What do you need to travel to Korea? How to plan a trip to South Korea. Moving and visa

Several years ago, South Korea abolished visas for Russian citizens. A visa is still required only for students, migrants and those who intend to work in the country. But tourists can stay in South Korea as much as 60 days. We found ten reasons to travel to a country that, in less than half a century, has transformed from the most backward corner into one of the most progressive states in the world. But with all the speed of this progress, ancient traditions are still respected in Korea.

Treatment and recovery

South Korea is quite popular among tourists who want to improve their health. The healthcare system here is one of the best not only in Asia, but throughout the world. The main directions of medical tourism: plastic surgery, dentistry, gynecology, oncology. In addition to the latest medical centers, you can undergo treatment using traditional Korean methods - this will certainly appeal to those who do not like doctors and medications, preferring traditional methods of treatment.

You can strengthen your health and immunity in a chimchilban. On the Internet, such a place is usually called a “Korean bathhouse,” which, to put it mildly, does not even come close to reflecting its capabilities. As a rule, this is a large complex with a sauna, massage, swimming pool, bathhouse, fitness center, cafe and other conditions for have a good rest for the benefit of the body. The most famous chimchilbans in Seoul are Dragon Hill Spa, Sports Club Seoul Leisure and The Spa in Garden 5.

Seoul is one of those cities that never sleeps. In principle, this can be said about any metropolis, but life in the South Korean capital really does not stop for a second. There are always crowds of people on the streets: during the day they rush to run errands, in the evening and at night they rush to clubs, bars and restaurants.

There are colorful establishments here at every turn - both inexpensive and top-level, where the bill per night can easily be equal to the budget of the entire trip to South Korea. The most hurricane-prone area of Seoul in this regard is Gangnam-gu. This is the epicenter of the capital's party life. Lovers of cocktails, parties until the morning and spontaneous acquaintances should settle here.

In ancient times, this city was the capital of the Silla state, and now attracts travelers with many monuments of Korean culture. The national park of the same name is located here, as well as an impressive State Museum Gyeongju, which displays ancient objects of Korean life, as well as clothing, sculpture and painting.

In the city center you will find Myeonghwal and Wolseong fortresses, and a little further away you will find Pomun Lake. You can stay longer near it, because there is the Posum summer theater, numerous resorts, hotels and a huge park. The city is considered one of the main tourist destinations in South Korea, so it regularly hosts festivals and exhibitions, including international ones.

The largest island in South Korea is a resort with good climate. There are still few tourists here, and the infrastructure is well developed. There are several resort areas, the most famous of them are Seogwipo and Chunmun. They have equipped beaches with all amenities for vacationers. Here you can also go diving, horse riding and archery.

Jeju is popular among honeymooners, and some places are designed especially for them. If you are not the shy type, take a look at the Love Land park - there are about 140 sculptures frozen in unambiguous poses. Well, if you prefer classic tourist places, welcome to the traditional Korean village. And the most interesting object on the island is Mount Hallasan, this is the highest point (1950 meters) on Jeju and best place to photograph the sunrise.

The Taekabsan Range runs through the eastern part of South Korea. Highest point- Daecheonbong Peak - 1708 meters in height, it is second only to Hallasan Volcano and Mount Chirisan. National Park It is especially popular among tourists in the fall, when the trees turn bright yellow and red.

However, even in summer there is something to see here. The park contains unique plants, including dwarf cedar and edelweiss. Animal lovers will be able to get up close and personal with the Korean musk deer, Himalayan bear and eastern goral. The place has been a candidate for inclusion on the list since 1994 World Heritage UNESCO.

It is the second largest city in Korea and is home to more than three and a half million people. The largest port is located here, as well as a huge number of resorts and sanatoriums. In 2002, Busan hosted the FIFA World Cup - then there were definitely enough tourists here, but even after the high-profile sporting event, the city was not forgotten.

Busan has world-class beaches, national parks and hot springs. However, the main attraction of the city is considered buddhist temple Beomeosa, where three incarnations of Buddha are located. It was built on Mount Krimcheongsan in 678. The temple is one of the oldest in South Korea.

The long name belongs to a traditional Korean village near Namsan Mountain. Or rather, it is a museum located in the center of Seoul. But being here, it's easy to forget that in walking distance there are skyscrapers, neon signs, expensive boutiques and pretentious establishments.

The museum opened in 1998 and includes the Namsan Gugaktan Traditional Korean Music Center, a classical Korean garden, and a time capsule site. You can appreciate the national architecture - there are five hanoks (houses) here. All of them at one time belonged to people of different social classes, and you can see the difference in decoration and decoration between the houses of wealthy and less wealthy Koreans.

In shopping centers in South Korea you can buy absolutely everything. Moreover, you don’t have to go to Seoul to do this. For example, Busan is home to the world's largest department store, Shinsegae Centum City. You can walk through the halls from morning to evening for several days, which will certainly delight female travelers and darken the mood of travelers. However, sometimes this can be beneficial: they left their companion in a department store, and they themselves walked around the city.

