Ni, Volkova: South Korea. Guide with a map. Mobile guide to South Korea Transport: the screen replaced the paper

Seoul is the heart of South Korea and the city where more than half of the population of the entire country lives. The capital was badly damaged during the Korean War and can be said to have been rebuilt. The city strives to be the best: here is the longest metro line in the world, the largest indoor amusement park, and in general life is in full swing all day long!

Gangnam area

And the locals, even more than other Koreans, are obsessed with work, perfect appearance (according to statistics, half of the female population has had plastic surgery at least once in their life) and beauty.

Korean women

This material contains a detailed guide to the capital with a description of attractions, transport, hotels, markets and shopping centers.

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How to get to Seoul from Russia and the cities of South Korea?

If you are flying from Russia to South Korea, you will almost certainly arrive in the capital, although there are also flights to Busan. Direct flights to Seoul are operated from several Russian cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk by such airlines as Korean Air, Asiana, Aeroflot, S7.

The cheapest flights from Vladivostok: the average price is 13-14 thousand rubles in the off-season, and 18-20 thousand. rubles round trip in the summer. However, Jeju Air rarely, but arranges sales in this direction, you can fly for 6-8 thousand rubles round-trip.

In Seoul, you will fly into Incheon International Airport, which is quite far from the city. You can get to the center on special trains to the Seoul railway station.

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Seoul has excellent communication with other cities in the country, which is quite logical. Most domestic flights arrive at Gimpo Airport, which is 18 km from the city. From here it is very easy to get to the center by metro or buses.

Intercity buses arrive in Seoul from all over the country, so there are several bus stations in the city: Dong Seoul (east station, buses from eastern South Korea and from major cities), Nambu Terminal (cities south of the capital), Seoul Express Bus Terminal (here Express arrives.

There are also several railway stations in Seoul, but the main one - Seoul Station - is located almost in the center of the city and receives trains of different classes from other cities.

Cheonggyecheon stream in downtown Seoul

Transport in the city, subway

Public transport is very well developed in Seoul, so getting somewhere in the city is very easy, in extreme cases, a taxi is at your service. Transport operates from early morning until midnight.

I recommend buying a T-money transport card immediately upon arrival, it allows you to save time and money in any city in South Korea, so it will come in handy in the future. It gives you a 100 won discount on each subway or bus ride compared to buying a single ticket. In addition, you can travel for free on another mode of transport if you make a transfer within 30 minutes. For example, transfer from the metro to the bus, and pay only for the metro.

Such a card costs differently (2000-3000 won) and is sold in special machines in the subway, in supermarkets. You can also top up your balance there.

city ​​buses

Buses differ in colors: red expresses go to the suburbs, blue ones also, but at closer distances, green ones connect the metro with areas where it does not exist, yellow ones go within the same district. The fare depends on the distance.

Metro has a very developed and huge network of lines and stations, including those to the suburbs and even neighboring cities. The fare with the T-money card starts from 1250 won and also depends on the distance.

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seoul subway

Attractions in Seoul

If you come to Seoul, then you can’t miss the top attractions of this city:

• Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Royal Palaces
• N Seoul Tower
• Shopping street Myeongdong
• Gangnam area
• Futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza and Seoul City Hall

At Changdeokgung Palace

Near Gyeongbokgung Palace

TV Tower N Tower

I advise you to take a walk through the numerous parks, go to Everland and Lotte World amusement parks, visit the COEX Aquarium.

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: top 15 places with photos, descriptions and useful information

Hotels in Seoul

The choice of housing in Seoul is really great: there are hostels, guest houses, mid-range hotels, and good hotels. Prices are slightly higher than the national average and start at $12-15 per bed in a hostel. Double room for two can be taken for 30-40 dollars.

Where to look for housing in Seoul?

Look at hotel aggregators and they collect information from many booking systems in one place and give you for comparison.

Apartments in Seoul can be rented through - this option will be convenient for large companies, families with children and just people who want to feel at home even on a trip.

