Seoul It is the capital of South Korea.
Context
With more than 10 million inhabitants, which exceeds 20 million if the suburbs are included, Seoul is the largest city in South Korea and the main economic engine of the country.
The best times to visit Seoul are spring and fall. The months of July and August the heat is suffocating, especially due to the very high humidity. In winter it is very cold and snowfalls and frosts are frequent.
To get
By plane
- Incheon International Airport: This modern airport is located west of Seoul, about an hour's drive away (depending on traffic jams). Currently the airport does not have a metro stop to go to the city center, but there are several ways to get to the center:
- KAL Limousine Bus: quite comfortable. They cost W13000 one way and stop at the most important hotels in the center. There are several buses with different routes, so ask at the information desks, and make sure again before getting on the bus. Tickets can be purchased from the vendors located at the stops.
- Regular line buses: cheaper, although it can be more difficult to use. It is generally not recommended.
- Taxi: if shared between several people, it may be convenient to use a taxi. There are mainly two different types of taxi, the regular taxis, usually gray in color (although they can also be black), and the Deluxe Taxi, more expensive than normal taxis. The Deluxe Taxi are usually black, and usually carry the distinctive Deluxe Taxi painted. The minivan type taxis (Jumbo Taxi) cost the same as the Deluxe Taxi. Prices depend on the traffic jam and are around W45000 for regular taxis and W70000 for Deluxe and Jumbo taxis. There is a highway toll of about 7000 Won which is added to the total sum.
Boat
By train
By bus
By car
Travel
Boat
By subway
Seoul has an extensive subway network. In general, it is possible to visit the main tourist attractions by metro. The lines are numbered and have different colors. The stops are written in Korean and English. To facilitate orientation, the stops are numbered with 3 digits: the first digit indicates the line number and the next two indicate the stop number. Thus, stop 201 would correspond to line 2, stop 01 (City Hall). This numbering does not usually appear on subway maps, but it does appear on platforms, and it is especially useful to ensure that we are circulating in the correct direction. On each platform there are signs indicating the current stop (with its corresponding number) and the stops before and after, as well as an arrow indicating the direction of traffic.
Rates depend on the distance traveled, with 900 Won being the minimum rate.
If you intend to stay for several days, a recommended option is to purchase cards called T-Money. They are cards the size of a credit card. They cost 2500 Won. T-Money cards are recharged with an initial balance upon purchase. Likewise, it is possible to recharge them at the counter (just hand over the card at the counter with the amount of money you want to recharge) or at automatic machines. Once purchased and with an initial balance, you simply swipe the card on the sensor at the entrance of the metro (automatically deducts 900 won and shows the remaining balance). At the exit of the metro, the card is swiped through the sensor again to be able to exit. If you have to pay more for having traveled a longer journey, it is deducted from the card and the remaining balance is displayed.
T-money cards have several advantages:
- You don't have to buy a ticket every trip.
- If the number of stations allowed to travel with the minimum ticket (900 won) is exceeded, it is automatically discounted upon departure (as long as there is a balance), avoiding having to pay the difference in cash.
- Compared to regular prices, the price of the journey is a bit cheaper when using T-Money.
- Some soda and food machines allow you to pay using T-Money.
However, it has two drawbacks:
- The remaining balance can be exchanged again for money in the indicated stores, although they discount 600 Won.
- The cost of the card (2500 Won) is non-refundable.
Even so, if you intend to stay for several days, you can compensate paying that price for the comfort offered by the card.
By car
You should avoid using the car because of the huge traffic jams and also because it is not easy to find your way around the city. Most of the streets do not have the names indicated. Only the main streets are indicated with signs.
In taxi
There are mainly two types of taxi:
- Regular taxis: they are usually silver in color. They are relatively cheap, although it can sometimes be very difficult to find free taxis.
- Deluxe taxi: Mobeon Taxi in Korean, they are metallic black and have an inscription of Deluxe Taxi. They're more expensive.
Watch
- Namsangol Traditional Folk Village - reconstruction of part of a traditional village. Throughout the day there are different types of folk activities. It is a recommended visit and admission is free.
- 63 building - located next to the river, it is one of the tallest buildings in the city.
- Television tower - to get there you can take a cable car.
- Seodaemun Prison
- World cup soccer stadium
- Olympic Stadium
- COEX - houses an extensive shopping center, kimchi museum, cinemas, and other attractions
- Cheonggye Stream - water stream that runs through part of the city center
- Namdaemun
- Dongdaemun
Palaces
- Gyeongbokgung - It is the largest palace in Seoul. Some guards guard the entrance door.
- Changdeokgung - Entrance is only possible with guided tours in Korean, Chinese, Japanese or English (adults 3000 Won), with the exception of Thursdays when it is possible to visit the palace without a guide (although curiously the price is much higher, 15000 won). Inside the palace is the Biwon or secret garden.
