Three days full of Korea’s charm while hitting the classic spots
MiO37
2 days ago
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Seoul 2-day Trip2 Days
Try on a hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace. Step into the Korean scenery you have always wanted to see
This time in Korea, it was my first trip to Seoul, so we focused on the classic must see spots.
I planned it with the mindset of “Let’s enjoy the essentials first!”, and it turned out to be exactly right. Everywhere we went felt so Korean, and even with a short itinerary, we got to enjoy a lot.
The first place we headed to was Gyeongbokgung Palace. It is famous as a classic Korea travel spot, but when you actually go, it is so much more impressive than it looks in photos.
The moment we stepped through the gate, the atmosphere completely changed, and the colorful details and vast grounds were overwhelming in the best way. The scenes I had seen in Korean dramas were spread out right in front of me, it was one of those moments where I thought, “I’m really in Korea.”
Since we were there anyway, we rented hanbok too. We used “Hanboknam Gyeongbokgung Palace Branch” this time.
They had an amazing selection of hanbok, from simple styles to glamorous designs. Everything was cute, and even choosing was a lot of fun.
The staff were really experienced, so getting dressed was quick and smooth. They also did a light hair styling, which instantly got me into full travel mode.
At Gyeongbokgung Palace, lots of people are wearing hanbok, so it was nice to enjoy it without feeling self conscious. Even just taking photos becomes a great memory.
That said, you end up walking more than you expect. The sun was also really strong, so if you are going in summer, I think bringing a drink and a sun umbrella will help. hanbok is a bit harder to move around in than everyday clothes, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
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London Bagel Museum Anguk Branch is super popular. Grab a ticket, then go sightseeing nearby
One place I absolutely wanted to visit in Korea was “London Bagel Museum Anguk Branch.”
It is a popular bagel shop you often see on social media, and it was even more popular than I imagined.
We arrived in the early afternoon, and it was already about a 2 hour wait. The moment we saw the line, we were like, “Okay, this is too popular…!”
But they had a system where you can get a numbered waiting ticket at the front, so we checked in first and then decided to sightsee around the area.
The Anguk area has super cute streets with a hanok vibe, it is fun even just to walk around. There are lots of little shops and cafes too, so the waiting time flew by.
In the end, it did not feel like “waiting is such a waste” at all, we actually got to enjoy exploring nearby, so it worked out great.
If you are going, I recommend either going early in the morning, or grabbing a waiting ticket first and then sightseeing nearby.
The inside was stylish no matter where you looked, and the bagel selection was genuinely huge. There were sweet options and savory meal style ones too, so choosing was honestly hard.
They also had a section with goods, and even the packaging was cute, it was the kind of space that makes you want to take photos.
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Herbal tea experience at Tea Therapy. A calm, slow moment to recharge
During the trip, I also visited “Tea Therapy,” which I had been curious about for a while.
I booked in advance through Creatrip. Being able to make a reservation in Japanese made it feel reassuring.
At Tea Therapy, they help you choose a Korean herbal tea that suits your body type.
There is a simple counseling session in Japanese, and based on that, they recommend tea for you, it was even more fun than I expected.
I do not usually think much about my body type, so it felt fresh to have someone explain, “Because you are this type, this tea is recommended.”
When you hear “herbal medicine,” you might imagine it tastes a bit bitter, but when I tried it, it was really easy to drink, and the aroma was so soothing.
The shop itself had a calm atmosphere, and it was great to take a slow break between sightseeing stops.
Korea has lots of stylish cafes, but Tea Therapy felt like a “healing cafe,” and it especially stuck with me.
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One thing I was looking forward to in Korea was market food.
This time we visited the classic, Gwangjang Market.
Inside the market, there is so much energy and so many people. Even just walking around, you can really feel that Korean vibe.
There were so many delicious looking options lined up, like hotteok, gimbap, and Korean fish cake, I could not help wanting to try everything.
Market food is relatively affordable, so I recommend sharing small bites while you eat your way around.
There were lots of tourists too, so it felt like an easy place to visit even on a first trip to Korea.
Some shops do not speak Japanese, but pointing at what you want worked just fine, so I do not think you need to worry too much.
It made me realize Korean markets are not just about eating, they are fun because of the whole atmosphere.
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Ganjang Gejang in Myeongdong. Enjoy dinner, then night shopping too
At night, we moved over to Myeongdong and had dinner at “Odarijip Ganjang Gejang.”
Ganjang Gejang was something I had always wanted to try at least once on a trip to Korea.
The soy sauce based seasoning was deeply soaked in, and it went perfectly with rice.
There were lots of side dishes too, so it really felt like we were enjoying a very Korean style meal.
Since it is raw crab, I was a little nervous, but there was no fishy smell and it was very easy to eat.
It ended up being one of the most memorable meals of the whole trip.
After dinner, we just wandered around Myeongdong.
It was lively even at night, and it was a fun area just to walk through.
Cosmetics shops, clothing stores, and street stalls were lined up everywhere, so you cannot help browsing.
Korean beauty has lots of limited edition items, and there were plenty of products you do not see in Japan, so I think it is a truly fun place for anyone who loves shopping.
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Things that were especially convenient on this Korea trip.
NAVER Map and WOWPASS are highly recommended!
What was super helpful on this trip was NAVER Map and WOWPASS.
I had heard NAVER Map is easier to use in Korea than Google Maps, so I downloaded it beforehand.
After actually using it, I totally agree, it was genuinely convenient.
It shows details like subway transfers and even exit numbers, so it was really easy to understand even in places I had never been.
If you are heading to Korea, I recommend installing it before your trip.
And WOWPASS was also extremely useful.
For the subway, convenience stores, cafes, shopping, and more, we could go cashless for almost everything, so it was nice not having to carry a lot of cash.
It was also convenient that you can charge it with Japanese yen, which made it easier to manage money during the trip.
Korea is really advanced when it comes to cashless payments, so having WOWPASS made everything so comfortable.
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It was the right call to book A’REX in advance from the airport to Seoul Station
From the airport into Seoul, we used A’REX.
This time we booked in advance through Klook, and that gave us a lot of peace of mind.
Right after arriving in Korea, it can be a bit tiring just figuring out transportation and buying tickets, so I am really glad we booked ahead.
A’REX was clean inside, and there was space to put suitcases, so it was comfortable.
There is quite a distance from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station, so having that first transfer go smoothly makes you feel much more relaxed too.
If it is your first trip to Korea, I recommend booking in advance.
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This Seoul trip was mainly focused on classic spots, but I think it is the perfect route for anyone who wants to experience lots of “Korea like” things first.
Wearing hanbok at Gyeongbokgung Palace, eating your way through a market, cafe hopping, even with a short schedule, it felt really full and satisfying.
What I realized after going is that Seoul is simply a very easy city to travel around.
The subway is easy to use, and it is close to Japan, so I think it is a great destination even for first time international travelers.
That said, popular places often have long lines, so I recommend planning with plenty of time.
Korea was a city where even just walking around is fun, and you keep discovering new things.
If you are thinking, “I am curious about a trip to Korea, but what is it like?”, I really hope you go at least once.
