Ranging from tranquil islands to preserved historic villages that transport you back in time, these easy excursions provide a compelling taste of Korean history, culture and natural beauty. This list of the 25 best day tours from Seoul will ignite your exploration outside the capital and show you many of the wonderful sights Korea has to offer. There’s definitely a day trip that will suit you here.

All of the day trips from Seoul covered in this article are accessible within a day, meaning you can travel out for an action packed day of exploration and return to your hotel in Seoul. Several of these locations can be combined into one day trip, such as Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, and Alpaca World. I’ll include tour links to combined tours when they are as they’re a convenient way to see more.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Book A Day Tour From Seoul?

Embarking on a day tour from Seoul is a must when you visit Korea as it offers you a unique opportunity to explore the country’s rich heritage, stunning natural landscapes, and vibrant local culture beyond the bustling capital. I think these Seoul day trips will provide deeper insights into Korea than you’ll find in the capital and leave you with a better understanding of what Korea’s really like.

These day trips give you a way to discover historical sites like the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, natural wonders such as Nami Island, and unique attractions like the DMZ, showcasing the poignant history and beauty of Korea. These destinations, which are all accessible in a day, give you the chance to contrast Seoul to other parts of Korea and I’m sure you’ll notice some big differences.

Whether it’s indulging in traditional Korean experiences at the Jeonju Hanok Village or exploring the enchanting Gwangmyeong Cave, these day tours from Seoul cater to a wide range of interests, ensuring memorable experiences from your journey. Moreover, they offer insights into Korea’s diverse regions, making them essential for those looking to experience the country’s cultural charms.

Quick links: Looking for a certain type of day tour from Seoul? Use the links below to jump straight to the section that interests you, or keep on reading to discover all of these tours.

How To Book Day Tours From Seoul

The most convenient way to book a day trip from Seoul is through user-friendly online platforms like Klook, Viator, Trazy, and Get Your Guide. These sites make exploring beyond Seoul simple by aggregating reliable tours complete with reviews, easy online booking in your chosen currency, e-tickets, and even transportation coordination from central pick-up points. I use them to book tours myself.

I recommend booking day tours in advance when visiting Korea (especially if you’re travelling in spring or autumn) for these reasons:

Learn more: Paying in your home currency is often easier and cheaper than converting money into Korean won. Booking ahead is one of the tips included in my guide to paying in Korea, which covers ways to save on travel money in Korea and alternatives to relying on exchanging cash to travel.

Where To Stay For Seoul Day Trips

Tour companies offering day trips out from Seoul might collect you directly from your hotel, but more often they prefer to arrange pickups in these three popular districts:

• Myeongdong
• Hongdae
• Gangnam

If you’re planning to take some day trips while you’re staying in Seoul, then I recommend staying in one of these locations as you’ll find it easier to arrange tour pickups. There are some excellent hotels in Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam and these are the most popular areas to stay. To learn more about Seoul’s districts, check out my guide about where to stay in Seoul.

Using Public Transport In Korea

Public transport in Seoul and Korea in general is amazing and services run frequently, actually turn up on time, and cost little. You can travel between cities for less than $10 and tickets cost the same regardless of when you use them. Transportation in Seoul is provided in multiple languages and is easy to use. While it’s great in Seoul, relying on public transport beyond the city can prove challenging.

Destinations outside Seoul may not be well connected, especially in the Korean countryside. Infrequent services, complex transfers and language barriers leave DIY day trips prone to confusion and wasted time, even for experienced travellers. Booking a guided tour ensures stress-free travel to and from Seoul on comfortable buses or vans, direct to each location with expert commentary, too.

It’s certainly possible to use public transport for some destinations, such as Nami Island, but for a hassle-free day trip from Seoul, tours are much simpler than using public transport, which requires research and planning. If you want to use public transport for your day trips, I recommend Naver Map or Kakao Map for directions, along with Papago to help translate Korean to English as you travel.

Top 10 Seoul Day Trips For Sightseeing

With endless fascinating sights and experiences to discover beyond the capital, narrowing down the most celebrated Seoul day tours offers a great starting point to explore more of the country. These ten destinations repeatedly rate as top favourites amongst both Korean and international visitors seeking to unlock the cultural, historical and natural highlights waiting beyond Seoul’s borders.

1: Nami Island

Nami Island, located in Chuncheon, is a half-moon shaped isle known for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural attractions. Established as a tourist destination in 1965, the island covers an area of 430,000 square metres and is renowned for its tree-lined walking paths, making it a picturesque escape from the urban hustle of Seoul and one of Korea’s best day trips.

What to see and do: The island offers a variety of attractions, from its beautiful tree lanes, such as Ginkgo Tree Lane and Metasequoia Lane, to cultural sites like the UNICEF Charity Train. You can enjoy cycling, zip-lining to the island, traditional Korean foods, and seasonal events. The island also features art galleries, performance stages, and water sports during the summer.

Suitable for: families, couples, and nature enthusiasts.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

How to get there: If you want to make your own way to Nami Island, check out my guide about how to get to Nami Island from Seoul by car, tours, and public transportation.

2: Garden Of Morning Calm

The Garden of Morning Calm is a serene botanical garden located in Gapyeong County. Established in 1996, it spans 30,000 square meters and features Korean traditional garden concepts. The garden is a tranquil retreat showcasing Korea’s natural beauty through its diverse plant species and landscaped gardens. One of the most beautiful of these Seoul day trips, especially in spring and summer.

What to see & do: You can explore themed gardens, scenic walking paths, and seasonal festivals, including the Spring Garden Festival and the Winter Illumination Festival. Highlights include the Wild Flower Garden, Pine Garden, and the picturesque Pond Garden. The garden also offers cultural experiences and workshops, making it a place of learning and relaxation.

Suitable for: nature lovers, families, and photographers.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

3: Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) Area

The DMZ, or Demilitarised Zone, separates North and South Korea, extending 250 kilometres across the peninsula. This buffer zone, established in 1953, is a significant symbol of the Korean War’s cessation (but not end). It offers a unique insight into the geopolitical tensions and history of the region, making it a compelling destination for Seoul day trips.

What to see and do: Tours from Seoul to the DMZ allow you to explore observation posts, tunnels dug by North Korea, and the Joint Security Area (currently unavailable). The area also hosts exhibitions and historical sites, providing educational insights into the Korean conflict. These tours often include visits to key landmarks, such as the Freedom Bridge and the Third Infiltration Tunnel.

Suitable for: history buffs, political enthusiasts, and modern history lovers.

Current DMZ tour issues: Due to the recently increased tensions with North Korea, as well as a swine flu outbreak in the area, the Joint Security Area is currently closed to tourists.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

4: Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a late 18th-century fortification in Suwon, South Korea. It represents the pinnacle of 18th-century military architecture, combining Eastern and Western design principles. The fortress encompasses a wall stretching nearly 6 kilometres, featuring four gates and numerous defensive structures, making it a standout destination for Seoul day trips.

What to see & do: You can explore the fortress walls, offering panoramic views of Suwon city. The site includes impressive gates, watchtowers, and pavilions. The Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, within the fortress, showcases royal residences and administrative buildings. Cultural events, martial arts performances, and traditional archery experiences are also available, enriching tours from Seoul.

Suitable for: history enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and families.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

5: Yongin Korean Folk Village

The Yongin Korean Folk Village is a living museum located in Yongin that recreates traditional Korean life from the Joseon Dynasty. Spanning over 243 acres, it features over 260 traditional houses, offering a deep dive into Korea’s cultural heritage, making it a popular choice for day trips. This tour from Seoul is often combined with the Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and other attractions nearby.

What to see & do: Witness traditional Korean crafts, such as pottery and weaving, watch folk music and dance performances, and explore a traditional marketplace. The village also offers hands-on experiences like traditional games and seasonal activities, including farming. Attractions include martial arts demonstrations and traditional wedding ceremonies, providing a look into historical Korean culture.

Suitable for: cultural enthusiasts, families, and anyone interested in Korea’s traditional lifestyle.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

6: Jeonju Hanok Village

Jeonju Hanok Village, located in the heart of Jeonju, is a vibrant cultural district renowned for its 800 beautifully preserved traditional Korean hanok houses. This picturesque village serves as a living museum, encapsulating the essence of the Joseon Dynasty’s architectural and cultural heritage.

You are transported back in time, as you wander through narrow alleys lined with tile-roofed houses, artisanal workshops, and quaint tea houses. The village’s commitment to maintaining traditional Korean crafts, cuisine, and culture makes it perfect for those seeking an authentic tour from Seoul.