In addition to the usual global brands, Shinseg Centum City features many local Korean brands that specialize in cosmetics and accessories.

This park will keep you busy for the whole day, and the attractions will appeal to both adults and children. They say that the roof of Lotte World is visible even from satellites. The park is open without breaks on weekends, every day from morning to evening.

In addition to attractions, you will find a shopping center, a cinema, several cafes and a hotel. Lotte World - great place For family vacation. It is more aimed at children, but adults will not be bored either.

There are five palaces of the Joseon Dynasty in Seoul: Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeonghigun, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung. One of them, Gyeongbokgung, was destroyed during the Imjin War in the sixteenth century, and was restored in the mid-nineteenth century. Changgyeonggung also suffered, but mostly due to time. In 1983 it was completely restored.

And we also have

It has long become a popular tourist area. This country is characterized by interesting historical heritage and amazing beauty of nature. Tours to South Korea have also become very popular among Russians. Valid for tourists from Russia visa-free regime in 2020.

Beautiful night panorama of the capital of South Korea - Seoul

Holidays in South Korea are popular among both young people, families with children, and the elderly.

Russian citizens do not need a visa to South Korea. The corresponding resolution was adopted on January 1, 2014, after which Russians were able to visit the Republic of Korea without a visa. This applies to travel or visits to relatives for up to 2 months; you can read about this on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The maximum period of stay on the territory of the Republic for Russians is 90 days in one half-year (180 days). However, during this time you can continuously stay in the country for no more than 60 days.

If you are planning a long stay in the country for the purpose of acquiring education or employment, you will need to obtain a long-term visa of the appropriate category.

See a detailed analysis of how to go through the customs declaration and fill out the Arrival Card upon arrival in the country.

What do you need to cross the border?

In order to travel to South Korea or visit relatives in 2020, you will need the following papers and documents:

A foreign passport, the validity of the passport to enter Korea must be at least 6 months.
Tickets back or to a third country.
Confirmation of solvency for the period of visiting the country. That is, you need to have with you either a printout confirming your hotel reservation or a voucher from a tour operator. The Migration Service of the Republic of Korea is not too picky with tourists, and therefore does not require certificates from their place of work or bank statements from them.
Migration card.
Completed customs declaration.

Customs declaration to fill out when entering South Korea

These documents are quite enough to vacation in South Korea or go in transit through it to a third country, since there is a visa-free regime between Russia and South Korea. If the visitor has other goals that take more time to implement, then applying for a visa is a mandatory procedure.

Long-term visa to South Korea

Long-term visa may be of several types. They are mainly divided into two broad categories:

Long-term visa (D, E, H).

Let's look at each of these types of visas in more detail. We will also determine what papers are needed to obtain them, the procedure for registration, how long it will be valid, the duration and cost of the procedure.

Long-term visa (D, E, H)

Such visas are issued for a period of 3 months to 2 years with the possibility of extension (does not apply to E visas). In order to extend the validity of a visa, it is enough to contact the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.

Who is issued these visas:

Students wishing to receive education at one of the educational institutions of the Republic of Korea.
Master's and graduate students wishing to obtain the necessary scientific degree under the program of one of the universities in Korea or undergo a professional internship in the country.
Those on a long business trip.
Officially employed. This includes both the search for work by unqualified personnel and highly qualified specialists, executives, senior managers, and scientists.

Obtaining such a visa is mandatory for everyone who wants to stay in the country legally and get an official job. In order to do so, you must contact the embassy with a corresponding request, providing a certain package of documents. This will be discussed a little later.

Foreign National Entry Visa (F-4)

The F-4 visa is not available to all ethnic Koreans. Only the following foreign compatriots can apply for it:

Qualified specialists who have carried out their professional activities in the Republic of Korea for 6 months or more.
Masters, graduate students (and above) who received their academic degree (not lower than a master's) at one of the educational universities in South Korea.
Highly qualified workers who have previously stayed for some time on the territory of the Republic of Korea without violating laws and visa regime countries.

Consulate of South Korea in Moscow at: Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, 12

In order to obtain any type of visa, you must contact the South Korean Embassy and submit an application and other documents for consideration.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining a visa by invitation

For a period of more than 60 days, simply. The first thing that is necessary for this is that the party from Korea, who will act as your guarantor while you are on the territory of the state, submits a petition to the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.

The guarantor can be a legal entity, for example, an employer, or an individual - a relative or friend who is a citizen of the Republic of Korea or has permanent resident status.

After the guarantor submits the application, the applicant must submit to the visa department of the embassy a package consisting of the following documents:

It is worth noting that in some cases it is possible to obtain an electronic visa without specifically contacting the embassy. This applies to issuing visas E-1, E-3, E-5. Visas of these categories are issued online via the Internet.

