MY PERFECT SEOUL TRIP
- Lapaz Alvarez
- Jul 1, 2017
- 13 min read
I always dream of visiting Korea someday and enjoy its sceneries, attractions, food, culture, and meet friendly and warm citizens. For me tourist are very lucky to be given a the opportunity to try and explore Korea. I always believe in the saying that "Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone but we find it with another." Having fun exploring Korea together, they also learn together. I knew for some reason that traveling to Korea let us experience and appreciate its simplicity and beauty. It is a very quiet place and there are lots of charms in it. it feels good to take a deep breath of fresh air and enjoy the silence it can offer.
A big thanks to Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization for providing the Discover Seoul Pass which allow us to visit a variety of Seoul's tourist attractions for free an with discounted price over a period of 24 hours or 48 hours.
If i were given the chance to Travel to Seoul. These are the places that i would like to visit and spend some time for my perfect Seoul trip.
My 48 hours itinerary using my Discover Seoul Pass Card :)
MY TRIP TO SEOUL
DAY 1
✔9:00 am -10:00 am → Teseum I want to visit this place because i love Teddy Bears so much. I heard that this museum houses life-sized teddy bears and dolls. I want to experience touching the bears myself and taking pictures of it.
✔10:30 am -11:30 am → Gyeongbokgung Palace I want to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace because of its well-preserved historical structure which has picturesque architecture that I can enjoy. As well as learn about the history of this place.
✔12:30 pm - 2:00 pm → Lunch Time :)
✔2:00 pm - 3:00 pm → HANBOKNAM
Its always my dream to try hanbok, take some amazing photos and play traditional games while wearing it. To try walking around the ancient places in Seoul while dressed in hanbok.
✔3:30 pm -4:30 pm → MBC World
Because of my love for korean drama i want to learn about MBC's history. As well as visit their brand stores and promotional wall, experience being on stage with K-pop stars in a holographic form, learn dance moves from the stars and become the main character of my favorite K-drama.
✔5:00 pm - 6:00 pm → SMTOWN I want to experience meeting my favorite SM entertainment artists. Visit their star wall, exhibition, tour the vocal and dance training room, recording room and music video studio, learn the history of SMTOWN, and taste the star themed beverages and desserts.
✔6:30 pm - 7:30 pm → Dinner Time :)
✔7:30 am - 9:30 pm → N.Seoul tower Lastly, N. seoul tower! Its always been on my bucketlist as it provides good view of the city of Seoul especially at night. It is a lovely place to spend some time and a relaxing place where I can eat and shop. I would take a photo on the romantic love of locks. Ahhh its a beautiful place to end the day my day 1 tour.
DAY 2
✔9:00 am - 10:00 am → ARTEE Riders Club I want to try the Artee pedicab tours to relax and rediscover the small joys hidden in the landscapes of Seoul. To enjoy the refreshing breeze and a relaxing time with other Artee Riders.
✔11 am - 12 am → Trick Eye and Ice Museum I want to visit this place because of its unique part of the museum which can freely touch, take photos, and interact with the art like an educational part of experience.
✔12 am - 12:30 pm → LUNCH TIME :)
✔1 pm - 2:pm → Coreana Cosmetics Museum I'm so inlove with korean makeups. Coreana Cosmetics Museum is a space where I can encounter Korea's tradtional makeup culture.I can feel the beauty of Korea by looking at natural makeup materials, ornaments and make-up tools that capture nature's beauty.
✔3:00 pm - 4:00 pm → National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul I want to visit the library where art-related books, magazines, and visual reference materials and an exhibition of the works of some of the famous Korean artist.
✔4:30 pm - 5:30 pm → Leeum Samsung Museum of Arts I would like to visit this place because the museum itself is just as fascinating as the art works on display. I really would like to learn about the traditional Korean art, such as calligraphy, paintings, ceramic arts, and metal craftwork, The Leeum Samsung Museum of Art is a must see for anyone who likes beautiful modern museums. The museum has collections of modern and historical art.
