- First-hand where we say so — we name the places we’ve actually stayed
- No invented prices, no made-up restaurants, no AI filler
- Written to stay true — methods, not details that rot
- Interactive tools so you can test any of it yourself
Seoul is a city of ten million people wrapped around mountains, where six-hundred-year-old palaces sit two subway stops from neighbourhoods that set global trends in music, skincare and food. It is enormous, immaculately organised, open extremely late, and far easier to travel in than its size suggests.
Why it's worth the flight
Few cities compress this much variety into one metro system. You can hike a granite peak in the morning, eat at a market stall at lunch, sit in a Joseon-era palace garden in the afternoon and be in a fourth-floor cocktail bar at two in the morning. The public transport is among the best in the world and the city is exceptionally safe.
When to go
Spring, roughly April to May, brings cherry blossom and mild weather. Autumn, late September through November, is the local favourite — clear skies and mountain foliage. Summer is hot, humid and includes a genuine monsoon. Winter is properly cold, with temperatures well below freezing, though the city is built for it and the food is at its best.
Where to base yourself
- Myeongdong — central, tourist-oriented, well connected, endless street food. Convenient rather than characterful.
- Hongdae — the university district. Young, loud, cheap, open latest.
- Ikseon-dong / Jongno — restored hanok alleys, cafes, and the historic centre on your doorstep.
- Itaewon / Hannam — international, hilly, good restaurants.
- Gangnam — polished, expensive, business-focused, south of the river.
What to eat
Korean barbecue is the obvious one and worth doing properly at a place full of Koreans rather than a tourist strip. Beyond it: bibimbap, kimchi jjigae, samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup), tteokbokki from a street cart, naengmyeon cold noodles in summer, and the whole institution of banchan — the free side dishes that arrive with everything and get refilled. Convenience-store food here is genuinely good, not a compromise.
Getting around
The subway is comprehensive, cheap, signposted in English and runs until roughly midnight. Buses fill the gaps. Taxis are plentiful and metered; the Kakao T app is the local standard. Walking is pleasant but Seoul is hillier than people expect — the city sprawls across and between mountains.
Long-haul to Asia is where points matter most
The gap between economy and business on a route this long is exactly where miles earn their keep. Here's how ordinary spending gets you there.
Don't miss
- Gyeongbokgung Palace — and the changing of the guard; renting a hanbok gets you in free.
- Bukchon Hanok Village — traditional houses on a hillside. Go early; people live here.
- Gwangjang Market — the old food market, and the best cheap eating in the city.
- Bukhansan or Inwangsan — a real mountain hike inside the city limits.
- A jjimjilbang — the Korean bathhouse, an institution and an experience.
The honest caveat
Seoul is vast and spread out; you will spend real time on the subway and should plan by district rather than hopping across the city repeatedly. Language is more of a barrier than in Japan or Singapore outside the main tourist areas — a translation app earns its place here.
What things actually cost there
Compare everyday prices across twenty cities — the index that shows you where your money stretches and where it evaporates.
Open the price index →