Activities
Seoul is simply brimming with interesting attractions and visitors will be able to explore ancient palaces, temples and historical sites, which are situated alongside modern amusement parks, aquariums and science centres.
Climate
In overall, South Korea has four seasons - Spring in April to May, Summer in the middle of the year, Autumn in September to November and Winter from November/ December until March.
Autumn season from September to November is definitely one of the best seasons to visit Korea with its sunny weather and spectacular colourful foliage.
Eating Out
Eating out in Korea is a great experience. A bit of the culture and social life revolves around the food while not ignoring the fact that the city is packed withal kinds of restaurants. The cuisine generally is quite cheap, diverse and rich.
There are Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Western restaurants to choose from.
Getting Around
Along with walking, there are various means of going around in Seoul. Using the subway system is the best recommended option as it is inexpensive and fares are based on distance travelled. At peak hours, the subway may be congested by Seoulites and it is only available until midnight, not 24 hours.
The city also has a very well connected and extensive bus transportation service. Taxis are also cheap for short distances but it is good to have the destination address in Korean as most of the drivers rarely speak English.
Kids Attractions
The Seoul Special city is a kids-friendly destination with various attractions for children. A visit to the world's second largest indoor theme park - Lotte World, Sevit Floating Islands and the world's longest bridge fountain - Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, is recommended. The Everland, Children's Grand Park and Seoul Land are other options to explore.
Language
The official language is Korean; however, major tourist attractions offer language services in English, Japanese and Chinese.
Money
The currency of South Korea is the Korean Won (₩ KRW). The notes are in the denominations of KRW 1000, 5000, 10, 000 and 50, 000 while the coins in 10, 50, 100 and 500. Due to inflations, coins are rarely used by some locals and ATMs are widely available in subway stations, convenience stores and hotels.
Credit cards accepted by most businesses, but some smaller food places and markets are cash only.
Negatives
South Korea is also one of the safest countries in Asia. Violent street crime is extremely rare and guns are virtually non-existent among the civilian population. Muggings, beatings, kidnappings and other crimes are a rarity in Seoul, especially among foreigners.
Night Life
Seoul offers some of the best nightlife in Asia. The Seoul Nightlife scene can be a bit overwhelming and there are options to choose from based on preference.
The Itaewon area is a popular hub for tourists, to hang out at affordable clubs and western-style bars. Hongdae, Seoul biggest college town, houses hundreds of clubs and dozens of bars. Gangnam Station is a bit classier than the aforementioned duo and more popular among Koreans, especially the youth. Apgujeong is a much classier neighbourhood and home to Seoul’s mega club scene. The clubs and bars here are very classy and expensive.
Shopping
Seoul offers excellent shopping opportunities from luxurious shopping malls and department houses to underground shopping markets with hundreds of stalls filled with quality finds for next to nothing (when you bargain a bit).
Sightseeing
Seoul is an incredible city with a lot to see. Major modern landmarks include – iconic N Seoul Tower, the gold-clad 63 Building, Mt. Bukhan (tallest mountain in Seoul & world's most visited national park per square foot) and the Dongdaemun Design Plaza. For in-depth knowledge of the rich history and culture of Korea and Koreans – the National Museum of Korea, National War Memorial and Trickeye Museum are some of the places to visit.
The city also contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites – the Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.
Time
KST (Korea Standard Time) - UTC/GMT + 9 hours