Budget Seoul Trip Itinerary - 7 days 6 Nights

Seoul was the first North Asia city that I visited. With the hype of Korean drama especially about the royal Korean food at that time, it is a interesting and wise destination choice. Seoul has a fascinating mix of old and new. Around the city, there are many old palaces which you can explore and I indeed spent 2.5 days just to visit all 4 major palaces in Seoul. You can purchase combination ticket with entrance to all 5 main attractions at just 10,000 Won (USD9.00). Seoul also have modern skyscrapers, mega human made river park, world's largest corporations and efficient subway systems. There are many districts which suits one interest to visit. From fashionable and young Apgujeong district to traditional and old Gwanghwamun district.


Get a T-Card if you stay a week in Seoul and plan to fully utilize their subway systems. Over the years, T-Card has integrated into many restaurant and shops around Seoul. So it can be use as cash card as well. Using T-Card provide you with convenience and you will also get discount of 100 Won on each subway ride. Seoul has become a success model in creating a cashless society.

Clean and spacious airport express train.

Changing of guards in Gyeongbokgung palace.

World famous Cheonggyecheon stream. Successful model of urban renewal.

Autumn foliage in Gyeongbokgung palace.

Busy shopping street of Myeongdong.

Cute teddy bears in Teddy Bear museum at Namsan Tower.

Seoul olympic park. They hosted the 1988 olympic games.

Trick eye museum nearby Hongik University.

Rainbow bridge fountain at Banpo Hangang Park.

Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening	Night
Day 1 (Fri)	1. Arrival from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul via Malaysia Airlines on Boeing 777 flight. The journey takes approximately 7.5 hours. 2. Purchase T-Card from 7-Eleven located at Incheon Airport. 3. Check in at Kimchi Hongdae hostel near Hongik University Station.	1. Having eel bento set lunch at O Bento	1. Visit Gyeongbokgung the largest palace in Seoul. 2. Visit Cheonggyecheon the best model of urbal renewal. Great park to visit.	1. Dinner near Dongdaemun station. Good vegetarian bibimbap and cheap. 2. Explore around Dongdaemun area. 3. Explore Myeongdong shopping street. Many fashionable boutiques and street food stalls are available. Large crowd at night.
Day 2 (Sat)	1. Having bread as breakfast purchased from bakery from the night before. 2. Visit UNESCO world heritage palace of Changdeokgung. Historic palace with private garden.	1. Drinking shikhye drink (Korean rice fermented drink) 2. Having vegetarian bibimbap as lunch.	1. Visit Korean traditional old houses. 2. Took bus. Heading to Namsan Tower. 3. Visit teddy bear museum which is just located at ground floor of Namsan Tower. Take the combination ticket of Namsan Tower and teddy bear museum for extra savings.	1. Visit Itaewon and have handmade noodles kalguksu as dinner.
Day 3 (Sun)	1. Visit Deoksu palace for guarding changing ceremony and to view the westernized feature of the palace.	1. Visiting Jongmyo shrine and took their walking tour. You can't walk alone in Jongmyo shrine. Do follow the time of your preferred language tour. 2. Having pork chop as lunch	1. Heading to Samgakji subway station to visit The Korea War Memorial. This is the world largest war memorial with many actual planes and war ships on display.	1. Visit shopping area of Dongdaemun. 2. Chicken ginseng soup dinner at Dongdaemun
Day 4 (Mon)	1. Autumn colours view at Seoul Olympic Park	1. Yeouido Hangang park visit. You are able to view the colourful flowers in the park and the 63 building which is among the tallest building in Seoul.		1. Beef soup dinner near Seoul station. 2. Visit Seoul station Lotte Mart. This is a large Lotte Mart. 3. Night view of Cheonggyecheon river stream. 4. Late night supper of traditional Korean delicacy of haemul pajeon and makgeolli.
Day 5 (Tue)	1. Unique Trick Eye museum in Hongik University area.	1. Tried the banana milk drink. 2. National Museum of Korea visit. Many ceramics on display.		1. Visit COEX shopping mall. I don't recommend to visit this shopping mall as product are mostly high end. 2. Dinner of bibimbap at COEX Mall. 3. Check out the media poles at Gangnam area.
Day 6 (Wed)	1. Spicy pork stew breakfast.	1. Visit antique street of Insadong.	1. Visit Namdaemun market. Snacking at Namdaemun market.	1. heading to dongguk station to view Rainbow bridge fountain. This musical water fountain performance only available during autumn. 2. Tried Tteokbokki during supper.
Day 7 (Thur)	1. Going back home from Incheon airport to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines flight.

