48 Hours In Seoul, South Korea
Experience The Best Of Seoul In 48 hours
Whether you have two days or two weeks to travel, our Seoul city guide covers the must see sites, local food recommendations, where to stay, how much the city will cost, an example itinerary, and how to get around the city - including how to get to and from the airport.
When we visited the capital city of Seoul we were captivated by everything the city had to offer. From the ancient temples, bustling nightlife, crazy delicious food, animated culture, progressive politics, massive high rises, and the genuine character of the people, South Korea offers something for every visitor. Though we only had a chance to visit Seoul, we learned a lot about the entire country through the endless amount of museums we visited, war memorials we saw throughout the city, hush-hush conversations on the streets about the North, and the wonderful people that live in the city that took time out of their day to talk with us. The country can be rather expensive to explore, the amount of parks, monuments, temples, and museums you can visit for a small fee, offer backpackers and tourists alike an opportunity to delve into the culture, history and politics of this unique and welcoming country.
Getting To & From The Airport
There are 3 ways to get into the city from Seoul Incheon International Airport.
1. Take the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) (This is the fastest option). The Airport Railroad Express runs directly from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station, with no stops along the way. The trip will take you about 45 minutes. The cost is $7.50 USD --> 8,000 WON.
2. Take the Airport All Stop Train (This is the cheapest option). The All Stop Train makes stops at all 12 subway stations on its way from Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station. Six of the subway stations allow transfers to other metropolitan area subway lines. To take this train, passengers must use a transportation card. International visitors may also use a prepaid transportation card called M-Pass. You can buy the transportation card at convenience stores inside Incheon International Airport, or at the Tourism Information Center near Gates 5 & 10. The trains come every 10 minutes and the journey will take about 60 minutes. The cost is $4 USD --> 4250 WON.
3. Take the bus. Airport buses run from Incheon International Airport to most parts of Seoul. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booths just outside the 1st floor Arrivals Gate. You catch the bus just outside the international or domestic terminals. The buses leave every 30 minutes and the journey will take about 70 minutes. The cost is $12 USD --> 13,000 WON.
First Things First - What To Eat?
Korea is famous for lots of reasons, and food is certainly one of those. From the world famous kimchi, the always entertaining and delicious Korean BBQ's that cook up exquisite meats, to the pajeon pancakes and cold noddle soup, Korea has unique food for any pallet. Whether you prefer to eat at a 5 star restaurants, prefer the small side street pop-up shops, or want want to watch the city move as you enjoy a BBQ with your friends, you can find anything you want in Seoul. We ate our way through this city in 48 hours and loved every minute of it.
Kimchi - Cost is very cheap and often served as a side dish with a larger main course - Kimchi a staple in Korean cuisine. It is a traditional side dish made from salted and fermented vegetables, most commonly cabbage and Korean radishes, with a variety of seasonings including chili powder, scallions, garlic, ginger, and jeotgal (salted seafood). There are hundreds of varieties of kimchi made with different vegetables as the main ingredients.
Bibimbap - Cost around $5 - Bi bim bap or Bi bim bop, literally means "mixed rice". Bibimbap is served as a bowl of warm white rice topped with sautéed and seasoned vegetables, chili, soy sauce, and a fermented soybean paste. A raw or fried egg and sliced meat (usually beef) are common additions. The hot dish is stirred together thoroughly just before eating and is delicious.
Pajeon - Cost around $4 - It is a Korean dish made from a batter of eggs, wheat flour, rice flour, scallions, and often other ingredients depending on the variety. beef, pork, kimchi, shellfish, and other seafood are mostly used.
Soju - Cost around $2-10 a bottle - Soju is a clear, colorless distilled beverage. It is usually consumed neat, and its alcohol content varies from about 16.8% to 53% ABV. Koreans have very strict rules of for drinking soju. When receiving a glass from an elder, one must hold the glass with two hands. When it is time to drink, the drinker must turn away from the elder, and cover the mouth and glass with their hands. The first drink must be finished in one shot.
Must-See's Of Seoul
Seoul is a massive, multicultural city filled with some amazing tourist hot-spots, mouthwatering food, and hidden gems waiting to be stumbled upon. Here are the must see sights of Seoul that you can explore and conquer in 48 hours. There are 6 must see attractions in the city that have come to define the city's widespread popularity. From the breathtaking temples, animated culture, and fascinating history, to the hidden side streets filled with amazing restaurants and markets - it's all broken down below.