✔6:00 pm - 7:00 pm → Hello Kitty Island in N Seoul Tower I would like to enjoy a sweet tea time in the Hello Kitty Party Room while viewing the beautiful blossoming garden, draw my own Hello Kitty on Hello Kitty Street, and make a wish by writing on Hello Kitty's pink heart.
✔ 8:00 pm - 8:45 pm → DINNER TIME :)
✔9:00 pm - 11:00 PM → Doota Duty Free Lastly, I would like to do late-night shopping at Doota Duty Free.
Directions:
1. Teseum Seoul (Teddy bear museum)
Location: CIZN Bldg. B1, 19 Jibong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul Korea
Teseum Seoul (Teddy bear museum) is located just beside of the Dongmyo station. After you get out of the Subway line, Dongmyo Station exit 6, you can see the entrance of the Teddy bear Museum right beside it.
From exit 6 of Dongmyo station, please turn right and you can find the entrance on your right.
Adult Price: ₩14,500.
Student Price: ₩11,000
Children Price: ₩9,500.
Free entry for infants less than 2 years old.
Operating hours: Opening hours: 8:00am-7:00pm daily (last admission at 6:00pm)
2. Gyeongbokgung Palace
Location: 161, Sajik-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: Gyeongbokgung Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) and Exit 5. Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line 3) and Exit 1.
Take Bus No. 1020, 7025,109, 171, 172, 601 or 606 and get off at Gyeongbokgung Palace Bus Stop.
Adult Price: ₩3,000 KRW
Children Price: (7 ~ 18) ₩1,500 KRW
Operating Hours:
January, February: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
March, April, May: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
June, July, August: 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
September, October: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
November, Decmber: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- Last admission one hour prior to closing.
REMEMBER! Closed on Tuesdays
3. HANBOKNAM
Location: Subway station near by: Subway Line No. 3 Anguk Station Exit #1
How to Get There: Anguk Station Exit 1, take a right. (Head towards the direction of Samcheong Dong.)
Regular hanbok ₩20,000 KRW(4 hours)
Regular hanbok all-day pass ₩30,000 KRW
Themed hanbok ₩40,000 KRW (4 hours)
Themed hanbok all-day pass ₩50,000 KRW
Drinks from ₩2,000 KRW
Desserts from ₩5,000 KRW
Traditional games and activities from ₩1,000
Self-studio cover ₩10,000
Operation Hours: 09:30 - 9:00 pm
Last admission 1 hour before closing
* Refund not available after first use and can be used for 1 hour.
* Available only indoors.
* If you want to use it outdoors, you can get a 50% discount on the original price of hanbok.
4. MBC WORLD
Location : Mapo-gu, Seoul Seongam road 267
How to Get There: Get off the subway at Digital Media City station. then go out through exit 9. You can get to the destination in 10 minutes on foot from the exit 9
Adult Price: ₩18,000 won Youth Price: ₩13,000 won Children Price: ₩9,000won
Operating 9 times a day, and as for admission, you can entrance from 10:00 am every 30 minutes. It takes about 90 minutes for one tour.
Start time 10:00am The 2nd round 10:30am The 3rd round 11:00am The 4th round 13:30pm The 5th round 14:00pm The 6th round 14:30pm The 7th round 15:00pm The 8th round 15:30pm The 9th round 16:00pm
(12:30 to 13:30 for lunch)
5. SM TOWN
How to Get There: SMTOWN Coex Atrium is located right next to the Coex shopping mall. If you are from Seoul Station, take the Line 4 (Blue color) head to Sookmyung Women's university and transfer at Sadang station. It's only 6 stations away and around 17 minutes. Then you take Line 2 (Army Green Color) head to Bangbae and get off at Samseong station (only 6 stations away and took 14 minutes) then take Exit 5 or 6. After you exit through Exit 5 or 6, you will see the big board of SMTOWN Coex Atrium right in front of you.
Adult Price: ₩77,000 KRW
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 - 6:00 pm
Saturdays from 9:00 to 5:00 pm
REMEMBER! closed on Sundays and national holidays
6. N SEOUL TOWER
Location: 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: Get off at Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4) and Exit 3. Walk for about 15 minutes following the street on the right side of the Pacific Hotel. The cable car boarding place will be seen ahead.
