Why visit Seoul, South Korea?
With a mix of ancient tradition and ultra modern technology – South Korea is at the top of list for highest internet speeds – Seoul gives a holiday like no other.
Korea's unique writing style, which bears no resemblance to the Chinese or Japanese alphabets, is surprisingly easy to learn.
Things to do in Seoul
The palaces and temples, often mingling alongside skyscrapers, are a sight to behold. Some of the best preserved include Gyeongbokgung Palace and Changgyeonggung Palace. On certain days, actors play out historical traditions at these attractions.
To get out to nature, Bukhansan National Park is a close and easy-to-reach option. Here you can hike around a large hill on the outskirts of the city.
Animal cafes – think dog and cat – are popular in Seoul because of the lack of space for most residents. A quick peek in the door should give an indication of how well the animals are cared for and, if everything looks okay, you can have a memorable coffee with new friends.
To get a taste of local shopping culture, head to either Myeongdong or Hongdae. At Insadong you can see more traditional architecture and shopping options, while Gangnam – made famous by Psy in 2012 – features upmarket shops and restaurants.
You can also arrange a day trip to see the demilitarised zone (DMZ) that separates North and South Korea.
Best time to visit Seoul
Seoul's warmest months are July and August, with average temperatures around 21 or 22°C. These are also by far the rainiest months.
Visiting in spring (March - May) gives arguably the best weather conditions and also shows the city in its best light with the cherry blossom trees in bloom.
Winter (December - February) is the coldest and cheapest time to visit, but this may appeal to snowboarders and skiers.
Best time to book
When booking travel to far-east Asia, look to book around 29 weeks before departure for the best deals.
Expect to pay
Prices in Seoul tend to be a bit cheaper than in New Zealand or neighbouring Japan. Coffee is considered a luxury item, so you may have to pay NZ$6 for a takeaway cup, which is around the same price as a bottle of imported beer. A meal at a local restaurant is likely to cost between NZ$7 and NZ$10.
Arriving in Seoul by plane
Seoul is served by two international airports:
Incheon
and
Gimpo
. Gimpo is the closer of the two, but Incheon is the busier. A taxi from Incheon to the centre of Seoul will likely cost between NZ$60 and NZ$85. A train line connects both airports to Seoul Station for those without much luggage.
Car hire
and
airport shuttle
can be booked through Skyscanner before you travel.
Hongdae is one of the trendiest areas to stay thanks to its large university population. The main street here has plenty of restaurants and shops, and the night scene is one of the city's best.
Itaewon is also a favoured location, and because it's used to having tourists nearly all of the locals speak English. In other areas it's likely that the younger generations will have some English knowledge, but the older people will not.
Wherever you stay in Seoul you'll be able to get around quickly thanks to the excellent train system which, of course, is Wi-Fi enabled.
For more information please visit
SafeTravel
as a trusted source of updated information.
Find your cheap flights to Seoul on Skyscanner today - use the search panel above to search for the cheapest airfare and specials.
Please note: all information is correct as of June, 2016.
Where to stay in Seoul
Rollover months to display prices
from $ 639 return
Images by Flickr/Arian Zwegers
© Skyscanner Ltd 2002-2017
We can show only Economy prices for this search.
For more cabin choices, first select specific cities and travel dates.
We make every effort to ensure the price you see on Skyscanner is the price you pay with the airline.
Prices on Skyscanner always include an estimate of all mandatory taxes and charges. The final price you pay for your tickets may vary as a result of additional options offered by the airline, such as luggage allowances or travel insurance.