Changdeokgung - Cost $2.00 - The second largest palace in Seoul is Changdeokgung. This palace is especially popular because it has a large ‘secret garden’ with countless temples, pavilions and exotic flora and fauna. Changdeokgung is especially popular during spring with the many cherry blossoms, and in the fall with colorful foliage.
Gyeongbokgung - Cost $2.00 - You might be surprised that Seoul has not only one, but five main palaces. Gyeongbokgung is the largest and most important of them all. Often compared to the Forbidden City in Beijing, Gyeongbokgung is a large palace complex that also houses the National Folk Museum of Korea. If you wear a traditional hanbok dress, which you can rent around town, you get free admission!
Demilitarized Zone - Cost depends on chosen tour company - The DMZ is one of those attractions that makes one shiver and think at the same time. Being the border between North and South Korea, the DMZ is a place where the cold war is still very much existent. Take a glimpse of North Korea when you tour this part of the country.
I Heart Seoul Sign - Free to visit - Popular in every major city around the world, Seoul too has a "I heart (insert city name here)" sign. Located directly across from Gwanghwamun Square, make sure you grab an iconic picture of yourself here.
Bukcheon Hanok Village - Free to visit - In between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung lies a picturesque village featuring over 400 traditional Korean houses, called hanok. The village features small cafes, restaurants, and shops offering handmade crafts and souvenirs. You can also find a couple of traditional teahouses in this area.
Gwanghwamun Square - Free to visit - This lovely square is located in front of Gwanghwamun Gate, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace. The square features a large statue of King Sejong The Great, the inventor of Korea’s Hangul alphabet, as well as statues of some of his other inventions.
Exploring Seoul On Public Transportation
Seoul is a well structured and connected city. Thus their public transportation is easy to use and affordable. When sightseeing in Seoul, we recommend buying the T-money Card: a rechargeable smart card that can be used to pay public transit fares in the Seoul area as well in other cities around Korea. The T-money card can be used to pay for subway, bus and taxi fare. The card can be purchased in nearly all convenience stores and subway ticket booths and users of the T-money card receive a small discount on all bus and subway fares. T-money cards allow you to transfer from one bus line to another, or from a subway to a bus (or vice versa) at no extra charge. Most major convenience store chains also accept the T-money for purchases, and many amusement parks, vending machines, palaces and museums are starting to accept them as well. Only cash can be used to recharge T-money cards.
Subway - Seoul City's subway system is one of the most convenient and fastest way to get around the city. It currently consists of lines 1 through 9 plus the Jungang Line, Bundang Line, and Gyeongui Line. The color-coded subway lines make the Seoul Metro quite easy to use. The estimated travel time between subway stations is 2~3 minutes and the fare is calculated based on the distance traveled. The basic fare is 1150 won ($1.60 USD) for distances less than 10 km.
The Seoul City Bus Tour - This tour takes you to the major sightseeing and shopping areas, including the Gyeongbokgung and Changgyeonggung palaces, the Namdaemun and Dongdaemun markets and Seoul Tower. Being limited in time, this is a good and relitively cheap option for seeing all the major sites.
City Buses - Five types of buses cover routes connecting every corner of the city: the Blue, Green, Yellow, Red, and Maeul Bus. Buses arrive at stops in five to fifteen minute intervals and schedules vary depending on the bus route but most routes start at 4:30 a.m. with the last bus of the day making its round at 1 a.m.
Blue Bus connects suburban areas to downtown Seoul. These buses travel at higher speeds and longer distances within the city than the other bus types.
Green Bus connects major subway stations or bus terminals in downtown Seoul. Green stands for the mountains surrounding the city.
Yellow Buses circle downtown Seoul and stop at stations for blue buses and major railway stations, as well as business, tourist and shopping areas.
Red bus, or express bus, are the quickest of the group for wide area line since they make fewer stops. Their main purpose is to provide commuters with easy access to neighboring cities, such as Ilsan, Bundang, Suji, Suwon, Anyang and Incheon.
Maeul Bus, smaller community-based bus, runs shorter routes that often include residential areas. Maeul buses are easy to spot due to their significantly smaller size in comparison to other buses.
Where We Stay
There are tons of accommodation options in Seoul, like hostels, Airbnb, bed & breakfasts, and five-star hotels. Check out a variety of other interesting vacation rentals across the city.