Adult Price: ₩10,000 KRW
Elderly/Children: ₩8,000 KRW
Operating Hours: Monday-Friday/Sunday 10:00-11:00 pm
Saturdays 10:00-12:00 am
7. ARTEE Riders Club
Location: B1, 43 Bukchon-ro 5-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: Turn right from Anguk station Exit 1, walk for 200 m and turn right, walk for 500 m, pass an intersection and you will see a small alleyway on your right, walk 50 m and you will reach your destination.
[Tour price]
60 minute tour for 1 person: 40,000 won / 120 minute tour for 1 person: 75,000 won
[Days of Operation]
Dec-Feb 11:00-17:00
Mar-Nov 09:00-19:00
REMEMBER! Closed on Mondays
[Standards of operation based on climate conditions]
Precipitation less than 5mm, snowfall less than 0.5cm => Normal operation
Precipitation 5mm or more, snowfall 0.5cm or more => Closed
8. HELLO KITTY ISLAND N. SEOUL TOWER
Location: 5th floor, 105, Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
a. Get off at Myeong-dong Station (Seoul Subway Line 4) and Exit 3. Walk for about 15 minutes following the street on the right side of the Pacific Hotel. The cable car boarding place will be seen ahead.
b. rode the Namsan Shuttle Bus No 5, which cost 1,100 won for adult with a transportation card. The bus ride took around 30 mins while enjoying the sights of Seoul and the scenic Namsan Park.
Adult Price: ₩8,000 KRW
Children Price: ₩7,000 KRW
Ticket booth closes at 22:00, Souvenir shop closes at 22:30
* 10% OFF on food and drinks from Hello Kitty Cafe in Hongdae and Myeongdong.
* The discount can be used on food and drinks from Hello Kitty Cafe only.
* Double discounts are not allowed.
* Bottle drinks are excluded.
* Items in souvenir shop are excluded.
9. DOOTA DUTY FREE
Location: 275, Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: From Subway Line 1 and 4 Dongdaemun Station Exit #8, Subway Line 1,4, and 5
- Dongdaemun History and Culture Park Station Exit #14
Benefits for Discover Seoul Pass buyers
- Spend US $1 and get a travel-sized cosmetic product as gift (limited availability)
- Spend US $100 ~ US $500 and get a discount coupon ranging from 10,000 KRW to 50,000 KRW
Operating Hours: 10:30 - 11 :00 pm
9. Trickeye & Ice Museum
Location: B2, Seogyo Plaza, 357-1, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
How to Get There: From Hongik University Station (Seoul Subway Line 2), Exit 9. Go straight 150m, cross the road, and turn left onto Hongik-ro Street. Go straight 120m, and turn right down the second side street (in between TONYMOLY and Holika Holika). Continue going 100m to arrive at Trickeye Museum on the right.
Adults: ₩18,000 KRW
Children (under 18): ₩12,000 KRW
※ Discounts can not be used in conjunction with other promotional offers. ※ For children under 18, age verification is required (passport, student ID etc.)
Operating Hours: 09:00 - 9:00 pm
Closed on Mondays, January 1, New Year's weekend, New Years' Day, Chuseok
10. Leeum Samsung Museum of Art
Location: 60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: From Hangangjin Station (Subway Line 6) Exit 1, walk straight for 100m towards Itaewon. Make a right turn at the first intersection and alley, walk up the hill for about 5 minutes.
Adult Price: ₩10,000 KRW
Free entry for visitors of ages 6 and below
Note!
Discounts are offered to students, visitors of ages 7-24, seniors (65-), veterans and people with disabilities.
