Traveling around Korea on your own. Budget travel to South Korea. Prices for attractions

Judging by the cost of living in South Korea Just based on the price of the Gangnam Style bullet trains, it is easy to assume that this dear country. Actually this is not true. Here you can easily live on 30-40 dollars a day, if you adhere to one rule - live the way the Koreans live.

Any old Korean remembers that the only food at that time was a spicy broth with green onions and soybean sprouts. Now the country is somewhere in the middle between Western luxury and the poverty of Southeast Asia.

If funds allow, there are many luxury hotels, fish restaurants and imported products at your service. A limited budget, of course, will not allow you to book apartments with a jacuzzi, massage chairs and aromatic steam rooms, but you can get acquainted with the local culture without breaking the bank.

Food

In August 2012, a newspaper reported that an elderly Korean couple refused to pay for a side dish at a Taiwanese restaurant because it was not customary in Korea. Indeed, in any Korean restaurant they will bring an additional small plate of rice or other food to your order. Most bars will serve a bowl of popcorn or nuts with your drinks, as you are not supposed to drink without snacking.

Almost any soup will come with a second pot filled with a dozen ingredients, and it will cost about $4-6. If you like spice, try Kimchijjigae (stew) or Tabu Jjigae (meat with tofu). They include cabbage, green onions and egg whites.

For dinner, they most often offer “bibimbap” - salad laid out on rice ($5), or sushi with meat and vegetables ($2). Rice and seaweed are sometimes wrapped in an omelette.

"bibimbap"

They can also grill meat, but only for company.

Food is also bought on the streets, but it is not as popular as in China or Thailand. Street vendors sell egg cakes in red spicy sauce (tteokbokki), fish cake, skewers in broth (oddeng) and spring onion pancakes with sliced octopus (pajeon). It costs about $2 at any tent.

street food

And for some unknown reason, Koreans love waffles and eat them on the street all the time (a dollar apiece).

Overnight

If you don't mind sleeping on a tatami mat next to other people, it will cost you $6-$10. These public baths are called jjimjilbang.

High-end SPA salons are more expensive, but both expensive and cheap establishments provide towels, bathrobes and lockers for things.

In motels, a double room costs $50 per night. Most have a king-size bed, ceiling mirrors and a free juice bar.

Transport

Trains labeled "KTX" are some of the world's fastest bullet trains, reaching speeds of up to 350 km/h. They can cross the entire country from south to north in 3 hours. A one-way ticket costs $57.

A 6-hour trip from Seoul to Busan on the Mugunghwa train costs $24. This train stops in rural areas.

Not the best option is Semaul, a ticket for which costs $42 and the journey takes just over four hours. You won't save time or money here.
Every city has a bus station, from where buses depart strictly according to schedule to major cities. settlements. You can get from Seoul to Busan on very bumpy roads in 5 hours, and it will cost $20.
It is better to walk around the city. But if you want to get acquainted with intracity transport, then there are only 3 options - bus, metro and taxi.
A taxi ride will cost no more than $7, partly because taxi drivers in South Korea do not cheat like in other countries. The bus routes are quite confusing, but costs will be $1, and a trip between small towns will cost $3.
The Seoul Metro is a real labyrinth, but if you are used to understanding subway maps of big cities, you won’t get lost here either.

Inefficient and expensive modes of transport include bicycle, plane and ferry.
Bicycles are not at all popular here, unlike other Asian countries. They are expensive to rent and dangerous to drive.
Korea is too small a country to fly on planes, especially since a ticket from Seoul to Busan costs $80 one way. In addition, you will have to spend another $20 on travel from the airport, because it is an hour's drive from the city. Ferries depart from large coastal cities to all the islands, as well as China and Japan, but the cost of the trip is almost the same as by plane, and it takes much longer.

Attractions

Several old temples and fortresses, towers in Seoul and Busan - that's all that South Korea has to offer tourists. The best way to get to know Korea is to simply walk along the alleys of the cities, get acquainted with the local way of life and be sure to climb one of the mountain peaks. There are more than 500 mountains in Korea. The largest are Hallasan on Jeju Island, Jirisan in the south, and Seoraksan in the north.

Their height is 1700 meters, so such an excursion will take a whole day. On the way, you will probably find a temple where you are allowed in for free and where you are allowed to take photographs.
The most famous temples in the country are Pomosa (Busan), Bonjeunsa (Seoul), Bulguksa (Cheonju).

Some charge an entrance fee, but you can spend the whole day there. Queens - temple complex, which is hidden between the mountains in the center of the country near Danyane. It has unrivaled views of the mountain landscape and very little foreign tourists. There is no dress code, so don't worry about shorts or skirts. Only at the entrance, as in all Buddhist temples, you need to take off your shoes.

