Spending two weeks gives us a good time to see what South Korea, the Land of Morning Calm has to offer.

 

As Spring dawned rather late in South Korea this year, we have an incredible experience of seeing how a new season unfolds while exploring new places.

 

Stepping out of Incheon Airport on our first day, we’re greeted with single digits with subzero wind chill.

 

But after a few days in Seoul, the grey sky turned into clear blue. Sunshine broke through the clouds. The crisp cool air became warmer and moister.

 

Trees were blossoming and early flowers were pushing through the earth.

 

It’s beautiful, romantic and magical, no doubt.

 

Making it a great time to be out in nature, taking long walk, breathing fresh air, immersing in local culture, discovering new things and catching the cherry blossoms.

 

That’s how achieved a new milestone traveling in Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju- walking 181.9 KM, 287,068 steps and 527 floors for the entire trip.

 

Need a vacation? Take a 10-minute adventure with me!

 

Useful resources:

1. Download this Location/Walking Direction Map on mobile phone: Naver
2. Order pocket wifi and pickup in Korea here: cheaper and more convenient.
3. Get a T-Money card for public transport on buses, subways. You can get it at convenient stores and use it anywhere in Korea, as far as Busan, Gyeongju and Jeju.

 

Day 1: Seoul City Wall & Ihwa Mural Village, Naksan Park

We barely slept on the midnight plane, but our excitement has filled us with enough energy to last, at least half of the day.

 

Most hotels in South Korea have a rather restrictive policy of allowing guests to check-in after 3 PM. It left us with no choice but to leave our luggage at the hotel and fill the time while waiting.

 

Here’s my review for the hotel, though I can’t fault the location. Location is very strategic, located just beside Jongno-3 station.

Having pocket wifi makes exploring South Korea so much easy and affordable.

 

Guess what we did? We walked.

 

After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, we took a 10-minute stroll to Jongmyo Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage), a great Confucian shrine of the entire Joseon Dynasty. Unfortunately, it’s closed on Tuesdays.

 

It’s still a pleasant visit, admiring the royal shrine from the outside as well as watching some old men playing Chinese chess in the park.

 

Following the Naver map, we continued our walk heading to Ihwa Mural Village.

 

Walking through the city streets, passing by many coffee shops, climbing a few flights of steps and finally greeted by some magnificent mural and street art scenes. It’s a great place to get lost in the labyrinth of laneways and take some Instagram-worthy pictures.

Another 10-minute of walk, you’ll reach the entrance of Naksan Park. Hiking uphill can be quite tiring, especially after a long flight.

 

But you’ll soon be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding mountains and downtown Seoul.

 

There’s also a portion of the Seoul Fortress Wall that goes through the park, it’s also where all the K-Drama happening.

 

We came a bit too early. A few days later, trees in the park started to blossom, and make it a beautiful place for a springtime stroll.

We spent a couple of hours here, admiring the beauty of bare and leafless trees, enjoying the bird-eye views of the city before catching a bus back to our hotel.

 

After checking in and taking a quick shower, we collapsed on the bed and slept the hours away.

 

It’s an extremely long day.

Day 2: Tradition meets modernity

Waking up afresh with renewed energy, we’re ready to hit into the heart of Seoul.

 

No fixed itinerary for the day. As everything is almost within walkable distance, so we let ourselves get lost and discover what the city’s made of.

 

Ikseon-dong Hanok Street

This little cozy Ikseon-dong Hanok Alley is just located less than a 2-minute walk from our hotel.

 

The maze-like streets are filled with restaurants, cafés, ladies boutiques, and accessories shops selling handmade products and delicious local cuisine.

 

Seeing the Hanok (Korean traditional house) being transformed into shops and cafes is quite a unique experience. And the ambiance is absolutely wonderful.

 

We have our brunch here, tasting a variety of dumplings. It’s delicious.

Insadong, Ssamziegil

Just a short 5-minute walk will bring you to Insadong, a famous traditional Korean Streets .

