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Biteth
Hello Shelley
Many thanks for the article on the Seollal in Seoul. I would be stopping over in Seoul exactly during the Seollal weekend this year and was pondering where to stay. I read that you like staying in Myeongdong during such holidays for easy access to attractions and events, but I am someone who just love wondering around the city and park and have no interest in the usual tourist attraction 🙂 I am now down to 2 hotels: Lotte in Myeongdong or Lotte World. Which area is more crowded during Seollal and which area will have better access to street food and food court at that time?
shelley
Hello! Do you mean Lotte World in Jamsil? Last year, I stayed in Myeongdong area at Seollal, and it was kind of a ghost town….even Starbucks was closed, but we WERE a little bit out of the food street / touristy area. I expect that these things would be open during Seollal, particularly in the evening / night. Lotte World / Jamsil area is kinda a zoo all the time, because high population of locals + tourists visiting this area (I live near here), but definitely a lot to see and do. Olympic Park is also walking distance from Lotte World Mall – Seokchon Lake is behind the mall + it’s easy access to most places in the city, because it’s on Line 2 subway line…
Florencia Tachella Costa
Hi Shelley, how are you. My family will be visiting corea this new year 2024.
I have booked The Shilla Hotel and Four seasons. Have no idea if they are well located and which one of them will you recommend?. On the other hand do you hace any tour or experience (apart from the typicall city tours etc) I just should not miss with daughters age 19 and 23?. Would have loved to see a kpop concert but there is nothing those dates. Thanks for your help. Sincerely, flor
shelley
Hi Flor, both those hotels are in great locations, so it’s really just your personal preference. You won’t go wrong with either one. I have a private FB group that’s for Korea travel planning. I recommend joining the group and taking advantage of the hive mind there. There are nearly 50k people in the group who are all planning or have planned trips to Korea. It’s here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/koreatravelplanning
Karlie
We are a family of 4 travelling from regional Australia to SK in March, we would love it visit some national parks and see the wildlife whilst we are there, we aren’t brave enough to hire a car so would love to see some info on seeing the sights and nature around Seoul, Busan, Geoje and Incheon.
Thanks
shelley
Sounds like a great trip! I don’t think you need a car for Seoul, Busan, and Incheon, but Geoje would be a lot easier for you with a car. It’s not difficult to drive there at all – there’s hardly any traffic, and it’s a pretty big island. I think you’d waste a lot of time trying to use public transit there. In the latter half of March, the plum blossoms bloom in Maehwa Village near Gwangyang, and sansuyu in Sansuyu Village in Gurye. These are the first signs of spring in Korea, so you might want to look into those. If you’re here in the last week of March, there’s a good chance, cherry blossoms will start blooming in the southern regions of the country too.
Lois
Hi Shelley! You’re blog is so great!! My husband and I are going to be in Seoul 28th Dec-2nd Jan this year and I’d love to figure out the best way to bring in the New Year! Are there some good restaurants to eat at and then be able to see the fireworks??? I’d love some recommendations! Maybe even a whole blog post on what to do for NYE! Thanks so much!
shelley
Hi Lois! thanks for the nice words. So, I do have a NYE blog post that I’m in the midst of updating, but Korea tends to post info late. I know there’s a Gatsby party on Some Sevit Island, but no news yet on fireworks. Maybe check back maybe in a couple weeks for that updated post?
Mary Anne Zupan
My husband and I would like to see the lighting festival at the Garden of the Morning Calm – please send info how to book. Thank you.
shelley
Hi Mary Anne – do you have your own transport? If not, I recommend booking an all-inclusive day tour. I use Klook to book tours usually – this one covers both Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm… if you have time, the Gangchon Rail Bike is also a great experience to include. You can customize and book a tour here: https://bit.ly/3sq906e
Make sure to select the evening times to see the Lighting Festival, as follows:
[Winter] Nami Island + The Garden of Morning Calm (3 Dec 2021-14 Mar 2022)
11:50 Depart from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 4
12:30 Depart from Myeongdong Station Exit 2
12:40 Depart from Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station Exit 10
14:00 Arrive at Nami Island
18:00 Leave for The Garden of Morning Calm
18:40 Arrive at The Garden of Morning Calm
20:40 Leave for Seoul
I have a full post on visiting which you can check out here: https://travel-stained.com/garden-of-morning-calm-lighting-festival-winter/
Feel free to email me if you still have questions. Enjoy! It’s wonderful!