Korean government official site. 

 

 

 

Top South Korean Cuisines and Restaurants in Seoul (Where to Eat) You Have to Go

These are the best restaurants in Seoul and the Korean Cuisines you have to try in Korea. I am still in Korea filling in the gaps, and hopefully I will be able to eat all of it and let you know the places you have to and the food type you have to eat. This is a summarized version, but you can also check out my intense list of blog post about the top 60 Korean food dishes you have to try here. 

If you think the restaurants I recommended were too far to go, I can give you other restaurants in your area where to eat in Seoul. I am an expert in Seoul restaurants, so just trust me!

Samgyeopsal (삼겹살)

Samgyeopsal literally means three layered pork belly. It is one of the most popular dish in Korea. Koreans usually barbeque, and it tastes like non-salted bacon. You wrap the pork belly with cabbage and put some side dishes and condiment. The most common condiment is  “Ssamjang.” You probably heard it from David Chang’s famous Ssam. 

Where to Eat in Seoul: Nari’s Place

Samgyetang (삼계탕)

Samgyetang is a Korean version of chicken soup. With more than 300 years old history, Samgyetang has been Korean’s favorite soup during summer. Tosockchon is one of the best place to eat in Seoul and close to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Restaurant in Seoul: Tosockchon

Chicken Galbi (닭갈비)

Chicken Galbi A.K.A dakgalbi is a stir fried chicken. It is mostly BBQ’ed in front of you. It is popular among teens and college kids because of the reasonable price. Also, it is one of my favorite Korean cuisine, and I almost go and visit this one specific restaurant in Seoul. 

Restaurant in Seoul: Dak-E-Ro-Ga

Galbi BBQ (갈비)

Galbi is a rib that has one big bone and a long fillet. It can be either beef or pork, but my favorite is the non-marinated galbi. Here are some of the best restaurants in Korea you can have.

The best galbi restaurants, click here

Chicken and Beer (치맥)

We all know Korea has been on people’s map not because of Psy’s Gangnam Style, but for their amazing Korean fried chicken. It became a sensation after Bonchon introduced soy garlic fried chicken. But before Bonchon, there was Kyochon chicken. The rumor is that Kyochon chicken didn’t want to open a franchise in America. Then Bonchon copied the recipe and the rest is history. So, while visiting Korea, we decided to order some fried chicken. We tried 10 different restaurants with their unique special fried chicken and here is the list and why we love these restaurants. 

Army Stew A.K.K Budae jjigae (부대찌게)

Budae Jjigae aka Army Stew is a spicy stew made from Sausage, spam and bacon. They often put ramen in it, and probably the best part. It is originated during Korean war. Koreans would get the leftover spam, bacon and sausage and put some Korean ingridients and make it into stew. 

It sounds kind of weird, but when you try it, it is absolutely gorgeous. Only if you are into spam or those canned sausages. People who like it is called Choding taste (Kinder garden taste). 

The best restaurant + More Details here

Pig Feet (족발): Jokbal

Jokbal is basically pig’s feet. It may sound gross to a lot of people but it is the perfect side dish when you drink soju. So don’t be surprised if you see a lot of jokbal restaurants in Seoul. It is one of the most down to earth beloved Korean cuisine in Korea. 

Where to Eat: Delivery to Home (Check out my other blog about Jokbal in detail)

BoSsam (보쌈)

BoSsam is a boiled pork belly. It is a differently style of samgyupsal and a lot healthier. People who like their chicken white meat would love this. It is still juicier than eating white meat. This is my best friend, Sean’s favoirte Korean Cuisine. 

Where to Eat Bossam:  Manjok Ohyang Jokbal

Gopchang BBQ (곱창)

Gopchang is a shocking dish for foreigners. It is very fatty and chewwy. Why is it shocking? Cause it is made from a part of many different intestines: either can be cow of pig. Gopchang BBQ is grilled and Gopchang joengol (hot pot) is made as a stew. The difference is the restaurants will probably use A grade intestine and take a lot of care to do BBQ unless it will smell. Gopchang jeongol (hot pot) is cooked with a lot of sauce and vegetable where you can have fried rice at the end. I wrote a long post about Gopchang BBQ and jeongol here. 

Where to Eat Korean Cuisine, Gopchange: Witch Gopchang in Itaewon

Naengmyeon: Korean Cold Noodle (냉면)

I love Naengmyeon. It is a Korean cold noodle with either cold soup or spicy paste. We usually eat it after BBQ, because you tend to just eat meat while you have BBQ. So we try to balance it out with some carbs. Usually it is a very thin noodle so super easy to slurp. 

