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An Extremely Detailed Guide On How To Have An Amazing 6-Day Trip In Seoul Under RM3,000

Time for an awesome adventure.

Cover image via SAYS

Wanderlust hit me early this year and I responded by booking myself a spring trip to Seoul, South Korea

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

!I was joined by two friends who were also itching to travel. We set our trip for the end of spring (end of May) due to time constraints and flight costs. Flights to Seoul are generally more expensive during spring (April - beginning of May), so plan ahead if you want to visit Seoul in the peak of the season.

The three of us agreed on a budget of under RM3,000 per person for a 7-day, 6-night trip. I'm not going to include the last day in the rest of this story (excluding the part where I explain accommodation details) because our flight back to Kuala Lumpur was at 9.30am on Day 7.

TIP: If you travel in a group, travel with people that have a similar travelling style and spending habit as you so that the planning process and the actual trip go smoothly. Just imagine travelling with someone who prefers to stick to an itinerary, while you're someone who prefers to just go with the flow. Oh my!

The total cost per person for the entire 6D6N trip to Seoul and Nami Island is approximately RM2,743

You might think that the overall cost of my trip is low due to the fact that I travelled with two other people. But please do bear in mind that we only divided the cost of two important things between the three of us - accommodation and the pocket Wi-Fi. I myself paid for almost everything else at full cost.

Don't worry, your trip can still be under RM3,000 if you travel solo. You just need to adjust your budget accordingly. For example, you can easily book a bed at a nice hostel in Seoul for under RM500 for 6 nights. That's about the same price I paid for my accommodation. Check out sites like Hostelworld for a nice place at a good deal.

So that's if you think the cost of my trip is low. But what if you think the cost is high?

Well in all honesty, I wasn't too budget-conscious when I planned this trip. I mean, I even went ziplining! In addition, I spent more money on food because I usually joined my friends for meals at halal restaurants. Halal food in Seoul is generally pricier than non-halal food (example: a ₩6,000 - ₩12,000 halal meal vs. a ₩4,000 - ₩8,000 non-halal meal).

I hope this gives you some insight on why I spent this amount of money on my trip. Budget preference differs from person to person, so as long as you're enjoying your trip to the fullest, you're all set! Now that this is out of the way, let's move on to the next part.

Here's the cost breakdown of my trip (per person):

• Return flight tickets = ~RM900
• Accommodation for 6 nights = RM457
• Internet/pocket Wi-Fi = RM26
• Food = ~₩140,000 (~RM540)
• Transportation (subway + taxi) = ~₩70,000 (~RM270)
• Shopping (with instant tax refund by shops) = ~₩35,000 (~RM135)
• Souvenirs = ~₩30,000 (~RM116)
• Nami Island (zipline package) = ₩38,000 (~RM147)
• Namsan Seoul Tower = ₩18,500 (~RM72)
• Miscellaneous = ~₩20,000 (~RM80)

TOTAL SPENT = ~RM2,743

Read on for more details.

I know how much of a pain in the a** it is to research everything you need to know, so I thought I’d share my experience with you to help lessen that burden

Here's a rough breakdown of my entire trip - my spending, our 6D6N itinerary, plus some tips and helpful information on Seoul and Nami Island.

I'll break everything down into four parts:

PART 1: Things I Paid For In Ringgit Malaysia (RM) / Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)
PART 2: Things I Paid For In South Korean Won (₩)
PART 3: Helpful Information On Seoul & Nami Island
PART 4: Packing For The Trip
PART 5: 6D6N Itinerary For Seoul & Nami Island

Please note that all numbers with the symbol ~ (eg: ~RM900) are approximate numbers.

