Hello! It’s been almost a year since I took the leap and went on my first-ever solo trip abroad. Eleven months and several new jobs later, I’m still thinking of those late autumn days in Seoul and Busan. I hope I can continue going on my own pace.
I also took enough photos, videos and notes to challenge this website’s disk space. So: here are three travel posts to cover my one-week trip.
Seoul and Busan | November Itinerary
November is one of the best times to visit South Korea. It transitions from late-stage fall (so you can still appreciate the orange and red leaves) to early winter (so you can layer up the clothes even more). I think there’s also less likely to be big crowds compared to October, when the fall foliage really hits its peak.
Day 1: Namsan Section of the Hanyangdoseong Trail, Deoksugung Palace, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) and Seoul Museum of Art (SeMa) for the 13th Seoul Mediacity Biennale
Day 2: Hannam-dong, Leeum Museum of Art (feat. “LEE BUL: From 1998 to Now”), Cafe SIA Atelier and National Museum of Korea
Day 3: Train to Busan, Jeonpo Cafe Street
Day 4: Gamcheon Culture Village, Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Day 5: ZM-ILLENNIAL Cafe, Haundae Blueline Park and Lotte Outlet Store
Day 6: Gwanghwamun Palace, Ground Seesaw Seochon (feat. Werner Bronhkorst’s “The Whole World’s A Canvas”), Seoul Forest Park and Myeongdong
I wouldn’t recommend this itinerary to first-time visitors to Seoul. I barely spent any time in any of the more traditional tourist destinations, such as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Myeongdong. For alternative takes, see my old travel posts from 2013 or 2024.
Read more: Fail!Vlog: Korea 2013, Throwback Travel: Korea in 2013, and Winter in Korea 2024
Meditations and milestones (feat. Gyeongbokgung Palace)
In 2013, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Seoul for the first time with my family. Even luckier, our trip fell right on my 18th birthday.
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Fast forward some 12 years later, and I decided to go on a spontaneous solo trip to Seoul. I booked my tickets with less than 2 months to spare –I was just lucky enough to get it on the lower end of the price range even though it was so last minute. My Seoul hotel were crazy expensive though (still no regrets).
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I had planned for this solo trip to be a reset between “then” —me finishing residency and medical training— and “the future”. I wanted to spend some time getting to know myself more, outside the office and the clinic. By the end of the week I arrived at some pretty good ideas of the who’s and the why’s of my life, but I still had plenty of questions on the how’s of everyday living.
Read More: Where to Begin — 2026
From 2013 to 2026: I’ve grown and lost several thousand neurons, gone through so many character arcs between my 18th and 30th, and even discovered BTS. Who knows who I’ll be the next time I visit Seoul?
Five tips for solo travel
Since this was my first time solo travelling, I won’t call myself an authority on anything. But with my limited experience as it is, here are at least five things to keep in mind for any future trips —from the practical to philosophical.
1. If you want good photos, invest in a compact but quality tripod
I bought my sturdy foldable tripod from the tech zone of Robinsons Manila specifically for this solo trip. It cost only Php 800 pesos. Right now, there seems to be comparable tripods from well-known tech brands selling online for around Php 1200.
The tripod has to be tall and stable enough to take eye-level shots from a close distance, but it should also fold small enough to fit into a medium-sized travel bag. I also prioritized build over Bluetooth capability because my fitness band already made it possible to capture photos using my phone remotely.
Aside from hardware, good photos also depend on the natural beauty of the background, skill in shot composition (which I’m still working on), and ability to pose naturally (debatable).
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This was taken a few steps away from Baekbeom Square, along Hanyangdoseong Trail (Namsan). I think if I could live somewhere with a nearby park as pretty as this, I would be happy. (I do, kind of, right now in Makati).
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This is a lovely juxtaposition of the new (N Seoul Tower) and the old (the 630-year-old Seoul City Wall built during the Joseon Dynasty). It’s is also the kind of k-drama aesthetic shot that’s only possible with a tripod or a travel buddy.
I also like that I can adjust my tripod so that it can take photos at different heights and angles. It fell with my phone only once. Maybe.