The visa fee is paid in the same way. You must print your e-visa at the time of travel. This will ensure unhindered entry into the Republic of Korea and hassle-free stay in the country.

Traveling abroad on your own is a doubly exciting experience. There will be no guide or tour organizer nearby, wherever you go, you can only rely on yourself and your travel companion. What is it like to travel to South Korea on your own? Do you want to know about tickets, accommodation, attractions and features of this country? Then our material is for you.

Now the whole world is watching the events unfolding on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea continues to test its nuclear weapons, trying to prove to the whole world, in particular the United States, that it is better not to touch them. In turn, the United States is already threatening the “northerners” not only with sanctions, but also with war. South Korea, as always, finds itself caught between two fires. What is happening during such a tense period in this country and how is life for the population?

The VK Press correspondent cast aside all fears and doubts and went to Seoul to relax. How was it? Read on.

Preparing for independent travel to Korea

I have wanted to visit South Korea for a long time. The land of morning freshness, as it is called, attracted not only its culture and traditions, but also its level of development. Just think, in half a century she was able to move from an agrarian economy destroyed by the Japanese occupation and civil war region, to turn into a prosperous high-tech state. The republic’s economic breakthrough even received its own name, “The Miracle on the Han River.”

We began preparing for our trip to this extraordinary country with the most important step - buying plane tickets. It is better to do this two to three months before the trip to make it cheaper. We flew with a transfer in Moscow. Four flights (Krasnodar - Moscow, Moscow - Seoul and back) cost one person 40 thousand rubles. It is convenient to search for suitable tickets on the Skyscanner website.

The treasured ticket to Seoul.

After purchasing tickets, you can safely proceed to booking accommodation, in our case it was a hostel. There are many booking sites, I usually choose Booking, Roomguru and Trivago are also quite popular. Double room in a Seoul hostel for two weeks cost almost 24 thousand rubles. It is better to print out your flight tickets and reservations in advance so that you can provide them on the spot.

The next step for a tourist is usually obtaining a visa, but in this case she is not needed. Our countries have entered into an agreement under which Russians can stay in South Korea without a visa for three months.

What to take with you on a trip to Korea

For many, packing a suitcase becomes a real headache. To understand what things are needed and how much, we carefully studied the weather forecast, thought about what would be comfortable for walking the streets and visiting attractions. Be sure to take a comfortable pair of sneakers with you or go straight to them to save space. If we talk about the climate of South Korea, it reminded me of Kuban. At the end of September it was hot, in October it got a little colder and I had to put on a sweatshirt over my T-shirt.

Don't forget the first aid kit. In Korea, it is not so easy to buy the necessary medications; usually even the simplest cold medicine requires a prescription. Also take care of insurance, because medicine in Korea is very expensive.

The question of how much and in what form to take money, we decided this way - a little cash in dollars and on a card. Upon arrival at Seoul airport, dollars can be exchanged for local currency.

The rest of your luggage depends on individual preferences; the only thing you definitely need to pack is deodorant. In Korea there is a very small selection of these products, since local residents do not use them due to the characteristics of their body.

Road to Seoul

The path to the Land of Morning Freshness began in Pashkovsky airport Krasnodar. After two hours in the sky, we had a six-hour layover in Moscow.

The flight to Seoul took 8.5 hours. The flight was operated by the Korean airline Korean Air, which impressed with the high level of service and caring attitude of the staff towards passengers.

And so we arrived at International airport Incheon, which is located in city of the same name 70 km from the capital of South Korea. For several years in a row he has been recognized as one of the best in the world. The airport building is beautiful and modern. Inside you will find a convenient location of the passport and customs control, baggage claim. There are signs in English everywhere.

On passport control Passengers are divided into two streams - Korean citizens and foreigners. Each guest from abroad has their retina and fingerprints scanned using a special device to be entered into the database. Automated system she will tell you what to do. And don't worry about the language - the device also speaks Russian.

After receiving your luggage, the most interesting part begins - the quest “Find your hostel in unfamiliar city" To begin with, we exchanged some currency. The rate at the airport was good, although the best one was found in the Myeongdong area. Local money is called won. According to the exchange rate, 1000 won is equal to approximately 50 rubles.

You can get to Seoul from Incheon in different ways: by taxi, bus, metro and express. The cheapest and most convenient option is the metro. In order not to look for change every time for tickets, buy transport card T-money, which is sold in special machines and replenish it in the terminal by selecting the “Reloading the transit card” function. A trip to Seoul by subway costs an average of five thousand won.

Speaking of the metro. At first it is confusing with its complexity, many passages, turns, escalators, steps and exits. But over time you get used to it. The main thing is to carefully look at the colors of the branches, and in the direction of which station you need to go.

Subway stops are announced in four languages: Korean, Chinese, Japanese and English. Information is also broadcast on special screens. This helps a lot when you couldn't hear the name of the station.

Sights and just beautiful places Seoul

Having reached the hostel, you want to quickly unpack your things, relax a little and go see the city. What is a must-see in the capital of South Korea?