Where to Eat Korean Cold Noodle (Naengmyeon): WooRaeok

Andong Jjimdak (찜닭)

Jjimdak is basically a whole chicken marinated in a special soy sauce. It originated a town called andong and became so popular, now it is all over Korea. Well, it was really popular and now it became a stable dish in Korea. You can find it in almost every town, and there two popular chains. One is called Bongchu Jjimdak, and the other is of course Andong Jjimdak. Andong jjimdak, Myondong probably is the most popular one and click the link below for the location. But if you are too far to go and want to find something in your town, just leave a comment below. 

Addy: 2-22 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea 

Bibimbap (비빔밥)

Bibimbap means mixing with rice. You can mix with anything from meat, vegetable and seafood. The most popular one is to mix with variety of vegetable and ground beef. Personally my favorite is to use the steak tartare. I have wrote the best restaurant you can have (It is not in Seoul, but in Jeonju where it was originated)

Where to Eat Bibimbap: Jeonju Hangook Jib

Galbitang (갈비탕)

Galbitang is a short rib soup. When I bring my American friends to a Korean restaurant, this is one of the popular dish they order. It is very earthy and comforting. You can either mix it with rice so you can be a bit more filling or just eat with out rice. I like it when they put glass noodle. You can find this soup in almost any Korean restaurant, but Hanilkwan is my favorite restaurant. It has been around the block for more than 70 years, and they cherish fresh ingredients. It is slightly pricier than other restaurants, but you should try this restaurant. It is not like you will coming back to Korea so often right?! It is now a chain, and you can probably find one near tourist attractions. But if you can’t please let me know below comment!

Addy: 14 Apgujeong-ro 38-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Nakji (낙지)

Nakji is a small long-armed octopus. It is a delicacy and will be a culture shock to foreigners. You can basically eat it raw, but also can eat it stir fried. My favorite is to eat is stir fried. I fell in love with nakji when I was 11. I still remember going to this restaurant called Chunghaejin near home and since then I am still going to the same restaurant. Chunghaejin has gone through many location changes and closing down and reopening. The rumor is that they recently had to close down cause of some investment gone wrong, but they reopened it in a new location. If you are going to try this exotic Korean cuisine, do it right and go to Chunghaejin. 

Addy: 187 Gangdong-daero Gangdong-gu, Seoul

Soondoobu (Soft Tofu Stew, 순두부 찌게)

Soondoobu is already pretty popular in cities like L.A and New York. It is a soup filled with soft tofu, and you can level your spiciness. In Korea, it was more like a quick and easy dish. It was never considered as the main entree. However, in 1996, a Korean immigrant opened a restaurant called BCD in L.A., focusing on one dish, soft tofu stew. It slowly got recognized among Koreans and Chinese and started sell like hot cakes in America. Now it is a global chain even opening few in Korea. I went to one in Shinsadong, and it was not a disappointment. 

Addy: 590-17 Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Koreal

Soup with Rice 국밥: Gook Bap 

If you translate Gookbap, it is soup with rice. There are so many different types of gookbap, but the best is the pork gookbap. It is really popular in Busan, Korea and naturally there are a lot of good ones in Busan. I wrote about it in detail and you can check it out by clicking the link below. But if you are looking for one in Seoul, leave us a comment, and will let you know. 

Where to Eat the Best Gookbap in Busan: Busan Gookbap

 

Things to Do in Seoul, Korea

These are few of the things that travelers should do in Korea. This is just a list, and I will slowly fill it up as I do those activities. 

What to Do in Seoul (The Activities You Cannot Miss)

GyeongBokGung Palace

Gyeongbokgung palace is a must go if you are visiting Korea. It is a palace that was built in 1300. It is amazing how it has been preserved even after so many wars Korea had to go through. You can spend a day around there. Go to Gyungbokgoong palace and then stop by at bukchon hanok village. You can eaither have lunch at Dining in Space or if you are on a budget, you can try tosockchon (it is where you will have the best chicken).

Dining in Space (One Star Michelin Restaurant)

Dining in Space is a Michelin star restaurant. The reason I put it on the list is because of the view. Having lunch and dinner with a view of the palace is something you cannot do easily in Korea. So if you get a chance and decide to splurge a little, please go and try out Dining in Space. It costed around 70 dollars for us. Also watch the video below on our experience. 

Bukchon Hanok Village

Bukchon Hanok Village is the old village that has been preserved. If you are curious what Korea was like 100 years ago, you can go experience the old Korea. There are still people living there, so the people who work there will make sure you are quiet and not interrupt the residents. It is also really close to Gyungbokgoong place or Dining in Space. You can easily walk there after lunch. 

