When imagining Seoul, many people imagine a city of futuristic skyscrapers and modern technology. However, Seoul also impresses with spacious green parks and historical attractions.
Contents
- Entry rules
- How to get there
- Why go
- Where to stay
- What to see in Seoul
- What to see outside the city
- Restaurants
- Shopping
Entry rules
Russian tourists need a passport and an electronic entry permit K-ETA to travel. It is issued for up to 90 days, but you can stay in the country continuously for no more than 60 days. K-ETA must be issued to adults from 18 to 64 years old. The application is submitted on the official website or via the mobile application. The fee for obtaining a permit is 10,000 Korean won (about 700 rubles). Starting in July 2023, the K-ETA document is given for three years.
How to get there
There are no direct flights from Russia: you can get there with a transfer in Beijing, Shanghai or Tashkent. There are also flights via Istanbul and Abu Dhabi, but such flights take longer. A flight ticket from Moscow and back will cost at least 47,000 rubles. The travel time will be about 10-15 hours, taking into account the docking.
There are no direct flights from Russia: you can get there with a transfer in Beijing, Shanghai or Tashkent. Photo: Marie Shark/Shutterstock.com
Planning an Asian trip
Traveler and author of the Island Tatyana Vetrova shared practical tips that will help you go to South Korea on your own and have a lot of fun. Useful applications, nuances of money exchange, details about the transport card, ideas for routes — take it and do not thank.
Why go
- Wander around the arboretum in the Kaphen Mountains under the clouds.
- Go for a walk through the French village and visit the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Museum.
- Try the cuisines of the world on Itaewon.
- Enjoy warm evenings and night views of the city on the banks of the Khan River.
- Feed the carp on Korea’s largest artificial freshwater lake.
- Treat yourself to inexpensive and high-quality Korean cosmetics.
Another weighty argument: a trip to South Korea can become part of a big Asian trip. So, in Beijing and Shanghai, a transfer without a visa is available for up to 144 hours. The instructions on the Island’s blog will help you prepare and take into account all the formalities for a visit to China. And if you want to see autumn colors in Korea or catch cherry blossoms in spring, you can combine this with a beach vacation in the Philippines. Isn’t it cool to visit three countries in one vacation and catch different seasons?
You can wander around the arboretum in the Kaphen Mountains under the clouds. Photo: Stock for you/Shutterstock.com
Where to stay
Every minute of your vacation is valuable. And the last thing you want to do is spend time in traffic jams on the way to the sights. Staying in the hotels listed below, you can be in the epicenter of Seoul life.
Hotel Midcity Myeongdong
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeong-Dong
Sotetsu Hotels The Splaisir Seoul Myeong-Dong.
ibis Ambassador Seoul Insadong
On the Island, you can pay for your stay in Seoul with any Russian card.
What to see in Seoul
The tips from this section of the article will help you decide where to start exploring the city.
Itaewon Multicultural Area
Cheonggecheon Park
The Cheongecheon Park is open in the center, which stretches along the creek of the same name. The path among the paths is decorated with unusual fountains in the form of a waterfall, fireworks, candles and a dancing couple. When it gets dark, the cozy lighting turns on here. There are 22 bridges spanning the stream, and along the way you can find several themed walls. One of them is signed by 20,000 Koreans, and the dreams of the city’s residents are immortalized on the “Wall of Hope”.
The Cheongecheon Park is open in the center, which stretches along the creek of the same name. Photo: trabantos/Shutterstock.com
The largest aquarium in the country
The largest aquarium in Korea is hidden in the basement of the COEX shopping and entertainment center. The shape of the aquarium resembles a tunnel that closes directly over the heads of visitors. In addition to the gigantic main volume, there are 90 other small reservoirs. Some are made in the form of different objects — a monitor, a street lamp, a telephone booth. The space is divided into 6 thematic zones: inhabitants of the seas, marine predators, the world of the Amazon and others. Here you can meet not only aquatic inhabitants, but also penguins, monkeys, meerkats and even a polar bear.
Rainbow Fountain Bridge
The Rainbow Fountain Bridge is not just an element of the city’s transport infrastructure. A system of 80 water cannons is built into its upper tier. With the onset of evening, the multicolored backlight turns on and the show with a water rainbow begins.
It is convenient to observe the fountain from the south bank, from the park side. Koreans take blankets, pillows, get comfortable and enjoy the show. Some go to the first tier of the bridge, where you seem to get inside a fabulous waterfall.
The Rainbow Fountain Bridge is not just an element of the city’s transport infrastructure. Photo: Mirko Kuzmanovic/Shutterstock.com
What to see outside the city
Koyan City, Ilsan Lake
In general, the place is rich in areas for photo shoots: houses and gazebos in a traditional style, courtyards with small waterfalls, a corner with water lilies on the water. The rose garden of 20,000 roses with flower beds, flower tunnels and towers looks especially impressive in the park.
There are walking and cycling paths around the lake, artificial islands, children’s playgrounds and a zoo. And huge orange, black and white carp are splashing in the water.
