Travel to Seoul on your own. how to make money in south korea

How much does a holiday in South Korea cost? Collected prices in 2020 in Seoul for everything: tickets, food and groceries, transport, accommodation and attractions. We advise how to organize a trip to South Korea on your own and how to spend less.

We really liked the original South Korea, only the prices were sad. They are measured in Korea in thousands, which after Bali and Vietnam is misleading. It seems like you're paying some 10,000 won for a dish, but that's almost $10! It’s impossible to save a lot on vacation, in this country.

We visited the glorious Seoul and, using the example of the capital, we will talk about prices in South Korea in 2020, as well as how to save money.

Exchange rate: 1000 South Korean won (KRW) ≈ 55 RUB.

1 k = 1000

Namsangol village is an open-air museum. Nice place, admission is free - we advise you to visit.

Visa to South Korea

You will not spend a penny on it - Russians can stay in the country without a visa for 2 months. Passport control is super fast. We were not asked any questions, they just took fingerprints, photographed and gave us a piece of paper - it must be kept. The passport is not stamped.

Flights

Prices from Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2020:

• to Seoul - with transfers from 23,000 rubles, direct from Aeroflot - from 37,000.
• in Jeju - from 33000.
• to Busan - from 37,000 rubles with transfers (for example,).

The cheapest way to fly to South Korea is from the Far East:

• from Vladivostok - from 11000.
• from Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk - from 24000.

How to save? Monitor ticket prices, catch promotions and buy in advance. You can fly to Korea cheaply if you are already on a trip: for example, tickets from Japan cost only 5,000 rubles! A little more expensive to fly from China and some Southeast Asian countries - the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia - about 10-12 thousand rubles.

Marco Polo Experience. We flew from Bali on AirAsia flights, and tickets with luggage cost 14,000 rubles per person. We flew from Seoul to Novosibirsk on S7 for 18,000 rubles per person.

Current prices for flights to Korea

Prices for food and groceries in South Korea - 2020

Korea is drowning in food! There is no such cult of food in any country in Southeast Asia. In all this abundance, one thing confuses - prices. Here they are not Asian at all, and the appetite immediately disappears when you translate prices into rubles or dollars. You know, it's psychologically difficult to pay $7 for a simple noodle soup when the same soup in Vietnam costs $1-2.

But the devil is not so terrible as he is painted! We were able to enjoy Korean food for very little: ₩164K ($140) for two for 5 days. In other words, only $14 (900₽) per day per person - is that a lot?

Hotel prices in Seoul - 2020

During an independent trip to South Korea, a lot of money will be spent on hotels or renting an apartment - be mentally prepared.

Where to live? Stay closer to the center near the metro station - this way you will save on transport. It is pointless to live on the outskirts if you have come for only a few days - you will spend more time and money on the road. We chose Anguk station - it has a strategically convenient position!

Marco Polo Experience. We lived in a wonderful for $36 per night in the Jonno-gu area near the Anguk subway station, between the two royal palaces - a very convenient location. There are many cafes in the alley. Book in advance - with a discount it costs $28 per night. The hotel is comfortable, there are various pleasant little things: bathrobes, hair dryer, toiletries, free noodles once a day and coffee.

If you want to feel at home, rent an apartment on Airbnb. In the summer of 2020, there are many options in the center of Seoul for $40-70 per night for two. Private rooms cost $30-50 for two.

Here are the prices for hotels and hostels in South Korea in 2020:

The highest prices in South Korea for hotels in July-August and for the New Year - good and inexpensive accommodation is quickly taken apart. Book in advance!

If you want to get a special experience on vacation in South Korea, choose unique housing:

• traditional yogwan where you need to sleep on the floor on a mat.
• Hanok (hanok)- traditional house. They cost from $170 to $300 per day. Located in the traditional village of Bukchon next to the royal palace. Found an inexpensive hanok on Airbnb with good reviews.
• chimchilbang- sauna. Entrance for 12 hours: at night - 15k ₩, during the day - 12k ₩. There you can not only bathe and wash, but also sleep. Instead of beds - mats. There is a safe. The most popular sauna in the center is, but there are many others that are cheaper.

