South Korea is not only the mecca of all K-POP groups, but also luxurious beaches, mysterious monuments of ancient dynasties and healing mineral springs. And, of course, incredible skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology.
Believe me: there really is something to see.
Getting there
By plane
Previously, direct flights to Seoul flew from Moscow every day: Aeroflot delivered passengers for & nbsp; 8 hours 20 minutes, Korean Air – in 8 hours 45 minutes. Now you can only get there with transfers in Abu Dhabi, Doha or Tashkent. Etihad, Uzbekistan Airways or Qatar Airways fly. Prices for round-trip tickets – from 35,284 to 87,270 rubles. You will have to spend about 16 hours on the way.
Seoul Incheon Airport is one of the largest in the world and the largest and busiest in Asia. It is located 70 km from the capital on two abandoned islands in the Yellow Sea – Yeonjondo and Yeonyudo.
You can get from the airport to the city by train, bus or taxi:
– Train. There are two types: All-stop train (which makes a dozen stops) and Express train (it goes directly to Seoul Station).
– Buses. There are municipal and superior. Usually they leave from the stop opposite the exits from terminal No. 1 from 5:00 to 0:00 every 15-20 minutes.
– Taxi. English speaking drivers stop in front of gates 4C-4D. In Korean, at gates 5C-8C. Grab and Uber do not work in Korea, but there is a local alternative – the Kakao T app.
By train and ferry
Long and difficult route: you will have to spend more than a week on the road. First you need to take a train to Vladivostok. Then, walk to the ferry pier. From there, 1-3 times a week, DBS Cruise Ferry ferries depart, which will take you to South Korean Donghae in a day. Not far from the Donghae Pier there is a railway station from which you can take a five-hour train ride to Seoul.
Entry rules
Visa
South Korea has returned a visa-free regime. Citizens of the Russian Federation can enter the country without a visa for up to 60 days. But before that, at least 72 hours before the trip, it is necessary to issue an electronic entry permit K-ETA.
Important: A permit does not guarantee entry into Korea. The final decision rests with the immigration officer.
No visa is required for transit flights. You can stay at the airport up to 24 hours without leaving the transit zone.
Exotic fruits such as durian can be found in the South Korean market < /i>
Covid restrictions
To enter, you must show a negative PCR test result obtained 48 hours before departure. Or an antigen test not older than 24 hours before departure. The test result can be printed or uploaded to the site. After arriving in the country, you need to pass another test within 24 hours.
It is necessary to observe the mask regime and social distance.
Which cities to go to
Seoul
The capital of South Korea and one of the largest cities in the world. Historical sights and business districts are concentrated in the center and in the north of the city, and in the south there are mainly sleeping areas.
Busan
The second largest city in the country. Famous for its magnificent beaches, hot springs, national parks. Lovers of a relaxing holiday and nature – definitely here.
Incheon
A bustling and trendy metropolis that surprisingly combines skyscrapers, huge shopping malls, casinos and old quarters with authentic oriental architecture.
Housing
Hotels in South Korea do not have a European classification system, but their own. There are five categories in total: super deluxe and deluxe (4 and 5 star hotels with SPA, swimming pools and fitness centers), first (3 * +), second (3 *) and third class (2 *) hotels . The price for a night in a low-class hotel starts from 4,300 rubles. Deluxe will cost more than 10,410 rubles.
A popular and economical option is small city hotels. They are called yogwans. For about 1500 rubles. and above you will get a room with air conditioning, telephone, TV, shower and toilet. True, you will most likely have to sleep on blankets on the floor.
Important: It is customary for locals to sleep on the floor. If you require a bed, be sure to indicate when you book your room that you want a western-style room.
The cheapest option is to stay in a hostel (but you need to book well in advance) or the Korean bath “chimchilbang”. In the latter, you can take a steam bath and wash at the same time, but you will have to sleep in a large room with strangers. But it will cost just a little over 500 rubles.
Street Food in Seoul
< h2 style="font-weight: 700; text-align: center;">Food
The basis of Korean nutrition is rice in all its forms and methods of preparation. Everything else is essentially just a snack for rice: small bowls with sauces, meat, fish, vegetables are placed right around the rice bowl. An important place in the diet of Koreans is occupied by a variety of fatty soups: beef broth with ribs, soy soup with yolk and shellfish, spicy seafood soup, and the like.
The role of desserts is usually performed by candied or boiled fruits in syrup, as well as cookies in the form of walnuts hodkvazha.
Tea is almost never drunk in Korea. Instead of it – ordinary hot water, as well as rice or barley decoctions and herbal tinctures.
Koreans drink a lot of alcohol. Mainly rice wine “maccory” and also rice liquor “soju”, reminiscent of vodka.
There are also European restaurants, but the choice of dishes in them is small. Usually only schnitzel in a thin layer of dough and its various variations. Middle-class Koreans go here when they want to eat something unusual.
Top 10 Korean Foods You Can't Miss
Kimchi
Traditional Korean snack. Salted cabbage seasoned with red pepper, garlic, ginger and shallots.
Gimchichjigae
A type of kimchi. Green onions, garlic, tofu, mushrooms and plenty of red chili peppers are added to the dish, and served hot so that you can fully experience its taste and spiciness.
Kamdzhatkhan (Kamdyatan)
Spicy stew with pork backbone or ribs and vegetables, as well as red pepper. Usually served late in the evening.
Omuk
Popular street food. Fish long cutlets or strips on a stick.
Teokbokki
Favorite dish of Korean students. Spicy rice dumplings with vegetables, meat, seafood or just like that.
Haejangguk
A popular hangover remedy. Beef broth with cabbage, bean sprouts, radishes and chunks of congealed bull's blood.
Tansuyuk
Pork in sweet and sour sauce. In addition to pieces of meat fried in breadcrumbs, pieces of onion and carrots, and sometimes even pineapple, are added to the sauce.
Gimbap
Korean rolls. Usually in the composition of rice, beef, pickled daikon, carrot, cucumber, egg, sesame oil and noria leaves.
Dotorimuk
Cold acorn starch jelly with chopped leek and soy sauce. Serves as a side dish or as an ingredient in salads with rice.
Bingsu
A popular summer dessert. Sweetened red beans are topped with condensed milk, fruit syrup, ice cream and cornflakes on a bed of grated ice.
South Korea has recently reopened to travelers after a long period of closed borders due to covid restrictions, and now you do not want to miss the opportunity to taste the amazing culture. When choosing travel with YouTravel.me travel experts, you don’t have to worry about routes, bus tickets, train tickets, where it’s better to eat and spend the night cheaper, the organizer takes care of these worries.
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