🇰🇷 Two-day, two-night whirlwind in Seoul! Straight from work to the airport, came back totally wiped out 🤣
zoeeye
10 days ago
Seoul two days and two nights whirlwind trip, fly straight to Korea after work, eat great food, shop, and fit in aesthetic treatments all in one go!
This time I planned a two days and two nights mini trip to Seoul, and headed to the airport right after work to fly to Korea on Tigerair. Even though the trip was short, I managed to pack in almost everything I wanted, from food and shopping to aesthetic treatments and a jjimjilbang.
I originally thought I could just follow the plan, but from the moment I arrived in Seoul, I ran into quite a few unexpected little hiccups.
Stop 1: Fly straight to Seoul after work, tackle transportation as soon as you land
After work, I went straight to the airport and took an evening Tigerair flight to Seoul.
Only after arriving did I realize my eSIM wasn’t working, I nearly couldn’t get online and even struggled to find Wi-Fi. Even worse, I actually forgot the time for my pre-booked airport transfer, so I had to flag down a taxi at the last minute.
Luckily, I met a super friendly driver, and I made it to my accommodation smoothly in the end. But the ride had me feeling seriously carsick, it really was a challenging start to the trip.
With no internet, I could only rely on screenshots I’d saved of my accommodation details to find the place. Thankfully the accommodation had Wi-Fi, so I could confirm the rest of my info, otherwise I honestly wouldn’t have known what to do.
I also saw passengers privately switching seats on the Tigerair flight, it was the first time I noticed that this kind of situation can happen when flying.
Day 2: Coffee candy shopping, shopping around Gyeongbokgung Palace, and Hongdae eats
After waking up in the morning, my first mission was to buy the specific coffee candies my friends and family requested.
After finishing my shopping, I had a familiar breakfast first. I also discovered a Starbucks unmanned store this time, after buying a coffee, I mixed in banana milk myself. It unexpectedly suited my taste, and ended up being a fun little find on this trip.
Next, I went to buy socks near Gyeongbokgung Palace, then went to eat a cold noodle place I already know well. Every time I travel in Korea, I always want to include a few places I’ve eaten at and loved before. A trip doesn’t have to chase novelty at every meal, familiar flavors can be just as appealing.
In the afternoon, I went to Myeongdong for hair removal. I originally planned to head back to the accommodation for a short break, but my classmates were already getting ready to go to Hongdae for tteokbokki, so I had to change plans immediately and keep up with everyone’s schedule.
Once we got to Hongdae, besides enjoying tteokbokki, we also went shopping at ARTBOX and I found a huge eraser that you “have to hold with your whole palm.” Little items like this that look a bit quirky but make you want to buy them anyway ended up being a fun highlight of the shopping experience.
At night, I scheduled a Korean body scrub experience. What impressed me most was that the lotion they used on-site was actually a product set from OBGREDIENTS.
I’d already been thinking about whether to buy it, and since I had the chance to try it, I felt it was nicely moisturizing. It also gave me another Korean skincare option to consider later on.
Day 3: Finish the aesthetic treatment schedule, head straight to the airport
On the last morning, I had an aesthetic treatment appointment, and after it ended I got ready to head to the airport and fly back to Taiwan on China Airlines.
I thought the baggage check-in arrangement would make the return trip easier, but the hotel delivered my luggage to the airport about half an hour later than expected. That made everything afterward feel really rushed, so I could only adjust on the fly and pick up the pace.
I also specifically chose a kids’ meal on the way back. I was just curious and wanted to try it, but it turned out to be surprisingly good, and became a final little pleasant surprise to end the trip.
Even with two days and two nights, you can still travel at your own pace
This Seoul trip was only two days and two nights, but I still managed to fit in shopping, great food, browsing stores, aesthetic treatments, and a Korean body scrub experience.
Along the way, I ran into issues like internet problems, last-minute transportation changes, and delayed luggage on the way back, which added a lot of changes to my original plan. But it was exactly because of these surprises that the trip left me with many memorable moments.
For me, a short trip doesn’t necessarily mean visiting every single famous attraction. Plan activities around your own interests, mix in restaurants you love and some shopping, and even with a short stay, it can still feel full and satisfying.
This Seoul whirlwind wrapped up with an unexpectedly delicious China Airlines kids’ meal, and it also added new experience for my next trip to Korea.
