Nami Island, South Korea

South Korea

South Korea boast abundant tourist attractions and activities for all types of types of travelers. Korea is known for KPOP short for Korean Popular Music which is mainstream music that originated in South Korea. It draws influence from a range of genres like pop, experimental, rock, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and dance. I'm a huge fan of Korean Dramas or K-Dramas which is known worldwide because of its unique plots and story lines.

From Manila, We took a 4 hour direct flight to Seoul during winter season. The seasons in Korea are much like what you would find in Japan or Europe. Spring months is between April & June, Summer is July to August, Autumn is between September & November and Winter is from December to March. Winter months are considered to be the cheapest time to go because the accommodations are more affordable and less tourist.

Winter Packing Tips

Packing a bulky winter jacket into a luggage can be very challenging either carry- on or check-in. You need big resealable zip bags 13" in size or vacuum seal bags which can be bought online. You just have to fold it, shove it inside the bag and vacuum to get the air out. If you don't have vacuum sealed bags, You can use big resealable zip bags by folding the jacket, shove it inside and sitting on it to get the air out then seal. You also need a Bonnet, Fleece, Shirts for layering, winter shoes or boots and lotion to avoid winter rash.

Visa

Filipinos passport holders must obtain a visa to visit South korea. Single-entry tourist visas are granted for stays of up to 90 days.Multiple entry can also be requested. You can check Visa Guide here on how to get one. As of June 1, 2022 Filipinos can visit South Korea's Gang-won province and Jeju Island visa free for direct flights only. You can check additional information here.

How To Get To Seoul From Incheon International Airport

Express train Incheon to Seoul

There are plenty of transportation options you can choose from. You can take the nonstop Airport Railroad express (AREX) from terminals 1 & 2 to Seoul Station for around 9,500 KRW around (Php 401.78) and travel time is 43 minutes that runs every 30-45 minutes from 5:15 am to 10:48 Pm. Aside from the nonstop train, you can also board the All Stop Train which is much cheaper around 4,150 KRW( Php 175.51) and runs every 5-15 minutes from 5:19 am to 11:32 Pm. Tickets on both express and All Stop can be bought at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 at B1 Transportation Center. If you're arriving late, there's a late night bus you can take in Terminal 1 around 1:20 am, for about 70 minutes. Tickets can be bought at

Terminal 1: First level, A-F gates. Tickets can be bought near Exits 4 and 9 of the Arrivals Hall, first levels 4,6,7,8, 11, 13, and 9C.
Terminal 2: First level, 1-6 gates. Buy tickets at Traffic Center B1.

You can also take a limousine bus which has fewer stops, short travel times, and comfortable seats. It’s your fastest option too. The fare is 14,000 KRW (Php 592.16) for a ride.

Where to Stay?

There are a plethora of accommodation options you can choose from, You can check Agoda and booking.com for the best rates. Low season rate starts at Php 2,500 to 4,000 per night while the high season can get up to Php 5,000 to Php 7,000 per night. We booked our stay at Stay7 Myeongdong hostel because of its proximity to Myeongdong. Extremely convenient and just a short walk to Myeongdong's street food crawl and shopping.

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