 

Along the way, you’ll see a lovely Tagpol Park. A historical site with a well-preserved 15th century 10-story Pagoda encased in glass structure. The park also housed a monument to memorializing the Korean Declaration of Independence from Japan. 

 

Explore the main road in Insadong as well as narrow alleys on each side, there are traditional restaurants, teahouses, art galleries and handcraft shops.

 

Wandering through the street, you’ll reach a colorful, unique shopping centre, SSamziegil. There are 4 floors which each level connected in the form of spiral-like stairway, with shops selling fashion, art and souvenirs.

 

Buckhon Hanok village

Another 15-minute pleasant walk to reach Buchkon Hanok Village from Insadong.

 

Buckhon Hanok Village is another great place to immerse yourself with Korean traditional houses. The homes are magnificent and will truly bring you back in time.

 

Samcheong Park

A great escape from the bustle and hustle of city life.

 

10-minute easy walk from the Hanok Village, there’s a quiet forest, with well-maintained trails.

 

You can go up to the summit to have an unobstructed view of the city skyline or enjoy the exercise facility in the park.

 

It’s another beautiful place to see cherry blossoms…but again, we’re too early for it.

 

The National Folk Museum of Korea

Located inside Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea is definitely worth a visit.

 

There’s a few indoor exhibitions as well as many outdoor sites in a park-like setting, where you can learn about Korea’s cultural beliefs, lifestyle, tradition and more. Plus, admission is free for everyone.

 

Gwanghwamun Plaza

You really can’t miss this, Gwangwamun Gate- the largest and main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

 

At the Gwanghwamun Plaza, stand the giant Statue of Admiral Yi Sun-Sin and King Sejong.

 

Just behind the statue, we’re surprised to find an entrance to an underground museum that devoted to Admiral Yi and King Sejong.

 

Whew… that’s a long day of walking.

 

Gwangjang market

Let’s catch a train to Gwangjang market for dinner. It’s one of the largest traditional markets in Korea. Here you can find a plethora of authentic Korean street food at extremely cheap prices and eat like a local.

 

Day 3: Deconomy at Jangchung Arena

I’ve to admit the main reason why we traveled to Korea was to attend a two-day conference in Seoul.

 

But wanderlust hit me pretty hard that we decided to extend our stay so we can spend more time traveling around Korea.

 

Winson and I had thought it sounded perfect: neither of us had ever seen cherry blossoms. It’s going to be our first time!

 

Let me give you some background, Deconomy is a conference held in Jangchung Arena. It featured cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and financial experts- discussing, debating and exploring the potential of bitcoin, blockchain technology and decentralized economy.

 

I don’t want to bore you with the details…if you’re new to Bitcoin and interested to learn more about it, you can start here and here.

 

Jangchungdan Park

While we’re attending the conference for two full-day, we did explore a few places around the area.

 

Jangchungdan Park, located directly opposite the stadium is a great place to relax.

 

Amber slowly and take some fresh air in this beautiful garden after staying indoors all day.

 

Day 4: Deconomy (second day)

Halfway through the conference, we took a break and grabbed some fresh air outside.

 

While wandering around the streets across Jangchung Arena, we stumbled upon this charming Coffee Bean shop. Its flavourful coffee, super fast free wifi, cozy ambiance, quiet computer zone, and unique Hanok design. I literally can work for hours here, feeling more productive than ever.

 

This modern Hanok coffee shop has 3 separate rooms. Whether you’re looking for a nice coffee, laptop-friendly cafes or spots for social gathering, this is a perfect place.

Google Campus Seoul

Andreas M. Antonopolous, a crypto entrepreneur who’s also one of the main speakers at Deconomy gave a special talk at Google Campus Seoul, that evening after the conference ended.

 

Have been watching dozens of his awesome Youtube videos, I was thrilled to see him personally giving a talk for a small Bitcoin community at Google Campus Seoul.

