10 things to keep in mind when touring Korea on a budget
South Korea is a very fascinating and exciting destination to explore for multiple reasons. There is the rich and tasteful culture and heritage to experience, the great tourist centres and historical sites to stop by; amazing beaches and mind-blowing cafes to enjoy, the breathtaking natural environment for sightseeing and pure relaxation, and of course, the delicious and mouth-watering cuisines to devour, amongst other things.
Touring Korea gives one the opportunity to appreciate a different way of life, experience new and amazing things, make new friends, enjoy being in nature, and delight in the many pleasures the country has to offer. But with this great adventure come the scary expenses, which is why people consider travel budgeting. Touring Korea on a budget would help you manage your finances and reduce the anxiety of being stranded. Thankfully, the Korean system has a wide range of options for saving money and having a relatively inexpensive tour around the country.
On that note, here are ten things to keep in mind when touring Korea on a budget, to ensure you get the most out of the experience without breaking the bank. I have explored most of these options personally, and I know that they will work for you too.
- Save money on transportation
- Save money on accommodation costs.
- Save money on food.
- Make budget friendly purchases
- Go for free or affordable sightseeing adventures
- Take advantage of discounts and freebies
- Bring your own things and pack right
- Consider whether you need SIM card and travel insurance
- Find the best way to navigate through
- Go for a more local and cheaper experience
Okay, let’s dig in!
1. Save money on transportation
One thing to keep in mind when touring Korea on a budget is that you need to buy a KORAIL Pass to help you save money when travelling from one city to another via train. The cities in the country are not so far from each other, so a train is a good way to travel, and a Korail pass that offers access for a period of time is a sweet way to get a cool discount on trips. The T Money card is another way to save money on transportation, as it reduces bus and subway fares. When you transfer from one bus or subway to another, you even save so much more.
Generally, there are different offers available for people to save money on transportation, you just have to make inquiries. There is the city pass to gain transit access, discounts or free admissions into places in the particular city, or the cheap bus fares that make going around Korea stress-free, among others.
2. Save money on accommodation costs.
Some would advise that you skip hotels altogether and just go for hostels, as they are very affordable, really homey, and easy to locate. Well, there are really expensive hotels in Korea, but there are also budget-friendly ones available. It depends on your exact location and the facilities they have on ground. Apart from the option of looking for a cheap hostel or hotel, as the case may be, you should keep in mind that there are other ways for you to save money on accommodation while touring Korea on a budget.
The popular one is staying with a local, also known as couchsurfing. This is a really nice way to save money on accommodation, especially since you are on a tight budget. The plus side is that you get to spend time with a local and get insight into the culture of the people. You can check the CoachSurfing app to find a suitable host for yourself and send a request out to see if the arrangement suits you both. Well, some people are comfortable with this housing arrangement, which brings us to the next alternative.
Housesitting involves taking care of someone’s home for a particular period of time while the person is away. You might be asked to do some housework or even look after their pets. But in all, it’s a fair deal. You get to have your own space to come back to while touring. Depending on how your movement around Korea would look, it is best to choose the option that suits your personality, your touring plans, and of course, your budget.
3. Save money on food.
What is touring Korea without devouring all the delicious cuisine and sumptuous meals the country is known for? So it’s fine to believe that the majority of your money will be spent on feeding. But, bear in mind that there are ways to save money on food and still enjoy all the sweetness Korea has to offer in various dishes.
It is important to note that there is no need to shun the restaurants around the corner, the less than perfect traditional market, or the convenience stores, since you are on a budget. The flashy restaurants are amazing, but for someone who is touring Korea on a budget, you need to understand that their prices can be somewhat outrageous for your pocket. So, check out the neighbourhood barbeque restaurants that offer grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal), the kimchi shop by the corner, the traditional markets that specialise in hot, fresh seafood dishes and other local dishes, the street food stalls where you can delight in tasty Korean bibimbap, Kimbap, or spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), and the convenience stores where you can find ramen (noodles) of different flavours and other fast-food. Another thing to keep in mind is that western food can be quite expensive in Korea, so you may choose to just stick to enjoying the local dishes.
4. Make budget friendly purchases
There is so much to buy and take home as a souvenir while touring Korea, from the amazing smacks to the cosmetics, skincare products, and accessories, etc. But while on a travel budget, you need to bear in mind that there are designated places where you can get these items at a more affordable price.
Markets like Namdaemun and Dongdaemun are known to be a safe haven for shopaholics, as one can find different items at really low prices. Apart from these two, there are so many other flea markets and shops around university areas where you can get some items at a less luxurious price. So, convenience stores and big supermarkets are awesome, but since you’re on a budget, you need to find the market in your area where you can get what you want at a lower price.
5. Go for free or affordable sightseeing adventures
Korea is such a high spirited place that sometimes you don’t need to find a place of entertainment, the entertainment finds you on the street with dance, kpop, and other art performances, among many other things. If you want to see such performances and go sightseeing while on your tour, you can definitely do it on a budget, as there are many affordable and even free sites to explore in the country.
