Ice fishing, seasonal street food, snowy spas. When it comes to innovations in beauty, Korea is widely recognized as the global leader. Today, South Korea is a technological powerhouse. It’s had empires rise and fall that are barely understandable to any Westerner. Like the city of Seoul, its lands have always been mapped out in a way that feels intimate, but also at odds with each other. We can process what we experience, and let it change our mode of thinking, but it will never be us. >> Check out these fun food experiences you must do in Seoul! And then, unexpectedly, China intervened. There you have it. I’ve stayed in a room from Craigslist and it was great and I saw there were quite a few others too. While touring the underground tunnel,  you’re shown where the North Koreans attempted to blow holes with dynamite. Every district has its own flavor, every dish has its own flavor as well. There are things we don’t know about the Korean War in America. In this business-centric city, Seoul hotels see a lot of traffic during the week, so search for Seoul hotel deals on weekends. Previously known as the Hi Seoul Festival, the Seoul Street Art Festival is an exciting extravaganza not to be missed. It feels as distinctly multicultural as New York City, with a Korean flair. These areas are mostly for expat living. One of my favourite places to walk along in Seoul, this 5.2 mile long stream is a beautiful escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown life. Cheonggyecheon stream. For me, a month in Seoul represented all of these things. The truth is, there’s too much to do to spend just a month in Seoul. Admission is free. The National Museum of Korea is the sixth-largest museum in the world, with 6.6 acres of exhibitions on 76 acres of land. The UN (aka US forces backed by allies), intervened, and pushed back North Korean forces. Korea has a long history, although almost never as a united country. I’m not expert on the Korean War, of course, but a month in Seoul showed just how present the conflict still is. South Korea barely held out. There’s also a dedicated Children Museum. They usually sit at about $900-$1000 not including extra activities. Public transportation in Seoul is reliable and inexpensive; the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city is by subway. Seoul Station Exit 2, exit right and walk 130m, the entrance will be on your right. And there are many palaces and more museums than you could possibly see in a month in Seoul. Seoul Forest is compromised of five parks in one including a butterfly sanctuary and outdoor art sculptures! Find what to do today, this weekend, or in January. The truth is far more complicated than that. Despite our involvement – or in some instances, because of it. Seoul with Kids – National Folk Museum of Korea. The number of things to do, see and eat in Seoul are endless, and unique experiences await you on every corner. N Seoul Tower. Apart from the cherry blossoms, there are lots of things to do in Seoul in spring. Cait Ellis. Despite the higher cost of living, we were still able to tour around Korea for a month for less than SG$1,800 per person. January is the coldest month in Seoul and the average mean temperature can go down to -2.4 degree Celsius. Day 1: Discover the palaces, Bukchon Hannok village, and Insadong The palaces in Seoul. It feels as distinctly multicultural as New York City, with a Korean flair. There’s always a new sight to see or a new place to eat. A lot of attractions in Seoul appeal to travelers and they may wonder where to visit and what to do. This content was taken from another post located here How much does it cost to live in Seoul, South Korea? However, we were still able to experience their rich culture and beautiful landscape. It’s also lined with close to 100 active Buddhist temples, with the chanting making accidentally hiking in the dark even more eerie. Unlike China (and Japan after a certain period), Korea never had a unified identity. They’re a placed to be envied, which brings me to the experiential side of a month in Seoul. 1. The hike only takes around 1 hour and is a great thing to do on a mild spring day. It’s also affected American’s ego – we don’t teach the Korean War in schools. Seoul is an incredible city, brimming with mouth-watering food, exciting attractions and unforgettable shopping spots. With that in mind, I’m going to break a month in Seoul into two sections: What I Learned, and What I Experienced. In my opinion the best month to visit Seoul is April or October. With a little bit of planning and determination, it’s absolutely possible to see the most popular attractions and experience a little bit of Korean culture in only 24 hours – here’s how! Northeast of the river you can find Yongsan-gu, made of expat shopping and foodie havensItaewon and Haebangchon. That’s why we’ve put together a guide of 9 Things You MUST DO on Your First Trip to Seoul. They were physical, with rebuilding efforts being the backbone of modern day South Korea. There’s a veneer to the city – one marked by the Korean War. There’s a lot more to do in a month in Seoul than the DMZ. But a lot happened to get them there – most of it not positive. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), don’t know about the Korean War in America, https://www.horowitzwrites.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/22523497_286254135207323_2936224327139328000_n.mp4, honest about our experiences and failures while travelling, Why Nostalgia is Literally Bad For Your Health (And For Storytelling), Why I’m Actually the ‘Curvy Wife’ In My Relationship, Blogging Motivation: How Getting Less Traffic Has Motivaed Me To Blog Less, Writing about Ancient History: How It Inspired Me to Write a Graphic Novel. There’s a lot more to do in a month in Seoul than the DMZ. It’s not just experiential. Myeongdong is Seoul's best neighborhood to shop for K-beauty. The Top 9 Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea. But that’s only after the fact. A plus for Westerners: Subway station names and transit signs are marked in English, unlike the bus system, where all signage is written in hanguel (the Korean alphabet). Below is a graph of my usual monthly costs. Painting Seoul in a different light through revitalising its streets with arts and culture, the festival boasts countless musical performances and exhibitions – all of which can be enjoyed for free . It’s not a performative sadness as much as a whimsical look at the superiority of South Korea – all from the perspective of South Koreans. Lose yourself in the vibrant colours of the ancient temples - and the autumn leaves. Summers are hot and wet, with monsoon rains from the end of June to mid- to late July; the city is also crowded with tourists, and rates are at their highest. As the first month fully freed from the grips of the chilly Korean winter, April is a wonderful time to travel to Seoul. It’s a popular place for locals to walk through both during the day and at night. Seoul is a huge city but quite intimate. Try as you might, you just can’t plan for some things, like yellow dust or rain, during your trip to Seoul. This travel guide will provide helpful hints as you visit Seoul on a budget. Unpredictable Seoul will magnetize you with firework shows and Cosmos blooming in October. Both South Korea and North Korea are planned nations, and the Korean War did nothing to change that. It shows why America has viewed China as a looming threat to this day, as the US and Russia never fought a formal conflict. But knowing the history of South Korea is essential to enjoying it. Especially if you’re in Seoul only for a few days, take a close look at our recommendations that will help you build your bucket list for Seoul. A month in Seoul taught me that that culture attitudes haven’t changed – but circumstances have. That crisis in identity is key to understanding countries with a much more varied history than America – one marked by isolationism rather than multiculturalism. These months are some of the most popular as well as the busiest months to visit Seoul. A great place to eat in a festive atmosphere (and without breaking the bank) is on Let's Eat Alley, one of the many side streets off Sinchon Street, a vibrant university neighborhood with lots of shopping, dining and nightlife options. From spring in the streets of Seoul to an early summer on the beaches of Jeju. In the here and now, we only have ourselves and our own experiences to live. The collection spans Paleolithic artifacts, stone pagodas, giant Buddhas and traditional Korean painting. Why April is best month to visit Seoul?? Seoul Forest. She has discussed travel on The Today Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, Good Morning America, and FOX News. Rice is a major staple of Seoul's cuisine, as are an array of vegetables, both fresh and fermented. 10 Things to do in Seoul in Winter It can get pretty cold in Seoul during the winter months. They had human rights abuses and culture clashes. Summer . Come here with your friends or family and explore. You don't have to spend a lot of money to eat well in Seoul; in fact, if your budget is tight, you can subsist nicely on Korean comfort food (such as hearty soups and noodle or rice stir-fries) and street snacks. Admission to the palace is free to seniors age 65 and over and children under age six. The North Koreans failed here, and they’ll fail again and again until we unify. Events like the Korean War can be given meaning – they can even be used to build a society around. Here are some smart ways to enjoy Seoul on a budget. Largely speaking, I’d say the best place to stay in Seoul depends upon how many times you’ve visited the city. 2. You can even try fugu fish at your own risk! Itinerary Sinchon Street is also a good place to find Korean street vendors selling tasty skewered fish cakes and rice rolls. The North Korean village plays propaganda on their speakers, presumably to embolden their citizens and encourage defection. Do you have a long layover in Seoul or are visiting for just a day? The best times to visit Seoul are during the fall when the heat of the summer abates, the weather is clear and dry and fall foliage is at its peak (usually in October); and during the spring, when temperatures warm up and the trees burst with colorful blossoms. Here’s an example: just over the way there is North Korea. 