I recommend taking a closer look at the Myeongdong and Dongdaemun areas and looking for accommodation there. This is the very center of the city, close to many attractions, there are several metro lines and buses, shopping centers and whole streets of food.

Entertainment

In addition to the Everland and Lotte World amusement parks already mentioned above, the COEX Aquarium, go to a K-Pop music concert - there will be a real immersion in modern Korean pop culture.

K-Pop Music Concert

Shopping centers, markets

Seoul is considered to be one of the world's best shopping cities, so shoppers, get ready!

Of course, the most famous and popular place among foreigners is the capital of the country - Seoul. Someone happens to be passing through here and, having lingered for one day (to get acquainted with the main attractions), stays for a long time to walk around the ancient and modern quarters, get acquainted with the original Korean culture, fashion and music, which has long become popular in Europe, visit buddhist temples...

The author of the guidebook, Natalia Ni, Ph.D. in Philology, a well-known specialist in the field of Korean culture and literature, thoroughly reworked the entire book. After all, South Korea is a very dynamically developing country, which means that all the changes that have taken place over the past year must be made. She repeatedly traveled to this most interesting country (both in spring and autumn) in order to create the most convenient routes for you.
The guide contains 14 routes, 6 maps
For the convenience of users, the guide is supplemented with a large detailed map of the country (in a patch pocket on the cover).
Of course, the most famous and popular place among foreigners is the capital of the country - Seoul. Someone happens to be passing through here and, having lingered for one day (to get acquainted with the main attractions), stays for a long time to walk around the ancient and modern quarters, get acquainted with the original Korean culture, fashion and music, which has long become popular in Europe, visit Buddhist temples or, using the unique Korean Temple Stay program, even stay for a couple of days in a monastery.
After getting acquainted with the capital, be sure to go on a trip across the country! Visit the beaches of Sokcho, Busan is the main port city. After the 2018 Winter Olympics, many people learned that South Korea has many modern ski resorts with excellent infrastructure. Well. and since most of the country is occupied by mountains, hiking is well developed here, there are many marked and, importantly, specially equipped trails that ecologists and conservationists will appreciate. Every spring the country becomes like a wonderful garden. These are the flowers that bloom, which cover the mountains and valleys with a colorful veil. But among all the colors there is one that is worth mentioning separately. This is hibiscus, which has long been the national symbol of South Korea.
It turns out that it is customary to go to admire the cherry blossoms not only in Japan, but also in South Korea! For a Russian tourist, this choice has recently become more and more preferable, since a visa is not required here. If you are not going to stay there to work or study, then you can safely stay in Korea for 60 days.
In addition to convenient maps (6) and proven author's routes (14), with a description of the most important sights, the South Korea guide also contains practical information - useful links, addresses, museum opening hours and public transport routes, driving directions.
In the guide "South Korea" you will also find sections that will help you prepare for your trip. This is a brief history of the country, information about transport links, a calendar of upcoming events and holidays. The climate section will help you choose the best time for your trip, and information about hotels and restaurants will help you navigate the variety of offers.
And also in the guide there are unique routes.

The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is a state located in the northeast of Asia, bordering the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). A demilitarized zone runs along the border. The country is washed by the Japanese, East China and Yellow Seas. There are about 3,000 islands off the coast, many of which are uninhabited.

The relief of the country is represented mainly by small mountains with the highest point - Mount Hallasan (1950 m). The flat part makes up only 30% of the territory.

The total area of ​​the country is 99,617 sq. km, the population is about 49,000,000 people, among whom the majority are Koreans. The traditional religions are Buddhism and Christianity. The official language is Korean.

South Korea is a member of the UN.

The capital is the city of Seoul.

Cities of South Korea

The history of the city of Seoul dates back six centuries, however, not only modern architecture and old historical buildings coexist here, but also ancient traditions with modern knowledge. Tourists fell in love with this city for the opportunity to spend time with benefit - there are a large number of SPA complexes and amusement parks, conditions for trekking and mountain biking are created, in Seoul you can visit casinos and horse races, various attractions and natural parks.

