11 Days Korea Trip 2011 Free n Easy - Intro

After months of planning the itinerary due to my daughter PSLE period, we were finally ready for the trip from 30 Nov 2011 to 11 Dec 2011. As it was a Free n Easy, so the planning took a longer period. It is not that difficulty to do Free n Easy in Korea despite the language barrier.


As we planned to go Jeju first then back to Seoul, so our itinerary was in 2 parts: First Jeju, then Seoul. See my planned itinerary below (it supposed to be in MS words but cannot be attached here, so just copied n paste it);


Itinerary For Korea 2011 - Jeju




30 Nov 2011 Changi Airport T3 2350 (Wed)


1 Dec 2011 Incheon Airport 0700 (Thur)


Shop around at Incheon Airport 0800 / 1000 - Cultural Museum of Korea is located in the Transfer Lounge (4F) inside the new Concourse – Indoor Garden at Passenger Terminal 1F


Brunch at Incheon Airport B1 Food Court 1000 / 1045


A’REX Subway to Gimpo Airport (about 33 mins) 1100 / 1140


Gimpo to Jeju (ZE215 Eastar Jet) 1300 / 1405


Jeju Airport to Yeha Guesthouse by Taxi 1445 / 1500 300-1, 3F, Yeon-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju TEL (064) 713-5505 (short distance around 3,500krw)


Check in and leave luggage there 1500 / 1530


Cheonjeyeon Fall (천제연폭포) / 1600 Yeomiji Botanical Garden (여미지식물원) by Taxi Seogwipo-si Saekdal-dong 3381-1, +82-64-738-1529 From Yeomiji Botanical Garden it is just less than 5 minutes walk to Cheonjeyeon Falls


Lotte Hotel see windmill (롯데호텔) 1730 / 1800 Seogwipo-si Saekdal-dong 2812-4 +82-64-731-1000


Seogwipo Daily Market and Arcade for dinner 1830 / 2000 (서귀포매일올레시장) 271-38 Seogwi-dong, Seogwipo, Jeju +82-64-762-1949


E-mart near Oriental Hotel by Taxi 2100 / 2230 1259 Samdo 2-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju, Phone : 064-729-1234 Sliced raw fish restaurant near Tapdong Square


Back to Yeha Guesthouse 2300




2 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Yeha 0900 (Fri)


Loveland Mysterious Road by rented Taxi 0930 / 0945


Manjanggul Cave (만장굴) 1015 / 1145 Jeju-si Gujwa-eup Gimnyeong-ri +82-64-783-4818


Lunch at Seongsanojo Restaurant near Seongsan IIchulbong 1215 / 1315 오조 해녀의 집, +82-64-784-0893


Seongsan IIchulbong (Sunrise Peak) (성산 일출봉) 1330 / 1400 Seogwipo-si Seongsan-eup Seongsan-ri 114 Tel : +82-64-783-0959


Trick Art Museum (제주 트릭아트 박물관) 1415 / 1600 Seogwipo-si Pyoseon-myeon Seongeup-ri 2381 Tel : +82-64-787-8774


Seongeup Folk Village (성읍 민속촌) 1615 / 1700 Seogwipo-si Pyoseon-myeon Seongeup-ri Tel : +82-64-760-2664


Gyulimseong – Tangerine farm near the folk village (No.16 road)


Dongmun Night Market for Dinner (제주시 동문시장) 1730 / 1900 Ido 1-dong, Jeju-si, Jeju-do Tel : +82-64-752-3001


Walk back to City Hall / Jungang Underground Shopping Mall 1920 / 2030 near Yeha (about 15 minutes walk from Dongmun)


Back to Yeha Guesthouse 2100






3 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Yeha 0700 / 0745 (Sat)


Yeha to Seogwipo by Taxi (approx 25,000 to 30,000krw) 0745 / 0830


Seogwipo Submarine Tour 0845 / 1050 Seogwipo-si Seohong-dong 707-5 Tel : +82-64-732-6060 Be there 20 mins before hand to fill form. Start at 0920 (about 90 minutes)


From Jeju Intercity Bus Terminal (064-753-1153) take an Intercity Bus to Seogwipo, via Jungmun Beach. Buses depart every 10 min, and it takes 50 minutes.