Every coastal city has several sandy beaches. Haeundae Beach in Busan is the busiest. During the summer months, you won’t even see sand here between the red and yellow umbrellas standing right next to each other.

Haeundae Beach

Food markets in South Korea are cleaner than others Asian countries. There are also flea markets where clothes are sold at very low prices, but, unfortunately, in small sizes. There are electronics markets in Seoul and other major cities.

Koreans love holidays very much. Almost every weekend there is some kind of festival: the festival of lanterns (Jinju), pontomime (Chungcheon), fireflies (Muju), etc.

Fish holidays are celebrated, and each species has its own day (in Busan there is a holiday for mackerel, in Inje - for smelt).
Busan hosts rock festivals and also hosts Asia's largest international film festival. Ticket prices are much lower compared to similar events in Western countries.

To spend less money in South Korea, it is better to move away from big cities, especially since the most beautiful landscapes can be seen on outlying islands.
Calculating your budget is easy, since one US dollar is approximately 1,000 Korean won. If the cost of housing is indicated in dollars, then simply add three zeros. This will be the price in local currency.

There are many more reasons to visit South Korea than just the cancellation of visas.

Firstly, this is a very distinctive country with rich history and unique cultural monuments.
Secondly, stunning nature and many options for recreation - hot springs, beaches, ski resorts.

Thirdly, South Korea keeps up with the times, and sometimes gets ahead of it. A rare fusion of tradition and innovation awaits you, so there are activities and entertainment to suit every taste.

In addition, South Korea is still not the most popular or even exotic destination, so if you are looking for off-the-beaten-path routes, urgently book a ticket for a Moscow-Seoul flight.

When to go:

You can go to South Korea all year round, but remember that the country is located in a temperate climate zone, so the seasons there are very distinct. Winter is a time for skiers, but not only. Koreans brighten up the cold with a variety of winter-themed festivals. For example, in natural park Tebaksan hosts the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival. Want to bask in the sun? Then you need to plan your trip for the summer and choose seaside resorts. At this time the temperature rises to +35C.

Sightseeing lovers should go to South Korea in the spring, from mid-March to June. At this time it is already warm, there are many sunny days, and the monsoon season has not yet arrived. Spring is the time of cherry blossoms. But autumn is also good in South Korea - bright, colorful, without precipitation until the end of September.

How to get there:

Aeroflot and Korean Air fly direct from Moscow to Seoul. The flight will take about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 30,700 rubles. It will be cheaper (from RUB 26,242) to fly with a transfer in Dubai by Emirates airline or to Helsinki by Finnair. From international airport Incheon, located 52 km from Seoul, can be reached by express bus or taxi.

How to get around:

South Korea is a small country, so it’s worth taking advantage of this and traveling outside the capital. Getting around is very convenient: the main cities are connected by rail, and traveling to the sound of wheels in South Korea, which values advanced technology, is very pleasant. Trains are divided into 4 types according to speed and level of comfort. The very best are the super-fast KTX. Then there are the Saemaeul express trains, the Mugunghwa high-speed train and the Thong-il passenger train.

For foreigners there are special general tickets KR Pass, which can be purchased online. This is a kind of pass for all types of trains, except the metro, with no restrictions on the number of trips. In addition, for tourists, the Haeran train runs with compartments similar to hotel rooms, restaurant and observation deck.

Very comfortable and commuter buses. They run frequently, are equipped with air conditioning, and sometimes even have free wireless Internet. Do you want complete freedom? Rent a car. Well-known rental agencies operate in South Korea, for example, AVIS. However, keep in mind that traffic in the country is on the right and in large cities it is very heavy. Road signs are written in Korean and are duplicated in English in small print.

Where to go and what to see:

The first thing that comes to mind is, of course, Seoul. The capital and the most Big City South Korea. This is where acquaintance with the country usually begins. Are you planning cultural program? Seoul is perfect for you. There are four royal palaces from the Joseon Dynasty and the oldest royal palace from the Gyeongbokgung era. The spirit of the past is still felt in the palaces, and magnificent ceremonies are still held today.

You can travel back in time by walking along Insadong Street, a piece of old Seoul. There you will find many cozy cafes and tea houses, restaurants with local cuisine and traditional souvenirs.

In addition to antiquities, one of the most popular attractions among tourists is a trip to the Demilitarized Zone on the border of South and North Korea. Foreigners are allowed to climb through a secret tunnel dug 70 meters below the border. You can only enter the Demilitarized Zone with an organized tour.

