Seoul — Trip Guide (Apr 15–29, 2026)

Group of 3. Focus: gaming, robots/AI, weird experiences. 14 nights in-country total. Budget: mid-range.

Flights confirmed (both legs):

• Outbound: SWISS LX122, ZRH 14 Apr 13:15 (Terminal 2) → ICN 15 Apr 07:30. Booking ref YBRHJU.
• Return: LH713 ICN 29 Apr 12:20 → FRA 18:40, then LH5740 FRA 20:45 → ZRH 21:50. Confirmation ZICGB5.

Departure-day logistics: for a 12:20 ICN flight, aim to clear security by 10:30 → at ICN by 10:00 → AREX Express from Seoul Station ~08:50 → leave Seoul Airbnb ~08:15. Don't plan anything for morning of Apr 29.

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1. Districts — where to be and why

Hongdae (홍대)

Student/club energy around Hongik University. PC bangs, claw machine arcades, street buskers, midnight barbecue, cheap drinks. Your best base for night one — easy to recover in, full of food, within walking distance of weird stuff. Nearby: Yeonnam-dong (hipsterified alleys, coffee) and Mangwon (local market, less touristy).

Ikseon-dong (익선동)

Restored 1920s hanok alleys crammed with tiny design cafés, cocktail bars, and photo studios. Walkable in an afternoon. Quieter base than Hongdae, central to palaces and Jongno. Good Airbnb zone for a cleaner vibe.

Jongno / Insadong (종로 / 인사동)

Old Seoul. Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Jogyesa temple. LoL Park (Gran Seoul building) sits here at Jonggak Station — the LCK home arena. Insadong is the tea / traditional gifts tourist strip; fine for an hour.

Myeongdong (명동)

Tourist shopping funnel — skincare, street food, mid-range hotels. Useful on the last day because AREX to ICN runs fast from Seoul Station next door. Soulless but convenient.

Gangnam / Sinsa / Apgujeong (강남 / 신사 / 압구정)

South of the river. Money and glass. Samsung D'light showroom, COEX mall, Starfield Library, plastic surgery alley, luxury. Gangnam at night is worth seeing once; don't stay there.

Itaewon / Hannam (이태원 / 한남)

Foreigner district, diverse food, Leeum Museum, Hyundai Card designhouses. Still quieter nightlife-wise after the 2022 crowd crush.

Yongsan (용산)

Electronics mega-market (I'Park Mall + Yongsan Electronics Land) and Dragon Hill Spa (your jjimjilbang). Also War Memorial of Korea and the US-base-turned-Yongsan Park.

Dongdaemun (동대문)

24-hour fashion wholesale, massive night market, and DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) — the Zaha Hadid spaceship. Best visited after dark when lit up.

Seongsu-dong (성수동)

"Brooklyn of Seoul" — reclaimed warehouses, third-wave coffee, concept stores, D Museum. Fits your "weird cool stuff" brief for a half-day.

Seongbuk / Samcheong-dong (성북 / 삼청동)

Hanok village, MMCA Seoul (National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art), quiet palaces.

Chang-dong (창동)

Northern Seoul. Robot & AI Museum (RAIM) is here — 3D-printed façade, architecturally wild. Verify open status before going; construction has been repeatedly delayed.

Seongnam / Bundang (성남 / 분당)

South of Seoul proper. Naver 1784 HQ (the robot-friendly building) lives here. Only worth the trip if you get a tour approved.

Goyang (고양)

Northwest satellite city. Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang — free, large, future mobility + Hyundai/Genesis cars on display. Solid robots/AI-adjacent backup.

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2. Events during your dates (Apr 15–27, 2026)

All dates need live verification — flags below.

Sports

• KBO baseball at Jamsil Stadium (Sports Complex, Line 2): LG Twins and Doosan Bears alternate home stands. Expect a game nearly every day of your window. Start times 18:30 weekdays, 17:00 Sat, 14:00 Sun. This is the single best "weird experience" for tourists — organized cheering sections, chimaek (fried chicken + beer) in the seats, team-specific chants. Book via Ticketlink, Interpark, or Klook (English-friendly). Day-of tickets often fine for weekdays; weekends sell out.
• Kiwoom Heroes at Gocheok Sky Dome (Line 1) — indoor dome, only indoor KBO stadium. Good rainy-day option.
• LCK Spring Split — playoffs/finals usually early-to-mid April. Chance the finals land on or just before Apr 15–18. Finals venue rotates (LoL Park for regular, larger arenas like Sejong University Ochang Gym or KSPO Dome for finals). Check lolesports.com/schedule two weeks out. Even without a live match, LoL Park has a café, merch store, and public screenings — always worth dropping in.

