Trip Overview

Three flights in one day. SQ600 out of Singapore at 8AM — an A330-300 — lands at Incheon at 3:35PM. Clear customs and transit across to Gimpo Airport by 4PM: Bus 6105 from Level 1, Bay 3B or 10A, about an hour's ride. Domestic flight Jeju Air #133 departs Gimpo at 7:40PM, lands Jeju at 8:45PM. Pick up the rental mini car at 9:15PM.

That first night is just check-in and collapse. Don't plan activities for arrival day — by the time you've cleared three airports and driven to the hotel, you've already done a full day's work.

// Car note: LPG fuel — preferred and cheaper than petrol in Korea. Rental ~S$60/day. Budget S$300 total for 5 days. Fill up whenever you see a station; LPG pumps are not at every stop.

First full day on the island, and the first proper day behind the wheel. The mini car turned out perfect for Jeju — compact, easy to park, and just the right size for the island’s narrow roads. Started with Jeju Love Land at 11AM — an adults-only open-air sculpture park that’s genuinely quirky and unlike anywhere else. Around an hour is plenty.

Afternoon was spent around Hallasan National Park — home to Korea’s highest peak. You don’t need to summit to enjoy it; even the lower trails and viewpoints make the stop worthwhile. There’s a small parking fee. Continued west to Jeju Glass Castle at 4:30PM, a whimsical garden-and-castle attraction filled with glass art, before ending at the “Health” Museum around 6PM — a retro anatomy-themed museum that turned out far more entertaining than expected. About an hour inside was enough.

Dinner ended up being at McDonald’s around 8:30PM — simple, familiar, and somehow became our comfort stop. We liked it so much we kept returning there for dinner over the next few days.

The southern coast day. Hello Kitty Island at 10AM — pure nostalgia if you grew up with the brand, genuinely fun even if you didn't. Alice in Wonderland Museum at noon — immersive themed rooms, good for photos, 20 minutes is enough. Then Yongmeori Beach at 2PM — layered volcanic rock formations along the coast, dramatic at low tide. Free entry, 20-minute walk through.

Teddy Bear Museum at 3:30PM — themed dioramas featuring teddy bears in famous scenes. Sounds odd, works well. Jungmun Alive Museum at 6PM (3D trick art — the kind where you interact with the illusions in photos). Short walk to Seonimgyo Bridge at 7:30PM to close the day — an arched stone bridge over a volcanic rock canyon. Ten minutes, worth every one of them.

The east side. Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) at 9AM — a UNESCO-listed volcanic crater that rises straight out of the sea. The hike up is about 20 minutes and the view from the rim is one of the best on the island. Early morning is the right call here; it gets crowded by mid-morning.

Then the side trip: Udo Island. Take the ferry from Seongsan Port — roughly 15 minutes each way. Udo is a small island off the northeast tip of Jeju, and half a day here is enough to cover the main viewpoints, try the local peanut ice cream, and feel like you've genuinely escaped somewhere. Budget 25,000 KRW for ferry + access fees. Trick Art Museum at 5PM on the way back — optional depending on energy levels.

Exploring the northeast side of Jeju today. First stop was Manjanggul Cave at 10AM — one of the island’s famous lava tube caves stretching more than 8km in total, though only about 1km is open to visitors. The temperature drops noticeably near the entrance, but honestly, the thought of heading deep underground and climbing all those stairs was intimidating enough for us. We stayed around the entrance area, snapped a few quick photos, admired the massive cave opening, and decided that was more than enough adventure for the morning.

Next was Gimnyeong Maze Park around noon — a hedge maze that’s been around since 1987. Smaller than expected, but surprisingly easy to get lost inside. A nice lighthearted stop between destinations.

By 2PM, hunger fully kicked in. We randomly stopped at a small local eatery nearby where absolutely nobody spoke English. Back in 2015, translation apps weren’t something you could reliably depend on, so the entire ordering process became a comedy show of pointing at random menu items, nodding enthusiastically, and awkwardly shaking our heads whenever something looked too suspicious. Somehow, it worked. Hahaha.

Park Southernland at 1:30PM followed after lunch — a relaxed family-style activity park nearby. Not exactly the headline attraction of the trip, but still a pleasant way to spend a slower afternoon before dinner.

