What Looks Good, Tastes Good
Korean Proverb
In all of Korea’s efficient and orderly glory, the country really just met my expectations. I had heard nothing but glowing reviews of the food, the social scene, the hostels, and the lifestyle in general. South Korea does have all that. It’s a country built around thinking two steps ahead, never having to look long for the solution to your problem. The public bus benches are heated for god’s sake. But little about South Korea surprised me. For better or worse, the country met the high bar of expectation I set for it. And that’s probably the most Korean thing about it.
I only spent 10 days in the country. In fact, I’m sitting in a tiny Busan hostel as I write this now. Because of that, I don’t feel like I have tons to add to the massive slew of blog posts that already exist on the internet about the best food and tourist destinations in the country. But I will write one post detailing everything we found worthy of doing in the country. So come to Korea, eat chicken, drink beer, shoot soju, dress up in traditional hanbok, and roam the many cities. But do it in the fall beneath the golden ginkgo trees if you can.
South Korea Travel Guide
Recommended Cities: Seoul, Busan, Sokcho, Jeonju
One Bucketlist Item You Cannot Miss: Eating a plate of chicken at Hyodo Chicken in Gangnam. Certain meals will just change your life.
Things to Consider Before You Go: South Korea is a very expensive destination. Even the cheapest hostels are usually $13 per person per night. Be sure you budget accordingly for your trip.
Solo travelers might not be able to dine in at some restaurants that serve communal meals like Korean BBQ and Dok Galbi.
Recommended Minimum Trip Length: 7-10 days.
Expected Backpacker Budget
On a Shoestring: $35/day
Flashpacker: $50/day
Backpacker Luxury: $100+/day
Keep in mind these are backpacker budgets. On a shoestring expect to be eating street food, sleeping in hostel beds, & skipping the most expensive tours, restaurants, and attractions. Backpacker Luxury opts for private rooms, eats mostly in restaurants, and splurges on activities. Flashpackers are the middle ground & often do a mixture of both.
South Korea is perfect for travelers looking for exceptional cuisine, modern cities, historical temples, and short jaunts into nature.
South Korea Blog Posts
10 Days in South Korea: A Mini Travel Guide (2023)
You don’t actually need all that long to explore South Korea. We traversed the…
