Backpacking Seoul (The Definite Budget Guide)

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Find your Perfect Hostel in Seoul

Seoul is the only place where you can sip latte foam shaped like BTS hair and, five minutes later, hike a mountain inside city limits.

I’ve backpacked this maze a lot of times (and now I live here), each trip swapping more cash for food and cute cafés than I planned.

Consider this your backpacking Seoul guide—my cheat sheet to cheap beds, spicy bites, and subway hacks so smooth you’ll feel like a local.

Top Picks: The Best Hostels in Seoul

Best for Hostel Newbies

Original Backpackers9.8

from $12.73 | More Details

Best for Female Solo Traveler

Philstay Ehwa Boutique ...8.9

from $10.60 | More Details

Best Party Hostel

Crossroad Backpackers H...9.5

from $12.31 | More Details

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Budget & Estimated Daily Costs in Seoul

Seoul can be kind to broke dreamers if you plan. Aim for €55–€70 per day, and you’ll score a dorm pod, three tasty meals, T-money rides, and a tiny budget for spontaneity (think arcade tokens).

• €20–€28 = dorm bunk with USB ports, curtain, locker.
• €18–€25 = street food breakfast, market lunch, BBQ dinner.
• €4 = unlimited subway/bus hops when you transfer smart.
• €0–€8 = palace ticket, art show, or jjimjilbang floor nap.

Add €25 if rooftop craft beers or club covers whisper your name. Strip €10 if you cook ramen in the hostel kitchen and treat soju like perfume—just take a whiff.

Typical Daily Expenses in Seoul

• Accommodation: €18–€28 (shoulder season dorm).
• Food total: €22.
  • Breakfast: €4—triangle kimbap + convenience-store Americano.
  • Lunch: €8—Gwangjang knife-cut noodle bowl.
  • Dinner: €10—self-service BBQ with refillable sides.
• Transport: €4 (subway, bus, free transfers).
• Attractions: €3 average—palaces free in hanbok, museums under €6.
• Extras: €8—arcade claw machine, peach soju, or cute socks you’ll never wear at home.

Counting coins? €60/day keeps you comfy. Want fancy lattes and skyline cocktails? Budget €95.

Money-Saving Tips

• Top up T-money with ₩20,000 chunks—saves small reload fees.
• Wear a hanbok for zero-cost palace access and unlimited selfies.
• Lunch menus (jeongsik) drop prices 30 % before 2 p.m.
• Refill bottles at subway restrooms; Seoul tap water is safe and cold.
• Pick up a local SIM at the airport—city Wi-Fi is good but hiccups underground.
• Skip ATM fees: withdraw once at a “Global” machine and pay cash for small eats.
• Split BBQ sets with hostel mates—bigger platter, smaller bill.
• Hostel freebie shelves often hide leftover shampoos and transit cards—dig politely.

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in Seoul

1. Stay Korea Homestay - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller
2. Namsan Guest House - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller
3. Holiday in Korea Hostel
4. Backpackers Inside Hostel - best for Solo Traveller
5. Grape Garden House - best for Family-Friendly Hostel, Solo Traveller

Stay Korea Homestay

9.0

"…It has a warm and hospitable atmosphere, thanks to the friendly owner. She speaks French because more

Namsan Guest House

8.1

"…The other guests were quiet and friendly. I recommend this place if you want a good place in more

from

$10.74

Holiday in Korea Hostel

8.7

Jongno District

"…There weren't many people staying at the time I visited, so I don't know how great of a place it more

Backpackers Inside Hostel

8.8

Jongno District

"…Common Spaces Common spaces are quite small and are only in the first level of the hostel. Here more

Grape Garden House

8.0

Mapo District

"Clean and affordable, helpful staff - Very clean, bathroom located within dorm room. Helpful staff more

Getting Around Seoul on a Budget

• Subway: Color-coded, English signs, €1.10 per ride with T-money.
• Bus: Same card, free transfer within 30 minutes. Front door tap on, back door tap off.
• Seoul Bike (Ddareungi): €2 per day. Scan QR, pedal the riverside, feel superior.
• Late-Night Plan B: Last trains around 00:30. Miss them? 24-hour saunas cost less than taxis and come with hot pools.
• Apps: KakaoMap for navigation; Google sulks here. KakaoT for legit taxis—avoid meter shock.
• Walk: Many neighborhoods cluster sights; Insadong to Gyeongbokgung is a coffee-cup distance.

Best Free & Budget-Friendly Attractions

Free things to do

• Cheonggyecheon stream walk after dark—LED art + soft water sounds.
• Guard-changing show at Gyeongbokgung (10 a.m., 2 p.m.).
• Hongdae street dance battles on weekends.
• Inwangsan ridge hike for sunrise city views.
• Bukchon alley wandering—respect quiet signs, enjoy cat cameos.

Low-cost attractions

• Leeum Museum: €8 student ticket = ancient pottery + video art.
• N Seoul Tower cable car: €5 one way; hike down for free pine-scent therapy.
• Jjimjilbang evening soak: €10 includes sauna, nap room, and grilled-egg snack.

Food & Drinks on a Budget

• Markets: Gwangjang for €2 gimbap rolls, €4 mung-bean pancakes.
• Street Stalls: Tteokbokki cups under €3; ask for “ban-ban” half-spicy if you cry easily.
• Solo BBQ: Spots with “혼밥 환영” sign love lone grillers—sets at €10.
• Café Hopping: Yeonnam-dong offers refill ice water and sockets for digital nomads.
• Cheap Drinks: Convenience-store patio culture: €2 grapefruit soju by the Han River.
• Nightlife Hack: Itaewon happy-hour cocktails €4 before 8 p.m.—follow the chalkboard arrows.

Experiences for Backpackers

• Kimchi workshop—leave smelling deliciously dangerous.
• Free DMZ lecture at War Memorial; decide if paid tour is worth your won.
• Language-exchange game night in Gangnam cafés.
• Rooftop K-pop dance sessions run by many hostels—zero judgment, maximum cardio.
• Midnight bike ride along the Han with rental lights blinking like tiny UFOs.

Additional Tips & Final Thoughts

• Best Time: Spring cherry buds or crisp fall leaves—lower dorm rates, breathable air.
• Book Ahead: Capsule hostels and DMZ tours sell out; reserve a week early.
• Avoid Tourist Traps: Skip cosmetic hawkers pushing “limited” snail cream—buy at chain stores for less.
• Safety First: Low crime, but keep bag zips forward in club queues; verify taxi plate matches app.
• Cultural Respect: Give/receive money with both hands, hush on subways, shoes off in hostel rooms.

Backpacking Seoul is like riding a neon wave flavored with chili and pop music. Keep your T-money topped, your spice tolerance loose, and your schedule flexible. The city will handle the rest.

Backpacking Seoul? Here’s What You Need to Know

These are the guides I wish I had before visiting. I’ve been there, had fun, did some minor mistakes, and now I’m passing the best tips on to you. Safe travels!

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About the author: Nour De Wilde Salhab

A Lebanese-Congolese-French-Belgian girl as likely to be found climbing a volcano in Indonesia or reading a sci-fi book by the sea in the South of France. Always on the hunt for remarkable experiences. My two favorites so far: volunteering in emergency medical services in Lebanon and solo backpacking around the world. Life is enjoyable in all its facets, from its healthy extremes to its mundane slows.