DIY Travel Guide Series: 14 Days & 13 Nights in South Korea
Travel Guide South Korea: The English language is still not widely used in Korea. The first thing you should do once you step out of the immigration is to go to the tourism office and get English maps. You also need to ask the staff there about which buses or train to ride to go to your hotel or destination even if you already have a list and directions you got from other blogs online, because there are times the gate numbers might change, or certain bus routes may only be operational during certain hours. Related Article: Looking for cheap hostels in Korea? Here’s the list of Best Hostels in South Korea.
As budget travelers, we always bring one suitcase full of cup noodles, crackers, 3-in-1 coffee, and other easy-to-eat goodies. This saves us a lot of money due to all the walking that we have to do every day, you will definitely be tempted to eat a lot. At the end of our trip, the empty suitcase can now be used for all the souvenirs that we bought.
It is also important to always bring bottles of water around and refill them for free at restaurants or your hotel’s pantry area. We always start the day with a backpack full of bottled water and snacks. Sometimes we even get extra food from the breakfast buffet for taking away.
When on Jeju Island, I would certainly suggest renting a car. You will need to have an International Driver’s License because you will drive the car yourself so be sure to secure one before going to Jeju Island. All cars are equipped with GPS navigation and locating a place will require just the phone number of the venue to be keyed into the GPS so it is handy to get the contact numbers of the places you want to visit. Buses are scarce and my schedule.
If you want to join the JSA (Joint Security Area of North and South Korea) tour, you should book in advance for at least 2-3 weeks because the Korean Gov’t will have to make a background check on you before they will accept you in the tour. You will be able to go very close to the North Korean Border and if lucky enough you will get to see North Korean Soldiers up in the building pointing their sniper guns at you! Scary! Once you are out on the border, you are not allowed to make any sudden movements or even point your finger to the other side or you’ll literally get shot for real.
You will be instructed to line up facing the border and your hands must be in clear sight. You can only take your cameras out once they tell you to do so. You will also have the chance to enter the “blue house” where you will be stepping on NORTH KOREAN SOIL! You can really feel the tension between the two countries once you are there.
If you only want to join the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) tour where you can go to the tunnels, you can just book once you are already in Korea, but still, it is advisable to book in advance because these tours sell out fast.
Table of Contents
Budget breakdown for this trip:
Related Article: Looking for cheap hostels in Korea? Here’s the list for Best Hostels in South Korea.
South Korea Trip Highlights
SEOUL
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Check the daily schedule for the changing of the guards ahead of time
Check out some of the cool and cheap tours you could do in South Korea.
Dora Observatory
Cheongyecheon Stream
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) / Panmunjom – Joint Security Area (JSA) tour
Nami Island
SOKCHO – Hiking at Mt. Seoroaksan
Jeju Island – Mount Hallasan National Park
BUSAN
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
SUNCHEON
Naganeupsong Folk Village
More Destinations:
President “Blue” House, Changdeokgung Palace, Samcheongdong Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Insadong (souvenirs, street foods), Han River Cruise, Everland, Suncheonman Bay Ecological Park Wetlands, and Reed fields
Visa Requirements:
Based on my personal experience, since I am self – employed here are the requirements:
Tourist Visa Requirements for Filipino Businessmen
1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6 months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable, Korean Visas will not be counted)
6. Photocopy of Business Registration from SEC or DTI
7. Photocopy of Business Permit or Mayor’s Permit
8. Original Personal Bank Certificate
(must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB)
9. Bank Statement
(original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
Related Article for Visa Guides.
SAMPLE ITINERARY:
Use the search box below to find the best day trips in South Korea
DAY 1: Davao-Cebu-Incheon. Upon arrival in Incheon, We took an hour ride to Seoul due to moderate traffic. Hostel Check-in: a HI-5 hostel. Related Article: Looking for cheap hostels in Korea? Here’s the list of Best Hostels in South Korea.
- Take Airport Limousine Bus 6002 at the Incheon airport bus stations 5B or 12A, and get off at the JONGNO-2GA station.
- Go down into the Jonggak Underground Shopping Center entrance 10 and come out through exit 7.
