A country long steeped in cultural history and fame, this underrated and often overlooked area of Asia has a lot to be admired. After recently spending 5 Weeks in South Korea, I fell in love with its stunning architecture, the vibrant cities, the peaceful and calm countryside, and the kindness of the people of Korea.

In this Guide I will be sharing how to make the most and get the very best out of a trip to South Korea, regardless of how long you plan to stay. From Seoul to Busan and everywhere in between, this country will simply leave you in awe and wondering why you’ve never been before.

Why South Korea?

Often overlooked compared to its close neighbour Japan, South Korea in its own right stands out from the crowd. Book ended both north and south by its two biggest and most popular cities of Seoul and Busan, this country boasts a dynamic flavour of the past, present, and the future. From the stunning mix of historical architecture and futuristic vibes in Seoul, to the laid back and colourful seaside of Busan, each city and town you may choose to visit offers something different and unique in its own special way. The food, the culture, the friendliness of the Korean people, South Korea has it all.

When to Visit

Personally I visited during the month of August, which was a tad on the hot and humid side at the best of times. It was suggested and I would recommend visiting during fall and the months of October/November or the spring time of April/May. Pleasant temperatures and cooler climates each side of the day, visiting during these months will give you the best all round experience. Although with all being said, during my 5 Weeks in Korea during the end of July and the whole of August, it was full of glorious blue skies and sunshine, I barely saw a drop of rain. Compared to the up and down weather in the UK, I guess I couldn’t complain.

How Long and Where to Stay

How long you plan to stay in South Korea for truly depends on how many different sides of the country you want to see. In a week, you can split your time between Seoul and Busan taking in the key sights of each. With two weeks, you can take things at a more leisurely pace in the big cities and also enjoy a more calm and peaceful way of life in the countryside visiting towns and cities such as Daegu and Gyeongju. When planning a itinerary always keep travel days in mind, and for example if you have a return flight from Seoul, obviously you will need to leave a day spare at the end to give yourself sufficient time to return from Busan.

For Seoul, I recommend staying in the district of Myeong-dong. Although a little touristy, Myeong-dong is very centrally located and serves as a great base for a stay in Seoul. The district itself hosts a great selection of attractions and come night-time is a bustling street food market heaven for you to indulge within each night. Furthermore, if you like your shopping, Myeong-dong is a main shopping area of Seoul, with its vibrant neon lights and party-like atmosphere to keep all entertained.

As for Busan, once again I recommend staying central, and in the vicinity of the Seonmyeon Metro Station. Not only because this area has an abundance of attractions and eating outlets nearby, the Metro Station itself connects a series of lines that will literally allow you to travel in all directions. You can use the orange number 1 line to go north and south towards Gamechon Culture Village, and also the green number 2 line to head west towards the airport and east towards Haeundae beach. Staying in this area will give you a great deal of flexibility when planning each day during your time in Busan.

Getting Here and around

When arriving in South Korea, you’re most likely going to be arriving at Incheon International Airport which serves as the main international airport for Seoul. Located just outside Seoul itself, the city can easily be reached by various different ways. The most cheapest and efficient way to get into Seoul is to use the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) which takes you straight into and as far as Seoul Central Station. The local train takes roughly an hour and serves all stations en route, whereas the slightly more expensive express train can take as little as just over 40 minutes and goes non-stop from the airport to Seoul Central Station. Further modes of transport into Seoul includes Bus and Taxi.

As for getting around South Korea, I suggest to purchase a T-Money card asap. These cards which can be purchased at convenience stores and in vending machines, allows you to load pre-paid money onto the card which can then be used on the Metro, Buses, and other modes of transport throughout Korea. A simple tap-on and off system makes it easy to get around. When traveling further afield and city-to-city, and depending how far you’re traveling, tickets for the KTX (Bullet Train), local trains, and buses can all be purchased as late as on the day at the station of departure. As a rough idea, the KTX can take you from Seoul to Busan in as quick as 2 hours 15 minutes.

Photography/Camera Gear

Photography in South Korea can be a tricky one. As a whole, street photography laws are much more strict here and it’s sometimes frowned upon as a lot of locals don’t like to be photographed. Sure, shooting on the streets is okay, and I had no problems along the way, but just be wary of who you’re shooting and don’t intrude personal space when doing so.

During my time in South Korea I almost exclusively used a 35mm lens, it was stuck to my Camera the whole journey. I’ve found that such wider focal lengths are perfect for the hussle and bustle in the hetic nature of Asia. Tight streets, winding alleyways, constantly moving within crowds, I only bought my 35mm before the trip, and I truly wish I had purchased it sooner.

Seoul

The capital of South Korea, the beautiful metropolitan city of Seoul is incredibly diverse and cultural all the same. From K-Pop heaven and modern skyscrapers, to historic palaces and temples, this city truly has it all. In truth, you could easily spend a week or more in just Seoul alone. With so much to see and do plus optional day trips to local cities and also a DMZ visit starting in Seoul, when planning a trip to Korea I would plan the main focus here. The Seoul Metro is extensive, but it was honestly one of the most easiest and best metro systems I’ve used. Below are some suggestions on how to spend your days in Seoul:

On your first day in Seoul, I’d suggest taking it easy just getting used to your surroundings (especially if overcoming jetlag), and spend the day based in and exploring Myeong-dong. Start the morning with a trip up to Namsam Tower to overlook the city, wandering through the beautiful streets filled with markets and stunning views of the tower along the way. The tower itself is located on top of a hill, therefore you can either complete a short hike, or use the cable car to get there and back. After this, spend the time exploring the vibrant and fun-filled district of Myeong-dong to your hearts content, there is plenty to discover and find.