Not far from Seoul is the city of Incheon, founded before our era, which is today a major tourist center. The city's airport, located in the middle of the Yellow Sea, surrounded by islands, is considered one of the largest in the world and is equipped with the most modern technologies. Incheon is also famous for pottery, whose history can be traced in the Museum of Ceramics. City thermal springs will help to rejuvenate and improve your health.

Busan is the second largest city in the country and the main seaport. Busan has a large number of attractions, the Botanical Garden, clean and comfortable beaches, a thermal complex that attracts many vacationers.

The largest Korean island is Jeju Island. It is a popular resort with beautiful nature, unusual sights and a mild climate.

In South Korea, not only a beach holiday is presented, but also a ski holiday. There are convenient slopes, trails of varying difficulty, and magnificent nature and first-class service will add good impressions. The most popular ski resorts are Yongpyeong, Yangji - Pine, Alps, Temyun Vivaldi Park, Phoenix - Park, Hyundai - Songgu, Muju.

How to get to South Korea

There is no direct air connection between South Korea and Belarus.

You can get from Minsk with a transfer in Asia or Europe or from Moscow by regular flights Moscow - Seoul by Aeroflot or Korean Air (travel time 8 hours 20 minutes).

To purchase air tickets to South Korea, please contact the Spasibo-travel travel company - our experienced managers will select the travel option that best suits your needs.

Climate of South Korea

The territory of South Korea is influenced by the monsoon climate. In winter it is cold and dry, in summer it is hot and humid.

The average air temperature in the summer in the mountains reaches +25 - +27 degrees during the day and +13 - +15 degrees - at night, on the flat part, respectively - +30 degrees and +22 degrees, in the southern part of the country, respectively - +28 - +30 degrees and +23 - +25 degrees.

The average winter temperature ranges from 0 to -10 degrees in the mountains, from +2 to +4 degrees in the plains, from +8 to +10 degrees in the south of the country.

The annual rainfall ranges from 1370 mm to 2000 mm depending on the area.

The rainy season lasts from June to September. There may be typhoons in autumn.

The best time to travel around the country is from late April to October, for a ski holiday - from late November to April.

South Korea Hotels

South Korean hotels are classified into five classes - super - de - lux (corresponds to our 5 *), de - lux (corresponds to our 5 *), first (corresponds to our 4 *), second (corresponds to our 3 *) and third (corresponds to our 2 *) classes. There are also condominiums - business - hotels with a small territory, on which there is only one bar and restaurant. Meals are not included in the cost of living.

In South Korea, the level of service is quite high, the hotel staff is friendly and welcoming.

The average cost of living is 112 euros per night.

Other ways of accommodation are youth hostels, residences, hostels and guest houses (cost of living - 10 - 30 US dollars per person), yegvans - small rooms with everything you need (cost of living - 30 - 80 US dollars per person), guest houses " hanok” with an old national interior (cost of living - 105 - 210 US dollars), motels (40 - 60 US dollars per night), functioning Buddhist monasteries with three meals a day and translation services (cost of living 50 - 85 US dollars).

The beaches of South Korea

The best South Korean beaches are located on Jeju Island in the Chunmun and Seogwipo complexes. Here you can not only relax, admiring the sea and basking in the sun, but also actively relax - the island has created conditions for diving, horseback riding, cycling, and hunting. Newlyweds can visit the Love Land park, whose sculptures simply call for love.

A large number of tourists tend to get to the beaches of Ganghwa Island, which is almost 60 km from Seoul. There are all conditions for a comfortable beach holiday and water sports.

The eastern regions are no less attractive - the best beaches here are Gyeongpodae and Naksan.

Banks, money, exchange offices

The currency of South Korea is the won. In circulation there are banknotes of 50,000, 10,000, 5,000, 1,000 won and coins in denominations of 500, 100, 50.10 won. US dollars are accepted in small shops and markets. In large retail outlets, settlements are made only in local currency.

