Seoul is a great destination for travelers, Hallyu enthusiasts, foodies, families and barkadas. Here are a few fun, unique, budget-friendly things to do in the capital of South Korea!

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I don’t know about you, but my favorite trips are the ones that aren’t so wild, crazy, and exhausting, but aren’t too relaxed either. I don’t want to camp or kayak, nor do I want to just spend all day lounging around in a hotel room. Exploring cities is where it’s at for me, and I assume for many people as well. Seoul was perfect then, in that it’s chill enough to warrant a simple stroll but busy enough to be enjoyably lively. South Korea has been steadily rising in popularity as a must-visit place, and whether you’re solo-tripping or spending time with family or friends, it’s a great place to put on your travel bucket list.

We spent five days in Seoul, staying in the Myeong-dong area—a busy, tourist-y area of the city that had plenty of shops, restaurants, landmarks, and places to explore. And while going to Seoul is the dream for many, the funds required to do so is no joke. Plane tickets, in this economy? But if you spent most of your money getting there, worry not, because while trips are expensive, there are plenty of things to do in Seoul that’s totally worth it but are definitely not a waste of money. Scroll down for some of them.

GO ON THE ULTIMATE STREET FOOD TRIP

Myeongdong is in full strength with winter street foods!😋
Too many to choose from, which winter street food would you recommend?🤔
📸@jeje_photo_pic pic.twitter.com/GLuEnKzBsX

— VisitKorea (@KoreanTravel) January 4, 2023

Everyone says to do it—and they’re right. Street food, particularly in Myeong-dong, offers a wide variety of excellent food from full meals to desserts, steak to tanghulu, chicken skewers to souffle pancakes, cheese tteok-kocchi to Korean marshmallow ice cream. When the streets come alive at night with lights, food stalls, locals, visitors, and all sorts of delicious scents waft through the air, you can bet you’ll find yourself walking around with armfuls of food and even little trinkets, stuffing your face with all the delicacies available.

GET ACORN CARICATURES

Acorn Caricature (@uncles_painting on Instagram) has plenty of branches around Korea. I saw it go viral on social media before we went to Seoul, and luckily, I spotted one near where we stayed—a storefront and bench decorated with their signature yellow and bold marker caricatures on a small street in Myeong-dong.

There, my sister and I sat for at most five minutes as we got our caricatures done (9000 KRW per person or around 386 pesos) and chatted with the sweet Korean artist who mentioned that she visited Mactan, Cebu back in 2015. The caricatures were well-made and adorable, and it’s definitely a fun, cute experience to have!

SHOP UNDERGROUND

Okay, maybe this one will do some damage to your wallet. But we won’t blame you if you spend hours shopping in Seoul’s underground malls, particularly in the Myeong-dong Underground Shopping Center. You can access the basement shopping center from the Myeong-dong Station Line 4 Exits. The “mall” offers everything from the latest Korean fashions to K-pop merchandise for affordable prices—definitely more affordable than the shops or department stores aboveground. Score deals here on trendy knitwear, shoes, down jackets, albums and photocards, and so much more.

TAKE PHOTOBOOTH PICTURES

What’s a Gen Z trip without endless new and creative ways to take photos? Photobooths dot the streets of the city (there’s even one up on Namsan Park near the N Seoul Tower), so you can take so many photos and get them designed however you want!

There are even photobooths with unique, distinct brandings like DON’T LXXK UP. There, the photos are taken from a high angle for an edgy, youthful set of photos where you can look your coolest. Photobooths cost around 3,000 to 6,000 KRW and have a variety of styles, concepts, and designs to choose from.

EXPLORE THE NIGHTLIFE

City nightlife in Seoul is marked with bright lights and chilly wind in the fall. Make the most of it by taking a quick trip to Itaewon or similar bustling areas to check out the sights, bars, and restaurants frequented by the young people of Seoul!

RECREATE YOUR IDOLS’ PHOTOS

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A post shared by 김민규 (@min9yu_k)

Whether it’s cycling along the Han River or eating at a famous restaurant, visiting places idols and actors have been to is a fun way for a K-pop or K-drama fan to spend some time in South Korea. Recreate your faves’ photos for selca days, or just for fun, and get a glimpse of why they love and enjoy these places in their home country.

