Best eSIM for Seoul

Seoul sits in a bowl between four mountains, split by the Han River into two cities of opposite character: to the north, the Joseon palaces, the lanes of Bukchon and the covered markets; to the south, Gangnam with its towers and clinics. It is also the most connected city on earth — fibre arrived here before anywhere else, and the metro has signal in every tunnel.

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace 🏛️ Culture

   The main one of five Joseon palaces, founded in 1395, destroyed and rebuilt. Changing of the guard at 10 am and 2 pm. Entry is free for anyone wearing hanbok, rented from nearby shops — hence the costumed groups in the courtyards.

2. Bukchon Hanok Village 📍 Architecture

   900 traditional houses, lived in, wedged between two palaces. These are real homes: signs ask for quiet after 5 pm, and residents mean it.

3. Gwangjang Market 🍜 Food

   A covered market from 1905, the country's oldest. You eat sitting at the counter: bindaetteok, mung bean pancakes ground on a stone mill, mayak gimbap and yukhoe beef tartare.

4. Cheonggyecheon Stream 🌆 Urban

   Eleven kilometres of watercourse brought back to daylight in 2005, under an elevated motorway demolished for the purpose. A walk below the traffic, now the global textbook case of urban stream restoration.

5. Bukhansan 🌿 Nature

   A national park of granite peaks reachable by metro from the centre. A rare capital where you can set off on a mountain hike without leaving the city — Seoulites climb it in force at weekends.

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  Visa No visa and no K-ETA for most Western European, North American and Australian nationals: the K-ETA exemption runs to the end of 2026, with 90-day stays. Check it still stands before you travel — it is renewed year by year. Customs and health declarations are now filed online via Q-CODE.
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  Voltage 220 V, Type F sockets, identical to French and German plugs. No adapter needed from continental Europe.
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  Eau Tap water is drinkable and monitored, though Koreans rarely drink it straight. Free filtered fountains in metro stations, cafés and public buildings.
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  Pourboire There is no tipping culture in South Korea, and leaving one can cause awkwardness. The listed price is the price paid, service included.
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  Argent Korea is among the most cashless countries on earth: cards work everywhere, down to a 1,000 KRW purchase. Still carry some cash for traditional markets. Note that many terminals reject foreign cards — favour Visa and Mastercard, and carry a second card.
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  Santé No mandatory vaccinations. Healthcare is excellent and affordable compared with North America. Pharmacies (약국) are everywhere. Watch air quality in spring, when fine particulates regularly exceed thresholds.
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  Urgences Medical and fire: 119 | Police: 112 | Multilingual tourist helpline (24/7): 1330

💡 Eating Korean is cheap, eating Western is not: a 6,000 KRW latte costs more than a full canteen meal. Side dishes (banchan) are free and refilled on request, which makes shared meals very economical.