Festivals

• Yeouido Spring Flower Festival — typically ~10 days early April, peaks before your arrival. Festival will be over by Apr 15; residual blossoms might linger through Apr 18 on cooler microclimate trees.
• Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeondeunghoe) — Buddha's Birthday 2026 = May 24. Main festival is after you leave, but lantern installations go up ~2–3 weeks early at Jogyesa Temple (Jongno) and Bongeunsa (Samseong). Expect lanterns to start appearing in your final days (Apr 22–27). Free to walk through, great at night.
• Jongmyo Daeje (royal ancestral ritual) — first Sunday of May = May 3. You miss it.
• Seoul Jazz Festival — late May, you miss it.

Concerts / K-pop

Not confirmable this far out. Big venues: KSPO Dome (Olympic Park), Gocheok Sky Dome, Inspire Arena (Incheon, 15k cap, opened 2024), Jamsil Arena (renovation status uncertain). Check:

• interpark.com/ticket (Interpark Global for English)
• melon.ticket.com
• yes24.com/ticket
• kpopping.com/upcoming (aggregator)

Exhibitions (check what's running when you arrive)

• DDP — large rotating immersive shows. ddp.or.kr/en
• Leeum Museum (Samsung Foundation, Hannam) — Korean antiquities free with reservation, paid contemporary specials. leeum.org
• MMCA Seoul (Samcheong-dong) — multiple concurrent modern/contemporary shows, cheap. mmca.go.kr/eng
• Amorepacific Museum of Art (APMA) — David Chipperfield building, Yongsan. One major show at a time.
• D Museum (Seongsu) — Instagram-leaning immersive shows.

Cherry blossoms — the tail end

Central Seoul peak passes by Apr 12. By Apr 15–20 you might catch:

• Changdeokgung Huwon (Secret Garden) — mixed/later varieties, reservation required via eng.cdg.go.kr
• Namsan circular road — slight elevation delay
• Seoul National Cemetery (Dongjak-gu) — double-flowered cherry (겹벚꽃) blooms 1–2 weeks after regular, good bet Apr 15–22
• North Seoul Dream Forest — late-ish
• Azaleas and forsythia peak mid-to-late April — Bukhansan / Inwangsan / Cheonggyesan slopes

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3. Food — what to eat and where

The essentials you cannot miss

• Korean BBQ (고기구이) — grill-at-table pork belly (samgyeopsal) or marinated short rib (galbi). Go to a packed local spot, not a tourist BBQ. Try Mapo Jeong Daepo (Gongdeok) — wood-grill, old-school.
• Kalguksu / sujebi — hand-cut noodles / dough flakes in broth. Myeongdong Kyoja does the famous chewy knife-cut noodles + dumplings.
• Samgyetang — ginseng chicken soup stuffed with rice. Tosokchon near Gyeongbokgung is the tourist classic (long line, worth it once). Goryeo Samgyetang is the local alternative.
• Naengmyeon (냉면) — cold buckwheat noodles in icy broth. Sounds weird, is great. Pildong Myeonok or Ojang-dong Heungnamjip.
• Sundae-guk / gukbap — blood sausage soup, working-class Seoul. Dongmyo area has dozens of old-school places.
• Chimaek (치맥) — fried chicken + beer. Chains: Kyochon, BBQ, BHC. Sit-down: Anjip Dakgalbi style spots. Best way to eat: order to your Airbnb while watching KBO.
• Tteokbokki — spicy rice cakes. Street stall version everywhere; restaurant version with ramen and eggs at Sindangdong Tteokbokki Town (the original alley).
• Banchan experience — one dedicated Korean set meal (한정식) in your trip. Gaeseong Mandu Koong (Insadong) or Jihwaja (Samcheong) for traditional.

