Seoul flights and travel guide

Seoul, South Korea's capital, positively pulsates with energy. This neon-bathed city is ranked as one of the world's top financial and commercial centres, one that attracts multinational companies, hosts major sporting events and is fantastically rich, but more than that, it is home to the 12 million people who give it its verve.

Travellers arriving on cheap flights to Seoul can expect bustling markets (Dongdaemun Market for example), serious shopping (particularly in Myeongdong and Gangnam) and world-class restaurants, but also ancient palaces, serene temples and tranquil parks.

There's plenty of "old" Seoul to discover despite the city's sometimes turbulent past. Gyeongbokgung is a standout attraction with gilded throne room, and pavilion resting in a lotus lake while Bukchon Hanok Village is an entrancing neighbourhood of traditional Korean houses, art galleries and museums.

To get a bird's eye view of the city, look to the N Seoul Tower. Getting there involves taking a cable car ride up Namsan mountain and a short walk to the tower. From its four observation decks, there are sumptuous views of the city below.

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Seoul climate

Seoul's climate is humid continental. Summers are hot and humid. August is the hottest month with temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius (72-86 degrees Fahrenheit). Monsoons occur in June/July. Winter temperatures can be very low. The average temperature in January hovers between -7 and 1 degrees Celsius (19-33F). Travellers taking cheap flights to Seoul during the winter months can expect about a month of snow in each year.

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When to fly to Seoul

Peak Season:
The summer months are peak season. 

Shoulder Season:
Spring and fall are shoulder months. Savvy travellers can save on flights and accommodations by planning their cheap flights to Seoul for March/April or October.

Off Season:
The winter months are low season.

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Getting downtown Seoul

Almost all cheap flights to Seoul land at Incheon International Airport, west of the city. From there, getting downtown is a breeze. There are two rental car agencies (Kumho and Avis) located on level 1 of the passenger terminal. Taxi stands are located on the arrivals level of the passenger terminal. Airport buses and airport express trains depart from the airport and serve several stations to Seoul.

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Getting around Seoul

Seoul's subway is one of the world's busiest, making eight million trips a day across its ten lines. Air- conditioned in summer and heated in winter, subway fares are reasonable. Station names and route maps are written in English, as well as Korean, to help foreign travellers.

Buses: There are four routes - and colours - to remember. Blue (arterial buses) routes link outlying areas with the downtown area. Green (local) buses run within a specific district. Red (express buses) connect downtown Seoul with satellite cities such as Ilsan and Anyang. Yellow (downtown circular) buses operate in major downtown areas. Fares cost about 800-1000 won per trip (up to $1 Canadian).

Taxi service is clean, cheap and safe and can be hailed on the street or at taxi ranks. In general, there are regular taxis (most are silver in colour), more expensive deluxe taxis (black with yellow signs on the roof) and taxi vans that can take up to nine passengers. They cost about the same as a deluxe taxi. These taxi vans can be found at Incheon International Airport.

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Seoul insider information

• Changgyeonggung is one of Seoul's five royal palaces and dates back to the 14th century. In the early 20th century, the Japanese demoted it from a gung (palace) to a won (park) and built a zoo, botanical garden and museum on the site. It regained its name and lost the zoo and botanical garden in 1983. Today, it is a serene space with "secret" gardens and a beautiful lake. 
• Visitors who have taken cheap flights to Seoul will find a great introduction to the performing arts at Korea House. The complex consists of several traditional buildings including Nogeum-jeong ("green pavilion for singing") and Cheongu-jeong ("pavilion for listening to the sounds of rain") and a garden that is popular for weddings. A seat at one of the daily performances of opera-style singing and dancing costs about $25. 
• Sample the local cuisine - bibimbap is a mix of vegetables, meat and egg with rice, bulgogi is slices of marinated beef cooked on your table and, most famously, kimchi, pickled vegetables though predominantly cabbage, as a side dish with almost every meal. 
• About 50km north of Seoul is the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) or the line of demarcation between North and South Korea on the 49th parallel that was established after the 1953 Korean War cease-fire. Technically, North Korea and South Korea are still at war. You can register for a tour to Panmunjeom, the spot where Armistice talks were held and where negotiations between the two side are held. It's a slightly eerie, but worthwhile, tour.

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Seoul airports

Incheon International Airport (ICN) (website: www.airport.kr) The airport is located 50km from central Seoul at Incheon.

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