Culture Day (the last Wednesday of every month): 50% off admission (No additional discounts offered for groups, seniors or people with disabilities)
Korea Art Week 2016 (October 11 - 23) : 50% off admission
Operating Hours: 10:30 am - 6:00 pm (Last admission at 5:30 pm)
Closed every Monday, January 1,Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays
11. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Location: 30 Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There Using Subway
- Next to Exit 1, Anguk Station, Line No. 3. 14 minute walk from Exit No. 1 from Ankuk Station, Line No. 3 - Next to Exit 2, Gwanghwamun Station, Line No. 5. 17 minute walk from Exit No. 2 from Gwanghwamun Station, Line No. 2
How to Get There Using the Art Shuttle Bus
- Free shuttle bus for museum visitors - Every Tuesday through Friday (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) - 4 times per day - Stop Location: Shuttle bus station of MMCA Seoul and MMCA Gwacheon - City Tour bus stop in front of daehanmun of the MMCA Deoksugung
Single Admission: ₩4,000 KRW
Operating Hours: Monday, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays: 10am-6pm
Wednesdays, Saturdays: 10am-9pm
Free addmission for Night: 6pm-9pm
Last admission one hour before closing
Closed on January 1, Lunar New Year's Day, Chuseok
12. Coreana Cosmetics Museum
Location: space*c 827 Eonjuro Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
How to Get There: Subway Line No.3 Apgujeong Station Exit #3 / Subway Bundang Line Apgujeong Rodeo Station Exit #5 By subway, take Line 3 Apgujeong. Go out at Exit 3. Take a 3-5 minute walk to CGV Apgujeong Theater, and you’ll see a sign that says Space*c. Go in that direction until you see the building to your right.
Adult Price: ₩3,000 KRW
Student Price: (elementary-high school) ₩2,000 KRW
Free – Seniors (ages 65 and older), people with disabilities, babies (ages under 3)
Operation Hours (Last admission 1 hour before closing)
10:00 - 7:00 pm (Summer Season) / 10:00 - 6:00 pm (Winter Season)
Closed on Sundays, Korean Traditional Holidays, New Year's Day
Above is the total computation with its Original prices compared with Free pass and discounted price using Discover SEOUL Pass.
Originally the total was ₩340,000 KRW but with Discover Seoul Pass it became ₩128,100 KRW
Wow!
Now its time to Introduce the
Discover Seoul Pass
What is Discover Seoul Pass?
The Discover Seoul Pass is the result of an initiative of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization to better address the needs of free independent tourists to freely customize their Seoul trip that would fit their schedules and preference through the pass. The Discover Seoul Pass includes 21 of Seoul's biggest landmarks as well as a selection of historical, cultural, and hallyu (Korean Wave) attractions.
With just one card, you can visit many attractions which have been carefully selected by Seoul City within a period of 24 hours or 48 hours.
What are the free tourist attractions you can visit with this card?
Historical Attractions:
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Changdeokgung Palace
Changgyeonggung Palace
Deoksugung Palace
Jongmyo Shrine
Seodaemun Prison History Museum
Cultural Attractions:
Samsung Museum of Art, Leeum
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul
Museum Kimchikan
Simone Handbag Museum
Coreana Cosmetics Museum
Amusement of Seoul
N Seoul Tower Observatory
MBC World
Trick Eye Museum
Grevin Museum Seoul
Figure Museum W
Alive Museum
HANBOKNAM
TESEUM SEOUL Teddybear Themepark
Seoul City Tour Bus(DDP)
SMTOWN@coexartium
Discounted with Pass
JUMP
The Painters HERO
Kum Bak Yeon
Fanta-Stick Musical
Musical Chef
National Gugak Center
Poopoo Land
Jeongdong Theater
ARTEE Riders Club
Dynamic Maze
Official sellers within Seoul
1. Myeongdong Tourist Information Center(Overseas sales and processes refunds for the pass)
Address66, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (KEB Hana Bank Main Office First Floor Annex)
2. KEB Hana Bank Hongik University Station Branch Address151, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea
3. Seoul City Tour Bus
LocationKoreana Hotel, Gwanghwamun (in front of Dongwha Duty Free) ticket booth
4. Seoul City Tour Bus
LocationDongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) ticket booth
5. Hongdae Tourist Information Center
Address20 Hongik-ro,Mapo-gu, Seoul
6. Dongdaemun Tourist Information Center
Address247 Jangchungdan-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
7. Travel center at Seoul station
AddressPremium Travel Center, City Airport Terminal B2. 378, Cheongpa-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea
8. Seocho Tourist Information Center
Address1318-7, Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
9. Namdaemun Community Lounge
Address3F, 25-1, Namdaemunsijang-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
10. Mapo Tourist Information Center
Address172-10, Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (inside of Hongik Univ. station)
11. Myeongdong Premium Lounge
AddressPremium Travel Center & Business Rounge. Prince Hotel 2F, 130 Toegye-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul,
12. Songdo Travel Center
AddressPremium Travel Center, Songdo Convensia 1F. 123, Central-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, Republic of Korea
13. Seoullo Travelers' Café
Address281, Namdaemun-ro 5(o)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
14. Seoullo Shop
Address281, Namdaemun-ro 5(o)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Official Online Vendors
1. Seoul Pass
2. One More Trip
* Always remember to purchase this card to the official sellers and online vendors only!