Transportation prices in South Korea

The price of a ticket for public transport in South Korea depends on the distance you need to cover and starts from ₩1250. You can buy a one-time ticket, but you can get off with it strictly at the station to which it was bought. When you return the ticket to the machine, you will be given a deposit of 500₩.

If you plan to travel a lot, buy T-Money card(worth 3k ₩) - it is valid on the subway and buses. With it, each trip is cheaper by ₩100, and transfers are free. And with it you can get off at any station, unlike a one-time ticket. You can buy a card in minimarkets or a terminal, it is replenished in vending machines.

• Cyber ​​Station - build a route on your computer.
• Subway Korea is a subway route planner app ().
• Seoul Metro - how to buy a one-time ticket (in English, with pictures).

There are a lot of buses, you can also go to the suburbs of Seoul. At stops, routes and timetables are detailed.

Taxi in South Korea is not cheap: the first 2 km - about 1600₩, then for each km - 650₩, waiting hour - about 13.5k ₩.

A liter of gasoline costs about 1700₩.

Getting from the airport You can by train and bus (there are also night ones). We traveled by bus - ₩10k per person to Anguk station. Paid cash to the driver.

You can move around the country by buses, trains and planes. There are low-cost airlines: Air Busan (from Busan), Jin Air (in South Korea and neighboring countries) and T "way Airlines (in the country).

Marco Polo Experience. How to save? Hike! We wound 15-20 km a day. The city is colorful, interesting, and it’s a sin to go down to the subway when there is such beauty around. In general, take T-money if you need to travel. For transportation, we only spent ₩40k for two for a bus from the airport and back.

Attraction prices

In Seoul, you can watch almost everything for free or inexpensively. Many museums in South Korea are free or require a nominal admission fee. For example, a ticket to the royal palace costs only 3k ₩. But the prices for entrance to amusement parks and viewing platforms are exorbitant, see below for yourself.

What to see in Seoul for free:

• Dongdaemun Design Plaza - Zaha Hadid Building
• Bukchon Hanok Village with traditional houses
• Changing of the Guard at Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace at 10:00 and 14:00
• N-Seoul TV Tower Outdoor Terrace & Park
• Namsangol Village - Open Air Museum
• Cheonggyecheon Park - a stream park on the site of a former highway
• Rainbow Bridge (Banpo Bridge)
• Beautiful hall with plants in Seoul City Hall (Seoul City Hall)
• Cheongdong Observatory on the 13th floor of the Seosomun Building
• Seoullo 7017 - a park on the site of the former overpass over Seoul Station. Spectacular views!

Prices for attractions and activities in Seoul:

• Exhibitions at Dongdaemun Design Plaza - around ₩10k.
• Entrance to the royal palaces - 3k ₩ each (museums on the territory of the palace are included). You can buy a combo ticket for 10k ₩.
• N-Seoul TV Observation Tower - 10k ₩.
• Everland Amusement Park - 87k ₩ for 2 days, for 1 day (daytime) - 56k ₩.
• Lotte World Amusement Park - 54k-57k ₩. If you take the 100,000 won Magic Pass, you won't have to stand in line.
• Seoul Sky Lookout at Lotte World - ₩25.5k-35k.
• Aquarium at Lotte World - 16.5k ₩.

Marco Polo Experience. We spent only 16k ₩ on sightseeing for two - went to Gyeongbokgung and an exhibition of Korean painters. Then we focused on free attractions. The Museum of Modern Art had free admission - lucky :)

Money

Tourists on the forums wrote that all ATMs in South Korea take a commission in the region of $ 3 per transaction. And only Citibank ATMs can withdraw money without commission. We found only one - not far from the city hall, in the center.

The ATM will offer different options when issuing cash. Important: do not choose Check - these are traveler's checks, you will have to exchange them for cash at a bank branch. The first time we made a mistake on this: we thought that the check was a receipt.

We exchanged quite a bit at the airport - only for a bus ticket. The course is bad, but with a small exchange tolerable.

