The season when scarlets burn the brightest and yellows are aglow, when monotonous trees become glamorous shades of yellow, orange, red and green.
Autumn is no doubt the best season to travel.
We were very lucky to have booked a flight to South Korea when the autumn foliage was at its peak- which is usually around the last week of October to early November each year. Any place where there are trees would definitely be a picturesque sight during autumn. So during our 5-day vacation, we went on a search for the best autumn foliage, with some heritage sites and foodie hotspots in between.
🍴Common Ground
For some reason, Seoul's universities make me want to study harder. Their sprawling landscapes are so serene and conducive to learning.
We visited this dainty sheep cafe at Hongdae. Cat and Dog Cafes have become too mainstream! This sheep cafe is one of a kind; it's definitely worth stopping by.
It was Halloween Season during our visit and there were a lot of other activities at the area.
DAY 1 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance Fees - 0
Food - 1,000
Fare- 400 (using T-money)
Some things are not meant to happen. We planned to visit the Secret Garden but we were not fortunate enough to have booked tickets online and to arrive earlier than everybody else in order to avail the coveted limited slots to enter the grounds.
We ended up taking photos at the Outside Garden instead.
- FREE if you’re wearing Hanbok: Hanbok Rental is about 13,000 Won (~ 640 Php)
Buying an entrance ticket is cheaper but entering this palace wearing Hanbok is a totally different experience.
Buying the ticket is like doing your job as required, whereas wearing Hanbok is like going the extra mile.
🍁 Namsan Park/N Seoul Tower
- Cable Car: 8,500 Won Roundrip (~420 Php)
- N Seoul Tower Ticket: 10,000 Won (~490 Php)
Book thru Klook to save about 170 Php: https://www.klook.com/invite/I4EW1?c=PHP
Food - 1,000
Fare- 250
DAY 1: October 28, 2017
🍁 Seoul Forest- FREE
It's a Seoul City dweller's oasis. Dubbed as Seoul's Central Park, Seoul Forest offers an escape from the chaotic city life.
🍴Common Ground
Not really an autumn destination but it’s a trendy retail establishment that is popular among the millennials. Definitely worth visiting to capture that perfect OOTD shot. Plus, it’s also a foodie’s paradise.
🍁 Ewha Womans University- FREE
Known for its unique modern architecture that seamlessly connects the university into the surrounding cityscape. The campus is even more beautiful in autumn when the landscape is bathed in vibrant hues.
The Fashion Street outside Ewha is also one of Seoul’s top shopping districts.
🍁 Yonsei University- FREE
🍁 Haneul Park- FREE
This park high above the city transforms into a dreamy place during autumn— awash in silver/grey/white of the blooming Eulalia grass.
The most crowded place that we visited! Better come here early if you want to have better photos. I wonder why we love taking photos with tall grass as backdrop? Actually, they seem so magical and hypnotic, especially under the sunlight.
🍴 Hongdae
Indie Music. Themed Cafés. Shopping. Entertainment. This neighborhood is very much alive at night.It was Halloween Season during our visit and there were a lot of other activities at the area.
DAY 1 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance Fees - 0
Food - 1,000
Fare- 400 (using T-money)
DAY 2: October 29, 2017
🍁 Changdeokgung/Secret Garden
They say that the Secret Garden is most stunning during autumn.We ended up taking photos at the Outside Garden instead.
🏯 Hanok Village- FREE
This heritage site is not a highlight during autumn, but if you're visiting the palaces better drop by this area since it's just along the way.
🍁 Gyeongbokgung
- Entrance Fee: 3,000 Won (~ 150 Php)- FREE if you’re wearing Hanbok: Hanbok Rental is about 13,000 Won (~ 640 Php)
Buying the ticket is like doing your job as required, whereas wearing Hanbok is like going the extra mile.
🍁 Namsan Park/N Seoul Tower
- Cable Car: 8,500 Won Roundrip (~420 Php)
- N Seoul Tower Ticket: 10,000 Won (~490 Php)
Book thru Klook to save about 170 Php: https://www.klook.com/invite/I4EW1?c=PHP
N Seoul Tower- Seoul's most iconic landmark- featured in tons of our most loved Korean dramas.
