Seoul for a Short Break? How We Flew to South Korea for Less Than Barcelona
I think it must have been last November when we started tossing around ideas for a short Easter getaway. Naturally, most people lean towards somewhere nearby, Europe, a quick city break, minimal travel fuss. South Korea? A 12-hour flight? Not exactly the obvious choice.
But hear me out.
About eleven years ago, I travelled to the US with a particular airline and, let’s just say, the experience didn’t quite live up to expectations. I wrote to them afterwards, more out of frustration than hope, and, to their credit, they responded with something increasingly rare: accountability. Not only did they apologise, but they also credited me with around 25,000 airmiles on top of the 10,000 I’d already earned.
Fast forward a decade, and those forgotten miles suddenly became very relevant.
Initially, we had our sights set on Barcelona, a long-time favourite on my “must visit” list. But when we actually priced it up, the reality was sobering: four figures for a long weekend, budget flights, bags, and a central hotel. It didn’t quite add up.
Then I remembered the airmiles, and a newly launched route to Seoul.
Out of curiosity more than anything, we checked what 35,000 miles might get us. With a small top-up (about £60), the answer was… Seoul. Two return flights and seven days away for roughly the same price as three in Barcelona. Decision made. (Jet lag aside, of course.)
First Impressions & Getting Around
Planning from 7,000 miles away comes with its own challenges, especially when the alphabet itself is unfamiliar. After some research, we settled on staying in the Insadong district, known for its traditional charm, and decided to rely on Seoul’s famously efficient public transport.
Getting from Incheon International Airport into the city does require a bit of planning. At roughly 50km out, the high-speed train is your best bet. We opted to use the WOWPASS system, a prepaid card that works a bit like Revolut. Seoul is steadily moving towards being cashless, so exchanging pounds isn’t really necessary.
That said, a word of advice: sort your transport card at the airport. Trying to transfer funds and figure things out in a metro station after a 12-hour flight, with patchy signal and frayed tempers…is not ideal.
Also, double-check your hotel location. Seoul is huge. We learned this the hard way after navigating multiple metro changes, arriving triumphantly, only to realise we were at the wrong branch (Myeongdong instead of Insadong). Cue a taxi ride and near-total exhaustion after almost 24 hours awake.
Another tip is to download Naver which is the Korean substitute to Googlemaps. The latter doesn’t work well in South Korea due to the fragile situation, however Naver works really well and is in English as well as Korean.
Exploring the City
With six full days, we were determined to make the most of it. After browsing GetYourGuide, we picked out a couple of key experiences.
One of the best decisions? Choosing an e-bike tour with WeRide Korea instead of a walking tour. In just three hours, we covered far more ground and discovered places we’d never have found alone, including a tiny market café where we had incredible rice noodles, served by a man whose family had fled North Korea. The stories alone made it unforgettable.
That same afternoon, we headed to Gangnam to visit the famous Starfield Library. Imagine towering bookshelves, 27 shelves high, right in the middle of a shopping mall. Surreal, slightly bizarre, and completely captivating.
There are also four main palaces to visit along with gates and the city wall. I’d highly recommend getting to Dongdaemun to visit the Heunginjimun gate and the city wall. We did this one afternoon, walking from our hotel, and then discovered the famous mural village of Ihwa village, also a gem as it’s the true Seoul where people live and work, away from the shopping and historic sites.
A Day at the DMZ
One of the most impactful experiences of the trip was a visit to the Korean Demilitarized Zone.
The day included stops at the Red Suspension Bridge on Gamaksan Mountain, Imjingak Peace Park, the Third Infiltration Tunnel, and Dora Observatory. It’s difficult to summarise the emotions of that day without oversimplifying them. It was sobering, moving, and absolutely essential.
If you go to Seoul, this is something you shouldn’t miss.
Old Meets New
Another highlight was wandering through Bukchon Hanok Village, home to beautifully preserved traditional houses. Seoul is a city of contrasts, ancient wooden hanoks sit alongside stark concrete blocks and ultra-modern skyscrapers. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
Do note: Bukchon is still a residential area, so visiting hours are restricted (10am–5pm).
Views from Above
On our penultimate day, we visited N Seoul Tower. We took the cable car up and walked down, highly recommended if you’re up for it. Booking tickets online (via platforms like Klook) can save both time and a bit of money.
From the top, the scale of Seoul really hits you: a vast, sprawling city set within a basin of mountains, cut through by a river, and packed with skyscrapers.
Food, Glorious Food
And then, of course, there’s the food.
Korea is a sensory overload in the best way, K-pop, K-beauty, neon lights, and more, but for us, it was all about the food. Staying in Insadong meant easy access to more traditional dining spots, and we were rarely disappointed.
Highlights included Korean barbecue (multiple times), pancakes, dumplings, and one slightly underwhelming bossam experience (boiled pork isn’t always a winner, apparently).
For barbecue, I’d highly recommend Mido Galbi for Wagyu and 853 for pork.
Final Thoughts
Would I fly 12 hours again just for Seoul? Probably not, unless I had another stash of airmiles waiting. But would I go back? Absolutely.
Next time, I’d likely combine it with Tokyo, just a short two-hour flight away, which makes far more sense geographically.
That said, South Korea wasn’t even on my radar until a chance conversation in Bali put it there. And now? I’d recommend it without hesitation.
Sometimes the best trips come from the most unexpected ideas, even the ones that start as a joke.
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