Shopping in South Korea

A sea of ​​cute casual clothes, famous Korean cosmetics, beautiful souvenirs - a paradise for a shopaholic. It’s easy to run into the market here, they occupy entire blocks. And almost every underground passage has a shopping center.

IN Tandaemun many shopping centers. Some only work at night! The most decent daytime center is Doota Mall, where things hang beautifully on hangers. Some shopping centers look like a collective farm, like a large covered market (for example, Migliore).

insadong did not like it - entirely tourist, mostly monotonous souvenirs. Gwangjang unkempt - mostly flea market, traditional clothing and food. But there are vintage shops, look for them on the official website of the market.

Marco Polo Experience. We hate shopping. But South Korea has such a powerful consumer society, so many markets and shops, that even we succumbed! For shopping and souvenirs we spent a serious amount - $ 280 (usually we do not spend anything). We bought some clothes, souvenirs, a book and vinyl records that we could not find in Europe.

How much is a trip to South Korea in 2020

We calculated the budget for our independent trip to South Korea for 5 days for two. Look how much money we spent:

Tickets were not considered, as they flew from Bali (28,000 for two). If you subtract shopping, there will be only 24500 rubles! Based on one day - about 5000 rubles for two.

Focus on this table to understand how much your vacation in South Korea will cost. Add your tickets to this amount and lay down more for shopping if you like to go shopping.

South Korea has become a country of contrasts and unexpected ideas for me. Being in Seoul, I felt like I was in Asian America.

Around people with both European and oriental appearance. From food, fast food is very popular, in the summer there are gastromarkets on the street. Everywhere there are shops of famous brands, corners of both Korean and foreign cosmetics, various showrooms. There is even a museum of collectible sneakers here (you can also buy top sneakers there). And on the other side of the country - small villages and an abundance of Buddhist temples, where people do not think about new fashion and music. How can one get to such a contrasting country?

general information

The main thing you need to know: the most convenient way to be in Korea is to fly by plane. By air, the fastest and least problematic. There are 21 airports in South Korea, 7 of which are international. The rest accept only domestic flights. The most popular are the following airports:

• Incheon is the largest airport in the country,
• Gimpo,
• Busan Gimhae,
• Jeju.

Russian citizens flying from their own country usually land at Incheon Airport. Visa problems should also not arise, since citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to visit the country for up to 60 days.

You can also get to Korea by ferry. Indeed, ships from Vladivostok and Zarubilo run to Donghae and Sokcho.

By plane

As I said, the best way to get to South Korea is by plane. This way you can fly to three parts of the country:

1. Seoul,
2. busan,
3. Jeju.

Let's talk about everything in order.

Air travel options

To Seoul

You can get from Donghae to Seoul either by bus (travel time is 4–5 hours, the ticket price is about 35 USD one way), or by train (the trip takes 5 hours, the ticket will cost about 20 USD).

To Sokcho

Also, once a week, a ferry departs from Vladivostok and Zarubino to Sokcho. Sokcho is a city in the northeastern part of South Korea. The transfer is carried out by the ferry company Stena Daea Line.

The ferry departs from Vladivostok on Monday and arrives in the port of Sokcho the next day (about 22:00). A one-way ticket will cost approximately 170 USD. From Zarubino, the ship departs on Thursday, the time is about the same as from Vladivostok. One way ticket from 150 USD.

When is the best time to go to South Korea

The high season in South Korea is from May to September. In May it is about +17 °С and it is dry here. In summer, the temperature is about +25–27 °С. Sometimes it rains, but, as I myself observed, it is short-lived and does not drag on for more than a day. September and October are still quite warm months. At the end of October, about +15 °C.

Of course, in the summer there is a lot more entertainment, open markets and a variety of street culture. But, despite the seasonality, in, I believe, you can go at any time of the year. In winter, there is little precipitation, and the temperature is about 0 ° C. It is better to go to only in summer, as it is a city on the sea, and in winter it is much less remarkable.

Prices for flights to South Korea and accommodation in the summer, of course, are higher. In December - January, direct flights can cost about 25,000. That is, the same as flights with transfers in spring - summer or even lower. But I flew in the summer and did not regret it at all :).