The bus from Jeju City to Seogwipo is called the 시외버스 (shiwae bus, or outside city bus), takes about 45 minutes and costs 3500 won. Be sure that the bus has the "5.16" number on it; this is the highway that uses the most direct route to go between the two cities, first by going towards Hallasan but a little bit east to avoid the slope, and then down all the way to the city. The other bus takes a more scenic route around the entire island before getting to Seogwipo. (about 2 hours)


The Airport Limousine (route #600) bus runs from Jeju International Airport to Seogwipo every 15 to 20 minutes. Journey time is about an hour and 20 minutes. Cost is 5000won per person (July 2009). The bus makes stops at about 10 locations, including all the five-star hotels in the Jungmun Resort Area. The final destination is at the Sun Motel in Downtown Seogwipo.


Back to Yeha Guesthouse 1100/ 1145


Lunch at nearby Yeha / If no time, check out & eat at airport 1145 / 1215


Reach Jeju Airport by taxi 1230


Jeju Airport to Gimpo Airport (ZE216) 1305 / 1410




Itinerary For Korea 2011 – Seoul




3 Dec 2011 Jeju Airport to Gimpo Airport (ZE216) 1305 / 1410 (Sat)


Gimpo Airport to Hotel Biz Jongro. 1500 / 1600 Take Line 5 and get off at Jongno 3 Ga Station Exit 5 (distance about 50 mins.) about 700won. Hotel Biz Jongro is about 100m away from Jongno 3 Ga Station. By taxi about 25,000 to 35,000krw. It was very hard to locate the hotel coming from the subway. It is very near Insadong. So if you take a cab, just ask the driver to drop you off at Insadong and you can walk from there.


Hotel Biz Jongro is next to Insadong, famous for its antiques and local artworks. Myeongdong are a 10 min drive away, Dongdeamun shopping area is 2 stops away by subway (3min). Hotel is located 100m from Jongno 3 ga subway line 3 & 5 Exit 5, From Gimpo airport, take line 5 and get off Jongno 3 ga station exit 5(50 min). From Incheon international airport, take bus #6002 and get off Jongno 3ga station.


Hotel Biz Jongro Check-In (호텔 비즈 종로) 1600 / 1630 75, Nakwon-dong, Jongro-gu, Jongro / Insadong 서울 특별시 종로구 낙원동 75, 110-320 서울


Walk from hotel to Nami Island Visitor Centre in Insadong 1630 / 1700 (남이섬서울대사관) (Nami Island Visitor Centre 9.30am to 7pm) Book shuttle bus to Nami Island for 5 Dec 2011 (Mon).


Toto's Nostalgia Museum and Giftshop (토토의오래된물건) 1715 / 1800 Seoul-si Jongno-gu Gwanhun-dong 169-2 Tel : +82-2-725-1756 Take Orange Line (Line 3), get off at Anguk Station and take Exit 6. (Totoi Oraeden Mulgeon ) $1 entrance fee, vintage toy store on 2nd floor (open till 8pm).


Ssamziegil Miniature Museum (쌈지길) 1800 / 2000 Dinner at there. Seoul-si Jongno-gu Gwanhun-dong 38 Ssamziegil Tel : +82-2-736-0088 (open till 8.30pm)


Shop down the Insadong-Gil Street (인사동) 2000 / 2130 See if can find fried pancake 호떡 (Hodduk) along the street.


Back to Hotel Biz Jongro 2230




4 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0830 / 0915 (Sun)


Go Gyeongbokgung Palace (경복궁) 0930 / 1130 •National Palace Museum of Korea (Closed on Mondays)•National Folk Museum of Korea Open 9am – 5pm. Guard changing ceremony on every hour from 10am-4pm. Gyeongbokgung can be accessed via Subway (Gyeongbokgung station, Line 3, Exit 5).


