Seoul
Top Places:
Entertainment Quality: 4 / 5
Safety: 5 / 5
Nightlife: 5 / 5
Walkability: 5 / 5
Living Standards: 4 / 5
Free WiFi: 5 / 5
Seoul in Prices & Facts
$7.6 $7.6
Quick Lunch for One
Spoken Languages
English
$1 $0.99
Public Transport Ride
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Getting Around
Metro
Seoul's metro covers the entire city (including key areas like Myeongdong and Gangnam) for just 1,250 KRW per ride (use a T-money card for seamless travel). For extra savings, consider the discounted 2,500 KRW day pass, allowing unlimited rides and which is perfect if you plan to explore multiple neighborhoods in a single day.
On Foot
Seoul's extensive walking paths, particularly along the Cheonggyecheon Stream, are free to access and are perfect for exploring major attractions like Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Gwangjang Market. For a local experience, visit during weekday mornings for less foot traffic and a chance to enjoy the serene atmosphere and fresh street food.
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Tourist Reviews
All photos and texts belong to their authors
📜 Yesterday, I was walking around and thinking, why are there so few people out and why do museums close so early? And why is the main national sport here all about buying and selling? Stores are open until 5 AM, but I managed to get there just in time. Plus, you can stroll around the shops all night, but here's the downside: everything is in one size, and it's pretty small. And the fitting rooms? Forget about it. It’s like AliExpress, but live.
»
Right behind the skating rink, there are cafes and restaurants with all sorts of cuisine, from fast food to some gourmet delights. 🍔😋 The cafes are open all year round! ☕️🥪
📋 A few things to keep in mind:
1. Each skating session lasts a while, and the lights go off when the time is up, and a machine comes to clean the ice.
2. You can’t get off the ice until everyone in your group has been rounded up for the next round. In case you do try to sneak out early, the marshals may tempt you to stay longer with some delicious snacks. 😂🙈
3. You can only skate strictly against the clock, back and forth in opposite directions — it’s all quite a mix, so definitely don’t stand still. Just follow the crowd! 🙃🙋♀️
By the way, sometimes you can spot celebrities in this place too! Good luck! 😘 »
What really grips me is how Seoul blends modernity with tradition—it's a fascinating mix that creates its own unique atmosphere. Walking through the streets, you can see how the contemporary meets the timeless, and that's something truly special. Sure, my first impressions of Seoul can’t quite match the vibrant energy I felt in Hong Kong, where the allure hit me with a punch! 🌆 But there's definitely a charm here that keeps me eager to explore more. »
I spent almost all of 2017 in South Korea, and I was totally amazed! I know Korea inside and out. 🤓
The kindest people, the cleanest air, and beautiful streets. 🌳 The constant positive vibes and energy were contagious. 🤸♀️
IT'S ALL ABOUT LIFE! 👏🏻🇰🇷
I miss it so much! 🥹 Still hoping to go back one day! »
I won’t say I experienced a cultural shock, but the feeling that you’re in some kind of movie never left me. 🎥 The culture of food among Koreans is truly amazing; it’s literally everywhere you go. Cute cafes and bars, street food stalls (where you can find a mix of tables and coffee) and delicious meals! 🍜
Prices are surprisingly reasonable, making it a paradise for food-loving tourists.
As a person who enjoys vibrant and colorful environments, I definitely enjoyed the lively atmosphere on the streets, 👀 with plenty of people around, and not just a few, like you might find elsewhere. 🏋️♂️
I found myself pleasantly surprised by the food options. The stereotypes of all Asians being thin are totally a myth when it comes to Koreans. The quality of food on the streets is not as overwhelming as I expected; I didn’t see too many big eaters, though there might have been more hidden away...
On my next trip, I’ll definitely try to find a local spot to really soak in the experience! 😄 »
A few facts to share:
People literally live for work.
Local production is highly developed.
Advertising models and media personalities often have a European flair.
There are hardly any homeless people or stray dogs.
Almost no one speaks English, only in expensive hotels.
Some places have a strong smell.
Everyone here is super kind and tidy (not really).
The right side of the plane always disembarks faster.
At some point, a little Korean grandma will approach you. At first, she seems like a beggar, but she actually just loves saying hello to people with different eye shapes.
Security guards definitely have glowing red sticks.
In taxis, you get in first, then tell the driver where to go. The fare is metered, and the minimum charge is 3,000 won (about $2.30).
There are no trash cans! Trash piles up on the streets all day, and at night, cleaners come to collect it in huge bags.
The streets are bustling with people, and everything is very lively. It's nice! »
Actually, there's no airport in Seoul; we landed in a city called Jeongseon. It took about an hour by car to get to Seoul.
We stopped not far from our clinic, just as the travel agency promised—10 minutes by taxi. Lexvill Residence is where we're staying, which is more like a residence, meaning our room has a mini-kitchen, washing machine, etc. Super convenient! My dad is an insulin-dependent diabetic, so he needs to eat five times a day. Frequent snacks are a must. Even for us Koreans, eating Korean food all the time gets repetitive. Here, we have the option to cook something familiar if we want.
The pictures from booking.com are, as usual, much prettier. In reality, the rooms are very small.
Language: Korean. Everywhere. Surprisingly, even at the reception, they don’t speak English, let alone the waitstaff in cafes or shopkeepers.
Speaking of shops, there are many small ones around—like our neighborhood stores. But compared to them, our stores are mega hypermarkets! You can buy everything in our little shops! Here it’s a bit tricky. To buy vegetables, fruits, or decent ingredients to prepare a proper meal, you need to go to a department store. Not really sure how to find that or what it is. I’ll have to ask the translator at the clinic tomorrow.
Food: There are cafes on every corner! But they all offer pretty much the same dishes, just with different prices.
My first impression of the city: concrete jungle, nothing special, and way too many noisy Koreans around! :) »
2. The houses are charming.
3. Sidewalks are wide.
4. There's a ton of food available.
But.
1. They don't speak English well.
2. The houses themselves are quite compact.
3. Pedestrians have the right of way on sidewalks.
4. Prices in supermarkets are high. »
Seoul, when will we finally speak the same language? »