South Korea

South Korea is moderately priced. Street food costs ₩3,000–8,000 per item. Mid-range meals are ₩10,000–20,000. Budget ₩100,000–150,000 per day for comfortable travel.

South Korea is a mid-range destination where about USD 100 (roughly INR 8,500) per person per day covers comfortable mid-range travel: a 3-star hotel, local meals, transport, and a couple of paid attractions. Budget travellers can manage on USD 50-70 a day using guesthouses and street food, while couples wanting nicer hotels and dining should plan closer to USD 120-150 each. The currency is the South Korean Won, and a typical 7-day trip works out to roughly INR 1,00,000 per person excluding flights and visa.

Card payment is near-universal in South Korea, and your Indian Visa or Mastercard works at almost all shops, restaurants, and hotels, so you only need a little cash for small vendors and some rural areas. Indian UPI is not accepted, so do not rely on it. For metro and buses, get a T-money or Climate Card; since March 2026 you can top these up with foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, or Amex at the new kiosks across 273 Seoul Metro stations. Tell your bank you are travelling and carry a backup card, since some older machines and Busan-area kiosks still take cash only.

Yes, Indian passport holders need a visa before travelling; there is no e-visa for Indians, so you must apply for a physical visa sticker through BLS International (Mumbai, Hyderabad), VFS Global (New Delhi, Kolkata), or the embassy/consulate. The C-3-9 short-term tourist visa costs about INR 3,400 plus an INR 1,100 service charge and allows stays of up to 90 days. Standard processing takes around 10 working days (up to 20 if extra documents or an interview are needed), while travellers who have visited Korea before can get an express visa in about 3 working days. Fly Goldfinch handles the visa paperwork, financial documents, and appointment booking as part of planning your trip.

Yes, DMZ tours are available from Seoul and take a full day. Book through an authorized tour operator. Bring your passport. The JSA (Joint Security Area) tour offers a closer look at the border.

Yes, Air India and Korean Air both fly non-stop from New Delhi (DEL) to Seoul-Incheon (ICN), with about 6 Air India and 4 Korean Air departures per week, mostly on Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The Delhi-to-Seoul flight takes roughly 7 hours 30 minutes, and around 8 hours 55 minutes on the return because of headwinds. From Mumbai, Bengaluru, or other cities there are currently no non-stop options, so you connect via Delhi or a hub like Hong Kong, Singapore, or Bangkok. Fly Goldfinch books the routing that best fits your departure city and dates.