History and Korean architecture buffs will love Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Traditional Village.

It is also worth visiting Gwanghwamun Square, where monuments to the most revered and famous historical figures of the country are erected - King Sejong, thanks to whom the Korean alphabet appeared, and General Yi Sun-sin, a national hero.

Be sure to rent a hanbok, a traditional Korean costume. Five hours of rent cost 10 thousand won per person, that is, only 500 rubles. The plus is that entry to Gyeongbokgung Palace is free for visitors wearing hanbok; others will have to pay three thousand won.

If you're craving something more modern and high-tech, visit Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This is a complex of exhibition buildings that look like spaceships with an adjacent park. It was built according to the design of the talented British architect of Iraqi origin Zaha Hadid, whose works are known throughout the world due to the boldness of their forms.

With the onset of darkness it is especially beautiful there, as the buildings and installations in the form of a meadow of flowers turn on.

At the beginning of 2017, another ultra-modern building opened in Seoul - the Lotte World Tower. Its height is 555 meters (123 floors). Today this is the most tall building in South Korea.

Seoul Sky works in the tower - observation floors, with transparent floor areas. It is especially breathtaking on the site, where the floor suddenly becomes transparent after you stand on it. A ticket to Seoul Sky is not cheap - 26 thousand won, but it's worth it. The capital of South Korea is mesmerizing from a bird's eye view.

For have a relaxing holiday on earth we chose parks. During the warmer months, Oido is ideal next to the Han River, which divides Seoul into northern and southern parts. Right there you can buy a bedding and have a picnic, admiring the river, motor ships passing by and launched into the sky kites. This type of vacation is very popular among Koreans.

It is also worth visiting another city novelty - Seoullo Park 7017. It is an overpass, which was blocked by decision of the authorities and turned into a green area. This is a serious decision for the improvement of the city. In Seoul, they try to use every free plot for landscaping; plants even appear on the roofs of buildings.

If we talk about atypical attractions, then it is worth paying attention to Korean universities. The university buildings are very beautiful, made in European style, sometimes it even seems that you are somewhere in Germany or England. During our trip, we were able to visit four universities in Seoul: Ewha, Yongse, Hankuk and Gyeonghee. Each of them amazes with its vast territory, beautiful buildings and unusual landscape.

Ewha is one of the largest and most famous universities in the city, and it is also the largest women's university in the world. Yense is one of the three most prestigious higher education institutions in Korea. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is known all over the world, as it is the third university in the world in terms of the number of languages studied at the university - there are 45 of them. And Gyeonghee is famous for its beautiful campus, on the territory of which there are buildings in the Gothic style.

Food and drink in South Korea

Koreans love to eat delicious food. We can say that in the Land of Morning Freshness there is a “cult of food”, that is, wherever you go, there will be food everywhere.

In Seoul, you can find street food everywhere. It is quite high in calories and not particularly healthy, but it is very cheap.

A separate topic is spicy food. It is better to ask when ordering that the dish is not too spicy. And if a Korean tells you that it will be spicy, it’s better not to even try it. Believe me, the feeling that your stomach is literally being eaten away by spice is not the most pleasant.

What is the real must-try food on the streets of Seoul? First of all, teokbokki is a kind of rice flour dumpling in a spicy sauce. In Korea, like others Asian countries, rice is the head of everything. Therefore, it is eaten not only in its usual form, but also ground into flour, from which noodles and dough for confectionery are prepared.

We also really liked omuk - fish flour cakes. They are sold on skewers. You can take a paper cup and pour yourself the broth in which the omuk was cooked for free, it is also very tasty and will warm you up perfectly if it’s cool outside.

As for desserts, we liked the punoppan fish-shaped pies with a sweet red bean filling. Speaking of red beans... They are a traditional filling for most Korean desserts, so don't be surprised. The taste is unusual, but it’s worth trying and you won’t be able to put it down.

Hotteok are flatbreads that are fried in oil. We tried it filled with sugar and sunflower seeds. Very hot and sweet.

In the summer, you should definitely order bingsu - crushed ice or frozen milk with the addition of berries, fruits, chocolate, cream, and various syrups. We were able to try it with mango, apple and cream cheese. It’s a little expensive (from 1.3 thousand rubles), but one serving is enough for two, three, or even four people.

You can't visit Korea without trying these traditional dishes, like kimbap and pipimpap. Everyone knows Japanese rolls; kimbap is also a roll, but only Korean. Usually a sheet of nori seaweed is taken, a layer of rice on top and a variety of fillings - ham, omelette, pickled radish, cucumber, carrots, tuna. Then all this is rolled into a roll and cut into small pieces. Kimbap can be bought not only in street food stalls, but also in stores like 7-Eleven, GS25, CU. Price from 1.8 to 3.5 thousand won (100–170 rubles).