HIKE UP TO N SEOUL TOWER

South Korea in the fall is stunningly picturesque. When the sun graces you with its presence and hits the green, yellow, orange, and red leaves just right, the city skyline is breathtaking. The N Seoul Tower in the heart of the city is a local landmark atop Namsan Mountain.

Did we get a little confused going there? Yes. Did we stumble upon a bridge that gave us a gorgeous view of the fall foliage and the tower without a lot of people around? Also yes. You can ride the subway or the bus to get to stations near the area and make your way up the mountain on foot (for free if you’re just planning on getting to the base of the tower), or take a taxi to get to the cable car station and ride up for around 14,000 KRW. There’s also a free shuttle from Myeong-dong Station Exit 1 or Seoul Station Exit 9. Get up there for panoramic views of the city and to see the “Locks of Love” placed around the plaza!

Photobooth photo in thumbnail used with permission.

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From Liza Soberano to Ciara Gan, take your travel outfits up a notch by grabbing some style inspiration from these fashionable celebrities and content creators!

Related: 11 Easy Outfit Inspos For Your Travels As Seen On These Stars

Packing outfits for a trip can be challenging. You have to take into consideration suitcase weight limits, how long you’re going to be gone for, the weather at your destination, and so much more. Not to mention having to ask yourself which fabrics won’t wrinkle, how many pairs of shoes to bring, and how much space you’re going to leave in your luggage for shopping.

And while travel isn’t all about the style (please don’t sacrifice comfort just for a few pics!), you 100% can look bomb while still being comfy when you’re on a trip. But you don’t have to settle for plain sweaters and jeans—just look at these young stars and content creators whose travel styles are to die for!

From Kathryn Bernardo to Marj Maroket, Bella Racelis to Andrea Brillantes, these young women know how to blend comfort, style, and practicality into an outfit that serves whether they’re walking the cobblestoned streets of Paris or shopping at Harajuku. Take note for future trips!

BELLA RACELIS

Instagram/racelisbella

Personally, I can’t stop thinking about YouTuber and content creator Bella Racelis’ Paris trip earlier this year. From casual ‘fits to structured dresses, her styling was top-notch, and this blue satin set was exquisite, perfect for a day at the fashion capital.

LOVI POE

Instagram/lovipoe

Edgy meets preppy in this outfit Lovi Poe wore for her trip to London. The oversized leather jacket, pleated miniskirt, white sneakers, and headphones were such a good combination that Lovi posted pics of the outfit twice on her Instagram. If your destination is a little colder, add some tights or thigh-high socks!

KATHRYN BERNARDO

instagram/bernardokath

A bright, monochrome-matchy outfit is perfect for the vibes of Seoul. The A Very Good Girl actress was the image of comfort and fun in her turquoise oversized tee and sneakers with turquoise accents.

MARJ MAROKET

instagram/marjmaroket

If you want to add some color to your outfit (especially if the place you’re visiting is colder than the tropics), a funky jacket like what beauty influencer Marj Maroket wore to Switzerland is perfect. Her comfy yet stylish neutral set underneath is the perfect way to compliment it, too.

HANNAH PANGILINAN

instagram/hannahpangilinan

The frequent traveler opted for a monochromatic, comfortable look with neutral pieces and a black bag as she visited the Glasgow Museum of Modern Art. Sidenote, this outfit is the cutest way to style for the cold—the puffer vest and turtleneck combo can’t be beat when you’re in colder climates.

AC BONIFACIO

Instagram/acbonifacio

Who says red hair clashes with outfits? AC Bonifacio’s Europe fashion was to die for, and here she is casually giving J-Lo green Versace dress vibes with this beige, black, and green slip dress that’s modern, edgy, and casual.

CIARA GAN

instagram/ciaragan

Content creator and student Ciara Gan is all about frilly, flowy, feminine ‘fits and Taylor Swift’s folklore-esque style. On her trips to New York, the young creator gives lower East Side vibes with long skirts and dresses, cowboy boots, and lacy camisoles.