What to see & do: You can explore traditional tea houses, artisan workshops, and cultural museums. The Jeonju Hanji Museum, dedicated to traditional Korean paper, and the Jeonju Korean Traditional Wine Museum are highlights. Traditional Korean dress (hanbok) rental is popular, along with sampling authentic Jeonju bibimbap, making it a vibrant mix of cultural exploration and culinary delight.

Suitable for: cultural enthusiasts, photographers, and foodies.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

7: Alpaca World

Alpaca World is a scenic area within easy reach from Seoul and one of the best places to see cuddly critters in leafy surroundings. This expansive park is not just about alpacas; it’s an animal haven set against the backdrop of Korea’s beautiful natural landscape. You have the chance to interact closely with alpacas, deer, and other animals in an environment that prioritises their wellbeing and freedom.

What to see & do: Beyond feeding and walking with alpacas, you can try activities such as horse riding, exploring the ecological forest, and crafting. The park also features thematic gardens, picnic areas, and walking trails, making it an ideal spot for leisure and learning about animal care and nature conservation. The hands-on interactions with the animals provide a memorable experience for all ages.

Suitable for: families, animal lovers, and nature enthusiasts.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

8: Gangchon Rail Park

Gangchon Rail Park offers you an outdoor adventure combining scenic beauty with physical activity. The repurposed old railway tracks allow you to pedal rail bikes through tunnels, over bridges, and along rivers. Covering a distance that showcases the stunning rural landscapes of Korea, it’s an innovative way to explore the countryside, making it a popular choice for day trips from Seoul.

What to see & do: The main attraction is the rail biking experience, where you can pedal along old railroad tracks while enjoying the surrounding nature. The course includes features like tunnels, adorned with lights and music, and panoramic views of the river and countryside. Additionally, the park offers rest areas with scenic photo spots to witness the beauty of the Korean landscape.

Suitable for: active travellers, families, and groups seeking a unique experience in nature.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

9: Petite France

Petite France is a French-themed village that stands as a beacon of European charm within Korea. This cultural village is designed to emulate the atmosphere of a quaint French town, featuring brightly coloured buildings, cobblestone streets, and a collection of European dolls, antique musical instruments, and French literature. It’s a eccentric enclave that offers a uniquely European escape.

What to see & do: Within its boundaries, you can explore a variety of attractions including the Saint-Exupéry Memorial Hall dedicated to the author of “The Little Prince,” puppet shows, and street performances that capture the essence of French culture. The village also offers workshops on French crafts and cooking, making it a place of both entertainment and learning with lots of photo opportunities.

Suitable for: families, couples, and Francophiles.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

10: Gwangmyeong Cave

Gwangmyeong Cave is a former gold mine transformed into a cultural and recreational space. This subterranean complex is a fusion of historical, cultural, and entertainment elements, offering a unique experience beneath the earth’s surface. It boasts illuminated caverns, underground lakes, and themed exhibitions, making it a great destination for those seeking an adventurous day trip from Seoul.

What to see & do: In Gwangmyeong Cave you can explore a variety of interesting attractions including the Wine Cave, where Korean wines are showcased and available for tasting, and the Golden Road, which tells the history of the mine’s gold extraction era. The cave also hosts art installations, a concert hall, and an aquarium, providing diverse entertainment options.

Suitable for: adventurers, families, and those interested in geologic phenomena.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Korean Culture Lovers Day Trips From Seoul

These day trips from Seoul are for the K-culture lovers, both modern and traditional, who want to spend a day away from Seoul to see unmissable destinations from TV, movies, art, and nature. If you’re a fan of BTS or modern K-culture, then you’ll love the BTS tour and a visit to Dae Jang Geum Park. Families and couples will be pleasantly surprised with day tours in Pocheon and Gangneung, too.

BTS ARMY Fan Tours From Seoul

BTS-themed tours from Seoul offer fans of the global K-pop sensation a unique journey through the places associated with BTS’s rise to fame. These tours cover iconic sites outside Seoul that hold significance to the band’s history, such as music video locations, favourite hangouts, and significant locations in their career. It’s an immersive experience that brings fans closer to the footsteps of BTS.

What to see & do: Participants can visit sites inside and outside of Seoul, like the BTS bus stop at Hyangho Beach from the “Spring Day” music video, Yongin Daejanggeum Park where Suga recorded “Daechwita”, and Seoul sights such as Hakdong Park, Yoojung Sikdang, and the old Big Hit headquarters. Some tours offer exclusive merchandise and photo shoots at famous BTS-related spots.

Suitable for: ARMYs, K-pop enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the cultural phenomenon of BTS.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Yongin Dae Jang Geum Park Tour

Yongin Dae Jang Geum Park, previously known as MBC Dramia, is an expansive outdoor film set. This site is famous for being the filming location of numerous popular Korean historical dramas, including “Dae Jang Geum.” Tours from Seoul offer fans of K-dramas and K-movies a behind-the-scenes look at the settings of their favourite productions, showcasing traditional Korean architecture and culture.

What to see & do: You can explore the meticulously constructed sets that replicate historical palaces, villages, and landscapes from various periods of Korean history. Tours provide insights into the filming processes and stories behind the scenes. There’s the opportunity to dress in traditional Korean costumes, and occasional reenactments and performances really bring the drama to life.

Suitable for: fans of Korean dramas, history buffs, and those interested in traditional Korean culture.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Pocheon Art Village And Herb Island

Day tours from Seoul to Pocheon Art Valley and Herb Island offer a blend of natural beauty, art, and aromatic experiences. Pocheon Art Valley, a transformed granite quarry, now serves as a cultural space featuring sculptures, an art museum, and a picturesque lake. Herb Island, focusing on Mediterranean herbs, lights up with fairy-tale illuminations at night, creating a magical atmosphere.

What to see & do: In Pocheon Art Valley, you can enjoy scenic landscapes, explore art installations, and take part in craft workshops. The monorail provides easy access to stunning views. Herb Island gives you a chance to wander through lavender fields, participate in soap-making classes, and explore themed gardens and greenhouses. Visit at night to see the entire island aglow with decorative lights.

Suitable for: art lovers, nature enthusiasts, and families looking for a creative day of delights.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Gangneung K-Culture Day Trip

Gangneung is a beautiful beach city on the east coast of Korea accessible from Seoul in under 2 hours by KTX high speed train. Known as a city of coffee, nature, and culture, the city boasts festivals dedicated to coffee (Gangneung Coffee Festival), cherry blossoms (Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival), and beach life (Gyeongpo Beach Beer Festival & Gangneung Gyeongpo Summer Festival).

What to see & do: Day trips will take you to some top cultural destinations in the area, including Jumunjin to see the filming location of the popular Korean drama “Goblin”. Nearby, K-pop fans can visit the bus stop featured in BTS’s “Spring Day” music video – a must-see for diehard A.R.M.Y fans! The area also offers new attractions like the immersive light and shadow art experience – ARTE Museum.

Suitable for: art lovers, culture vultures, and those interested in modern K-culture.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Family Friendly One Day Trips From Seoul

If you’re looking for a family-friendly break from Seoul, then these theme parks and attractions will provide a whole day of outdoor fun for all. While Seoul offers great theme parks like Lotte World Adventure, the destinations outside Seoul are bigger and have more to see and do – making them worth a visit. Here are some fun day trips from Seoul to enjoy during summer and other seasons.

Caribbean Bay Water Park

Caribbean Bay Water Park, part of the Everland Resort in Yongin, is one of the largest water parks in the world. Offering a tropical Caribbean theme, it features a wide range of water-based attractions, including wave pools, water slides, and a lazy river. Tours from Seoul to Caribbean Bay provide a refreshing escape from the city, allowing visitors to enjoy thrilling rides and relaxation in a picturesque setting.

What to see & do: You can experience exhilarating water slides of varying heights and speeds, the expansive wave pool capable of generating artificial waves, and the relaxing lazy river that meanders through the park. The Aqua Loop, a high-speed slide with a 360-degree loop, is a must-try for thrill-seekers. If you’re just looking to relax, the spa and sauna facilities offer a serene retreat.

Suitable for: families, groups of friends, and anyone seeking fun and adventure in a water park setting.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Everland Theme Park

Everland theme park, also in Yongin, is Korea’s largest theme park and offers a diverse range of attractions across its zones – Global Fair, American Adventure, Magic Land, European Adventure, and Zootopia. Combining thrilling rides, themed areas, and a zoo, tours from Seoul to Everland provide a day of adventure and fun, making it a top choice for those seeking excitement outside the city.

