South Korea

April 2026

Basics

Polish citizens don’t need visa to enter South Korea for up to 90 days. You just need to fill out an arrival card, which I did by scanning the QR code after landing, with detail regarding the length of stay, purpose and accomodation. You may be asked for a return ticket as well.

Transportation

For travelling between major cities any KoRail train or plane. For public transport inside the city there are two ways:

T-money card: a rechargeable card that you can buy it in any convenience store and top at any ticket machine.

Climate card: option of 1/2/3/4 days pass, including Seoul airport route.

Crucial thing is, you need cash for topping up any card, I have found only one ticket machine that takes card payments, at the Gyeongbokgung metro station.

Google maps doesn’t really work here, it’s better to rely on Naver Maps or Kakao Maps, best to copy and paste Korean names of places.

Seoul

4/5 days

Huge, crowded, busy, stimulating, never sleeping city with stores and restaurants at every corner.

I divided my recommendations depending on the location, very roughly.

Things to do in Seoul North

  1. Ikseon - dong: vibing neighbourhood with cafes and restaurants inspired by traditional Korean houses called hanoks

  2. Insadong: for shopping and souvenirs

  3. Changdeokgung palace: beautiful complex or former royal palace with Secret Gardens. 3000 won for entrance to the main palace

  4. Bukchon Hanok Village: oldest neighbourhood with hanoks, its an restricted residential area (entrance between 10am and 5pm) that gets very busy

  5. Jogyesa Temple: main Buddhist temple

  6. Gyeongbokgung Palace: the largest and the most beautiful palace. Changing of guards occurs daily at 10am and 2pm. Entrance 3000won.

  7. Seochon Hanok Village: less popular, smaller and quieter than Bukchon

  8. National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

  9. Cheonggyecheon: modernised walk along the river, great for an evening walk

Things to do in Seoul central area

  • Myeongdong: heart of the Seoul in terms of busyness, tourism, parties and stores

  • Deoksugung palace

  • Jeongdong Observatory- great view from the terrace

  • Sungnyemun Gate

  • Namsan hill

  • N-Seoul tower: cheaper tickets on Klook

  • National Museum of Korea

Cherry Blossom

  • Seokchonhosu Lake (my fav)

  • Yeouido Park

  • Seoul Forest Park

  • Seoul Grand Park

Free entrance, will be extremely busy, with marked paths

Things to do in Seoul South East

  • Yeouido Hangang Park

  • Gangnam: Garosu-Gil- vibing street, Bongeunsa Temple, Starfield Library- iconic for the walls full of books, Optima Wellness Museum Pharmacy- old pharmacy used as a store

  • Seoul Forest Park

  • Seoungsu- dong

  • Seokchon Lake and Lotte World Tower- walk all around the lake

  • Olympic Park

Stores

Let’s be honest, we all want Korean skin care and cute souvenirs

  • Olive Young: the holy grail of skin care and beauty products

  • Daiso: cheaper skin care than Olive, also great for snacks or cute items

  • Zero Space: the cutest store with postcards, located in Bukchon

  • Pharmacy museum OWM in Gangnam (or any other pharmacy) for more advanced skincare

  • 7eleven ot Nice to CU for best snacks

Things to do in Seoul random

  • Inwangsan Mountain Park: not a long hike, great views of the whole city, escape from the crowds

  • Gwangjang Market: one of the best markets in Seoul, with street food and clothing stalls

  • Bukhasan National Park: longer hike, further away from the city

  • Mangwon Hangang Park

  • Haneul Park

  • Hongdae: university district

  • Ihwa Dong Mural Village

  • Boat ride on Han river: klick

Busan

3/4 days

Loved that city! Located at the coast, more authentic and less busy.

Things to do in Busan

  • Gamcheon Culture Village: Located on the hill, accessible by bus, climatic village with the Little Prince as a main theme. There are free viewpoints, so you don’t have to pay for coffee to enter the cafes rooftop!

  • Oryukdo Skywalk: super walk on the glass pier. You can get there by bus and walk around the area, the skywalk is for free!

  • Jagalchi Market: seafood market, iconic. Warning, it smells. But there is a nice view of the port and seafood restaurants are on point.

  • Seomyeon: cool and lively district

  • Sky Capsule Rides: Haeundae Blueline, Busan Blueline Sky Capsule

  • Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: beautifully located temple, next to the ocean, very quiet during the sunset time. Free entrance, closes at 8pm

  • Cable Car ride

  • Beach hopping: Songdo Beach, Gwangalli Beach

Colour analysis

  • Very big topic these days, especially in Korea, so it’s a perfect attraction. It’s a session with a stylist to identify the best colours of clothing, cosmetics and jewellery that match our natural skin tone, eye and hair colour.

  • We visited the salon that our friend in Busan recommended. It was hard to find it in Google maps, so I will just leave the Naver maps link here.

  • Heads up: our stylist spoke only Korean, but communication with her via translator was actually very convenient! Plus, that was a full experience :)

  • The price for two people was 140k won

  • Address: room 2920, 29th floor, 101 Seomyeon-ro, Busanijn-gu, Busan

Foodie

Must-try

Korean foodie

  • South Korea is a strong country when it comes to cuisine. Koreans are very proud of their food, and I’m not surprised at all! Flavours are very rich and spicy.