But you can safely go to 4DX, a 4D cinema. It was in South Korea that the first such cinemas appeared. They are strikingly different from the 3D to which we are already accustomed: in addition to visual effects, in 4DX you can feel movement and smells, feel the wind and splashes of water.

You can easily spend a week or even more in Seoul, but the impression of South Korea will not be complete, so go to other cities, and on the way, do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting small villages.

By the way, two historical Korean villages, founded back in the 13th-14th centuries, are even included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO as important monuments of Confucian culture. This is the village of Hahoe in the city of Andong (Gyeongsangnam-do province) and Yangdong in the city of Gyeongju (Gyeongsangbuk-do province). Andong is known not only as the cradle of Confucianism, but also as the home of the yangban, the Korean nobles. Some of their traditional dwellings have survived to this day and function as hotels.

The entire historical center of Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, is a UNESCO site. Survived ancient Buddhist temple Bulguksa and Cheomseongdae, the oldest observatories that have survived to this day.

Busan, the country's second largest city and also the sea capital of South Korea, is famous for its skyscrapers, and the world's largest department store located there Shinsegae Centum City will delight shopaholics.

Tired of big cities? Busan has many beautiful parks: Taejeongdae National marine park Hale, Haeundae and Gwanalli Beaches, Kumgang Park and Monnae Hot Springs. In search of peace, quiet and perhaps the meaning of life, go to Thondos Monastery, where Buddhist relics are kept.

Daegu is beautifully located in a valley surrounded by low mountains, and is a major Buddhist center with numerous temples. The main attraction and pride of Daegu is the highly revered Haeinsa Temple, in whose repository is the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist canons in East Asia. Don't miss the Chikchisa Monastery with its ancient columns and thousands of small Buddha statues.

The city of Suwon is also interesting. Hwaseong Fortress, although not very ancient (only the end of the 18th century), is very beautiful, and the Korean Folk Village is located nearby. Suwon itself enchants with its harmonious combination of new and old, this is especially noticeable on the street of restaurants, where the aroma of kalbi, grilled ribs, simply drives you crazy.

The islands deserve special attention. In the Yellow Sea lies the island of Ganghwado, and on it there are as many as 120 dolmens, ancient burial structures. There is also an altar to Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, and other younger landmarks.

Jeju Island - popular seaside resort with a mild tropical climate. If you are into golf, then Jeju is a must. It is home to 16 golf clubs and is known as the Island of Golf, one of South Korea's most popular sports.

Are you dreaming of a winter fairy tale? For snow, skiers need to go to Yeonpyeong, Phoenix Park and Hyundai Songgu.

But the most important thing you cannot leave South Korea without are natural hot springs. An hour and a half drive from Seoul is “Asan Spavis”, thermal springs outdoors - you can swim in them even in cold weather. Pamper yourself with unusual treatments such as a pool with jasmine extract or a yellow clay sauna.

Koreans themselves love to soak in hot water, but also to go down with the breeze water slide will not refuse. One of the most popular water parks, Seorak Wotopia, is located near the Seoraksan Mountains on the coast. Eastern Sea. Even if you don’t really like water activities, it’s worth a visit: Seoraksan is part of the Kumgangsan mountain range, which means “Diamond Mountains”, and is considered one of the most scenic spots in the world.

What to do:

In addition to hot springs and golf, there are other entertainments in Korea that, at the mention of which, the heart of every Korean begins to beat faster. Oddly enough, this is baseball. The favorite American pastime was so loved in the East that it became almost a national sport. If you have never been to the USA and have not seen this game, be sure to go, just study the rules in advance, otherwise it may be a bit boring.

The second is walking in the mountains. This is probably one of the secrets of Korean longevity: fresh air, physical activity and contemplation of picturesque views greatly contribute to increasing life expectancy.

What to try:

Koreans eat a lot of rice, but they also really like soups and seafood dishes. An obligatory component of the meal is kimchi, that is, pickled vegetables. Fruit is usually served for dessert, and liqueurs and makkori rice wine are popular drinks.

Koreans love to eat and take food very seriously, but fat people are rarely seen. Probably the whole point is that all dishes, according to the Koreans themselves, are extremely healthy.

What to buy:

South Korea has a lot of things that are an everyday item for locals, but exotic and a good gift for foreigners. Here you can find very beautiful pearl products, boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, fans, embroidery, masks, wooden and ceramic products.

The special pride of South Korea is ginseng. It is sold in different types- tea, tinctures, extracts, dried and cured ginseng, in honey, in alcohol, in syrup. There are even chocolates and candies with ginseng. Original and, as they say, useful.

(Busan): Don't be put off by the word "motel" in the name. Here you will find excellent value for money and modern comfort with a touch of Asian flavor.