What to see & do: Visitors can enjoy high-speed roller coasters, such as the T-Express, family-friendly rides, and seasonal festivals. Zootopia offers close encounters with animals, including a panda habitat and a safari ride. The park’s beautifully landscaped gardens and parades add to the festive atmosphere. For those looking to cool down, check out the aforementioned water park, Caribbean Bay.

Suitable for: families, thrill-seekers, and anyone looking for a fun-filled day out.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Legoland Korea

Legoland Korea is a newly opened theme park that brings the iconic Lego brand to life. This family-oriented park features over 40 rides, shows, and attractions across various themed zones, each dedicated to the creativity and fun of Lego building blocks. Day tours from Seoul to Legoland Korea offer an immersive experience into a world of imagination and innovation for Lego fans of all ages.

What to see & do: The park is divided into themed areas, including Miniland, where iconic landmarks from around the world are recreated in Lego form. Visitors can enjoy interactive rides, build and test their own Lego creations, and watch 4D cinema presentations. For younger guests, Duplo playgrounds provide a safe and exciting environment. The park also hosts seasonal events.

Suitable for: families with children, Lego enthusiasts, and those looking for a creative day out.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Day Trips From Seoul To See Nature

Some of the most-loved day trips from Seoul introduce you to the abundant green sights you’ll find outside Korea’s capital, including the aforementioned Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, and Pocheon Art Valley. There are plenty more natural wonders awaiting you in the Korean countryside, with massive mountains, serene rivers, picturesque forests and gardens, and more, to discover.

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park is renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery, including rugged mountains, narrow valleys, and dense forests. It’s a UNESCO Biosphere Protection site, offering an escape into nature’s tranquility. Day tours from Seoul to Seoraksan allow you to explore Korea’s natural beauty, with the park’s changing seasons offering many wonderful sights, especially during autumn.

What to see & do: The park features a range of hiking trails for all abilities, from easy walks to challenging climbs, leading to stunning vistas and natural landmarks like the Ulsanbawi Rock. Don’t want to hike? Take the cable car to Gwongeumseong and see panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. You can explore Buddhist temples in the park, including picturesque Sinheungsa Temple.

Suitable for: nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking a peaceful retreat into natural beauty.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Hwadam Botanical Gardens And Forest

Hwadam Botanical Garden is a meticulously designed ecological space that combines traditional Korean and modern landscaping techniques. This self-sustaining garden is known for its extensive collection of native and exotic plants, making it a haven for botany enthusiasts. Day tours from Seoul to Hwadam Botanical Garden offer a serene escape into nature and a literal breath of fresh air.

What to see & do: Meander through themed sections, including a conifer garden, medicinal herb garden, and a wetland ecosystem, each offering unique plants and educational insights. The garden’s walking paths and scenic bridges over ponds create a peaceful environment for your to relax and take photos. Visit for seasonal events, such as the spring cherry blossom festival and autumn foliage viewing.

Suitable for: nature enthusiasts, families, and photographers looking for a tranquil day out.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Namhansanseong Fortress

Namhansanseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stands as a testament to Korea’s historical military architecture and strategic significance. Located on a mountainous terrain south-east of Seoul, this fortress offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. Tours from Seoul provide insight into Korea’s rich history, with well-preserved fortifications that date back to the 17th century.

What to see & do: The fortress encompasses several walking trails leading to historical sites, including ancient gates, command posts, and Buddhist temples like the Sudoksa Temple. You can explore the Emergency Palace, which served as a refuge for kings during invasions. The combination of natural beauty and historical discovery waiting to be found here makes for a fulfilling experience.

Suitable for: history enthusiasts, hikers, and anyone interested in exploring Korea’s cultural heritage.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Yangpyeong Dumulmeori

Yangpyeong Dumulmeori is famed for its picturesque natural landscapes that have inspired countless photographers and filmmakers. This tranquil spot, easily accessible via day tours from Seoul, is named ‘Dumulmeori’ for its water’s resemblance to a ‘head of two waters’. It’s an ideal destination for those seeking a peaceful retreat into nature, with its stunning vistas and serene atmosphere.

What to see & do: You can enjoy leisurely walks along the riverbank, take memorable photographs of the traditional Korean boats and the iconic willow trees lining the water’s edge, or explore the nearby Semiwon Garden. Seasonal changes bring a dynamic beauty to the area, with lush greens in summer, vibrant blooms in spring, and fiery colours showcasing gorgeous autumn foliage.

Suitable for: photographers, nature lovers, and anyone looking for a day of scenic beauty.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

One-Day Tours From Seoul With A Difference

This final set of Seoul day trips offer a chance to see more offbeat sights, join in exciting outdoor activities, and visit other notable cities in Korea. There are lots of extreme sports and cities you could visit on a day trip, which will be covered in other articles. These four destinations will give you a chance to get away from the main tourist areas, see some unusual sights, and try fun activities.

Danyang Paragliding & Sightseeing Tours

Danyang paragliding tours offer an exhilarating escape into the skies, showcasing some of Korea’s most breathtaking landscapes from a bird’s-eye view. Danyang is renowned for its scenic beauty, including lush mountains and clear rivers. This tour provides a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of flight, making it a popular choice for adventure seekers looking to get away from the urban jungle.

What to see & do: You can soar above the picturesque landscapes of Danyang, taking in views of the winding rivers, rugged cliffs, and verdant forests. The experience is made safe and enjoyable under the guidance of experienced instructors, ensuring a memorable adventure. Besides paragliding, you can explore the local attractions, such as the Gosu Cave and Dodamsambong Peaks.

Suitable for: thrill-seekers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone looking to experience an adrenaline rush.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Jebu Island Marine Cable Car

Jebu Island (Seohaerang) Marine Cable Car offers a unique vantage point to explore the natural beauty and coastal landscapes of Jebu Island. This is a great opportunity to experience this island’s scenic views from above, including its famous tidal flats, surrounding waters, and the impressive Siwha Sea Barrier. The cable car ride presents panoramic vistas that will surely captivate you.

What to see & do: The cable car journey allows you to witness the dramatic changes of the tide at Jebu Island’s mudflats, a phenomenon that reveals the seabed at low tide and hides it beneath the waves at high tide. Additionally, you can explore the island’s attractions, such as the Jebu Island Lighthouse and various coastal trails, offering leisurely walks with stunning seaside views.

Suitable for: families, couples, and photography enthusiasts interested in Korea’s coastal landscapes.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Day Trip To Busan By KTX Train

As the country’s second-largest city, Busan offers a diverse array of attractions, from ancient Buddhist temples to modern skyscrapers that line the waterfront. Day tours from Seoul to Busan are an excellent way to experience the unique blend of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty that this city has to offer. However, as this is a large city, I would recommend staying at least 1 night to see the sights.

Although there aren’t really any guided tours to Busan from Seoul, it’s easy enough to get to Korea’s second biggest city and back in a day thanks to the KTX high speed train network that links the two cities. This is a good way to use the unlimited Korean rail pass. Once you’re in Busan, the main sights can be accessed by public transport or a city tour that starts once you arrive.

What to see & do: Highlights of a Busan tour include Haeundae Beach, renowned for its scenic beauty and festive atmosphere; Gamcheon Culture Village, with its brightly painted houses and artistic vibe; and Jagalchi Fish Market, where you can taste fresh seafood. The Haedong Yonggungsa Temple offers spiritual serenity by the sea, and Taejongdae Park presents panoramic ocean views,

Suitable for: beach lovers, cultural explorers, and food enthusiasts keen to try culinary delights.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Day Trip To Incheon City

Incheon City is Korea’s third-largest city and known for its historical significance, modern landmarks, and cultural diversity. Incheon blends history with modernity, featuring attractions from its time as a major port during the late 19th century to its current status as a global city. A day trip to Incheon offers an insightful journey into the city’s rich heritage, vibrant markets, and scenic coastal areas.

What to see & do: Explore Korea’s first Chinatown with its colourful streets, traditional architecture, and authentic cuisine. The Songdo district showcases futuristic urban planning and green spaces. Historical sites like the Incheon Landing Operation Memorial Hall offer a glimpse into Korea’s modern history. For a relaxing end to the day, Wolmido Island provides seaside attractions and amusement parks.

Suitable for: history enthusiasts, foodies, and urban explorers looking for a mix of cultural experiences.