  • Meat is present basically everywhere, but it’s not impossible to eat pescetarian and even wegetarian.

  • The vege (pesce) breakdown below

  • Tteokbokki

    Rice cakes cooked with fish cakes and scallions ( with other customised additions) in a sweet and spicy sauce. Careful, can be crazy spicy!

  • Gimbap

    Korean rice rolls with veggies, omelette and other ingredients like tuna, kimchi, tofu, etc.

  • Kimchi

    Let’s be honest, it’s a Korean version of Polish sauerkraut but spicy, because of chilli. Plus the fish/oyster sauce.

  • Bibimbap

    Rice bowl with mix of mix of veggies, egg, seaweed, tuna or different protein with sauce. Mix it well before eating!

  • Tofu soup

    Spicy soft tofu stew with mushrooms, egg, onions, (optional seafood), served with rice and kimchi ots

    photo source: Pinterest

  • Glass noodles ( Japchae)

    See through noodles, made from sweet potatoes. Stir fried with some veggies and soy-sesame sauce

    photo source: Pinterest

  • Buckwheat noodles

    Served chilled in refreshing soup or tossed in spicy sauce.

  • Kimchi-Bokkeumbap

    Kimchi fried rice made by stir frying rice with kimchi, simple and delicious.

    photo source: Pinterest

  • Buckwheat kimchi pancakes (the middle)

    Buckwheat crepe with kimchi filling, fried.

  • Bingsu: Red bean ice

    Shaved ice cream with red bean and peanut toppings. It’s surprisingly not too sweet.

  • Pastries

    Everything is sweet and milky, totally worth to try any red bean or mugwort pastry.

  • 7 eleven snacks

    Snacking at 7 eleven or Nice to CU is a crucial part, must try is a egg gimbap, boiled eggs and milk buns.

  • Rabokki

    Combination of noodle ramen and tteokbokki. Fusion so much.

    photo source: Pinterest

  • Dalgona coffee

    Viral, whipped coffee in thick consistency. Made by whisking equal parts or instant coffee, sugar and water. Could be iced or hot. It’s crazy sweet.

    photo source: Pinterest

  • Vanilla coffee

    Tried in Abu coffee, where they brew coffee from vanilla infused beans. Served with cream.

  • Dujjonku

    Viral dessert, it’s a Dubai chocolate filling in marshmallow dough.

  • Soju

    Typical Korean alkohol, it’s a clear spirit, usually 16-20% ABV. You have to try the ultimate mix of Somaek: shot of soju with lager style beer.

  • Yakgwa

    Deep fried flower shaped honey cookie soaked in ginger and cinnamon syrup.

    photo source: Pinterest

Street food

  • Of course, Korea has big street food culture. This country is very proud of their cuisine, especially the affordable one.

  • Obviously, a lot of dishes are meat based, but I managed to find something veggie, mostly sweet treats!

  • Remember to have cash

  • Salt bread

    My personal favourite. Amazingly soft milky pastry with salt sprinkled on top. Original is the best!

  • Bungeoppang

    Fish-shaped waffle like pastry filled with sweet red bean paste. My second favourite treat! Can be also served with chocolate or custard filling.

  • Cheese coin

    Sweet pancake shaped like a 10-won coin, filled with gooey mozzarella cheese. So good!

  • Hotteok

    Pan fried soft pancake from yeast dough stuffed with brown sugar, cinnamon and nut filling.

  • Torched Marshmallow Ice Cream

    Ice cream is stuffed inside a large marshmallow block placed on the stick, and flame torched from the outside.

  • Kimchi pancake

    Fried pancake made with kimchi and flour, often served with some pickles.

Seoul foodie places

  • Bakeries: Jayeondo Sogeumppang Salt Bread, Soha Salt Pomd (for salt bread), Cheongsudang Bakery (small cakes), Bakery AGoong, Anguk 153 ( bread, scones, milk buns, everything), Bagelland Agnuk ( bagels), Rice Bebe (rice baked bagels)

  • Dinner: Bukchangdong Soft Tofu (for their signature tofu soup), Ssada Gimbap Eujiro Station (bibimbap, gimbap, noodles), Myeongdong Kyoja (local restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide), Gwangjang Market Bindaetteok (must for street/market food), 띠또분식 (for noodle soup), Gimgane Seoul Station (Gimbap), Sam-ji, Kkangtong Dumpling, Shilla Jemyeon

  • Dessert: Samcheong Bingsu and Whitebirch story (for red bean ice), Nuldam Space, Dotori garden

  • Coffee: Cafe Pokpo, Cafe Onion, Coffee Hanyakbang, Camel coffee, Metcha, Abu coffee, Nudake Haus Dosan

  • Tea house: TOVE, Tea therapy, Bukchon lounge Cha cha tea club

  • Evening: Gaga, Bourbon, many places in Myeong-dong

Busan foodie places

  • Obok Miyeok- for noodles and bowls

  • Cheongdam-dong Manyeo Gimbap

  • 동대문엽기떡볶이 부산서면점 for tteokbokki

  • 연의양과 for biscuits and matcha

  • Jagalchi Market

  • Black Bear donut

  • 1969 Buwondong Kalguksu for dumplings and noodles

  • 남포밀냉면 for cold noodles

Thanks for visiting

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