Activities that won’t break your bank
Travelling can be super expensive (especially for young people). But when you’re already abroad you want to make the most of it and experience all the fun things, right? So when I lived in Seoul, I found some activities to do that were cheap or even free. Here are my favourite cheap or free things to do in Seoul.
1. Coin Karaoke (코인 노래방)
If you visit South Korea you HAVE to try karaoke (or norebang as they call it in South Korea). This was one of my favourite activities. Unlike in Europe, where it’s more like an evening-filling event, you can go and do karaoke during the day – even alone if you want to!
You can either look for signs saying 코인 노래방 (coin norebang), which means that you will get a room but pay per song instead of paying per hour. Or if you prefer to rent a room and pay per hour, look for signs saying 노래방. In case you want to sign for hours this might be the cheaper option.
A Room or a booth?
However, going to a room (no matter if you pay per song or per hour) can also be a bit confusing. Usually, the remotes are in Korean and it takes some time to get used to them and to figure out which button does what. (Even if you use a picture translation app, they are usually not that helpful). Some friends and I have been to a coin norebang room where we already put money into the machine but struggled to find the songs we wanted. The machine just started to play some random song (it was a Korean folk song I think) because we took too long. We obviously weren’t able to sing the song but our money was gone. So if you go to a coin norebang room make sure to only put in the money once you queued the song. (Depending on the place it’s also good to have cash on you.)
There is an alternative to norebang rooms – which is favourite way of doing norebang, if you don’t want to sing for hours. In arcades (and believe me there are many in Seoul) you can find little coin norebang booths. They usually have two microphones and headphones and two chairs (you guessed it they are made for two people, although we’ve managed to squeeze three people in there). The booths have the same software as norebang rooms but it’s a lot easier to manage as it is a touch screen and it is a lot more intuitive even if you can’t read the language. In my opinion, this is the least expensive way to do karaoke. Especially if you want to go alone or just for a shorter time.
Cost
If you pay per song with cash in a coin norebang room or in booths it’s usually 1,000 KWR/song. However, in booths, you can use credit cards and it’s usually a little cheaper if you pay per card.
2. Have a Little Photoshoot
Seoul is a gorgeous, gorgeous city. During the day but especially at night. So why not have a little photo shoot with your friends (or alone with a tripod). And as a bonus: the pictures are a fantastic memory.
In Seoul, you will never run out of great backgrounds. For example, my friends and I spent an hour walking around Gangnam taking pictures (Gangnam Station 강남역 exit 11 has awesome lights) or walked around Seoul Forest Park and found a bridge with a great view of the river. You can also head to Namsan Tower or take pictures in areas like Hongdae or Myeong-dong. If you’re feeling fancy you can also rent a Hanbok (traditional Korean dress) and take pictures in one of the palaces. You will get into the palace for free (which is usually like 3,000 KRW) but the Hanbok rental can be a bit more expensive.
Cost
If you have a phone (which I assume you do because you’re reading this), it’s completely free. Public transportation is also quite affordable if you want to check out some more unique places. If you’re interested in how to get to Namsan Tower keep reading!
3. Have a Picnic
If the weather is warm enough (or cool enough in summer) having a picnic is a wonderful idea. And usually quite inexpensive. There are a few parks in Seoul but the one to have a picnic in is Seoul Forest Park. It’s a huge park with a lake in the middle and there is tons of space to sit down and have a nice picnic. Just head to the Seoul Forest subway station and from there the park is within walking distance. If you’re not feeling like preparing a picnic, the Seoul Forest Park area is also great for cafés (read about two on my other post). You can always grab a coffee and some cake and then head to the park.
If you want some hot food you can also get some fried chicken. For that, I would recommend going to the Ttukseom Hangang Park (뚝섬한강 공원) instead. It’s close to the Ttukseom Resort station (뚝섬유원지 역) and there is a fried chicken shop near the station exit (I believe it was close to exit 2). The Ttukseom Hangang Park has lots of space to sit down – but in summer it can get pretty crowded.
Cost
Visiting the park is free and depending on what you buy you can definitely get food from a convenience store for around 5,000 – 6,000 KRW (but careful fruit is in general rather expensive). If you get fried chicken it’s around 10,000 – 20,000 KRW.
4. Visit Namsan Tower
My last recommendation for cheap things to do in Seoul is to visit Namsan Tower. Although I am not the biggest fan of touristy things I would definitely recommend doing that. If you want you can also buy a ticket to further go up to the observation deck. But honestly, the view is already amazing from the free-accessible areas.
To get to Namsan Tower you have 3 options: cable car, bus or walk. I have walked up before and it takes quite a while but it’s a beautiful walk through the park (I would not recommend it during summer though). If you don’t feel like hiking you can also take the bus. As mentioned, there is a cable car but this is definitely the most expensive option (around 14,000 KRW per person).
You can take bus #01 from Myeong-dong station (명동 역), which takes around 15 – 20min to get up to the tower.
Cost
The bus costs around 1,100 – 2,150 KRW. Everything else is free. Obviously, you can get some food or drinks at the top at one of the restaurants. If you want to save money there is also a GS25 (convenience store) or you bring your own food and sit on a bench (there are plenty).
Do you have any more fun but affordable things to do in Seoul? Leave them in the comments!
Angela
Angela, the mastermind behind theslowtravelista, is a passionate traveler who embraces slow travel's essence. With a knack for immersing herself in diverse cultures, she treasures connections formed across the globe. Beyond her adventures, Angela's vibrant personality shines through her love for spontaneous hair changes, hitchhiking escapades, and culinary delights. Join her for travel insights, laughter, and unforgettable adventures.