Weird / specific food experiences

• Gwangjang Market (광장시장) — oldest market in Seoul. Sit on plastic stools among shouting ajummas. Mandatory orders: yukhoe (raw beef tartare with pear), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), mayak gimbap (the "drug" mini rolls). Bourdain territory — touristy now but still excellent.
• Noryangjin Fish Market — massive seafood market, choose your live fish downstairs, restaurants upstairs cook it. Octopus still moving (san-nakji) if you're brave.
• Tongin Market jeomsim dosirak (도시락) — trade coins for samplers from different stalls, assemble your own lunchbox. Cheap and fun.
• Mangwon Market — local-feel night market, chicken feet, Korean donuts (kkwabaegi).
• Dongmyo area — old Seoul: gukbap (pork soup rice), makgeolli bars, elderly men drinking at 10am. Deeply unglamorous and perfect.
• Michelin splurge option: Mingles (modern Korean, Cheongdam, 3 stars), Jungsik (if Michelin is your thing — same name as the NYC spot), La Yeon (Shilla Hotel). Book 2+ weeks ahead. ~$150–300 pp.
• Budget splurge: Born & Bred (dry-aged Korean beef, Majang-dong) — go to Majang-dong, the meat district, and pick your cut from the butcher for the restaurant next door to cook.

Coffee / dessert

• Fritz Coffee Company (Doha, Wonseo) — flagship of Seoul's third wave.
• Anthracite (Hapjeong) — old shoe factory, minimalist.
• Cafe Onion (Anguk / Seongsu / Mia) — restored spaces, amazing pastries.
• Bingsu — Korean shaved ice. Sulbing (chain) is good; Milky Bee for dessert-café variant.
• Isaac Toast — breakfast chain, pick one for the first morning.

What to drink

• Soju — the ubiquitous green bottle. Fruit-flavored variants are the gateway.
• Makgeolli — unfiltered rice wine, milky and sweet. Pair with bindaetteok.
• Craft beer — Mikkeller Seoul (Itaewon), Magpie (Gyeongnidan), The Booth.
• Jongno 3-ga (종로3가) pojangmacha alleys — tented tarp bars, grilled mackerel, soju, 1am crowd. Pick one, sit, point.

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4. Sightseeing — the classic hits worth doing

• Gyeongbokgung (경복궁) — main palace, biggest, most touristed. Changing of the guard ~10:00 and 14:00. Free if you wear hanbok (costume rental shops everywhere nearby).
• Changdeokgung (창덕궁) + Huwon (Secret Garden) — smaller, more beautiful palace. Secret Garden reservation required. Book via eng.cdg.go.kr before you go.
• Bukchon Hanok Village — preserved traditional houses, between the two palaces. Go early morning; gets mobbed.
• N Seoul Tower (Namsan) — cable car up, city panorama, love locks. Classic but legit at sunset.
• War Memorial of Korea (Yongsan) — massive, free, heavy, essential if you like history.
• National Museum of Korea (Yongsan) — one of Asia's best. Free. Half a day easy.
• Leeum Museum of Art (Hannam) — best contemporary + antiquities collection in Korea, Samsung family money. Architecture alone worth it (Rem Koolhaas, Jean Nouvel, Mario Botta pavilions).
• DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) — go at night, lit up, architecture wins over content.
• Starfield COEX Mall + Byeolmadang Library — giant bookshelves, photogenic, underground mall labyrinth.
• Cheonggyecheon stream — restored daylight stream cutting through downtown, walkable, pleasant.
• Ihwa Mural Village (Naksan) — painted hillside neighborhood. Lotte World Tower SkyDeck if you want the height flex.

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5. Gaming

LoL Park (Jongno)

The LCK home arena inside the Gran Seoul building, Jonggak Station exit 6. Even without a match day: ground-floor LCK shop, café, photo ops with rift/baron statues, public screenings of the day's matches on giant screens. Free.

PC bangs (PC방)

Pay per hour (~₩1,500–2,500/hr), ramen and fried chicken delivered to your seat, RTX 40-series machines standard. The experience everyone comes for. Good ones:

• Gold Gaming Zone (Hongdae)
• Afreeca Colosseum (Gangnam) — higher-end, where streamers play
• Any PC bang in Hongdae after midnight — atmosphere is the point

Arcades / claw machines / VR

• Hongdae arcades — Konami rhythm games (pump it up, DDR variants), claw machine floors stacked 3 high.
• VR Square Hongdae / Monster VR (Building next to Yongsan) — room-scale VR, escape rooms, zombie shooters.
• DDP arcade in Dongdaemun — retro cabinets.
• Game Zone at COEX — family-leaning.

Esports beyond LCK

• Check if any Overwatch Contenders, Starcraft GSL, Valorant VCT Pacific events overlap — GSL studios and AfreecaTV Colosseum host tournaments regularly. AfreecaTV is worth a look for old-school Starcraft.

Board games / retro

• Red Button board game café chain, multiple locations. Korean-rulebook challenges are part of the fun.
• Hongdae retro arcades — actual 80s/90s cabinets, Daddakji alleys.