 

Gangnam Underground Shopping Centre

It took another 50-minute train ride back to our hotel from Google Campus Seoul. As we rushed for the subway, our stomachs rumbled. We hadn’t had any food since our lunch. So we stopped at Gangnam Station and got warm noodle soup to fill our stomach.

 

Connected to the train station, there’s a huge underground shopping centre selling latest fashion trends.

 

Succumbed to exhaustion, we made our back to our hotel after buying some snacks.

 

Day 5: Train to Busan 

There are 3 main public transportations that you can take to go to Busan based on your budget, timing and personal preference: bus, train and plane. Read more here.

 

I wanted to experience the train ride where movie Train To Busan was set. So we opted for ITX-Saemaeul train to Busan, which took about 4hours 40 minutes.

 

It’s easy, comfortable and relaxing. Rest assured, there’s no undead zombies onboard.

Sitting back, watching the world go by through the window, observing the local travelers, and seeing life unfolding as the train glided smoothly along the track. We thoroughly enjoyed the train ride.

 

We got to our hotel in Busan Seomyeon in the late evening. Our room looked amazing, it’s huge, squeaky clean with a modern luxury bathtub.

 

Having a hot soak after traveling all day, was nothing short of a blessing.

 

After taking some rest, we’re heading for dinner and wandering around the downtown area- from Lotte World to Seomyeon Underground shopping center to Seomyoen night market.

 

Day 6: Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom Festival 🌸

Attracting over 2million visitors every year, Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is the best and biggest spring festival in Korea.

 

If you’re looking for a convenient way to visit Jinhae festival, then join a day tour.

 

We did consider taking the tour. It can save us time and bring us straight to some of the best cherry blossoms viewing spots, hassle-free.

 

But we felt more comfortable finding ways, making mistakes and discover new places at our own pace.

 

After a hearty breakfast, we took the metro and hopped off at Busan Sasang Bus Terminal (West Terminal).

 

Getting to Jinhae by local bus is easy and straightforward:

Buy a ticket from the counter and hop on the next scheduled bus which then brings you straight to Jinhae bus terminal in just under an hour.

As the bus approached the terminal and turned into the parking lot, we’d watched bloom of pink and white flowers lined on both sides of the street come into view.

 

We let the cherry blossom-lined streets guided us to the Jinhae festival. There’re food tents selling all sorts of local food such as jigaes (stews), pajeon (Korean pancakes), meat and dried seafood.

 

As we walked through the flea market, there’s a live music event at the heart of this small town.

 

We sampled some street food while walking leisurely towards Yeojwacheon Stream’s cherry blossom road.

 

Every street, every corner was filled with rows of cherry blossom trees.

It’s a sight to behold.

We’re pleasantly surprised with this stunning view of Yeojwacheon Stream, in which we spent a couple of hours strolling in the sea of cherry blossom.

Towards the late afternoon, the weather just changed. Temperature dropped quickly. The bright blue sky slowly turned grey, followed by gentle winds and rain.

 

Watching the wispy flower petals falling away in the wind is like hearing Mother Nature says, “Look how transient and ephemeral life could be, yet letting go can be so beautiful and easy.”

 

Due to the unexpected rainfall, we took a detour from our original plan of going to Gyeonghwa Station (a popular cherry blossom-themed train station) and landed at Mt.Jehwang Park.

 

At the Jehwangsan Observatory Deck, enjoy a panoramic view of Jinhae’s cityscape covered in cherry blossoms and the blue sea beyond.

 

In the evening, we braved the cold and rain and headed back to Yeojwacheon Stream for the Starlight Festival. To see how the stream, bridge and trees were decorated with illuminations and laser lights.

To be honest, nothing spectacular about it… After taking a few pictures, we rushed back to Jinhae station to catch the bus back to Busan.

 

For me, I found it to be a very unique and magical experience to be surrounded by countless cherry blossom trees in almost every corner of street.

 

It’s definitely well worth a visit. For a second visit? Probably not.

