48 Hours in Seoul: A No-Plan, No-SIM, No-Sleep

(Day 1: Arrival, BBQ, and Night Markets)

The Decision

How could I be scared of visiting the Land of the Morning Calm?

No plans, no SIM card, and no hotel booked. My normal.

What started as a joke between my girlfriend and me, “We should go to Korea this weekend”, quickly turned into reality. The algorithm must’ve heard us because suddenly I was flooded with videos of Seoul cafés, K-Pop playlists, and kimbap reels.

“Flights are open,” she said. “I’ve got one free hotel night. Let’s just do it.”

And just like that, a random destination turned into another adventure.

The Flight: 14 Hours and 1 Boyfriend

After being squished into Delta Premium Select (which, let’s be honest, is not built for anyone with hips or ass), I watched someone else,  who will remain unnamed, stretch out in Delta One.

My seatmate turned out to be an older Asian man who kindly plugged in my phone charger and patiently let me climb out every time I needed to go to the bathroom on this long-ass 14-hour flight. Bless him.

By hour eight, delirium hit & I had watched the full season of Watson but I managed to redeem my free anniversary hotel night through my credit card and score a suite in Myeongdong. The second night came to $236, not bad for a last-minute stay in the heart of Seoul.

We finally landed at Incheon Airport around 3:30 AM, jet-lagged, and a little too confident for two people with zero plans.

Early Morning in Seoul: SIM Cards & Subways

After waiting about 30 minutes for someone to appear at the SIM card counter, we finally got connected. With no Korean language skills, I immediately learned that Naver Maps was about to be my new best friend.

We exchanged $100 USD for Korean won and caught the first all-stop train to Seoul at 5:00 AM sharp.

And listen, the train ride alone deserves its own blog post. Clean, quiet, punctual (MARTA could never), and scenic. We watched commuters hop on and off at each stop while I got a few curious stares that honestly made me laugh.

Hotel Check-In (Kind Of)

We arrived at the hotel around 8:00 AM,  a solid seven hours before check-in, and the city was still asleep. My red-eye exhaustion was catching up fast. Thankfully, a couple checked out early, and the staff cleaned the room within 45 minutes.

By 9:00 AM, I was face-down on the bed, “just resting my eyes.”

Korean BBQ and Café Hopping

A few hours (and a power nap) later, we hit the streets for the real reason I travel… food.

First stop: authentic Korean BBQ**.** America, I’m sorry, but you’ve been doing it all wrong. The cheese, the meats, the salts, the kimchi — fabulous.

Next, we ducked into a 7-Eleven to try the viral banana milk coffee (it’s worth ever won) and grabbed pastries from a local café. Everything was sweet,k even the bread! I was craving something savory, but Seoul clearly has a sweet tooth.

At that point, five miles of walking and a full BBQ meal meant one thing: another nap.

Gwangjang Night Market: Food, Fear, and Fun

When the sun set, we headed out for a night market food tour at Gwangjang, one of the oldest markets in Seoul.

We tried everything from pajeon (scallion pancakes) to live octopus (yes, I did it, and it took a lot of sake courage). The highlight was meeting Mrs. Cho from Netflix’s Street Food: Asia and tasting her hand-cut noodles and soup.

The group was such a vibe, travelers from the US, EU, and Asia, including a couple on their honeymoon and the majority of people in Seoul for work. (Yes, I did ask if their company was hiring.)

Before heading back, we stopped at Olive Young, think Forever 21 on steroids, and walked straight into chaos. Shelves fully stocked, people with baskets full of serums. I left empty-handed and overstimulated… for now.

Day 1 Spend:

• Flight to Seoul: $80
• Money Exchange: $100
• SIM card: $15
• Train to Seoul: $6
• Hotel (1 free, 1 paid): $236
• Meals + Snacks: $45
• Night Market Tour: $70 Total: $552

(Day 2: Palaces, Cafés, and Fried Chicken Worth the Hype)

Morning Goals and Too Much Breakfast

Day 2 started with a list of intentions: See a palace. Hit a few cafés. Go back to Olive Young and finally grab all the skincare products I wanted. Try Korean fried chicken (and be just a little judgy about it compared to Southern chicken).

By 8:00 a.m., we were up and ordering everything on the breakfast menu: a rice-stuffed omelet (someone please remind me what this is actually called in Korean), spicy kimchi fried rice, gyoza, and kimbap. It was too much food for one morning, but we ball!

Royal Energy at Gyeongbokgung Palace

Jet lagged and full, we headed to Sejongno to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, the crown jewel of Seoul’s royal sites.

I’m a big believer that every trip should include at least one cultural or artistic experience, and this one didn’t disappoint. Even with the misty monsoon rain, the palace felt majestic. The architecture, the colors, the backdrop of the mountains, and people walking around in traditional hanboks, it was worth every minute of the 14 hour flight.

Sure, it was also the site of an assassination in the mid-1800s, but hey, that’s history for you.

Café Hopping in Ikseon-dong

You can’t visit Korea without café-hopping, it’s practically a cultural requirement.

We made our way through the narrow turns of Ikseon-dong to find Cheong Su Dong, a spot I’d seen all over TikTok. After a few wrong turns and some wet New Balances, we finally found it.

The minimalist menu instantly told me this place was serious about quality. We ordered the matcha latte, a cranberry spritzer, and a strawberry sponge cake. Now, I’m not a sponge-cake fan… but this? I wanted to hug the baker and kiss their forehead. 10/10, no notes.

We spent some time exploring the nearby market until the rain came pouring down again, a sign it was time for yet another power nap. (The jet lag was not playing around.)

Olive Young Chaos & Korean Fried Chicken Heaven

After recharging, it was time to tackle Myeong-dong again. First stop: Olive Young…round two.

Even though I wouldn’t call myself a skincare enthusiast, when in Korea, you buy the serums. And the toners. And the scrubs. And the masks. Basically, if it claimed to glow, lift, or tighten, it went in the basket.

With my skincare haul secured, it was finally time for Korean fried chicken. We ordered the salt & pepper chicken, and listen, it reminded me of my granny’s cooking. Crispy, juicy, seasoned perfectly. Another solid 10/10.

Day 2 Spend:

• Food: $50
• Palace Entrance Fee: $3
• Café: $20
• Ubers: $15 Total: $88

Would I Recommend 48 Hours in Korea?

Absolutely, hell yeah**.**

If you ever get the chance, go. Even with no itinerary, no SIM card, and no sleep, Seoul is the kind of city that rewards curiosity.

But here’s my advice: don’t do what I did. Two days in Seoul barely scratches the surface. Spend at least five days if you can. Give yourself time to wander, to café-hop without rushing, to see the city light up at night. And eat all the Korean BBQ that your heart desires.

Korea, I’ll be back!  Next time with a few more days, a working SIM card, and an empty suitcase just for skincare & snacks.