Nexon / game studios

Nexon Computer Museum is on Jeju, not Seoul — skipped on this trip. Nexon HQ in Pangyo doesn't do public tours. Live with it.

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6. Robots / AI / Tech

Prioritized

• Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang — free, walk-in, huge. Cars, concept vehicles, future mobility (flying cars, robotics labs viewable). Line 3 to Daehwa, then shuttle. Half a day.
• Samsung D'light (Gangnam Station area) — free flagship showroom, latest phones/TVs/AI home stuff. Small — combine with dinner in Gangnam.
• Starfield Library / COEX — AI/tech-adjacent aesthetics, photogenic.
• Robot & AI Museum (RAIM) Chang-dong — if open by April 2026, worth the trek for the architecture alone. Call ahead. Construction has been repeatedly delayed.

Long-shot / apply early

• Naver 1784 (Bundang) — world's first robot-friendly building (Rookie delivery bots in robot-only elevators called Roboport). Not walk-in. Submit a tour request at naver1784.com or email Naver PR at least a week out. Most requests declined. If accepted: take Line Bundang / Shinbundang to Jeongja Station.

Robot cafés (check which are alive)

• b;eat (비트) robot coffee kiosks — unmanned arm baristas, subway stations and office lobbies. Small, quick photo-op.
• Dal.komm Coffee — select branches have arm baristas.
• Dedicated robot-theme cafés come and go — search "로봇카페 서울" on Naver Map week-of.

Tech-adjacent

• KT&G Sangsangmadang (Hongdae) — creative/media center, frequent exhibitions.
• Google for Startups Campus Seoul (Gangnam) — tours occasionally.
• Seoul Robotics Lab area (Gangseo) — no visitor program but the campus is viewable.

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7. Weird / unique experiences

Must-do for this trip

• Jjimjilbang overnight at Dragon Hill Spa (Yongsan) — 7+ floors, hot rooms (charcoal, jade, salt), cold plunges, sleeping halls with wooden block pillows. Gender-separated nude baths, mixed common areas (wear the issued shorts/t-shirt). Enter evening, sleep, leave morning. ~₩15,000 + food. Recommended for arrival day (Wed Apr 15) as a jet-lag reset.
• DMZ tour (Sun Apr 19) — standard tour: 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, Imjingak, Freedom Bridge. JSA (Panmunjom) has been suspended since July 2023 and cannot be assumed available; fallback to standard DMZ. Operators: Koridoor USO, VIPTravel, Klook.
• KBO baseball at Jamsil — organized cheering is unlike anything in Europe. Bring chimaek.
• Noraebang (노래방) — private karaoke rooms. Every neighborhood has 20 of them. Coin Noraebang (in Hongdae) = cheapest, pay per song.

Immersive / psychedelic (teamLab-style)

You specifically called out teamLab Tokyo — Korea has a close equivalent, but the main venue for that vibe is in Busan, not Seoul. Plan your immersive day during the Busan leg.

• ARTE Museum Busan (Haeundae) — Korea's teamLab, built by d'strict. Giant floor-to-ceiling projection rooms (Wave, Waterfall, Garden, Beach, Flower), infinity-mirror spaces, sound-reactive installations. ~90–120 min visit, ~₩19,000–25,000. Make time for this in the Busan portion. See busan.md.
• WAVE at SMTOWN COEX Artium (Gangnam, Seoul) — d'strict's famous wraparound anamorphic LED wave billboard. Free, outdoor, visible from street. The installation that made d'strict internationally famous. 5–10 min stop while you're at COEX.
• D Museum (Seongsu-dong) — rotating immersive shows (media art, light installations) in a repurposed warehouse. Check what's running.
• Lightroom Seoul — rotating projection-mapped exhibits at pop-up venues around Seoul. Check Instagram @lightroom.seoul for current show/location.
• Amorepacific Museum of Art (APMA, Yongsan) — contemporary art with immersive/media-focused specials. Chipperfield architecture is worth the visit alone.
• teamLab pop-ups — teamLab has toured Korea in the past. Search "teamLab Seoul 2026" on the week of — if there's an active run it's almost always in Seoul.

Cinema (Korean-invented immersive formats)

• CGV 4DX — invented by CGV Korea, moving seats + wind + water + scent synchronized to the film. Any CGV location does 4DX; CGV Yongsan has the flagship.
• CGV ScreenX — also CGV-invented, 270° screen wrapping across three walls. Available at major CGVs.
• Pair with a Korean blockbuster (read subtitles) or an international release — the technology is the point.