Thanks to a number of new agreements recently concluded between South Korea and the Russian Federation, A visa to Korea for Russians in 2020 will not be required if the period of stay does not exceed sixty days, the purpose of the visit can be any.

For a longer visit, an entry visa is obtained in advance at the South Korean Embassy or at the Consulates located in the cities of St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Irkutsk. Also, travel agencies accredited at the Embassy have the right to issue a Korean visa.

The Republic of Korea is one of the four “Asian Tigers” - the most economically developed countries in the region.

Requirement for a Korean visa

For Russians who plan to visit the state for the purpose of tourism, a private visit (to friends or family, for other personal purposes), a business trip, transit, a visa to South Korea will not be required if their stay is short. That is, the rules of a visa-free regime apply when, when crossing the border, the corresponding entry stamp is simply placed in the foreign passport. If you are planning a long visit, study, work or long-term treatment, then an application for a visa to South Korea must be submitted in advance in Russia.

It should be remembered that South Korea and North Korea are two different states that are still in a state of military conflict (a peace treaty has not been signed between them). North Korea's visa laws differ significantly from those of its southern neighbor. It is not easy to get into North Korea, and if you do, there are strict restrictions on a foreigner’s movements. Do you need a visa to North Korea or not? There is a clear answer to this question: yes, you do. This issue will be discussed further.

Visa-free entry

South Korea is becoming more and more attractive tourist destination for Russians, especially for those who live in Southern Siberia or Far East. For example, residents of Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have a much shorter flight time to Seoul than to Moscow. Moreover, many Russian companies have business ties with South Korean partners, who in turn have economic interests in the Russian Federation.

To simplify bureaucratic procedures, it was introduced mutual visa-free regime crossing the border. Now you don’t need to worry about whether you need a visa to South Korea for short-term visits and calmly get ready for your trip - the borders are open.

Documents for visa-free entry

To cross the border freely, a citizen of the Russian Federation will need to present only a few documents:

A current passport that is valid for another six months ( the report starts from the moment you enter the state, and not from the moment of departure, as in many other states);
A pre-filled migration card, which is issued on board the plane (or other transport by which the passenger arrives in the country);
Customs declaration (even if there is nothing to declare, this document still needs to be filled out);
Return tickets from South Korea for any transport (these can be either air tickets or ship tickets), or travel documents to a third country if the foreigner is traveling in transit;
Confirmation of the availability of money for a stay in South Korea, or confirmation of solvency (a paid hotel reservation, a printout from a bank account, from a credit card valid in the state, cash, etc. will do).

Korean border guards are not very picky about Russian citizens; they do not conduct a thorough search and study of documents. The procedure is often quick and formal, taking a few minutes.

Migration card

This is a small form in which personal information about the arrival, his address for the time of his stay in South Korea, and passport details are entered. It’s easy to fill out; if you have any questions or difficulties, you can contact the flight attendant (on the plane) or the staff border service at the airport.

Customs declaration

Completing this form will require some knowledge of English language. All columns must be marked with an “X” if the traveler does not bring with him:

Animals;
Plants;
Any goods for sale;
Weapon;
Money of more than 10,000 US dollars (or 10,000 Korean won);
Other items prohibited for import.

If you have any difficulties filling out the declaration, you should ask the aircraft or ship personnel for help. If such an opportunity is not given, then you can turn to a compatriot or a foreigner who speaks English.

Traveling with children

The rules also apply to children visa-free entry. In order for a minor child to be able to safely enter the country, his parents only need a birth certificate (the requirement is not mandatory, but it is better to take it with you)

A child traveling accompanied by one parent needs a power of attorney authorizing his or her removal from the country from the other parent. The same rule applies to official guardians.

If a long-term visa to Korea is required for a child, it is obtained according to the same rules as for adults.

Types of entry visas to Korea

If the purpose of your trip to South Korea requires a stay of long term(for example, contract work or study), then the question of whether a visa to Korea is needed is not necessary - it must be obtained in advance at the South Korean Embassy or at the country's Consulates. Visas are assigned different categories depending on the purpose and duration of stay: D, E, H, F-4.

Work visa (D, E, H)

South Korea is a developed country with a fairly strong economy, progressive innovation and many practical areas that advance science. That is why a work visa to Korea for Russians in 2020 may be available only to those professional specialists who have high qualifications, in-demand knowledge and relevant experience. Competent managers and specialized specialists can also apply for employment in South Korea (and therefore for the appropriate level of pay).

It should be remembered that the country has its own candidates for vacant positions, but if a Korean employer still wants to hire a foreigner, then he has the right to do so.