Recommended day tours from Seoul:

Seasonal Day Tours From Seoul

There are various day tours from Seoul that only run during certain seasons and will whisk you away to gorgeous destinations that only dazzle for a short time. These day tour destinations shine bright and bold during their respective seasons, but often don’t offer much during the rest of the year, or at least not as much. Below are some of the best tours from Seoul that you can take in each season.

Spring Day Tours From Seoul

Spring is all about nature and beautiful blossoms, which you can see across the country with tours to cherry blossom festivals, flower festivals, and areas of natural beauty. Spring is a wonderful time to travel in Korea thanks to the warm weather and clear skies, as well as the many spring festivals that are on. April is one of the best times to visit Korea, and May is also really good.

Here are some of the best spring destinations with tours from Seoul:

Summer Day Tours From Seoul

Summer in Korea is hot and wet, but there are loads of fun festivals and events happening across the country, including a giant mud festival that embraces the rainy weather. It’s also a time when nature is in full flow and there are many lush forests and parks to walk through, as well as rose gardens and tea plantations. Trips to the beach are popular and Seoulites will flock to the east coast for summer sun.

Here are some of the best summer destinations with tours from Seoul:

Autumn Day Tours From Seoul

Autumn in Korea starts from September and runs until early November and is arguably the best time to visit Korea, thanks to the many Korean autumn foliage spots that begin showing their colours from early October, and the weather is great. Besides autumn leaves, there are also harvest and culture festivals going on and tours to farms and countryside towns to try local produce are popular.

Here are some of the best autumn destinations with tours from Seoul:

Winter Day Tours From Seoul

Winter in Korea is not the easiest time to visit, but it’s a season packed with fun winter activities and snowy sights. You will find dozens of winter festivals in Korea to enjoy on day trips from Seoul, including ice fishing festivals, snow and ice festivals, and winter illuminations. Winter sports lovers and families looking for snowy sights in Korea will love the many ski resorts accessible from Seoul.

Here are some of the best winter events with tours from Seoul:

Best Time To Take Seoul Day Trips

While remarkable sights encircle Seoul in every season, temperate spring and autumn offer ideal weather for day trips. Summer is hot, so being outside can be difficult for long periods of time, the same can be said of winter as it’s so cold. However, you shouldn’t let the weather put you off as the right clothes and frequent indoor breaks can solve most problems from the adverse weather conditions.

Not only are spring and autumn warm and sunny, they’re not too wet. It mostly rains in Korea from June to August. Winter in Korea is very dry, making it a good time to take day trips out to the aforementioned winter destinations, as long as you’re wrapped up warm. Summer rains aren’t that bad though as the weather is a bit cooler when it rains, although it’s not good for the beach.

I recommend booking day tours on weekdays as these are less busy and you’ll encounter fewer local tourists. Koreans make the most of their free time and weekends and public holidays are a time to get out and enjoy popular sights outside the city (and in). If there’s a festival on then definitely visit during the week as some of the big festivals can see over 100,000 people per day on weekends!

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about day tours from Seoul. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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This river boat service in Seoul will allow easier access to riverside destinations for locals and tourists alike, helping them get between some of the most popular destinations in Seoul, such as Yeouido and Jamsil (home of the Lotte World Tower). Seoul’s river bus service will allow people to cross the city’s mighty Han River, which is currently a hassle to do, with ease and speed.

The Seoul river bus service hasn’t started yet, and some of the details in this article may change by the time it launches in October 2024. I will continue to update this article before and after the river boat in Seoul begins operation so you have the most up to date information available. Read on to discover more about Seoul’s latest innovation, which prioritises accessibility, sustainability, and tourism needs.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is The Seoul River Bus Service?

The Seoul river bus service is an innovative new river-based transportation service being launched by the Seoul government to promote sustainability as well as tourism and accessibility around the Han River area. It will allow people to travel between various destinations on the Han River for a small fee and save time and effort vs. current methods of travelling between Han River locations.

There will be a total of 8 eco-friendly vehicles to carry up to 199 passengers, bicycles, and wheelchairs at a time along the length of the Han River in central Seoul. The boats will move at 17 knots (31 km/h), which will make them faster than rush-hour traffic. It will run from Magok in the west of the city (close to Gimpo Airport) to Jamsil in the east – home of the Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-Hoon stated the electric vessels will offer a climate-friendly transit option for 2.5 million citizens and visitors alike by 2030. He envisions the service as both a practical mobility solution and tourism draw, showcasing the innovative attractions of Seoul while addressing environmental issues through green transportation infrastructure enhancements along the iconic river.

When Will The Seoul River Bus Service Begin?

The metropolitan government has stated that the Seoul river bus service will begin in October 2024, as long as the construction of river bus terminals meets the expected schedule. The service will connect seven terminals along the Han River at first, but could be expanded to other parts of the city at later dates. I will add updates about extensions to this article when announced.

What Hours Does The Seoul River Bus Run?

The river bus service will run during the following hours:

The earlier hours during the week are to allow commuters to travel along the river instead of using congested road and public transportation routes. This should make travelling in Seoul during rush hour less stressful (it’s really busy now) and save commuters a lot of time in some situations.

How Often Will The River Boat In Seoul Operate?

The river boat in Seoul will run at different frequencies depending on the time of day and week:

The Seoul river bus service takes up to 75 minutes to travel the full route between Magok and Jamsil, or 54 minutes between these two destinations if you use the express service that only stops at Magok, Yeouido, and Jamsil.

What Are The Seoul River Bus Stops?

The Seoul river bus service will stop at the following locations (as shown from left to right in the map image above) along the Han River:

You can see these destinations with this Seoul River Bus Locations Map from Google Maps. These destinations were chosen based on a number of factors and provide services to residential, commercial and tourist areas. The most popular areas for tourists on the Han River are Mangwon, Yeouido, and Ttukseom, but each area has attractions and services that travellers are likely to travel to.

What Can You See Near These Stops?

As mentioned, the most popular stops on the river bus in Seoul for tourists are Mangwon, Yeouido, and Ttukseom, as these stops are home to popular Han River parks and other tourist attractions. If you’re planning to ride the Seoul river bus service when you visit Seoul, this table shows you some of the key attractions and areas you’ll find near each stop. This will help you plan your Seoul itinerary.

Future Terminals On The Han River Boat Service

Besides the original 7 stops on the Seoul river bus service, the city government has announced plans to add more destinations to help increase convenience for commuters and to make Seoul more attractive for tourists. The line might extend past Magok to the Gimpo Ara Han River dock, which is close to Gimpo Airport hotels and duty free shops. There may also be more stops between terminals.

As well as the river bus, the Seoul government has a number of other future attractions in the works, such as the world’s first twin ferris wheel and an aerial gondola connecting various cultural and tourist hotspots along the river. These are part of Seoul mayor Oh Se-Hoon’s “Great Han River Project Plan” that will transform the capital’s riverside area in the next few years.

How Much Does The Seoul River Boat Cost?

The Seoul river boat service will cost ₩3,000 (about $2.25) per ride, which is more expensive than the current price of subway rides and bus rides in the capital, but offers a convenient method of crossing the river which will certainly save a lot of time. You should be able to use transportation cards such as the T-Money Card to pay for the rides, although this is still to be confirmed.

Seoul’s public transportation network currently allows free transfers between buses and subways within 30 minutes, as long as you touch out with your transportation card when leaving the bus or subway. It hasn’t been confirmed whether the Seoul river bus service will also feature free or discounted transfers between journeys with other methods of public transportation.

How To Get Discounted River Boat Rides In Seoul

As part of the Seoul government’s push to reduce commuting costs and encourage people to use more public transportation, people with a Seoul Climate Card will also be able to ride on the Han River boat service for free. The Climate Card, which launched in January 2024, offers unlimited public transportation within the city for a monthly fee starting at ₩62,000.

What To See And Do On The Han River

The Han River offers an abundance of attractions for visitors to Seoul to enjoy. Travellers can explore lengthy riverside parks perfect for cycling, jogging or leisurely strolls, with scenic stretches like Yeouido Hangang Park and Ttukseom Hangang Park. There are also swimming pools, sports facilities and performance venues situated along the shores, and various festivals throughout the year.

Here are 15 top sights along the Han River in Seoul:

With so much recreation, entertainment and sightseeing available along the banks of the river, the Han River area promises appealing destinations for any visitor to Seoul, which will only be enhanced with the forthcoming water bus service. The natural scenery, historic landmarks, and wealth of activities offer compelling reasons for travellers to explore this iconic river and its parks.

