You can stroll around the food markets for only $0.50 – $3, you have a complete meal with appetizers, main dishes, desserts and snacks along the way from many different stalls. Great, excellent, wonderfull!

Gwangjang-Market-HH1WC5

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Gwangjang night market, Seoul

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Tips for visiting Seoul: Visit the free museums

cool museums in seoul

According to information from my friend Google, there are more than 100 museums in Seoul and you can not visit them all on a trip. I just visit the great museums and the museums of my favorite subjects. Most museums in Seoul have free admission or quite low ticket prices.

The National Folk Museum of Korea (국립민속박물관): The museum is located within the grounds of the Gyeongbokbung Palace (The east gate). The exhibits clearly show the typical features of Korean daily life and culture from prehistoric times to the end of the Joseon era.

national_folk_museum_of_korea_at_gyeongbokgung_palace
The National Folk Museum of Korea | seoul south korea travel tips
inside The National Folk Museum of Korea 11
Interior

National Palace Museum of Korea (국립고궁박물관): This museum is also located within the grounds of Gyeongbokbung Palace, so you can take advantage of visiting both places at once. The content on display is artifacts from the Joseon Dynasty that were once found in palaces and nearby temples.

national_palace_museum_of_korea_at_gyeongbokgung_palace
Exterior of The National Palace Museum of Korea
National Palace Museum of Korea
Many precious Korean artifacts are displayed in museums.

National Museum of Korea (국립중앙박물관): Free entrance fee. The museum has an extremely large collection, focusing on historical and artistic relics from prehistoric, medieval and modern times.

National Museum of Korea (1)

National Museum of Korea (1)
| seoul travel tips

National Hangeul Museum (국립 한글 박물관): Free admission. This museum refers to history through the stages of the Korean alphabet. This museum is very close to the National Museum of Korea, so you can visit both at once.

National Hangeul Museum (국립 한글 박물관)
The museum is for those who love the language.

War Memorial of Korea (전쟁기념관): Free entrance fee. It has an indoor and outdoor gallery with machines and equipment used in the wars.

Korean War Veterans Memorial (1)
A solemn and quiet place full of reverence in Seoul. The memorial displays many lively documents on the wars and conflicts that took place in Korea.
War Memorial of Korea2
Statue of brothers | seoul budget trip

Seoul Museum of Art (서울시립미술관): Entrance fees are depending on each exhibition. Art exhibitions, in turn, are held in this museum throughout the year with interesting and unexpected content for viewers. I used to enjoy Tim Burton’s exhibition a few years ago and really loved it. This is one of the museums you are always looking forward to seeing every new exhibition.

Seoul Museum of Art
| seoul on a budget

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (국립 현대 미술관): The ticket price is about 4,000 won ($3.35). This museum is truly a place for devotees who love contemporary and modern art to be included in your bucket list. The admission is cheap, but the exhibition topics are constantly being renewed.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art
| seoul travel tips

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (리움 삼성미술관): Ticket price 10,000 won ($8.38). Enjoy traditional Korean art and contemporary art at this museum that is worth the money. With the 10,000 won ticket, you can enjoy all the best collections in the museum and the 8,000 won ($6.70) ticket is limited to visit a number of special exhibitions depending on current exhibitions.

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (1)
| seoul tips

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art 3

In addition, you can refer to the information at the tourist websites for the Culture Day program, which is free admission once a month. Hope your trip is lucky to coincide with this day.

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (1)

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art (1)
| seoul tips

Seoul travel tips: Visit the main attractions

In addition to the free admission museums, Seoul also has many interesting tourist attractions and landmarks around the city center. Here are some key attractions that, according to my Korean travel experience, you should include in your travel bucket list.

Grand Palaces: Admission 10,000 won for 5 palaces

Blossom at Changdeokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea (6)
Tourists wearing Hanbok at Changdeokgung | travel to seoul on a budget

Seoul has 5 grand palaces: Changdeokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung, Gyeongbokgung and Gyeonghuigung. You can pay entrance fee for each palace or pay 10,000 won for a combo to enjoy all 5 (1 of 5 palaces is free) and Jongmyo temple. Buying 10,000 won ticket is much cheaper than buying tickets for each palace. This ticket also has the advantage that you do not necessarily have to visit all 5 palaces in the same day.