- You will then see Skin Food (cosmetics shop) and Mr. Pizza, walk into the alley right next to it for about 50m, and you will see the HI-5 hostel (in blue and white).
DAY 2: On our morning itinerary which is walking distance from the hostel, we visited:
- the Admiral Yi stone statue
- Gyeongbokgung Palace (watch changing of guards 15mins. Duration)
- President blue house
- National folk museum
- Second performing arts n center
- Changdeokgung palace
In the afternoon, we went to Samcheongdong and Bukchon hanok village
At night, Insadong for souvenirs, street foods, free wine, etc
Note: everything is close to each other but it is a pretty big place to cover so wear comfortable shoes.
DAY 3: Namsan Tower/ N Seoul tower and Cheongyecheon stream
DAY 4: Everland – theme park
(For the Everland bus, they have a pickup/drop-off point near the hostel but u need to book in advance for seat reservation.)
When buying tickets choose Everland (outdoor, farther) or lotte world (indoor, closer to the city center)
DAY 5: Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) / Panmunjom – Joint Security Area (JSA) tour
Time: 07:20 am (Pick up from Hi 5 Hostel ) ~ 16:30 pm (Drop off at Lotte Hotel)
Itinerary: Hotel Pick up – Imjingak Park – The Bridge of Freedom – The 3rd Infiltration Tunnel – DMZ Theater & Exhibition Hall – Dora Observatory – Dorasan Station – Pass by Unification Village – Lunch – ID Check Point – Camp Bonifas (Slides Show and Briefing) – JSA (Freedom House, Conference Room, Bridge of no Return) – Arrive at Lotte Hotel.
Price: 130,000krw per person (minimum 1 person).
Inclusion: English-speaking tour guide, transportation, lunch, and entrance fees.
Note: Please make sure to bring your passport for an ID check. Certain dress code applies: Normal blue jeans are OK to wear but no sleeveless shirts, t-shirts without the collar, short pants & skirts, sandals, military-looking clothes, and T-Shirts with the flag or name of the nationality on it. Payment can be arranged on the tour day by cash or credit card. 100% cancellation charge if you cancel the tour two days before ~ on the tour day.
DAY 6: Nami island — Via train (Jongno 3 station, line 1,3,5… Exit 1 then walk 5mins toward jonggak station) Take taxi or bus to Gapyeong wharf, but the queue was very long for both, so we walked for 20mins,), or alternatively, you can reach Nami Island by ferry or Zipwire.
DAY 7: Seoul — Morning: Walk around places near the hotel
Afternoon travel to Sokcho – go to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal. (be careful because there are a lot of different bus terminals going to different places) then towards Gyeongbu Line bus Terminal (bus leaves every 30mins) Drop off at Sokcho Express bus terminal
Check-in: Rocustel hotel (right behind the bus terminal) Communication is very hard because the staff on duty was also the cleaner in the whole hotel and cannot talk or understand Basic English. Maybe it’s not the case all the time, but when we reached the hotel it was a bit deserted. But the room was big by Korean standards and clean.
DAY 8: Take a bus to Mt. Seoraksan entrance, then start to hike. There are many trails to choose so pick which one you like the most because you will probably be very tired to take the 2nd trail depending on your stamina.
DAY 9: Back to Seoul – Gimpo airport – fly to Jeju Island
Hotel checks in. In Seogwipo, we visited
– the Teddybear Museum
– Botanical garden
– Loveland
– Mysterious Road (close to Loveland)
DAY 10: Mount Hallasan National Park — see the cooking nanta show at night.
