Seoul, South Korea 4 Days 3 Nights Trip ✈️ These Places Are So Photogenic!

This year's first overseas trip, my friends and I chose Seoul. Since everyone is usually quite busy, we finally managed to get together. This trip was from June 6th to 9th, a relatively tight itinerary👇

☑️ Passport, Korean visa (print in advance); remember to check that your passport is valid for more than 6 months before applying for a visa! Normally the visa can be issued in 7-10 working days;

☑️ Bring a pen with you; you need to fill out a form upon entry (fill in English; Chinese will be asked to redo, don't ask me how I know)

☑️ Plug adapter

☑️ Buy a Tmoney transportation card in advance; on Taobao it's about 80-90 RMB each, with 10,000 KRW loaded; you can top up at convenience stores when it runs out

☑️ Prepare some Korean won cash, Visa card; the three of us brought 2000 RMB in cash and didn't use it all;

☑️ Download translation apps in advance: Papago, Suishinyi, Seoul Subway; I used Baidu for maps, but it works intermittently! If you're going for shopping, download the apps of those duty-free shops for research;

☑️ Activate international roaming, or buy a local SIM card; we used a data package, China Telecom capped at 25 RMB/day, China Mobile seemed to be 30 RMB

We chose to stay in Myeongdong for the first few days. From Incheon Airport to Myeongdong, you can take a bus, subway, or taxi. We had a lot of luggage so we took a taxi (if you have a boyfriend or husband with you, take the subway! It's much cheaper!). The price from the airport to Myeongdong was about 80,000 to 85,000 KRW, sort of like a chartered car, with clear pricing;

Because everyone was too busy before departure, no one ended up making a plan! We just went with the flow and wandered around! Before leaving, I saw some shopping guides for Myeongdong, but after arriving, it felt like a collection of Yiwu goods! Just look, not recommended to buy~ The snack street is the same, try one or two items, mainly for the experience and atmosphere~

There's a big Oliveyoung in Myeongdong; if you want to buy Korean cosmetics, you can check it out. I tried the highly recommended bagel chips; the taste was okay, good as souvenirs for friends~ Some discounted Korean cosmetics have decent prices, but I suggest not impulse buying; the discounts aren't crazy~ Since my skin has been breaking out recently, I tried the perilla mask many people recommend, but I didn't think it was good!!

As an older auntie, I also visited a K-pop merchandise store for the first time, but I can only say I don't really understand the younger generation's world. My friend said you can buy the same things on Taobao~

For girls who like taking photos, find the 3CE building; it has 5 floors and every floor is great for photos!! The rooftop is a pool café; if the weather is good, it's super photogenic! Also, 3CE's clothes are actually nice and not expensive!!

Across from the 3CE store is a shoe store that many people recommend. The styles are classic, the quality looks good, prices around 100-200 RMB; you can go for it~

How can you go to Korea without eating BBQ!! We looked up a famous place online, found a long line downstairs, and were hesitating when a guy who just finished eating came down and told us not to go, saying it wasn't good. So we randomly picked another place, and the taste was just as random. Again, mainly for the atmosphere experience~~ After all, the kimchi sauce all tastes the same hahaha~

For girls who like taking photos, Gyeongbokgung is a must! We took the subway there; Seoul subway has Chinese signs and announcements, so no worries about getting on the wrong train. Again, without a plan, it turned out Gyeongbokgung was closed that day (it wasn't Tuesday; maybe there was some event). But as the saying goes, 'since we're already here'~~ We saw a hanbok rental shop right outside the subway station (it seemed to be called Ilwol Hanbok). The owner spoke Chinese, and the prices were similar to others. I chose a relatively plain one. They have categories like new-style (tulle) princess, queen, etc.; it was dizzying!! I picked a more elegant queen-style hanbok. The clothes alone didn't look that great, but once I put it on and stepped out, I felt I had made the best choice on the street!! I suggest girls either choose something pinkish and fairy-like, or satin and plain for a more grand look! Do your own makeup if possible, and you can even buy hair accessories on Pinduoduo for about 10 RMB and bring them; they look much better than the ones there hahaha. In the end, we took photos around the main gate. Not being able to go inside didn't bother me at all; I was there just for photos, and I think I took some great ones hehe😁

Without a plan, we messed up in Itaewon. Getting off at Itaewon subway station, we initially took the wrong direction and ended up on the bar street, but the whole street was closed~

Later, I can't even tell where we ended up... we just wandered aimlessly~ Visited a café, passed by clothing boutiques, walked through what seemed like an upscale residential area. Anyway, a Chongqing native like me was exhausted from climbing hills in Seoul~~ I never want to hear anyone say Chongqing is full of slopes again! Compared to Seoul's hills, Chongqing is flat!

After the intense walking, we found a rooftop café. We wanted to find those popular ones but couldn't (and couldn't walk anymore), and rounded it up as satisfactory~ (self-consolation)

The last stop of this trip was the Paradise Island Hotel from 'Single's Inferno' — Paradise City. The CIMER Spa and Water Park inside is super popular on Instagram. Seriously! So photogenic!

The hotel is just a 5-minute drive from Incheon Airport, with a free shuttle bus. Perfect for a stay before departure~

The entire resort has a great artistic atmosphere; you can see an artwork every few steps! Full of sophistication~

One-stop check-in: Damien Hirst's 'Golden Legend', Yayoi Kusama's 'Great Gigantic Pumpkin', the ancient Greek myth hero Heracles, and trendsetter KAWS

Hotel guests have access to many free facilities; both indoor and outdoor pools are beautiful. The facilities are really diverse. Whether you're here with friends, as a couple, or with kids, it's worry-free! I feel like you could play for days without getting bored!

You can also shop inside; this teddy bear store is so cute!

There's also an art exhibition hall in Paradise City, free for guests. I visited once, and the exhibition was worth seeing! Currently, there's an exhibition called 'Together', a collaboration between Paradise City and Korean Compassion, specifically held to help children realize their dreams.

My favorite part of the whole resort was Cimer; it's huge! We got lost twice due to the language barrier😂 As a Chongqing kid not used to bathhouse culture, it was an eye-opener! Fire kiln sauna, cypress room, amethyst room, and ice bath! The infinity pool is super photogenic~ The only regret was that the Fantasy Spa wasn't open the day we went😭 Otherwise, I could have taken 100 more photos!

The breakfast buffet was average, nothing special, but the fresh smoked salmon was thick and fresh; I had several pieces~ For other meals, we tried a food court style place in the mall, with lots of choices and quite authentic. The Japanese restaurant RAKU is recommended; none of the dishes we ordered were disappointing—they were all delicious! I even finished the soup from the seafood hotpot! It was really fresh haha~

Alright, my Seoul trip ended perfectly~ After eating and drinking, the hotel is very close to Incheon Airport; the shuttle takes 5 minutes and runs every half hour, very convenient. For those who love shopping, Incheon Airport has 2 hours of shopping! Except for the Hermès store, which is basically empty, and Chanel requires an appointment, other small items are really fun to shop for. I compared the price of an MCM backpack at Myeongdong Lotte and the airport; the airport was several hundred RMB cheaper~

Finally, I hope my ramblings are helpful to everyone~

Travelogue Directory:

1. 🌟Pre-trip Preparation

2. 🍢 Food and Shopping

3. 📷 Hanbok Photos

4. Don't Overwalk in Itaewon!

5. Paradise City

6. Must Try a 'Bathhouse'

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