6 FREE THINGS TO DO IN SEOUL

Everybody who is all and sundry seems to be making plans a trip to seoul this year. As anyone who spent almost two years living there, i’m happy it’s finally getting the eye it merits! It is an exceptionally colourful metropolis, and clearly has some thing to provide all of us. In contrast to japan, it's miles exceedingly cheap, making it ideal for the finances tourist.

I’ll placed my palms up and admit i am horrible at budgeting and frequently run out of cash before i supposed to! Consequently, i've become pretty adept at locating reasonably-priced things to do even as residing in seoul. Typically, a journey to seoul isn't going damage your bank. If you stick to korean food, you could easily consume for £12-15 an afternoon. Seoul has so many things to do for those counting the pennies. In this newsletter i proportion 6 free things to do in seoul!

1. Go to seoul’s museums 

Seoul has a few outstanding museums, and fortunately, they’re in most cases loose! Whenever i visit a new us of a i truly enjoy traveling their national museum. It always facilitates you understand the country and its humans far better. This changed into particularly actual for south korea. With latest tensions on the korean peninsula, i'd exceptionally suggest the struggle memorial museum. It explains the complete situation in a clean and thorough way. The countrywide museum of korea additionally has some of historic presentations about korean records.

As with the whole thing else, korean museums are well organised and have all shows in english. The simplest drawback is that some of the audio and visible installations are in only korean, which is understandable! As korea is a rustic of extreme climate and seasons, it’s usually proper for have multiple indoor options and these are perfect for that.

2. Hiking in seoul

Korea is well-known for hiking, something i didn’t recognise until i arrived. In fact, the us of a is made up of 70% mountains. It is simple to forget about this startling truth in case you spend some time in cosmopolitan seoul. On occasion, you may glimpse a height or  nestled among the buildings, however usually it's miles too hazy.

When you're taking a subway or bus away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll be gobsmacked over what number of mountains there are! Even better, nearly all of these will have more than one hiking routes to diverse breath-taking viewpoints. Maximum have several stalls and eating places around the doorway so you can without difficulty make an afternoon journey of it. Make certain you take a photo of the path map before you spark off as it may get pretty complicated after you’re up there.

3. Watch the baseball

One of the maximum famous summer time pastimes for seoulites is watching baseball. I spent many an hour discussing teams with my students, and it seems baseball is a big deal in south korea! There are some of stadiums dotted across the metropolis, however the most popular is in jamsil (simply east of gangnam). That is where the olympics were held in 1988, with some of stadiums, pitches and courts nevertheless in use.

Fits rarely sell out and take place weekly, regularly greater often. The seats vary in charge but can begin as little as 7,000won (about $7). You may commonly purchase on the day so it’s first-class to anticipate a sunny day. After you’re internal, there are a mess of stalls jostling to sell you cheap beer and take-out food. Even in case you aren’t a huge sports’ fan, it’s a excellent experience looking the game and the cheerleaders, and is largely a incredible manner to even as away an night. 

4. Discover hongdae and hapjeong

Hongdae and hapjeong are the humming pupil areas of seoul. Maximum of seoul is quite glitzy and pristine. In case you’re seeking out more opportunity culture or a more ‘urban’ vibe, then head to hongdae.

Even as you can spend a decent sum of money here, it may usually be a first rate region to spend a reasonably-priced afternoon/night. As it is positioned close to a college, there are continually college students gambling track and performing alongside the main strip. Those aren’t your average buskers. They may be very well educated college students practising in the front of a live target audience. You may see whatever from making a song to companies of ok-pop dancers! Wandering among them is a brilliant way to look some way of life free of charge.

Hongdae has a plethora of eating places, usually presenting korean cuisine distinctly cost effectively. Even better are the street food stalls scattered round, providing numerous neighborhood snacks. If you need to stay overdue, the park is also a superb region to go. Once more, there are often performers with plenty of college students sat round eating, chilling and drinking.

Hapjeong, which borders hongdae, is a chunk classier. It has a ways greater worldwide food and masses of little boutique stores, superb for buying items and delving into korean style. With its tree-covered streets, it’s a super region to revel in a espresso or a walk.

To attain this vicinity you can take the subway. The nearest subway stations are hongdae- hongik university (line 4 gyeongui-jungang, arex) and hapjeong has its very own subway station, (line 2 and six).

5. Go to banpo park and the han river

This is a seasonal interest as it's miles exterior! Running thru the centre of seoul is the han river. All alongside the south financial institution there are parks and walkways, which grow to be very busy all through the summer. As somebody who lived in east seoul, banpo become my cross-to relax out spot. While it isn’t quite as beautiful as the luscious parks in london, it’s a fantastic outdoor space, that's rare in seoul. On the weekends it becomes plagued by korean families and their compulsory tents. Businesses of younger human beings and buddies take a seat around ingesting beer and playing video games. 

In case you are hungry, there are simply positioned comfort stores, promoting snacks and beverages. It's also feasible, and advocated, to order take out right here, which blew my thoughts! Masses of human beings order chicken and those frequently come around with menus. At some point of the summer time, food trunks descend on the region, promoting a mess of cuisines and liquids. It can get quite hot at some stage in the center of summer time, but climate allowing, this is a super area to break out the busy city and relax.

6. Store in myeongdong

Myeondong is the primary buying district in seoul, especially most of the younger crowd. Manifestly, you may come right here and spend an absolute fortune, however i have managed to return here and spend nothing. The environment is a worthwhile revel in: hectic and vibrant. Many korean brands have their flagship shops right here, which might be precise a laugh to surprise at.

One of the fundamental points of interest right here is the road meals. During the weekend, there are stalls installation and down the middle of the main purchasing areas. Imparting both korean and global foods, it’s a awesome way to consume for cheap whilst still sampling a great range.

One of the pleasant activities here is discover the side streets. Here you’ll locate the quirky animal cafes and shops. In case you need to enjoy korea at its more eccentric and colourful, make sure you are taking a experience to myeondong on the weekend.

So, those are my 6 loose approaches to look korea. Manifestly, a number of them can contain spending, mainly on meals, but they can be as cheap or as pricey as you need. For me, the pleasant way to enjoy a brand new vicinity is to walk its streets and take in the converting atmospheres.

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