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South Korea✨ 10 best things to do in South Korea

Things to do in South Korea

1. Wear hanbok at GyeongbokgungRent traditional dress and stroll the grandest of Seoul's Joseon palaces as the guards change.
2. Eat at Gwangjang MarketPerch on a stool for bindaetteok pancakes, gimbap and spicy tteokbokki in Seoul's oldest market.
3. Stay in a templeJoin monks for dawn chanting, meditation and vegetarian meals on a temple stay programme.
4. Hike BukhansanScramble up granite peaks within the city limits for sweeping views over Seoul.
5. Explore GyeongjuCycle between grassy royal tombs, Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto in the 'museum without walls'.
6. Climb Hallasan on JejuTrek to the crater rim of South Korea's highest peak on its volcanic holiday island.
7. Visit the DMZJoin an organised tour to the border area for a sobering look at the divided peninsula.
8. Soak in a jjimjilbangSpend an evening in a Korean bathhouse with hot pools, saunas and heated floors.
9. Sample Busan's seafoodBrowse Jagalchi Fish Market and eat fresh catches before hitting Haeundae beach.
10. Sing your heart out at a noraebangRent a private karaoke room with friends for a quintessential Korean night out.

South Korea🗺️ Where to visit in South Korea

Where to go in South Korea

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  SeoulCapital Area · megacityRoyal palaces, hanok alleys, futuristic design and non-stop food and nightlife in one dynamic capital.
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  BusanSoutheast · coastal cityKorea's second city combines beaches, hillside villages, seafood markets and seaside temples.
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  GyeongjuNorth Gyeongsang · ancient capitalThe former Silla capital is packed with UNESCO-listed temples, tombs and relics.
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  Jeju IslandSouth · volcanic islandLava tubes, waterfalls, coastal trails and Hallasan make Jeju Korea's favourite getaway.
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  Seoraksan National ParkGangwon · mountainsJagged granite peaks, waterfalls and blazing autumn colours near the east coast.
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  JeonjuNorth Jeolla · hanok village & foodA traditional hanok village and the birthplace of bibimbap, with a renowned food culture.
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  AndongNorth Gyeongsang · folk heritageHome to Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO-listed clan village with mask-dance traditions.
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  DMZGyeonggi · border areaObservatories and tunnels along the demilitarised zone, visited only on organised tours.

South Korea🌦️ Weather & best time to visit South Korea

Best time to visit South Korea

South Korea has four distinct seasons: freezing dry winters, warm springs, hot rainy summers and crisp autumns. Jeju and the south coast are noticeably milder in winter, while the northeastern mountains are the coldest and snowiest.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Seoul (approximate averages).

South Korea🎉 Festivals & events in South Korea

• January/February
  Seollal (Lunar New Year)Families gather for ancestral rites, rice-cake soup and traditional games.
• Late March/April
  Jinhae Gunhangje Cherry Blossom FestivalKorea's largest cherry blossom festival turns the naval town of Jinhae pink.
• April/May
  Lotus Lantern FestivalSeoul celebrates Buddha's Birthday with a dazzling lantern parade through the city centre.
• July
  Boryeong Mud FestivalVisitors wrestle, slide and paint themselves with mineral-rich mud on a west-coast beach.
• September/October
  ChuseokThe harvest festival sees families return home to honour ancestors and share songpyeon rice cakes.

South Korea🧭 South Korea itinerary ideas

How many days in South Korea?

South Korea🎒 Backpacking South Korea – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $50–75 a day

• Get a T-money card for metros, buses and even taxis in most cities, plus convenience-store purchases.
• Intercity and express buses are cheaper than KTX trains and very comfortable.
• Eat at kimbap shops, markets and university areas for filling, inexpensive meals.
• Hongdae in Seoul and Haeundae or Seomyeon in Busan are lively backpacker bases with plenty of hostels.
• Jjimjilbang bathhouses offer communal sleeping areas and can be an unusual budget night's rest.

South Korea🛡️ Safety & money in South Korea

Emergency: 112 police · 119 fire & ambulance

South Korea🛬 Getting to South Korea

Most travellers arrive at Incheon International Airport near Seoul, with further international flights to Gimpo, Busan's Gimhae and Jeju; ferries also link Busan with Japan.

✈️ Cheap flights to South Korea: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

South Korea💡 Did you know? 5 facts about South Korea

• Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, was deliberately designed in the 15th century to be easy for everyone to learn.
• Koreans traditionally counted age differently, though official documents now use international age.
• Some of the world's oldest surviving movable metal type printing, the Jikji, was produced in Korea in 1377.
• South Korea has one of the world's fastest average internet speeds.
• Kimchi-making, known as kimjang, is recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.

South Korea❓ South Korea travel FAQ

South Korea travel questions