13. Getting Around Seoul: Guide to Public Transportation, Get a Glimpse of Seoul's Past at Bukchon Hanok Village, The Essential Guide to Seoul's Incheon International Airport, Bukhansan National Park: The Complete Guide, Seoraksan National Park: The Complete Guide, A Complete Guide to Drinking in South Korea, Get to Know Seoul's Weather Before Your Trip, The Best Time to Visit Busan, South Korea, A Travel Guide for How to Visit Seoul on a Budget, Tripsavvy uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace, the oldest palace of the Joseon Dynasty, is set in a garden landscape that also holds the National Folk Museum of Korea. Here are seven things to do when winter comes to Seoul, South Korea. You must follow a dress code and bring your passport with you. Based in New York City, Alexis is the former editor-in-chief of Frommers.com. Despite what you may think in the news with Kim Jong Un and Trump,the DMZ is treated almost irreverently by South Korea. Create your personal guide to Seoul with full information on all top attractions But what a month in Seoul gives you is more than that. And much like West Berlin and East Berlin, the nation was carved up by the US and USSR, like a modern day Berlin Conference. Seoul has over a hundred museums, and some of them won’t cost you a penny! We must Never Forget – no, not the Holocaust, but that South Korea contained North Korea. The collection spans Paleolithic artifacts, stone pagodas, giant Buddhas and traditional Korean painting. There’s Itaewon, the foreign district where you can get everything from South African food to Mexican/Korean fusion. 12. Consider staying in hotels just outside the downtown area; they tend to have lower rates. Another great thing to do in Seoul if you love the outdoors. During summer, you … The four most popular free museums are the Agricultural Museum, National Folk Museum, National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, and National Museum. Here are the best 8 things to do in Seoul 2021 for an amazing vacation in this gorgeous capital city of South Korea. There are certain activities – like visiting the DMZ between South Korea and North Korea, that almost defy this logic while still being contained by it. Autumn season brings lots of traditional festivals and a bagful of culinary delicacies such as gingko nuts, kimchi, songi, and sweet potatoes. But that music is its own form of propaganda, if you think about it.There’s no better representation of the relationship between capitalism and South Korea as fueled by the divide in the Korean War. In the war, there was plenty of back and forth. Taxis cost 3,000 won ($2.60 USD) for the first 2 kilometers and 100 won (10 cents) for each additional 144 meters. The frosty streets of Seoul are a firm winter favourite. Average temperatures in the region ranges from 2 degree Celsius to -7 degree Celsius; Spring (April-June): This is the best time to visit Seoul as the weather is neither too hot nor too cold. We recommend to visit on your first day in Seoul because you’ll learn a lot about the Korean culture and population. Note that admission is free on the fourth Saturday of each month. But for South Korea, the effects of the Korean War were more than psychological. 3. But the attractions at ‘DMZ Land’ want you to believe that reunification is just a half-step away. Becoming more popular every year is the Seoul Fringe Festival, bringing both local and international artists and performers to the streets of Seoul. 1. Of course, we did not live the extravagant life. About how we rewrite our narratives to fit our current situation, and how we allow ourselves to believe these narratives. Things to do in Seoul north of the river (Gangbuk) The area running along the north of the Han river is made up of several districts and has a few of the best attractions in Seoul. It’s an important Seoul landmark and the views it offers are breathtaking. But to drown them out, the South Koreans play American pop music from the 80’s and 90’s. From what I’ve seen there are quite many rooms being rented on Craigslist and many of the posts are serious and not some rip-offs like in other places. And they didn’t exactly win either. The perfect place for a picnic, bike ride or date. With this said, we all know there is no such thing as a perfect vacation. Climb to the N Seoul Tower and see the sun set over Seoul from one of the viewing platforms or from the observatory. Find flights to Seoul with online tools. Seoul Sights and Attractions The National Museum of Korea is the sixth-largest museum in the world, with 6.6 acres of exhibitions on 76 acres of land. 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