REI GERMAR

instagram/reigermar

Content creator and influencer Rei Germar’s been on a roll lately, checking off her bucket list destinations one after the other. The influencer dresses with simplicity, but with an air of elegance. Her airy, breathable outfit here was perfect for the weather of Türkiye and was anything but boring.

LIZA SOBERANO

instagram/lizasoberano

Style chameleon Liza Soberano was giving trendy, preppy, K-drama-inspired slay with a pleated miniskirt with matching oversized blazer, Mary Janes with ankle socks, and a headband on her recent trip to Seoul.

ANDREA BRILLANTES

instagram/blythe

Andrea Brillantes served all kinds of casual glam during her trip to Europe, and this lace and leather jacket over a simple all-black outfit with a slicked-back ‘do and glasses proves you don’t need to go wild to look great abroad. You can be both comfy and stylish!

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Last year, on a metro train in Paris, two pickpockets hatched a pretty elaborate scheme that led to my wallet ending up on the floor and anxiety coursing through my veins.

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If you’re like me—chronically online—then you know the “attenzione pickpocket! ” lady on TikTok. Monica Poli went viral on social media almost exactly a year after I was the target of pickpockets on a metro train in Paris.

@cittadininondistratti2 #CITTADININONDISTRATTI #PICKPOCKETS #VENICE #BORSEGGIATRICI #cittadininondistratti #VENEZIA #BORSEGGIATORI ♬ suono originale – Cittadini Non Distratti

Getting stolen from is just a terrible thing. The hassle, worry, and stress of it all is just awful. But I got my wallet back pretty quickly, which is more than most victims could say. I’ll get into it later, but I remember feeling livid, indignant, and honestly, a little bit awed. I could not believe the pickpockets pulled off something like that.

Because I know the drill! I’ve traveled before. I’ve been to France before. My parents have constantly warned me about all the possible dangers lurking on the streets of Europe. I know all about the Italian rose scams and the Parisian taxi scams, and most of the other scams in Europe targeted at unwitting tourists. What I didn’t know was how elaborate pickpockets’ schemes could get.

THE INCIDENT

So there I was, on a train bound for the heart of the city, holding the pole because there were no more seats. My parents and sister were somewhere nearby. The doors open and these two young women who look like college students step in and position themselves behind and in front of me, grasping the pole.

The blonde girl in front of me has a giant tote that’s digging into my side, and the brunette behind me is holding a big jacket up against the pole. I realized later it was to block other passengers’ view of my bag.

I remember feeling irritated because why the hell was this blonde pressing backwards against me when there’s a perfectly good few feet of clear space right in front of us? She was so close to me that I thought about moving away to that clearing in the train car, but the bumpy ride made it impossible not to stumble.

Which is why I was unsurprised when the blonde, as the “distraction”, stumbled when she let go of the pole to fiddle with her bag. I—in my infinite, naive, kindness—grabbed her elbow and asked her, “Are you okay?” That’s probably when the brunette behind me unzipped my bag and took out my wallet.

@london_content Always be aware.. #pickpocketsitaly #pickpockets #milan #london_content #fypシ #fyp ♬ original sound – user2117519005342

Later, my dad told me that he sensed something was up immediately when the girls stepped in, which is why the moment we stepped out my dad told us to check our belongings. You can imagine the panic that flooded through my body when I saw my bag was unzipped and my wallet was missing—the same panic that led me to step back into the train alongside my dad who demanded my wallet back.

The girls pretended it just fell even though we and the entire train car saw the brunette toss it to the ground. We made it back outside seconds before the train doors closed, and I simply could not stop thinking about the incident for the rest of the day. You can bet I’m even more cautious of my belongings and surroundings now as it taught me valuable lessons I took to heart.

THE LESSONS

Always keep an eye and a hand on your belongings.

