S.KOREA

A Week and a Half in South Korea: Seoul & Busan

We landed in Seoul and took an airport limousine bus to our hotel. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket counters located on the bus station level of the airport. The ride cost around 17$ per person.

We exchanged money in Myeongdong, where there are plenty of exchange offices with decent rates. We also used credit cards throughout the trip. Cash is mainly needed for the subway and street food stalls.

Transportation
We used a combination of public transportation and taxis. For the subway, you need to purchase and top up a transportation card at the station machines.

For some journeys, we used Uber. Taxi rides are inexpensive in Korea and can save a lot of time.

Google Maps doesn’t work very well in South Korea, so I highly recommend downloading the NAVER app for navigation and directions.

For mobile data, we used an eSIM purchased through Trip.com. It covered multiple countries in the region, and we used it both in Taiwan and South Korea. It worked perfectly and was very affordable. 👌🏻

eSIM link

Seoul

Hotel
Henn-na Hotel Seoul Myeongdong
A unique concept hotel featuring robots and dinosaurs at reception.
The location is fantastic, right in Myeongdong. The design is simple, and the room was a bit small for opening two large suitcases, but it was comfortable. The robots are cute, the service is good, and the location is unbeatable.

Places to Visit in Seoul

Myeongdong
A vibrant neighborhood packed with shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, and spas. From the afternoon onwards, the streets fill with food stalls, especially in the evening. There are so many delicious options! 😋🤤
Most vendors prefer cash, although some also accept credit cards.

CIMER Paradise City
A beautifully designed wellness complex featuring pools, jacuzzis, saunas, and relaxation areas.
It’s located near the airport, making it a great option on arrival or departure day. It’s about an hour from Myeongdong. Admission is valid for six hours.
The complex is part of Paradise City, which also includes a hotel, shopping areas, a casino, and other entertainment venues. There is also a free shuttle to the airport.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza – DDP
An incredible architectural landmark designed by Zaha Hadid.
The building looks even more impressive at night when illuminated, it resembles a futuristic spaceship. Inside you’ll find exhibitions, shops, restaurants, and event spaces. During our visit, there was a festival with food stalls and live performances.

Leeum Museum of Art
A fascinating art and design museum.
When we visited, there were three exhibitions, some of which were truly outstanding. We especially enjoyed the unique staircase architecture inside the building.

Gyeongbokgung Palace
Seoul’s most famous royal palace.
We fully embraced the tourist experience and rented traditional Korean hanbok outfits from one of the many rental shops across the street. The rental cost only a few dollars, and it made exploring and taking photos even more enjoyable.

Bukchon Hanok Village
A stunning traditional neighborhood filled with beautifully preserved Korean houses.

Meerkat Friends
An animal café where visitors can interact with and feed various animals.
The animals were adorable, and we had such a fun time. 😍

Paint Rabbit
A creative art space where you can use paint guns to decorate a rabbit sculpture or canvas.
It was hilarious and surprisingly fun. Our painted rabbits turned out beautiful, and I absolutely loved the experience. 😁

HiKR Ground
An interactive K-pop cultural center with free admission.
The venue features different themed spaces that showcase and explain various aspects of Korean pop culture. Great photo opportunities throughout.

Sky Bridge Tour
A thrilling experience at Lotte World Tower, 555 meters above the ground.
Participants climb several flights of stairs before reaching the sky bridge, all securely attached to safety cables. Surprisingly, it wasn’t scary at all, I felt completely safe the entire time. A fun touch of adventure! 🤩

Starfield Library – COEX Mall
A massive and impressive library located inside the mall, with towering bookshelves stretching several stories high.

Haus Nowhere Seoul
A luxury concept store featuring giant immersive installations. The exhibitions are fascinating, and the building itself is an architectural attraction.

Cafés in Seoul

Vinyl Seongsu
A café with a vinyl record library.
Each table has its own record player and headphones. We spent an evening there relaxing with music, it was wonderful. 🎶

Cafe Onion Anguk
A famous café located in a beautifully restored traditional Korean building.

Cafe Pokpo
A café situated beside a small waterfall.
Many seating areas overlook the water, creating a peaceful atmosphere.

1in1jan
A café located in a traditional neighborhood.
Large windows offer beautiful views of the surrounding traditional buildings and make for fantastic photos.