DAY 11: Fly from Jeju – Busan, we arrived at 8 am
Hotel check-in, then off we go to do the Busan City Tour Bus
Haeundae Tour (AM)
Included places:
Busan Station → Busandaegyo Bridge (pass) → Busanhang Port Bridge (pass) → Busan UN Sculpture Park → Busan Museum → Gwangalli Beach → Nurimaru APEC House → Haeundae Beach (Busan Aquarium) → Haeundae Station → Shinsegae Department Store (Busan Centum City branch) and Lotte Department Store (Centum City branch) → Busan Museum of Art (BEXCO)) → Gwangandaegyo Bridge (pass) → Busan Station
Taejongdae Tour (PM)
Busan Station → Yeongdodaegyo Bridge (pass) → 75 Square → Taejongdae Resort Park → National Maritime Museum (International Cruise Terminal) → Namhangdaegyo Bridge (pass) → Songdo Beach → BIFF Square (formerly PIFF Square) and Jagalchi Market → Busan Station
DAY 12: Take a Bus ride from Busan to Suncheon
Naganeupsong Folk Village – visit the remaining castle from Joseon Dynasty.
Check-in: Suncheon nobless hotel ( I booked this hotel because it was the only one available via booking.com. This hotel is quite far from the bus stop so I would not recommend it. It is also very hard to locate we took the wrong bus (the right bus number but on the opposite side of the road!) and have to ask a group of old Korean guys for help at the end of the route.
DAY 13:
We visited Suncheonman Bay Ecological Park Wetlands and Reed fields and Suncheon Botanical Garden
Then head back to Busan via bus.
DAY 14: We visited the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in the morning, then catch our flight from Busan to Cebu.
Recommended Hotels
Budget – NAMU Guesthouse
Mid Range – Dormy Inn Premium Seoul Garosugil
Luxury – JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul
About the Writer
Yoi Lacson is a registered Medical Technologist by profession, A graduate of San Pedro College. full-time wife, mom, and businesswoman. Frequent shoestring traveler on a budget. Nature and Travels are my outlets and my life’s restart button.
Name of the Country: South Korea
Date/s of Travel: October 31, 2014 – Nov. 13, 2014,
City / Places Visited and Number of Days:
#1 Incheon (airport) Arrival Oct 31, 9:15 pm
#2 Seoul Oct 31 11pm – Nov.5
#3 Sokcho Nov.6 – 7
#4 Seoul Nov 8
#5 Jeju Nov 8 –Nov 10
#6 Busan Nov 10
#7 Suncheon Nov 11-12
#8 Busan Nov.12 (evening)- Nov 13
#9 Cebu Nov 13
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Hi, did you travel with a single entry visa? We’re planning to do the same itinerary with a single entry visa and wanted to make sure we wouldn’t have trouble flying to Busan from Jeju. Route: MNL > SEOUL > JEJU > BUSAN > MANILA
Hi, how much show money (for Visa application) should we have if we are going to stay for 2 weeks in south korea?
Hi! I would like to ask how you got your Korean visa? Did you really have to fly to Taguig to submit it to the embassy or is there a way that you applied and submitted it online? Hoping for your immediate reply. Thanks in advance!
we applied thru an agency. There is no interview needed.
Hi! I would just like to ask how you applied for your Korean Visa when you’re from Cebu? Since the Korean Embassy is in Taguig, did you apply for the visa online?
Ganda!! kahit nag titingin tingin lang ako ng post! lalo akong na iinspire na mag travel din around the world! <3
Great pictures and nice glimpse through south korea!
A Trip to South Korea is a must if you’re planning to explore South East Asia. Thanks for sharing this great complete guide! I will pin it and also loved your pictures! Looks like you had so much fun out there!
South Korea is literally my DREAM! If I could learn any other language it would be Korean xD I will have to refer back to this when the time is right!
that looks like an awesome adventure! those pictures are amazing and I’d love to go visit the National park, looks so beautiful and peaceful there!
That’s the most complete guide I’ve ever seen for South Korea. I’ve never seen it to this extent before, you really maximized your time there. I really appreciate you posting this! Thank you!
Love all the details you provide in this post! Korea looks so beautiful! I am actually going to send this post to a friend of mine who is headed over there in a few weeks! She is moving there for the year! Maybe I will get the guts to go visit her!
What a way to safe on Your trips to bring those noodles. Very smart. It must be so nice to try the local food as much as you can. Life goals for when you’re a big travel blogger!!!
That was a lengthy read and worth the time! It was completely informative and very detailed. I love how others posts or writes something detailed like this. Surely, everyone who gets to stumble this page will definitely have a lot in mind when they think about traveling to South Korea.
