Seoul & Jeju in 7 Days: Our ₹60,000 Per-Person Family Trip
Five of us travelled from Hyderabad, spent four nights in Seoul and two nights on Jeju Island, cooked vegetarian meals and used public transport throughout.
Careful flight booking, family rooms with kitchen access, T-Money transport and free attractions kept our seven-day trip to ₹3 lakh for all five travellers.
Exactly what we spent
| Expense | Family of 5 |
|---|---|
| South Korea visas | ₹22,900 |
| Hyderabad ⇄ Seoul international flights | ₹1,90,000 |
| Seoul ⇄ Jeju domestic flights | ₹22,500 |
| Four Seoul nights + two Jeju nights | ₹40,000 |
| Metro and public buses | ₹3,000 |
| Packed food and local groceries | ₹8,000 |
| One eSIM, Seongsan admission and Hanbok rentals | ₹5,700 |
| EXO fan meet-up for three travellers | ₹7,500 |
| Other miscellaneous spending | ₹400 |
| Final total | ₹3,00,000 |
The average was ₹60,000 per person. The EXO activity cost ₹2,500 for each of its three attendees.
Our seven-day Seoul and Jeju itinerary
We used the all-stop airport train, bought T-Money cards and explored Myeongdong Shopping Street after checking in.
We visited Gyeongbokgung in rented Hanbok, explored Bukchon Hanok Village and finished with an evening walk along Cheonggyecheon Stream.
We visited Starfield Library, three of us attended a 30-minute EXO fan meet-up, and we continued to the N Seoul Tower plaza and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.
We flew from Gimpo to Jeju, used public buses rather than taxis or a rental car, and saw the horse-shaped lighthouses at Iho Tewoo Beach.
We hiked Sunrise Peak, explored the volcanic coastline and watched the Haenyeo women divers.
After flying back to Gimpo, we explored Insadong Street and Namdaemun Market.
We checked out, followed the guesthouse recycling rules and used the all-stop train to Incheon Airport.
Use these for planning, then use Naver Map or KakaoMap for live navigation.
Accommodation and vegetarian cooking
Our six-night accommodation budget was ₹40,000 for the family: approximately ₹28,000 for four Seoul nights and ₹12,000 for two Jeju nights. We planned around Myeongdong family guesthouses and a Jeju guesthouse or pension with cooking access. Anyone following this strategy should confirm the room capacity and kitchen facilities directly before booking.
We packed ready-to-eat meals, instant poha and upma, Maggi, rice, dry rotis or khakhra, spices, makhana, dry fruit and biscuits. We bought fresh milk, tofu, potatoes, onions and other produce locally, then cooked vegetarian meals at the accommodation.
Historic and modern Seoul
Our Seoul sightseeing relied heavily on free public spaces. Bukchon, Cheonggyecheon, Starfield Library, the N Seoul Tower plaza and DDP added variety without expensive tickets. The current palace rules should still be checked before relying on Hanbok-related free admission.
Jeju by public bus
We avoided hiring a car for five people. Express and local buses connected our Jeju stops, though travelling this way required more timetable planning. Seongsan Ilchulbong was the main paid natural attraction, while Iho Tewoo Beach and the nearby coast were free.
SIM, maps and translation
Mobile data
Our technology and sightseeing category included one shared eSIM. For a current trip, compare a Korean travel eSIM or prepaid SIM from providers such as LG U+ and Chingu Mobile, checking activation rules, hotspot sharing and validity before purchase. Public Wi-Fi is useful, but one connected phone should not be the family’s only backup.
Maps
Download Naver Map and KakaoMap before departure. Korea Tourism Organization guidance confirms that both support route finding and GPS navigation in English. Google Maps can save broad locations, but should not be the sole tool for detailed walking, driving or public-transport navigation.
Translation
Naver Papago is useful for Korean text, speech and image translation. Save accommodation addresses and dietary messages in Korean, and use the image feature to check packaged-food ingredients.
South Korea visa: our 2024 cost versus current applications
We recorded ₹4,580 per person in 2024—₹22,900 for five—for short-term tourist visa and application-centre charges. This is a historical cost, not a current quotation. Applicants from Hyderabad should confirm the correct jurisdiction, current tourist category, documents, appointment process and fees through the official Korea Visa Application Center. The Chennai centre’s service charge has changed since our trip, so do not budget using the 2024 figure alone. Bank-balance expectations are not a guaranteed fixed approval threshold.
See Seoul on a tip-based walking tour
Compare local walks around palaces, Bukchon and central Seoul. Check the route and language before booking.
Affiliate disclosure: this link may earn Smart Budget Traveler a referral commission at no extra cost to you.
Budget traveller’s quick summary
Trip: Hyderabad → Seoul → Jeju → Seoul → Hyderabad
Dates: 13–19 June 2024
Travellers: 5
Cost: ₹60,000 per person; ₹3,00,000 total
Highlights: Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Cheonggyecheon, COEX, EXO meet-up, Namsan, DDP, Iho Tewoo Beach, Seongsan Ilchulbong, Insadong and Namdaemun
Biggest savings: family accommodation, vegetarian cooking, public transport and free attractions.
Transparency: Trip prices are what we spent in June 2024. Current visa, eSIM, transport, flight and attraction details can change, so verify them before travelling.
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