Travel Planning (여행 계획)
Packing lists, how to prepare for a trip, and more. Plan for upcoming trips and travel with these guides, tips, and tricks. (포장 목록, 여행 준비 방법 등. 이러한 가이드, 팁 및 요령과 함께 향후 여행 계획 및 여행 계획 수립.)
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The Biggest Mistake Tourists Make in Seoul: Underestimating Its Size
If you’re planning a trip to Seoul, Korea and your itinerary includes hopping from your hotel to Gangnam over to Hongdae and back to your hotel in one day here’s your reality check: you’re going to spend more time underground than above it. Bright-eyed tourists show up with jam-packed plans to hit Gangnam, Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Insadong and what seems efficient ends up being a lesson in how to use the Seoul subway system (<- Yeah, I have a guide for that too). Seoul is massive! It’s not just big in population or reputation, geographically, it’s a sprawling metropolis of 25 districts, each with it’s own vibe, attractions, and character.…
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Culture Day in South Korea: Free Things To Do In Seoul and More
Are you traveling to Korea and wondering how to stretch your budget without missing out? The good news is that South Korea makes it easy. A little local secret known as Culture Day (문화가 있는 날) provides free and discounted entry to museums, palaces, cinemas, performances, and more throughout the country every Wednesday! First launched in 2014, Culture Day was created to make cultural experiences more accessible to everyone, regardless of budget. For over a decade, it ran on the last Wednesday of each month, drawing locals and visitors alike with a wave of deals across hundreds of participating venues. Now, following a Cabinet-approved revision to South Korea’s Framework Act…
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Top 15 Apps to Download When You Come To Korea
When coming to Korea for the first time, it can be overwhelming trying to work out how to navigate this new and exciting country. From finding the best places to eat in Seoul, learning how to get around the Seoul Subway, reading menus in Korean, and even going on exciting day trips from Seoul, it can quickly become overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors (particularly when they realize how unreliable Google Maps is in Korea!) Thankfully, we live in the modern world, and in the modern world, we can rely on our smartphones to help us do just about everything. If you’re traveling in Korea, make sure you get an eSIM or…
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Visa Runs From Korea: Where To Go
Living in Korea on a short-term visa and need to do a quick visa run to reset your tourist visa or change visas? Visa runs are a common practice for foreigners residing in Korea who need to extend their stay without the luxury of obtaining a long-term visa. Or, if you’re changing your visa, a visa run may be in order. I had to do a visa run decades ago when I was switching from a tourist visa to an E2 teaching visa in Korea. If you’re trying to figure out how easy a visa run is, where the best places for you to take a quick visa run from…
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A Guide To Winter In Korea: Snow and Ice and Everything Nice
Though the winter in Korea can be cold, maybe even frigid at times, there can also be some beautiful wintery white landscapes, light festivals, and iced over canyons and waterfalls that create beautiful experiences. Make sure you know what to pack for winter, and you’ll be able to stay warm while enjoying this magical season. From street food to warm your insides and heat packs to warm your outsides, zip up, get out, and there is plenty to enjoy about winter in Korea. Winter is one of the top travel seasons in Korea. What to expect: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a…
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Where To Buy A TMoney Card For Korea
When planning your visit to South Korea, one indispensable item to acquire is a T-Money card. This versatile transportation card is your key to convenient travel on public transportation networks throughout South Korea, including subways, buses and even taxis. After purchasing and loading credit onto your T-Money card, you can begin to hop from transport option to transport option. You can even use Korean T-money cards for shopping at some traditional Korean markets, in convenience stores, and more. But first, you need to get one. If you’re already in Korea, there area few places you can buy a T-money card, even custom T-money cards. If you’re abroad, you’ve got some…
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A Guide to Fall In Korea: Foliage and More
Fall in South Korea is a time of vibrant colors, crisp air, and beautiful landscapes. As the summer heat subsides the scenery transforms to fall flowers like cosmos and pink muhly and then transforms again to colorful fall foliage in Maple reds, Metasequoia oranges, and Ginkgo yellows. From what to expect from fall weather in Korea to what to wear and the festivals to find, this is your guide to fall in Korea. Delve into the seasonal activities in Seoul and revel in the delicious delicacies that make autumn in Seoul so much better. There is so much to enjoy about fall in Korea. Fall is one of the top…
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A Guide to Summer in Korea: Get Ready For Fun
Summer in South Korea is a season of heat and humidity, some monsoons, but also a lot of fun! If you’re planning to visit Korea during the summer, be prepared to experience some wet and wild festivals, beaches to cool off, and more. From music festivals to traditional celebrations, there is plenty to make you forgot how hot it is… maybe. Although it can be hot and sticky, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat and enjoy all that this amazing country has to offer. In this guide, we’ll explore the top festivals, activities, and tips to help you make the most of your summer adventure in Korea.…
