Accommodation is rather pricey in Seoul so mid-range isn’t necessary economical, unfortunately.Lotte City Hotel Mapo(from Rs 8,900;lottecityhotelmapo.com),Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Times Square(from Rs 10,500;marriott.com) andFraser Suites Insadong(from Rs 9,500; seoul.frasershospitality.com) are three mid-range hotels of good standards that you could consider.
You’re right about finding vegetarian food in Seoul but there are a handful of restaurants that will work for you well.Sanchon in Insadong(14 Gwanghundong, Jongnogu) offers vegan ‘temple food’ based on Korean Buddhist traditions in vegetarianism.Baru(Gongyang Templestay Information Center, two branches, the first at 5/F, 71 and the second at 2/F, 71, both in Gyeongjidong, Jongnogu; another branch at the Ildong Building, B1, 983 Daechi-dong, Gangnamgu) also offers tasty ‘temple food’.
As for sightseeing, the older, most historic part of the city isGangbukor the ‘River North’, and its newer, swisher section isGangnam(that’s ‘River South’, and its famous party scene is where the ‘style’ comes from). The Han river bisects them. Modern shopping and nightlife is clustered to the south. Most of the must-see tourist sites are in the older Gangbuk — Gyeongbokgung(the main palace),Huwon(the royal, six-acre ‘secret garden’), the presidentialBlue House,Samcheongdong(a charming neighbourhood with small cafés and shops),Insadong(to pick up souvenirs from displays of Korean arts and crafts like celadon pottery). You can also consider taking theHan River Cruise(at night, on the ferry service from the Nodeul or Jinseong ports) and visit the vastNational Museum of Korea(you’ll need lots of time here—it’s the sixth largest in the world).
A light jacket should do for the second half of October, when weather is likely to be in the pleasant sub-20s.
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