I’m taking a break away from my usual luxury travel blog posts to bring you a guide on things to do in Seoul on a budget. One of my favorite books is How to Travel the World on $50 a Day by Matt Kepnes. It has been one of the biggest eye openers for me and helps my hard earned money last longer and smarter.
If you do plan on staying in Seoul on a budget, I can confidently tell you $50 is going to take you a long way. The government has really been pushing tourism to Korea because of the globalization of Kpop and how many worldwide fans. As a result, you’re getting more and more tourist friendly initiatives.
How To Book a Cheap Flight to Korea
High season to travel to Korea is from June to July and that is usually when the tickets are most expensive. The cheapest month to fly to South Korea is in March. A flight to South Korea from Los Angeles is typically about 13 hours and 30 minutes. (It’s a pretty long distance, but totally worth it.)
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Discover Seoul Pass
One of the cheapest ways you can travel around Seoul is by investing in the Discover Seoul Pass. It can be bought two ways in both the physical card, or a mobile one.
This also doubles as a TMoney card which you can use on public transport like subways, buses and taxis. You can load it in any convenience store and train station.
Seoul Budget Accommodation
Where to stay in Seoul is also a very big part of planning your trip. I’m a bit older now, so I prefer to stay in nicer accommodation, but when I was trying to travel longer, I would definitely go to jimjilbangs and guesthouses.
Jjimjilbang (찜질방)
Since most homes in Korea don’t have a bath, the jimjilbang takes bathing to an entirely new level.
Essentially, they are public bath houses. That means you get naked with a bunch of other random men or women (depending on your gender) shower, then dip into a bunch of giant tubs that have different healing properties.
The fancier upscale ones also have different rooms with clay, salt, wood, and humidity to target different areas of your health.
If you’re a super cheap and budget traveler, staying a jimjilbang is probably your best bet as you can sleep there overnight. (I’ve also been slept at them on the few occasions I was out partying and didn’t have a way to get back home. They’re a great alternative to a hotel as you can keep your belongings locked up.)
Pro Tip: Along with the Discover Seoul Pass, you can get into Sealala for free and enjoy Korea’s jimjilbang culture.
Goshiwon/ Goshitel (고시원)
What is this kind of accommodation, you might ask? It’s actually a box like room where you can stay pretty cheaply. Students mostly use it because let’s be real… We all remember our poor student days. I think this is the worst out of all the accommodations to be honest, but if you wanna be cheap, at least you know this is an option for you. You can literally get one of these ratholes for a starting price of about $250 per month.
If you don’t believe me, read it again.
What is included in your very own shithole? Glad you asked. You get:
- a small room
- single size bed
- small fridge
- internet
- television
- free kimchi and rice (sometimes)
- inclusive of utility bills
- community bathroom
- community kitchen
Unfortunately, I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about Goshiwons and Goshitels, but people do get lucky and get awesome roommates, and clean ones. One thing I do know is many Asian students had mommy as their maid for the majority of their lives and hardly ever pick up after themselves. That means your community kitchen and bathroom is going to be the nastiest thing you’ve ever seen in your life.
If you’re intent on staying there are two websites I can recommend to you: Goshipages (for all those who know nothing) and Gosi1 (for those who speak Korean.) In addition, there’s an entire reddit page dedicated to Goshiwon Living.
Hanok (한옥)
This is a little more on the expensive side, but it is totally worth it for the Korean experience (and they’re not as nasty as Goshiwons and Goshitels). A hanok is a Korean traditional style home with a heated floor. You’ll see them with tiled roofs and sliding doors. I really recommend this beautiful hanok in Hongdae that’s two minutes away from Hongik University Station. For a hanok, expect to pay from $40-$100 per night.
Hostels/Guesthouses
I honestly prefer these places for longterm travel as they are cleaned more frequently and you have the option of staying in a private room, dorm, female only room, or a coed space. These can range from $25-$45 a night. One of the more popular guesthouses to stay in is Kimchee GuestHouse in Gangnam.
Love Motels
Probably the most hilarious of all the options, you can rent these rooms by day and for a few hours. They’re generally pretty clean because people will go in and clean them pretty thoroughly after people have *ahem* done the deed.
AirBnb
I’ve generally always had great experiences with AirBnb in Seoul. This is a great way to experience a real Korean style home and they’re usually located in pretty prime locations around Seoul. I’ve used it countless times when I’ve traveled in Korea and Asia. Also, if you go through my link, you’ll get $28 off your home booking and $10 to use toward another experience!