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Spring in Korea: Weather, Cherry Blossoms, Festivals & Travel Tips
Spring in South Korea is a time of renewal, rejuvenation, and cherry blossoms! If you’re a flower hunter, spring might be the best time to visit Korea. If you’ve been in Seoul throughout the winter, when spring comes, it is as if everyone has collectively awoken from a slumber. The sun begins to warm everything up and energize people to get out too. It’s a time for moving, grooving, but also dust. Learn all you need to know about spring in Korea and what to expect in the spring in Seoul to make the most of your adventure to the Land of the Morning Calm. Spring is one of the…
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Tipping In Korea: The Complete Guide to Tipping Culture, Etiquette, and When It’s Actually Rude
I was out for lunch with an old Korean halabeoji, or grandpa, I’ve known for about a decade. He’s the kind of man who orders soju at noon without hesitation and insists you join him even if you have work afterward. We go to all kinds of restaurants together and he acts like he knows everyone everywhere. He might honestly. On this particular day, he did something that genuinely surprised me. On the way out, he tipped the restaurant staff. Then he tipped the valet who brought his car around. Tipping in Korea is not the norm. But it happens, and knowing when it’s appropriate, when it’s unnecessary, and when…
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Can I use the Wise Card In Korea? How To Send Money To Korea
Whether you’re looking to travel to Korea for the first time or you’re moving to Korea and want to be able to use your money from home in Korea easily, you should look into the Wise travel card when it comes to converting currencies and getting away from card fees and bad exchange rates. I first started using Wise when I was traveling outside of Korea and wanted to make sure I had money. If you’re a resident of Korea and traveled abroad, you’ve probably found like me, it was hit or miss to use your local Korean cards when abroad. What’s that about? Having thoroughly tested my Wise card…
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How To Rent A Car In Korea: From Seoul To Jeju
Travel around Seoul for a week or more and you’ll quickly realize that a car is NOT the way you want to go. The traffic can be horrendous and with an amazingly huge subway system that can get you throughout the city and even out to suburbs and islands nearby, why take a car? Well, once you’re out of the city, and definitely if you plan to visit Jeju Island, you quickly realize that your own transportation is really ideal. Trains and buses can get you to most of the major hot spots and must see places in South Korea, but there are a ton of hidden gems in Korea…
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What are the travel requirements for South Korea?
Are you thinking about traveling to South Korea? The country is one of the top places to visit in the world today. Do you know what you need to travel into the country? The travel requirements changed for tourists during Covid and while some of those updates will go away, some are here to stay. We will go through the list of travel requirements for South Korea and other things you may need to know. Do you need to get travel documents translated into Korean? Can you just walk right through immigration as a tourist to Korea? Let’s see. Get ready to travel to Korea: (This post contains affiliate links,…
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Everything you need to know about K-ETA
Before you head to the airport to take a trip to South Korea, read this! As of September 2021, visa-free travelers are required to apply for and get the K-ETA online before they board the plane. Airline staff will ask you if you’ve prepared this before you depart. Make sure you take all of the necessary steps to ensure that you can get to Korea complication free. Read through the cheat-sheet of info below so you’re not left standing at the gate unable to board your flight! Get ready to fill out your K-ETA and travel to Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage…
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Best Hanbok Rental In Seoul: Where To Rent Near Gyeongbokgung & Bukchon
You might think renting a Hanbok in Seoul is just for tourists, but honestly, it’s something even locals love to do too. I’ve seen couples on dates, families with kids, and groups of friends all dressed up wandering through palaces like they’ve stepped straight into the Joseon Dynasty. And I get it. The moment you put one on, everything feels a bit more magical. If you’re wondering where to rent a Hanbok in Seoul, especially near places like Gyeongbokgung Palace or Bukchon Hanok Village, you’re in the right place. After years of living here (and yes, wearing Hanboks myself for my wedding and plenty of photo days), I’ve put together…
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15 Mistakes Tourists Make When They Travel To Korea
You’ve taken the jump and are going to travel to Korea! Good for you. There are some cultural mistakes to avoid in Korea you should know though… well 15 things to know in this list. Before you take a trip to Korea, just remember that the crosswalk signal shouldn’t be pushed and you don’t need to tip. Why? Keep reading to learn about the most common mistakes people make when visiting South Korea. Here are 15 things not to do in Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for…
