Global Traveller
14 Mar 2023 - 4 min read
Are you looking for the best Muslim-friendly destinations out there? Actually, there is quite a long list of Muslim-friendly destinations around the world, such as Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and our main subject for today, South Korea, specifically Seoul. Let’s get hyped up for your next travelling plans to Seoul!
Preparation is key! Before you book the next flight to Seoul, you should always take into consideration these aspects:
Just like any travel preparations, you need to know where you are flying from and what are the main airports available in Seoul. For starters, there are around 16 airports in South Korea alone, but the two main airports that will get you to Seoul are Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Gimpo International Airport (GMP).
Those airports are three hours apart from each other. If you are heading to ICN, it will take around two to five hours to get to the Seoul Metropolitan Area. Meanwhile, it will take you around one to two hours from GMP. So, it depends on your agenda for which airport you want to choose.
Image by Won-hyoung 김원형 from Pixabay
From Malaysia, the journey to Seoul can take as short as six hours and as long as 22 hours, depending on the type of airline and routes. Various airlines provide direct flight routes to Seoul, such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia X and Korean Air—the flight ticket price is an average of MYR 600 to MYR 800 per pax.
The recent pandemic made a lot of amendments to travel requirements. Thus, it is always best to check the latest travel requirements to South Korea before you book your ticket. Below is a brief list of the important things (but not the only thing) to know before travelling to South Korea:
Now that we are here, it’s time for the fun part of your trip. It is time to explore Seoul without worries or internal struggles when you are travelling as a Muslim to this beautiful country. There is plenty of halal food and Muslim-friendly accommodation to choose from, and you won’t run out of options when you are on the road exploring each corner of Seoul.
EID is one of the top eateries out there and is quite popular among Muslim travellers. It is run by a Korean-Muslim family, and it provides guests with the most authentic local food. Some popular dishes people like to enjoy are their delicious bibimbap, beef bulgogi, samgyetang and jjim dak.
Information about the eatery:
Image by Sharon Ang from Pixabay
Are you a fan of Korean chicken-centric dishes? At Kampungku Restaurant, you will be able to taste various Korean fried-chicken dishes and even menus from all over the world! The restaurant offers friendly servers and a specific taste that brings out the original taste of Seoul.
Information about the eatery:
Another fan favourite among Muslim travellers is Busan Jib. A local eatery that offers various Korean dishes ranging from chicken stew to chilli squid. The varieties you will find here are amazing, and you will not leave feeling dissatisfied afterwards.
Information about the eatery:
LOTTE City Hotel Myeongdong is the best option if you are looking for accommodation that is closer to all the halal restaurant hotspots out there in Seoul. This four-star hotel offers various types of rooms that could accommodate solo or group travellers.
Image from LOTTE City Hotel Myeongdong
Information about accommodation:
MOSC Guesthouse is a minimalist-concept accommodation that offers comfort at an affordable rate. The guesthouse is not only budget-friendly for those that want to enjoy Seoul to its fullest, but it is also close to Seoul’s main attractions like Samsung Museum of Art and Seolleung Park.
Image from MakeMyTrip
Information about accommodation:
If you are worried about travelling to Seoul as a Muslim, don’t be because South Korea is one of the countries that have a large Muslim population, and it serves the needs of its Muslim citizens and tourists with care.