- Deoksugung - 1000 Won ticket.
Temples
- Jogyesa - Buddhist temple in the city center
- Inwangsan - is one of the four mountains that surround Seoul. There are Buddhist and shamanist temples. There are also strange rock formations, and great views of the city. Access to Mount Inwangsan is quite difficult, as a building is currently being built in the vicinity. From exit 2 of the metro stop Dongnimmun, you have to go up the first street on the left and keep going up. Leaving the building under construction on the left, at the end you will come to an arch that indicates the entrance to Inwangsan. There is a map at the entrance, although its quality is low. One of the possible routes goes up a slope of the mountain in which small steps have been made on the rock. It is a dangerous path if you do not take precautions, and it may not be suitable for people who are not prepared. However, the views it offers are magnificent.
Do
Events (edit)
Activities
- Lotte World Amusement Park: It has an amusement park (adult entrance 26000 Won). It also has a shopping center, an ice skating rink, or a pistol shooting rink (10 shots, 20,000 Won)
Learn
Work
To buy
- Dongdaemun Market: all kinds of clothes, shoes and other products are sold. There are shopping centers for clothing, accessories and gifts, such as Migliore Mall, Doota mall or Hello apM
- Namdaemun Market: handicrafts, traditional products, food, ginseng.
- Yongsan Electronics Market: all kinds of electronic gadgets, from mp3 players to laptops. The prices are lower than the shopping center stores, although it is really difficult to find real bargains.
- Noryangjin Fish Market: it only sells fish, shellfish and other seafood. All kinds of fish are sold, which are alive in fish tanks, crabs, prawns and giant octopuses, as well as other species unknown for most western tourists. It is possible to go down to the level of the market, although it may not be recommended since the ground is full of water (people usually go with wellies). From the exit of the metro you can access the upper floor, from which it is possible to observe the market from above without having to walk on the wet floor.
- COEX Mall: shopping center with numerous stalls selling clothes, accessories, electronics, souvenirs ...
- Insadonggil: street full of traditional souvenir shops, ceramics, tea shops.
To eat
There are countless food stalls and restaurants. In shopping centers, a large part of the space is dedicated to food stalls, although in very few they offer menu in English.
- Insadong: one of the best streets to search. There are countless restaurants in its small streets.
- Korea House: [1] Korea House is no ordinary restaurant. Located in a traditional Korean building, it introduces the visitor to traditional Korean food and culture. They serve a traditional meal consumed by the royal court of the Joseon dynasty. There are only two shifts for dinner, the first at 5:30 p.m. and the second at 7:20 p.m., and you have to choose one of three menus: Nogeum Jeongsik of 57200 won, Cheongwu Jeongsik of 71500 won and Haerin Jeongsik of 99,000 won. The second menu includes the first, adding two more dishes. The third menu includes the second menu, adding three more dishes (including one of raw fish). There is also a buffet menu (30,800 won). The menus may seem a bit expensive for what is offered, although you do not pay only for the food, but for the atmosphere. The menus are not especially recommended for people who do not like to try new foods (including dried fish, seaweed, or jellyfish). After the second dinner shift, there is a highly recommended stage show (29,000 won per person) featuring traditional Korean songs and dances and a brief introduction to each of the dances shown on a screen.
Drink and go out
To get out of the night, there are several zones of march. The discos are called Nightclub:
- Itaewon: area very frequented by western tourists and American soldiers.
- Hongik: area located around the university, with numerous bars and nightclubs.
Sleep
Economic
Half
Waste
- Koreana Hotel: located in the center of Seoul, very well connected by subway and with stop of the KAL Limousine Bus. It offers numerous additional services (spa, gym, Internet) although they are charged. The rooms are spacious.
Keep in touch
To the visitor's surprise, there are countless free Internet access points. In many metro stops there are computers to access the Internet for free. Free Internet is also offered in some tourist information offices, some coffee shops, and it is even possible to see a Burger King restaurant with one or two laptops so that their customers can surf the Internet while enjoying a hamburger.
Throughout the city there are also Internet cafes, called PC Bang, which have powerful computers that young Koreans often use to play network games. An hour of Internet can cost 1000-2000 Won.
Security
Seoul is a very safe city. Many areas are monitored with CCTV cameras. As in any capital, you have to be careful with pickpockets, although it is unlikely to be robbed.
Health
Surroundings
- Suwon: it is possible to reach Suwon with the Seoul subway line 1, although you have to make sure that the train goes as far as Suwon (not all trains on line 1 go to this city). The journey takes about an hour and a half. It is possible to visit the Korean Folk Village and to Hwaseon in one day from Seoul.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Seoul.w: Seoul
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about SeoulCommons.
