Korea - How Best to Maximize 21 Hours in Seoul?

I have a 21 hour layover in Seoul and would like to maximize the opportunity to gain a bit of cultural insight and have some really dymanic food. I have only transisted ICN, so my insight as to the where, when, what, etc. is very limited. I will be arriving around 7:30 pm and departing 4:30 pm the following day. Ideally, a conveniently located hotel with access to public transporation from ICN and nearby to say a dynamite palace/museum/culturally significant sight would be ideal. Thanks in advance for any isight!

I'm a huge fan of the Hilton Millenium in Seoul. The cost to get from INC to the hotel on the KAL shuttle is about $13USD, but once there you are central. The Nam Dae Mun market, Seoul station, it's all right there......

Jim

There are several nice hotels in convenient locations. They are also rather expensive so your budget range would be an issue.

Korean type hotels and "motels" around Gimpo (domestic) airport would be cheaper (but not really cheap) and within subway access to the northern and southern city centres and of course the new airport train runs from there to ICN.

Language issues might limit your food options, but at least Korean type chains have picture menus and in Itaewon and Gangnam some english is likely to be spoken.

I'd recommend staying downtown - this is cheaper and will give you some time for sightseeing in the morning. I'm not certain that there is a "dynamite" attraction (apart from the DMZ, for which you won't have time), but check the advice given in this (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=582332) thread.

For your time range, I would definately recommend staying in downtown Seoul. Have a nice dinner and sleep. And in the morning till about 1PM, you can hop on a Seoul City Tour bus and ride around the sites in Seoul. You can see majority of Seoul's landmark sites on this bus tour. One place I really want to recommend is Gyeongbok Palace. The bus tour will bring you there as well and you can get off there to see the old palace that was home to the kings of Chosun Dynasty. Quick lunch and head back to the airport via airport train (from Gimpo Airport) or from your hotel (if you stay in a major hotel chain in Seoul, there should be a KAL limousine or airport limousine bus running between your hotel and ICN). The journey between downtown Seoul and ICN takes about one hour. If you are already checked-in for your continuing flight or flying in premium cabin, you should be all set if you leave downtown Seoul by 1PM. Otherwise, I recommend leaving downtown area around noon for ICN.

Thanks to all for the marvelous suggestions!!! Gotta love FT!

With respect to dining, would one be more inclined to go with
Kimchi or BiBimBap? I'm flying out on Asiana in F and suspect
both will be available on-board, however, for "true" or "authentic"
Korean food, which would be best to experience while in Seoul?
Any specific restaurant suggestions? Price & location are not
an issue, I would just like to experience the very best during
my short stay.

For dining, first you should decide if meat, fish/seafood or veggies are your thing. Then if you fancy grilled food, a hearty Korean soup or stew, raw fish and seafood sashimi style or maybe just a simple snack of noodles or rice.

Bibimbap is also more of a typical office lunch food in Seoul. If you have another chance to visit Korea, the cities of Jeonju and Jinju are well known for their respective versions of the dish. Also the "farmer's" style offered in countryside eateries from spring to autumn where you compose your dish of fresh produce at the table is very nice.

Kimchi is a guest at every Korean meal from breakfast to festive dinners so no worries there. Apart from kimchi several other small dishes and possibly a cold vegetable or seafood soup will be served first as appetizers and side dishes. Seoul restaurants are normally more stingy giving out these compared to rest of Korea but you could expect at least five - eight side dishes "for free".

Then more substantial appetizers might follow before the main dish is brought in. If you have still room you can then have some soup or proceed directly to have rice or noodles with the side dishes. Almost all Korean restaurant meals finish with a sweetish cup of coffee "on the house".

While traditional Korean food might be had for cheaper and maybe even better prepared elsewhere in Korea, dining in Seoul gives you some interesting options, say, to drink quality imported red wine with Korean grilled meats or try modernized versions of trad dishes.

Hope the OP won't mind if I piggy-back on the thread...

Would 12 hours be long enough to head into the city and see/do something of cultural significance? If it matters, I'd arrive in ICN at 5am and have a 5pm departure. If I lose two hours in transit, and assume another hour or two for check-in for the ongoing flight, that only leaves me with about 8 hours in Seoul. Is this enough time?

If I wouldn't be staying at any particular hotel, is there still a shuttle I can use to go back and forth (realizing that I'll have to pay for it)?

Thanks in advance for any information or advice you can provide!

Sean

You could head for one of the palaces if the weather is not too hot. There's quite a lot of walking included and Seoul summers can be scorching. Or maybe see the traditional markets north of the river or the modern malls south of it.

Personally I would head for a Korean sauna/spa with massage first and have a lengthy lunch with appropriate amounts of soju later but then that's just me.

