Tips for First Time Travellers in Seoul

Travelling to Seoul, South Korea for the first time, as corny as it may sound,  was indeed a dream come true for us. It was an epic and memorable experience that we'll treasure for the rest of our lives. LOL! 

With more people like us planning for their own epic Seoul, South Korea trip, we've listed some tips that you can consider.

Save addresses in Korean. This comes handy in case you get lost. We were lost the moment we set foot in Seoul. LOL! We arrived in Seoul late that subway's closed and we only have the directions in taking the subway; good thing we printed the address of our guesthouse in Korean and just showed it to the taxi driver.

Check for discounts online and print coupons to save. We saved ₩2000 on our Petite France trip by printing coupon from http://vkc.or.kr/en/special-offers/discount-coupons/. If you're going to Everland or Grevin Seoul Museum, purchase tickets beforehand at Klook for discounts. There are other offers as well so you can check their site for their promotions.

Wear comfortable shoes. Trust me, there are lots of walking so wear your most comfortable shoes.

Squeeze in sunscreen, moisturizer and lip balm in your baggage to defend yourself against the sun. It is chilly but it is sunny as well. Our skin tends to dry out when exposed to cold air so do not forget to moisturize.

Change money in Insadong or Hongdae. We found good rates there - Php 1 = ₩23. If possible, do not change money in Nami Island Php 1 = ₩21 (same rate in the airport). I heard that you can convert Php to Dollar then to Won to get better rate but we have not tried this one.

Food is for sharing. If you don't mind sharing food then consider sharing as meals are good for two. The first time we dine out, we ordered two servings of meat and yes, we were too full to eat it all. However, better check first if restaurants allow sharing because some restaurants require one order per person.

 Download Subway Korea app. This is a life-saver since you'll be using the subway frequently and their subway system is huge!

Choose guesthouses near the subway to save time and energy. Ours is just 8 minutes away from City Hall Station Exit 7 so we really saved time and energy. It's also good to choose guesthouses near the tourist spots but those guesthouses can be pricey. Ours is near the Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Namdaemun Market, Grevin Seoul Museum and Myeongdong that we only walk to go to these places.

 Purchase T-money card. You'll save ₩100 every trip. Plus you can use it almost everywhere - taxi, bus and convenient stores. Plus you avoid the hassle of purchasing single journey ticket everytime you use the subway.

Get yourself a decent sleep. 7 days (for us) can be so tiring so rest.

Enjoy and share your experience to us! ❤If you've already been to Seoul, please feel free to add tips that worked for you in the comment section below.

Day 5: Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae

My surreal moments continued when we set foot to our next destination, the Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae! As a big fan of Hello Kitty since childhood, I have always wanted to go to its cafe so when we planned our trip to Korea, I gleefully added it to our itinerary (of course with the permission of my co-travellers, kamsahamnida chinggus! ❤)  Warning: Overuse of the word "cute"

How to go? Go to Hongik University Station Line 2 Exit 9. From there, you can follow this map.

As soon as I saw the pink gate, my heart pumped with excitement. Couldn't wait to see what's in store for us inside! We definitely took a lot of pictures before entering. That pink bow is irresistible! 🎀

We went upstairs and greeted by this two-storey pink house. Omo! 😮 Feels like home! Hahaha.

 There were these cutesy Hello Kitty chairs outside. Another photo op with our girly pose. Snap a shot every chance you get! 📸

Are you ready to go inside? Let me give you a tour in this adorable cafe. 💕 This cafe is quite big. The first floor is consists of the gift shop, counter, kitchen and seats while the second floor contains HK's bedroom and more seats.

As you enter and go right, you will pass by the counter where you can order food & beverage. They also have display of their cakes. From there, you can go straight ahead and check for available seats. There were also seats upstairs, but we decided to stay in the first floor. We were the only ones there so I roam around the place. Almost everything was pink and has Hello Kitty on it! How can you not love this place? 😍

At the left part is the gift shop. Any HK fan would really go crazy inside this shop. It's a bit expensive though.

 

 Spotted this queen HK inside the shop. Wish I could bring her home someday!

I also saw this cute display on the wall on my way to the gift shop.

We ordered food and was given this cute buzzer.

 

While waiting for the food, we went upstairs. Even the walls are painted with Hello Kitty!

 

Love this cute wall decoration! It adds up to the home vibes.

You will get to see HK's bedroom. Every girls dream room. Photo op again! Ready your just woke up poses!

 It also has vanity area inside. Guess HK is also obssessed with beauty!

 Closer look of the mirror. Hmm. Bedroom design idea! What do you think?

 Outside, there is a giant HK display. I know right, my outfit doesn't go well with the theme. I'm sure HK would understand. 😂

We did not get the chance to check the seats upstairs because we immediately went back to check our food. So here, we ordered one beverage per person as required and one order of meal only as it is a bit expensive. Hahaha. Talk about cheapskates!