Ilsan Lake Park is the owner of Korea’s largest artificial freshwaterlakes. Photo: Stock for you/Shutterstock.com
Garden of Morning Tranquility
The entrance fee for an adult is 11 thousand won (approximately 700 rubles). It will take about two hours to get to the park from Seoul. Take the subway or bus to Cheongpyeong Station and transfer to bus number 30-6. The first bus from the station to the garden departs at 9:10, and the last one in the opposite direction — at 20:00.
The Garden of Morning Tranquility is a paradise for photographers, lovers of mountain landscapes and flowers. Photo: anpanhel/Shutterstock.com
Nami Island
There is a song museum, a library of illustrated books and a playground for children, a UNICEF hall and other cultural spaces. You can ride along the paths on a rented bicycle, a train that runs from the entrance to the marina to the very center of the island, or a tourist bus. Of the animals, there is a chance to meet peacocks, squirrels, and rabbits walking freely.
There is a ferry to the island, which takes 10 minutes to get there. And if you want extreme sports, choose a zipline rope descent.
There is a park on the island with picturesque alleys where chestnuts, ginkgo, sequoias and pines grow. Photo: Mirko Kuzmanovic/Shutterstock.com
Little France Village
A visit to the village of “Little France” can be combined in one day with a trip to Nami Island or to the garden of morning tranquility. This is a theme park with a French flavor and colorful European-style houses, which stretches among the mountains.
- One of the main places of “Little France” is the Antoine de Saint-Exupery Museum. By the way, the image of the Little Prince sets the theme for the whole village.
- The puppet Museum has a beautiful collection of dolls.
- The music house invites you to play the hurdy-gurdy, listen to music boxes. This is a sweet and romantic place to take a break from a leisurely walk and a photo shoot.
The village is open to the public from 9:00 to 18:00, an entrance ticket for an adult costs 10,000 won (approximately 700 rubles).
This is a theme park with a French flavor and colorful European-style houses. Photo: PREECHA WIBOONDUANGJINDA/Shutterstock.com
Restaurants
Portions in restaurants and cafes are huge, and snacks and water are additionally served to the order. There is definitely kimchi among the snacks. Dinner for two will cost 20-30 000 won (about 1400 – 2000 rubles) without alcohol.
Bakery Passion5
Sweet tooth will be delighted with the variety of beautiful and delicious cakes in this bakery. You can also come here for breakfast if you stay in the Itaewon area.
Yeontanbul Barbecue Restaurant
There is a place near Seoul Station that serves the best pork belly. Roasting meat on the grill on your own and trying soju is a mandatory item from the trip plan to Seoul.
Myeongdong Gyoza Main Restaurant
Do you like bouzes, dumplings, dumplings? Then be sure to try the Korean mandu dumplings. In the Myeongdong district, a dumpling restaurant serves only this dish.
Be sure to try the Korean mandu dumplings. Photo: Myeongdong Gyoza Main Restaurant
Woo Lae Oak
Ggupdang Sinsa
It serves delicious truffle spaghetti, shoulder loin, pork belly. It is also worth trying tenjan jige, a spicy stew with meat and vegetables.
La Yeon
La Yeon Restaurant, the first in Korea to receive 3 Michelin stars, is famous for its modern Korean cuisine and culinary masterpieces. It is located on the 23rd floor of the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, and offers beautiful views of Namsan Mountain. Try the traditional seafood soup with broth and feel like a member of the royal family.
La Yeon Restaurant — the first in Korea to receive 3 Michelin stars — is famous for its modern Korean cuisine and culinary masterpieces. Photo: La Yeon
Shopping
Cosmetics
The first thing that comes to mind is Korean cosmetics. Of course, you can buy something in online stores without leaving home, but this is only a small part of the assortment of Korean stores. The prices for cosmetics here are noticeably different from those in Russia. For example, Missha fabric face masks in Korea cost about 30 rubles apiece, and in Russia they are five times more expensive. Therefore, it makes sense to buy cosmetics.
Umbrella
Umbrellas, raincoats, raincoats and rubber boots in Korea are so bright and beautiful that you want to buy everything and go for a walk in the rain! These attributes will be a wonderful gift for both your loved ones and yourself.
Serving set
As a gift to friends, you can bring beautifully decorated chopsticks or a whole set for serving. It will especially appeal to those who love Korean cuisine and enjoy eating with chopsticks.
As a gift to friends, you can bring beautifully decorated chopsticks or a whole set for serving. Photo: vvoe/Shutterstock.com
Korean tea
Green and ginseng tea will not surprise everyone, but these varieties are worth paying attention to: henmi-chha (brown rice tea), oxus-chha (corn), mugitya or pori-chha (wheat). You can buy such teas in specialty stores, supermarkets or markets.
Alcohol
From alcoholic beverages, take a gift of mccollie rice wine and soju tincture.
Sportswear
In South Korea, there is a cult of sports and health. In the subway, in the park, on the street, Koreans will meet in trekking clothes, in running gear, in full gear on a bicycle. A large selection of high-quality sports shoes and clothes will please you.
A large selection of high-quality sports shoes and clothing will please you. Photo: 2p2play/Shutterstock.com
Autumn is the perfect time to go to South Korea for city tours, mountain hikes and atmospheric photos. Don’t forget your warm clothes, jump on a plane, and the Island will take care of a comfortable stay in Seoul.
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Cover photo: Ozone foto/Shutterstock.com
