Korea, in person · for travelers & expats
We go, stay, and check it ourselves: honest Korea guides in English.
Hotels, food, things to do, and the practical stuff for getting around, for people visiting Korea and the ones living here. Real prices, real photos, zero sponsored fluff.
Compare Seoul hotels →★ 15+ hotels reviewed first-hand · Seoul · Busan · Jeju · Gangneung · Ulsan
Start here · most useful guides
Newsletter
This Week in Seoul
Honest Korea tips, once a week, hotels, food and the practical stuff, from someone who lives here.
LATEST POSTS
Hangang Bus vs Han River Cruise: Which One Should You Take? (I Changed My Mind)
I rode the Hangang Bus first and told everyone to skip the cruise. Then I took the cruise. A first-hand comparison of fares, routes, operators…
PRACTICAL GUIDES
How things actually work here, transport, money, food and the practical bits you look up mid-trip.
Jjimjilbang: A Korean Spa Explained, From Getting Naked to Sleeping There
For about the price of two coffees you can get a bath, a sauna, a change of clothes,…
Buy Glasses in Korea: 15 Minutes, Half the Price, No Prescription Needed
If you wear glasses, put “buy a pair” on your Korea list before you arrive. Not as a…
Do You Need an eSIM in Korea? An Honest Answer
An eSIM gets you data, not a Korean phone number. Most guides say that’s a dealbreaker. It isn’t,…
How a Korean Drinking Street Works: Rounds, Noraebang and the Motels at the End
Every Korean city has them: a few blocks where the ground floor is all grilled meat and the…
Suseo Station Guide (SRT): Booking in English, Hospital Shuttles & Luggage Lockers
Suseo Station is the high-speed terminal for Gangnam, Jamsil and Songpa. How to book SRT in English, why…
Tax Refund in Korea (2026): How to Actually Get Your Money Back
Tourists can claim back Korea’s 10% VAT. Who qualifies, the three ways to get your refund, the exact…
More Reads
Seoul City Hall’s Free Observation Decks: Deoksugung From Above, Now Open Friday & Saturday Nights
Three free observation decks at Seoul City Hall – the Sky Observatory, Jeongdong Observatory and…
Custom Cakes in Seoul: How to Order a Made-to-Order Korean Cake
Walk past any residential block in Seoul and you will eventually find one: a small…
Cat Cafés in Korea: What They Cost, What to Expect, and the Rules Nobody Tells You
If you have spent any time walking around Seoul, you have probably passed one without…
Incheon Airport Layover? Spend It at Inspire Resort, Not the Terminal
Inspire Entertainment Resort sits on the same island as Incheon Airport. Free to enter, free…
Where to Eat Near Lotte World Tower: Hanwoo Bulgogi with a Lake View (Gwanghwamun Galbi, Seokchon Lake)
Looking for somewhere to eat near Lotte World Tower or Seokchon Lake? Gwanghwamun Galbi Seokchon…
Starfield Library COEX Guide (2026): Hours, Free Entry, the Photo Spot and the Fake Books
Starfield Library at COEX in Seoul is free and open 10:30 to 22:00 every day.…