 

DDP

DDP was one of the place that I loved to go. It is where you will find literally 1000s of fashion clothing shops. My mom used to own a clothing shop in a town called Jamshil, and we used to go to DDP around 11PM start shopping for her store. It was so much fun because you can have all kinds of snack and if we are lucky we will also get to buy few clothe as well. It goes on till morning with thousands of shoppers and clothing shop owners from other cities and countries buying clothes. This is a great place to spend your night

Drinking Chicken and Beer Near the Han River

So during summer, the heat is kind of unbearable in Seoul. And also we all know that it is a bit cooler near the river. So a lot of people go to Han River and order chicken and beer and spend their weekend. Yes, you can order your chicken and beer near Han River. You give them a direction and they will find you and run to you to deliver the chicken and beer. You can watch this youtube video how they do it. It is quite amazing.

Lotte World

Lotte World is an amusement park like Disney Land. OK… Not like Disney Land. But the interesting thing about Lotte World is that part of the amusement park is indoors, so even if it rains, you can go and enjoy. Even a huge rollercoaster is inside. If you are an amusement park type of guy, this could be really interesting. 

HongDae & Itaewon Clubs

If you are looking for a great nightlife, Hongdae and Itaewon are the best place to go. Hongdae is a bit younger crowd from teens to late 20s. Itaewon is I think around my age from the 20s to mid 40s. Both town are great to party and it totally depends on what you are looking for. If you need to know more about or have specific things you want to do at night, please let us know below comment. 

The Walking Streets You HAVE to Visit

These are all the walking street that I spend most of my time in Korea. Myungdong and Insadong are very tourist focused street where you will see a lot of souvenirs. All the other streets are recently developed into cute cafes and restaurants. Please let us know below if you want to know more details about the street. I am just putting it out there till I can go and take pictures and videos.  

• Myungdong
• Insadong
• Ik-Seon Dong
• Shinsa Dong (Garosu Gil)
• Rodeo + Dosan Gil
• Yeonnam Dong
• Woosan Gil
• Gyungridan Gil

Some of our reader asked about similar questions, so I am adding few of the tips when arriving in Seoul Korea. 

 

Beautiful Places in Korea other than SEOUL (Where Should We Go After Seoul?)

We are planning on going to few of the cities around Seoul. It will all be by KTX speedy train. We will fill out how to get there, why to go and what to eat after we come back. But first, here is the list (Click on the Hyperlinks’ Cities, and you can get more details)

Jeonjoo

Jeonju is most famous for their Bibimbap and their traditional village. You can read more about it here, and check out what you can do in Jeonju. 

Busan

Busan is the second biggest city in Korea. It became even more popular after an epic chase scene in Black Panther. It is well known for their beach resort where it gets so packed during peak season you can’t even move. If you want to know what you can do in Busan, click here. 

 

Suncheon

Suncheon was one of my favorite town in Korea. I think it is underrated for what they offer. From the beautiful park to tv show sets, there are plenty of fun things you can do in Suncheon. 

Tongyeong

Tongyeong has a special place in my heart. It is where my mom grew up and where my grandfather owned a hospital here. We used to go pretty often, but since he passed away, we haven’t been down to Tongyeong. 

I went to Tongyeong recently and I was amazed how beautiful it was and I forgot that Korea also offers some incredible nature. You can read more about Tongyeong here. 

 

Do We Have to Give Tips in Seoul, Korea?

Korea doesn’t have a tip culture, and nobody really expects you to pay tips. Some hotels and high end restaurants might include service charge on your bill, but that is about it. But when you go to a BBQ restaurant, and give your server 10,000 won (10 dollars), they will give you a better quality meat lol. 

Also, when you pay your bills, you have to go to the cashier with your bill. They will leave the bill on your table normally.

 

Is It Safe in Seoul, Korea?

YES, it is super safe in Seoul, Korea. There is very little crime compared to America. I think Seoul, Korea is one of the safest city in the world. We do not carry guns like America, so there is no gun shooting. So if you are worried about coming to Korea for safety, don’t worry. 

OK… Yes, we always hear news about North Korea. But to be honest, the Koreans don’t give a s*** about what is happening in North Korea. Yes, it will be on the news when the dictator acts abnormal, but the Koreans are so immune to these events, it is not even a talking point among friends and family. It always seems scarier when you are from the outside. North Korea should be the last thing you worry about if you are considering visiting Korea (getting over jet lag or choosing the best hotel for you should be your worry). 

 

What Are the Etiquettes in Korea?

• Don’t expect Koreans to speak English. Koreans do learn English from a young age but it is still daunting when an American comes over and asks questions. Also, Korea is not totally a tourist friendly country like Thailand where a lot of people speak English. So be prepared to learn one or two Korean language before visiting Korea. 
• On an escalator, stay on the right side if you are not going to walk up. Stay on the left side if you want to move.
• This is not necessary but using two hands to receive something is a good way to respect people. 

This is probably everything you need to know when visiting Seoul, Korea. I am sure there will be more questions you want to ask. Please leave us a comment or shoot us an email, and we will do our best to help you to have a smooth trip in Korea. 

Also, this took a month to write, and I would appreciate if you share on your social media for SEO purpose! xoxo