Banking hours:

• On weekdays - from 9.30 to 16.30
• Saturday - until 13.30

Day off - Sunday

ATMs - from 9.30 to 22.00, some - around the clock

Currency can be exchanged in banks, "exchangers" and large hotels.

Credit cards of the world's major payment systems (Visa, American Express, Dinners Club, Master Card, JCB) are accepted for settlements almost everywhere. Travel - checks are cashed in banks and offices of international transport and travel companies.

VAT (VAT) of 10% is included in the price of all goods and services. Some essential goods and souvenirs are not taxed.

You can get a VAT refund if you make a purchase over 30,000 won in one day. To complete the return procedure, you must provide a passport, receive a special check, which is presented when leaving the country.

You can also return VAT for hotel accommodation if you spent more than 2 nights, but less than 30 nights. To do this, you should receive a certificate of residence in two copies at the hotel and present one of them when leaving the country (not all hotels in Korea participate in this program, information must be clarified upon check-in).

Tourist safety

South Korea is considered a country with a fairly low crime rate and is safe to stay. But it is still worth paying attention to elementary safety rules:

• Valuables, large sums of money and documents should be left in the hotel safe
• In crowded places, you should beware of pickpockets and do not leave personal belongings unattended.
• You should be very careful when crossing the street - the country has a high level of car accidents
• If you want to take a picture of a local resident, you must first ask him for permission
• Shoes must be removed before entering the temple and socks must be worn on the feet.
• Topless sunbathing is not recommended

Transport

South Korea has a fairly well-developed air service between Seoul and Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Mokpo and Jeju Island. Domestic flights are operated by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines.

Rail links cover the entire country. Various types of trains run between cities - from ultra-fast and comfortable, moving at a speed of 300 km / h, to passenger, slower and not so comfortable. For foreigners, it is advantageous to purchase KR Pass tickets, which allow you to travel around the country on all types of rail transport, except for the metro. The approximate cost of such a pass for 3 days, for example, will be 76 US dollars. Discounts are available for children under 12, pupils and students. At the service of tourists in the country, the hotel-type tourist train "Heran" is moving, equipped with comfortable rooms, a restaurant and an observation deck.

Comfortable express buses are very popular when traveling around the country. All large and small cities of the country are connected by bus routes, but for foreigners the difficulty is the lack of a timetable in English.

Urban transport is represented by buses, subways (in Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju) and taxis. Buses are quite comfortable and connect the city and suburbs. The fare does not depend on distance and is 600 won on a regular bus and 1,300 won on a luxury bus.

Taxis are ordinary and luxury (much more expensive). You can order a car by phone (20% more expensive) or catch it on the street. From 24:00 to 04:00, the fare increases by 20% (except for luxury taxis).

You can use the services of a multi-seat taxi - a minibus, but the fare here is equal to a luxury taxi.

Within the country, ferry service between the main islands is quite well developed.

In order to rent a car, you will need:

• Driving license of international standard (driving experience - more than 1 year)
• Passport (age - over 21 years old)

Entertainment, excursions, attractions

When visiting the capital of the country - the city of Seoul - both adults and children will find something to their liking. One of the largest indoor amusement parks in the world is rightfully recognized as Lotte World, located in the city center. In addition to theme parks, there is an ice rink, a folklore center, parades and entertainment shows. It is best to start sightseeing from Changdeokgung Palace, next to which is the oldest stone bridge in Seoul. Next - Gyeongbokgung Palace with a beautiful pond and lotuses. You should not pass by museums - the State, National, Military History, the Korean Nation, the Japanese Art Gallery, the Institute of Korean Classical Music, the Sejong Cultural Center. You can plunge into the atmosphere of Korean village life with its rituals and traditions in the Folk Village.

Incheon's main attraction is the airport, built in the middle of the sea and surrounded by 150 islands, most of which are uninhabited. Modern technologies here are interspersed with the beauty and grandeur of nature and form a single whole. The City Museum presents the historical and cultural values ​​of the city. The expositions of the Memorial Hall and the Complex dedicated to the Incheon landing operation during the Korean War speak about various stages of history.

