In the project “Cudablin” we We send completely different people on trips at our expense! Alexander Snitovsky and Valeria Sokolova went to Seoul: they showed us one of the most photogenic places in the South Korean capital, told us what to try and put together a small program for exploring the city. More details in the report!
There is a country that we are ready to return to again and again… And it’s called South Korea! Here is the most delicious food in the world, the best shopping, the most helpful people and unreal nature.
Lera and I’s acquaintance with Seoul began 3 years ago, when I left here to receive higher education. Even then, I had the opportunity to get to know Korea as it really is!
Lera and I are catching the first rays of the sun at Gyeongbokgung Palace. This is
perhaps one of the most Instagrammable places in the Korean capital.
That is why I want to warn you in advance that if you are going to Korea and planning your cultural program using TripAdvisor, then your trip is doomed to failure.
Pay attention to bloggers who write about Korea and get to know the locals. If in the first case Instagram will help you, then in the second, feel free to download Tinder and look for guys who will help you with advice or generally keep you company on certain excursions, or maybe even take you to a club. Koreans are like that!
Well, now let’s get down to business from general advice!
When is the best time to fly to Seoul
«we took that photo 3 years ago, when we first saw cherry blossoms. It was just magical!
This is definitely mid-April or early October. During the rest of the year, you will also be delighted with the trip, but it is these time periods that will make you fall in love with Korea once and for all.
Where is the best place to stay
Definitely recommend the historic city center. For example, stopping in the popular Gangnam area could be your biggest mistake – you’ll spend a ton of money and take 20-30 minutes to get to any attraction.
If you don’t like to save money, then expect that the cost of a good hotel will cost you 10,000 rubles/day. If you prefer not to spend extra money, then there are plenty of hostels in Seoul. Many of them seem to be quite good. However, keep in mind that the most expensive thing in Seoul is rental property, so don’t be surprised by the prices. We stayed at the Fraser Place hotel chain. We were very pleased.
Things to try
Lera and I sincerely believe that Korean cuisine is the MOST TASTY ON THE PLANET!
So feel free to try everything that comes your way. However, keep in mind that all dishes that are red can burn your mouth and entire esophagus due to their incredible spiciness.
What to see
Watch everything, everywhere! From slums to popular attractions. For example, I love hanging out in Korean supermarkets (the most interesting ones are those located in residential areas), because there is an incredible amount of unusual products, goods, cafes and everything else.
And here is a small program for you that we put together for our trip in January (I assure you that at different times of the year you need to see and do different things in Seoul):
1. Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village;
2. Noryangjin Fish Market;
3. Yeouido Park;
4. Starfield Library and COEX Shopping Mall;
5. Myeongdong Shopping Street;
6. Student cafes and local supermarkets at the subway station Gongneung-ro (the place where I once lived);
7. Dongdaemun District: Gate and Plaza;
8. Hongdae area (wild clubs, shopping and other things – my favorite area in Seoul);
9. Park at Anyang Station;
10. Ihwa Mural Village;
11. Namdaemun Market.
Believe me, I could continue this list endlessly, but this is definitely enough for you if you want to get a good impression of the Korean capital!
Text and photo by: Alexander Snitovskii (@snitovskii)
Preview photo : Unsplash.com