Gyeongbok,
Gyeongbokgung
korea in autumn
Autumn in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korea.
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Changing of the guard ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace | seoul travel budget
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Gyeonghoeru Pavilion in spring
Changdeokgung Palace - Secret Garden 2_j
Tranquil and peaceful in autumn | seoul travel tips

If you rent a Hanbok, traditional Korean costume, you will be visited the palaces and temple for free. The rent price for a Hanbok set is around 12,000 – 15,000 won ($10.05 – $12.56), a bit more expensive than the package fare for all palaces but actually wearing a special outfit, going everywhere in the palace and freely virtual living is really not thinking more, renting immediately, renting right away.

Gyeongbokgung palace hanbok
Visitors wearing Korean traditional costumes at Gyeongbokgung
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| seoul travel tips

We had a very detailed review of 5 palaces of Seoul here: Royal palace Seoul — How to visit 5 grand palaces in Seoul?

Jogyesa Temple: Free entrance

Jogyesa Temple (1)
Jogyesa Temple with ancient Korean architectural style.

This is a famous Buddhist temple located in Jongno, near the Grand Palace area. The most wonderful time of the year to visit Korean temples is the Buddha’s Birthday. That is when the temples are decorated with thousands of colorful lotus lanterns, sacred rituals, parades, and folk games taking place in most temples.

Jogyesa Temple (1)

Cheonggyecheon Stream: Public area

Cheonggyecheon stream
| budget for seoul trip

Cheonggyecheon is a small stream that flows smoothly and winding through downtown Seoul. This is the most popular picnic, walking and sightseeing spot for locals. Across the stream there are small bridges or stone steps leading from shore to shore. Especially, at the lantern festival, this place is no different from a street displaying the most brilliant lanterns.

Cheonggyecheon stream
Shimmering at night.
Cheonggyecheon stream
Vibrant at night.

Namsangol Hanok Village: Free admission

Hanok Namsangol village
A peaceful corner of the ancient village.

This village is home to many traditional Korean houses (hanok). Stepping into this area, you will feel like you are going back to the past extremely magical. This place used to be a summer resort of the Joseon Dynasty. The first feeling that comes to you is tranquility, gentle, and peace.

Bukchon Hanok Village: Free admission

bukchon hanok village
Bukchon Hanok Village, one of the best places to visit in Seoul.

Also a village with traditional hanok houses, Bukchon Hanok is different from the old villages in Seoul because it is an open-air museum, although there are still households living inside. A number of houses have been mentioned in the seminars on tourism and preservation of Korean cultural and traditional heritage. According to my tips for visiting Seoul and travel to Seoul on a budget, you should walk quietly, say softly, avoid noisy jokes so as not to disturb the households living here.

Small House Cafe in Bukchon Hanok Village
Small House Cafe in Bukchon Hanok Village
bukchon hanok village bukchon village bukchon village seoul (1)
| budget for seoul trip

Read more: Visiting Bukchon Village — One of the most beautiful villages in Seoul, South Korea.

N Seoul Tower: Addmission: 10,000 won ($8.37)

N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower seen from a far | seoul south korea travel tips

One of my Seoul travel tips is to have the best value view of Seoul, you have to visit N Seoul Tower. You can take the cable car or walk up the hill to see the city in the morning mist or splendid at night. This is also the place where couples often leave their romantic love lock as in Korean movies. Read more: Visiting N Seoul Tower (Namsan Tower) — The symbol & one of the best places to visit in Seoul.

N Seoul tower
Love locks fence
N Seoul tower
Namsan Tower, the symbol of Seoul | seoul south korea travel tips

Read more: Top places to visit in Seoul — Top 20 most famous, beautiful, must go & best places to visit in Seoul.