Back To Insadong 1130 / 1145


Lunch at Miss Lee Café (별다방미스리) 1145 / 1245


Sunday Flea Market At Insadong (벼룩시장) 1245 / 1400


Ewha Womans University (이화 여자 대학교) 1400 / 1600 5 mins walk from exits # 2 & 3 of Ewha Womans University Station (Subway Line 2). Most shops open from 10.30am and cDlose at 10pm.


Sangsangmadang (쌈지길) building at Hongdae 1600 / 1645


Shop around Hongdae (홍대앞) 1645 / 1715 Shops at Ewha cheaper than Hongdae


Dinner 1715 / 1815


Go to Nanta Theatre (홍대난타극장) 1900


Watch Nanta show at Hongdae Nanta Theatre (100min) 2000 / 2140 Cultural Multiplex 2&3 GF, 357-4&5, Seokyo-Dong, Mapo-Gu, Seoul Hongik Univ. Stn. (Line 2, Exit 9) 7min walk Booking 1 hr before show


Go back to Hotel 2200 / 2230




5 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0800 / 0830 (Mon)


Go to Tapgol Park (탑골 공원)/Pagoda Park at Insadong 0845 / 0900


Shuttle Bus depart for Gapyeong Wharf (가평관광) 0930 / 1100 The ride is between one and 1.5 hours (7,500 won each-way for adults; a 1,000 won discount for children). Upon boarding, you can also purchase your admission ticket to Nami Island, which includes the round-trip ferry ride. It’s 8,000 won for adults and 4,000 for children. Please note that the bus does not run on Tuesdays and you are advised to arrive by 09:00 to ensure your seat. To reserve your seat, please call: 02-753-1247.


Ferry to Nami Island (남이섬) 1115/ 1130 The 10-minute ferry ride to Nami Island departs every 10~20 minutes between 09:00~18:00 (every 30 minutes between 07:30~09:00 and from 18:00~21:40).


Nami Island 1130 / 1530 May also rent “Electric Tri-way”


Back to Insadong (인사동) 1600 / 1730 Take a taxi located just outside the Gapyeong Wharf parking lot to Gapyeong Station (about 4,000 won). Take the Gyeongchun Line to Sangbong Station. Transfer to the Jungang Line and take the train to Cheongnyangni Station. Once at Cheongnyangni Station, you’ll need to exit the terminal, walk out the entrance (exit #1) and down the steps to the #4 entrance for subway line 1 (also located at Cheongnyangni Station). Transfer to line 1 and take the train to Jongno-3(sam)ga Station. Exit the train at Jongno-3(sam)ga Station (exit #1).


Dinner at Insadong 1745 / 1815


Take Line 3 to Express Bus Terminal ( 고속터미널역) 1900 / 1930 Exit 1 to Express Bus Terminal At Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line No.3 or No.7), take the underground passage that leads to Seoul Express Bus Terminal. Follow the Gyeongbuseon Line signs which are posted everywhere. Line No.3 offers an easier route to the terminal than Line No.7.


Seoul Express Bus Terminal to Samcheok Express Bus Terminal 2000/ 0000 (삼척고속버스터미널) 고속터미널 By Excellent grade bus depart at 8pm. About 3.5 to 4hrs.






6 Dec 2011 Check in to Hotel or Jimjilbang (찜질방) 0000 (Tue)


Breakfast / Check out 0645 / 0730


To Samcheok Ocean Railbike ( 삼척해양레일바이크) 0730 / 0800 Samcheok → Gungchon station → Yonghwa Station Take Bus 23 or 24 at Samcheok Express Bus terminal (travel time: 20 minutes).