 

Day 7: Busan Day Trip (Haeundae beach, Dongbaek Island coastal walk)

Busan is the most famous seaport and the second largest city (after Seoul) in South Korea.

 

There are so many things to do and to see here – long stretch of white sandy beach, nature reserves, cultural village, seaside temples, hot springs, sumptuous fresh seafood and more.

 

To see all the major sights in one day is far too ambitious.

 

Due to the late return last night, we relaxed a bit and started our day slowly.

 

Shinsegae Centum City Department Store

We’ve our brunch at Shinsegae Centum City Department Store. Did some window shopping, exploring the open-rooftop dinasours-themed garden, enjoying stunning views of Busan atop Shinsegae Centum City before heading to Haeundae Beach.

Haeundae beach

With less than 5 minutes walk from the Haeundae station, you’ll come to this long stretch of beach with city views.

 

As you stroll along the white sand beach (1.5km long), soak up the sunshine, smell the sea breeze, feel the winds in your hair.

 

This place reminds me of Bondi Beach in Sydney, where we spent a whole afternoon walking the 6km Bondi to Congee Coastal Walk, last June.

Dongbaek Park & Dongbaek Island

At the end of the beach, you’ll enter into Dongbaek Island.

 

Named after dongbaek trees, Dongbaek island used to be an Island by itself, but now is part of the mainland.

 

Take a leisurely stroll on the well-maintained boardwalk with rocky shores, admire the amazing seaview, snap a picture with a stone mermaid statue, cross a suspension pedestrian bridge and you’ll see the lighthouse at the other end of island.

 

Go up to the gazebo to enjoy spectacular views over Gwangali Bridge and Haeundae beach.

Tip: Head up early in the morning before dawn to catch the sunrise. Or go in the evening for sunset and watch the sky changes its hue.

 

Haeundae market

Conveniently located near Haeundae Beach, Haeundae market is a famous Korean traditional market with lots of seafood restaurants and local street food.

 

We walked down the street for a while and took a bus to Cheongsapo at the end of the market.

 

Dalmaji-gil Road

Not sure whether we got at the correct bus stop, after waiting for half an hour the bus finally came.

 

We clambered on gratefully, getting comfortable and enjoying the view from the window.

 

As the bus turned into Haeundae Dalmaji-gil Road, my eyes were glued to the window, attracted by the charming view of cherry blossom trees line along the street. It’s another popular spot for viewing cherry blossom during springtime.

 

Cheongsapo Daritol Observatory & Cheongsapo Grilled Clam Village

We got off at the last stop, thinking that we can catch a beautiful sunset before having dinner by the sea at one of the restaurants at Cheongsapo Grilled Clam Village.

 

I felt something wasn’t right, the place looked so empty and we can hardly see any people here.

 

But we still made our way to the lighthouse, we’ve the whole place practically to ourselves.

And took a short 5-minute walk to the Cheongsapo Daritol Observatory

 

To our dismay, we’re late by 30 minutes…It’s closed. It operates from 9.00AM- 6.00PM.

In a few minutes, the sky darkened, and the gale-force winds almost blew us away. We quickly rushed back to the bus station where we came, wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible.

 

Traveling isn’t always smooth sailing. This time, we’re coming at the wrong time and bad weather.

 

Day 8: Busan to Gyeongju 🌸

Just the other day, I read that Gyeongju is another great place to catch cherry blossom. So, here we’re, staying two-night at Gyeongju en route to Seoul.

 

Lotte Department Store

After checking out, we made our way to the nearby Lotte Department Store.

 

We wanted to try something different for brunch, having eating kimchee, pancake, bibimbap, hotpots, dumplings for the past few days.

 

This little Japanese restaurant inside the shopping mall store drew our attention, and we ordered the ramen. It was yumlicious! And it’s served with plain rice too.

After packing some snacks, we took a subway to Busan Central Bus Terminal. From there, we took an express bus to Gyeongju.

 

It’s the easiest and cheapest way to travel from Busan to Gyeongju and vice versa.