A work visa to Korea is obtained not only on the basis of an official invitation from the employer company, it can also be obtained by submitting an application to the Embassy (in this case not yet having labor contract ). This option is more complicated, but it can also be implemented.

Student visa (D, E, H)

Such a document will be required for students who want to study in South Korea. There is a list of Universities that have the right to accept foreign students for study. It can be viewed on the website of the Korean Embassy (it is updated periodically).

Foreign National Visa (F-4)

This visa is intended for Koreans who permanently live in other countries, but not everyone is eligible for such a document. Only highly qualified workers, master's and graduate students with an academic degree, or employees of South Korean companies who have previously worked in the country and have shown themselves to be good can receive this type of visa.

Research Visa (E-1, E-3, E-5)

Such a visa will be required for a narrow circle of people who conduct scientific research or conduct any research activities. This type of visa is easiest to obtain if you justify the purpose of your visit to the Embassy. You can find out more about the possibility of obtaining a document on the website of the Korean representative office.

A Korean visa for researchers can be applied for online; in this case, in response to the request, an electronic document is sent (if the visa is approved), which must be shown at passport control.

Features of long-term visas

To be able to obtain a long-term visa to South Korea, you need to provide confirmation that a Russian citizen has a guarantor on the territory of this state. They can be either an employing company (in the case of a work visa) or a private individual (friend, relative) who is a citizen or resident of South Korea.

The guarantor submits an application to the Immigration Service, after which the visa applicant is allowed to submit papers to the Consular Section of the Embassy (Consulate) in Moscow or other cities.

Documents for a long-term visa

List necessary documents for a long-term visa to South Korea is not very large. You will need to provide:

Questionnaire completed in English and Korean(two copies of the form - one in English, the other in Korean);
A foreign passport, which must be valid for another six months (these 6 months are counted from the moment of leaving the country), with free space for pasting a visa;
A copy of the passport page with personal data and photograph;
If you have an old passport with Schengen visas, as well as visas from Canada, the USA, Japan, Australia, then you will need a copy of it;
Photo size 35 by 45 mm with standard parameters on a light background, the size of the head should occupy 80% of the photo;
Invitation from an employer/individual/university.

No hotel or other accommodation reservations are required..

Sample of a completed application form for a visa to the Republic of Korea

Application procedure

The applicant can bring the necessary documents personally to the South Korean mission, or send them from any place (region) in Russia using the Pony Express service.

After submitting the papers, you just need to wait for the decision. Korean immigration law does not require financial information, employment certificates, or bank statements. In this sense, it is quite loyal to the Russians.

Visa validity periods

Any visa to South Korea for Russians has its own validity period. After this period, there is a convenient possibility to extend the document.

Extension of a visa

If your Korean visa has expired, it can be extended without leaving the country. All documents except visa categories E-1, E-3, E-5 are subject to this rule. Extension issues are handled by the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.

Price

Each visa to Korea has its own price; the current amounts are shown in the table below.

If documents are sent via Pony Express, then the price for forwarding services is added to the consular fee.

Registration deadline

Obtaining a long-term visa to Korea for Russians will take from 10 days to 4 weeks, depending on the completeness of the package of necessary documents.

Visa to North Korea

You can get a visa to North Korea in two cases: if you go in a group organized tour or as an individual tourist with a professional Korean guide. A foreigner is not given the right to move within the country.

If a foreigner wants to visit North Korea, it will not be easy to obtain a visa; it is generally impossible to do it on your own. The country continues to build communism under the leadership of the permanent ruling Kim clan, which has established a total dictatorship on the territory of the state. In order not to shake the foundations of its power, the leadership limits the entry of foreigners as much as possible.

When group tour The visa is issued by a tour operator that is officially recognized by the North Korean authorities. If planned individual travel, then it can also be done only with a tour operator, who in this case will act as an applicant for a visa to North Korea.

The visa application is processed for a month, and a regular tourist application form must be filled out in 3 languages: Russian, Korean and English. The North Korean Embassy in the Russian Federation does not even have a website, so it is impossible to see any more or less correct examples or tips, from which the conclusion is drawn that if such barriers exist, most likely in North Korea independent tourists are not welcome, the visit is only possible through an approved tour operator.

conclusions

South Korea is of great interest among tourists from Russia. The country has everything - and beach holiday, and megacities, and natural attractions. The simplified entry regime, which has become possible since 2014, eliminates many formalities and waste of extra time when planning a trip. Russians who wish to go on holiday (or with other people) to this country need to remember the following main points:

Now you don't have to worry about whether you need a visa to Korea for a short stay. tourist trip– according to the new legislation, a stay of 2 months is allowed without first obtaining an entry document at the Embassy;
Korean authorities are loyal to Russian tourists, to travel to the country you do not need to collect an endless list of documents to confirm your intentions or connection with your homeland;
Unlike some countries (primarily the Schengen area), the immigration visa service does not consider every person arriving from another country as a potential illegal immigrant, so reviewing documents at the border is a rather formal procedure, but nevertheless full list You must always have documents with you;
When visiting North Korea, you need to take into account the peculiarities of this country: you cannot use a mobile phone, the Internet, move without a guide, or scold the current leader Kim Jong-un (or his relatives).

