Take a Weekend Escape from Busan, Korea

If you're living in Busan, Korea or staying in the area for a lengthy amount of time, why not do a weekend getaway? You're at an advantage if you're in Busan, the second largest city in Korea. With Busan's southern coastal location, you'll find Japan just across the pond to the east and the Hawaii of Korea, Jeju Island, an hour away by plane. You can also take a weekend trip to Seoul, which is just three hours away by train.

Find Your Way to Seoul

You have to visit Seoul if you're in Korea. Seoul, the nation's capital and largest city with a population of over 10 million people (Wikipedia) is easily accessible by the Korean high-speed KTX train. You can get on the KTX train from Busan Station and be at Seoul Station in three hours. A one-way standard class ticket from Busan to Seoul costs 51,200 Korean Won (a little under $50USD) according to the Korail Korea Railroad Website. Add 20,000 more Korean Won (a little under $20USD) and you can sit, comfortably, in first class.

The best time to visit Seoul is April. It's not too hot and not too cold. If you take pleasure in being drenched in sweat, visit Seoul in the summer when it's humid. Seoul gets really cold during the winter and it snows. Be prepared to bring heavy clothing if you find yourself traveling that way in the winter months. Avoid the holidays! Hotels are full and KTX tickets sell out days, if not weeks in advance.

Once in Seoul, head over to the Gyeongbokgung Palace. Spend an hour or two snapping photos and learning about the history of the place. You can get to the palace by hopping on the orange line on the subway and exiting at Gyeongbokgung Station.

Namdaemun Market is essential for tourists. There are a lot of interesting characters in this large outside market. According to Wikipedia, Namdaemun Market is the oldest running market in Korea. Souvenirs and street food is available at the market. You can get to Namdaemun Market on line 4 of the subway. Exit at Hoehyeon Station.

Head over to N Seoul Tower when the sun goes down. There's a cable car that will take you to the top for a small fee. The lights of the city are beautiful at night. N Seoul Tower is open from 9am to 10pm. If Christmas or New Years falls on a weekend, you're in luck! The tower stays open until 2am. To find out more information about N Seoul Tower, visit http://english.visitkorea.or.kr.

Seoul is on the pricier side compared to other Korean cities. Hey, it's the capital! But that doesn't mean that Seoul will make you go broke. Eating, sightseeing, and souvenirs will only set you back a few hundred dollars. I've done Seoul in a weekend for less than $200 including round trip train tickets and a hostel. Transportation, whether it be by bus, taxi, or subway, is cheap.

Hawaii of Korea?

Escape to a beautiful island for a weekend if you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the city life. Jeju Island is just a 50 minute plane ride from Busan. Now, if you've been to Hawaii and are expecting to see something similar, think again. It may be called the Hawaii of Korea, but it doesn't compare. But don't worry, it's still a beautiful place to visit. With roundtrip airfare ranging from $111 USD to $170 USD, why not explore the Hawaii of Korea? Flights leave both Busan and Jeju Island almost every hour until 8pm. This means you can fly out from Busan on a Friday night after work and Sunday evening.

What should you do with three days on Jeju Island? Relax! You're surrounded by beautiful beaches. Soak in the sun. From Samyang Beach with its black sand to Jungmun Beach, a popular foreigner hang out spot with huge waves and plenty of surfers, find a beach that suites your taste and have some fun.

Love Land is a must for all Jeju Island tourists. Love Land is a sex theme park. A sex theme park in a conservative culture? Yes! Bring your camera if you make it to Love Land. There are plenty of statues and figures to take pictures of or with.

It is best to visit Jeju Island between May and September, when the weather is warm.

Get Out of Korea

So you want to get out of Korea for a weekend? It is doable! Take a trip to Japan. Tokyo is two hours away by plane. Be on the look out for cheap tickets. I went in December for less than $300USD round trip. There is so much to see and do in Tokyo that you couldn't possibly cover everything in one weekend. If you have a four-day weekend, you're in luck. Four days will probably get you around the major tourist sites if you use your time wisely.

Hotels are expensive in Tokyo and you don't get much for what you pay for. Use www.hostelworld.com to book a cheap hostel if you don't mind staying in a less luxurious place. Make sure to stay in a hotel or hostel that is near a subway station. Using a taxi as transportation should be your last resort because Tokyo is pricey.

While in Tokyo, visit the Imperial Palace. There is no entrance fee to get in. It will take a few hours to wander around the palace as it is huge. The Imperial Palace is beautiful. It's lined with a wall surrounded by water. The Imperial Palace is just a short walk from the Tokyo Station subway.

Another great thing to do in Tokyo is hop around the different areas. Visit Shibuya for trendy clothes or wander around Harajuku and take photos of the dressed up teens. If you're into electronics, Akihabara is your place. If you're into the club scene, visit Roppongi for entertainment.

It was extremely cold in December, but then again, I'm from California, where anything below 70 degrees is considered cold! If you like the cold, December is a nice time to go. Cherry Blossom season, which takes place at the end of March, is also a great time visit Tokyo. The weather isn't too cold and it isn't hot yet.

If you watch how you spend your money and don't go too crazy on souvenirs, Tokyo in a weekend (excluding airfare and hotel) can range from $300 - $400. Transportation and food can eat up a chunk of your pocket money.

Wherever you plan to vacation, take pictures, write about your trip, use your time wisely, and have fun!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdaemun
http://info.korail.com/2007/eng/eng_index.jsp