Seoul
Seoul is a mega-city that somehow keeps costs remarkably low, with world-class street food, free palaces, and an ultra-efficient subway costing under $2 a ride. From neon-lit Hongdae to royal Gyeongbokgung, you get big-city thrills on a small-city budget.
Why go to Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Korea's grandest Joseon-era palace, with the hourly changing of the royal guard ceremony included free with entry.
N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower)
Iconic hilltop tower offering sweeping 360° views over the entire Seoul skyline, reachable by cable car.
Bukchon Hanok Village
A living neighborhood of 600-year-old traditional hanok houses draped over a hillside between two palaces.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Zaha Hadid's futuristic silver landmark hosts cutting-edge design exhibitions and buzzes with energy 24 hours.
Lotte World & Lotte World Tower
One of the world's largest indoor theme parks sits beneath Korea's tallest skyscraper featuring a vertiginous glass-floor observation deck.
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Good to know in Seoul
- Get a T-money card at any convenience store for $2.50 and load it up, subway rides are a flat $1.30-1.50 and buses connect everywhere, making taxis rarely necessary.
- Tipping is not customary in South Korea and can even cause confusion; simply say thank you and move on at restaurants, cafes, and taxis.
- Tap water in Seoul is completely safe to drink and is even marketed as 'Arisu' by the city, skip bottled water entirely.
- Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Deoksugung palaces all offer free entry on the last Wednesday of each month (Culture Day), and children under 7 are always free.