 

Red Light District Gyeongju

After 1-hour bus ride, we arrived at Gyeongju Express Bus Terminal. Our hotel was just 5-minute walk away from the bus terminal, that’s very convenient.

 

Along the way heading to our hotel, I was surprised to see there’re so many motels/hotels with interesting names, such as Soulmate Hotel, Sky Hotel, Mate Hotel… and the hotel we stayed in was Sugar Hotel.

 

This was a red light district, no doubt. I even saw a lingerie vending machine on the street.

 

Once I entered the room, it’s much better than I expected. Clean room with good lighting and all standard amenities.Plus, they offered free stuffs like canned drinks (orange juice, coffee) and free face mask.

 

Tumuli Park (Daereungwon Tomb Complex)

Unlike Seoul and Busan, Gyeongju is an ancient city filled with historical sights and ruins.

 

Our first stop Tumuli Park, the site of ancient tombs of Silla period (57 BC – AD 935).

 

If, like us, you’re staying in Central Gyeongjug, it’d probably take no more than a 20-minute walk away to the main entrance.

 

This walled-off park contains over two dozen tombs, which looked like small grassy hills scattered around the tree-filled park. These aren’t tombs for ordinary people but of kings, queens, royal families and upper class of Silla period.

 

Within Daereungwon, lies the most valuable and largest tomb of all  –Cheonmachong Tomb. It’s also the only tomb in Korea that you can actually enter.

 

Thousands of artifacts such as a gold crown, bracelets and other relics were found in this tomb during excavation in 1973.

 

As you stroll along the path, you’ll come to the Tomb of King Michu, first king of Kim clan and 13th king in Silla period, who fought many battles to prevent invasions from neighboring Baekje as well as encourage cultivation.

 

Walking along a path between these ancient tombs is truly an amazing experience.

 

The walk along Daereungwon Stonewall heading to Cheomseongdae is another highlight of the trip. The old walkway around the stone wall is lined with rows of cherry blossom trees, that’s wonderful for a stroll.

Cheomseongdae

Next to Tumuli Park is Cheomseongdae.

 

Cheomseongdae means “star-gazing platform” is the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia. This cylinder-shaped tower was once used to observe stars for weather forecasting.

 

Standing at a distance, admiring the beautiful structure with stones aligned perfectly, I was amazed.

 

Cheomseongdae Flower Garden

Not only you can see cherry blossoms in Gyeongju, but also tulips and canola flowers in the wide fields of Cheomseongdae.

 

Every April-May, spring turns the fields into vast golden sea of canola flowers. Now imagine you’re surrounded with a HUGE field vibrant canola flowers. It’s like a dream.

 

Gyeongju National Museum

We wished to spend more time meandering through Cheomseongdae Flower Garden. But because of the unpredictable bouts of rains, we quickened our steps in the direction of Gyeongju National Museum.

 

Surprisingly, it’s a pretty good history museum. One can easily spend hours browsing through the collections, exhibitions, galleries, learning more about Silla Dynasty as well as appreciating the significance of this ancient city.

 

Staying right in the centre of town allowed us to explore all the above sights on foot.

 

Day 9: Bomun Lake, Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto 🌸

Bomun Lake

The next day, after a good hotel breakfast, we headed to Bomun Lake which is a mere 30-minute bus ride on Bus No. 10 from either Gyeongju Station or Bus Terminal.

 

With beautiful pink-white petals of cherry blossoms, you can spend hours strolling the walkway along the lake.

The surrounding area will definitely take you away from the hustle and bustle with its flowers, trees, gardens and beautiful lake view.

 

On your way, you’ll see many hotels, resorts, tourist complex and amuse parks like Gyeongju World and Aqua World.

 

Gyeongju Tower

After that, we headed to Gyeongju World Culture Expo, in 20-minute walking distance.

 

As we’re approaching, an impressive tower immediately grabbed our attention. That’s Gyeongju Tower, a 30-story tower standing tall in the middle of Gyeongju World Culture Expo.