In the port city of Busan, you should definitely visit the Halle Marine National Park, the territory of which includes almost 400 islands, many of which are uninhabited. No less popular are Maisan Provincial Park and Thapsa Temple, Nejangsan National Park and Geumsangsa Temple. A large number of tourists are attracted by the UN Memorial Cemetery and a huge 9-story fish market.

When visiting Jeju Island, you can just lie on the beach, you can practice various sports, you can enrich yourself spiritually by getting to know the sights. The hallmark of the island are statues made of solidified lava. A folklore village is also located here, where you can observe the life of Korean peasants in natural conditions. The highest mountain in South Korea - Hallasan with a height of 1950 meters - is located on Jeju, here is an extinct volcano with a lake on top. Hallasan Park is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Unusual and very beautiful plants grow in the local Botanical Garden, and the Chonbang waterfall impresses with its grandeur (the only one in Asia that plunges directly into the sea from a height of 23 meters). Mangjangul Cave is the longest lava tunnel in the world, with a length of 13.4 km. Of the museums, the Teddy Bear Museum and the Green Tea Museum are especially popular. In the theme park of miniatures, you can see all the known structures of the Earth. A special niche in the cultural heritage of Korea is occupied by the craft of Korean women - pearl divers, diving without scuba gear to a great depth (up to 10 meters). Jeju Island is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its uniqueness.

South Korea is also famous for its thermal springs, where you can improve your health and gain strength, and water parks. The most popular of them are Seorak Aquaworld (there is a water park with attractions and thermal springs), Asan Spavis (famous for outdoor hot springs, jasmine extract pools and a cave pool), Incheon Spa Plus ( famous for hot springs and several pools), "Bugok Hawaiian Island" (known since antiquity for the steam cave, chiropractic cave, infrared ray cave, waterfall), "Donyan Aquaworld" (health + entertainment).

Recently, South Korea has been attracting guests with high quality medical services at an affordable cost.

Cuisine and restaurants

The main dish on the table of Koreans is this rice of various cooking methods. Local food is quite spicy - red peppers, garlic and onions are added to it. All snacks are placed around a bowl of rice. It can be:

• "kimchi" - a spicy vegetable dish made from sauerkraut or radish
• "tubu" - bean curd
• "tothorimuk" - acorn jelly
• gamjajeong - potato cakes
• meat or seafood dishes

• "sundubu chige" - fresh soybeans with egg yolk and shellfish
• "dwenjang chige" - with fermented soybean paste
• Hamul Than - spicy seafood soup
• Fish dishes and seafood: algae, squid, crabs, sea shells, sea cucumbers. Recommended to taste:
• "hwe" - a dish of finely chopped raw fish
• hemul jeongol - seafood hodgepodge
• "chhuothang" - ukhu from loach
• jeonbokchuk - abalone porridge

Of the meat dishes, the most popular are "bulgogi" (kebabs) and "kalbi" (fried beef or pork ribs). A special niche in Korean cuisine is occupied by dog ​​meat dishes (considered dietary and medicinal food)

Bean dishes are very popular - soybeans, peas, beans, green and red beans, sprouted soybeans

As desserts - fruits - candied, boiled in syrup, in fruit salads and cocktails, "hodukvachzha" (cookies in the form of a walnut), "totkhorimuk" (acorn jelly), "tasik" (candies made from honey, chestnuts, beans, sesame and medicinal herbs)

From drinks - boiled water, rice or barley broth, decoctions and tinctures from herbs (Koreans call tea)

From alcohol - rice beer, rice wine, rice liquor, rice vodka

In Korean restaurants, only the main course and drinks are included in the bill, soups, salads, sauces are free. Tipping is not accepted - service is included in the bill.

Shopping and shops

In South Korea, there is no clear opening hours for stores. Most of them open at 9.00 (sometimes at 5.00) and work until 19.00 (some - until 24.00 or around the clock). Large department stores are usually open from 10.30 to 20.00.

Textiles and macrame, embroidery, porcelain, wood and shell products, mother-of-pearl inlaid lacquerware, national costumes, ginseng products, ginseng tea and cosmetics based on it are brought from Korea as souvenirs.