To immerse yourselves in the culture and sweet traditions of Korea, you can visit the Seoul Global Cultural Center, which offers lots of activities for free, from cooking classes to dancing lessons and history lessons about Korea for free. In Busan, the Gamcheon Culture Village provides an opportunity to see the beauty of Korean heritage. You can also visit the Tourist Information Center located along Cheonggyecheon, where you get to try on the traditional Korean Hanbok for free, although sometimes there may be a small charge. Then there are the lovely parks, mind-blowing beaches, fascinating temples, and amazing museums, all with no entrance fee.
In addition, bear in mind that there are also free guided tours that you can join to make the experience more memorable. You get a chance to explore the gems of the country with like-minded travellers, make new friends, and get more insights into the beauty of Korea.
6. Take advantage of discounts and freebies
There are several discounts, tourist coupons, and vouchers to enjoy while in Korea. This is an important thing to keep in mind while travelling around the country, to help you save a good amount of money.
For instance, hot destinations in Seoul like the Trick Eye Museum or the N Seoul Tower usually have discount offers and coupons from time to time. Even Korean beauty companies are known for their discounts on cosmetic products. Then there are special touring discounts or admission waivers to some parts of the country that help sweeten the deal on sightseeing. So, don’t just hop in, ask for any special promotion or discount. It may save you money, allowing you to take a longer trip around Korea.
7. Bring your own things and pack right!
Mama would advise you to pack wisely and put everything you NEED in your backpack when planning any trip. This also applies to touring Korea, especially on a budget. You should keep in mind that some of the things that are affordable in your country may be really expensive in Korea; and there is a high possibility that you would find it difficult to get some of your hygiene products. At the same time, there are still things that are very cheap to get in Korea. So, it all boils down to bringing your personal things and packing right.
Before you start throwing things into your box out of excitement, sit down and consider some factors such as the season you will encounter, the type of clothing that will be appropriate for the weather, and the activities you will most likely engage in, among others. This would help you be kind to your pocket, as you would pack the essentials, save yourself the financial stress of having to buy almost everything you need, and then keep space for those items you can get cheaper in Korea.
8. Consider whether you need SIM card and travel insurance
South Korea boasts of being one of the most connected countries in the world with very fast internet service. In addition to the sweet internet speed, you would find that most cafes, restaurants, public transport systems, accommodations, and some other places that offer public services usually have free Wi-Fi. So, since you’re touring Korea on a budget, you can decide to go without getting a SIM card altogether.
But if you need to be connected all the time and maybe need to do a little remote work that requires constant connectivity, then you need to purchase a SIM card or get a pocket Wi-Fi. To save you the hassles of looking for a store that sells SIM cards in the country and going through language barrier issues, you could buy one online in advance from sites like KoreaSim, Klook, or Trazy, and pick it up once you arrive in the country. Another alternative is to go for an electronic SIM card if your phone supports it, and purchase a plan through eSIM Korea or other online platforms that sell e-SIM cards, depending on how long you plan to stay in the country. This is a nice budget hack, as it helps you spend accordingly on your data and internet connectivity.
Another thing you should bear in mind while touring Korea on a budget is that you might need travel insurance to avoid being stranded after an unfortunate accident or an unplanned event. While we all hope for the best, it is also wise to prepare for the worst. So, because you’re on a tight budget, insurance would help reduce the cost of repairing damage or ending a bad situation if anything went wrong.
9. Find the best way to navigate through
When touring Korea for the first time, especially on a budget, you need to keep in mind that information is key, and there are several ways to get this information. The sweetest way is by making friends with the locals, or at least with one local. This helps give pointers on affordable places and the right deals to take advantage of. Nobody would know Korea like those who have lived there all their lives, and what they don’t know, they can ask others on your behalf. So, even if you’re an introvert or you don’t feel the need to make new friends while on your tour; you should bear in mind that this can save you loads of stress and make your trip a more pleasurable one.
Another way to navigate your journey around Korea is to subscribe to a weekly newspaper; and have local insights and helpful news on different destinations in the country sent straight to you. This could be very useful when you need ideas about where to explore next or the essentials needed to enjoy your ride through a certain location in the country. Finally, there is the highly efficient Visit Korea App (VisitKorea) which provides information that would be helpful to anyone travelling around Korea. This tool gives info on different tourist attractions, available discounts, and nice deals on different hot destinations, performances, shopping, and dining.
10. Go for a more local and cheaper experience
There is excitement to visit Seoul, the city of bright lights, great architecture, sweet technology, lovely beauty products, amazing fashion accessories, and the centre of Korean culture, and stop by other big cities, which is understandable. However, if you’re on a tight budget and want to travel around Korea, consider skipping the big cities and their expensive nature in favour of the countryside, where you’ll find beautiful islands, gorgeous mountains, national parks, and other lovely things.There are affordable amenities in the big cities, but going for smaller towns is an option that helps reduce the burden on your finances.
Another important thing to note when touring Korea on a budget is that there are peak seasons—times when the country is saturated with tourists and rates are really high. This is usually in the summer, from June until September. So, you could wait for autumn when the weather is very favourable and there is less heat, or for spring when love and sweetness are in the air, or for winter when nature dazzles with the snow. To be fair, Korea is lively all year, but summer is the busiest. Hence, you need to be ready if your only free date for touring falls between June – September.
I hope this article has been helpful in showing you essential things to keep in mind when touring Korea on a budget