Easy Ways To Get Familiar When Traveling To Seoul

With so much to see and do, traveling to Seoul is quite an exhilarating experience.  However, visiting a foreign country always leaves a person with mixed emotions. You can be filled with excitement, looking forward to experiencing different cultures, a new language, and an entirely different place with all its fascinating sights and traditions. Yet, there is always the anxiety and fear that come with going to a new place and the possible struggles you could face. 

To help you overcome that fear, here are easy ways to get familiar with Seoul during your stay. 

Language

If it’s your first time in South Korea, you’ll realize that South Koreans will have a problem understanding English as they don’t have a chance to practice it. That’s why you should try learning Korean fast before you head to Seoul, or at the very least learn the basic words and common phrases you’ll need. This way, you’ll be able to communicate with the locals and remove all language barriers that could keep you from enjoying your trip. While you probably won’t be fluent before your trip, you will be able to have a basic level of communication to allow you to get by when traveling. Most locals tend to be extra helpful when they find you’ve already put effort into trying to speak their language.

Translation Apps

Another great tool to have when traveling to Seoul is a translation app. This will allow you to easily translate anything you’d like to ask and have the app display what you need in Korean so that you can show it to a local and get the response and information you need. With some apps, you’ll find that they even have the ability to translate any text on photographs, allowing you to easily read signs, go grocery shopping, or even be able to understand a menu in a restaurant. Having these kinds of apps will give you the sense of security you need to ensure that you’ll be able to find your way back if you get lost or even interact with locals when you need to.

Tour Guide

Instead of finding yourself lost within Seoul and unable to enjoy its beauty, you can hire a local tour guide to show you around and give you an overview of the history, culture, and traditions of the area. This way, you’ll ensure that you see the most important monuments within Seoul and understand the history and relevance behind them to South Korean culture. Moreover, you will get to experience Seoul through a local’s eyes as they’ll be guiding you through the city themselves. Otherwise, you could find yourself missing out on important destinations or wandering through them halfheartedly, not understanding the historical or cultural value they hold.

Food

One of the best ways to get familiar with a destination is to experience its cuisine. However, in order to ensure that you know what to expect, you should do your research in advance. You’ll find that there are several guides to the must-try dishes in Seoul, giving you an insight into the culture and tradition through the delicacies they eat. Because BBQs are a huge thing in South Korea, you’ll find countless BBQ restaurants available. However, to guarantee that you’re trying the absolute best, you could get recommendations from your hotel or you can check out online reviews to find the closest restaurant with the best ratings. Food is a universal language that everyone understands and loves, and it can bridge the cultural gap, allowing you to meet locals, get food recommendations, and fall in love with the city and its people. 

Research

Before traveling to a new destination, it’s best to do thorough research to have a better idea of what to expect. You can understand more about the people, their culture, the area, weather, and even places you absolutely must visit. When you do your research properly, you’ll get more familiar with the city, ensure that you pack appropriately, have the required medication you need to avoid certain health issues or diseases, and make all your plans in advance to guarantee that you don’t miss out on the highlights of the city. What’s more, you’ll be able to source for cheap hotels to make the trip even more worth it.

In order to be able to enjoy Seoul and the amazing things it has to offer; you need to be fully prepared. By overcoming obstacles such as the language barrier and having everything organized in advance, from scheduled tours to schedules, you’ll be able to get familiar with Seoul and avoid any setbacks that could keep you from enjoying the trip. The more familiar you are with the destination in question, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it.