Han River Night Cruises In Seoul

When the sun goes down, the Han River comes alive with illuminated cruise boats that provide a magical way to see Seoul’s skyline. The Seoul Hangang River Cruise is a popular way to see the sights of Seoul along the river at night. Lasting about an hour, the river cruise brings passengers past the glittering Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, city landmarks, and picturesque parks after dark.

Gliding gently down the river, the evening cruise allows visitors to view Seoul’s vibrant energy from a unique vantage point amid the glistening reflections of a capital that truly never sleeps. As well as night cruises that show you Seoul’s vibrant city lights under moonlit skies, you can also take a Han River cruise during the day with regular departures daily. Book online or buy tickets on the day.

Other Ways To Get Around The Han River

The Han River encompasses some of the most beautiful parts of Seoul, with 12 riverside parks, attractions, and areas of natural beauty to enjoy throughout the city. Besides taking a river bus in Seoul to see the Han River, here are some other ways you can explore the waterway.

By Bicycle: The Seoul Public Bike rental service provides people the chance to rent bikes and cycle along the long stretches of the river’s edge. Popular areas for cycling are around Yeouido and in Seongsu-dong between Seoul Forest Park and Ttukseom Park and beyond. This is one of the best places to ride a bike in Korea, with 240km of cycle routes along the Han River.

By Foot: Along with cycle paths that run along the Han River’s shore, there are also walking paths in similar areas. The walking path around Yeouido is especially beautiful and home to several spring flower festivals, including one of Seoul’s largest cherry blossom festivals. Walking between the two banks of the river has been hard until the introduction of the river bus in Seoul, which will making exploring easier.

River Cruise: As mentioned, a river cruise is a great way to see the sights of Seoul, both during the day and at night. Even though the new Seoul river bus service might reduce people’s desire to pay for a cruise, the fact that you can travel in peace and pass under the many beautiful bridges at a slow pace will keep the cruise popular.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Seoul river bus service. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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This article covers the benefits of a Wise account, including how you can send money internationally, spend in Korea by card, and how to receive payments from abroad. There’s also information about who can get a Wise account, what currencies you can use, and how to spend and send money.

I’ll also share the best ways to send money from abroad to Korea (including the US and UK) and how to send money out from Korea to other countries, too. These include Korea-based banks and banking apps that you can use as an expat in Korea to send and receive money with lower fees than banks charge.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is Wise And How To Use It In Korea

In the words of Wise, their service is “an international money transfer service designed to make cross-border transactions more affordable, transparent, and efficient.” Wise utilises peer-to-peer technology to offer the mid-market rate for international transfers and currency exchanges, which helps to reduce currency conversion costs for you. Revolut offers a similar service.

Basically, you can send, receive, and spend money internationally at rates that are better than what you’d find at airport money exchanges and offered by banks for international transfers. You can use the app or website to send and receive money internationally and also get a physical or digital card to spend in shops, restaurants, hotels, attractions, and elsewhere.

Here are some of the benefits I’ve discovered of having a Wise account and getting a Wise card:

How To Use Wise In Korea

If you want to get a Wise account to spend money in Korea or make international transfers, you’ll need to make sure you sign up for a Wise account before you travel to Korea. Unfortunately, you can’t create a Wise account from inside Korea. You’ll need to confirm your identity by phone when you create an account, therefore, do it in your home country before going to Korea.

Once you have a Wise account though, you’ll discover a world of international banking that is much easier than using local banks in each country and, in my experience, much cheaper, too. If you travel internationally a lot, or visit other countries on holiday from time to time, you’re sure to find that a Wise account can make spending your money more convenient and less risky.

There are several ways you can use Wise in Korea as an expat or traveller. I use Wise to do all of these things and more, as I’ll show you in the following sections.

Learn more: For full details about how to use Wise and the many benefits of using a Wise card to pay for things in Korea, check out my article all about how to use Wise in Korea. For details about how to plan your travel money and what methods of payment are accepted in Korea, check out my article about ways to pay in Korea and you’ll discover the best travel money mix for you.

If you’re interested in getting a Wise account, you can use these links below to find your local Wise site:

How To Use Wise To Send Money To Korea

This section will show you how to use Wise to send money to Korea in two different situations, based on who is sending the money and who is receiving the money. The first situation deals with how to transfer money to Korea from your own account using Wise, while the second details how someone else can send money to Korea from other countries into your Wise account.

1 – How To Transfer Your Own Money Using Wise

This situation is for expats living in Korea or people travelling to Korea. It assumes you already have a Wise account that you created before going to Korea to live or travel. You need to open a currency account in Wise for whatever currency you want to transfer into Korean won – this is really easy and you just have to select the currency in the app and choose ‘open’. It takes ten seconds.

Step 1 – Add money to your Wise account in your own currency: I have a UK bank account, so I add money from my UK bank account to Wise. You can add funds by credit card, debit card, bank transfer, or Swift transfer. To add money, select the currency you want to add in the app and click on the big green button that says ‘Add‘ and follow the instructions. The money usually transfers instantly.

Step 2 – Convert your currency into Korean won: You can convert money into Korean won in the Wise app in two ways. Firstly, click on the button that says ‘Convert‘ in the currency you just added (GBP in this case) and choose to convert to Korean won. Secondly, go to your Korean won account in the app and select ‘Add‘. There’s a small fee to convert money, as shown in the image above.

Step 3 – Spend the money in Korea using your Wise card or withdraw cash from an ATM: Once you’ve converted your money into Korean won, you can use your Wise card to spend in Korea at most shops, restaurants, hotels, etc., or withdraw cash from a ‘Global ATM’. I recommend using the card as there’s no fee to pay by card but the Korean ATMs will charge a fee to withdraw cash.

2 – How To Send Money To Wise For Someone Else

This situation is for people outside of Korea who want to send money to people in Korea who have a Wise account. You (the person sending the money) don’t need to have a Wise account yourself, but the person receiving the money should have a Wise account. You will be sending money in your own currency and shouldn’t have to pay any fees to transfer the money.

Step 1 – Ask for the Wise account details of the person you want to send to in Korea: When you create a currency account in Wise (e.g. GBP or USD), you will receive a bank account number, along with details including your Sort Code, IBAN, SWIFT, or BIC numbers. You can find these account details by going to that currency in your Wise app and clicking on the account number (as shown below).

Step 2 – Send money to the Wise account from your own account: For this example, I will assume that my mum wants to send me £100. I provide her with my Wise account details for my GBP currency account that is shown in the Wise app. She can make a bank transfer from her bank to Wise in the same way she’d transfer money to anyone else in the UK. I receive the money in my Wise account.

Step 3 – Convert the money you received into Korean won: After my mum has kindly sent me £100 to my Wise GBP currency account, I can now convert that money into Korean won and use my Wise card to spend it in Korea to buy myself a new pair of shoes or a fancy meal out. Thanks, Mum! The transfer didn’t cost my mum anything and I now get to spend the money in Korea as I like.

Can You Transfer Directly To Korean Won With Wise?

Unfortunately, as Wise doesn’t allow people in Korea to sign up for a Wise account (I suspect this is due to strict Korean banking regulations), you won’t be assigned a Korean bank account when you create a Korean won currency account. That means you can’t transfer money directly from one country into Korean won and will need to choose one of the methods shown above.

Simply put, to transfer money to Korea with Wise, you need to transfer money to another currency account in Wise and then convert that into Korean won. Even though there’s no Korean won bank account, you can still spend money in Korea with your Wise card without any extra fees or hidden conversion costs after you’ve converted money into Korean won in your Wise app.

Transfer Money From Wise To A Korean Bank Account

You can transfer money from your Wise account directly to a Korean bank account in the Wise app. Select the Korean won currency account in the app and click on ‘Send‘. Enter the details of the recipient (bank account, name, etc.) and select the amount of Korean won you want to send. Alternatively, you can share a payment link and send that. There’s a fee of ₩1,450 to make a bank transfer.

Currencies That Offer Bank Accounts With Wise

Although it’s not possible to get a Korean bank account with Wise, you can open bank accounts in the following currencies and make transfers or receive deposits in those currencies:

AUD / CAD / EUR / GBP / HUE / MYR / NZD / PLN / RON / SGD / TRY / USD

You can also add money to your Wise account in the following currencies:

AUD / BGN / BRL / CAD / CNY / CHF / CZK / DKK / EUR / GBP / HUF / IDR / JPY / MYR / NOK / NZD / PLN / RON / SEK / SGD / TRY / USD

Please note: There are some exceptions and conditions for certain currencies based on the country you’re in. Check the Wise website for more details about money transfers in your desired currency.