The traditional version of pipimpap consists of rice, which is topped with chopped vegetables, pieces of meat, mushrooms, spicy paste and fried eggs. The ingredients are mixed right before eating. Not far from our hostel we found a cafe that specialized in making pipimpaps. I liked it best with chicken and teriyaki sauce. I was also pleased with the price - five thousand won (about 250 rubles). By the way, in Korea, the main course is always served with several appetizers. Usually this is kimchi - spicy pickled cabbage and radish, seaweed, bean sprouts.

Another feature of Koreans that attracted attention was that they drink cold drinks at any time of the year, even in winter. The cafe serves simply ice water, and the most popular coffee in Korea is iced Americano. It even turned out that in one cafe we asked for a normal hot cappuccino, but they told us: “Sorry, we only have iced Americano.”

Shopping in Seoul: where to go shopping

It is difficult to imagine a trip to any country without shopping. Where is the best place to go for shopping in Seoul?

Several areas are suitable for this - the tourist paradise of Myeongdong, the traditional souvenir market of Insadong and the student district of Hongdae, where young people from all over Seoul gather. It’s worth saying right away that of these three, Mendon is the most expensive. This area is very popular among foreigners, so prices are often inflated. But it’s still worth a visit to Myeongdong, if only for the eight-story Daiso store, where you can buy everything from ballpoint pens and spoons to products for dogs and gardening.

For cosmetics and clothes, you need to go to Hongdae. Prices here are lower, since the area is considered a student area. You can find both branded items and mass market items. By the way, Honda is loved not only for shopping, but also for its special creative atmosphere. In the evenings, young people perform here at various venues. They play musical instruments, sing and dance, gathering a crowd of passers-by around them.

But traditional souvenirs and gifts can be bought on Insadong. I noticed that all the souvenirs, without exception, were made in Korea, which is confirmed by the words Made in Korea (instead of the usual Made in China). Here you will find incredibly beautiful cards, bookmarks, keychains, magnets, figurines, fans, dishes, writing utensils, hanboks and much more.

Koreans' attitude towards foreigners

Any person likes it when his country is respected and his culture is interesting. Koreans have become more open to others in recent years. They are very friendly towards foreigners, at least towards Europeans (Russians for them are also residents of Europe). Passers-by often greeted us, asked where we were from, gave us compliments, and showed us our class. In general, a girl with light eyes and light brown hair will definitely not be ignored.

As we walked around the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace wearing hanboks, a man approached us. When he found out that we were from Russia, he started talking about Putin. In general terms, we realized that our president is very good because he does not give in to the Japanese (apparently he meant our steadfastness on the issue of the Kuril Islands).

We did not receive any aggression, rude words or sidelong glances in Korea. Russians are treated really well. By the way, Koreans believe that the most beautiful women live in Ukraine and Russia.

Even though Korea is a country where people experience a lot of stress due to intense competition in school and work (hence the high suicide rate), you won't see a gloomy expression on its people's faces. Everywhere you are greeted with warm smiles and friendliness. Believe me, if you open your soul to Korea, it will happily do the same for you.

We are planning a trip to Seoul, the capital of South Korea. Where to start?

I've been to Seoul twice: the first time in October 2013 - then I went for 6 days and planned the trip 3 months in advance. The second time I went to Seoul was again in October, but in 2018, 5 years later. I didn’t have time to plan, because... the trip happened spontaneously. However, there are a few items that I always consider on any trip. I don't think you will have all of these items, but most of them are quite standard. So what to do:

buy a plane ticket and take out insurance;
find a travel companion ( this seemed to me one of the most difficult preparatory tasks), you can, of course, go alone, but this, you see, is not so fun;
book accommodation;
make a plan for your stay.

1. Buy a plane ticket to Seoul

(With Everything about insurance is very simple, the main thing is not to forget to apply for it in any trusted insurance company, I do it in RESO)

Today, everything has changed a lot in terms of prices, so I will not touch on this side of the purchase, but will concentrate on the comfort of the flight.

Previously, I paid little attention to connections and looked only at the ticket price. If a search engine like aviasales or skyscanner offered me a flight to Tokyo via Dubai and Singapore and in each city there was a transfer of 6-8 hours, but favorable price, without hesitation, I bought it and flew.

Now I have become a little wiser and realized the tedious effect of long transfers, so: try to find a flight that, even if it has connections, takes the least amount of time. Otherwise, you will arrive at your destination tired and overwhelmed and will spend much more time adapting. This point does not apply to you if you are under 30 years old and can handle airplanes well, do not get motion sickness, do not feel nauseous, are short and comfortably curl up in a ball on an airplane seat, and you love airplane food.

dinner in Korean air economy class

If you are flying from St. Petersburg, as I was, then you can consider 3 airlines:
—Korean Air
— Aeroflot
— Finnair
Please note that very often aviasales/skyscanner does not display these airlines in the search.

I flew in 2013 with Finnair, via Helsinki, with a very convenient connection of 3 hours and a comfortable flight. Many people praise Finnair very much and I support them.

