I booked my flight to South Korea last year in September, processed my visa, and never thought I would fall in love with a new country after Taiwan. South Korea was a dream come true, if I'm being honest. Korean drama made it so dreamy and my full experience did not disappoint. As an avid fan of K-drama since the early 2000s, I never thought that I will really set foot in Korea especially the thought of getting a visa was kind of difficult. But I was blessed to have my visa approved, and I want to share my experience planning for this trip.
Travel dates: March 7-14, 2026
My travel dates felt chilly. Temperature ranged from -2 degrees celsius to 9 degrees celsius an I'm glad that I packed the right outfit. They say that we should not underestimate Korea's winter season, so I did my assignment very well. It was a transition from winter to spring, but it was still super cold for someone whose home country is tropical and has a humid weather.
I've watched video blogs of content creators and made sure I read every tip that I need to make my trip hassle-free. Though I made a detailed itinerary prior to the trip, it wasn't really followed step-by-step. I just know which places I wanted to visit and just let Naver Maps decide how can I go there.
If you’re planning your first trip to Seoul, let me just say this: you don’t need a packed, stressful itinerary to enjoy it. I spent 7 days and 6 nights in South Korea doing things slowly by walking around, cafe hopping, visiting iconic spots, and just soaking in the vibe and honestly, it made the whole trip feel more special. If you're into aesthetic places, K-drama vibes, and chill exploring, this itinerary is for you.
Read also: Ultimate South Korea travel guide for first-time visitors
I kept my first day super chill. I arrived in Incheon through a red-eye flight (around 1am KST). My hotel (Hotel Ivory) was booked a day prior so I was still able to rest before my first official day in Seoul. Airport Limousine buses in the early hours of the day are very limited, and the Airport Express is still closed so I had no choice but to book an Uber going to my hotel. I was supposed to book an airport transfer through Klook, but I had a big luggage and it was complicated for me to choose which right car to book.
Day 1: City Stroll
- Myeongdong
- Gwanghwamun Square
- Cheonggyecheon Stream
- Nami Island
- Gangnam
- COEX Starfield Library
- Gangnam Style Statue
- Gangnam Street
- Suwon
- Starfield Library
- Hwaesong Fortress
- Twenty Five Twenty One filming location
- Yeouido Hangang Park
- Eunpyeong Hanok Village
- Itaewon
This day was all about aesthetics and slower exploring.
Eunpyeong Hanok Village is less crowded than Bukchon and has mountain views and traditional houses
- Roundtrip Airfare (MNL-ICN-MNL) via Cebu Pacific - ₱11,450.48
- Bank Certificates - ₱200
- KVAC Processing Fee - ₱1,800
- Baggage Allowance (roundtrip - 2pcs 20kg MNL-ICN; 3pcs 20kg ICN-MNL) - ₱ 7,632
- Travel Tax - ₱ 3,240
- Klook TravelJoy Travel Insurance - ₱900
- Klook E-Sim (Unlimited Data for 7 days) - ₱1,460
- Hotel Ivory (Chungmu-ro 8D7N) - ₱ 24,784.76
- Food: ₱17,840
- Transportation (subway and buses): ₱7,408
- Uber from airport to hotel: ₱3,216
- Sightseeing: ₱6,210
- Includes: zipline to Nami Island + ferry
- Hanbok rental + hairstyling for Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Optional Expense - Shopping: ₱35,033.27
- Personal shopping: ₱19,855.32
- Pasabuy: ₱15,177.95
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