Why I Use Wise For International Banking

As an expat who works online, I receive and spend money in various currencies (USD / GBP / AUD / EUR / KRW) and use my Wise account to manage and convert them as I need. I can receive money into my USD account on Wise and use the app to convert that into Korean won to spend in Korea, as detailed previously. Wise allows me to manage my international banking needs in one app.

Not only do I use Wise to spend my USD / GBP money in Korea in Korean won, I also use my Wise card when I travel internationally. I recently travelled to Thailand and used my Wise card as my main payment method when cards were accepted. I converted USD and other currency balances to THB in $200 batches and then spent with card or withdrew cash from Thai ATMs as needed.

Another reason I use Wise for international banking as an expat in Korea is that it allows my family to send money to my Wise account (or UK bank account which I then transfer to Wise) that I can spend in Korea. The alternative to using Wise for this would be to receive money into my UK bank account and then withdraw cash in Korea or pay by card – both are expensive options due to bank charges.

Sometimes I need to receive money in currencies that aren’t KRW or GBP and, thanks to Wise, I can do that without having to do a complicated or expensive international transfer between another country and the UK. It’s free to add extra currency accounts in Wise and you don’t need to go through the long, complicated process of setting up a foreign bank account. It’s so simple and quick.

How I Send Money From Korea To My Wise Card

As mentioned, Wise doesn’t allow you to create a Korean bank account, so you can’t send money directly from a Korean bank account to Wise. Fortunately, there are other ways to send money from Korea to other countries. My favourite way is with SentBe, a Korean FinTech company providing international money transfers for a low fee (₩2,500). You need a Korean phone number to use SentBe.

To transfer money from your Korean bank to your Wise account using SentBe, you will need to enter your international (Global) account numbers provided in the Wise currency account of your choice. For example, I would enter my Wise GBP currency account details into SentBe and send money from my Korean bank account to my Wise account. The money is converted into GBP, not KRW.

Alternatively, you can send money from Korea with SentBe directly to your home bank account if you don’t plan to use that money with your Wise card. If you need to send large amounts of money from Korea to other countries, please note that there is a limit of 50,000 USD per year that you can send. I believe this is being increased to 100,000 USD in the future. There are daily limits, too.

There are other apps and websites that provide international transfers from Korea, such as WireBarley, Western Union, and MoneyGram. I haven’t tried any of these options, but from my own experience and feedback from other expats living in Korea, SentBe seems to be the cheapest and most used method.

Other Ways To Transfer Money To Korea

Apart from using Wise to transfer money to Korea, there are some other methods you can use.

Bank Transfer (Remittance): Send money to Korea by entering in the Korean bank details of the person you’re sending money to in Korea. This is how I used to transfer money, but the fees for doing this can be high and the exchange rates can be bad.

International Remittance Provider: You can use companies like Western Union, Currency Fair, or Remitly to send money to a Korean bank account or (in some situations) to be collected in cash at an approved location. Be careful with this method as some frauds are conducted through international remittance providers. Only send money to accounts you trust.

Based on my experience as an expat for more than 13 years in Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Australia, I can say that using Wise in combination with my home bank account, Korean bank account, and SentBe has been the best option for sending money to Korea and transferring money out of Korea.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about how to use Wise to send money to Korea. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article. If you have any more questions about this topic, please feel free to post a comment at the end of this article.

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More than sightseeing, an authentic Korean temple stay lets you embrace monastic living, gaining profound yet accessible insights into the Buddhist philosophy permeating this ancient culture. Abandon modern anxieties as you awake to drummed morning prayers, meditate amid stunning nature, craft lotus lanterns by hand, and savour the monk’s contemplative cuisine.

In this article, you’ll discover the best places to do a temple stay in Seoul or in other parts of Korea, as well as my recommendations for the best temples to try a Korean templestay experience in. I’ll introduce you to the most common cultural activities that you might encounter at a temple stay and offer insights into what a temple stay is like by sharing my own experience of a temple stay.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why You Should Do A Temple Stay In Korea

More than mere accommodation, an authentic Korean temple stay offers visitors the rare opportunity to briefly yet meaningfully embrace the lifestyle of the Buddhist monks living in accordance with ancient traditions amidst the nation’s rapid modernisation. It’s a serene change of pace from bustling city streets, a chance to reset both body and mind through simple mindfulness practices.

On an overnight temple stay experience, you get to stay in a traditional hanok room inside the temple’s main grounds and join in ceremonies and practices not normally seen by outsiders. Awaken before dawn to attend morning prayer ceremony, join in meditation sessions surrounded by stunning natural beauty, craft lotus lanterns, and sample the monks’ flavourful vegetarian fare.

While creature comforts are few, the rewards prove plentiful – visitors often depart with refreshed perspective, having gained insight into the spiritual fulfilment framing many Korean lives. So take a pause from sightseeing to unwind the Korean Buddhist way – through cultural and personal enrichment centred on serenity, compassion and contemplation direct from a temple stay.

Some of the main reasons I think you’ll love doing a temple stay in Korea are that you can…

But most of all, it’s a truly unique Korean experience that you can only have in Korea, usually in a stunning setting like a national park or area of natural beauty. While a temple stay experience in Korea might not be for everyone, if you’re open to trying new things, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

What Is The Korean Temple Stay Program?

The temple stay program was set up by the Culture Corps of Korean Buddhism with the aim to promote Korean Buddhism to the world. This scheme lets you experience a temple stay in one of Korea’s beautiful Buddhist temples in Seoul and across the country. It’s a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else. In the words of the Korean temple stay program:

“A temple stay is a unique cultural program which lets you experience the life of Buddhist practitioners at traditional temples which preserve the 1700 year old history of Korean Buddhism.”.

– Korean Templestay Program

I’ve joined a temple stay in Korea several times now and for me the best part is the chance to learn more about Buddhist philosophy. I’ve written more about my experience doing a temple stay later in this article. Even if you have no interest in Buddhism, you shouldn’t miss the chance to check out the historic temple buildings, witness centuries of Korean culture, and consider a new perspective on life.

Different Temple Stay Experiences In Korea

There are 3 types of temple stay experiences that are available to try in Korea, ranging from a 1-day program where you can engage in various cultural activities with the monks to longer overnight stays with a range of unique and interesting programs. These overnight programs are where I think you’ll find the most value from your temple stay as you get to see the inner workings of the temple.

1-Day Temple Stays

The one-day temple stay option is best for those with a limited time in Korea. Lasting a few hours, you can experience a temple tour, learn about mediation, or join in a traditional tea ceremony. Perfect for those on a tight schedule or who want a quick introduction to Korean Buddhism.

Experience-Oriented Temple Stays

This is definitely the best option for a temple stay in Korea, this option allows you to stay overnight at the temple and join in activities not open to regular visitors. Be part of Korean Buddhist ceremonies, join morning chanting with the monks, try the 108 prostrations, eat Buddhist meals, and practice Buddhist meditation. Other activities can include lotus lantern walks and prayer bead making.

Rest-Oriented Temple Stay

For those who want the tranquility and peace that comes from a temple stay in Korea, this is for you! The temple offers you a place to escape the busy modern world and learn to recharge through meditation and Buddhist ceremonies. In addition, you can reduce your stress, recharge, and unwind.

Where To Do A Temple Stay In Seoul

From serene mountain monasteries to urban temples tucked amid the bustling city streets, Seoul offers numerous easily accessible yet wholly immersive temple stays for foreigners. Experience an afternoon learning about Korean Buddhism at a heritage temple like Jogyesa or Bongeunsa, or escape the crowds completely for an overnight mountain retreat at Hwagyesa’s peaceful forest grounds.

There are many Buddhist temples scattered across Korea’s capital, with seven locations offering temple experience services in English, as you can see in the picture below. Jogyesa and Bongeunsa are the most touristy temples in Seoul, so if you want an experience that’s away from the main crowds, try one of the other temples such as Hwagyesa or Geumsunsa.

You can search for temple stays in Seoul on the Templestay website and filtering by temples in Seoul. Here’s a list of the temple stays in Seoul and what they currently offer:

• Bongeunsa Temple – one-day temple stay experiences
• Myogaksa Temple – one-day temple stay experiences
• Hwagyesa Temple – overnight temple stay experiences
• Geumsunsa Temple – one-day & overnight temple stay experiences
• Jogyesa Temple – no current temple stay programs
• Jinkwansa Temple – no current temple stay programs
• International Seon Center – no current temple stay programs

Please note: The temple stay schedule is usually set for the upcoming year or just the next season. If there are no temple stays when you check, they might be available later on. The programs available above are based on what was listed at the most recent time I checked.