When it comes to taste, i think it is just a so-so, the kind of taste that you can find in any ordinary cafe. However, we would like to give them a thumbs up for the presentation! We were hesistant at first to drink it because of the HK design.

Indeed, it was a fun and memorable experience. I fell in love with the ambiance and the cuteness of the place. What are your waiting for? Unleash your inner girly girl and pay a visit in this cafe!

Day 5: Haneul Park

Looking for a picturesque park to visit during autumn? Then, look no further! We highly recommend you to visit Haneul Park (also known as Sky Park) and be prepared to gasp in awe with its scenic views. 😍

It was sunny but chilly when we went here, just a perfect weather to wander into this beautiful park away from the city's hustle and bustle. 🌤

How to go? Take the subway to World Cup Stadium Station on Line 6 and head out at Exit 1. Once you're here look for the East Gate of the stadium, walk upstairs. Keep heading westward until you see the park in the distant.

 

Enjoy the endless views of colorful autumn trees. 🍂🍁

Just keep walking up to this area and go downstairs. You should see a huge open ground for you to walk towards the mountain-looking hill.

Don't let the opportunity pass and strike a pose while crossing the pedestrian lane. 📸🚶🏼‍♀️

Another line of autumn trees! Sit for awhile here to regain energy. 💪🏻 Trust me, you'll need it later! 😉

 

Or you might want to go for a photoshoot again with your chinggu? 📸👯

Follow the maps along your way until you see this overpass decorated with flowers. 🌸 Go straight ahead and you will find yourself at the base of the park.

See that zigzag stairs? 😵 This is what they call the "Stairway to Heaven". You will need to climb 291 steps before you can fully see the paradise. Aja!

Uh oh! Not yet there! Don't worry, there were chairs for you to rest right after climbing. 😓

 

Along our way, we have passed by these cute children who seems to be having their fieldtrip.

Finally! We have reached the park and were welcomed with this vast field of "Eulalia Grass" under the clear blue sky. 🌾 Feels like we're dreaming!

Want a closer look? 👀

It was surreal seeing the hues of yellow and green grass slowly rippling in the wind. 💛💛💛

Of course, we had our photos taken! Most of our time here was spent taking pictures. 😂 We can't help, it was so instagram-worthy. Here are some of them. We found orangy grass that's really perfect for a dramatic pose. HAHAHA! Work it girls! 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

There is also an observation deck in the middle of the field which is called "Bowl Full of Sky". It is where you can have breathtaking views of Seoul. From here you will see Han River, Bukhansan Mountain, Namsan Mountain and the highest building of Seoul, 63 Building. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of how the deck looks like, but here is the view on top. 🔭

 

 

We also walk going back. For those who may get tired from walking, there is a shuttle to take you back down.

Enchanting isn't it? Who would believe it was once a mountain of garbage? Kudos to Seoul Metropolitan Government for transforming it into an ecological park. 👏🏻 It is now a popular spot amongst the locals for photoshoots and picnics.

Absolutely a perfect place to feel the refreshing breeze and immerse into the beauty of nature. 🍃 No wonder this ended up being our most favorite and most photogenic spot in Korea during our trip. 👍🏻 Know other parks worth checking out? Share them with us in the comment section below!

Day 4: Dongdaemun Design Plaza

To cap off our lazy day, we decided to go to the nearest tourist spot from Myeongdong which is the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Operating Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00AM-7PM

*Every Wednesday, Friday: extended til 9PM

How to get there? By subway, get off at Dongdaemun History & Cultute Park Station (Line 2, 4, 5) and Exit 1.

Looks familiar? Yes! It is one of the filming locations of the famous kdramas like "My Love from the Star", "She Was Pretty", and "The Producer". As soon as we arrived, it felt like we were transported to the future due to its spaceship-like design which makes it the most iconic landmark in Dongdaemun. Daebak!!! 😮 There is so much to explore in this enormous and unique structure - it has art halls, design shops, museums etc. Unfortunately, we came at night so we were not able to wander inside. Instead, we just decided to do these things..

Capture the stunning curves of the building. Instagrammable isn't it? 📸

Visit the most-talked LED rose garden. Trust me it's more beautiful at night! ✨

Eat at the nearby street stalls. It is cheaper than those in Myeongdong. 😋

Shop 'til you drop at the nearby high rise shopping malls and design market. 👗👠🎒

Tips:

• We have seen more choices of socks here than in Myeongdong and Namdaemun.

• If you are planning to visit during daytime, the greyish tone of the building makes a perfect background so be ready to strike a pose. 💃

Dongdaemun is very accessible and a must visit place so make sure to put it on your list! 👍🏻

For those who have been here already, can you suggest other things to do in Dongdaemun? Comment down below!