PART 1: Things I Paid For In Ringgit Malaysia (RM) / Malaysian Ringgit (MYR)

PART 1 consists of:

a) Flight (~RM900)
b) Accommodation (RM457)
c) Internet/Pocket wifi (RM26)

TOTAL (Flight + Accommodation + Internet/pocket wifi) = ~RM1,383 per person

1a) Flight (~RM900)

Image via Gifs

My friends and I booked our tickets in January for our 6D6N trip in May. We each paid under RM800 for promo AirAsia return flight tickets to Seoul (Incheon International Airport) from Kuala Lumpur. We forked out extra because we added on checked baggage. So including checked baggage, our flight came up to about RM900 for return tickets + checked baggage.

Checked baggage fee included, we still managed to score a pretty good deal on airfare, especially considering that AirAsia return flight tickets normally cost between RM1,000 - RM1,500 (see screenshot example below).

Return flight tickets to Seoul, South Korea usually cost between RM1,000 - RM1,500.

Image via AirAsia

TIP 1: If you’re travelling in a group, buy your tickets together under one booking number so you can share the checked baggage allowance.

TIP 2: When booking your tickets through a low-cost airline that has add-ons, decide if you want to add-on checked baggage there and then. You could potentially save money, because there may be different fees during initial booking and after initial booking.

TIP 3: Use Skyscanner to search and compare flight options and prices.

Skyscanner is a travel search engine that allows you to view and compare flight options and prices.

Image via Skyscanner

1b) Accommodation (RM457)

Image via Bora/Airbnb

The three of us wanted our own private space with at least two rooms - all at an affordable rate. Luckily, I managed to book such a place through Airbnb in the form of a small apartment located in Gangbuk-gu (30 minutes away from central Seoul).

The apartment costed RM1,371 for 7 days and 6 nights. That’s RM457 per person (RM76.17 per night per person).

The apartment came with two rooms, three single beds, a bathroom, kitchen, small living area, and basic amenities. It was strategically located near the subway station (Miasageori Station), a Lotte Department Store, two 7-Elevens, a McDonald’s, and several other eateries.

TIP: Book a place on Airbnb if you want to experience how locals live. Just remember to check out the reviews of the place you want to book to avoid disappointment.

1c) Internet (RM26)

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

South Korea has the fastest Internet speed in the world, with an average speed of 29Mbps. You can easily get free Wi-Fi almost anywhere in Seoul. To connect to the Internet, just lookout for one of the many Wi-Fi hotspots in Seoul.

For convenience sake, my friends and I decided to rent a pocket Wi-Fi to share among the three of us. A pocket Wi-Fi is a portable wireless modem that allows you to connect to the Internet using your Wi-Fi enabled device (phone, laptop, etc.).

We decided to rent a pocket Wi-Fi because we didn’t want to go through the hassle of having to keep switching Wi-Fi networks during our trip.

We went with Wiyo because they were having a RM14/day promotion for Korea. The usual rental fee is RM20 per day for Korea. The rental fee came up to RM277 (including a refundable deposit of RM200). Excluding the refundable deposit, we only needed to pay RM26 per person (RM77/3 people). Of course if you want to minimize spending, just forgo this option altogether.

TIP: If you desperately need to go on the Internet, head over to a subway station. More often than not, it will have free Wi-Fi available for use.

Image via Wiyo

PART 2: Things I Paid For In South Korean Won (₩):

I changed approximately RM1,900 for about ₩493,000

Image via Gifs

However, I only spent about ₩351,500 (~RM1,360) in Seoul and Nami Island during our 6D6N trip. I had ₩141,500 (~RM540) left over. ₩1,000 was roughly RM3.85 (as of May 2017). Please note that most of these numbers are approximations of the cost in South Korean Won (₩) and the exchange rate to Ringgit Malaysia (RM).

