What we’d do differently next time in South Korea
Every one of our trips leaves us with memories, stories, diary entries — and a few things we’d probably do a little differently if we had our time again. South Korea was no exception. We fell in love with the culture, the food, and the beer. But there are definitely a few lessons we’re taking into the planning of our next visit.
Since we got back, excited friends and coworkers have peppered us with questions: Did you go to Nami Island? Head up to Bukhansan National Park? We thought our itinerary was packed, but there’s so much we didn’t do — and maybe a few things we wouldn’t do again next time.
So here’s our honest look back: what we’d tweak, what we learned, and where we’re already dreaming of going when we (inevitably) return to Korea. After all, we’re nothing if not nerdy planners.
Guards in traditional dress outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul’s largest and most iconic royal palace.
Things we got right (and would totally do again)
Eating our way through the vegan offerings
Before going to Korea, we kept hearing: “You’re vegetarian—what are you going to eat?” That came from folks whose idea of Korean food started and ended with BBQ. Turns out, Seoul’s vegan scene is thriving. We tucked into bulgogi at Osegye Hyang, snacked through the backstreets of Vegan Insa, had a chilled lunch at Café Siva, hung out at Plant Café in Itaewon, and devoured tteokbokki, japchae, and even vegan fried chicken at Vegan Kitchen.
Staying near Insadong in Seoul
We picked our hotel for its proximity to all the beer spots we wanted to hit, but instantly loved the area. Insadong is calmer than Myeongdong or Seoul Station yet close to Jogyesa Temple, Bukchon Hanok Village, art galleries, and Gyeongbokgung Palace. By night, it comes alive with sizzling street food and bustling bars.
Seeing a baseball game
There’s nothing like Korean baseball. We grabbed tickets at Jamsil Baseball Stadium the moment the box office opened, and the night that followed was gloriously surreal. Chanting, dancing, draft beer poured from backpacks, and a stadium that felt more like a K‑pop concert than a sports event. Oh, and somewhere in there, a baseball game happened too.
Focusing on one or two cities
With limited travel time, it’s tempting to cram in everything. We had two weeks and somehow first planned Tokyo, Kyoto, Busan, and Seoul. Then we pared it back to Busan, Jeju Island, and Seoul. By the time we booked, we’d settled on just Seoul and Busan—and we were all the better for it. It gave us time to really explore, and more importantly, relax. After all, it was a holiday.
What we’d do different next time
Plan for days ‘off’
Sitting on a bed in Busan, streaming a show and eating supermarket noodles, we had a revelation: it’s okay to do very little. You don’t need to tick off a big sight every day. Just because you’re in a different city doesn’t mean old habits have to disappear. Have a holiday from yourself while still being yourself. Next big trip, a laundry-and-flop day is going straight into the itinerary.
Get out into nature
It’s easy to get lost in a big city like Seoul—believe us, we’ve tried. But there’s so much nature so close to the city. Bukhansan National Park is only 45 minutes from Seoul Station by public transport, and further afield, Nami Island looks stunning. We had our hiking boots with us: next time, we’ll actually get them dirty.
Prepare for the pollution
According to NASA, Seoul is one of the most polluted cities in the world. Every night, we woke up with blocked noses. At first we thought we’d caught a cold or seasonal allergies, but it quickly became clear we just weren’t used to the air. Even locals wear masks outdoors. Next time: N95s, Vicks inhalers, and plenty of water breaks.
Where we’re going next time (or what’s on our list)
Jeju Island
This was high on our list the first time, but we couldn’t squeeze in more without turning the trip into a marathon. Next time, Jeju’s volcanic landscapes are calling—Hallasan Mountain, seafront cliffs, waterfalls, Joseon-era houses—and, of course, the food and the beer. It’s the home of Magpie Brewing, after all.
Gyeongui Line Forest Park (aka Yeontral Park)
We only discovered this after we got home. Like New York’s High Line, it was created when the old Gyeongui Line—once running to the North—was moved underground, along with the Airport Railroad Express. Above ground, the space was transformed into a leafy linear park. Keeping the NYC inspiration, locals call it Yeontral Park.
Cheese-making fun at Imsil Cheese Theme Park – Korea’s delightfully quirky dairy destination. Image source: Visit Korea
Imsil Cheese World
One of those random YouTube finds we became slightly obsessed with—Korea’s answer to Swiss dairy kitsch. Cheese-making, cow-petting, and all the joyful weirdness we live for. So why didn’t we go? It’s a solid 2.5 to 6 hours from Seoul, depending on your mode of transport. Next time, we’re making it happen.
More breweries
On our last trip to South Korea, we hit 18 taphouses and brewpubs and tasted 89 different beers. Next time, we’re going for gold. We’re chasing wild ales at Coolship, the local flavours of Seoul Brewery, and hanok-style sipping at Aledang. US-inspired brews at Mysterlee are also on the list. And if we make it to Jeju? Magpie Brewery, Bluebird by Magpie, and Jeju Beer Brewery are non-negotiable stops.
Want more of our Seoul and Korea content? Check out our other coverage.
Got your own Korea tips? Drop them on our socials – we’re already building the itinerary!
