Korea - my itinerary in Seoul

Read about Jeju and Busan in the other post..

06/09 - Day 12 - Busan - Seoul

Took the KTX to Seoul and arrived to Myeongdong area, very convenient place to stay to visit the city. It's a shopping area also full with restaurants. Itaewon and Gangnam are not far from here and even catching a taxi back in the night isn't expensive.

Deoksugung Palace - What can I say?! If you are a fan of Korea, you would never want to miss visiting a Palace, and this is one you shouldn't miss! It's a small oasis of history hidden and protected inside the modern city.

National museum of modern and contemporary art - It was in the palace garden. I'm not a fan of art, but didn't regret going inside.

Namdaemun Gate - It was in the middle of a few major streets working as a roundabout. 

Namdaemun Market - You could find plenty of street food shops and street vendors that sold you key chain, t-shirts, Korean cutlery and any other souvenirs you could have thought of.

07/09 - Day 13 - Seoul

National Palace Museum - Before entering the Palace make a quick stop to the Museum.

Gyeongbokgung Palace - Another palace you shouldn't miss! It also has a very big garden to walk around. Here I was able to see also the changing of guards.

National Folk Museum - One part of this site was under renovations so I was able only to see it from outside but the Museum was opened.

Then went underground to see the museum dedicated to King Sejong & Gwanghwamun

08/09 - Day 14 - Seoul

Namsangol Hanok Village - It was Korean thanksgiving "Chuseok" festival at this time and there were several free entrance to some sights and it also included special events. I tasted a green onion pancake at the village and up to date I still make it at home!

Jongmyo Shrine - Its famous red pillars were fascinating. Look out for squirrels on the trees and on the ground.

09/09 - Day 15 - Seoul

Dongdaemun design plaza - I actually didn't understand this building. Walked around it for a while and that was it.

Walked pass the Arko arts theater and street that sold paintings on the road.

Naksan Park - A park with a lot of steps, ones you're at the top of the footpath you can see the fortress wall and a view of the city.

Bukchon Hanok Village - A well preserved traditional village.

Seoul Tower - Who goes to Seoul and not go up the Tower? Just keep in mind that there will be a line before you to take the bus from Myeongdong to the Tower, a line before you to buy the ticket, a line before you to enter the tower and last but not least a line before you to get the bus to come back to
Myeongdong. Everything else was just great. You get to have a nice city view, I went in the night and I really enjoyed the lights!

10/09 - Day 16 - Seoul

Seoul War Museum - One place that really captured my heart. Not only for the amazing air crafts, military tanks that you could have seen but also for the message on the Memorial Wall. Really gave me goose bumps in a positive way!

National Museum - I wish I had more time to visit the Museum. It is very well worth it and the entrance is FREE.

Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain and surroundings - A chill out place for most Koreans at the Han river. A must see place as at a certain time, the fountain is lit up with coloured lights and it dances to the background music.

11/09 - Day 17 - Seoul

Olympic Park and Mongchon Fortress - Enter this large park through the World peace gate. 

In the afternoon I went to Namdaemun Market for a bit of last minute shopping and chilling out in the evening!

12/09 - Day 18 - Departure Seoul

I loved every part of my trip. Travelling to a new country all alone. I made friends from different countries. I think this is also another advantage when you travel alone. Yes, Koreans speak English. They are very friendly, I didn't meet any rude people! Some stopped me on the road offering to take photos of me when they saw me trying to take my selfies. Some wanted to help me with the maps.

I'd definitely go back again! I miss bibimbap!!

Korea - 18 days journey

After visiting many cities in Europe, I decided to extend my travelling to another continent and so I picked South Korea for a 3 week solo trip (^o^). A 400 page Lonely Planet Korea guide and free brochure sent from Korea Tourism Organization - KTO and Visit Korea were the start to my planning.

Busan Haeundae beach

It was the end of Summer in 2014 when I landed to Seoul. The jet lag was starting to hit me but I was more exited than tired. I spent one night in Seoul and the next day I flew to Jeju, a UNESCO world heritage island. I spent 5 days in Jeju where I was able to do a East and West coast tour with Yeha tours and I also stayed at the Yeha guest house. The guest house was located in the city center of Jeju and that made it so easy to go out for lunch, dinner, evening drinks and clubbing. They also offer a shuttle service from the air port else you can simply take a taxi from the guest house to the airport as it doesn’t cost that much. So if you want to stay in Jeju and try some group tours I really do recommend Yeha Tours and to stay at Yeha guest house. They also give you free drinks in the evening :D

Jeju view from peak

From Jeju I flew to Busan, where I stayed 6 days with a lovely Korean family, she cooked just wonderful food. I still remember the taste of the Bibimbap she made for breakfast. They even took me for a tour in the night in the city. You can try a Korean home stay as there are many hosts indicated in the KTO website.

From Busan it was the KTX that took me to Seoul, where I stayed for 6 days in Myeongdong area in Seoul Green Residence. This was a really convenient location. A direct bus to the air port was found within 5 minute walking distance from the Residence and near by there were two tourist information centers. The subway was a 10 minute walk trough Myeongdong shopping street and every now and then the girls on the street would call you inside the shops and give you free cosmetic samples.

Seoul rainbow bridge and tower view

Travelling throughout the country was easy, with just one prepaid card, which you can load from convenience stores, you just hope in and hope off from Buses and Subway without having to bother about how much the ticket will cost or waste time at a ticket counter.

As a round up my trip was fantastic, I climbed peak created from volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago where the wind wanted to put us down, saw fabulous waterfalls, I touched golden and black sand, walked back and forth a 1km Lava cave, spent a day with the world famous teddy bears, visited temples and shrines that were simply breath taking, enjoyed the architecture of the ancient palaces and admired the sky crawlers. I tasted so many different kinds of food, but my favourite was and still is BIBIMBAP.

Seoul Palace

Jeju teddy bear musuem

Jeju Cheonjeyeon waterfall

As a overall budget I spent about 2000 €. This includes below mentioned costs, KTX from Busan to Seoul, local travelling (and I used it alot!), a few attractions (temples, shrines and most museums in Korea are FREE), what I spent for my food and drinks and also some on souvenirs. 
Travelling:

• From Milan to Seoul (transfer at Paris) via Asiana Airlines, the ticket was 710 €. They severed really great Korean meals, will definitely fly again with them.
• From Seoul (Gimpo) to Jeju via Jeju air = 36,500 KRW
• From Jeju to Busan via Jeju air = 38,500 KRW

Sleeping:

• in Seoul 7 nights = 210 €
• in Jeju 6 night = 110 €
• in Busan 5 nights = 150,000 KRW

Extra:

• East and West coast with Yeha Tours (http://www.yehatour.com/) = 110 €
• Seoul Tower = 9,000 KRW

My itinerary:

Jeju shrine

Stay tuned for part 2 of my trip to Korea where I will add the itinerary and some more photos ^_^