Stories from Seoul
Long-form writing on the city and its edges — night markets, cafe culture, river picnics and the practicalities of travel in Korea.
More stories
The best time to visit Seoul (and when to avoid)
Han River picnic guide — Seoul's best-kept easy afternoon
Is Seoul expensive? A realistic cost breakdown
Korean etiquette mistakes tourists make in Seoul
Seoul café culture — why it's a real part of the trip
Seoul night markets — where to go and what to expect
Solo female travel in Seoul — a factual safety guide
Seoul street food guide — what to eat and where
Seoul vs Tokyo — how to actually decide
Good to know about the Seoul blog
The blog is where Seoul Spirit steps back from strict planning logistics and covers the questions that shape how a trip actually feels, written with the same honest, no-fluff approach as the rest of the site. It opens with the broad orientation pieces — 25 things to know before visiting Seoul, and a direct look at whether Seoul is expensive, which stays qualitative rather than inventing specific won figures: backpacker travel using hostel dorms and street food is genuinely achievable on a modest budget, mid-range comfort with sit-down meals and the occasional taxi costs several times more, and luxury travel has no real ceiling.
A dedicated Seoul vs Tokyo comparison helps travellers choosing between the two cities weigh up the practical differences rather than relying on vague impressions. Safety and etiquette get serious treatment: a solo female travel guide covers what Seoul actually offers, including women-only subway cars and waiting areas at some stations during peak hours, alongside standard urban caution at night in nightlife-heavy areas like Hongdae and Itaewon; a Korean etiquette mistakes piece covers everyday habits worth unlearning, such as never leaving chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice, using two hands or a slight bow with elders, and keeping voices down on public transit.
Food and culture pieces make up a large share of the blog: a Seoul street food guide, a deep dive into Seoul's night markets, a café culture piece covering the city's dense, design-driven coffee scene, with Seongsu-dong featuring heavily, and a Han River picnic guide covering the parks that run through Yeouido, Jamsil and beyond.
A best-time-to-visit piece pulls together the seasonal picture in one place: late September to mid-November as the strongest overall window for clear skies and autumn colour with fewer crowds than spring, late April to early May as a beautiful but busier and pricier cherry blossom alternative, the humid jangma rainy season worth planning around, and the August heatwave and winter cold as periods that call for different packing and pacing. None of the blog content replaces the destination or guide pages — it's meant to be read for context and reassurance before or during a trip, answering the softer questions a strict itinerary or logistics guide doesn't cover.
Frequently asked questions about the Seoul blog
Is Seoul an expensive city to visit?
It depends on your travel style. Backpacker travel using hostel dorms and street food is achievable on a modest daily budget, mid-range comfort with sit-down meals and occasional taxis costs several times more, and luxury travel has no real ceiling. There's no tipping culture, which helps keep dining costs predictable.
Is Seoul safe for solo female travellers?
Seoul ranks among the safer big cities globally, and some subway stations offer women-only cars or waiting areas during peak hours. Standard urban caution still applies at night in nightlife-heavy areas like Hongdae and Itaewon, and the blog's solo female travel guide covers this in more detail.
What are common etiquette mistakes visitors make in Seoul?
Leaving chopsticks standing upright in a bowl of rice is a common mistake to avoid, along with not using two hands or a slight bow when giving or receiving something with elders, talking loudly on public transit, and photographing people, especially children, without asking first.
When is the best time to visit Seoul according to the blog?
Late September to mid-November is generally the strongest window, with clear skies, autumn foliage and fewer crowds than spring. Cherry blossom season, late April to early May, is a close second — beautiful but busier and pricier. The jangma rainy season and August heatwave are worth planning around.
How does Seoul compare to Tokyo for a first-time visitor?
The blog's Seoul vs Tokyo piece weighs up practical differences rather than declaring one superior — things like cost of living, food culture, transit systems and pace of the city. Which one suits you better depends on what you're prioritising for the trip.