War Memorial of Korea @ Seoul

The War Memorial of Korea were once the headquarters of the Korean infantry. This memorial is the largest war memorial in the world. There are 8 main exhibits in the War Memorial. The visitors can learn all about the Korean's war history by visiting the war history exhibit. You may also witness how the Korean military developed over the years. Different kinds of weapons and military equipment are exhibited as well. The larger equipment were displayed outside the building. Many of the documents such as files and artifacts of the war are preserved in the storage room in the memorial. This memorial gives an excellent insight on the history and current state of affairs in Korea. There are nationalistic propaganda here and there but it's a reminder of the suffering and brutality of war and what many had to endure. Inspiring of what South Korea had been thru and able to develop in fast pace in to a modern society and dominates the world in term of technology, cultural and economy.

This is an excellent museum to visit if you like military things and like to learn about Korean history. Entry is free. The memorial gave me a new perspective on who were all involved in the original conflict and also the fact that the war is not actually over yet and its actually on a long cease fire! Outside the memorial is great if you like planes and war ships.


Welcome to War Memorial of Korea.


Flags of the countries who supported South Korea during the Korean war.

The names of soldiers who killed during the Korean war.

Corridor with many war paintings.

Overlooking war memorial lobby from second floor.

The model shows how the Korean survive during the war. They built underground passage leading to their hideout.

Large barrack in front of the entrance to the war memorial.

South Korea appreciates the help provided from the countries during the war.


Memorial plaque for UN forces fallen in the Korean war.

The Korean government also educate their citizen on the precaution and steps to take incase of nuclear attack. Wow, this is very advance and forward thinking. The leaflet also educate on how to minimize the radiation exposure.

Military uniform.

French military uniform.

England military uniform.

Cannons used during war time.

Old Korean military uniform.

Korean traditional drum.

Korean royal/kings.


War memorial during sunset. Large space in front of the memorial.

War planes.

Military tank.

War ship with many bullet holes.

Walking distance from Samgakji Seoul subway station.

GPS/Coordinate: 37.533755, 126.980448
Address: 1-8, Yongsan-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-021, South Korea
Public transport: Samgakji Station (Seoul Subway Line 6), Exit 1, 11 or 12. You may also stop at Namyeong Station (Seoul Subway Line 1), Exit 1.

Outback Steakhouse @ Anchorage, Alaska

Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-themed American casual dining restaurant chain based in Tampa, Florida and have many outlets in many countries. They have an outlet at Mid Town Anchorage and it is just 5 minutes walk from the hostel that I stayed previously.

Taste:8/10(Good. The salmon fillet prepared were good and well seasoned. The blue cheese wedge salad were great and this is my first time having salad with both blue cheese and bacon. Great combination).
Price:6/10(Moderate. For the price of USD19.90, I get the fish, vegetables, salad and bread with butter. Quite a good dinner nearby the place that I stayed).



Fresh catch salmon. Seasoned and grilled fillet with seasonal mixed vegetables.

Bread and butter.


This classic blue cheese wedge salad were great.

A bottle of American Budweiser beer.

The environment is like a sports bar.

Outback Steakhouse in Mid Town Anchorage.

GPS/Coordinate: 61.190141, -149.883920
Address: 101 W 34th Ave, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, USA.
Public transport: People Mover bus stop at 32th Avenue of A street or C street.

Jewish quarter of Balat in Istanbul, Turkey

Balat located in old city of Istanbul is richest in history, unique architecture and characteristic. It is one of the places in the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, not many tourist visit this area as it is basically unknown and indeed not many tour bring the tourist here. The tour will usually make an easy move by providing the sight around Sultanahmet and Galata area for commercial reason. Balat was previously a neighbourhood of the Jewish rich but they have moved to district of Sisli in 1960. After that the neighbourhood populated by immigrants of low income. During year 2005, Balat area has been listed in UNESCO World Heritage and a huge redevelopment project has been planned for the area. Exploring Balat is challenging if you don't know the area well as the people there don't speak in English and the street might not be in Google Maps. I don't think that I will discover/visit this place if it wasn't introduced by the local tour that I took in Istanbul.


View of a street in Balat, Istanbul.


Traditional houses in Balat, Istanbul.

The houses here looks very old with narrow stairs.


Some of the colourful houses.


The area provides beautiful view as the houses were build on slope.

Clothing hang over a street.


Children playing in Balat neighbourhood. Since the area is hilly, the children enjoyed playing sliding down the street.

Reached the town.

Liceo Greco church. Very unique architecture in Balat.

GPS/Coordinate: 41.031627, 28.946493
Public transport: Taxi/Ferry at Balat jetty.