 

As we went nearer and looking closely at the building, we noticed that there’s a giant pagoda cut right out of the middle of the tower.

 

Gyeongju Tower is actually built to represent a nine-story wooden pagoda of Hwangryongsa Temple which was destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1238.

 

You can also go up to the observatory platform inside the tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding areas.

 

We took a break here and snapped some beautiful photos before moving to Bulguksa Temple.

 

Bulguksa Temple

Bulguksa Temple, a designated UNESCO World Heritage is one of the most famous temples in Korea.

 

Bulguksa Temple was built specifically for showing principles and values of Buddhism through architecture.

 

You can easily reach here by taking bus route 10 and 11.

 

Located at the foot of Tohamsan Mountain, following the winding uphill path lined with cherry blossom trees which will bring you to the main entrance.

 

Upon entering the temple complex, our eyes were all drawn to the huge stone bridges with steep steps. These two bridges, Cheongungyo Bridge and Baegungyo Bridges connecting to Jahamun Gate that leads to the main hall. Interestingly, it symbolizes a bridge connecting people’s secular world beneath to the Buddha’s world above.

 

Take in the scenery, appreciate the beautiful architecture, and feel the peace while meandering through this sacred place.

 

Seokguram Grotto & Mount Tohamsan

Seokguram Grotto is another main point of interests in Korea.

 

Situated atop Mount Tohamsan, Seokguram is an artificial round-shaped cave temple, featuring a grand statue of Buddha sitting at the center. It’s one of the most remarkable Asian Buddhist artworks in existence.

After grabbing a quick bite of lunch at the nearby restaurant, we’re heading to Seokguram Grotto.

 

The easiest way to get to Seokguram Grotto is to take bus no.12 from Bulguksa Temple.

 

We took the one less traveled by hiking all the way up to Seokguram Grotto and the peak of Mount Tohamsan.

 

Mount Tohamsan is a challenging but extremely rewarding half-day hike on the edge of Gyeongju City.

 

Home to Unesco World Heritage sites Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, as well as some almost alarmingly tame squirrels, you’ll feel at one with nature while experiencing the splendid culture of Buddhism.

 

It’s raining during our hike. Armed with an umbrella, we started the hike. The first part of the trail is wide, well-groomed and easy.

The higher we rose, the steeper the landscape became, until we reached the entrance of Seokguram Grotto in less than an hour hike.

 

Taking a much-needed rest before moving on to the peak of Mount Tohamsan.

 

That moment when we reached the peak, it’s like entering a cloud forest, veiling in sea of mist and clouds, has taken our breaths away.

If the weather is good, you can enjoy breathtaking mountain views and the city beyond.

 

Take deep breaths to taste the fresh cool air of the forest- simply soak up the sights, sounds and smells of nature.

After that, we’re hiking back to Bulguksa Temple using the same trail and got bus no.10 bus back to our hotel. It took us approximately 3 hours to complete the entire hike (up and down).

 

All in all, it’s an awesome trek. There’s no more enchanting way to explore the natural, cultural and historical richness of Gyeongju by hiking. You really can’t miss this! 

 

This journey on foot was of  20.5 KM, 29,613 steps and 150 floors in just one day- the longest walk of the whole trip!

Day 10: Gyeongju to Seoul

Staying two nights in Gyeongju will give you enough time to see what the city has to offer without a rush.

 

You’ll have several options to get back to Seoul. Since we’re not in a hurry, we opted for the cheapest mode of transportation by taking bus (travel time 3.5hours).

 

While waiting for the bus to come, we grabbed a lunch meal at the nearby McDonald’s.

And we spent the whole afternoon sitting on the bus and another 1-hour taking metro from Seoul Bus Terminal to our hotel.

 

By the time, we arrived at our hotel it’s already 5.ooPM.

 

That’s it. We ended the day at Myeongdong market, a very famous shopping spot for tourists.