Passing the border

For the Russians there is a visa-free regime, and this greatly simplifies life :). However, do not forget about the rules that still remain. At the airport or at the seaport, when crossing the border, they may ask for information about the hotel (booking, address), medical insurance (health insurance policy can be done at any insurance company), tickets for the return flight or for the next one after Korea, as well as proof of availability of funds.

Moreover, at passport control you will need to hand over your fingerprints, as well as take a picture. All these devices are located directly at the control desk, the process will not take much time. It is also necessary to fill out an immigration card and a customs declaration. They are usually issued on the plane.

Korea is one of the safest countries in the world: neither a large number of thefts, nor drug addicts, nor robberies, and public morality is so developed and strong that it is almost impossible to hear rudeness addressed to you.

If you decide to go to South Korea, namely to, decide in advance on specific dates, because the cost of the flight will depend on them, and not on how far in advance you buy plane tickets. The cheapest tickets to South Korea are, and.

If we talk about transport in Seoul, then you will need an international driving license to rent a car - Russian plastic is not suitable. All public transport and orange taxis (state) are paid for by the T-money system - a plastic card on which money is deposited through the terminal.

Everything is like in Russia - you put the card to the turnstile, it tells you the balance of funds, and you go on.

The subway is quiet and calm inside the cars, but no one waits for people to leave and enter immediately, so get ready to push a lot and for a long time. If you live in Moscow and think that this will not surprise you, you are mistaken, everything is much tougher in Korea.

There are yellow corrugated paths in the subway and on the streets - landmarks for the blind. In Seoul, everything is quite well equipped for people with disabilities, so if you or your relatives were afraid to face the problem of the unsuitability of Korean streets, then feel free to brush aside all fears.

Money. You should not rely on credit cards - they are accepted, but rarely and reluctantly: Koreans are very fond of cash. Therefore, exchange part of the money immediately at the airport, and the rest - in banks. When you go shopping, pay attention to the price tags. If they are not there, the price of the goods is most likely too high, and you will not be able to bargain.

If you smoke, take a supply of cigarettes with you, because Koreans hardly smoke, and it can be difficult to buy cigarettes.

Before the trip, you must also remember the traditional greeting - you need to bow slightly. As a form of gratitude, Koreans also prefer to bow rather than say the word "thank you". Direct eye contact, by the way, can be regarded as a threat and disrespect. You can also shake hands, but this also has a special ritual: they serve and shake both the right and left hands, although preference is given to the right - the left hand is placed under the right. If you do not follow this rule, you will get the impression that you are a very uncultured and far from polite person.

If it turns out that you will be drinking with one of the Koreans, you should never fill your glass - pour it for others, not for yourself.

Since we are talking about alcohol, it is worth mentioning the food. You can’t start a meal until the eldest in age sits at the table. When choosing food, do not think that only dogs and insects are cooked in Seoul, you can find perfectly normal European cuisine there, but the food is often spicier than we are used to. Also, not all cafes and restaurants have tea, but water is always brought free of charge. But be prepared for the fact that in some restaurants and cafes, plates are washed right on the road, and you are watching all this.

We talk about what to see for an independent traveler in Seoul. The capital of South Korea hides an unlimited number of surprises and surprises.

When planning to visit South Korea, tourists hope to see the beauties of the local nature, taste Asian cuisine, and get acquainted with historical, cultural and architectural monuments. But no one can even imagine what a surge of emotions, a carnival of impressions hospitable Seoul has prepared.

The main city of South Korea and concurrently one of the largest economic and trade centers in Asia is located on the east coast of the country. Seoul is a mixture of old and new, so it appeals to a wide variety of audiences. Do you want to be in a secluded place alone with nature? Woke up a desire to get to know the centuries-old masterpieces of architecture that belonged to the imperial dynasties? Are you looking for a shopping city or do you want to have fun in nightclubs with your friends? The capital of South Korea will satisfy any wishes of the guests.

Organizing a trip to Seoul

Since 2014, for Russians planning to stay in South Korea for up to 60 days, the visa has been cancelled. All that is needed is a passport, insurance, a round-trip ticket. The country can be reached by air or water. The nearest seaport to Seoul is in Incheon. The city also has an international airport. You can get from Incheon to Seoul by subway, train, bus or taxi. It all depends on the budget and available time.