This has been discussed before on FT but I don't see Seoul as a tourist destination but rather as a city offering sophisticated lifestyle and stages for business meetings in great variety.

Hope the OP won't mind if I piggy-back on the thread...

Would 12 hours be long enough to head into the city and see/do something of cultural significance? If it matters, I'd arrive in ICN at 5am and have a 5pm departure. If I lose two hours in transit, and assume another hour or two for check-in for the ongoing flight, that only leaves me with about 8 hours in Seoul. Is this enough time?

If I wouldn't be staying at any particular hotel, is there still a shuttle I can use to go back and forth (realizing that I'll have to pay for it)?

Thanks in advance for any information or advice you can provide!

Sean

5 am arrivals with 5PM departure is long enough to enjoy Seoul. You can do the exact thing I recommended to the OP. Take the Seoul Tour bus (well, after you have nice breakfast somewhere in Seoul) and ride around the central Seoul. Get off at one of the Palaces (I recommend Kyungbok Palace) and sightsee for an hour or so. Have nice lunch nearby Kyungbok Palace - there are nice restaurants around - and head for the airport around 2PM, but no later than 2PM.

I have the option of staying in Seoul for one or two nights. I will be arriving to ICN at 6 PM on Friday May 11th. I have my choice of departing either Saturday or Sunday at 11 AM or 7:30 PM.

So what are the recommendations? I'm a SPG (Gold) and a HHonors (Diamond) member so what hotel should I stay at (or if there is a better value in terms of location/price please let me know).

It sounds as if I should do a city bus tour, but is it worth it to take the trip out to see the Giant Buddha? Besides the tour, is there anything else one should do?

I don't know the next time I'll be in this part of the world, so any and all assistance is greatly appreciated. If someone can convince me that taking some extra time in Seoul is worth it, I could extend my time there.

Thanks!

I have the option of staying in Seoul for one or two nights. I will be arriving to ICN at 6 PM on Friday May 11th. I have my choice of departing either Saturday or Sunday at 11 AM or 7:30 PM.

So what are the recommendations? I'm a SPG (Gold) and a HHonors (Diamond) member so what hotel should I stay at (or if there is a better value in terms of location/price please let me know).



The Millenium Hilton near Namdaemun/Itaewan is not a bad hotel.

For sights, I would recommend the war memorial. It's pretty well done, and is esp. good if it's raining (skip the outdoor part, obviously).

duplicate....deleted...

Gyeonbok Palace tour, Changgyeong Palace, Seoul Tower, DMZ tour, Dongdaemon Market, Namdaemon tour, Lotteworld Theme Park, Yongsan Electronics Market, Korean War Museum, Gyeong-dong Oriental Medicine Market, COEX Shopping & Entertainments Mall tour, Han River boat cruise.

Anyone taken a Han River boat cruise?

Is the view from Seoul Tower worthwhile? Photo here: http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=380&pID=1041&cName=Korean%20Culture&pName=korean-images-17


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Is the view from Seoul Tower worthwhile? Photo here: http://www.japanvisitor.com/index.php?cID=380&pID=1041&cName=Korean%20Culture&pName=korean-images-17


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Trust me, you'd rather want to sit in the Grand Hyatt panorama bar. The views are stunning.

you can hop on a Seoul City Tour bus and ride around the sites in Seoul.

Is the Seoul City Tour bus really a good option or just something to do?

http://www.seoulcitytourbus.com/eng-frameset.html

I ask as I've been on only a few Greyline tours, 2 were horrible and one was decent.

duplicate...

seeing as a bit of soju probably will be consumed during Korea Do III, anyone have a recommendation for any legit bath houses in Seoul ?

Are there such communal bath houses in Seoul ? (Turkey has their Hammam or Japanese Onsen)

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one of the Flyertalkers going to this year's Korea Do III (URL listed below in my sig) has found very good guides from the Korean Tourism Office's website. It's called the Korea Travel Guide: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/GK/GK_EN_2_7_5.jsp

There are numerous different guides based upon one's likes.

Thanks Condition One for the heads up^

seeing as a bit of soju probably will be consumed during Korea Do III, anyone have a recommendation for any legit bath houses in Seoul ?

Are there such communal bath houses in Seoul ? (Turkey has their Hammam or Japanese Onsen)

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Seoul does have communal bath houses. Usually, the ones with the most variety of pools, heat rooms, etc. are called 'jjimjilbang'. A good one is Dragon Hill Spa, right next to the Yongsan Station complex.

In a jjimjilbang, there is a segregated area and a communal area. The pools are segregated, as you are naked in them. Heat rooms, tables, etc are communal. That is where you get to wear your ugly rented t-shirt and shorts.

