Seoul, South Korea - Spring 2022
Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Seoul. weather is amazing and you may even catch the cherry blossoms sprinkling through the cityscape
I love traveling to South Korea for the food, culture and beauty treatments with springtime being one of the best times to visit. The weather is comfortable with a light jacket, long jeans, spring dresses and don’t forget an umbrella. Temperatures could fluctuate from 80’s to low 50’s fahrenheit with sunny days or cold rainy nights. In this post, I will share my tips on the flight, where to stay and best iphone apps to help navigate the amazing city of Seoul.
Flight
It’s best to fly direct to Incheon Airport (ICN) to avoid any lost luggage issues or missed flights. I flew from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) direct on Korean Air with one checked luggage. The check-in process, 11 hour flight and arrival were all seamless. Unfortunately, arrival PCR testing was still mandatory during this trip so it did take about 2 hours from landing to leave the airport. This COVID requirement has been lifted along with most COVID restrictions.
Where to Stay
My favorite area to stay in Seoul is near the Myeongdong area. This is north of the Han River and Gangnam. Myeongdong is considered the touristy neighborhood due to it’s close proximity to the comestic and skincare shopping and popular tourist attractions like Seoul Tower, Insadong and the major palaces. However, I highly recommend this area for first-time visitors and travelers who want more larger accommodations (hotel rooms are bigger compared to Hongdae and Gangnam), easy access to metro lines and buses to reach other popular neighborhoods and less crowded streets. You can also walk 20-30 minutes to the major tourist attractions.
Best iPhone Apps
Papago - better translation app than Google Translate for Korea to English translations, also has photo translation feature
Naver Maps - basic English feature, great for navigating metro and bus lines, register via Facebook to save places and create lists
KakaoTalk - S. Korea-based messaging app to message businesses for appointments, etc.
Kakao Taxi - S. Korea version of Uber
XE Currency - Currency conversion app to convert Korean Won to USD/home currency
Additional Tips
T-money Card - transit card that is available for purchase at vending machines at ICN aiport terminals and convenience stores (G25, 7-11, etc.), must load and reload with cash at convenience stores or metro station machines
Wifi - SIM card or portable wifi. My preference is portable wifi (AKA wifi egg) to avoid messing with phone settings, allow calls on my US-based phone number and easy sharing with others. LG and KT are much cheaper than SK, can rent and return from kiosks at either airport terminal’s arrival and departure areas.
Cash - it’s best to bring some Korean won even though Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere in Seoul. American Express is less widely acceptable. I recommend getting some Korean won from the global ATMs.
Language - it’s best to learn some basic Korean words/phrases but most establishments will have employees who speak basic English or you can use Papago to translate.
Public transportation - you must tap the T-money card when boarding and exiting buses and metro stations. Failure to tap when exiting may result in higher fee deductions or exit turnstiles not working