There are duty free shops in Seoul and Busan.

Big discounts on goods are provided during shopping festivals.

Customs

The import of foreign currency is not limited. Any amount over $10,000 (or equivalent, including traveler's checks) must be declared. It is possible to export foreign currency only within the declared limits.

Local currency can be imported and exported up to 8,000,000 won. Unused currency can be exchanged back if there is a certificate of primary exchange (in the absence of such, no more than 100 US dollars will be exchanged).

Jewelry, expensive watches, photographic equipment, furs, firearms and cold steel, expensive foreign-made items are also subject to mandatory declaration.

Allowed to import to persons over 19 years of age:

• Up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
• Up to 1 liter of alcohol (persons over 20 years old)
• Up to 67 ml perfume
• Gifts and souvenirs worth up to 400,000 won

It is forbidden to import:

• Obscene Content
• pornography
• Thrillers
• Political publications and videos
• Printed, audio-video materials from communist countries
• coins
• Fresh fruits
• seeds
• Cuttings and seedlings of fruit plants
• Walnut fruits and kernels
• Soil or plants in soil

Firearms and ammunition can only be imported with a special permit from the country's police department.

When importing pets, you must have an international veterinary certificate issued at least 30 days before the trip, and a certificate of vaccination against rabies.

It is forbidden to export precious metals, archaeological finds and antiquities without special permission.

If you didn’t find a suitable vacation option - transfer the hassle of organizing a trip to our professional managers by filling out and they will promptly contact you! We can send you anywhere in the world!

South Korea has long been one of the important cultural centers and fashion capital of Asia. And since visas for Russians were canceled in 2014, the country has become even more attractive. Together with Korean Air and the Korea Tourism Organization, we have prepared a guide to what to do, where to eat and what to see in Korea.

Choose the duration of the trip

1 day

3 days

7 days

Choose your travel style

Classical

Authentic

Fashionable

Classic style

After flying nine hours on a plane, you want to have time to see all the main tourist attractions in Korea. The classic guide contains the most important places to visit.

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The palace was built in 1394. The scale is impressive: the total area is 410 thousand square meters. His throne room and one of the pavilions are on the list of national treasures. And believe me, there is something to look at: the throne is bright scarlet and looks more like a theater stage, and around the palace there are ponds of marvelous beauty. At the entrance to Gyeongbokgung, the changing of the guard is regularly played out - just as it was done every day during the Joseon Dynasty (its representatives ruled Korea from the 14th to the 19th century).

Gwanghwamun Square

Gwanghwamun is considered the main square of Korea. It offers a beautiful view of Mount Bukhansan. Here are the main architectural monuments, such as the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the gate, built in 1395, during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty. There is a changing of the guard next to the gate every hour. The square is home to the Museum of the History of King Sejong, an exhibition in nine different areas of which is entirely dedicated to the ruler of the Joseon Dynasty, the author of the Korean Hangul alphabet.

Bukchon Folk Village

A rare place in Seoul where the old, unmodernized Korea has been preserved: no skyscrapers - but traditional hanok houses. In imperial times, aristocrats and officials settled here. Perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of the city.

National Museum of Korea

The largest historical and art museum in the country. The most interesting expositions are devoted to the history of Korea. Admission is free, there is no audio guide in Russian, but you can listen to the English version.

Demilitarized zone

Negotiations between representatives of North and South Korea are still taking place here. The main attraction is the so-called Freedom House, from which you can look at North Korea with binoculars. Today, the demilitarized zone is a popular tourist destination: watchtowers and tunnels dug by Pyongyang scouts are still in place.

Namsan Seoul Tower

Opened in 1980. On the third floor of the tower there is a wishing well: those who want eternal love throw coins there.

seoul square

Seoul Square in the Jongno district is located directly in front of the city hall, a monumental architectural monument of the beginning of the last century. An iconic place for many Koreans. Couples in love gather on the square, numerous events take place - for example, an authentic kimchi sourdough festival (the national dish of Korea, to which a museum is dedicated in Seoul), more than four thousand people annually participate in the event. Here, on huge screens, the success of the national football team was followed at the 2002 World Cup.