This was where Gu Jun-pyo and Geum Jan Di of Boys Over Flowers went on a date. |
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Don't forget to install love locks to officially seal your forever.
DAY 2 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance/Activity Fees - 1,550Food - 1,000
Fare- 250
DAY 3: October 30, 2017
The three places listed below are easily accessible via DIY travel; thanks to Korea's efficient transportation system. These places can be visited all in one day via the Gapyeong City Tour Bus; you just have to time your visits properly.🍁 Garden of the Morning Calm
- Entrance Fee: 9,000 Won (~440 Php)
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This garden transforms every season. And it's autumn skin is not to be missed!
🍁 Petite France
- Entrance Fee: 8,000 Won (~400 Php)
This place became popular among KDrama fans after it was featured in the series My Love from the Stars.
🍁 Nami Island
- Entrance Fee: 10,000 Won (~500 Php)
Nami is on top of everyone's bucketlist no matter what the season. It's like a woman on different sets of makeup and color palette every season: nude and pale during winter; fresh and light with splashes of color during spring; natural and warm during summer; colorful, vivid and conspicuously made-up during autumn. This place never disappoints its visitors with its seasonal beauty.
DAY 3 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance Fees - 1,340 Php
Food - 1,000 Php
Fare- 700 Php
(300 Php for the Gapyeong Bus Tour; 120 each way for the Train going to Gapyeong)
DAY 4: October 31, 2017
🏯 Hwaseong Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Located in Suwon, Hwaseong Fortress is accessible by train or bus. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is worth a day tour from Seoul. Entrance is cheap: just 3,500 Won for the integrated ticket which includes Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, Suwon Museum, Suwon Hwaseong Museum.
Entrance to the entire complex was free during our visit.
🍁 Yeouido Park- FREE
Colorful central park plus thriving business district. This place is good for photo ops.
🍴Some Sevit at Banpo Hangang Park- FREE
Great hangout spot while waiting for the Banpo Bridge Fountain Show.
🌉 Banpo Bridge/Banpo Hangang Park- FREE
The fountain show takes place every 30 minutes from 7:30PM-9:00PM.
The show lasts for 20 minutes.
Note: It was not as spectacular as we expected. Worth skipping!
It's like a building extracted straight from a sci-fi movie. This marvelous creation by Starchitect Zaha Hadid should be in every architecture lover's itinerary.
DAY 4 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance Fees - 0
Food - 1,000
Fare- 500
DAY 5: November 1, 2017
🍁 Deoksugung- Entrance Fee: 1,000 Won (~50 Php)
Compared to other palaces in Seoul, Deoksugung is less crowded. Make sure to visit the Jeongdong Observatory located at the 13th Floor of the Seoul City Hall Seosomun Building for a captivating aerial view of the Deoksugung Palace and the surrounding metropolis.
🍁 Cheonggyecheon Stream- FREE
An epitome of urban renewal. Cheonggyecheon is a testament of how great things can be achieved if the government willfully pushes for it.
📦 Pasalubong Shopping at Lotte Mart
Stopped by Lotte Mart at Seoul Station for some pasalubong shopping before heading to the airport.
We also shopped for souvenirs and trinkets at Dongdaemun during our visit and mostly at Myeongdong since this was where we stayed.
🚍 Bus to Airport: 10,000 Won (~500 Php)
Riding the limousine bus is the best option if you're carrying huge bags. It's more expensive than taking the train but it's more comfortable.
DAY 5 TOTAL COST (per head):
Entrance Fees - 50
Food - 1,000
Fare- 500
Rundown of our Expenses:
Day 1 Total: 1,400 Php
Day 2 Total: 2,800 Php
Day 3 Total: 3,140 Php
Day 4 Total: 1,500 Php
Day 5 Total: 1,550 Php
Accommodation: ~8,000 Php for 5 nights (~1,600 Php/head/night)
Travel Tax: 1,690 Php
Total Budget per head: ~20,000 Php (Excluding airfare, pasalubong and shopping)
Note: Promo airfare would cost about 5,500-7,000 Php on Cebu Pacific but it can go as low as 2500 Php if there is a piso-fare promo. More photos of our travel here:
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