Cruises To & From Seoul, South Korea

Korean cuisine is like no other. Tangy, sour, sweet, hot, and spicy flavors are the norm, and Seoul is essentially one big, sprawling melée of restaurants and bars. Street food is especially good; look out for barbecued chicken and other meats. Popular dishes include bibimbap, which is rice with cooked vegetables and red pepper paste; tteokbokki, spicy rice cakes; pajeon, a kind of pancake; and gimbap, a tasty rice roll with filling. Head to Gwangjang Market for some of the best street food, or Dongdaemun Night Market if you’re here overnight. Wash it all down with shots of soju, a semi-sweet spirit, rice wine, or beer.

Situated on the strategically important Han River, Seoul was founded more than 2,000 years ago, changing hands many times. From 1905, the Korean peninsula was annexed by Japan, a period which ended after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Following this, the Korean peninsula was divided into north and south by the Soviet Union and the United States. South Korea declared independence in 1950, after which North Korea, backed by China and the Soviets, mounted an invasion. The Korean War, which cost some two million lives, went on until 1953.

Seoul gained attention on the world stage when it successfully hosted the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. In a move towards greater democracy, the first civilian president was elected in 1993. Modern South Korea is a thriving, affluent economy. Seoul itself is home to some 25 million people. There’s no official religion and around half of the population has no declared faith, but the philosophies of Confucianism and shamanism nonetheless influence South Koreans.

Take a shuttle from Incheon Port to the Sinpo International Market, famed for its fresh produce and street food. Look out for dak-ganjeong (sweet and spicy fried chicken), kalguksu (noodles), and mandu (dumplings).

The Incheon Complex Fish Market is a great spot to find a fresh catch of the day and is open until 9 pm. Guwol-dong Rodeo Drive is packed with department stores and fast-food restaurants, while Bupyeong Station Underground Shopping Mall, under the subway station of the same name, is the world’s largest underground shopping mall, with an astonishing 1,400 stores.

Taxis are a popular way to get around in Seoul, and they will pick you up from the cruise terminal. “International taxis” have English-speaking drivers. Taxis are metered here, and there is no need to tip—but make sure the driver understands where you want to go.

There is also a comprehensive bus and easily navigable subway system in Seoul, which can even take you to destinations outside of the city. Buses are easy, as they are all color-coded, each color serving a different route. The subway system is one of the fastest and most efficient in the world; pay for your rides with a T-Money card, which can be topped up when necessary.

The local currency is the Korean Won. There are ATMs all over the city, but you will need to use one displaying an international Visa or Mastercard sign. Most places take credit cards, but market stalls and street food vendors are more likely to prefer cash. Polite haggling is part of the culture at markets. South Korea is not a tipping culture; in fact, leaving a tip can be seen as disrespectful. Some establishments used to dealing with Western tourists have tip jars on their counters, so if you want to leave a tip, use these rather than offering money to an individual. There is also no need to tip taxi drivers or tour guides.