Here's what I spent my money on:

• Food = ~₩140,000 (~RM540)
• Transportation (subway + taxi) = ~₩70,000 (~RM270)
• Shopping (with instant tax refund by shops) = ~₩35,000 (~RM135)
• Souvenirs = ~₩30,000 (~RM116)
• Nami Island (zipline package) = ₩38,000 (~RM147)
• Namsan Seoul Tower = ₩18,500 (~RM72)
• Miscellaneous = ~₩20,000 (~RM80)

TOTAL (Food + Transportation + Shopping + Souvenirs + Nami Island + Namsan Seoul Tower + Miscellaneous) = ~₩351,500 / ~RM1,360

PART 3: Helpful Information On Seoul & Nami Island

Image via Pinterest

PART 3 consists of:

a) Transportation
b) Apps
c) Random Things To Note
d) Nami Island
e) Namsan Seoul Tower
f) Things To Try

3a) Transportation

Image via Gif

Public transportation in Seoul is amazing! The Seoul Metro subway is so well connected that I only took the taxi a few times. I didn’t even need to take the bus. Be sure to get a transportation card in the form of a T-Money card or Korea Tour Card to get a ₩100 discount per trip!

SUBWAY
The subway network has 9 numbered lines that take you around the city and its surroundings. It also has other connected lines that take you further out of the region.
Its railway system is very organised but it may overwhelm you at first, so I recommend downloading an app to help you navigate your way around the city (read below).

Just be warned, you’ll be doing a lot of walking and stair climbing when you take the subway. A LOT. Your legs will be one of your main modes of transportation, so equip them with your comfiest shoes. ;)

Image via says.com

BUS
The bus system is just as organised as the subway system. The entire Seoul area is divided into eight zones, and different types of buses serve each zone. Seoul buses are divided into four colours, which serve four different lines - blue (Main Line), green (Branch Line), red (Wide Area Line), and yellow (Circular Line). Bus numbers are based on the colour of the bus. Blue buses have 3-digit bus numbers, green buses have 4-digit bus numbers, red buses have 4-digit numbers that start with "9", and yellow buses have 2-digit bus numbers).

TIP: Use the Mobile Seoul website for details on bus stops and bus routes. The website provides a bus' start and end time as well as estimated arrival times at each stop.

Image via Mobile Seoul
Image via Mobile Seoul

TAXI
It’s pretty easy to hail a cab in Seoul. They’re everywhere. General taxis are either silver or orange in colour. Deluxe taxis are usually black, so avoid these at all costs (unless you’re feelin’ fancy). You can pay for your ride by cash or using your transportation card. The base fare for regular taxis is ₩3,000 (first 2km). Most taxi drivers don’t speak English. It helps if you show them your destination in Hangul/Korean alphabet (eg: Tongin Market = 통인시장).

TIP: Search your destination on Google Maps. You'll be able to see the name of your destination in English and Hangul.

Image via Google Maps

TRANSPORTATION CARD
Locals use transportation cards such as the T-Money card to pay for public transportation. You save ₩100 per trip if you use your transportation card instead of cash. You can use the card to pay for the subway, bus, and taxi. The card can be reloaded at the airport, subway stations, and convenience stores (eg: 7-Eleven).

TIP: Get a Korea Tour Card instead of a T-Money card. A Korea Tour Card is similar to a T-Money card, except that it is exclusively for international tourists. With a Korea Tour Card, you get cool benefits and discounts on admission fees, shopping, and more!

3b) App

Image via Giphy

EXPLORE SEOUL SUBWAY MAP
Because I couldn’t be bothered to map out my train routes, I downloaded a handy dandy app to help me out. There are several subway map apps out there. I went with the Explore Seoul Subway map app. It estimated my travel times, mapped out my routes between stations, and provided me with route details (eg: Take Line 4, for 10 stops towards Oido).
Download via Apple App Store
Download via Google Play Store

HALAL KOREA
South Korea launched the HALAL Korea app especially for Muslims travellers. If you're Muslim, you can use this helpful app to find places to eat, to check prayer times in Korea, and to learn Korean phrases that'll be useful to you as a Muslim (eg: when you want to ask if something is halal).
Download via Apple App Store
Download via Google Play Store

VISIT KOREA: OFFICIAL TOUR GUIDE
The Visit Korea : Official Tour Guide app was created by the Korea Tourism Organization to help travellers navigate Korea. It provides you with a plethora of information on Korea. Use it for information on places, recommended tourist sites, places to eat, and so on.
Download via Apple App Store
Download via Google Play Store

NAVER KOREAN DICTIONARY & TRANSLATE
I would recommend using this app if you want to translate Korean words to English and vice versa. It's a better option compared to Google Translate, which sometimes gives you really weird translations.
Download via Apple App Store
Download via Google Play Store

3c) Random Things To Note

ESCALATOR
Stand on the right side, walk on the left side.