My travel companion flew with Aeroflot from Moscow and bought a ticket at a special offer. If you can find a short connection in Moscow, then it will be quite good.

Korean Air is the most expensive, direct and comfortable option

In October 2018, I flew a direct flight - St. Petersburg-Seoul-St. Petersburg, with Korean Air. On board you will be given a pillow, blanket, slippers, toothpaste, toothbrush and bottle drinking water. During the 9-hour flight there and 10 back, you will be fed twice + snacks, water, juice and wine are constantly offered. Very tasty food!

2. Find a travel companion

It's great if you're flying to Seoul with a friend ( friend, husband, partner, etc.), who shares your hobbies, rhythm of life and generally coincides with you in all respects, including financial ones, since this is very important.

In 2013, I didn’t have such a friend and a group on VK came to help me - Let's go to Korea. It has a special topic dedicated to finding travel companions, and also if you just want to meet compatriots in Seoul. In this group I found a girl, with whom we went to Seoul, became very good friends and still communicate! So, if you have the same task - finding a travel companion, feel free to write in the Let’s go to Korea group.

In 2018, I was flying alone, but I had several people I planned to meet in Seoul.

3. Find housing

The topic of housing in Seoul is a very complex and extensive one. I will list the accommodation options that I know about, but I will describe in more detail those that I ended up using on my trip.

Hotel (or hostel)— let's start with the simplest and most common option: book a hotel on booking.com. Seoul, a multimillion-dollar city that offers tourists thousands of hotels and hostels for every taste and budget. The choice is huge and to determine which hotel to choose, I usually read reviews on Tripadvisor. I know that some people don't trust this site and the reviews that are written there, but... I myself write reviews there for hotels in which I have stayed; I have no doubts about the veracity of most reviews and photographs.

Apartment - recently the airbnb site has become very popular, I used it on other trips and really liked it. This option has an obvious disadvantage: you will have to buy food and cook it yourself or eat in a cafe. If there are no problems with lunch and dinner, then you are often too lazy to go to a cafe for breakfast, so you will have to buy yoghurts and muesli in the nearest store, of which there are many in Seoul and there are also 24-hour ones.

Bed & Breakfast is the option that we chose and it has a couple of important advantages: firstly, you live in a house in which, most often, the owners themselves live, which means in an authentic and cozy atmosphere. Secondly, as the name suggests, you will be offered breakfast, which we know is the key Have a good day. Everything will be put on the table for you, and then they will clean up after you, just like your room, and you will not have to worry about the presence of food in the refrigerator, dishes in the sink and an unmade bed. About that guest house where we lived, you can read this one.

Hanok is a traditional Korean house. They vary in comfort and authenticity, but offer the experience of a traditional home, with in-floor heating, usually a beautiful courtyard, and complete immersion in Korean culture. We also stayed in such a hanok and I will tell you more about it in. I highly recommend this option.

Familystay - accommodation with a Korean family. I read about this accommodation option, again on the VisitKorea website, but did not take advantage of it. Of course, this is interesting in terms of communication, even more interesting for those who study the Korean language, but keep in mind that families are different and it is very difficult to predict in advance which family you will get.

Whatever accommodation option you choose, always check:

how close to the center or main block of attractions you want to visit is your chosen accommodation;
How convenient is it to get from your accommodation to the airport and from the airport to your accommodation. This is very important, because you will be with a suitcase and quite tired after the flight.

On my trip, I chose Bed&Breakfast on both my second trip, and on my first visit I stayed at . In my opinion, the ideal area for living is Samcheon-dong - in the very center, safe, many shops and cafes, 30 minutes walk to Myeongdong.

European breakfast at A House Hotel

In October 2018, I lived in a small hotel called A House in Samcheon-dong. Quiet family hotel for 3 rooms, with a European breakfast, a cozy terrace and the sweetest hostess - ideal if you are traveling alone.

4. Make a plan for your stay

As a person who loves to plan everything, I always create a life schedule for a trip, which reflects all my wishes and attractions I want to visit. In the plan, I also indicate what food I would like to try and what I would like to buy in the country where I am going. I always have with me a list of relatives and friends to whom I should bring souvenirs. I advise you to do the same, because even if you complete even 30 or 50% of your plan, because... It is absolutely impossible to complete 100%; it will still be more than you would have managed to do without any plan.