Dining as experience

• Dans Le Noir Seoul (dining in the dark) — formerly operated in Seoul; verify current status before booking via danslenoir.com or Naver. If closed, check "블라인드 레스토랑" / "다크 다이닝" on Naver for current pop-ups.
• Meatmix / Gaon / Jungsik / Mingles — tasting-menu-only contemporary Korean, theatrical service. Splurge tier. Book 2+ weeks ahead.
• Han-il Kwan / Born & Bred — meat-focused spectacle. Born & Bred lets you pick your cut from the butcher in Majang-dong meat district.
• Templestay dinner — book a one-night stay at Jogyesa or Bongeunsa (downtown temples, both offer English-language templestays). Includes the monastic "balwoo" meal — bowls, silence, no waste. ~₩80,000 pp.

"Balloon" / aerial experiences

You mentioned a hot-air-balloon experience. Seoul doesn't really have one — closest options are further afield:

• Yangyang Hot Air Balloon (Gangwon, east coast) — tethered balloon rides at the coast. 2h drive or KTX to Gangneung + transfer.
• Jeju Hot Air Balloon Festival (early April) — usually Apr 1–5; mostly over by your arrival.
• In-Seoul substitutes with the aerial-view feeling:
  • Seoul Sky @ Lotte World Tower — glass floor at 478m
  • N Seoul Tower cable car — Namsan mountain up and down
  • Hangang River helicopter tour (~₩200k pp, boutique)
  • Everland hot-air balloon ride (the tethered one above Magic Land) — about 40 min south of Seoul

Cafés you go for the concept

• Meerkat Cafe / Raccoon Cafe (Hongdae area) — ethics debatable, experience memorable. Check current operating status.
• Sheep / alpaca cafés — come and go.
• Poop Cafe (Ssamziegil, Insadong) — toilet-seat chairs, chocolate-mousse-in-a-toilet-bowl. Cheesy and committed.
• Harry Potter Café (943 King's Cross) — Hongdae, themed replica café. Reservation recommended.
• Prison Café (Sinchon / Hongdae branches) — eat in solitary-confinement booths. Verify current operation.
• Hanbok photo cafés — rent a hanbok and do a full photo session with tea. Ikseon-dong is the cluster.
• Blind / dark cafés — drink in total darkness, rotating pop-ups in Hongdae/Itaewon.

Markets and alleys

• Dongmyo Flea Market (Dongmyo station) — secondhand everything, old men in suits selling vintage stereos, piles of used sneakers. Go Sunday.
• Gwangjang Market at night — the one Bourdain filmed at. Go hungry.
• Seoul Folk Flea Market — indoor, organized; same vibe less chaotic.
• Mangwon Market — food-focused, local.

Genuinely odd

• Trick Eye Museum (Hongdae) — 3D optical-illusion painted rooms, Instagram-bait and unapologetic.
• Alive Museum / Running Man Thematic Experience Center — themed experience rooms.
• War Memorial's children's tank playground — kids crawling on real tanks. Strange national juxtaposition.
• Noryangjin Cosmetics Wholesale Market — five floors of skincare at wholesale prices, mostly ajummas, zero English, hilarious.
• Seoul Animation Center / Namsan cable car 1960s aesthetic hike — retro Korea.
• Seongsu-dong shoe alley — dozens of factory-outlet Korean shoemakers, deep cuts from the Nike/Adidas supply chain.
• Dongdaemun midnight wholesale fashion — the clothes pipeline of Asia, 11pm–5am.
• Gangnam basement luxury mall labyrinth under COEX — geographically possible to get lost for 2 hours.
• Jongmyo Park afternoon scene — elderly men playing Korean chess (janggi) under the trees, drinking makgeolli. Quiet, strange, wonderful.

Day trips you could consider from Seoul

• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (30 min south) — UNESCO city walls, walkable.
• Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm (1.5hr east) — touristy but pretty.
• Chuncheon dakgalbi (1hr east via ITX) — spicy grilled chicken eaten on the street it was invented.
• Paju Book City / Heyri Art Village (1hr NW) — architecture and indie publishing weirdness.