Samcheok Ocean Railbike 0810 / 0930 Start at Gungchon Station. 30,000 won for four people, 20,000 won for two people


Take bus / taxi to Haesindang / Penis Park 0915 / 0945


Haesindang / Penis Park (해신당 공원) 0945 / 1045


Take bus to Samcheok Station (삼척역) 1045 / 1115


Quick Lunch before boarding train 1115 / 1200


Samcheok Sea Train (삼척바다 기차) 1200 / 1330 Journey 1hr 20min. Take from Samcheok Station. Gangneung Station 10:30, 14:15, 17:40 Samcheok Station 08:40, 12:00, 16:10 *Train No.1 (30 seats): 15,000 won * Train No. 2 (36 seats): 15,000 won * Train No. 3 (42 seats): 12,000 won * Proposal Room for couples (3 seats): 50,000 won (for 2 people)


From Gangneung Express Bus Terminal (강릉고속버스터미널): 1430 / 1715 Gangneung (강릉) => Seoul (서을) (Seoul Express Bus Terminal) About 2hrs 40mins. Price: 13,300 won (General), 19,600 won (Superior), 21,600 (Late night) 14.00, 14.15, 14.20, 14.30, 14.40, 14.50, 15.00, 15.20, 15.40, 16.00, 16.20, 16.30, 16.40, 17.00, 17.20, 17.30 Times in bold are general express buses, others are superior express buses


Back at Seoul Express Bus Terminal (고속터미널역) 1730


Dinner at around Seoul Express Bus Terminal Subway 1730 / 1830 Shopping at Gangnam underground shopping mall. Line 3 & 7, Exit 8 and 8-2.


Back To Hotel 2300




7 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0830 / 0930 (Wed)


Pack up and Check out of Hotel 0930 / 1015 Leave luggage with hotel


Lunch at Hwanghu Samgyetang (Chicken Ginseng Soup) 1100 / 1230 (인사동 황후 삼계탕) Seoul-si Jongno-gu Gwanhun-dong 33 Tel : +82-2-739-0145 Anguk Station (Subway Line 3 ), Exit 6. Go straight for 200 m. Hwanghu Samgyetang (Chicken Ginseng Soup) Insadong Samgyetang: 14,000 won * Myeongga Samgyetang: 28,000 won * Hwanghu Samgyetang: 38,000 won * Chicken stir-fry: 50,000 won (serves 4) * Chicken soup: 8,000 won Another place to have Samgyetang in Insadong; Songdo (서울시 종로구 관훈동30-15) - if you walk from Anguk Station, turn left onto Seokjeonggil after the Ssamziegil complex, and then left into the alley. The tea shop/gallery area is on your right, Songdo is in the middle of the rowon the left. It was a traditional looking place where you had to take out your shoes and everything.


Back to hotel and collect luggage to Myeongdong (명동) 1300 / 1345 By Subway Line 4. 2 minutes away by walk from Myeong-dong subway station, exit 6 (Line 4)


Check in at Hotel Skypark Myeongdong 1 (호텔 스카이파크 명동1호점) 1345 / 1415


Visit the Kpop stores 1 and 2 in the Myeongdong Station 1430 / 1500 Exit 5 & 6 Underground Mall.


Visit Migliore (명동 밀리오레) Basement Store to buy CD 1500 / 1530 Just next to Exit 6 Myeongdong Station. Basement corner shop. Cheaper CD. Buy umbrella & CD on the 7th floor of Migliore.


Visit Nature Republic (네이처리퍼블릭) Level 3 to buy CD 1530 / 1600


Visit Everysing (에브리싱) store at SPAO (스타진) Building at Level 4 1600 / 1630 Just besides Skypark Hotel Myeongdong 1


Dinner at 2-storey restaurant call Myeongdong Gyoja 1800 / 1900 (명동교자) Chopped Noddle and best kimchi Myeongdong Station (Subway Line 4), Exit 8. Turn left onto the first alleyway. Go straight for 170m to arrive at Myeongdong Gyoja. (Myeongdong Gyoja is located behind M-Plaza)


Shop and Back to Hotel 1900 / 2200




8 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0900 / 0945 (Thur)


