Many people go to Korea because dramas and K-pop have captured the hearts of millions, so travelers want to see the filming locations of their favorite series and buy souvenirs.
Travel Planning & Tickets
First, make a plan for where you want to go and what to see, and find visa information. Now, to enter the country, you only need a K-ETA - an analogue of a visa, which can be easily issued on their official website: you need to attach documents and pay 10 thousand won.
Next, you should choose air tickets with or without a transfer - it all depends on which city you want to go to. If you arrive in Seoul at Incheon Airport, then you can also exchange currency and buy a SIM card there.
When choosing a hotel, think about how you will get to the places you want to visit. Of course, it is very convenient to live in the center and walk everywhere, but hotels there can naturally cost more.
What to see in Seoul?
First of all, you can go to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main building of the Joseon Dynasty. Try to arrive early so you can see the changing of the guard at Gwanghwamun Gate at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. To visit the palace, you need to buy an entrance ticket, but if you rent a national Korean costume, then the entrance will be free. The second most important palace, Changdeokgung Palace, can also be accessed for free if you rent hanbok. It will especially appeal to those who love historical dramas.
Then you can go to the Buddhist temple of Chogye, the central building of Korean Zen Buddhism. Walk along the Seoullo 7017 overpass, which has now been turned into a park where flowers grow and art objects stand. Take a look inside the Seoul Tower, offering incredible views of the city from the upper floors. Walking along the central streets of Seoul, such as Myeongdong Street, you will realize how high-tech and stylish the city is! Moreover, completely opposite Korea can be seen in the village of Bukchon, where traditional Korean houses are still preserved.
All museums in the country are free, so feel free to stop by and study the history of Korea. The most interesting of them are the National Museum and the War Memorial of Korea. They are all interactive, you can listen to the tour.
Of course, many people go to Korea to walk along K-star Road! There are bears in honor of various K-pop artists, there are themed cafes, recording studios, you can meet famous artists.
Book lovers in Korea will also like it, because there is a huge Starfield library with an area of as much as 2,800 square meters. You can take one of the thousands of books and read in a comfortable armchair.
On the next day of your stay in Korea, drive to Nami Island, home to two large parks, Petite France and the Garden of Morning Calm. You can get here by metro, ferry or bus. Here you can spend the whole day walking through the picturesque natural areas.
By the way, the drama "Winter Sonata" was filmed on the island - a memorial plaque and a statue with the main characters remind of this.
Petite France Park is dedicated to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's book The Little Prince. Nearby there is the Italian Village, where there are small shops with souvenirs and cafes, here you can get to wine tasting and make a picture from Italian mosaics.
You can feel Zen in the Garden of Morning Calm: it was created by Sammyuk Sang Kyung-han in 1996 to show the incredible nature of Korea. The garden can be seen in many dramas, filming is constantly taking place here.
If the weather is good during your visit to Korea, no doubt go to Sokcho City and Seoraksan National Park! There are three directions for hiking of varying difficulty. Dress in comfortable clothes, because it will take a long time to walk.
Another city to visit is Gyeongju. Here, visit Taeureunwon Park, Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and Donggung Palace. Bulguksa, the "Temple of the Land of Buddha", and the Seokguram grotto, built in the VIII century, are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Tongun Palace and Wolchi Pond are the ruins of an ancient palace and an artificial pond that have been standing here since 674. Check out the Cheomseongdae Observatory and the royal tomb.
Attractions in Busan
You can get here from Seoul by train. Upon arrival, head to the Avenue of Stars, where the Busan International Film Festival takes place every year. Next to the alley, there is a huge Jagalchi market where you can taste fresh seafood.
Then you can go to the village of Gamcheon, where the houses are built in the form of a staircase at the foot of the mountain. Take a walk here, make atmospheric photos, and then drive to Haedong Templ, one of the famous monasteries of the Chogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It was built by the monk Naonom, but during the Japanese invasions of Korea, the monastery burned down, so that later the temple was restored by the monk Ungan.
To look at the city from above, go to Sky Walk igidae Park: there is an observation deck with a transparent hinged bridge. Not for the faint of heart!
You need to put an end to your visit to Busan in the Everland amusement park: here you can not only ride, but also go to the zoo, watch bird shows and look at pandas.