Visit the Grand Palaces of Seoul
Your Seoul budget itinerary should cover the most basic and fun things Seoul has to offer. The five main palaces of Seoul are Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Gyeonghuigung, Deoksugung, and Changyeonggung.
Pro Tip: If you rent a hanbok, you can get into the palaces for free. Rentals run from four to twenty four hours and start at about $16.
My favorite of them all is Gyeongbokgung as it’s the biggest in terms of structures to see. It’s got beautiful expansive grounds and if you love a life full of color, it’s very pleasing to look at.
Related: How To Rent a Hanbok in Seoul
Visit The Museums
We’re going on a theme here. Free is ALWAYS good. What better way to soak up culture and learn something new than with a museum dedicated to cool stuff? Remember, if you’re playing on a $50 Seoul budget per day, these museums are really fun to check out.
- Kimchi Field Museum (3,000 won)- Alas, learn all about Korea’s staple food here at this fun place.
- National Museum of Korea (free)- This museum displays the history and art of the country. It’s a popular field trip destination for school kids as well.
- Tea Museum (free)- You can see the beautiful ceramics displayed by your artists from all over the world. There’s even a cafe to relax after you’re done looking.
- War Memorial of Korea (free)- If you’re into war stuff, this entire exhibition is dedicated to memorialize the military history of Korea.
Go Cafe Hopping
One of the best parts about touring in Seoul is all the amazing cafes that are readily available. They have everything from sheep cafes to meerkat cafes. If animals aren’t your thing, there are incredibly beautiful and aesthetically pleasing ones as well. Drinks will range anywhere from 3,000-8,000 won and you can spend an afternoon hanging out and taking pictures for your ‘gram. Here’s an entire list of Gina Bear approved cafes that I hope you will enjoy as well.
- Bau House Dog Cafe
- Blind Alley Raccoon Cafe
- Cafe Drama Cafe
- King’s Cross Harry Potter Cafe
- Line Friends Store and Cafe
- Meerkat Cafe Hongdae
- Miss Yoon in Wonderland
- Princess Diary Cafe
- Sang Sang Puppy Cafe
- Thanks Nature Sheep Cafe
- Urban Space Myeongdong
- Urban Space Seongsu
Even for the most tight wallet traveler, I’m sure you can fit one of these cafes into your Seoul daily budget. After all, Seoul is full of very unique and one of a kind experiences.
Eat ALL the Korean Food
This should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t try the local dishes when they travel! If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, then disregard that, but whether you do or you don’t you are totes missing out!
- Bibimbap (비빔밥)- mixed veggies, rice, and meat in a bowl
- Samgyapsal (삼겹살)- grilled sliced pork belly eaten with sides
- Bulgogi (불고기)- marinated meat that is grilled
- Bossam (보쌈)- steamed pork belly eaten with sides
- Dakgalbi (닭갈비)- spicy chicken stir fry
- Chicken and Beer (치맥)
- Bingsu (팥빙수)- shaved ice with various toppings
Best Korean Street Foods
Street food snacks are some of the best ways to fill yourself up. Some of them range from $0.50 to $3.00. If you’re hungry and in a pinch, these will definitely fill you up.
- Tteokbokki (떡볶이) – rice cakes in a spicy sauce
- Odeng (오뎅) – fish cakes on a stick
- Twigim (튀김) – fried vegetables or meats on a stick
- Kimbap (김밥) – similar to a sushi roll
- Hotteok (호떡) – a sweet treat with brown sugar and cinnamon
P.s. Most of these foods are probably not good for your waistline but they are oh so delicious.
Related: The Top Vegetarian Eats in Seoul
Shop in the Underground Subways and University Areas
Whatever you do, I repeat, whatever you do, stay away from Myeongdong. This is a HUGE tourist trap. Food, souvenirs and clothes are way overpriced. It’s fun to walk around, but if you’re in Seoul, Korea on a budget, don’t even bother going.
Your Seoul budget per day should also accommodate for the very cheap and convenient underground subway shopping areas. Koreans are obsessed with shopping and oftentimes, you can get a brand new outfit for $20 or less.
Just be warned if you’re above a size 6, your selection will be smaller, but you’ll also still find things to buy. You’re also not allowed to try anything on so you have to eyeball and make sure you love what you’re getting before you purchase it.
