South Korea Travel: Honest Guide from an Indian Traveler
Getting There and Visa Stuff
yo bro, flew from delhi to incheon on indigo via bangkok, one way was like 22k inr coz i booked last min, return 28k. direct flights on korean air or air india are 40k+ yaar, dun waste money unless u hate layovers. visa wise, indians need teh full tourist visa from seoul embassy in delhi, costs abt 4500 inr incl tatkal fees i paid extra. processing took 5 days, but mine got delayed to 10 coz of some chinese new year bullshit even in 2026 lol. apply online first at hometravel.kr or watever, print n submit. no visa on arrival, dun listen to reddit randos.
Where I Stayed
crashed at ibis styles myeongdong for first 4 nites, 4500 inr/night on booking.com, central af but room was tiny like sardine tin yaar, ac leaked water on bed once. then shifted to hongdae guesthouse called travelley parking, 2800 inr/night, cooler vibe with young crowd but walls thin af, heard neighbours banging at 3am every nite. tbh hongdae better for nightlife, myeongdong sucks for sleep coz street noise n crowds. both had free wifi n breakfast but korean style oats were bland af.
Food and What to Eat
kimchi everywhere, free side but spicy af, gave me teh runs on day 2. bibimbap at local joints 600-800 inr, decent veg option mix rice veggies egg. street tteokbokki n hotteok 200-300 inr, fried doughnut pancake thing sweet n crispy, ate too much got oily burps. kbbq pork belly at hongdae stalls 1200 inr for solo, wrap in lettuce but meat was chewy sometimes. ramyeon instant noodles from 7eleven 100 inr, lifesaver when hungover. wtf made me sick was raw crab at noryangjin market, 1500 inr, looked cool on insta but fermented guts had me shitting blood yaar, never again. skip sushi unless fresh, stick to cooked stuff. indian food? only in itaewon, butter chicken 1000 inr ripoff.
Spots Worth Your Time
gyeongbokgung palace, 500 inr entry, rent hanbok for free pics but queues suck, go early morning or its mobbed. honest? cool architecture but changing guards meh, felt like disney knockoff after 30 mins. bukchon hanok village nearby free, old houses n alleys, wander aimless but hilly af, good for pics if ur fit. namsan tower? skip dat tourist trap, cable car 1500 inr roundtrip n love locks cheesy, view same from free parks. dmz tour from seoul 3000 inr, intense af with north korea stories, worth it if history nerd but bus ride long n cold. hongdae streets free, buskers n graffiti, best at nite for cheap beer 300 inr. skip lotte world tower, overpriced sky deck 2500 inr for meh view.
Budget Breakdown (INR)
10 days total 1.25 lakh yaar, daily avg 12.5k incl evrything. flights 50k, visa 5k, stay 35k, food 20k (wasted 5k on dat crab n kbbq solos), transport tmoney card 5k (subway cheap 50-100/ride), entries n tours 10k. biggest waste was duty free booze at airport 8k for soju bottles, drank half n left rest in hotel. couldve cut 20k easy no tours n street food only.
Mistakes I Made
1. din download papago translator app b4 landing, korean signs n menus killed me, ppl stare if u point n grunt.
2. packed light but forgot powerbank, sockets diff n battery drains fast on subway gps.
3. ate random street meat without checking, got food poisoning day 4, stuck in hostel toilet. shudda stuck to veg bibimbap.
4. bought tmoney at airport ripoff price, get at subway machines cheaper.
5. went myeongdong shopping day 1, spent 10k on skincare dat melted in delhi humidity, total bunk.
Tips for Indian Travelers
indian passport gets u 90 days max on tourist visa, but declare all cash over 10k usd equiv at immigration or fine. upi works spotty only big stores, carry plenty won cash from airport atm (axis gives good rate). get travel insurance mandatorily, mine covered doc visit for runs 2k refund. sim card at incheon ego 1500 inr for 10days unlimited, better than roaming 5k. toilets public free but no bidet like india, carry wet wipes. masala chai? none, gs25 has indian ramen pockets 150 inr. save by subway not taxi (uber 2x price), n eat combini bentos 400 inr full meal. avoid peak cherry blossom if u hate crowds, i went may still packed. yaar carry rupees for exchange b4 flight, better rate.