How much does a holiday in South Korea cost? We have collected prices in 2020 in Seoul for everything: tickets, food and groceries, transport, accommodation and attractions. We advise you on how to organize a trip to South Korea on your own and how to spend less.

We really liked the unique South Korea, the only thing that saddened us was the prices. In Korea they are measured in thousands, which after Bali and Vietnam is misleading. It seems like you’re paying some 10 thousand won for a dish, but it’s almost $10! You won’t be able to save much on your vacation, this is the country.

We visited glorious Seoul and, using the example of the capital, we will tell you about prices in South Korea in 2020, as well as how to save money.

Exchange rate: 1000 South Korean won (KRW) ≈ 55 RUB.

1 k = 1000

Namsangol Village - museum under open air. Nice place, free entry - we recommend visiting.

Visa to South Korea

You won’t spend a penny on it - Russians can stay in the country for 2 months without a visa. Passport control goes super fast. They didn’t ask us any questions, they just took our fingerprints, took photographs and gave us a piece of paper - we had to keep it. There is no stamp in the passport.

Flights

Prices from Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2020:

to Seoul - with transfers from 23,000 rubles, direct from Aeroflot - from 37,000.
in Jeju - from 33,000.
to Busan - from 37,000 rubles with transfers (for example,).

The cheapest way to fly to South Korea is from the Far East:

from Vladivostok - from 11000.
from Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk - from 24,000.

How to save money? Monitor ticket prices, catch promotions and buy in advance. You can fly to Korea cheaply if you are already traveling: for example, tickets from Japan cost only 5,000 rubles! It is a little more expensive to fly from China and some Southeast Asian countries - the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia - about 10-12 thousand rubles.

The experience of Marco Polo. We flew from Bali on AirAsia flights, and tickets with luggage cost 14,000 rubles per person. We flew from Seoul to Novosibirsk on S7 for 18,000 rubles per person.

Current prices for flights to Korea

Koreans love to wear old traditional clothes when visiting palaces and other attractions.

Prices for food and groceries in South Korea - 2020

Korea is drowning in food! There is no such cult of food in any country in Southeast Asia. In all this abundance, one thing confuses us - the prices. They are not Asian at all, and your appetite immediately disappears when you convert the prices into rubles or dollars. You know, it’s psychologically difficult to pay $7 for a simple noodle soup when the same soup in Vietnam costs $1-2.

But the devil is not as scary as he is painted! We were able to enjoy Korean food, spending very little: 164K ₩ ($140) for two for 5 days. In other words, only $14 (900₽) per day per person - is that a lot?

Two-course lunch + free snacks = 16,000 won (850 rubles). Water is always free.

Hotel prices in Seoul - 2020

During independent trip In South Korea, a lot of money will be spent on hotels or renting an apartment - be mentally prepared.

Where to live? Stay closer to the center near a metro station - this way you will save on transport. It makes no sense to live on the outskirts if you are only here for a few days - you will spend more time and money on the road. We chose Anguk station - it has a strategically convenient location!

The experience of Marco Polo. We lived in a wonderful one for $36 a night in the Jongno-gu area near Anguk metro station, between two royal palaces - a very convenient location. There are many cafes in the alley. Book in advance - with a discount it costs $28 per night. The hotel is comfortable, there are various nice little things: bathrobes, hairdryer, toiletries, free noodles once a day and coffee.

If you want to feel like home, rent an apartment on Airbnb. In the summer of 2020, there are many options in the center of Seoul for $40-70 per night for two. Private rooms cost $30-50 for two.

Koreans love and appreciate the beauty around them - in Seoul you will see many beautiful houses, especially in the village of Bukchon.

Here are the prices for hotels and hostels in South Korea in 2020:

Housing type	Price for two per night	Example
The hostel is not in the center	from 8$/person	Birdsnest Hostel Hongdae
Hostel in the center	from 9$/person	Kimchee Downtown Guesthouse
Budget hotel not in the center	from 24$	Korstay Hotel
Budget hotel in the center (Jongno-gu)	from 27$	Jongro Alice Residence
Hotel 3*	from 35$
Hotel 5*	from 115$	Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan

The most high prices in South Korea for hotels in July-August and New Year- good and inexpensive housing is quickly sold out. Book in advance!