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8. Arrival day playbook (Wed Apr 15)

LX122 lands ICN 07:30. Realistic timeline:

• 08:00–08:30 — through immigration (e-gate available for K-ETA/exempt visitors), bags, exit.
• 08:30 — buy T-money cards + load ₩30,000 each at the convenience store at the AREX entrance.
• 08:40 — AREX Express to Seoul Station (~43 min, ₩11,000 pp). Or the All Stop train (~58 min, ₩4,750 pp) if you don't mind hauling luggage through more stops.
• 09:30 — Seoul Station. Airbnb check-in is almost certainly 15:00; store luggage in coin lockers at Seoul Station (₩4,000–7,000 per bag, large lockers near exit 1) or message your host for an early bag drop.
• 10:00 — light breakfast: Isaac Toast at Seoul Station, or Sulbing for a sweet first bite, or noodles at Myeongdong Kyoja.
• Late morning–early afternoon — flip the jjimjilbang here. Originally planned for Sat Apr 18 — moving it to arrival day is the right call. Dragon Hill Spa (Yongsan) is one subway stop from Seoul Station. Hot baths + sleep room kills jet lag. Charge ~₩15,000 entry, stay 4–6 hours, emerge a person.
• 15:00–16:00 — check into Airbnb, shower, light walk in your neighborhood (Hongdae or Ikseon-dong).
• 18:00 — easy first dinner: Korean BBQ near base. Don't push past 21:00 — sleep early to reset.

This frees Sat Apr 18 for Hongdae claw machine + PC bang crawl + late izakaya — a Saturday night vibe is wasted on a bathhouse anyway.

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9. Practical

Before you leave Zurich

• Verify K-ETA status for Swiss passports on k-eta.go.kr. Exemption was extended through Dec 2025; 2026 status needs checking. If required, ₩10,000, ~72hr processing.
• eSIM — Airalo or Holafly, ~$15 for 10 days. Activate on arrival.
• Download: Naver Map, Kakao Map, Kakao T (taxi), Papago (translation), Subway Korea.
• Get an Interpark Global account for ticketing (KBO, concerts).

On arrival at ICN

• AREX train to Seoul Station: Express ~43 min (~₩11,000) or All Stop ~58 min (~₩4,750). For 3 people with luggage, Express worth it.
• T-money card from any convenience store at the airport, ~₩3,000 empty + load ₩30,000 to start. Works on subway, bus, and in convenience stores.
• Climate Card (기후동행카드) — if you plan to ride heavily, the 7-day unlimited pass is worth it. Does NOT cover AREX or trips to Incheon.

Phrases

• 안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo) — hello
• 감사합니다 (kamsahamnida) — thank you
• 이거 주세요 (igeo juseyo) — this, please
• 얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?) — how much?
• 계산해주세요 (kyesanhae juseyo) — check please
• 화장실 어디예요? (hwajangshil eodiyeyo?) — where's the bathroom

Money

• Tap-card everywhere. Visa/Mastercard fine in 95% of places.
• Keep ~₩100,000 cash (~$75) for traditional markets, pojangmacha, jjimjilbang.
• Do NOT use Revolut for ATM withdrawals in Korea — charges stack. Use a regular bank card or withdraw at Citibank ATMs.

Weather Apr 15–27

Highs 17–20°C, lows 8–11°C. Layers. Occasional rain. Fine hiking weather.

Etiquette quick hits

• Shoes off in traditional restaurants and guesthouses.
• Both hands when pouring for or receiving from an elder.
• Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice.
• Don't tip — not expected, not appreciated.
• Quiet on the subway.

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10. Booking status

• [x] Outbound flight confirmed — LX122 ZRH→ICN, dep 14 Apr 13:15, arr 15 Apr 07:30 (booking YBRHJU)
• [ ] K-ETA (if required for Swiss passport in 2026 — verify at k-eta.go.kr)
• [ ] Seoul Airbnb Apr 15–21 (6 nights, 3 pax) — request early bag drop from host
• [ ] Dragon Hill Spa — walk-in on Apr 15 arrival day (24h, no booking needed)
• [ ] DMZ tour Apr 19 (+ passport info submitted to operator)
• [ ] KTX Seoul → Busan Apr 21 morning
• [ ] Busan Airbnb Apr 21–24 (3 nights)
• [ ] KTX Busan → Seoul Apr 24
• [ ] Seoul Airbnb #2 Apr 24–27 (3 nights)
• [ ] Return flight ZRH Apr 27/28
• [ ] LCK match ticket (if schedule aligns)
• [ ] KBO game ticket for one evening
• [ ] Naver 1784 tour request submitted (long shot)
• [ ] Changdeokgung Huwon reservation (if visiting)
• [ ] One splurge dinner booked (Mingles/Jungsik/Born & Bred)