Let’s start with the basics: the accommodation. Finding decent housing in Seoul is hard as it is, especially when one is on a budget. I have been to several places, Hotels, Airbnbs and Hostels, and what I have found very important for me is the noise level of the neighborhood. For someone like me, whose home is a place where I want to spend some time alone to recharge, it was extremely draining to be kept awake by noises from outside. If that applies to you, I would recommend deciding on the location of your housing carefully. If you want to be in the city center, best choose an accommodation on a side street, where there are no (Karaoke!-)Bars or clubs near. Otherwise save yourself some nerves as well as money on rent and move to the outskirts. Commuting is not too bad once you get used to it.

When taking the subway or bus make sure to avoid rush hours during the morning (around 7 am) and evening (around 6 pm). For one, it gets so packed that it gets physically uncomfortable and two, because of traffic the travel takes longer than usual. Instead, better leave earlier or later. Also, avoid crowded places. No brainer, but you need some local knowledge to know where these places are. Like in every other city they are touristic spots, in this case around the palaces and shopping districts/malls. It gets loud and messy and can be very draining. Especially during certain events, like for example Cherry Blossoms or around Christmas, there will also be many locals added to the usual number of tourists. Similar to touristic spots, there are some local favorites that are crowded no matter what, like for example Hongdae, Itaewon and Insadong, or places with universities close by. My advice: Keep up to date with the city’s events by following Seoul’s Insta (or, if you’re not into social media, by checking their homepage). They post about upcoming events, like the drone show or fireworks festival, which, as pretty as they might sound, are hell in the aspect of crowdedness. Another tip: select the place where you want to go on a map app (for me KakaoMaps) and check the statistics. It’s shown in detail how many visitors are usually expected at certain days and times. So you know when to go and not to go.

Now to specific places that I can recommend. Firstly the mountains. There are many mountains in and around Seoul with different difficulty levels and I can assure you that the nature, fresh air, exercise and nice view will be reviving. The map apps will show you hiking paths, their length in time and kilometers and you can check the altitude. (If you want more detailed information, try the hiking app Komoot.) If you are drawn to water, I can recommend the little streams of the Han river as well as Cheongyecheon Stream. I also suggest visiting churches and temples. I know, religion is a sensitive topic and going to a space of a religion you don’t identify with might sound and feel a little weird, but hear me out. These places have the most divine and calm energy by design and are perfect to take a breather. One does not have to participate in any religious acts while going there, it’s totally fine to just look around. (Even if you do belong to a certain religion, if anyone approaches you and offers you to join a ceremony, I strongly suggest not to. This is a common scheme by members of sects and sometimes there’s some shady stuff going on there. Just a side note.) Other places with good vibes for me are libraries, museums and art galleries. The atmosphere is calm and deep. (If you are a fan of smaller exhibitions, check out the app ArtGuide and you will see there are plenty everywhere!) 

I also want to say that now and then it’s totally okay to just stay at home. I totally understand that since there is so much to see, we want to experience everything. FOMO (= fear of missing out) can be overwhelming so we push ourselves. I’ve been there and felt that. But sometimes we really just need a good old rest at home. Put on your favorite movie or some music, order some delivery food and sleep in. Remember, life’s a marathon, not a sprint. Take care 🌸