Where To Try Korean Temple Food In Seoul

More than just sustenance, Korean temple cuisine thoughtfully encapsulates the contemplative Buddhist philosophy of compassion and interdependence. Each dish spotlights organically grown soybean products, wild mountain greens, vegetables and medicinal herbs, providing flavourful plant-based nourishment for both body and soul through simplicity, balance and care.

If you want to try Korean temple food in Seoul, then you can join a temple stay in Seoul, visit the Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Centre near Anguk Station, or visit the Balwoo Gongyang temple food restaurant on the 5th floor of the Templestay Information Centre near Jogyesa Temple. The Korean Temple Food Culture Experience Centre let’s you make your own temple food dishes.

Dining at a temple is a moving experience, allowing guests to approach their plates with newfound mindfulness and insight into the Korean maxim – “We eat to live.” So be sure to sample this meaningful cuisine during an overnight temple stay, allowing Korean Buddhist philosophy to touch your lips and permeate your perspective. The serenely healthy dishes will provide food for thought.

Where To Do A Temple Stay In Korea

There are many different temples across Korea that you can stay in. They are usually located in national parks or similar beautiful surroundings. You can find temples in every major region of Korea, including on Jeju Island. Venturing beyond the capital into Korea’s serene rural pockets unveils ancient monasteries and hermitages perfect for deeply immersive temple stays.

Each of these Korean temple stays offers something special; whether it’s unique Korean culture like Tripitaka Koreana or the Korean Buddhist martial art, Sunmudo; awe-inspiring views of mountains, coastlines, and waterfalls; or simply a new outlook on life through the meditative programmes on offer. Whichever one of these temple stay experiences you choose, you’ll discover something amazing.

Here are 7 of the best places to do a temple stay in Korea outside of the capital. These temples are currently all offering temple stay experiences, but availability changes each season.

1: Lotus Lantern International Meditation Centre (Incheon): The Lotus Lantern Centre welcomes overseas visitors to experience a blend of modern relaxation and ancient Buddhist traditions in Incheon, near Seoul. The temple stays include a free-style program where you can choose what to do, as well as regular overnight temple stays with chanting ceremony, temple cuisine, and accommodation.

2: Bulguksa Temple (Gyeongju): This is arguably one of the most impressive places to do a temple stay in Korea as this historic temple has UNESCO World Heritage status. Bulguksa Temple offers overnight stays which include morning meditation as the sun rises over the grand courtyard, joining the monks in daily rituals, and a chance to explore the ornate 15th century Buddhist sanctuaries.

3: Haeinsa Temple (Gayasan National Park): Remote yet easily accessible Haeinsa Temple, nestled within Hapcheon County’s verdant mountain valleys, unveils Korea’s Tripitaka Koreana wooden block anthology alongside meditation sessions, monastic cuisine, lotus lantern making, and sunrise ceremonial drumming through their memorable one-night temple stay.

4: Golgulsa Temple (Near Gyeongju): Golgulsa Temple has a large selection of temple stay experiences and provides the unique opportunity to witness and try ‘Sunmudo‘ – a Korean Buddhist martial art. There’s also the chance to try meditation on the beach, archery, horseback riding, and many of the other interesting activities that you’d expect during a temple stay in Korea.

5: Beopjusa Temple (Songnisan National Park): Home to Korea’s tallest wooden pagoda and a mammoth bronze bell, majestic Beopjusa Temple treats overnight visitors to personally crafted experiences like lotus lantern making, chanting ceremonies, temple cuisine, and taekwondo alongside scenic mountain trekking through Songnisan National Park’s lush foliage.

6: Naksansa Temple (Near Sokcho): Naksansa Temple treats overnight visitors to personally tailored stays combined morning prayer ceremonies amid stunning East Sea sunrises, a guided trek to a cliffside hermitage overlooking the sea, meditation, and deliciously simple monastic vegetarian fare. This is a great temple to stay in if you’re planning to visit Korea’s east coast.

7: Hwaeomsa Temple (Jirisan National Park): Nestled within Jirisan National Park’s trees, ancient Hwaeomsa Temple invites visitors into the daily life of their monks through immersive overnight stays – rising with the sun for morning prayer chanting, joining meditation sessions and Buddhist lectures, crafting lotus lanterns, dining on traditional temple cuisine, and resting amid mountain-framed serenity.

These next 3 temples currently don’t have any temple stay experiences available, but I’ve included them because they’re really beautiful temples that are definitely worth visiting just to explore. They might have temple stay programs again later in the future.

Yakchunsa Temple (Jeju Island): This is a very unique temple in Korea that looks like it would be more at home in South East Asia than in Korea. The entrance to the temple is lined with palm trees and it looks out over the rugged coast and sea. There are tangerines growing in the temple grounds and many unique and interesting sights to see. One of my favourite temples I’ve visited in Korea.

Magoksa Temple (South Chungcheon Province): Enveloped within the lush peaks of Mount Taehwasan, Magoksa Temple invites visitors to immerse in temple life through their overnight stay – greeting the mountain sunrise with Buddhist chanting, meditating stream-side in the pine-scented forest, crafting paper lanterns, dining on homemade temple cuisine, and retiring to their tranquil, natural haven.

Woljeongsa Temple (Odaesan National Park): With grounds enveloped by Odaeasan’s panoramic national park, historic Woljeongsa Temple treats visitors to personally tailored temple stays. It combines morning prayer ceremonies, meditation under waterfalls, monastic vegetarian meals made with organically grown ingredients, and Korean culture classes like lotus lantern crafting.

The Temple Stay Experience: What To Expect

Now that you know where you can do a temple stay in Seoul or Korea, let’s see what will happen during your temple stay experience. There are many different activities you can take part in during a temple stay in Korea. Most temples will offer these wonderful experiences. In addition, some temples offer more, including walks, treks, traditional crafts, and even music performances.

Guided Temple Tour: Ever explored a Buddhist temple and wondered what all the interesting statues, patterns, and symbols meant? Now you can find out with an English guided tour around the temple. The temple staff will kindly explain the history, culture, and meaning behind all you see at the temple. Great for increasing your knowledge about Korean Buddhism.

108 Prostrations: A mainstay of Korean temple stays is performing the bowing ritual ‘108 prostrations’, involving fully lowering one’s body to the floor 108 times as a symbolic shedding of greed and ego. While challenging physically, finishing evokes a profound sense of humility and purification amongst temple stay participants. This may involve threading 108 prayer beads at the same time.

Yebool (Buddhist Chanting): Yebool is the opening chant to start the day and offers the chance for self-reflection and purification for the day ahead. During a temple stay in Korea you’ll be able to join the monks inside the temple, somewhere most tourists will only see from the outside. Yebool chanting starts before sunrise, so make sure you get an early night the night before.

Da-Seon (Tea Ceremony): The Korean Buddhist tea ceremony is a form of meditation in itself. Firstly, practice mental discipline and concentration through the processes involved in creating the perfect cup of tea. Secondly, harness all your senses whilst you prepare and drink the tea in quiet contemplation. During the tea ceremony you have the chance to ask a monk questions.

Balwoogongyang (Monastic Meal): Balwoogongyang is the traditional method of eating a meal at Buddhist temples. Containing a mixture of rice, vegetables, and side dishes, certainly this healthy vegan-friendly meal will help you appreciate the simplicity and honesty of food. Eat together in silence, waste nothing, and give thanks for all of the hard work involved in your humble meal.

Walking Meditation (Pohaeng): A core element of Korean Buddhist practice is ‘pohaeng’ walking meditation – slowly circumnavigating temple grounds in silent contemplation, focusing on the sensation of each step to calm the mind. Most temple stays offer this meditative activity, allowing you to mindfully traverse flower-lined courtyards and soak up the tranquil beauty in these sacred refuges.

Cham-Seon (Seon Meditation): Seon meditation focuses on clearing your mind of thoughts, allowing you to learn mindfulness and concentration. This is one of the main practices of Korean Buddhists. By practising Seon meditation you will be able to learn your true nature and discover inner peace. If you just want to focus on meditation, I recommend visiting the The International Seon Center in Seoul.

Korean Traditional Culture Experience: This includes a range of cultural experiences offered by each individual temple. For example, you might make lotus flower lanterns or wood block prints, prepare temple food, or even see musical performances. Each temple stay offers their own unique cultural experiences, which you can see on their Templestay website page.

