Weekend in Seoul (first time) or HK?
 

Hello all,

I will have 2-weeks business trip to Seoul and Hong Kong so I will need to spend weekend in one of those cities. Question is which?
I know, tough choice so I kindly ask recommendations and thoughts from those in knowledge.

Just to position myself:
- it will be my first trip to Seoul (and it is unlikely I will visit it soon again)
- Seoul is first part of my business week and I will see bits of it during weekday evenings (do I really need a weekend there?)
- I have been to HK on several occasions so I have seen most tourist things for first time visitors there (but this city will never be explored fully and I am happy to go again and again ^ )
- I am comfortable to be in the crowd, see local sights on my own (tourust buses and groups are not my thing at all), eat local food, visit areas off beaten track (if they are safe enough), just wonder around and see how locals live, and generally relax.

So, should I stay in Seoul for weekend (or maybe 1 day only?)
or
fly to Hong Kong on Friday night and enjoy whole weekend there?

locations, choices, locations, choices :) Many thanks for all your thoughts!

If you'd like to explore the rest of Korea, you could for example book a KTX and bus tour to Gyeongju ( the historical capital of the Shilla Kingdom ) and then take a direct KE flight to Hongkong from Busan on Sunday morning. I personally much prefer the southern parts of the country for relaxing and sightseeing compared to restless Seoul.

From your post it sounds like you're itching for another weekend in Hong Kong.

Maybe by the time you've spent the week nights in Seoul you would've seen enough of the city.

Seoul
 

I don't think you need to spend a weekend in Korea-- especially if they have the choice of spending their time in HK instead. You'll probably get the "feel" of the city during the weekdays. Koreans (especially in Seoul) tend to be arrogent and pretentious-- I should know as I am one. If you could spend more time there, I think it would be worthwhile because you could get past Seoul's snobby exterior-- but if you only spend a short weekend there you will probably leave unhappy.

leslie360, I'm delighted to see you posting. I promised you when we met in Bangkok that I would welcome you when you finally used that handle you had registered awhile back. I hope that you have had wonderful travels since I saw you. What a great way to break your silence - sharing information about your country.

One of the largest cities in the world, with 12 million people, there are a lot of things to see and do in Seoul. If you like history, there are three royal palaces - Toksugung, Changdokkung, and Kyobokkung. The National War Memorial Museum provides an interesting view of weapons and armor on the Korean peninsula from the bronze age to the Korean War - there's even a B-52 and MiG-19 on display.

Namdaemun is a marketplace filled with everything from food, clothing, housewares and electronics. Tongademun marketplace sells mostly clothing and is the place to go for running shoes. Insadong is great for antiques, pottery and lacquerware. A lot of nightlife, clubs, etc. are located in Kangnam. If you like panoramic views, Namsan Hill and Seoul Tower will give you excellent views of the City.

The subway system is extensive, clean and reasonably priced with signs in English as well as Korean Hangul. Of course, there is always the DMZ and organized tour of Panmunjon - you cannot go there independently.

I'd also go for Seoul, it does require a certain mindset to appreciate but you seem to have it. You'll find most of the places I like here:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Seoul

I have been quite delighted by Korean snobbishness, as in "let´s drive three hours to that excellent beach sashimi restaurant" or "I shouldn´t use my corporate credit card for the third bottle of single malt scotch, but what the heck". :D I think this is just typical Korean understatement to keep the best spots in-and outside of Seoul from becoming too crowded...