Image via lumilinko/Imgur

TOILET
Some toilets have old pipes that aren’t equipped to handle toilet paper. There’s usually a rubbish bin next to each toilet, and sometimes there’s a sign on the door asking you not to flush down your toilet paper. Soaps in public toilets usually come in the form of a bar of soap that's stuck at the end of a metal rod, right above the sink.

TIP: Bring travel soap like paper soap with you if you don’t like the idea of using bar soaps in public toilets.

Image via Gifs

WHAT TO WEAR
Seoul at the end of spring has hot afternoons, but it's mostly chilly, especially at night. Also, most Seoulites are fashion-conscious, so bring your 'A' game if you want to fit it with the crowd.

TIP: Wear light outerwear and pack heat retaining lightweight clothes like Uniqlo’s HEATTECH wear so you’re ready for both hot and cold temperatures.

Image via K-Pop Amino

SHOPPING
Shop at a Tax Free or Duty Free shop. Take advantage of all the tax refunds and discounts you enjoy as a foreign tourist. Bring your passport along when you go shopping because some shops offer immediate tax refunds (please note that you usually need to spend a minimum of ₩30,000). You’ll have to present your passport when you pay for your item(s).

Here’s a list of the shops in Seoul that offer immediate tax refunds. There are also a lot of duty free shops such as the Lotte Duty Free Shop, Shinsegae Duty Free Store, and more. Duty free shops do not apply taxes on the price of their items.

Image via Giphy

HALAL FOOD
A lot of the food in Korea contains some form of pork - meat, broth, soup base, etc. If you're Muslim, always check with your waiter beforehand to be safe. Check out Page 8 of the 'Muslim-Friendly Restaurants in Korea' e-book prepared by the Korea Tourism Organisation for a list of halal-certified restaurants.

TIP: Don't know where to go for halal food? Head over to one of the many Middle Eastern halal restaurants in Itaewon!

Image via Giphy

PHRASES

• Hello = An-nyeong-ha-se-yo (formal) / An-nyeong (informal)
• Yes = ne (as in ne in 'ne'ver, not k'ne'e)
• No = a-ni-yo (like aiyo, but with an added 'n')
• Thank you = Kam-sa-ham-ni-da
• Sorry = Je-song-ham-nida (formal) / Mi-an-hae-yo (informal)
• It's ok/it's alright/no problem/are you okay? = Gwaen-cha-na-yo (formal) / Gwaen-cha-na (informal)
• Excuse me = Shil-lae-hap-ni-da / Jo-gi-yo (polite form of 'hey')
• Do you speak English? = Yeong-eo ha-se-yo?
• Give me this, please = I-geo ju-se-yo (igeo = this, juseyo = please give me)
• How much is it? = Eol-ma-e-yo?
• I'm from Malaysia = Jeo-neun Mal-lei-shi-a e-seo wasseoyo / Mal-lei-shi-a e-seo was-seum-ni-da
• I'm Malaysian = Jeo-neun Mal-lei-shi-a sa-ram
• My name is ... = Je-i-rum-eun ... im-ni-da
• There is/are = Is-seo-yo
• There isn't/aren't = Ob-seo-yo
• Pork meat = Dwae-ji go-gi
• Is there pork in this? = Dwae-ji is-seo-yo?

P/S: We usually say takeaway, but Koreans say takeout.