@miakellyyxx

♬ Attenzione Pickpocket – Remix – Wack Beats

This is why my phone is always in my hand. I tend not to put it in my bag so I’m always aware of where it is. I still remember how it felt, cold in my jacket pocket as I gripped it tightly on that train. I was, admittedly, a little less aware of my bag openings because I was distracted by the blonde invading my personal space. When I shared my experience online, my friend from Paris advised to always have a hand on your zipper. Not just your bag, but its zipper. That way there’s no way it can be opened without you feeling it.

Trust absolutely no one.

@alextrouvailles i had naive TOURIST written on my forehead but follow me for travel tips/vlogs anyway 😍 (why did i stand there and have a convo in 3 languages like they dont rob people lol) #paris #fyp #france #parisscam #travelvlog #parisian #traveltiktok #eiffeltower #traveltips #parisaesthetic #parisitinerary #traveltips #touristtrap #travel #pinterest #summer #europeansummer #french #europe ♬ Every Summertime – NIKI

I wonder if the blonde girl laughed at me later for falling for the “catching her when she stumbles” part of the scam. Anyway, trusting no one even if someone seems all nice and well-intentioned is a pretty good tip, especially to strangers in public. Sometimes we have to sacrifice being kind for our safety and the safety of our belongings.

Be not just vigilant, but hyper-vigilant.

@kirstenslater0

Where’s the attenzione pickpocket lady when you need her!

♬ original sound – user2117519005342

Paris is a pretty popular spot for pickpockets–the throngs of tourists make for easy pickings. But even if you think you’re aware of your surroundings or you’re in a pretty safe space, don’t let your guard down. If you think you already know everything about keeping your things safe, think again. It’s so easy to be distracted, especially when you’re purposely being distracted.

Try not to look like an easy target.

@kateinmontreal How to avoid getting pickpocketed in Europe! #europe #pickpocket #pickpockets #traveltips #europetravel #travelsafety ♬ Attenzione pickpocket x montagem – jovynn

On TikTok, there’s a current trend of videos of people showing the necessary steps they take to protect themselves from pickpockets and thieves. They turn their rings and watches inward, or put their expensive bags and sunglasses in canvas totes. While I personally won’t do anything too out of my way like that (granted, I don’t really dress extravagantly anyway), it’s generally a smart idea to not be too flashy and blend in, especially in new, unfamiliar places. Tourists are pickpocket fodder. So those TikToks may be onto something, but don’t be too obvious! Don’t give away that you have something valuable.

Beware of unusual behavior—trust your gut.

@_gisellemouk side eye and then quick grab x @Eliza Pearce #pickpocket #paris #eurosummer2023 #fyp #bestfriend ♬ what is love – edits

Both my dad and I felt uneasy on that train ride. I may have not known why at first, but I knew something was up. If any sort of doubt or questioning crosses your mind, take it seriously. Get out of a spot or situation that makes you feel like something’s wrong. Make any necessary moves to stay safe, because it’s better to be a cautious overthinker than to risk losing something you value.

Stay safe out there, and help others out too! Be the “attenzione pickpocket” lady (minus the racist views) the world needs.

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Whether you admit it or not, we all wish we were out on the beach and living our best lives just like the influencers we’re seeing on our Instagram feed.

The travel and tourism industry has been a large contributor to many global economies. And since there have been a lot of travel restrictions because of the pandemic, tourism and travel have since taken the plunge. Now, the borders of many tourist destinations have re-opened to visitors, so it’s time to help them get back at their feet.

RELATED: Face Mask Etiquette: The Dos and Don’ts When You’re Out In Public

Before anything else, this is a reminder that the world is still going through a global pandemic. That much hasn’t changed. So, when you’re traveling–and even when you reach the point of your destination–you should be mindful of the safety protocols, just like whenever you step out of the house. Don’t let your guard down: wear your mask, practice social distancing, and take that COVID-19 test. You may be going on vacation, but that doesn’t mean the virus is taking a vacation, too.