Seoul South korea travel tips: Shopping at subway stations or areas near the universities

best shopping places in Seoul, top shopping places in Seoul, best shopping mall in Seoul, is underground shopping Seoul

Shopping for clothes, shoes and fashion accessories is nowhere as ideal as the shops near the universities. The prices of these items are mostly targeted at students, so it is very soft, very reasonable for shopping. According to my Seoul travel tips (Seoul tips), tips for visiting Seoul and travel to Seoul on a budget, these are the places to update the latest trends.

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shopping area-common ground-best concept mall in seoul-korea5
| travel to seoul on a budget

Hongdae

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Hongdae

Hongdae is a shopping area around Hongik University, one of Korea’s leading art schools. This means that the fashion trends here are very trendy, many styles have become the mainstream of the youth. Hongdae is also an area with lots of unique and abundant outdoor shops and stands.

Hongdae Seoul
| tips for visiting seoul
hongdae shopping
Hongdae shopping

Read more: Hongdae travel blog — How to visit, what to do in Hongdae & what to eat in Hongdae?

Edae

ewha womans university
Shopping in student shopping areas is a smart choice.

Edae is an area with the famous Ewha Womans University. The fashion shops here are aimed at women. That’s why most products are sold to women, such as clothes and skirts, accessories and bags. Whatever fashion women need, all can find at Edae.

Sinchon

Sinchon is the shopping area around Yonsei School, the oldest and most prestigious university in Korea. Sinchon is also quite close to Ewha Womans school, so you can buy non-stop shopping in both areas. The shops here offer a variety of products for both men and women, and the prices are extremely student-friendly.

Sinchon
Sparkling Sinchon

It is also home to many cosmetic stores, spas, nail salons and beauty salons. Walk along the streets selling cosmetics, sometimes you get a whole basket of samples for testing such as plating surface, moisturizer or cleanser.

Subway stations

Shopping District Korea Image: underground shopping seoul blog.
Jonggak underground shopping mall

According to my Seoul travel tips, if you like shopping, you should think about the subway stations. It sounds strange, in Japan and South Korea, under the major subway stations, there are extremely quality shopping malls. Major brands of food, fashion, electronics, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics are all available for sale.

Shopping District Korea Foto: top shopping places in seoul blog.
Yeongdeungpo underground shopping mall

Read more: Best shopping in Seoul — Top 10 best shopping places in Seoul & best underground shopping Seoul.

Seoul tips: Enjoy beautiful green spaces

How much Seoul travel tips can not be missed when enjoying the green, beautiful and romantic space of this city.

Han River

seoul han river picnic,sunset,night,things to do in seoul at night
Picnic by Han River

This is a great walking place on weekends. On days of good weather, a lot of people go on a picnic or sightseeing along the river. The section of the river that I consider the most beautiful is the area along Yeouido Park. You can rent a bicycle to go along the river, there is no word to describe.

seoul han river picnic,sunset,night,things to do in seoul at night
Walking path along the Han river
seoul han river picnic,sunset,night,things to do in seoul at night
Let’s picnic | seoul travel tips

Seoul Forest Park

Seoul Forest
| tips for visiting seoul

The forest with a long, tree-lined path will take you out of the busy and bustling metropolis. This forest used to be a hunting ground for royal members. Currently, the forest is a nature reserve with many friendly animals. Sometimes you can feed the deer too.

Seonyudo Park

Seonyudo park
Green space at Seonyudo park

Seonyudo is an island in the middle of the Han River and is also a water purification plant. This whole place has become an eco-park with fresh and cool climate in Seoul. You can go for a walk and take pictures in this place is also great. To get to Seonyudo, you must cross the Yanghwadaegyo Bridge from Hapjeong to the north or Yeouido to the south.

Bukhansan National Park

Bukhansan National Park (1)

If you are not a gentle walker, you can choose to trekking in Bukhansan National Park, located north of Seoul. Exciting trekking trails will have many different levels to challenge you. Along the way there are many sacred temples that you can visit and pray.