Image via Giphy

3d) Nami Island

Nami Island at the end of spring.

Image via Syazwan Zahari

Nami Island or Namiseom Island is a small island located in Gangwon-do province, 63 km away from Seoul in the direction of Chuncheon. It’s famously known for being one of the main filming locations of the popular Korean TV drama, Winter Sonata. I suggest visiting Nami Island early in the morning on a Monday or Tuesday if you want to avoid crowds. It gets more congested as the days go by, with Saturday and Sunday being peak visiting days. You'll spend about 3 - 4 hours exploring the whole island.

Image via Yee Lin/Giphy

GETTING THERE
Cheongnyangyi Station -> Gapyeong Station. The nearest train station to Nami Island is the Gapyeong Station. Take the ITX – Cheongchun High Speed Train from the nearest starting point to you (either Yongsan Station or Cheongnyangni Station) to lessen your travel time. Normal train travel time = ~77 minutes vs. ITX train travel time = ~40 minutes.

From the Gapyeong Station, take either a taxi or bus to the Gapyeong Wharf. The wharf is pretty near to the station, so it won't cost you much even if you choose to cab it. At the Gapyeong Wharf, take either the ferry or zipline to Nami Island.

TIP: The ITX train has numbered seats, so book your ticket online or buy your ticket early to secure yourself a spot in the train.

LEAVING THERE
From the Gapyeong Wharf, walk about 200 meters till you’ve exited the outdoor car park entrance. You’ll see a bus stand and a taxi stand close to each other. If you’re part of a small group of people, then I suggest taking the taxi. It’ll only cost you about ₩3,000 for a ride back to the Gapyeong Station.

From the Gapyeong Station, take the ITX train to wherever you want to go to next. You can book your tickets online or buy them from one of the ticket booths in the Gapyeong Station. No worries, there’s an information counter right next to the ticket booths if you need any help.

ADMISSION FEE
Want a fun experience? Then I highly suggest taking the zipline into the island. It's 90 seconds of fun! A package to Nami Island by Namiseom Zip Wire costs ₩38,000 (zipline + visa fee + ferry ride back from Nami Island). The ferry, on the other hand, costs ₩8,000 for foreigners (round-trip ferry ride + visa fee).

3e) Namsan Seoul Tower

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Namsan Seoul Tower is also known as N Seoul Tower. According to the Korea Tourism Organization website, it's the "first tower-type tourism spot in Korea". Once a broadcast tower for TV and radio signals, Namsan Seoul Tower is now a famous landmark in Seoul. It's also the filming location of the popular Korean TV drama - Boys Over Flowers.

If you have ₩10,000 to spare, take the cable car up to the observatory deck to get a 360 degree view of Seoul. Make the most of your visit by going in the evening to watch the sunset. The view is b-e-a-utiful!

TIP: Use the restroom on Level 4. Seriously. DO IT. You'll be treated to a beautiful panoramic view of the city while you do your business. It'll be the most romantic pee of your life.

GETTING THERE
Board the Namsan Orumi elevator located at the entrance of Namsan Tunnel 3, up to the Namsan cable car area. Once you reach the area, walk towards the cable car building on your left to buy your ticket and board the cable car. The cable car costs ₩8,500 for a return ticket and ₩6,000 for a one-way ticket. It'll take you to and from the Namsan Seoul Tower.

LEAVING THERE
If you're able and you want to save some money, walk down the outdoor stairway and pathway at Namsan Seoul Tower. It'll take you about 30 minutes but it's worth it. You'll be able to check out some obvious and hidden spots along the way where you can get an amazing view of the city sans the (sometimes) dirty windows at the observatory deck.

ADMISSION FEE
Admission to the Seoul Tower costs ₩10,000 for adults and ₩8,000 for kids and the elderly.

