General

Food

• 계란빵 (Gyeran-ppang) - Egg bread
• 떡볶이 (Tteokbokki) - Spicy rice cakes from street cart is the best
• 만두 (Mandoo) - Dumplings
• 부꾸미 (Bukkumi) - Try one with red bean paste
• 순대 (Soondae) - Blood sausages
• 양념치킨 (Yangnyeom-chikin) - Sweet, sour, & spicy Korean fried chicken
• 어묵국 (Eomuk-guk) - Korean Fishcake Stew, similar to Japanese oden
• 쥐포 (Jwipo) - Traditional Korean pressed fish jerky
• 호떡 (Hotteok) - Sweet Korean pancake. Try the Green tea version too.
• 회오리 감자 - Tornado potato stick
• 오징어통구이 (Ojingeo-tonggui) - Spicy grilled squid
• 오징어튀김 (Ojingeo-twigim) - Fried dried squid
• Tall ice cream - Something like 32cm! (Can be had in Myeongdong for sure)

Things to do

• 찜질방 (Jimjilbang) - Traditional Korean bathhouse

서울 (Seoul)

Food

• 명동야시장 - Myeongdong night market sells lots of street food
• 노량진수산시장 - Noryangjin Fish Market
• Holly’s - Coffee franchise

홍대 (Hongdae)

• 콩불 (Kongbul) - Stir-fry

• Thanks Nature Cafe - Sheep cafe!

• 누나홀닭 (Noonaholdak) - Fried chicken

• 신당동떡볶이골목 - Sindang-dong Tteokbokki Town

  • This whole area serves Tteokbokki like shared hot pot
  • 마복림할머니 막내아들네 - Liked this place

Things to do

• 반포대교 (Banpo Bridge) - Looks great at night with lights
• 서울타워 (Seoul Tower)
  • Cable car had a long wait
  • There is an area full of locks
• 올림픽공원 (Olympic Park) - Do the stamp tour. Lonely Tree had the best stamp.

Seoul Palace Pass

• Closed on Monday
  • 창덕궁 (Changdeokgung)
    • 창덕궁 후원 - Changdeokgung Secret Garden offers a guided tour
  • 덕수궁 (Deoksugung Palace)
  • 창경궁 (Changgyeonggung Palace)
• Closed on Tuesday
  • 경복궁 (Gyeongbokgung Palace)
    • You can take a photo of the Blue House from here
    • National Folk Museum of Korea included with admission
    • National Palace Museum of Korea included with admission
  • 종묘 (Jongmyo Shrine)

Shows

• NANTA - Non-verbal comedy show based on cooking
• JUMP - Non-verbal comedy show based on martial arts

Shopping

• 동대문종합시장 - Dongdaemun market
• 고투몰 (Gotomall) - Underground shopping mall
• 명동거리 - Myeondong shopping area sells all the cosmetics
• Starfield Coex Mall

수원 (Suwon)

• 수원화성 (Suwon Hwaseong)
  • About 2-3 hours to circle on foot but there's a trolly alternative
  • Do the stamp tour! I believe it was 6 stops

제주 (Jeju)

• Rent a car to get around more easily

Food

• 명진전복 (Myeong Jin Jeon Bok) - Abalone
• 흑돼지 (Heuk Dweji) - Black pig, local culinary speciality

Things to do

• 한라산 국립공원 (Hallasan National Park)
  • Yeongsil trail - Doesn't go to the summit but the easiest and most scenic. Around 3-4 hours each way.
• 오설록 티 뮤지엄 (O’sulloc Tea Museum)
  • Innisfree Jeju House
  • Soap workshop was fun
• 김녕미로공원 (Gimnyeong Maze Park) - Not that big and wasn’t that challenging
• 소인국 테마파크 (Soingook Theme Park) - Miniature park
• 천제연폭포 (Cheonjeyeon Waterfalls) - Waterfalls light up at night
• 테디베어박물관 - Teddy Bear Museum

Combo ticket

• 산방굴사 (Sanbanggulsa Grotto)
• 용머리해안 (Yongmeori Coast) - Dragon Head Cliff
• 만장굴 (Manjanggul Cave) - Chilly inside since it’s a cave but not scary

부산 (Busan)

Food

• 오반장 (Oh Banjang) - Loved the outdoor KBBQ!
• 옥다방 (Okdabang)

Things to do

• 해동용궁사 (Haedong Yonggungsa Temple) - Quite far on public transit but the seaside temple is beautiful
• 태종대유원지 (Taejongdae Park) - Ride the circular "Danubi Train” to enjoy the scenery
• 해운대해수욕장 (Haeundae Beach)
  • Aquarium right on the beach
  • Mermaid statue - Along the way to the lighthouse
  • 동백섬 등대 - Dongbaekseom Lighthouse
• 광안리해수욕장 (Gwangalli Beach) - Can see the 광안대교 (Gwangan Bridge) light up at night

찜질방 (Jimjilbang)

• 힐스파 (Hilseupa) - Used to be called Vesta Spa...
• 스파랜드 (SPA LAND)
• 허심청온천탕 (Hurshimchung Spa)
• 해운대온천센터 (Haeundae Spa Center)