My husband and I have taken two trips to South Korea to finalize our daughter’s adoption, so it’s become a very special place to us and I’ve wanted to share about it here for a while. I actually wrote this post about 5 years ago and lost it, and in a miracle of technology it reappeared today. So, here it is!
I promise, a trip to Seoul, South Korea, is actually a totally do-able vacation for families, even those with young kids. The city has centuries of history to explore, and the people are incredibly welcoming. It’s surprisingly easy for us Westerners (even those who only speak English) to confidently get around and enjoy the fun culture, amazing food, cool amusement parks, and great shopping.
So, here are some of our tips on where to stay, what to do, how to get around, and what to eat. I think you’ll love everything about it. Except maybe the long flight…but that’s what melatonin and iPads are for, right?
Just FYI, we paid for our own trips to Korea. This is not sponsored content.
Stay in the Myeong-dong neighborhood
Thanks to its central location, fantastic shopping, and easy access to cool historic sites like Deoksugung Palace, the Cheonggyecheon Stream, and the very cool Namdaemun market, the Myeong-dong (pronounced “mee-yong doh” by our translator) neighborhood is a great place to stay with kids. The first time we visited, we stayed at an Airbnb; the second time we tried the 5-star Lotte Hotel Seoul, which we got a great deal on at Expedia.
There were downsides to the Airbnb — like no room service and unfamiliar bedding. (Traditional Korean sheets are more like a flat, waterproof mattress pad. We ignored the warning to take our own sheets, and wished we hadn’t.)
But there were upsides too, like a full kitchen and the feeling that we were really living like locals. While we rented a small studio, we saw some gorgeous 2- and 3- bedroom apartments you could fit a whole family in comfortably, with room to spread out and let the kids have their own space — a plus for me when we’re traveling together for a longer trip. Plus, our rental was under $300 for the entire week — (Yes, you’re reading that right.) — and we had a doorman to help us find our way around.
If you are nervous about the language barrier, a hotel might be a better fit for you. Our room at the Lotte hotel (a premier chain there) was spacious, with a huge bathroom with a soaking tub and shower. Plus, the TV in the room accessed lots of international channels (read: English speaking channels), which we didn’t get at the Airbnb. Not that you’re there to watch TV, but it’s nice to unwind at the end of a full day to something you can understand.
One other BTDT tip: ask your hotel for the dimensions on their beds. We saved some money on an upgrade when we found out the “double bed” room we had was actually the equivalent of a US king-sized bed.
Eat like a local
While I’m not a picky eater, I was unsure what to expect when it came to the food in Korea. It turns out: it’s delicious. The small local restaurants with just a few seats but tons of amazing flavor and the cool street vendors selling classic Korean street food are the heartbeat of the city.
We tried the fast-food and Americanized hotel food (which was crazy expensive and not nearly as good as the locals) and hit the ramen shops and street vendors, where our total bill was usually under $10 for a meal for two big enough to have leftovers.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to Korean food, I highly recommend grabbing a bowl of ramen from a hole-in-the-wall shop (they’re everywhere). Just point to the picture on the menu and they’ll bring you a steaming bowl of noodles big enough to share — if you’re willing.
Of course, Korean BBQ is famous worldwide — and easily accessible for less adventuresome eaters — but it’s a bit more expensive. Our lunch for two was around $50.
You’ll see open-air kitchens on almost every street selling ddeokbokki — chewy rice cakes (think, spicy dumplings or gnocchi) cooked in a thick, spicy sauce. Do not pass these by. They are so good.
And try your best to eat at one of the legendary Myeongdong Kyoja restaurants, which just has 4 items on their menu — all of them amazing. Our two-year-old ate the dumplings like they were candy, and we’re still craving another bowl of their thick, hand-cut kalguksu noodles.
Skip the taxis; take the subway
When you land at Incheon airport, take a KAL bus into the city instead of a taxi. You can’t miss ticket desks as you exit terminal. It’s much cheaper (around $15 per person, compared to up to $200 for a taxi) and the spacious seats are a lot more comfortable for the hour-long ride into the city.
Once you’re in the city, use the subways to get around. They’re safe, clean, and fast. Plus, you’ll get to explore a whole world of underground shopping and delicious street food. The maps are very easy to figure out and always have an option in English. (Downloading the Subway Korea app will help in the rare case an English map isn’t easy to find.)
Visit the fun (and affordable) kids’ attractions
Because the subways are so much faster than taxis through traffic, you can see much of the city even on a short trip. And there is a ton of fun stuff to do there with kids. While we were there with our daughter, I turned to Kids Fun in Seoul. They have lots of tips on spots the locals will know about, with great directions for how to get there from any subway stop.
That said, I’ve been giggling over their concept of “very expensive,” when admission to many of these places is under $20. That’s about the same price as the basic trampoline park down the street from us in Nashville, and way more fun.
Our daughter could not have been more excited about Pororo World with its ball pits, kid-sized ferris wheels, and train rides all themed around Korea’s most famous animated character. If your child is preschool aged, you should visit even if they’ve never heard of Pororo.
But you really can’t skip Lotte World if you’re in Seoul with kids. This huge amusement park has roller coasters (with VR headsets, because: Seoul), a water park, an aquarium, and a brand-new kids’ park. Full-day tickets here are similar to the prices at Disney World, but it’s worth it for one big splurge.
Take in some history
When you’re visiting a city that’s was founded in 18 BC, you’re going to encounter some very cool historic monuments. And the kids can’t help but be a little impressed too. We visited Deoksugung Palace not once, but twice, because finding a place in a city of 10 million people where your child can run free was a real treat. Plus, admission to this cool enclave of royal buildings was just $1. For an additional small fee, we could have dressed in traditional costumes and posed as guards to the gate too.
Snow hit hard while we were there (save your visit for spring or summer!), so we didn’t make it to the Bukchon Hanok Village, which was on my list of must-see spots. It’s a winding neighborhood of traditional urban homes from the Joseon dynasty. I think most kids would be pretty impressed to see these ancient homes against the backdrop of Seoul’s modern high rises.
For a totally different perspective on the city, walk the 600-year-old Cheonggyecheon Stream (below). It’s a 7-mile trail through the middle of the city where kids can wade and splash in the water, watch the waterfall display, and see stunning art displays. You can also hop off the path along the way to hit shopping and dining stops on the city streets above.
Why you should take an international trip with kids
Sure, flying halfway around the world with kids isn’t exactly easy (although, our two-year-old slept 8 of our 11 hours, thanks to some melatonin and a 6:30 pm flight), but a vacation to a culture totally different from their own is one they’ll remember forever.
Just budget in a day or so at home to recover from the jet lag. Because Asia jet lag is legit.
That said, giving your kids the chance to see and experience another language, different foods, and ancient history will deepen their appreciation for customs other than their own — something I’m really trying to instill in my kids.
So, even though a trip to Korea may not even cost that much more than a fancy rental house at the beach for a week, the experiences your kids will gain are invaluable. Which makes total sense to me.