3f) Things To Try

Image via K-Pop Amino

NAMISEOM ZIP WIRE
The usual mode of transportation to Nami Island is by ferry from the Gapyeong Wharf. But why do that, when you can do something completely different and a hundred times more fun? So if you do decide to visit Nami Island, ditch the ferry and zipline from a height of 80 meters to the island instead! You just need to head over to Namiseom Zip Wire tower located on Gapyeong Wharf. Don't worry, the tower is easy to spot.

Buy the ₩38,000 package for Namiseom (Nami Island) from the ticketing counter at the ground floor of the tower. The package includes a zipline ride to the island, island admission fee, and a ferry ride back to the wharf from the island. Once you've paid, you just need to wait in line to ride the elevator up to the top deck. There, you'll be briefed and prepped for the ride. It takes about 90 seconds from end to end.

TIP: If you want to record yourself, bring a camera with a strap. It can get windy and you don't want to lose your device to the body of water that surrounds the island.

DOSIRAK CAFE AT TONGIN MARKET
The Tongin Market near the Gyeongbokgung Palace is famous for its Dosirak Cafe. The cafe offers a very unique dining experience where you build your own dosirak/lunchbox. The interesting thing about this cafe is that the food is not in the cafe, but in participating food stalls located in the market.

Here's how it works:
Walk towards the cafe located in the middle of the market. Pay ₩5,000 for a tray and 10 brass coins. Now, take your tray and coins and start making your way around the market in search of delicious food. There are many food stalls in the market that participate in this activity and their stalls will have a sticker to indicate that, otherwise, just ask.

When you find your food of choice, pay for it with your brass coins. Food usually costs 2 coins, so you can get up to 5 different types of food. For my lunchbox, I decided to get an omelette, a pajeon (green onion pancake), fried chicken, gimbap (seaweed rice roll), and a bowl of spam rice with seaweed. Yum! Once you've assembled your lunchbox, head back to the cafe to enjoy your food.

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Part 4: Packing For The Trip

Image via giphy.com

Packing is always the sucky part of preparing for a trip. When packing, always consider what you might bring back from your trip. Expect to stock up on beauty products when you're in Seoul (yes, gentlemen, I'm talking to you too).

I told myself I wouldn't buy anything, but lo and behold, my luggage found itself carrying an extra passenger in the form of a tubful of Lush's Mask Of Magnaminty. I saved about RM20 (Price in Singapore = RM150, price in Seoul = RM130), so no regrets.

When you pack, try to pack less so that you don't suffer later on when you lug back all your shopping and souvenirs. It's pretty easy to pack light, but if you need some help on how to get started, check out the article I wrote earlier on how anyone can pack for a 7-day trip at under 7kg!

Part 5: 6D6N Itinerary For Seoul & Nami Island

DAY 1

My friends and I leave Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at 1.00am and arrive in Seoul, South Korea at 7.20am. Our small group of three wakes up at 5am during our flight to view the sunrise. It’s nice, but far too bright for our sleep-laden eyes, so we go back to sleep. The day is spent getting to our Airbnb from the Incheon International Airport (ICN) and attending the Seoul Rose Festival 2017.

9.30am: AREX Express Train -> Seoul Station. We get the ₩10,000 “Special Deal 2” that comes with 1 x one-way AREX Express Train Ticket + 1 x Korea Tour Card (zero value) from the ticket counter near Burger King.
11am: Early lunch at the Lotte Mart Food Court in Seoul Station.
2pm: Airbnb check-in
3pm: Post-flight afternoon nap
5pm: Seoul Rose Festival 2017 (₩4,000 on snacks)
8pm: Dinner at McDonald’s (try the bulgogi burger and the shrimp burger)
10pm: Back to Airbnb place to crash

5am view from the airplane headed towards Seoul, South Korea

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Deals available on train tickets to Seoul Station

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

A marker on the road that leads you to the Seoul Rose Festival @ Jungnangcheon Stream Rose Tunnel

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Seoul Rose Festival 2017 @ Jungnangcheon Stream Rose Tunnel

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

DAY 2

We have to wake up really early to catch our 8.16am train to Gapyeong Station, the nearest train station to Nami Island. Day 2 is a day of tall trees and fluffy sheep. There’s a lot of walking involved, but it’s okay because there’s a cool breeze wherever we go. The season is transitioning from spring to summer, so the afternoon weather is simultaneously hot and chilly. I don't know what to feel anymore.