National ethnographical museum Korea.

If you want to get a special experience on vacation in South Korea, choose unique housing:

traditional yogwan, where you need to sleep on the floor on a mat.
Hanok- traditional house. Cost from $170 to $300 per day. Located in the traditional village of Bukchon next to the royal palace. We found an inexpensive hanok on Airbnb with good reviews.
Chimchilbang- sauna. Entrance for 12 hours: at night - 15k ₩, during the day - 12k ₩. There you can not only steam and wash, but also sleep. Instead of beds there are mats. There is a safe. The most popular sauna in the center is , but there are many others that are cheaper.

Transport prices in South Korea

Ticket price for public transport in South Korea depends on the distance you need to travel and starts from 1250₩. You can buy a one-time ticket, but you can only get off with it at the station to which it was purchased. When you return the ticket to the machine, you will be given a deposit of 500₩.

If you plan to travel a lot, buy T-Money card(costs 3k ₩) - it is valid in the metro and buses. With it, each trip is 100₩ cheaper, and transfers are free. And with it you can get off at any station, unlike a one-time ticket. You can buy a card in minimarkets or terminals, and it can be topped up at machines.

Cyber Station - build a route on the computer.
Subway Korea is a subway route planner application ().
Seoul Metro - how to buy a one-time ticket (in English, with pictures).

There are a lot of buses, you can also go to the suburbs of Seoul. Routes and schedules are detailed at the stops.

Taxi in South Korea is not cheap: the first 2 km - about 1600₩, then for each km - 650₩, an hour of waiting - about 13.5k ₩.

A liter of gasoline costs about 1700₩.

Cheonggyecheon Park is a stream park on the site of a former highway in Seoul.

Getting there from the airport You can by train and bus (there are also overnight ones). We went by bus - 10k ₩ per person to Anguk station. We paid the driver in cash.

You can travel around the country by buses, trains and planes. There are low-cost airlines: Air Busan (from Busan), Jin Air (in South Korea and to neighboring countries) and T"way Airlines (countrywide).

The experience of Marco Polo. How to save money? Hike! We covered 15-20 km a day. The city is colorful and interesting, and it would be a shame to go underground when there is such beauty all around. In general, take T-money if you need to travel. For transportation, we only spent 40k ₩ for two people on a bus from the airport and back.

It's interesting to walk around Seoul during the day...

... and in the evening.

Prices for attractions

In Seoul you can see almost everything for free or inexpensively. Many museums in South Korea are free or require a nominal entrance fee. For example, a ticket to the Royal Palace costs only ₩3k. But the prices for admission to amusement parks and observation decks sky-high, see below for yourself.

What to see in Seoul for free:

Dongdaemun Design Plaza - Zaha Hadid building
Bukchon Hanok Village with traditional houses
Changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace at 10:00 and 14:00
N-Seoul Tower Outdoor Terrace and Park
Namsangol Village - Open Air Museum
Cheonggyecheon Park - a stream park on the site of a former highway
Rainbow Bridge (Banpo Bridge)
Beautiful hall with plants in Seoul City Hall (Seoul City Hall)
Jeongdong Observation Hall on the 13th floor of the Seosomun Building
Seoullo 7017 is a park on the site of the former overpass above Seoul Station. The views are stunning!

Bukchon Hanok Village with traditional houses.

Dongdaemun Design Plaza - Zaha Hadid building.

Seoullo 7017 is a park on the site of the former overpass above Seoul Station. The views are stunning!

Prices for attractions and entertainment in Seoul:

Exhibitions at Dongdaemun Design Plaza - about 10k ₩.
Entrance to the royal palaces - 3k ₩ each (museums on the palace grounds are included). You can buy a combo ticket for 10k ₩.
N-Seoul Observation Tower - 10k ₩.
Everland Amusement Park - 87k ₩ for 2 days, for 1 day (day) - 56k ₩.
Amusement park Lotte World Amusement Park - 54k-57k ₩. If you take the Magic Pass for 100 thousand won, you won't have to stand in line.
Seoul Sky Observatory at Lotte World - 25.5k-35k ₩.
Aquarium at Lotte World - 16.5k ₩.

The experience of Marco Polo. We spent only 16k ₩ on sightseeing for two people - we went to Gyeongbokgung and to an exhibition of Korean painters. Then we focused on free attractions. The Museum of Modern Art was free entrance- lucky :)

Royal Palace Gyeongbokgung in Seoul.