Seoul does have communal bath houses. Usually, the ones with the most variety of pools, heat rooms, etc. are called 'jjimjilbang'. A good one is Dragon Hill Spa, right next to the Yongsan Station complex.

great, thanks,

Some other Korean bath house info:
http://www.tomcoyner.com/korean_bathhouses.htm

Below quote from: http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0403/seoul.html
A great way to unwind after a hectic day in the city is to soak in one of Seoul 's numerous bathhouses ( mokyotang ) or saunas ( jjimjilbang ). Bathhouses can be found all over Seoul , however the new spa-like facilities are found south of the Han River in Samsung area (near COEX) and the Teheran Valley (the “ Silicon Valley ” of Korea ). Similar facilities can also be found in most luxury hotels in Seoul.

The above link also mentions a foot reflexology walking paths:
For those interested in reflexology or foot health or both, a visit to one of Seoul 's various “barefoot parks” would be a relaxing addition to a day exploring this city. Located in various parks around Seoul , these special walking paths are made of various types of rocks, such as amber, gemstone, granite and gravel. Aside from providing relief from foot fatigue, these foot paths are said to improve blood circulation and activate the functions of internal organs.

From Lonely Planet:
Bathhouses are everywhere but I like Hurest Well Being in Myeong Dong because it's big and thinly attended in the afternoon. Sure, it's a great way to clean up, but the euphoria that arises after an hour of rotating between hot and cold tubs is truly exhilarating.

Anyone taken a Han River boat cruise?

SonOfACockroach, a very helpful FT'er who researched the Han River Boat cruises for our upcoming Do there, suggested that the cruise might not be worthwhile as many neon lights have been turned off. FYI.

Are the entrance fees to the mokyotang expensive? or is it better to use the hotel's versions?

Also, is bibimbap easily found in hotels? The last time I was there, I remember there being a department store near the Westin Chosun with a lovely food court. We enjoyed some yummy Korean barbecue there.

Do most large restaurants accept credit cards?

this is very helpful

Are the entrance fees to the mokyotang expensive? or is it better to use the hotel's versions?

Also, is bibimbap easily found in hotels? The last time I was there, I remember there being a department store near the Westin Chosun with a lovely food court. We enjoyed some yummy Korean barbecue there.

Do most large restaurants accept credit cards?


1. mokyotang
better to use the hotel's version - yes, 100%

2. bibimbap easily found in hotels - yes if you go to Korean style restaurant

3. department store near the Westin Chosun with a lovely food court
good choice for non-korean.
I think it is Lotte department store or Shin se gae store.
They are relatively expensive compared to local food. but still cheaper than US-Korean food.

4. Do most large restaurants accept credit cards?
Yes.. 100% for department store, hotel and most large restaurants.

enjoy your stay..

Seoul does have communal bath houses. Usually, the ones with the most variety of pools, heat rooms, etc. are called 'jjimjilbang'. A good one is Dragon Hill Spa, right next to the Yongsan Station complex.

In a jjimjilbang, there is a segregated area and a communal area. The pools are segregated, as you are naked in them. Heat rooms, tables, etc are communal. That is where you get to wear your ugly rented t-shirt and shorts.

I was born in Kroea and lived until 2005.

"jjimjilbang" became popular in 2000s... But I have never imagined non-korean people in jjimjilbang...

Maybe Dragon Hill Spa (right next to the Yongsan Station complex) might be different, since US military station is located near Yongsan.

However, I recommend to go to Hotel spa and after that if you are satisfied and want more adventures, then go to jjimjilbang.

Is the Seoul City Tour bus really a good option or just something to do?

http://www.seoulcitytourbus.com/eng-frameset.html

I ask as I've been on only a few Greyline tours, 2 were horrible and one was decent.

I think Seoul City Tour bus is a good one to get a general idea about Seoul downtown. But be careful.. you can be stuck in traffic jam if you take a bus weekday afternoon.

I recommend to take a bus first, then decide what you want to see more.

1) if it is historical site, then go to In-sa-dong or Kyung-bok-gung
2) if it is skyline, then go to hilton hotel or sheraton walker hill hotel
3) if it is food, go to Lotte or Hyundai department store food court.
4) if you stay near Yi-tae-won, you will not have a problem to find some gifts for your friends.. (US military station is close)

seeing as a bit of soju probably will be consumed during Korea Do III, anyone have a recommendation for any legit bath houses in Seoul ?--found this in another thread FWIW the place I sought out in Itaewon is called New Seoul Mud and a 2 hr soak was KRW5000 or under USD$5

Only if you sign up for some of the spa/beauty treatments they'll offer which include massage, ginseng baths, soft mud packs, skin scrapes and more. I politely declined all the specialties and asked only for a soak in the hot pool and they ended the sales pitch for the other treatments. This location is about halfway between the Itaewon and Hangangjin metro stops downstairs in a streetfront building and just look for the sign.

I think you can do a quick turnaround to Pyoungyang via Beijing. :D