ms_minerva

The past days have been crazy! I finally activated my 24-hr Discover Seoul Pass. My card cost $30, and the total cost of all of the attractions I visited with it was $76!! So if you visit Seoul, you should definitely pick up one of these passes!

Day 1

I started at noon on Thursday and went to Hanboknam to try on a fancy hanbok. I got to wander around in it for two hours! I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace and took a bunch of pretty photos.

Tip: If you’re wearing a hanbok, you get into the palaces and shrines for free!

After Gyeongbokgung, I returned the hanbok and then headed to the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, but as the cashier was scanning my card I discovered that people under 24 get in for free, so I didn’t need my Discover Seoul Pass! I decided to put off visiting the museum for Saturday when my pass had already expired and to visit more attractions. I walked to Changdeokgung Palace and Changyeonggung Palace as the sun began to set—beautiful! From there I walked down to Jongmyo Shrine, but it was already closed. Admission is only 1000 won (less than $1), so I decided that I could save it for Saturday as well.

I took the subway from Jongmyo to Namsangol Hanok Village. I had some stone pot bibimbap for dinner at a little restaurant tucked among the shops there (6500won).

I wanted to cap off my night by visiting the observatory at N Seoul Tower, but I didn’t know how to get there; I just knew that it was at the top of the Namsan mountain. I couldn’t get my phone onto wifi, but I looked at my map and realized that none of the trains went there. I knew some tour buses did, but it was too late for me to join one of those. I looked at my map, and then looked up to the tower on the mountain. As long as I walked in the direction of the tower I would eventually reach it, right?

It turned out that I was right, but it took FOREVER. At least I can cross impulsive mountain-hiking off of my bucket list now.

I got back to the hostel exhausted after getting lost on my way down from the mountain and ending up all the way at Myeongdong Station. I got ready for bed and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2

I woke up at 8 and ate breakfast at my hostel, and then headed out. I had until noon before my pass would expire. First, I took the subway to Dongdaemun History and Culture Park and used my Discover Seoul Pass to get a wristband for Seoul City Tour Double-Decker Tour Bus Traditional Culture Course, a hop-on-hop-off bus. I took it to Euljiro 1-ga and visited Deoksugung Palace, just in time for the changing of the guards! From there I walked to the Koreana Hotel and used my Discover Seoul Pass to get a Seoul City Tour Bus Panorama Course ticket just as my pass was about to expire. Now it was past noon but I already had my bus tickets! I spent the rest of the afternoon riding both buses around the city, wind blowing on the rooftop as I took lots of amazing photos.

At night I rode the Hanggang River Ferry. I booked the ticket for about $15 online. It was very beautiful. We were in a heated cafe area surrounded by large glass windows, and two musicians played jazz renditions of Christmas carols on keyboard and flute. Lovely!

Day 3

My Discover Seoul Pass included a 24-hour bike rental that could be activated at any time. I used that on my last day to bike to Jongmyo Shrine and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

This has been a really wonderful trip. I didn’t know what to expect when I got here, and I hadn’t even originally planned on coming to Korea. The starts and my grandma’s unused airline miles aligned to bring me here, though. I love Seoul! It’s such a beautiful city framed by mountains. The food is delicious and affordable, the history and culture are amazing, and I had so much fun shopping here! It’s also very easy to navigate via public transportation, unlike some cities *cough* Tokyo *cough* I don’t know where my future will take me yet, but I could see myself living here.

Now I’m sitting in the airport just chilling and mooching off their WiFi. My flight is in ten hours, and I have a whole bench to sleep on!