Bukhansan National Park (1)
Trekking | seoul budget trip

Seoul Korea travel tips: Take advantage of convenience stores

7 eleven store
7 Eleven store

The convenience store system in Korea is really developed and especially helps you save significant costs for your trip. Convenience store can provide you with all 3 main meals of the day at extremely reasonable prices. So according to my Seoul travel tips, tips for visiting Seoul and travel to Seoul on a budget, you should come here often.

Bento Boxes (Dosirak)
Bento Boxes (Dosirak)
  • Ramen noodles: with enough kimchi, slices of cheese, beef, chicken, mushrooms, vegetables … for about 1,000 won ($0.84). In addition, the store also has an automatic hot water bottle and chopsticks so you can completely prepare your own meal.
  • Curry rice: A bowl of curry rice is a very popular meal in Korea. They are usually sold in bowls that you can put in the microwave to heat up.
  • Food tray: Understandably, this is called a bento. Such a meal would include rice, pork / beef, kimchi and some other vegetables.
    Snacks: The most popular are still french fries, Peperp sticks (chocolate-covered cookie sticks), rice cakes, seaweed, red bean dumplings, honey cakes and countless, countless of chewing snacks that can’t be denied. All of these dishes are no more than 2,000 won ($1.67).
Hot Bar
Hot Bar
Instant Noodles
Instant Noodles
Samgak Kimbap
Samgak Kimbap
Tteokbokki snack
Tteokbokki snack
Banana Milk
Banana Milk

Travel to Seoul on a budget: Participate in free activities at the Seoul Global Cultural Center

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)

This is a place where regular entertainment activities, art exhibitions and seminars for locals and tourists. This is a way for the Korean government to effectively introduce and promote their culture. Here, you will be able to participate in activities such as:

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)
K-Pop dance class

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)

  • Practice dancing at K-POP dance classes
  • Practice cooking traditional Korean dishes
  • Hanji craft class
  • Korean folk painting
  • Try wear hanbok, traditional Korean outfit

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)
| travel to seoul on a budget

Before coming here, you can look through the information on the center’s website to find out the schedule of these interesting activities. Some workshops or classes are limited in number, you must register in advance.

Seoul Global Cultural Center (1)

Address: 27 Myeongdong 8-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Hours: 10AM–7PM
Phone: +82 2-3789-7961
Url: https://www.seoulculturalcenter.com/en/

Seoul travel tips: Experience the unique coffee culture space

Seoul’s themed cafes

seoul theme cafe
Cat Cafe

Themed cafes in Korea have become so popular, people often call them “Seoul’s themed cafes“. Their strong growth has become a cultural trait and an extremely strong tourist attraction, especially virtual living devotees.

seoul theme cafe
King’s Cross
seoul theme cafe
Hello Kitty Cafe

It can be mentioned some other types of cafes such as: Poo Café, Cat Coffee, Dog Coffee, Book Coffee, Hello Kitty Coffee, Raccoon Coffee, Lego Coffee, Flower Coffee … Average price for a drink here is about 6,000 – 10,000 won ($5.02 – $8.37) with lots of virtual living photos.

seoul theme cafe

seoul unique cafe
Raccoon Cafe | seoul travel tips

Read more: Best cafes in Seoul — 16 cool, cute, famous coffee shops & best themed cafes in Seoul you should visit.

Traditional tea ceremony in Seoul

In Insadong, you will find places to enjoy tea ceremony with the best Korean teas. In a peaceful, quiet space, mixed with a little ancient, you will have moments of valuable tea time.

Space to enjoy tea ceremony.
Space to enjoy tea ceremony. | seoul travel tips

Hopefully, some Seoul travel tips, tips for visiting Seoul and travel to Seoul on a budget that I have shared above will help you quickly conquer your dream of coming to Korea. Have a nice trip!

Myeongdong
Very bustling at Myeongdong street

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Seoul you can refer to

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Are you finding more top things to do in Seoul: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.