Guard of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The Changing of the Guard can be viewed for free at 10:00 and 14:00.

Money

Tourists on the forums wrote that all ATMs in South Korea charge a commission of around $3 per transaction. And only at Citibank ATMs you can withdraw money without commission. We found only one - not far from the city hall, in the center.

The ATM will offer different options when dispensing cash. Important: do not select Check - this is traveler's checks, you will have to exchange it for cash at a bank branch. The first time we made a mistake: we thought that check was a receipt.

We exchanged very little at the airport - only for a bus ticket. The exchange rate is bad, but tolerable with a small exchange.

An ATM gave us this check for 100K won; we had to exchange it for cash at the branch.

Shopping in South Korea

A sea of cute clothes in a casual style, famous Korean cosmetics, beautiful souvenirs - a paradise for a shopaholic. It’s easy to run into the market here; they occupy entire blocks. And almost every underground passage has a shopping center.

IN Tandaemun a lot of shopping centers. Some only work at night! The most decent daytime center is Doota Mall, where things hang beautifully on hangers. Some shopping centers look like a collective farm, like a large indoor market (for example, Migliore).

Insadong I didn’t like it - it was all touristy, mostly monotonous souvenirs. Gwangjang unkempt - mostly flea market, traditional clothing and food. But there are vintage shops, look for them on the official website of the market.

The experience of Marco Polo. We hate shopping. But South Korea has such a powerful consumer society, so many markets and shops, that even we succumbed! We spent a significant amount on shopping and souvenirs - $280 (usually we don’t spend anything). We bought some clothes, souvenirs, a book and vinyl records that we couldn’t find in Europe.

We buy vinyl records in Seoul - the choice is huge!

How much does a trip to South Korea cost in 2020?

We calculated the budget for our independent trip to South Korea for 5 days for two. Look how much money we spent:

We didn’t count the tickets because we were flying from Bali (28,000 for two). If you subtract shopping, it will be only 24,500 rubles! For one day - about 5,000 rubles for two.

Refer to this table to understand how much your vacation in South Korea will cost. Add your tickets to this amount and budget more for shopping if you like shopping.

Beauty in Korean.

Korea is one of the most safe countries in the world: no large number of thefts, no drug addicts, no robberies, and public morality is so developed and strong that it is almost impossible to hear rudeness addressed to you.

If you decide to go to South Korea, namely in, decide on specific dates in advance, because the cost of the flight will depend on them, and not on how far in advance you buy plane tickets. The cheapest tickets to South Korea are, and.

If we talk about transport in Seoul, then to rent a car you will need an international license book - Russian plastic is not suitable. All public transport and orange taxis (state) are paid for by the T-money system - a plastic card on which money is deposited through the terminal.

Everything is like in Russia - you put your card at the turnstile, it tells you the remaining balance, and you move on.

The subway is quiet and calm inside the cars, but no one waits for people to get off and gets on right away, so be prepared to jostle a lot and for a long time. If you live in Moscow and think that this will not surprise you, you are mistaken, in Korea everything is much tougher.

In the subway and on the streets there are corrugated yellow paths - landmarks for the blind. In Seoul, everything is quite well equipped for people with disabilities, so if you or your relatives were afraid to face the problem of the inability of Korean streets, then feel free to brush aside all fears.

Money. Don't count on credit cards- they are accepted, but rarely and reluctantly: Koreans love cash very much. Therefore, exchange part of the money immediately at the airport, and the rest in banks. When you go to stores, pay attention to the price tags. If they are not there, the price of the product is most likely greatly inflated, and you will not be able to negotiate.

If you smoke, take a supply of cigarettes with you because Koreans hardly smoke, and it can be difficult to buy cigarettes.

Before the trip, you need to remember about the traditional greeting - you need to bow slightly. Koreans also prefer to bow rather than say “thank you” as a form of gratitude. Direct eye contact, by the way, can be regarded as a threat and disrespect. You can also shake hands, but there is a special ritual in this too: both the right and left hands are presented and shaken, although preference is given to the right - the left hand is placed under the right. If this rule is not followed, the impression will be that you are a very uncultured person and far from polite.

If it turns out that you will be drinking with one of the Koreans, you should never fill your glass - pour it for others, not for yourself.

Since we're talking about alcohol, it's worth mentioning food. The meal cannot begin until the oldest person in age sits down at the table. When choosing food, don't think that in Seoul they cook only dogs and insects, you can find completely normal European cuisine there, but the food is often spicier than we are used to. Also, not all cafes and restaurants offer tea, but they always bring water for free. But be prepared for the fact that in some restaurants and cafes they wash plates right on the road, and you watch all this.

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