Namsan Tower (N서울 타워) 1000 / 1200


A slanted outdoor elevator, and the elevator operates between the Namsan Tunnel 3 and the cable car station. The elevator is made of glass, enabling passengers to view the mountain. It has made it a lot easier to get to Namsan N Tower from the Myeong-dong station or the Hoehyeon station. Namsan Ormi Elevator will give you an easy ride to Mt. Namsan. Take subway line 4 to Myeongdong Station and get out of Exit 4 to the memorial plaza of No 3 Tunnel. You can take the glassed elevator for free. Inside the elevator, you can enjoy the view until you reach to the parking lot of Namsan


By Subway


Line 4 Myeong-dong station (Exit 4) → Banpo-ro (to Namsan Tunnel 3) → Cable car station (590m, takes about 12 minutes)


※ Line 4 Myeong-dong station (Exit 1) → Sopa-ro → Cable car station (1200m, takes about 22 minutes) Line 4 Hoehyeon station (Exit 1) → Hoehyeon underground shopping center (Exit 6) → Banpo-ro (to Namsan Tunnel 3) → Namsan Ormi → Cable car station (790m, takes about 15 minutes) By Bus


- To City hall : Get off at the Namsan Tunnel 3 stop → Namsan Ormi (about 180m)


- To Gangnam : Get off at the Namsan Tunnel 3 stop → Underpass → Namsan Ormi (about 210m)


Lunch 1200 / 1300


Book cruise ticket before going to Yuksam Building, 63 Building 1330 / 1500 (63 빌딩 or 육삼 빌딩) 63 City is not located close to any stations so you will need to take the free shuttle bus, taxi or walk. Tickets to the Han River Cruise can be bought at the Discover Seoul Desk Yeouido-Jamsil (Adults 13,000 won/Children 6,500 won) - 12:30, 15:00, 16:30 Daebang station (subway line1), Exit 6. Take the Free Shuttle or bus no.62. Yeouinaru Station (subway line no. 5), Exit 4. Walk toward the intersection and turn left to walk to the bus stop. Take the Free Shuttle across Sambu APT, 80m away from exit 4. Yeoido station (subway line 5), Exit 5. Take the Free Shuttle or bus no.62 in front of St. Mary’s Hospital Platform.


Hangang River Cruise (한강 유람선)from Yeouido to Jamsil 1600 / 1745 (여의도 to 잠실) About 70mins


Lotte World (롯데월드) 1800 / 2130 Dinner there and daily parade at 2.30pm and 7pm.


Back to Hotel 2130 / 2215




9 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0845 / 0930 (Fri)


Cheonggye Plaza (청계광장) to tour Cheonggyecheon Stream 1015 / 1045 ( 청계천) City Hall Station, Seoul Subway Line 1 or 2, Exit #4, walk 2-3 minutes.


Korea Tourism Organisation Building 1045 / 1130 1. Jonggak Station (Subway Line 1), Exit #5. Go straight for 3 minutes and cross over Cheonggyecheon Stream.


After you cross, turn right down the street that runs parallel to Cheonggycheon. The KTO building is the second building on your left. * You will see a statue of the blue and red KTO logo out front. 2. Euljiro 1-ga Station (Subway Line 2), Exit #2. Go straight for 5 minutes (approximately 2 or 3 blocks).


Turn left down the last side street before Cheonggycheon. The KTO building is the second building on the left. 3. Gwanghwamun Station (Subway Line 5), Exit #5. Go straight until you cross the Cheonggyecheon Stream.


Turn left down the road running parallel to the stream (Cheonggyecheon-ro). Go straight for approximately 6 minutes, until you see the KTO building on the right. * If you reach Gwanggyo 4-way Intersection, you’ve gone too far.