Seoul is home to historic palaces and various symbols of the nations past, and the district of Samcheong-dong is host to the two main palaces of Changdeokgung and Gyeongbokgung. These two palaces are renowned and stamped with stunning architecture and the most aesthetically pleasing features, you can really sense and feel the historical impact here. In between them both is a series of small winding streets featuring a selection of small cafes and shops. Furthermore, here is where the Bunchon Hanok Village can also be found which contains and maintains the traditional Korean style housing. Overall, I’d dedicate a whole day to exploring this area of the city.

Although museums aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, Seoul has a selection of them for you to enjoy. Personally, I normally save them to visit on a rainy day. All located roughly in the same area of the city in the district of Itaewon, the three museums I visited and can recommend are the National Museum of Korea, The War Memorial of Korea, and the Leeum Muesum of Art. If like me you are interested in learning more about the history of Korea, then the first two mentioned are well worth your time to visit. For a more arty, funky and vibrant vibe, check out the Leeum Museum of Art.

To get more of a feel for local life away from touristic crowds, one suggestion would be to a visit a variety of markets away from the centre. Easily reachable by metro, all around the station of Jegi-dong the markets are full of interesting and feature filled items, ranging from the norm to the extreme. Food, gadgets, furniture, anything and everything can be found. The markets seem to stretch for miles, and are a real eye opener to the local way of life.

If design and architecture is your style, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is the place to be. A strong feature of Seoul, the DDP showcases elements of art and technology well beyond its years. This futuristic building hosts a series of projects and events which elevates new worlds within the city of Seoul. Conventions, Concerts, Fashion shows and more are regularly hosted here. With the district of Dongdaemun being the fashion hub of Seoul, the DDP was designed and built with this in mind.

Each district of Seoul offers something new and exciting, just wandering around the streets of Seoul will have you loving the city more and more. From Hongdae to Gangnam, Myeong-dong to Itaewon, the possibilities when exploring Seoul are endless.

Busan

Located in the far south east corner of South Korea is the beautifully colourful city of Busan. The second most populated city in the country after Seoul, Busan is a large port city which offers a more laid back and relaxed lifestyle in comparison. Well known for its beaches, temples and mountains, this is a city that just keeps giving. With such a varied range of activities and areas to visit, you can easily divide your time here between exploring and relaxing on one of its many beaches, the choice will be yours. Furthermore, once again Busan has great transport links allowing you to cover each and every corner of the city as easily as possible. Below are some suggestions on how to spend your days in Busan:

To kick things off, one of the main attractions and centre points of Busan is the Gamcheon Culture Village. This area contains a wide selection of colourful houses and tight winding alleyways, most of which you can go down and view. The village itself is situated on top of a hill from which at the top contains amazing views down into the port of Busan. With it being such a vibrant and beautiful area, it could easily be mistaken for a suburb in South America, it’s a great place to explore. It is however also a residential area, therefore it is important to be respectful when visiting. To reach the Village, you will need to take the metro and the orange number 1 line to Toseong station, then from there you have a few options. One being an uphill walk of around 15 minutes along the road to the top of the hill, or alternatively take a Bus or Taxi. Either way, I’d suggest starting from the top and working your way across and then down further into the village. Enjoy the views first, then go from there.

Moving to the east of the city, Haeundae Beach is another major focal point of Busan. Attracting thousands and thousands of Koreans and tourists alike each year, this gold sand beach offers a stunning area for you to relax within and enjoy. Home to many attractions and restaurants, Haeundae contains a mix of local and western delicacies for you to indulge in between spending time in the Sun. Although a little touristy, Haeundae is a great place to unwind and recover.

A attraction well worth visiting and riding in Haeundae is the Sky Capsule. This leisurely ride within your own personal cabin and pod takes you along the coastline offering scenes of beautiful coastal scenery and views of the landscapes of Busan in the distance. The journey itself takes roughly 30 minutes, and takes you from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo or vice-versa. Personally, I recommend starting the journey from Cheongsapo and coming back towards Mipo, as Mipo is directly next to Haeundae Beach. Although not entirely necessary, I also suggest booking tickets in advance as some time slots sell out quickly weeks prior. With that being said, I turned up and managed to gain tickets straight away, even though it said they were sold out for the day online.

Jagalchi Market is a well known spot in the Nampo-dong district in the south of the city. The flourishing and always active market on the port shores are famous for its ever growing selection of seafood for you to purchase and enjoy. Containing many different stalls and restaurants, this area once again offers a glimpse into a more local way of life. The full range of random and fascinating seafoods will keep you entertained and amazed as you walk through the maze. From Fish to the Octopus, it really highlights what creatures roam our Oceans. Simply work your way from one end to another, winding down each different path as you go. Afterwards head slightly further back into the city to explore the shopping scene and attractions of Nampo-dong.

Busan as a whole I feel is a more all-round and complete city than Seoul, simply because you have that option of the coast to relax when and where needed. I was born and grew up on the seaside of the UK, so maybe I am biased and it’s because the feeling of home pulls me more in favour of Busan. However when all is said and done, there is no denying Seoul is an incredible city, and one which will leave you wanting to visit again and again. Its electric atmosphere creates a vibe which is hard to replicate, and this is what attracts people around the World to Seoul. Slowly but surely South Korea is becoming a more renowned and popular destination within Asia to visit, and after spending 5 weeks there, I loved every minute, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

From Seoul to Busan, South Korea will truly fill you with happiness and joy.