Late last year, my friends and I flew to Seoul, South Korea, for a little over a week, with our trips overlapping. It was my first visit to South Korea in 9 years. I was surprised by how much had changed, but I was also happy to see that most of the old establishments remained.
Previously, I shared our visits to Bukchon Hanok Village, Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden, and Insa-dong. Today, I will share photos and details from our visits to Namsan Park, Myeong-dong, and Yeouido Hangang Park.
In case you missed it, I wrote about the step-by-step process I followed to get my multiple entry South Korean tourist visa. You can check it out here.
Plane Ticket
I scored my return ticket through Cebu Pacific Air’s anniversary ₱1 fare sale in March 2024. Initially, I only paid ₱4,329.30 when I first booked the ticket. This fare included a confirmed seat on the flight and a 7-kilogram carry-on allowance.
Months before the flight, I added 20 kilograms of checked luggage allowance each way and paid ₱1,980. Then, a day before my flight back to Manila, I added another 20 kilograms of luggage allowance for ₱1,100. In total, I paid ₱7,409.30 for a return fare with 20 kilograms of allowance to Seoul and 40 kilograms of allowance back to Manila.
This ticket was definitely a steal. It was worth every penny, considering how affordable it was, and that the additional baggage cost was just a little over 70% of the original ticket price. Props to Cebu Pacific Air for making every Juan’s travel dreams possible.
Accommodation
I was in Seoul for 9 days and 8 nights, overlapping with my friends’ schedules. For all 8 nights, my friends and I decided to stay at just one property for the entire trip. We chose Bunk Guesthouse Hostel in Hongdae.
During the first 4 nights, I stayed with 3 other friends in the property’s family room with a balcony. For the remaining 4 nights, I stayed with one friend in the twin room with bunk beds. Both rooms had private toilets and showers and included a simple complimentary breakfast every morning. My share for the 8 nights in these two rooms amounted to ₱13,243.97. I think we got a good deal considering the property’s location, the room types we chose, and the amenities we enjoyed during our stay.
Previously, I wrote about Bunk Guesthouse Hostel in one of my Hostel of the Day features. I hope you check out the feature and review here, and I also hope you consider the property for your next trip to Seoul.
Going Around Seoul
My friends and I used the rechargeable T-money card for all our public transportation rides during the trip. Seoul offers a few unlimited transportation passes for several days, but these did not fit our itinerary, as we mostly took the subway to and from just one place each day. There was even a day when we did not use our T-money cards at all.
We received a free T-money card when we picked up our passports at KVAC in October 2024. Our companions, who did not have a T-money card, bought theirs at the Airport Station.
Namsan Park
Namsan Park surrounds Namsan Mountain and is a popular spot for both tourists and locals, offering hiking opportunities and a civic space. At the top of the mountain is where N Seoul Tower is located, which provides a panoramic view of the city throughout the day.
The park is accessible by bus from Seoul and Myeong-dong Stations, via hiking trails, and by the Namsan Cable Car. My friends and I opted for the cable car ride, which costs ₩15,000 roundtrip. We went up shortly after sunset and enjoyed the beautiful night views of Seoul, while braving the freezing weather.
We did not go up to the N Seoul Tower because most of us had already been there before.
Entry to N Seoul Tower costs ₩26,000 per adult. Discounted N Seoul Tower and Namsan Cable Car tickets are available for purchase on Klook.
Nearest train station: Myeong-Dong Station of Seoul Subway Line 4 (Exit 3)
Myeong-Dong
Myeong-dong is a popular shopping district in Seoul, home to hundreds of brands, cosmetic shops, restaurants, and cafes. It is famous for its shopping street, where you can find everything you need—and even things you don’t!
My friends and I visited Myeong-dong twice during the trip. First, we accompanied a friend to buy something at a shop. Later, my friend and I went there to attend Sunday Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral.
Nearest train station: Myeong-Dong Station of Seoul Subway Line 4 (Exits 5, 6, 7 & 8) or Euljiro 1(il)-ga (Hana Bank) Station of Seoul Subway Line 2 (Exits 5 & 6)
Yeouido Hangang Park
Yeouido Hangang Park is a popular park that offers scenic views of the Han River and the Seoul skyline. It also has a pool, pathways, and biking trails.
I visited this park two or three times during the trip and enjoyed the relaxing views at sunset. At one point, I also rented a bicycle for ₩3,000 an hour and biked to the National Assembly area and back. I have to say, this is one of those places in Seoul that I will keep coming back to.
Nearest train station: Yeouinaru Station of Seoul Subway Line 5 (Exits 2 & 3)
In summary, our visits to Namsan Park, Myeong-dong, and Yeouido Hangang Park gave us a perfect mix of nature, shopping, and relaxation during our time in Seoul.
Have you been to these places before? What do you think of them? Are you considering visiting them in the future? If you have any questions or would like to know more, feel free to post them in the comments section below or send them via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. I would be happy to respond! Stay tuned for more upcoming posts about Seoul and South Korea. You can also check out other posts about this Seoul trip under the Seoul 2024 category.
Before you go, I hope you can like, follow and share my social media pages – Facebook and Instagram. This will help me increase my reach; it will also keep you up-to-date with the latest blog posts, itineraries, hostel of the day features, and flight reports on this website. Thank you and see you next time!
PS. Photos were taken using my Google Pixel 8 Pro.