Spotlight on South Korea – What You Can Do on a 7-Day Journey Through Culture,Food, and Hidden Gems

Written by guest contributor and AussieRoam customer Vanessa F.

My trip to South Korea happened a bit spontaneously. Coming from Australia, it doesn’t feel that far (by Australian travel standards, anyway), but since moving here I’ve always found Korea incredibly intriguing. Over the years, I made Korean friends, fell in love with Korean food, and of course became obsessed with Korean skincare. So when the opportunity came to visit Seoul and its surroundings, there was no way I was going to miss it.

My sister lives in Brazil and had to attend a congress in Seoul, conveniently close to both her birthday and my dad’s. We turned it into a seven-day family trip, and I honestly believe we built the perfect mix of culture, food, and activities. Something enjoyable for all, including my dad. Below is a breakdown of the top things you can’t miss, plus a few things I would probably do differently next time.

(This is based on my own experience.)

Arrival in Korea

The airport is far from the city—really far. It took about an hour by car with zero traffic. I had bought a 10GB eSIM from Aussieroam because I’d heard that free WiFi wasn’t as easy to find as one might expect. Plus, I knew I’d rely heavily on maps and translation apps. Setting it up was super easy with the airport WiFi (though if you’re less forgetful than I am, set it up before your trip!).

Day 1 – A Taste of Gangnam & COEX

My sister was still attending her congress at COEX Mall, so our first hotel was in that area.

We took the chance to explore the neighbourhood before heading toward more traditional districts.

Gangnam is modern and sleek, full of skyscrapers and stylish cafés. We visited Bongeunsa Temple, the Starfield Library inside COEX Mall, and of course the famous “Gangnam Style” statue. It was fun to see but, honestly, I wouldn’t go out of my way to return. Since our hotel was there, it made sense for us, but it’s more of a business district. If you’re already nearby or have extra time, it’s worth a quick visit.

Day 2 – Palaces, Hanboks & Traditional Seoul

Our next hotel was in Insadong, and I absolutely loved staying there. It’s close to public

transport and surrounded by palaces, traditional tea houses, and charming streets with

souvenirs.

We dedicated this day to exploring Gyeongbokgung Palace and the surrounding historic

area.

PRO TIP: Rent a hanbok! Not only does it elevate every single photo, but palace entry is free if you’re wearing one. The rental costs more than the palace ticket, so you’re not saving money, but the photos alone make it worth it. (Make sure to take lots of pictures everywhere)

Gyeongbokgung hosts a guard-changing ceremony at 10:00 and 15:00.

PRO TIP #2:

Instead of watching the guard-changing ceremony, watch the rehearsal at 9:30. It takes

place on the side of the palace before the official ceremony. Afterwards, enter the palace

immediately. You’ll have the grounds almost to yourself for photos, while most people are still watching the ceremony outside.

We also visited Bukchon Hanok Village, where you can wander among traditional Korean

houses (hanok). This whole day was a 10/10 experience and one of my favourites.

Day 3 – DMZ Full-Day Tour + Majang Lake & Eunpyeong Village

We booked a private full-day tour to the DMZ, and it was far more impactful than I expected. Learning about the Korean War and the North/South divide was emotional and eye-opening. I left feeling deeply moved.

Because we were on a private tour, we also visited Majang Lake—home to a beautiful

suspension bridge and a lovely café with views—and Eunpyeong Hanok Village, which is

stunning and much quieter than Bukchon. Another strong 10/10 day.

Day 4 – Gyeongju: A Birthday in a Living Museum

This was my sister’s birthday, so I let her choose between Busan (very popular) or

Gyeongju, a historic city on the way south. She chose Gyeongju, wanting a more traditional experience, and it was absolutely the right choice.

We took the KTX from Seoul to Gyeongju early in the morning (2–2.5 hours) and went

straight into “exploration mode.” The city is known as “the museum without walls,” and it

truly lives up to that name.

Gyeongju was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom, so everywhere you walk, you stumble upon historical treasures. We visited the royal tombs in Daereungwon Tumuli Park and, in the evening, the spectacular Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond—one of the most beautiful night views I’ve ever seen.

We stayed overnight in a traditional hanok, and it was such a special experience.

Day 5 – More Gyeongju Wonders, Then Back to Seoul

In the morning, we visited Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (UNESCO sites)

surrounded by peaceful mountains. We hired a taxi for a few hours, which made everything easy, and then returned to Seoul by KTX.

Day 6 – Shopping, Skincare Heaven & the N-Seoul Tower Misadventure

You can’t go to Korea and not shop, especially for skincare. Olive Young is a must-visit. The store is everywhere really; you can’t miss it even if you want it. The selection is enormous (sometimes too enormous), and in some branches you can even get a skin analysis. Go early as it's first come, first served.

We spent the day in Myeongdong, one of Seoul’s most famous shopping districts.

Avoid the shops with aggressive staff outside offering “free samples”—that’s the

tourist trap section. Stick to well-known brands and pharmacies; the quality is much more reliable.

Later in the day we headed to N-Seoul Tower for sunset. We were told it was the best time to go… apparently half of Seoul was told the same. The crowds were unbearable, and we waited almost three hours just to reach the top. By then, we were exhausted and honestly unimpressed. The view around the tower is just as good, and that’s where you’ll also find the love-locks. If I went again, I would skip going up the tower entirely.

Day 7 – A Relaxed Farewell

Our flight wasn’t until late at night, so we spent the morning walking along the beautiful

Cheonggyecheon Stream and visited Jogyesa Temple. If time allows, Gwangjang Market is great for sampling traditional Korean street food.

Final Thoughts & My Top Tips

Korea completely exceeded my expectations. We could have done more, but I loved keeping a slower pace—especially since my 80-year-old dad was with us. I definitely want to return; there’s still so much to explore.

Here are my top tips:

• Buy an eSIM. Internet isn’t always reliable, and you’ll need it constantly.

• Download Naver Map or Kakao Map (I prefer Naver; once you get the hang of it, it’s amazing).

• Get a T-money card for public transport—you can top it up at any convenience store.

• Keep translation apps handy.

• Stay somewhere central. I recommend Myeongdong (shopping) or Insadong (traditional).

• Learn two basic Korean words:

  • Gamsahamnida (Thank you)

  • Annyeonghaseyo (Hello)

  You’ll use them constantly.

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