Two weeks in South Korea sounds amazing! I found that you took cup noodles to korea quite amusing. Are those not like an easy and cheap staple there too? I really liked that photo of the changing of the guard! So cool. You are really good at running down your expenses and everything about the trip. Keep it up.
Oh my, what an amazing trip. The photos are stunning and there is so much useful info. I wish I was planning a trip!
Thanks for sharing- can’t wait for my ship to come in- need- to- travel!
I love every detail of this post! I’ve always wanted to visit Korea and Jeju Island! And your photos are all breathtaking! Will also read your Korea budget hotels article! Thanks again for sharing! 🙂
South Korea is on my bucket list. This post is very detailed so I will bookmark your post so I can reread it again if ever we will go to South Korea. Like you, we always bring food and drinks to save money. I really appreciate hotels that give generous complimentary bottled water. 🙂
WOW. This is kinda long and comprehensive so I would like to take a moment to share what I found interesting in this post. Jeju Island. For the longest time, Koreans have told me how beautiful it was there. Now that I have seen photos, and I should thank you for that, it is truly magnificent. Korea is rich in culture so as expected, there would be visits to historical sites… now the DMZ… I actually laughed because the photo you posted, it makes it look like a fun place to go to, like a theme park or something.
Wow! Its Korea this time! I love to visit it for just one thing, the cherry blossoms! Just that and im so happy na! Haha! As always your posts are very detailed and do bookmark it for future reference. I think if il be visiting Korea i can just stay for a week! I can’t be out for so long.. Glad you were able to really do a lot in Korea..
Thank you for the very comprehensive travel guide to South korea! I would love to visit the country someday. I got hooked on Korean movies when I was still in college that I even took language courses in Hangeul. 😉 Your DIY travel guide is undoubtedly very helpful, as you gave tips on what to prepare and how to plan the itinerary. I would also like to visit the border, so it’s nice to know that it has to be planned in advance. The cup noodles and crackers sound like a great idea! Did you not try authentic Korean dishes?
SOKOR is my goal. I wanted to go there next year but I just gave birth thru CS so I don’t think I can push it through. I am delaying it until 2018. I’m also planning to push my MA that’s why I need to delay it a bit. Your article is my inspiration to work harder for my SOKOR trip.
I was wondering, did you bring your money in cash or used a credit card? I read on another post that we can only import or export a maximum of 8,000,000 krw. Or foreign currency less than 10kUSD
Most of the posts I read highlighted their trips at the most one week. This is helpful as you gave us an idea on how to spend the time once in South Korea for two weeks. Love to visit the place, too, and feel its snow and see some cherry blossoms. Love to check on its palaces and even try skiing. Indeed so many things to do two weeks.
South Korea is a very beautiful place.. been there in Spring of 2010 for 14 days. I wanted to go again maybe in Fall.
Very helpful post! I am hoping that eventually we can live in South Korea!
I’d love to go to Korea – who knew there was so much nature? It’s great to see that it can be done on a budget too.
This was so helpful since mostof the other blogs were just a week long. I’m going to Seoul this April for two weeks too. I’ve booked everything. I still havent applied for the visa. How much do you think should be my ADB for a 15 days travel. I’m worried I won’t get approved. Please help me. 🙁
i applied for a visa last jan and get my visa a week after my adb is only 47k with bank cert of amtng only 80k+ i will also travelling for 2 weeks . and got my visa last jan 26 :p
p.s. its my second time travelling south korea
Perfect for my two-week trip next year though different month. I will do my solo travel in April and Jeju Air offers really cheap fares even though you need a bulk of patience in booking on their site. Hehe. Thanks You for this! 🙂 Love it! <3
HI CAN i know if you have any packing tips? since you travel for so many days
hi kumusta? pwde po mag ask kung anong airline nyo? at magkano po ang estimate pag mag vacation sa korea. salamat po nang advance.
You can go for cebu pacific (5k-8k) is the normal range for round trip. for a one week stay, limit your budget to 25k-30k php.