Important in Seoul:

see how far your chosen attractions are from each other, download a metro map and other necessary applications;
check the possibility of purchasing tickets online;
clarify what documents are required to visit certain sites; you may need a passport ( for example, when traveling to the mountains), and student or ISIC will give a discount;
on the day of arrival and departure, do not make grandiose plans to “take over the world”; it is better to leave the day of arrival for exploring the area where you will live, and leaving for a farewell to Seoul, a quiet walk;
LANGUAGE- knowledge of basic Korean language will a big plus, but knowing English is unlikely to help you, BUT we arrived in Seoul without knowing a single word of Korean and in most cases got along without it. The main difficulty, in my opinion, awaits you in cafes and restaurants where there are no menus in English and no pictures.
MONEY— very often people ask how much money they should take for a trip. This question has no answer, because... All people are different and it is impossible to predict what will happen on a trip, because every force majeure happens. In Seoul, everywhere, with the exception of the smallest shops, they accept credit and bank cards, so you can rely on them. I usually take cash and a card on which I put more money, in case of force majeure. Since Seoul is simply a paradise in terms of shopping, girls, I advise you to take plenty of money, because there are thousands of temptations. I took 300 USD in cash for 5 days and spent every last coin + made 1 large purchase using the card.
SAFETY- I can’t vouch for all areas of Seoul and, of course, you should always use common sense, but in general Seoul is VERY safe city, from the word “absolutely”. Therefore, do not be afraid of anything, feel free to plan late walks. What I really need to warn you about is the common occurrence of drunk driving: be extremely careful on roads, crosswalks and narrow streets.
HEALTH— a basic set of medications is a must-have on any trip; use local medications, no matter what country you find yourself in, only in the most extreme cases. Keep in mind that South Korea in general has very spicy food, so if you have stomach problems, plan your diet in advance. If you have allergies and are planning a trip to Seoul in the spring, also consider what to do in case you have an allergic reaction to the blooms. Know yours weaknesses and choose your medications accordingly.
CELLULAR COMMUNICATION— many people scared me that my phone wouldn’t work in Seoul, but everything worked fine, Megafon + viber roaming. I didn’t take the Wifi egg, but you can rent it at the airport.

A holiday in South Korea will certainly give you vivid impressions and emotions. The combination of modern cities with skyscrapers, traditional Korean culture and architecture, picturesque national parks, beautiful beaches, flavored with developed infrastructure, will make a trip to this country comfortable and memorable.

South Korea looks especially advantageous for residents Far East Russia, because it’s closer to fly here than to Moscow and the European part of the country.

I present to your attention a large useful material about traveling to South Korea, where you will learn how to get there cheaply, how to get around, where to live, what to see, and how much the trip will cost.

Koreans

Visa to South Korea: is it necessary?

Since 2014, Russians can enter the country without a visa if their stay does not exceed 60 days (but not more than 90 days a year).

Documents for visa-free entry to South Korea:

a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry
a completed migration card, which will be given to you on the plane or other transport
completed customs declaration (if there is something to declare)

Instructions for filling out a migration card

I also saw on the Internet that you need return air tickets and proof of availability cash(hotel reservations, bank certificate, cash, etc.). But they didn’t ask us anything from this list; we arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur. However, I advise you to do it just in case.

Hotel reservations can be made at Booking (select the “free cancellation” option).

How to make an air ticket reservation without payment, I wrote in detail in. Although it would be ideal if you have real return tickets.

If you plan to stay in SC longer, you will need a visa. They can be workers, students, or researchers.

How to get to South Korea cheaply?

The most convenient way to get into the country is to fly, as most tourists do.

There are direct flights from Russia to South Korea from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.

There are direct flights to Daegu from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok by T’Way Air and Hanh Air at a price of approximately 13-15 thousand rubles in both directions.

There are direct flights to Seoul from Vladivostok (S7, Aeroflot, Jeju Air, Korean Air), from Moscow (Aeroflot, Korean Air), from St. Petersburg (Aeroflot), from Khabarovsk (S7, Aeroflot, Asiana Airlines).

There are direct flights to Busan from Vladivostok (Aeroflot).

Most cheap way get to South Korea - catch a sale on the Korean low-cost airline Jeju Air from Vladivostok to Seoul. Once they were selling tickets for 3,000 rubles one way and 6,000 round-trip. Unfortunately, sales don't happen that often.

Airfare from Moscow

Transport in South Korea

Aircraft

The most major airlines are Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which have flights between the capital and other cities of the country, as well as between provincial cities.

Also, pay attention to Air Busan, Jeju Air, Eastar Jet, T'way Airlines, Hanh Air if you are planning to take a domestic flight.

Jeju Air counter at Jeju Airport

Prices are low, discounts are common at the beginning of the work week, but on weekends tickets are more expensive, and they sell out quickly. For example, we flew from Jeju to Busan for only 48,000 won for two (with 15 kg of luggage each).

Trains in Korea

The country also has a convenient railway system, although it does not cover all regions.

KTX High Speed Train

Trains come in three main classes:

KTX- high-speed, fly from Seoul to Busan in two and a half hours (costs 59,800 won in economy class, 83,700 won in first class)

Saemaul- stop only at major cities, the same way costs 42,600 won.

Mugunghwa- the slowest, but still comfortable. Seoul-Busan costs 28,600 won.

If you plan to travel a lot by train, buy an unlimited KR Pass, it will be more profitable. A one-day pass costs 81,000 won, and a three-day pass costs 113,000 won.