Rain Report Gyeongridan
A unique café inspired by rainfall and weather, featuring a creative rain-themed design. 💦

Cheongsudang Bakery
A stunning café decorated with lanterns and lush greenery.

Seoul Bread Palette
A café known for serving bread with a colorful palette of flavored butters.
Beautiful presentation and absolutely delicious. 🤤

Beauty & Wellness
INKO
A very popular skincare clinic.
We had skin analysis consultations followed by customized treatments based on the results. At the end, we received recommendations for skincare products, which we purchased at Olive Young – a well-known Korean beauty and skincare store that offers excellent products at affordable prices. 😁 You’ll find Olive Young stores all over South Korea, making it easy to stop by and stock up on your favorite beauty finds.

Appointments must be booked in advance via WhatsApp +82 10-7334-2784

The treatment was excellent, relaxing, and highly recommended. 👌🏻

JUNOHAIR Myeongdong Street Branch
A famous Korean hair salon chain offering the popular 15-step hair treatment.
The experience was incredibly pampering. My hair felt noticeably softer afterward, and I even felt like it reduced my hair shedding.
We walked in without an appointment and were lucky to find availability. The salon is large with many staff members.
Highly recommended. 👌🏻

Busan
A beautiful coastal city filled with unique attractions: Sky Capsules, the Little Prince in the colorful village, an incredible drone show, relaxing spas, creative cafés, immersive digital art exhibitions, an amazing sand festival, and a magical lantern festival. 🥰

Hotel
The Coolest Hotel
A stylish hotel located near the beach.
We spent very little time there because we were out exploring all day, but the service was excellent, and the hotel was a great choice.

Places to Visit in Busan

Gamcheon Culture Village
A colorful hillside village filled with murals, sculptures, and artistic installations.
The Little Prince statues scattered throughout the village symbolize imagination, hope, and personal journeys.

Spa Land Centum City
One of Korea’s most famous spa complexes.
Featuring saunas, nude onsen-style baths, and relaxation areas, it’s the perfect place to unwind.

ARTE MUSEUM
An immersive digital art museum with breathtaking exhibitions.
I highly recommend ending your visit at the café, where the projections continue around you.

Gwangalli Drone Light Show
An absolutely incredible drone show. 🤩
The performance takes place over Gwangalli Beach every Saturday evening. There are two shows each night, each lasting around 12 minutes.

Haeundae Sand Festival
An annual sand sculpture festival held between May and June. The sculptures were unbelievably detailed and impressive. 😍

Samgwangsa Temple Lantern Festival
A magical lantern festival held at a mountain temple. Thousands of colorful lanterns decorate the temple grounds, creating an unforgettable atmosphere. 🤩 The festival typically takes place every year around April and May.

Cafés in Busan

Dongbaek Dessert Cafe
Located beside the Sky Capsule railway.
I had a delicious crepe cake there, and it’s one of the best photo spots overlooking the capsules.

Oldmug
A seaside café about a 10-minute walk from our hotel. They serve an adorable and delicious teddy bear cake.

THRILL ON THE MUG
A beachfront café with tiered seating overlooking the ocean. Beautiful design and amazing views. 😍

Blue House on the Stairs
A charming café located in Gamcheon Culture Village. The building is painted sky blue with clouds, and drinks ordered through a machine are delivered from the window above via a miniature hot-air balloon hanging from a rope. A very cute experience. 🩵

7-Eleven & FamilyMart

Convenience stores are everywhere in South Korea, and they’re perfect for grabbing a drink or a quick snack while exploring. I always make a stop whenever I need a little break.

My favorite thing to buy is onigiri. 🤤 Vegetarian options are more commonly available at FamilyMart, although they’re not always in stock. They’re inexpensive, usually just a couple of dollars each.

You’ll also find a huge variety of delicious drinks in unique flavors, along with plenty of snacks to try.

From traditional culture to futuristic experiences, beautifully designed cafés, endless food, and plenty of pampering, this trip had everything.
It was absolutely perfect. 👌🏻

For more photos, locations, and travel inspiration, feel free to follow me on Instagram.
Enjoy,
Keren

Posts 👇🏻

Homepage K.S WORLD TRAVELER