And somehow, once again, dinner ended up being at McDonald’s. By this point, it had unofficially become part of the daily itinerary.

Last morning on Jeju. Dongmun Market at 11AM — the main traditional market in Jeju City. Fresh raw sushi straight off the stalls is the move here. Do this before you leave; it's one of those experiences that's specific to Jeju and genuinely excellent. Fill a bag with snacks for the flight too.

Reach the airport by 1:30PM. Flight #120 departs Jeju at 3:55PM, lands Gimpo at 5PM. Car is returned at the Jeju Airport drop-off point — full tank, no drama. From Gimpo, transit into Seoul by public transport. No more car for the rest of the trip.

The second half is a different mode entirely. Seoul runs on a grid of subway lines that cover essentially everything you'd want to visit — Line 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 all featured in the itinerary. The T-Money card (Korea's equivalent of EZ-Link) handles subway, buses, and even some taxis. Load it with 20,000 KRW upfront and top up once or twice across the week. Keep it on you at all times.

First full Seoul day, go hard. Myeongdong at 11AM — exit 5, 6, 7, or 8 from Myeongdong Station (Line 4). K-beauty flagship stores, street food, crepe stalls, everything packed into a few blocks. Budget 2–3 hours and a specific amount to spend, or the afternoon disappears.

Itaewon at 2PM — Exit 1, Line 6. The international district; looser, more mixed, different energy from the rest of Seoul. Then N Seoul Tower at 4PM: Exit 4 from Itaewon Station, then Bus 3 (runs 8AM–11PM, every 10 minutes) up the hill. 14,000 KRW includes the observatory and the Teddy Bear Museum in the same building. Views across the whole city are best at dusk — the timing here is deliberate. Dongdaemun at 7:30PM for dinner and the night market — Exit 5, 7, 8, or 9, Line 1 or 4.

Cheonggyecheon Stream at 10AM — Gwanghwamun Station, Line 5, Exit 5. A restored urban stream that cuts through central Seoul. Walking the path is a genuine break from the city noise around it — 5km long but you can dip in and out at street crossings. Good for an hour before lunch.

COEX Mall at 1PM — Samseong Station, Line 2, between Exit 5 and 6. The underground mall is enormous: aquarium, cinema, bookshops, food court. If it's raining, this is where you spend the afternoon. Times Square Mall at 4PM — Yeongdeungpo Station, Line 1, follow the underground passage directly in. Another big mall with different tenant mix. Round the day off at Banpo Bridge at 6:30PM — Dongjak Station, Line 4, Exit 1 or 2. The fountain show runs along the bridge's edge, reportedly the longest of its kind. Evening lighting makes it a proper end to the day.

Cultural day. Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House — presidential residence) drill at 10AM — Exit 5, Gyeongbokgung Station, Line 3, 10-minute walk. Worth the walk if you catch the timing right.

Then straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace at 1PM — same station, Exit 5. Entry 3,000 KRW. The main Joseon dynasty palace, massive grounds, throne hall, folk museum inside the complex — but the highlight of this stop was renting the royal guard costumes at the palace. Full military dress: I went as the male guard, my partner as the female guard counterpart. Took photos around the palace grounds in costume, which was genuinely one of the more memorable things we did in Seoul. Something you either fully commit to or you skip entirely — we committed. Budget at least 90 minutes for the palace itself after the costume session.

Insadong at 2:30PM — this only operates as a proper street market on Sundays, so if you're here on a Sunday, don't skip it. Exit 6, Anguk Station, Line 3, straight 100m and turn left. Craft stalls, traditional snacks, local art. Then Bukchon Hanok Village at 5PM — Exit 2, Anguk Station, 300m walk. A preserved neighbourhood of traditional Korean houses (hanok) on the hillside between two palaces. Free to walk through, busiest on weekends but atmospheric even when crowded.

Nami Island — the filming location for Winter Sonata, the K-drama that arguably kicked off Korea's tourism boom in the early 2000s. Getting there is part of the experience: Sangbong Station (Line 7) → transfer to Gyeongchun Line → Gapyeong Station → taxi to Gapyeong Wharf (just say "Nami Island" to the driver, KRW 3,000–4,000 each way). The island itself is tree-lined walking paths, art installations, and the kind of quiet that's hard to find inside Seoul. Entry 14,000 KRW. Budget a full day including transit.

