Check documents before paying for flights
Check the Korea Visa Portal and the Korean embassy or consulate responsible for your area for entry requirements based on your nationality, passport and purpose of visit. Use the respective official websites to determine whether K-ETA and the e-Arrival Card apply to you. Do not assume that someone else's nationality or the conditions from a previous trip apply to your case.
Prepare your name in English as shown in your passport, flight details, and your accommodation's Korean address and contact details for completing documents. This guide does not determine individual eligibility to enter Korea or provide an application service.
Incheon and Gimpo airports: read the airport code on your ticket
Incheon Airport (ICN) and Gimpo Airport (GMP) are different airports. Even if you are staying in Seoul, your first journey depends on when you leave the airport, your terminal and the sections you will walk with a suitcase. Include baggage and round-trip airport transport when comparing flight prices.
If you are staying in Incheon or Gyeonggi, going to Seoul Station first is not always the right route. Use your actual accommodation address as your destination and compare trains, buses and taxis, including the final part of the journey.
Choose when to visit based on what you want to do
Consider walking itineraries in spring and autumn, and indoor breaks from heat and rain in summer. For winter outdoor plans, prepare for the cold and slippery paths. The weather along Incheon's coast and in Gyeonggi's mountains may feel different from central Seoul, so check the forecast for each destination separately.
Your itinerary cannot guarantee cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, snow or the dates of a particular festival. If your travel dates are fixed, decide which outdoor sections to shorten within the same area instead of adding distant indoor attractions.
Calculate costs using your own booking conditions, rather than average expenses
Separate the flights, accommodation, insurance and admission tickets you will pay for in advance from transport, meals, connectivity and shopping expenses during your trip. Avoid adding accommodation you have already paid for to your daily budget again.
You can calculate your total budget as prepaid costs + daily local budget × number of travel days + unpaid round-trip airport transport + a contingency fund. Leave room for late-night taxis, suitcase storage or booking changes if needed.
For 3 days and 2 nights, use one accommodation as your base
On the first day, travel from the airport to your accommodation and add just one nearby neighborhood. On the second day, focus on one area you want to visit, such as a palace or museum area, Seongsu or Jamsil, with meals and breaks in between. On the last day, plan luggage collection and airport transport first, then choose a brief stop for any remaining time.
If you want to include Incheon or Gyeonggi, make the second day a full day in that region rather than continuing to add to your Seoul itinerary. The Open Port area, Songdo, Yeongjong, Suwon, Gapyeong and Yangpyeong each require separate travel planning.
Compare what is included in independent travel and tours first
Read what the tour price covers: the actual destinations, vehicle, pickup location, guide language, meals and admission tickets. Check free time, shopping stops, minimum participant numbers and cancellation conditions for the option selected on the seller's site.
A payment approval notification is different from a confirmed booking. Check the date, party size, meeting point and voucher issuance, and save the booking number and the seller's contact details. Do not treat reviews of another product or a different option with the same title as the conditions for your booking.
Official information and source reference dates
- Korea Visa Portal ↗ · Accessed 2026-10-25
- Official K-ETA information ↗ · Check the operator's information for conditions on your travel date
- Official e-Arrival Card information ↗ · Check the operator's information for conditions on your travel date
- Korea Tourism Organization · Climate and seasons ↗ · Accessed 2026-10-25
Guide prepared on 2026-10-25. Official source verification dates and list collection dates are shown separately.