The recommended time for planning a trip is April-May and August-September. Although Seoul is located in the same latitude as the Mediterranean resorts (Turkey, Sicily, the Balkans), the weather conditions in it are more contrasting due to the absence of obstacles to the northern winds, the predominance of the monsoon climate with its high humidity.

What to bring as a gift from South Korea

Seoul is a heavenly place for a shopaholic. There are many shopping centers, markets and. Appliances, clothes, jewelry, furniture, dishes - absolutely everything can be purchased on the streets of the city. As a souvenir from South Korea, tourists bring:

Are you planning a trip? That way!

We have prepared some useful gifts for you. They will help save money at the stage of preparation for the trip.

• Porcelain;
• Painted ceramics;
• Folk products: embroidery, national costumes, fans, umbrellas;
• Ginseng in any form;
• Products from amethyst and jade;
• Seaweed cookies.

As always, we complete our independent travel in south korea the final article, from which you will learn how to move around the country on your own and hitchhiking, where to look for a ticket, how to find cheap food, and in general about our budget and route.

Travel map.

Cheap food and prices.

The monetary unit of South Korea is the Korean. out. At the time of our stay in the country, 1000 won = $ 1 or 35 rubles.

We exchanged currency in one of the bank branches, at the airport the exchange rate is slightly worse than in the city.

Some examples of other prices:

• attractions - purely symbolically no more than 5,000 won ($ 5).
• clothes - on sale you can buy for the same money as we have in Russia from 5,000 won. For example, I bought sweatpants of pure Korean good quality for 40,000 won (I had to really bargain hard).
• bus fare - an average of 800 to 4,000 won (depending on distance).
• food in a cafe - the average price is 4,000 or 5,000 won, you can find both cheaper and more expensive.

Registrations and housing.

Since we are talking about one of the most expensive Asian countries, and we are economical travelers, there can be no talk of hotels. Although once we managed to spend the night in a motel thanks to the compassion of one hospitable Korean. If I read the price tags on the booth correctly, the number cost him up to 60,000 won.

Only once we set up a tent somewhere in the woods, getting off the freeway late in the evening. The rest of the time I managed to live at a party or in churches. South Korean churches are the best option for a hitchhiker, because most often, even if the “padre” is not there, other people try to help us instead.

Only once we were denied an overnight stay in the church, but even then there were guys who helped find a roof over our heads for 3 days.

In the capital, and in other big cities (if you're lucky), you can use - ohm. For example, in Seoul we were lucky, but in other settlements we had to think about housing on our own. If you like to think through everything in advance, I advise you to use the search for cheap hotels around the world.

Koreans.

If you carefully read everything that is written above and were not too lazy to read the articles, then for sure you are convinced that the Koreans are one of the most pleasant Asian peoples.

Very educated, cultured, hospitable and trouble-free. They are ready to sacrifice their personal time and even work to help or “save” a tourist. With all their curiosity, they do not stare and try not to interfere.

It is not difficult for them to treat them with food or even arrange a whole dinner for a guest of the country. And driving an extra 50 km in the opposite direction is not a problem at all. In this they are very similar to the Omanis, and have earned our love for themselves, as a nation, for a long time!

Personal feedback.

Despite the fact that Korea is not a cheap country, it is very comfortable to move around thanks to the sincerity and hospitality of the locals.

In the first couple, you may have to deny yourself something, and after a couple of days you already find cheap food options and how to see the sights for free. In addition, Koreans are not too keen on controlling foreigners, as, for example, in Sri Lanka.

If we consider the country from the point of view of an ordinary tourist, then perhaps the most interesting places are in Seoul, Gyeongju, and Jeju Island. For a sophisticated traveler, the country will be disposable. We may not have visited everything, but we have already seen a lot in other countries.

Today I am as short as ever :). For questions that have arisen, we can talk in the comments to the article, and we say goodbye to you, dear friends, until the next country. As I promised, further we will start publishing articles on the topic of travel in Central Asia. Thank you for your attention!