You can buy tickets at railway stations, travel agencies, as well as on the official website of Korean railways. You can also check the train schedule there in advance.

Buses

The bus system in the country is very developed, with thousands of buses plying the roads between all major and minor cities. There is no place you can't reach.

Buses are divided into express and intersity, which often arrive at different terminals in the same city. The first ones run between the main ones big cities, the second - between smaller provincial ones. In addition, there are also varieties by class: Ilban (regular) and Udeung (superior, with three seats in a row). Night buses are usually superior with an appropriate price.

Intercity bus

VIP bus with three seats in a row

In general, the bus ride is quite comfortable, the driver makes stops every 2-3 hours, and the roads have all the infrastructure with cafes, toilets and entire shopping complexes.

As a rule, there is no need to buy tickets in advance, except on holidays and weekends. This can be done at the bus station before departure. You can view the schedule in advance at (select English in the upper right corner).

Bus station in Busan

Ticket vending machine

Car rental in Korea

To rent a car in Korea, you will need an international license (issued more than a year ago), and you must be over 21 years old. The road infrastructure here is well developed: you will find equipped parking lots, campsites, cafes, gas stations... The roads are chic and wide with dividing fences and multi-level interchanges.

Road infrastructure is excellent

Ferries

Ferries operate to numerous islands. We did not sail on these (more precisely, only from Jeju Island to Udo Island), but all information about schedules and prices can be found in the ports.

Ferry from Jeju Island to Udo Island

Local city transport

The best way to save money on traveling around cities is to buy a special transport T-money card. It is sold in special machines in the subway (on arrival at the airport too), or in supermarkets GS25, CU, 7-11 and costs 2000-2500 won. You can also top up your balance there. When entering and exiting the metro or bus, simply lean it against the special machine.

What is the main advantage of this card? It gives you a 100 won discount on each trip, plus the ability to travel on another mode of transport for free if you transfer within 30 minutes. Thus, it pays for itself in a day. We spent the rest of the card at a supermarket at Seoul airport before our flight.

The metro is the most convenient urban transport; there are subways in 6 largest Korean cities. The fare usually starts from 1,100 won; for long distances it is a little more expensive. We have never paid more than 1800 won for a subway.

Subway in Seoul

When is the best time to go?

The best months to visit South Korea are April, May, September and October (if you plan to actively travel around the country) and from mid-June to September (if beach holidays are your priority).

In winter, you should come only if you plan to ski in the Olympic PyeongChang and the surrounding area; it is at this time that there is snow in the mountains and all the conditions for a ski holiday.

In spring the weather here is warmer than in Russia. April is famous for the cherry blossoms, it looks really incredible, and May is like summer in middle lane Russia. However, there may be a chilly wind in the evenings, so bring sweaters.

In summer, the beach season opens from late June to early September. It's hot and humid. Ideal time for beach holiday at any of the many resorts, the most famous are Jeju Island and Busan.

At the end of September-October, autumn takes over yours and the trees are painted yellow-red. Best time for trekking and visiting national parks, and it’s not so hot anymore.

When is the best time to go to Korea: spring and autumn

Housing

Finding a place to stay overnight in Korea is not a problem. In any more or less tourist city you will find a large selection of accommodation from hostels to decent hotels of global chains.

If you are traveling alone, hostels are best option. But sometimes it’s more profitable for two people to rent a hotel room.

You can book hotels on the website, which collects in one place offers from different reservation systems, such as booking.

An interesting accommodation option could be a hanok - a traditional Korean house converted into a guesthouse. You will sleep on the floor on a mattress, but the floors are heated, so the house is warm. A list of such houses throughout the country can be found here (Korean only).

You can feel like a Buddhist monk and spend the night in a monastery thanks to the Templestay program. More than 100 temples across the country are accessible to travelers. More details on the official program.

Tents on the beach in Busan

IN national parks It is possible to spend the night in campsites and shelters. It’s not expensive at all, besides, there is the necessary infrastructure and amenities, and you don’t have to drag a tent from home with you :) List of campsites with prices throughout the country. Select a national park and look for the “Fee” section in the left menu.

Renting apartments from the owners will be beneficial for families with children, large companies and simply those who like to feel at home. To do this, search at

The most high prices and demand for hotels in July, August, September on the coast and in October, November in national parks and nearby. Therefore, if you are traveling during this period, it is better to book in advance.

Breakfast is rarely included in the price, but there are still such options, it is very convenient. The staff usually speaks reasonable English, unless you go completely off the beaten path.

Holidays in South Korea: resorts and attractions

Holidays in South Korea are quite diverse. There are both beach and ski resorts, despite the small size of the country.

The peninsula is washed by three seas on three sides, so there is a lot to choose from among beach resorts. The most popular resort in South Korea, among both locals and tourists, is the volcanic Jeju Island. Magnificent volcanic sand beaches, stunning landscapes and clear seas make it a very popular place rest.

On Jeju Island

Udo Island and the volcano in the distance