// Also on the table for this day: Seoraksan (Mount Seorak) — intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2) to Sokcho, then City Bus 7 or 7-1 to the park entrance. A full day commitment if you go; not compatible with Nami Island on the same day.

Lotte World — this one is a full-day commitment, not a half-measure. Getting there: Seoul Station → Line 4 toward Dangogae → transfer at Dongdaemun Stadium → Line 2 to Jamsil → Exit 4. Entry 38,000 KRW. The indoor section runs regardless of what the weather's doing outside, which matters in early September.

We hit all the major rides through the day — the indoor section keeps things moving even when the queues build up. Meals were taken inside the park; no reason to leave for food with that many options on-site. The real payoff though is staying until the night falls. The park puts on performances toward the end of the day, and the closing segment includes mini fireworks — nothing stadium-scale, but set against the park's indoor backdrop with the lights down, it genuinely lands. The kind of thing you'd miss if you left at 5PM because you assumed the day was done. Stay for the final rounds. It's worth it.

Daytime was Gundam Base Seoul — the flagship Bandai Namco store for Gunpla kits. Walked in expecting to browse. Walked out with a Unicorn Gundam kit because it was a hundred dollars cheaper than back home. The problem, of course, was immediately obvious: the box is enormous. We spent the rest of the day figuring out how to transport a massive Gunpla box across Seoul without destroying it or ourselves.

Evening: decided to hunt down the shopping district near Ewha Womans University — Line 2, Ewha Station. In theory: indie fashion shops, good prices, relaxed vibe. In practice: the language barrier hit harder than expected. Couldn't figure out where the actual shopping streets were, nobody in the immediate area spoke enough English to point us in the right direction, and after walking around for a while getting nowhere, we gave up and called it. Headed back to the hotel via MRT. By the time we got back to the hotel station, it was 11:10PM. The Unicorn Gundam survived the commute. Barely.

Second visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace — but this time for a very different reason. Rented hanbok at the gate and went full emperor and empress. Proper Joseon dynasty costumes: layered robes, the whole setup. Took photos around the palace grounds in full costume, found good spots by the gate and the main courtyard. Nobody batted an eye — it's a common thing to do here, and the whole experience is genuinely fun. Something you either commit to or you don't.

After returning the hanbok, the rest of the day was unstructured — walked around areas we'd missed or only briefly passed through earlier in the trip. No fixed plan, no entry fees, just covering ground at a slower pace. The day ran longer than expected, and by the time all of it wrapped up, it was already nightfall.

Back at the hotel: full pack-up for the morning departure. Everything in the bags, Unicorn Gundam somehow accounted for. Last night in Seoul.

Final morning. Check out. Transit to Incheon International Airport by 1PM for a 4:40PM departure. SQ609 — another A330-300, 6 hours 20 minutes back to Changi T3. Land 10PM Singapore time. Trip closed.

// Tax refund reminder: Purchases above 30,000 KRW (roughly S$40) qualify for a VAT refund at the airport. Keep receipts from everywhere. The kiosk is at Incheon departure level — do it before check-in.

Ground Rules for Korea

• Recycle bags: Bring your own. No plastic bags provided anywhere — this is enforced, not suggested.
• T-Money card: Load 20,000 KRW upfront. Top up once more (10–15k KRW) across the week. Works on all MRT lines, buses, and most convenience store purchases.
• LPG fuel in Jeju: The rental will specify fuel type. LPG is cheaper and more common — confirm before you drive away from the lot.
• Coupons: Print attraction discount coupons from english.visitkorea.or.kr before departure. Several Jeju attractions have 10–20% off with a printed coupon. Worth the five minutes.
• Fast food: Mister Donut, Lotteria, Kyochon, Bonchon Chicken — Korea's local fast food chains worth trying at least once each.
• Jimjilbang (sauna): Jeju and Seoul both have jjimjilbang — Korean communal saunas and rest houses. Low cost, open 24 hours, and a legitimate cultural experience.

Budget Breakdown