Travel South Korea • Asia | She is Wanderlust Travel Blog

Located in East Asia, South Korea is a seasonal country with a lot to offer. The country boasts some of the most advanced technology in the world and rich culture, history and heritage, a perfect blend between old and new. Is also home to stunning landscapes, great nightlife and entertainment and delicious food.

Why Visit South Korea

HISTORY & HERITAGE

South Korea has a rich history and heritage, dating back over a thousand years. Is home to 11 UNESCO World Heritage like the Gyeongbokgung Palace, showcasing its culture, history and traditions, which the country carries proudly.

LANDSCAPES

South Korea offers miles of beautiful coastline, over 22 national parks with breathtaking mountain chains, volcanoes and tea plantation. The best part: all the scenery will offer a beautiful and different look each season!

CUISINE

Korea is rapidly becoming a foodie paradise, and they are very proud of it! Its delicious food hasn’t changed much since the imperial times, featuring a lot of rice, with its most popular dishes being kimchi and Bibimbap and japchae. The street food is a must try!

NIGHTLIFE

Koreans love to party, and Seoul could have one of the biggest nightlife scenes in Asia. There is a party to be had almost every night. They also love karaoke, and you will find many clubs opened 24/7 just for it!

MODERNISM

South Korea is a pioneer in technology. Its modern architecture is recognized worldwide, creating an interesting contrast between its ancient architecture and its modern skyscrapers, offering exciting cities to visit and explore. But they are not just limited to architecture, they also have a reputation as the country with the fastest internet in the world, incredible gadgets and technology advances in all different kind of technology products, being the birthplace of companies like Hyundai, LG and Samsung.

Why Visit South Korea

HISTORY & HERITAGE

LANDSCAPES

CUISINE

NIGHTLIFE

MODERNISM

Name: Republic of Korea
Capital: Seoul
Official Languages: Korean
Currency: Korean Republic won
Time Zone: UTC+9

Name: Republic of Korea
Capital: Seoul
Official Languages: Korean
Currency: Korean Republic won
Time Zone: UTC+9

Bucket list

What to expect

LANGUAGE

Korean is the official language in Korea. They are other languages and dialects spoken throughout the country like chinese, japanese and variations of Korean. English is not common overall, however English speakers can be found in Seoul or in the main tourist areas.

ELECTRICITY

In South Korea the standard voltage is 220V and the frequency is 50 Hz. That’s the standard voltage in the UK, Europe, Australia and most of Asia and Africa; If you are traveling from the US you will need an adaptor.

CURRENCY

The South Korean won is the official currency in South Korea. Other foreign currencies like euros and dollars might be accepted in some tourist areas, but is rare. You could exchange you money at the airport, banks or exchange houses. Credit cards are widely accepted. ATM’s are widely available. 1 USD equals 1205.88 wons (as of 2020).

CLIMATE

South Korea has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold with average temperatures of 21°F (-6.1°C), while summers have an average of 80.1°F (26.7°C). Please be aware temperatures will change a bit depending on the altitude and the latitude of the area.

SAFETY

South Korea is a very safe country to visit. Crime rates are very low. It is perfectly safe to walk around, even at night time. Still, use common sense like anywhere else just in case.

How to get around

By plane

South Korea is a reasonably big country, offering over a dozen of domestic routes. Korean Air and Asiana are the major airlines of the country. There are many budget airlines like T’way Airlines as well.

By Car

Renting a car won’t be necessary unless you are driving to the countryside, as the traffic in Seoul can be a total nightmare and there are a lot of angry drivers. Renting a car is convenient and enjoyable, however not precisely cheap. An international driving permit is required. Signs will be in Korean and a GPS is recommended, as well as a Hi-pass for the tolls.

By Bus

Buses are the cheapest way of getting around, and they will reach every corner of the country. They are punctual and reliable. Although the majority of buses won’t have a toilette, they would do stop along the way to allow passengers to fo to the bathroom and have a refreshment. Expressways have a special bus lane that operates at weekends and reduces delays due to heavy traffic. It is not necessary to buy a ticket in advance as there are many buses per route.

By taxi

Taxis in South Korea are safe, clean, and relatively inexpensive. In Seoul, they would most likely be able to communicate with you in English. All taxis use meters with determined fares.

By Train

The quality of the trains in South Korea is incredible, they are clean, reliable, punctual and comfortable, however the rail network is not precisely comprehensive. They are operated by Korail. There are a couple classes depending on the amenities you are willing to pay and the speed of the train itself. Prices vary a lot, but if you are thinking on traveling a lot by train, buying a KR pass is recommended.

By Boat

Boats connect mainland Korea with many of the islands, most of them reached from Daecheon, Gunsan and Yeonan harbour.

Visa Policy

Holders of passports issued by the following 44 jurisdictions do not require a visa to enter South Korea:

Canada (180 days)

Australia, Barbados, Dominica, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Ireland, Kuwait, Macau, Mexico, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and NEvis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Taiwan, UK, US, Venezuela (90 days)

Japan, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, United States, Guyana, Guatemala, Grenada, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Dominica, Mexico, Barbados, Bahamas, Venezuela, Brazil, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Argentina, Haiti, Antigua & Barbuda, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Uruguay, Jamaica, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Cyprus, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia, Vatican City, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, Russia, Romania, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Lichtenstein, Malta, Belgium, Bulgaria, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Slovakia, Iceland, Ireland, Estonia, United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Portugal, Poland, France, Finland, Hungary, Guam, Fiji, Nauru (30), Palau, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, New Zealand, Republic of South Africa, Mauritius), Seychelles, Swaziland, Botswana, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain , Liberia, Lesotho, Israel, Tunisia (30 days)

Citizens of every other country will be required to get a visa in advance through the embassy.