Oceanarium

One of the largest aquariums in the country is located in the COEX shopping center, but this should not scare you. Going there is worth at least for the sake of a giant tunnel, where sharks and rays will swim above your heads. An adult ticket costs 25,000 won - 1360 rubles.

insadong

Seoul's answer to Moscow's Arbat is a wide tourist street with a huge number of souvenir shops, each with its own twist. But the main value of Insadong is in the galleries located here: there are about 100 of them, and you can see everything in them, from folk art to the work of budding artists.

Busan

In every sense, the city of the future will easily outdo Hong Kong in terms of the number and beauty of skyscrapers. If you are going to Busan, be sure to get to Gamcheon Village, a huge cluster of colorful houses in the mountains. The houses are so close to each other that the function of the courtyard is performed by their roofs. It is also worth seeing the Haedong Yonggunsa Buddhist temple standing on the edge of a cliff, sunbathing on Haeundae beach and having dinner at the Jagalchi fish market.

Authentic style

Korea is a distinctive country visited by numerous tourists every year. In an authentic guide, we have compiled a list of what you need to see in order to feel the national flavor.

Gwangjang Market

One of the symbols of Seoul. The market was opened at the beginning of the last century, then it was destroyed during the Korean War, and later restored and expanded. In modern Gwangjang, there are several tens of thousands of shops, which employ more than 100 thousand people. Everything is sold here: from clothes and shoes to food. But the most important, of course, are small kiosks with national cuisine. For this, gourmets from all over the world come here. We recommend trying mayak pimpap, also known as "narcotic" pimpap - Korean rolls with a spicy taste. The dish, as you might guess, is so named for its addictive taste.

Changdokung Palace (and its secret garden)

The only palace that now looks exactly the same as during the Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung was destroyed by the Japanese, then restored by the locals, and Changdeokgung remained intact. Inside is a secret (okay, conditionally secret) garden: you'll have to work hard to find it.

Templestay

Templestay is when ordinary people live in a temple with monks. The practice is akin to living in an Indian ashram - only this time we are talking about Korean Buddhists. In Seoul, this can be done, for example, in the Poneungsa temple. What is waiting for you? You will get up early with everyone, eat vegetarian monastic food, participate in the tado tea ceremony, meditate, study Buddhist customs and know yourself.

Namdaemun

The most popular (and, what can we say, the oldest) market in the city. For the price, everything is more than democratic - most of the shops and shops operating here have their own factories, so the goods are sold without extra charges. Most often, foreigners buy ginseng - it comes across here in huge quantities and in any state of aggregation: healing honey tincture, fresh roots, face creams. Food vendors scurry between the stalls. If you are willing to take a chance, buy from them not an ordinary hot dog, but local fast food - for example, tteokbokki, rice dumplings in a sauce so spicy that it can easily make your eyes water.

Accommodation in a traditional Korean house

Korea has a Hanok Stay program that allows tourists to stay in an authentic hanok house for a fee. Do not be afraid that you will be settled in fake houses. Only houses that have passed the cunning local certification (and the most comfortable) are selected for living - so do not be afraid of discomfort.

Hiking in Bukhasan National Park

The landscape of the country is mountainous, the plains occupy only 30% of the territory, so teunsan, also known as hiking, is a favorite way of recreation for Koreans. And Bukhansan Park is the most popular hiking route. If your physical fitness allows you, put on your sneakers, take a backpack and boldly go to the mountains. It makes sense to go there for at least a day (you won’t be able to see everything in a couple of hours) and with a good camera to shoot local beauty not only on a smartphone. We recommend that you plan your trip carefully - otherwise it's easy to get lost. But you won’t get hungry for sure: there are restaurants with national food in the park. Avid travelers can set aside one day and climb the Bukhansan mountain range, located north of Seoul. From the tops of the smooth cliffs, the best view of the city opens up. An ideal place to reflect on the frailty of existence.