If you’re looking for vacation spots that are safe to stay at, then read on for the things you should consider before booking that trip to the beach, plus our resort and villa recommendations.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE GOING ON A VACATION

So you’re going out of town, at a place with lesser cases of the coronavirus? Then it’s your responsibility to be mindful of the safety protocols of the place you are going to.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Many destinations have created checkpoints, advocacy campaigns to communicate mask requirements, safe travel tips, simple reminders about the importance of caring for public lands, and covid test requirements. Follow and respect these guidelines.

When you travel, it’s important to plan ahead of time, research the destination, and book accommodation. When that’s done, you should secure a permit (if required) and take an antigen or PCR test.

No destination can guarantee your safety against the virus. It’s what you do at the destination that makes a difference. 

The safest places to stay are standalone units like private villas and resorts that you have for yourself. Some villas have their own private pools and cabins, which means it’s easier to stay away from the crowd.

Another thing you should consider is an emergency escape plan. Don’t go to too remote places in case you get sick or need emergency assistance.

ALL SET? HERE ARE THE BEST VACATION SPOTS FOR WHEN YOU WANT TO QUARANTINE IN LEISURE

YSLA VILLA, SAN JUAN

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A post shared by Ysla Villa San Juan (@yslavilla)

Ysla Villa is a private vacation home in San Juan, La Union with a gorgeous view of the beach—the perfect island retreat. They have a private pool, outdoor kitchen, and dining area. Ysla Villa is also just a minute drive away from the surfing area in San Juan.

2-bedroom villa: P8000 per night

Max no. of guests: 4

1-bedroom villa: P6000 per night

Max no. of guests: 2

(San Juan, La Union is just about a 4-hour drive away from Metro Manila.)

CURBSIDE VILLA, SURFTOWN

Opening soon, Curbside Villa is just a few minutes walk from the main beach of La Union. With breakfast from their in-house restaurant, Little Canggu, you won’t have to wake up worrying about what to eat that day. Each of the eight villa suite comes with a private patio, 2 double-sized beds, air conditioning, private hot and cold rain shower, fresh towels, and special conditioning shampoo and body wash.

Intro rate: P6500 per night

Max no. of guests: 4

LANDRINA ESCAPE, MORONG

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Landrina Escape is a cozy beachside getaway in Morong, Bataan. They have three villas, each with a private pool and beautiful interiors–you wouldn’t want to leave the villa. It’s the place to go to if you simply want to relax away from the city.

Villa 1 (2-BR) starts at P17,850 per night for up to 8 adults.
Villa 2 (1-BR) starts at P12,850 per night for up to 5 adults.
Villa 3 (new 1-BR) starts at P15,000 per night for up to 5 adults.

CASA KALINAW, BATANGAS

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Casa Kalinaw is a newly-built, spacious beachfront vacation home in San Juan, Batangas. This 5-bedroom home can fit up to 16 guests and you can have the entire villa to yourself.

3-bedroom villa: P20,000 per night

Max no. of guests: 15

4-bedroom villa: P25,000 per night

Max no. of guests: 16

5-bedroom villa: P30,000 per night

Max no. of guests: 16

(San Juan, Batangas is about 2 hours and 45 minutes away from Metro Manila by car.)

G HOUSE AT ALFONSO

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A post shared by G House at Alfonso (@ghousealfonso)

G House at Alfonso is a sustainable private villa in Barangay Amuyong, Alfonso, Cavite. It was once a clubhouse that was re-invented to become an eco-friendly home. The four-bedroom villa can accommodate up to 16 people. They have a beautiful private pool and a spacious living room.

4-bedroom villa: P30,000 per night on weekdays and P35,000 per night on weekends

Max no. of guests: 16

(G House Alfonso is near Tagaytay and is at least an hour and a half from Metro Manila.)

DOMESCAPE, NASUGBU

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In the mood for some glamping (glamorous camping)? Then Domescape is the one for you. Located in Nasugbu, Calabarzon, each Moroccan-inspired dome house is an opulent family vacation house in the heart of nature. Guests will also have a private natural swimming pool beside their dome and a bonfire can be used as per request by guests.

One Dome: P7500 per night

Max no. of guests: 4

(Nasugbu is about 2 hours and 10 minutes away from Metro Manila by car.)