Northeast Asia: Round-the-World Travel Destinations

Budget Scale: 1-5

1-least expensive; 5-most expensive
2.5– Seoul may be as big and crazy and western as some other massive Asian cities like Tokyo and Hong Kong, but the difference is you can still travel in Seoul on a budget. It’s still possible for backpacker’s to get by on about $40-$50USD per day.

Indie Travel Scale: 1-5

1-not a good Indie Travel destination; 5-a great Indie Travel destination
3– Seoul is a crazy city with lots of possible indie travel experiences. Follow the tips below to make the most of your trip to Seoul.
Indie Travel Tips

• There’s a great mix of history and modernism in Seoul. Take it all in.
• If you want to get out of the city, then hop on the metro and head to the mountains. Plenty of great opportunities for hiking just a short ride outside the city.
• Take a cooking class and learn to cook such Korean staples as kimchi bulgogi.
• Learn taekwondo, Korea’s most popular form of martial arts. If you’re not that adventurous, then be sure to take in a match.
• If you’re looking to stay a while and make a bit of money, then look into teaching ESL. Seoul (and all of South Korea) is one of the most popular places to teach English and actually make some good money doing it.
• If you’re a drinker, you’ve come to the right place. The Koreans can drink with the best of them.

Why you should add Seoul to your RTW travel list

• Don’t let the modern buildings fool you: Seoul is an ancient city
• Eat awesome Korean food and other cuisines with the locals
• If you need out of the city, it’s easy to get to the surrounding mountains
• See old temples such as Chogyesa, Pongwosa and Hwagyesa
• Celebrate New Year, twice a year, in January and February

Why you should not add Seoul to your RTW travel list

• Seoul can overwhelming and confusing for visitors. It’s easy to get lost, and even the locals have a tough time giving you the right directions.

Are you heading to Seoul? What do you need to do?

• Buy an international plane ticket to/from Asia
• Book a South Korea hostel
• Book a hotel in Asia
• Talk to travelers on the Asia message boards
• Check out our Seoul Destination Guide

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