7.30am: Miasageori Station -> Cheongnyangi Station -> Gapyeong Station (~40 minutes journey via ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train from Cheongnyangi Station - book your tickets online so you get a seat)
8.55am: Gapyeong Station -> Gapyeong Wharf via taxi (₩3,800. Just tell the taxi dude “Nami Island”)
9.20am: Zipline into Nami Island from Namiseom Zip Wire on Gapyeong Wharf
9.35am: Tuna kimbap breakfast on Nami Island
1pm: Lunch on Nami Island at - ₩10,000
2pm: Ferry from Nami Island to Gapyeong Wharf then taxi(₩3,000) to Gapyeong Station
2.31pm: Gapyeong Station -> Cheongnyangi Station (~40 minute journey via ITX Cheongchun High Speed Train from Gapyeong Station - book your tickets online so you get a seat)
4pm: Time to visit sheep at Thanks Nature Cafe near Hongik University Station
6pm: Myeong-dong street food
9pm: Back to Airbnb place

Ziplining into Nami Island from the Gapyeong Wharf (Zip Wire)

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Nami Island at the end of spring

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Resident sheep at Thanks Nature Cafe

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Myeong-dong, Seoul's primary shopping district

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

DAY 3

We wake up later than usual today. It's a take-it-easy kind of day. We have lunch in Myeong-dong before walking over to the Myeong-dong Cathedral. Then we head over to Leeum, a very interesting museum in Yongsan-gu. The architecture and design of the building itself are stunning. The museum has a good mix of modern and traditional art, so I do recommend a visit.

Dinner is at a bbq restaurant in Gangnam where we meet many other fellow Malaysian travellers. We spend the rest of the night walking around Gangnam Square. And no, we do not record ourselves doing the Gangnam Style dance.

11am: Lunch at Busan Jib in Myeong-dong
12.30pm: Myeong-dong Cathedral
2pm: Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art
6pm: Early dinner at Yang Good Korean BBQ Lamb Restaurant in Gangnam
8pm: After-dinner pancake and waffle treats at Butterfinger Pancakes at Gangnam
11pm: Back to Airbnb place

Myeong-dong Cathedral

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Busan Jib Restaurant @ Myeong-dong

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Yang Good BBQ Lamb Restaurant @ Gangnam

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art

Image via Syazwan Zahari/Instagram

DAY 4

Today is the day - sannakji (raw octopus) tasting day at the Noryangjin Fish Market! It's pretty empty in the afternoon, so we have the whole place to ourselves. The bad thing about this is that we're a very visible target to vendors trying to sell their seafood.

I suggest checking this place out if you want to see interesting sea creatures. Surprisingly enough, the market doesn't reek of fish so you don't have to worry about the smell.

After our raw octopus adventure, we decide to head over to the KBS building - South Korea's national public broadcaster. No Korean celebrities in sight though, oh well. From there, we head to the Banpo Rainbow Bridge to catch the water fountain show. I am disappointed. It's a pretty sight to see, but don't expect much colour as advertised (we stay for all the shows just in case, but we still do not much colour, oh well again).

Thankfully, the night takes a turn for the better as I devour a delicious lamb kebab wrap for dinner from Ankara Picnic in Itaewon.