We choose to stay at Dustin Guest House. This was our favorite hostel in Seoul. Sabrina (the hostel manager) is awesome and will go above and beyond to make your stay comfortable. She runs this hostel like a it's her own and is always there to help you with anything you need. The hostel is in a cool part of town near all the bars and street musicians and has a cool rooftop to watch the madness on the streets down below. The hostel boasts large bathrooms, nice common area to hang out in, comfortable beds, and has a fun vibe and good atmosphere. ($14/night for a 10 bed mixed dorm).
Travel Tips & Helpful Hints
Do I need a visa? Holders of passports issued by 105 countries do not require a visa to enter South Korea for a period ranging from 30 days to 180 days. So unless you are from Africa, Southeast Asia, you are good to fly in visa free. Refer here for more information on visa requirements.
What is the power voltage? South Korea uses the same power plug as in the United States. I.e. any plug from the US will work in South Korea. The voltage is 100v whereas the US is 110V - so it may take a little longer to charge your devices.
What about smoking weed or drinking in the streets? Though people may smoke it, weed is illegal and carries a hefty fine. As far as drinking goes, it is permissible to drink in public so grab a beer and enjoy a picnic in the park or head off on a bar crawl.
Is it possible for me to visit the DMZ? Yes, and you should spend the time and money to visit the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) while in the country. There are tons of tour companies that offer this service as you cannot visit it without an approved tour company. For a full review of how to find the best company that fits your ideal tour (as there are many different options), budget and time constraints, visit our friends from Thrifty Nomads for a complete how-to guide as we ran out of time and did not have the opportunity for this once in a lifetime activity.
What is the currency and its value? The currency used in South Korea is called the Won (KRW). The current value (at the time writing) is $1090 KRW = $1 USD.
48 hours in Seoul Example Itinerary:
Day Two:
Start your first day by walking through the city until you find something delicious to eat.
If you have not had the chance to see everything that you wanted, then get out and explore. Otherwise there are some really nice hikes you can take in the area.
There are about four major shopping districts in Seoul, some farther or larger than the others. Shopping in Korea can be a fun and adventurous activity. There is always something cool to be found.
Make sure that on one of these two days, you head to the N Seoul Tower for a great view of the city.
For lunch, find yourself a Bim Bim Bop restaurant before heading back to your hostel.
For your last night, find a good restaurant that has a nice view, order some Soju and enjoy the view. If you did not sing karaoke the first night, after a few shots of Soju, tonight is the night!
Day One:
Start your first day by walking through the city until you find something delicious to eat. Should be relatively easy.
On the first day, we recommend taking the Hop On Hop Off bus tour. Head to the city center to grab yourself a ticket. There are about 5 different routes you can choose from so make sure you pick the right one for you. Every tour operates the same, under the Hop On Hop Off rule. This tour will take you as long or as little as you want. We recommend making a day of it. You can always stop and get off somewhere to eat or sightsee and than hop right back on. So enjoy the majority of you day checking out the sights.
When you are all done with your sightseeing, make a list of other areas you want to visit tomorrow, as the tour you choose may not have gone to all the spots you were hoping it would OR if you're like us, you ran out of time and did not get the chance to see everything.
For dinner, we recommend going out for a nice Korean BBQ. There are tons of the restaurants everywhere so it won't be hard to find one that looks good to you.
So What's It Going To Cost?
Here is how much we spent, and what we spent it on, in 48 hours.
Food: Breakfast: We spent an average of $0 USD each morning as our hostel provided breakfast.
Lunch: We spent an average of $7 USD every day - Taco Bell (Dont judge), and Bibimbap.
Dinner: We spent an average of $23 USD each evening going to the "nice" restaurants that caught our eye during the day. We had nice All-You-Can-Eat Korean BBQ, and Indian curry.
Total for Food = $30 USD per day.
Beer:
Total for Beer = $3.50 USD each/per day.
Accommodation: Dustin Guest House is one of the cheapest in town.
For 2 people to stay 2 nights, we spent $56 total.
Transportation (Including getting to and from the airport): We took the bus to & from the airport (which cost $12 each) and we took the subway a few times and walked most places.
Total for Transportation = $25 USD each.
Activities: We spent $11 USD each on our Hop On Hop Off bus tour of the city, and had to each pay $1 as an entrance fee into one of the palaces. Other than that, all the sights were free to see. (We chose not to pay the money to go to the top of the N Seoul Tower as it cost about $12 each, and we were being chep).
Total for Activities = $24 USD each.
So, What Did We Spend In 48 Hours?
$204.00 USD for 2 people. That's about $51 USD per person, per day.