Lunch 1130 / 1230


Seoul’s Folk and Dongmyo Flea market 1315 / 1500 The Seoul Folk Flea Market is open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. To find the Folk Flea Market, go to Line 1, Sinseol-dong station exit 10, turn left at the intersection and walk for about 3 minutes. The Folk flea market is in a large building on a side street before you reach the cheonggyechon stream. To find the Dongmyo outdoor flea market (돟묘시장) , go to Line 1, Dongmyo Station exit 3 and walk toward Dongmyo shrine. The market is usually set up all around the shrine area.


Changsin-dong Toy Street (창신동 완구거리) 1500 / 1630 309-29 Changshin-dong, Jongno-gu (종로구 창신동 309-29) open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays. By subway, take Line 1 or 4 to Dongdaemun Station, Exit 4 or Line 1 or 6, Dongmyo Station, Exit 6. As you exit the subway, walk straight until the first right. There is a drugstore on the corner. As you look down the street, you will see the shops.


Orange Factory Outlet (오렌지팩토리) 1630 / 1730 Line 4, Hyehwa Station, Exit 1


Dongdaemun (동대문시장) and Dinner there 1730 / 1930 Visit Dongdaemun Doota (large size clothing) Opening hours : 10:30 am ~ 5:30 am (open all night) Closed : Monday 5:00 am ~ Tuesday 10:30 am Line 4, exit #8 : cross the bridge towards the Dongdaemun History & Culture Park on your left.


Namdaemun (남대문 시장) 2000 / 2200 Namdaemun Market is located in the central area of Seoul (Namchang-dong, Jung-gu) and can be reached directly by subway. Simply take Line 4 to Heoyeon Station and get out at either Gate 4, 5 or 6.


Back to Hotel 2200




10 Dec 2011 Breakfast at Hotel 0845 / 0915 (Sat)


Coex mall (코엑스몰) and lunch there 1000 / 1130 Exits no. 5 and no. 6 of Samseong Subway Station (Subway Line No. 2) are directly connected to the COEX Mall.


Walk to Apgujeong/ Rodeo Drive and Lunch there 1200 / 1400 (압구정/압구정로) (EverySing store) – see map


Itaewon (이태원동) 1415 / 1630 Exit 1, Itaewon Station, Subway Line 6


Banpo Floating Island (Sebit Dungdungseom) 플로팅 아일랜드 1730 / 2030 Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain (not open in Dec.)


Dinner Weekdays ⇒ 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 (20 minutes each time) Closed Sun ⇒ 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30 (20 minutes)


Express Bus Terminal Station (Seoul Subway Line 3,7 or 9), Exit 8-1.


Go straight for 250m, and turn right at the Express Bus Terminal 4-way intersection. Continue going straight for 400m and cross the road. Go straight through the underpass to arrive at Banpo Hangang Park.


Jimjilbang찜질방(if not yet try) 2100 / 2030


Back to Hotel 2200




11 Dec 2011 Check Out of Hotel 0500 (Sun)


Subway to Incheon Airport (인천국제공항) 0530 Take Line 4 to Seoul Station first. The airport train building is about 200m away from the seoul station building. The way to get there, as far as i know, is via a new (and very long) stairway that accessible from the ticketing area in seoul station. The Airport railroad is in the same building as the KTX. If you are coming off the KTX, then read the signs for the airport railroad, buy a ticket or use your T-Money card. If your are coming off line 1 or 4 then, you'll need to go into the main building. Listen to the trains announcement bc I got on the train this Sat. and it said to Geomam, which is on the way to the airport, but it stopped at Geomam, not a problem for me bc it was my stop. Maybe it was break time, I don't know. So just pay attention to the announcements and it should say Incheon International Airport.


When you arrive into Seoul Station walk onto the main concourse and turn left. The AREX (Airport Railroad) is in that direction (not in the direction of the other subway lines).


Incheon Airport and Breakfast 0630


Incheon to Sin 0900 / 1435 SQ603


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There will be some 'fine tuning' to our itinerary as some places we did not visit, but it will be stated in my post. Also it is best of have a list of English to Korean translation of places in case the taxi driver do not understand English, which in most cases, many do not speak and read or understand English. Stay tune.


...continued in Day 1