Traveling to Seoul, Korea on business -- what other cities should I try to see?

HalfCanvas · Mar 7, 2012

It looks like I'll be in Seoul for about 7-10 days sometime in the next couple of months. I've never been to that part of the world and am considering making a quick detour at the beginning or end of the trip to one or two cities (it will likely be just one, though). The cities I have under consideration right now are Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Tokyo. Any thoughts?

rollafan · Mar 7, 2012

The cities you mentioned are great choices. I can't really comment on Shanghai as I've never been there. But if you would like some info on Seoul, I can most certainly be of help..

With that being said, Incheon airport to Tokyo will be the shortest flights out of all 4 cities. However, Tokyo is an expensive city to visit so that is something to consider..

impolyt_one · Mar 7, 2012

Depends on what you want to do, how much money you have to spend, what you enjoy - your trip will be so quick that you will barely scratch the surface. I think it's a good idea to get out of Seoul for a second city if you have time and you're looking to stretch your experience, though, so you're off to a good start.

HalfCanvas · Mar 7, 2012

Certainly if you have any recommendations on what to do in Seoul (as I'll expect to have some free time there), that'd be great. As for the expense of a detour trip, I'm pretty much ignoring that because, when it comes down to it, I probably won't be in this part of the world for a long time and the flights from Seoul to any of these cities are very inexpensive. Given that I will only be scratching the surface, I'm hoping to go to the city that you can learn a lot from in one day (even if what you learn is only a fraction of what the city has to offer). For example, it would take years to experience New York, but I still feel that one day in New York offers an incredible experience. San Francisco, on the other hand, to me is a city that takes longer to understand.

globetrotter · Mar 7, 2012

if you are traveling in the next couple of months, go to Japan - getting to Japan for the cherry blossoms (end of april early may more or less) is spectacular

impolyt_one · Mar 7, 2012

The cherry blossoms will be in April this year, and we've had a 15C'ish day yesterday and the rain has begun, so I'm expecting the cherry blossoms to bloom sooner than later in 2012, haven't seen the scientific forecast yet though.

As for Seoul - Seoul's best things to do are casual eating and boozing, the company of people. Things to see, there are some kitschy things to see, some shops to browse, a few public spaces that are interesting enough, and lots of eye candy, perfectly formed with the help of plastic surgery.

Tokyo - best place to take on a day's shopping/eating/drinking, bring yen. Lots of it. You could leave far more stylish than you came.

Hong Kong - lots of good eating, lots of it cheap, good sights to see, and it can be a 'man's city' if you fancy the idea of buying things you normally don't buy in the west.

curzon · Mar 7, 2012

Despite the expense of the $200 tourist visa and it's hassle - must be obtained before arrival - I really enjoy Shanghai. It's a 120-minute flight from Seoul or you can take an overnight ferry from Incheon. Tokyo is great too, and is a 90-minute flight. Visa on entry at no cost. If you're looking for better shopping then go to Tokyo. For dining, drinking, and entertainment both are excellent. BTW, both cities can be flown to from Kimpo Airport, a much more convenient alternative to Incheon if you're in Seoul city center.

impolyt_one · Mar 7, 2012

curzon said:
Despite the expense of the $200 tourist visa and it's hassle - must be obtained before arrival - I really enjoy Shanghai. It's a 120-minute flight from Seoul or you can take an overnight ferry from Incheon. Tokyo is great too, and is a 90-minute flight. Visa on entry at no cost. If you're looking for better shopping then go to Tokyo. For dining, drinking, and entertainment both are excellent. BTW, both cities can be flown to from Kimpo Airport, a much more convenient alternative to Incheon if you're in Seoul city center.

The $200 visa fee is mitigated by a lot of the airlines slashing fares from Seoul to Shanghai and Beijing to almost nothing, as low as they can go at least - there were times when it got to like, $50. I don't know what it is now, but not too much - most flights out of Seoul to Tokyo, China, HK are like $5-600, other cities like BKK and Singapore are like $750. Not really that cheap anymore, but not prohibitively expensive.

curzon · Mar 7, 2012

I haven't been fortunate enough to get $50 tickets

Is (was) that return? How did you get that fare? All my flights have been $250 - 300 return.

If I could get a 5-year multiple-entry visa and a cheap flight I'd go to Shanghai once a month.

impolyt_one · Mar 7, 2012

yeah that was the good old days - before fuel costs in the first world went up and yet people were still afraid of flying post 2001. I've never been to mainland China because when fares to China were that cheap from Top Travel in Seoul, the fares to Tokyo were always as well - so I always took the latter option. Still not interested enough in China to really want to go, maybe a short trip to Shanghai, but that's about it. I love going and blowing off a bit of steam in Hong Kong though.

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Traveling to Seoul, Korea on business -- what other cities should I try to see?

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