Seoul Global Cultural Center
If you’re on a budget trip to Seoul and don’t want to spend money on renting a hanbok or anything else, the Seoul Global Cultural Center offers so many fun activities to do. For instance, they offer free programs where you can make traditional paper crafts, paintings, and try on hanbok. I don’t know about you, but free is always good.
Seoul Sightseeing Double Decker Bus
Geographically, Seoul isn’t that big. You might be thinking, “Walking around shouldn’t be that big of a problem!” Yes, and no. Due to the fact there’s literally almost 10 million people living in this tiny area, you will run into trouble in paradise. It’s gonna take a long time to get from point A to point B because of how overcrowded Seoul is.
Cue the Seoul Sightseeing Double Decker Bus. If you’re not comfortable with navigating the subway systems all day, this is a great way of letting someone else do the navigating while you take in the giant metropolitan that is Seoul. You can easily hop on and off the bus all day if you choose.
Pro Tip: You get totally free entrance on this bus with the Discover Seoul Pass!
Seoul Budget Airlines
If you want to go to other places in Korea, on Seoul budget flights, there are tons of low cost airlines in Korea and for Southeast Asia if you’re planning on going to other places while you visit Seoul. Some of them include:
[tp_search_shortcodes slug=”45ba7366″]Korean Airlines
- Korean Air – This is the higher end of the spectrum in service and quality and from time to time they have AMAZING deals.
- Jin Air – They offer flights around Asia and Hawaii for great prices.
- Jeju Air – JA is the first and largest low cost airline in Korea.
- T’Way Air – T’way is one the best budget airline from Seoul to Jeju and back. I’ve seen flights for as low as $15.
- Eastar Jet – They fly 14 destinations in 8 countries.
- Air Busan- They are a subsidiy of Asiana Airlines.
I usually use Skyscanner and Kayak to compare the best flight deals.
Free Activities
I know what it’s like to travel Seoul on a budget. I want to be able to do the most for my won and not have to break the bank to have fun in Korea. Here are some other free activities you should check out if you need stuff to do in Seoul.
Picnic at the Han
If you’re traveling Korea over the summer, what better way is there to get some chicken and beer and drink to your heart’s content at the Han River Park near Yeouido Station? Did you know that you can catch one of the park’s many free events and see their free outdoor movie screenings? Now that’s what I call a great time!
Seoullo 7017
This was once a motorway that caused many accidents. In order to repurpose it and make a more beautiful attraction, Seoul City turned it into an overpass walkway through the city. There’s places to sit, cool exhibitions to see, street foods, and cafes lining it. It’s cooler at night because a bunch of neon lights will light the way.
If you are interested in splurging a little bit, you can book this really cool night tour. Trazy will take you to N Seoul Tower, through Seollo, and the DDP which look even cooler at night.
Seoul City Wall Hike
Wanna feel romance in the air? If you’re a single pringle like me, then you’ll want to avoid this place at all costs, but if you give zero fucks, it has some scenic views. It’s also a good excuse to bring some gimbap and makgeolli, sit on a bench somewhere and troll.
Selfie at Iwha Mural Village
This is literally one of the coolest villages. It’s lined with street art, cute cafes, and incredibly scenic views because it’s at the top of the mountain.
Helpful Korean Telephone Numbers
| Service | Phone Number | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| To report a crime and contact police | 112 | multilingual translation services available |
| Fire and Medical Service | 119 | emergency rescue service |
| Information | 114 | gives telephone numbers of businesses you're looking for |
| International Telegram Service | 1588-2356 | helps send an international telegram |
| Weather forecast | 131 | gives the latest weather updates |
| The Happy Call Service for Foreigners | 120 | gives information to foreign residents to help adjust to life in Seoul or Korea |
| Lost property | 02-2299-1282 | Lost and found center operated by the Korean National Police Agency |
In Conclusion
If you’re looking to visit Seoul on a budget, there are plenty of ways to be super cheap, if that is what your heart desires. If you’re wondering how much your Seoul budget per day would be, I say you can definitely get away with spending $50 or less in the city.
In addition, be sure you bookmark this blog post as I live in Seoul and will most definitely be adding more free and cheap things to this post as I go along.
A big thank you to the Seoul Discover Pass for allowing me to try it for myself. Also, this blog post contains affiliate links where if you purchase through my link, I make a small commission to help Gina Bear’s Blog keep running.
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