Korea - Fist time in Asia - Seoul

I will be in Seoul for 3 days and had plenty of questions.


1. whats the easiest (and also affordable) to get to/from the airport to Intercontinental Grand?
2. whats there to see/do?
3. Where are some good places to eat? I like Asian foods in general (Japanese, Thai, Korean BBQ, etc) nothing expensive, and also nothing that requires real dressy clothes, as I will be traveling with my carry-on only.
4. What about great photo spots?

http://wikitravel.org/en/Seoul

1. Take the KAL Limousine bus. It costs 14000 KRW and it drops you off right at the hotel.

2. Depending on how many days you have, sign up for the DMZ tour (it will take you the full day) from the USO and it is quite an experience. Also, check out the palaces, with Gyeongbok-gung and Changdeok-gung being the top 2 to visit. Insadong is a great place to walk around during the evening and maybe grab some food around there.

If you have a third day, you can consider spending the day around the Suwon area. I quite enjoyed the Korean cultural Village. While you are in that area, you can also visit Hwaseong Haenggung (I know... it is another palace. But, it is sorta of off-the-beaten-track palace to me) and Padalmun.

If in Korea in the winter...do not count on being able to do a DMZ visit.

Im there Sept 18-20th

re: Easiest way to get to town
Apart from the KAL limousine bus, also consider the Airport Limousine. Same idea than KAL but slightly cheaper and also services more hotels. The KAL limousine only services a restricted number of hotels.
Both services have information/ticket counters with English speaking staff when you exit the customs area.

re: Sightseeing
You should spend time to visit some of the amazing Palaces
Gyeongbok-gung and Changdeog-gung are amzaing.
You can also visit the Deoksu-gung, which is in central Seoul, right across from City Hall.
Also consider the Seoul N Tower which offers great views over the city, especially at night.

re: Food
Best to ask at the hotel for their recommendations. Seoul is huge and each area will have a variety of restaurants nearby. Eating is a fairly casual affair and won't need a special dress code - unless you visit some very expensive places. A good place to start would be around the City Hall area. there are lots of restaurants to suit all tastes. It's not always easy to find what you are looking for as not all restaurants have English menus. Staff are usually happy to help though

re: Great photo spots
Inside the Palaces or grounds of the palaces, from Seoul Tower, along the Han River (particularly from the observation platform of the KLI Building) or Bugaksan mountain, located right behind the President Palace (Blue House)

Enjoy Seoul

1. Take the KAL Limousine bus. It costs 14000 KRW and it drops you off right at the hotel.


Last times I've took it, it was 15000 KRW.

What about changing money?
I could do ATM withdrawals, but I would need some small amount of money to pay at least the transport. Is there a good place to change money in the airport?

What about changing money?
I could do ATM withdrawals, but I would need some small amount of money to pay at least the transport. Is there a good place to change money in the airport?

There are a ton of currency exchanges in the airport, or you can hit an ATM there.

Is there a good place to change money in the airport?

Airport exchange rates are notoriously suspect and IMHO should universally be avoided. Use you ATM or get some Won in advance but you'll get hosed if converting at an airport.

I would agree the DMZ tour is an absolute must. Takes a full day but is well worth it. Korean BBQ is a must also!

There are a ton of currency exchanges in the airport, or you can hit an ATM there.

If you happen to arrive by Asiana Airlines, Shinhan Bank will give a preferential exchange rate when showing a OZ boarding pass.

Is there a good place to buy electronics (like a mobile phone)?

what about knockoff lacoste polos?