THERE is more romance in Seoul than perhaps in Koreanovela.

The place is young, vibrant and fun, the streets so lush with greenery from where you could see the mountainside amid buildings.

You could feel a mix of the passionate and progressive, traditional and avant-garde.

And there are more reasons to go there other than stalking your favorite Korean hottie: theme parks, palaces, museums, great food, the must-see Nanta show and shopping centers that are open till dawn.

Getting there

If you are more comfy in sunny environment, go there around this time of year.

There is conscious effort among the young to learn English as second language, and most street signs have English translations, so going around the city is manageable.

Tour guides are licensed by the government so it?s recommended to get one if you?re traveling in a big group.

Cebu Pacific flies daily from Manila and Cebu to Seoul (Incheon airport).

Book early and watch out for promos for affordable rates. The lowest year-round ?Go Lite? fare from Manila and Cebu starts at P4,799, one-way plus taxes.

Visit www.cebupacificair.com; call 70-20888 (Manila) or 230-8888 (Cebu) for schedules.

Where to stay

Our group stayed at Somerset Palace Seoul (http://www2.somerset.com), a serviced residence under the Ascott chain -- perfect for those who still want a hotel feel but with the comfort of a home.

The place has a mini kitchen, laundry and ironing area. We love the buffet breakfast, gym, rooftop Jacuzzi and pool.

A more plush choice would be Park Hyatt Seoul (www.seoul.park.hyatt.com), a five-star luxury hotel right smack in Gangnam, Seoul?s central business district. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with a wonderful view of the sunset.

Traveling on a budget? Visit www.buhaykorea.com, a helpful blog maintained by a Pinay married to a Korean, for Filipinos who want to visit Seoul.

Where to go

This is the tricky part. There are so many interesting places that three days would be bitin if you wanna max out your stay (and your credit card).

Gear up, pack comfy shoes, dress up and prepare to do lots of walking. Don?t forget to bring extra batteries and memory card for your cam. Energy bars and drinks optional.

Koreanovela fanatics would enjoy the Dae Jang Geum Theme Park in Yangju, a two-hour drive from central Seoul, where the hit series ?Jewel in the Palace? was filmed.

Fulfill your Jang Geum fantasies by having your photo taken while wearing a hanbok, or the traditional Korean dress.

Bukchon Hanok Village depicts Old-World Seoul with Korean houses called hanok, brick roads and branch-like alleys. Think Intramuros, Korean-style.

From there, go to Gahoe Museum (www.gahoemuseum.org), which has a collection of relics, folk paintings and classical books.

Drop by Choong Ang High School where the drama ?Winter Sonata? was filmed.
But make sure it?s the weekend, because the campus is off limits to tourists during schooldays.

Near the gates are stalls that sell everything with your favorite Korean actors? faces on it: calendars, pot holders, nail file, passport holders, toiletries.

N Seoul Tower gives a panoramic, 360-degree view of the city. It houses restaurants, souvenir shops and the Teddy Bear Museum, an exhibit that retells the history of Seoul through fluffy and cute teddy bears. There?s a ?lock tree? on the Tower grounds where hundreds of colorful padlocks hang on a tree-shaped tower. Lovers can hang their own padlocks with a note and wish for a lasting relationship.

If your feet can still take it, gear up for a two-hour walk around the Changeok Palace or Seoul?s Secret Garden, a sprawling park in Jongno-gu district. The guided historical tour lets you in on past Korean royalty?s ways and culture.

We love Lotte World! Korea?s version of Disneyland is a three-level theme park with indoor and outdoor venues offering every imaginable fun ride and game. Make sure to catch the laser-light show at 9 a.m. that features indoor fireworks. Don?t worry, it has a very high ceiling.

Entertainment

Never leave Seoul without catching the ?Cookin? Nanta Show,? a laugh-out-loud musical with hardly any dialogue that tells the story of how three cooks prepare a wedding feast for a very meticulous customer.

The characters use functional kitchen tools in making music. Staged in Europe, Australia and New York, it draws over 300,000 tourists every year in Seoul alone.

Where to eat

Seoul is a foodie haven. Don?t forget to try out crisp, fresh kimchi to go with your flavorful and tender bulgogi.

Steak lovers would enjoy a filling T-bone lunch at N Grill, a revolving restaurant on the N Tower. When we got there, we were told not to make noise because someone at the other table was proposing -- it?s that romantic.

Yi Gung in Samcheonggak on the foot of Bukaksan Mountains serves traditional Korean court meals.

Cornerstone Restaurant at Park Hyatt Seoul has an innovative open kitchen and wood-fired ovens in the middle of the restaurant.

Ho Lee Chow in Itaewon offers Chinese cuisine like stir-fried jumbo prawns and veggies, spicy noodles, and beef in sesame sauce.

There?s a coffee shop in every corner -- a surprising find in a tea-drinking country.

Shopping

With almost all items in the world manufactured in China, chances are, most of the items you see in Seoul?s markets can be had in Manila. So know your wares and learn how to say hello and thank you in Korean and you?re up for a good deal.

For basic pasalubong, spend a morning at Insa-dong art and antique lane. Apart from art galleries, antiques and handicrafts, the trinkets tiangges are here.

Namdaemun market (Great South Gate) downtown has over 1,000 shops, stalls, retailers and street vendors. Best for children?s clothes and shoes, fabrics, tableware, toys and watches.

Dongdaemun district has clusters of small and high-end malls offering trendy outfits, shoes, bags, homeware, pet products. Shopping hours usually extend to 5 a.m. Doosan Tower and Miliore are two of the most popular malls where teenagers hang out. Young couples even sport matching outfits from head to foot!

Yongsan Electronics Market is laptop land. Make sure all purchases have global warranty. Buy hard-to-find Korean DVDs and homegrown Samsung products.

Myongdong would make you woozy with its malls, free-standing boutiques, sidewalk vendors, street food. Everything is here. Shop at Forever21, Zara, Mango, Fubu outlets.