Day 11: Seokchon Lake Park cherry blossom 🌸

Coming back to Seoul after one week allowing us to see how the climate changed so swiftly within such a short period of time.

The bright sun drenched the sky and clouds in gold and orange hues. The city was bursting with stunning cherry blossom in full bloom.

 

One of the best spots for viewing cherry blossom in Seoul is Seokchon Lake Park.

 

While today’s the last day of Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, crowds were flocking to park to photograph the full blooms.

 

The lakeside was colored light pink.

The air positively vibrated with bird song, laughter from young and old alike in the warm air and gentle breeze.

 

It’s a beautiful place to get lost in the cherry blossoms, relax, and for many, have a picnic.

 

We’ve our lunch at the nearby Lotte Dept. Store, admiring the lake views, flowers and people watching from the observatory deck.

As evening approached, the area was illuminated with laser lights, offering a different atmosphere from daytime.

 

 

Day 12: Kyunghee University & Dongdaemun 🌸

Kyunghee University

See how cherry blossoms turn a university into an incredibly popular tourist spot during springtime.

 

Thankfully, you don’t need a student ID to enter the premises.

 

With neo-classical architecture, water fountain, green areas, and cherry blossoms, it’s one of the most scenic places for viewing cherry blossom in Seoul.

 

Take a leisurely stroll, enjoy the gorgeous cherry blossom view.

Cheonggyecheon Stream

Walking along the Cheonggyecheon Stream on sunny afternoon. A lovely, relaxing stroll.

 

Dongdaemun Design Plaza & shopping malls

We didn’t complete the entire 11km modern stream of Cheonggyecheon, but making an exit halfway into Dongdaemun.

 

Not only able to see modern, cutting edge architecture design of the building, you can also find many shopping malls selling clothing and fashion accessories here.

 

Designed by world-famous architect, Zaha Hadid, Dongdaemun Design Plaze is a spacecraft-like building that brings the future into the present in a very unique way.

 

At night, the LED roses in the garden will light up uniformly, that’s wonderful.

 

Day 13: N Seoul Tower, Namsan Park 🌸

No trip to Seoul is complete without visiting N Seoul Tower. It’s the most iconic landmark in Seoul.

 

Want to get a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding areas at 350m above sea level? Go up to the observation desks, for a fee.

 

Rather than taking a cable car to the peak of Namsan, we took a bus which conveniently brought us to the tower. During the bus ride going up to the hill, we discovered a little known secret road that’s filled with long rows of cherry blossom tree!

After taking some pictures and exploring the Seoul Tower, we’re so excited to walk all the way down to the base of N Seoul Tower. Both sides of the road are lined with a seemingly never-ending line of cherry blossom trees.

 

From the base of Seoul Tower, we went to our favorite coffee shop, in 15-minute walking distance.

Still remember the coffee bean that we visited on Day 4 in Jangchung Arena?

 

That’s the one we’re going after the long walk… but this time, the coffee was so crowded, full of families, youngsters on laptops and groups of elderly- were out enjoying this lovely cafe on Sunday.

 

Day 14 : Yeouido island & Starfield Coex mall 🌸

Our hotel is centrally located in downtown Seoul, so easily walkable that you can hit many of them without setting foot on the metro.

 

In search of the best Samgyetang (Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup) in Seoul, we headed to Tosokchon.

 

After a 30-minute walk, we finally reached the restaurant. There’s a long queue… With efficient service, lines moved pretty fast.

 

Upon entering the Tosokchon, we greeted with strong ginseng aroma.

 

Smell of the ginseng instantly heightened our senses.

 

As I sipped the ginseng liquor (comes together with every Samgyetang), the liquid traveled from mouth, to the stomach, entering into bloodstream, giving a warm sensation over my body. I absolutely love it!

 

Each Samgyetang is a whole chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, dates, ginseng shreds, served in a bowl of flavorful broth with pumpkin seeds on top of it.