How to Purchase or Exchange the Pass
Step 1.
When making your purchase online or through the Seoul Pass app, choose the date and location you'd like to pick up your pass
Step 2.
Pay (Credit card, Paypal, Alipay)
Step 3.
Visit your chosen location during operating hours.
Step 4.
Present your voucher or mobile receipt to receive your physical pass card.
Pick-up Location Information
1. Incheon International Airport
AddressInternational Taxi information Desk (EAST)(Next to Gate 5)
2. Incheon International Airport
AddressInternational Taxi information Desk (WEST)(Next to Gate 8)
3. Gimpo International Airport
AddressInternational Taxi information Desk
4. Myeongdong Tourist Information Center (Oversees sales and processes refunds for the pass)
Address66, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul (KEB Hana Bank Main Office First Floor Annex)
How to Use
Step1. To plan your itinerary
- Select the tourist attractions you want to visit. → Optimize the itinerary, considering the distance, time on-site, and the hours/days of operation.
Step2. How to top up Tmoney
- Tmoney can be topped up at any convenience store or at the recharge machines at subway stations for any amount.
- If the charged amount is sufficient, you could technically use public transportation around the entire country!
Step3. How to use the Discover Seoul Pass as an admission ticket
- At the attraction, present the actual card at the ticket office. An admission ticket will be issued to you once the card's QR code has been scanned.
- Once the QR code has been scanned at the first attraction you visit, the pass allows one free entry to Seoul attractions for the following 24 hours or 48 hours.
Step4. What if I want to know how much time remains on my pass?
- You can check the remaining time through recording the first time that you used the pass, but the best way to know how much time remains is to download the Discover Seoul Pass App. Through the app, you can view the card's remaining time as well as the remaining tourist attractions you can visit in one glance.
Step5. Download the app and synchronize it with your pass.
- Search for "Discover Seoul Pass" in the Google play or Apple App Store and download it.
- Scan the QR code through the app's screen or enter the QR code right through the app.
- That's it! The app and the Discover Seoul Pass are now in sync!
- The app will display tourist attractions that you can visit as well as the time remaining on the pass.
Using the Pass as Admission Tickets to Attractions
01. The pass is activated for a designated period of time for you to visit each designated tourist attractions once.
02. Once the QR code reader processes your entry at a tourist attraction, an admission ticket will be issued that will allow you to enter the site for a designated period of time.
03. Once the QR code reader processes your entry at the tourist attraction, an admission ticket will be issued that will allow you to enter the site.
04. Once the designated period of time has passed since your first entry to an attraction, the pass will cease to function as an admission ticket. (For example, if the first ticket issued using the 24 hour pass takes place on July 1 at 10am, the pass will continue to work for visiting other designated attractions until July 2 at 9:59am.
If you have any questions you can contact them at:
Customer Call Center: Dasan Call Center 120 -> No.9
Dial 9 for Foreign Language Service, then enter 1 for English, 2 for Chinese, 3 for Japanese, 4 for Vietnamese, and 5 for Mongolian
- Hours of Operation: 9am-7pm (weekdays)
- Website : www.discoverseoulpass.com
Reference/Sources:
Discover Seoul Pass website
English Visit Korea Official Website
Thank you!
My Email: flymetothemoon31rannie@gmail.com
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