As an additional cold weather travel tip: invest in skin-colored fleece-lined or thermal tights if you still want to rock short skirts and dresses like I did.
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2. Download Naver Maps (this is South Korea-specific)
When it comes to group travel in the Philippines or abroad, I can be the navigator or the passenger, depending on the mix of people in the group. But when it comes to solo travel, there’s no real choice: I had to put my big girl pants on and open a map every once in a while.
I think it was my sister who recommended I use Naver Maps instead of Google or Apple (or maybe I just read it on the Internet). In any case, the app gave me more confidence when it came to the schedule of public transportation, and it also integrated more local reviews for shops and restaurants.
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Naver Maps, much like Google Maps, also filters or highlights restaurants, stores, and other landmarks in the vicinity. That’s how I found myself in Yurimmyeon, a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand spot, as well as other good local places. Otherwise, I would have only been eating franchise fast food and cafe pastries.
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Aside from Naver, Klook was another useful app. I bought my KORAIL PASS (flexible dates) and Haeundae Blueline tickets through the app.
It took me a while to realize I was (literally) riding the Train to Busan. No zombies, just smooth vibes.
3. Keep your socials open (sometimes)
One of the allures of solo travel is the chance to completely disconnect from “real life” and become someone else—whether that means going completely no contact, meeting strangers in clubs, or anything in between. Sometimes, that means going entirely off the grid, especially on social media.
But I can’t completely let go of my socials, if only because my family would worry without the occasional update. I’m glad I posted stories about my trip as it unfolded, though, because I received several real-time messages and recommendations.
That’s how I found myself on the Haeundae Beach Train. After spending the morning at a nice quiet cafe in Busan, I was just planning to stroll through another shopping plaza or maybe lie in bed. Then, one of my mutuals recommended the Sky Capsule as their absolute favorite activity in the city. Because it was so last-minute, I couldn’t book the iconic capsules and rode the beach train instead—but I can already imagine coming back with my family with a little more forward planning.
4. Always bring emergency medicine
Bringing a first aid kit is already essential for travel in general, but also somehow even more true for solo travel. Trying to buy over the counter medicines in a foreign country to be a specific kind of adventure I’d like to avoid. Not to mention prescription medications…
What I recommend to include in a travel emergency medicine kit:
- Antihistamine for allergies or rhinitis like Cetirizine
- Antacids for bloatedness, reflux, indigestion as a chewable tab like Maalox or Kremil-S
- Motion sickness/vertigo medicine like Cinnarizine
- Anti-diarrheal medicine like Loperamide
- Flu medicine (paracetamol with decongestant) like as Bioflu or Neozep or Decolgen
- Pain and anti-inflammatory medicine like Ibuprofen or Mefenamic acid
- Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea and common respiratory/skin infections, especially if the trip will last a week or more (needs prescription)
- Adhesive dressings/bandages for minor cuts and wounds
Their signature sea abalone porridge was delicious and filling, but it wasn’t so kind to my stomach after. I’m still not sure if I truly overate, or if I have a previously unknown form of abalone intolerance. But I am sure that having an antacid helped.
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5. Enjoy your own pace
Less of a tip and more of an encouragement –solo travel turned out to be the best opportunity to figure out what I actually like about travel on its own, versus what I like about going out with other people in general.
My own pace meant waking up as late as possible, going to at least one cafe for a good cup of coffee, then visiting a park or an art gallery to recharge my love for the creative world. Doing all of these abroad, when I could just as well do them in the Philippines, was very specific to a trip designed for wellness and to prevent burnout.
The other things I usually enjoy on vacations –such as historical walking tours, shopping in outlet stores, or paid experiences and rides– were more or less things I like, but apparently like best shared with other people.
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P. S. I loved my stay at the Toyoko Inn Busan Station No. 1. It was just a tumble away from the main station plaza, so it was also close to a lot of convenience stores and shopping centers.
⬅ NAVIGATE SEOUL SEARCHING SERIES (FT. BUSAN) ➡
Part I: Reflections and tips for solo travel
Part II: Four museums and two exhibits in Seoul
Part III: First time in Busan? And BTS-related side quests
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