Many people claim that the chicken is tasteless… That’s true and makes perfect sense because they’ve been cooking the chicken for hours or even overnight to make such a healthy broth for you.

 

If you want to enhance the taste, there’s a jar of salt and pepper where you can help yourself to.

 

You can also add wild ginseng roots for an extra 6,000 won.

Often, I’d avoid “too-touristy” restaurant but you really have to try this. You won’t be disappointed, I promised!

 

Yeouido island

After that, we took a subway to Yeouido Island, another popular site for viewing cherry blossom.

 

However, it’s not as splendid as I expected. The once a year Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival just ended, lesser crowds, flowers were continually dropping petal.

 

With that said, I was still amazed by the extremely long row of cherry blossom trees lined along the main road. It’s a very huge island, if like us, you’re attempted to explore it on foot, get comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk a lot.

If you want, there’re shops renting bicycles and scooters on the island.

 

If you get tired from all the walking, there’s ample pleasant space and picnic tables to rest and unwind.

 

Starfield COEX mall, Gangnam

Only a short Metro ride away, you’ll reach COEX Mall. Inside this shopping mall, there’s a very popular public library.

 

Instead of searching for good books, foreign tourists and locals alike are flocking to Starfield COEX Mall to snap beautiful Insta-worthy photos. Can you believe it?

 

Featuring giant bookshelf of 13-metres in height and tens of thousands of books and magazine, you’ll see books are stacked all the way to the ceiling.

 

Sitting on a bench, looking at the books, and admiring the design, leaving me in awe…

Day 15: Namdaemun market

This traditional market is a fantastic place to meet locals and get a taste of local street food.

 

Meandering through this open-air market, you’ll find a huge selection of clothes and fashion, authentic souvenirs, ginseng, kitchenware, phone accessories, toys, fine arts handcrafted arts as well as imported goods and local food.

 

We spent a lovely Tuesday morning wandering around the market, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere while grabbing a bite for breakfast.

 

Jeongdong observatory

Jeongdong Observatory is an amazing place to visit that most tourists don’t know about.

 

Located on the 13th floor of Seoul City Hall Seosomun building, Jeongdong Observatory offers a magnificent view of Deoksugung Palace, City Hall and its surrounding area.

 

The best part? It’s free to enter.

 

Grabbing a coffee from a small cafe in the observatory, enjoying a full view around Jeongdong, letting your thoughts run loose, and just relaxing.

National Museum of Korea

We spent the sunny afternoon immersing ourselves in Korea’s past in the National Museum of Korea.

 

At the first floor, it houses artifacts, art and relics from the Paleolithic period to Joseon dynasty and the later Korean Empire.

 

Appreciating the beauty of Korean traditional painting and calligraphy on the second floor.

 

On the third floor, you’ll find outstanding Buddhist sculptures, crafts and ceramic artifacts of diverse Asian cultures.

 

While you’re at the National Museum of Korea, you might want to check out the War Memorial of Korea.

 

Admission to both of museums is free.

 

Explore Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju on foot

Where I Started: Seoul
Where I Ended: Seoul
Stops In Between: Busan and Gyeongju

If you’re wondering, check out the screenshot below- an overview of my recorded data in walking distance, steps and flight climbed, sort by date.

Conclusion

As you can see, we walked a lot during the trip.

 

Walking is free and it’s good for health! It’s our favorite way of exploring places.

 

We spent 15 days (excluding the first and last days) in Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju and barely scratched the surface of adventures South Korea has to offer. 

 

But one thing for sure… This marvelous adventure has granted us – more stamina, stronger legs and soulful hearts that enable us to see the beauty of life like never before.

 

Have you been to South Korea?

 

What’s your favorite place to visit in Korea?

 

Do you have any favorite spot or things to do that I didn’t mention in this post?

 

Also, read my one-month adventure to Australia here

• Sydney
• Gold Coast
• Brisbane
• Cairns
• Port Douglas
• Melbourne
• Great Ocean Road

Learn how to find cheap hotel room here.