12pm: Dongdaemun Design Plaza
1pm: Lunch at Lotteria
2pm: Mini after-lunch at Noryangjin Fish Market (raw octopus, yum! wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah)
5pm: KBS Building (missed seeing a Korean celebrity by a few seconds because we were too busy taking photos of the building sigh)
6pm: Snacks at Shinsegae Department Store Gangnam
7pm: Banpo Rainbow Bridge water fountain show (didn’t get to see much rainbow)
10pm: Kebab wraps for dinner at Ankara Picnic in Itaewon
11.30pm: Back to Airbnb place

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (sit closer to the fountain to see the colours)

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Opening scenes of '2 Days & 1 Night' (a popular South Korean variety show) are often shot in front of the KBS Main Building

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

TEST

Image via TEST

KBS Main Building

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

DAY 5

Time for some culture! Okay, admittedly, we don't learn much of the history of the the places we visit because we're too busy walking around and taking photos. If you’re interested in learning the history of the palaces, I’d suggest that you get a hire tour guide take you around.


Our evening is spent walking along the Cheonggyecheon Stream and the Insa-dong Art Street. We go back to Myeong-dong, mostly because of the yummy street food, but also to people watch.

9am: Bukchon Hanok Village
12.30pm: Dosirak/lunchbox lunch at Tongin Market
2pm: Changing of the Royal Guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace
5pm: Cheonggyecheon Stream
7pm: Insadong Art Street
8.30pm: Milky Bee rose shaped ice-cream in Myeong-dong
9pm: Dinner at Myeong-dong
10.30pm: Back to Airbnb place

Bukchon Hanok Village

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

The Royal Guard-Changing Ceremony @ Gyeongbokgung Palace

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Ssamziegil shopping complex in Insadong

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Rose-shaped strawberry & yogurt ice-cream from Milky Bee in Myeong-dong

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

DAY 6

We’re dead tired. Our legs are aching because we’ve been walking EVERYWHERE - all day, err day. We start our day late because... #malas. A lot of Day 6 is spent in Myeong-dong (boy do we go there often), mainly because it’s in walking distance to the Namsan Seoul Tower. And yes, we WALK to and from the tower from the Myeong-dong area (the section near the Myeong-dong Station). The nights are cold at the end of May so you don't sweat buckets as you walk, yay!

11.30am: Early lunch at The Original Pancake House in Itaewon
1pm: Ewha Womans University
4pm: LINE Friends Store in Myeong-dong & random street food noms
5.30pm: Namsan Orumi elevator
6.15pm: Sunset at the Namsan Seoul Tower
8pm: Dinner at Myeong-dong
10pm: Back to Airbnb place

Ewha Campus Complex (ECC) @ Ewha Womans University

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

LINE Friends Store @ Myeong-dong

Image via Aqila Zainal/SAYS

Namsan Seoul Tower

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Myeong-dong street food

Image via Aqila Zainal/SAYS

View of Seoul from the Namsan Seoul Tower observatory

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

DAY 7

It's our last day in Seoul. What a week! We wake up early in the morning and start making our way to the Miasageori Station at 5.30am to catch the first train. We're surprised because the train is packed with people... at 5 in the morning! Senior citizens are out and about with their backpacks, rushing to catch the train alongside us.

Security at the airport is pretty tight because Seoul's hosting the FIFA U-20 World Cup till 11 June 2017 (I get patted down at the security checkpoint for the first time in my life). It takes us about an hour plus from check-in to immigration to the boarding point. Seoul's been amazing, but I can't wait to go home.

5.45am: Miasageori Station -> Seoul Station
6.30am: AREX Express Train @ Seoul Station -> Incheon International Airport (ICN) P/S: get there early because the airport is HUGE!
9.30am: Flight back to Kuala Lumpur
3pm: Home! Time for some nasi lemak, roti canai, char keow teow, nasi kandar, but first… SLEEP!

Miasageori Station @ Seoul

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

AREX Express Train Ticket

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Seoul Station

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

Train station connected to the Incheon International Airport (ICN)

Image via Yee Lin/SAYS

And thaaat's it. Now it's time for you to plan your awesome South Korean adventure! Manse!

Image via Giphy

Have other tips or info on Seoul/Nami Island to share? Let us know in the comments section below!

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