Dragon Hill Spa

Seoul Main Spa Complex: seven floors, open 24 hours a day. In order not to get into a mess, you need to know a few important rules and national characteristics. Firstly, in no case do not talk in steam rooms - this is not accepted. Yesterday's walk in Bukhansan can be discussed elsewhere. Secondly, do not underestimate steam: experts recommend taking procedures for no more than 15 minutes. In the remaining time, you can watch a movie and walk around the huge complex. Thirdly, come hungry: in between treatments, you can have a bite to eat local food. Dragon Hill, for example, sells a traditional rice drink and smoked (yes, you heard right) eggs.

NANTA

A non-verbal comedy performance that has been gathering full houses in Seoul since 1997 - mind you, not every Broadway musical lives that long. The plot is simple: three chefs are preparing a wedding banquet, time is running out, the manager spoils everything - and sends an incompetent nephew to the kitchen to work. Music is created by kitchen utensils: the actors knock knives, spoons, water canisters and everything that comes to hand. Cleaning food is flying at the audience - so it's better to choose places away from the stage.

Jeju

The island is of volcanic origin - hence the views worthy not only of an Instagram about travel, but also of a BBC film about nature. There is a diving museum on the island. It's a culture of its own: for years, women in Jeju have been diving to the bottom of the sea with minimal equipment (a mask, a small stability ball, a bag, a knife) to collect shells, mussels, and seaweed. The museum has everything you wanted to know about the life of divers: you can see the houses in which they live, the food they eat, the tools that are designed to kill all kinds of marine predators. If getting new knowledge does not pull, we recommend just wandering through the caves - here it is a natural heritage protected by UNESCO. The most famous is Ssangyeongul, the "cave of two dragons", formed after the eruption of the island volcano. Then you can take a walk along Xingyang Beach - where nature has been preserved in an almost untouched form, which, as you understand, is very rare for a beach.

Fashionable style

In terms of scope, the art market and shopping in Korea are not inferior to the main European capitals. In the fashion guide, we have collected all the most interesting things for lovers of art and shopping.

Cheongdam-dong area

The local answer to New York's Fifth Avenue and Paris' Rue de Faubourg-Saint-Honore: the area for those who want to spend a lot of money in luxury boutiques. But even if the card is zero, just walking around Cheongdam-dong also makes sense. Every shop building in Cheongdam-dong is a work of art in itself: Dior, for example, is shaped like a giant flower. Luxury boutiques, however, are not the only attraction of the area; there is also a Mecca for lovers of contemporary art. Be sure to visit the SongEun Art Space gallery, which exhibited Tom Wesselman, the Chapman brothers, as well as many local artists.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza

On the site of the old Dongdaemun Stadium, a giant complex arose with the light hand of Zaha Hadid; its construction cost $460 million. The total area is 86,574 square meters. This year, the photogenic avant-garde architectural complex has brought together fashion luminaries and street style activists, which is usually the venue for Seoul Fashion Week. It makes sense to separately come here at night, LED flowers light up near the building - thousands of white roses.

Walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream

A celebration of Seoul urbanism: Since the authorities decided to restore the stream in 2005, the area has become one of the main attractions of Seoul. Cheonggyecheon stretches through the entire city center for 11 kilometers. Everything is very photogenic: a panorama of the stream with 22 bridges, magic fountains and illumination. Here is the main New Year's market, festivals and holidays that gather tourists and local residents. In the vicinity of the stream are the main attractions of the city: Deoksugung Palace, Seoul Square, King Sejong Cultural Center, Insadong Street, Changdeokgung and Changgyeonggung Palaces, so after walking along Cheonggyecheon, you can visit them.

Art gallery "Lium"

The gallery is located on Namsan Mountain. One sector is reserved for Korean traditional art: Buddhist art, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy. The other one is for Korean art since 1910 and foreign art since the middle of the 20th century: works by Francis Bacon are also exhibited here.

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 you are sure 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 arrange even 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!