What To Bring To A Temple Stay

As most temple stays involve basic accommodation and an early morning start, be sure to come prepared with an open mind plus:

As temple stays allow only small bags within sleeping quarters, best leave luggage locked at temples and pack light necessities in a daypack instead. With humble lodging and vegetarian monk’s fare the norm, indulge in life’s luxuries beforehand or after. This program’s rewards lie not in lavish comforts but in the rare chance to personally immerse in the temple culture still thriving in modern Korea.

Do You Need To Know Korean To Do A Temple Stay?

You shouldn’t need to speak any Korean to join a temple stay experience as the program is designed to welcome foreigners and therefore there are guides who can speak English, as well as translate anything the monks might say. During the temple stay experiences I have been on, there are often people from around the world, with a variety of different backgrounds and native languages.

How To Book A Temple Stay In Korea

There are two main ways you can book a temple stay in Korea and both are really easy to do in English. You won’t need to know any Korean to book these, don’t worry.

Book online: Firstly, you can book a temple from the Templestay website. This website is helpful and shows you where you can do various temple stay experiences across Korea. It’s all in English and provides lots of essential information. You can book a temple stay before you arrive in Korea, which is recommended to help you plan your schedule and guarantee your place.

Book in Seoul: You can also book a temple stay by visiting the Templestay Information Centre in Insadong, Seoul. This is close to Jogyesa Temple, which is an excellent Buddhist temple that’s certainly worth visiting while you’re in Seoul, even if you don’t end up doing a temple stay. The information centre staff should be able to speak English and can answer your questions about the experience.

How Much Is A Korean Temple Stay?

I checked the prices of various Korean temple stay programs in Seoul and across Korea and the prices in 2024 range from ₩30,000 – ₩50,000 for a one-day program and from ₩60,000 to ₩100,000 for an overnight stay at a temple. The cost of a temple stay is different for each temple, depending on what they offer, the length of the stay, and other factors like that.

Considering that hotel rooms in Korea can be around ₩60,000 to ₩100,000 for a night, you’re essentially getting a night in a hanok house with lots of extra free cultural experiences, as well as a healthy dinner and breakfast. It’s certainly great value for money. If you’re just visiting the temple and not doing a temple stay, it’s free to visit, but donations to the temple are of course appreciated.

Etiquette Rules For Korean Temple Stays

It’s good to be respectful and follow the rules of any place you visit. Taking part in a temple stay in Korea is no exception, and the temples will ask you to follow a few basic rules. If you’re worried about being rude in Korea, then be sure to read my guide to Korean etiquette.

Dress code: Try to dress conservatively during your temple stay. Dark colours and long sleeves are best. Try to avoid bright and over the top clothing, heavy makeup, or strong perfume. If in doubt, cover up and keep it simple. Furthermore, you should keep your feet covered in the temple. Bring socks as you’ll need to take your shoes off inside, which is normal in Korea.

What not to do: Remember, this is a sacred place for the monks and nuns, therefore, try to avoid loud noises, smoking, or drinking alcohol in the temple grounds. There are many sacred religious objects and locations in the temple grounds, certainly avoid damaging or disrespecting them. In addition, sitting or writing on any sculptures is strongly prohibited.

In the Buddha’s Hall: When entering the Buddha’s Hall (the main temple), make sure to enter using the doors on the left and right. This is because the main door is reserved for the monks and nuns. If you enter the hall, first, do a half-bow with palms together toward the Buddha and then greet the statue with three prostrations. Temple staff will teach you how to do this.

Using your phone: In my experience, it’s been perfectly fine to bring a mobile phone with you when you take part in the temple activities, but please make sure it’s turned to silent mode so it doesn’t interrupt the monks or others. Also, try to avoid taking pictures when asked not to (in the Buddha’s Hall) and go away from others to talk on the phone. Otherwise, you’re fine to take pics of your stay.

Do You Have To Be Religious?

You don’t have to be religious to take part in a Korean temple stay experience. People of any faith can participate in a temple stay and you can certainly learn a lot and broaden your mind by joining in this program. Furthermore, the Buddhist monks and staff understand people have different views on the world and, in my personal experience, welcome discussion and alternative views.

Do You Have To Follow The Schedule?

You are free to choose whether or not you want to join the various temple stay programs. If you feel uncomfortable joining in any part, or you don’t think you can wake up before the sun rises, you can choose to miss that activity. The monks and staff at the temple stay were accommodating in my temple stay experiences. You won’t feel uncomfortable during this wonderful experience.

However, I would recommend trying to take part in everything if you can. When are you likely to be able to experience something like a temple stay again? Take note that meals are served during certain hours and won’t be available outside of those hours.

My Korean Temple Stay Experience

I’ve done a temple stay in Korea several times and absolutely loved every one. I’ve always gone for the weekend experience as there’s something special about staying overnight in the temple and getting up in the early hours to join in the morning worshipping and chanting ceremonies.

My most recent temple stay experience was at Beopjusa Temple in the beautiful Songnisan National Park in central Korea, a place I often visit for hiking. I arrived in the early afternoon and went through a VR welcome tour of the temple. Yes, even Buddhist temples have embraced new technologies in Korea! It was fun being able to see the temple from above through drone footage.

After an introduction to the program by the English guide, I got changed into the required clothing – a very simple outfit of loose trousers and top that you can wear over your normal clothes. It was still cold at that time of year, so I was happy for extra layers. There was a welcome ceremony that explained what we could expect, the rules we had to follow, and a chance to ask some questions.

I was with about 20 other people from Korea and around the world who all joined this temple stay program. We were given a guided tour of the temple grounds and told more about the traditions and meanings behind the various paintings, statues, and buildings. It was really interesting to learn about the rich history of this temple and how Buddhism has evolved in Korea.

In the evening, we ate dinner with the monks (yummy vegan home-cooked food), took a night time walk with lanterns through the temple after dark, then got an early night. The accommodation at the temple was basic, but that’s part of life in a Korean Buddhist temple. It’s also comfortable and I had no complaints. I went to sleep straight away because there was an early start the next day.

Our schedule started at 4 a.m. with a music performance by the monks. You rarely get to see this ceremony, so it was a real treat. After that was another exclusive – the morning yebool, or chanting ceremony. I didn’t understand what was being said, but I could still join in, practice bowing, learn about the importance of the ceremony and see the dedication and spirituality in the monks.

Breakfast was served around 6 a.m. and then it was time for an early morning sunrise hike to a nearby peak (only 30 minutes away) to watch the sun rise. It was a beautiful scene, watching the sun crawl over the horizon and light up the mountain peaks and forests in the national park. Fortunately, we were allowed a short nap after this before the next main activity, which was one of the toughest!

A popular activity during a temple stay in Korea is the 108 prostrations. This is also one of the hardest! There are 108 ideals that Korean Buddhists are thankful for. In order to show their appreciation, they will bow 108 times. Participants at this temple stay experience got to do this whilst also threading 108 beads to make a prayer bead bracelet. This is really hard, but I guess it’s a good test of devotion.

It was tough, yes, but also worth it. I’d recommend giving it a try. If you’re not comfortable doing it, you can grab a mat and watch from the side instead. By this time we were all hungry and went for lunch with the monks again. More delicious vegan food and my body was feeling really good by this point with all the food, sleep, and lack of technological distractions.

The final activity of the program was also one of the best – a tea ceremony and question and answer session with one of the monks. I found this was the most interesting part of the temple stay and I learned a lot from the monk. I feel sorry in a way as I asked a lot of difficult questions, but he answered them honestly and, sometimes, with shocking answers. It turns out monks can have iPhones!

Overall, I had a fascinating, relaxing, insightful time during my temple stay experience and I would highly recommend it to others. There are different temple stay experiences across the country and I want to try visiting other temples to see what they have to offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about doing a temple stay in Korea. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have an extensive list of free Seoul attractions and activities to fill your schedule from morning to night. Whether you want to explore Seoul’s history and culture, sights, nature, or entertainment options, there are plenty of free places in Seoul for you to discover, such as the Bukchon Hanok Village, Namsangol Park, and Jogyesa Temple.

In this article, you’ll discover thirty of the very best free things to do in Seoul that I want to share from my experience exploring Seoul without spending any money. There are also many of my personal tips about ways to save money in Seoul, where to get cheap food and souvenirs, and how to get more for less. To make life easier, there’s also a handy interactive map of Seoul with all these free places.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

The Best Way To See Free Things In Seoul

Seoul is a city blessed with many free sights and activities for travellers and locals to enjoy. Whether you’re in central Seoul or staying on the outskirts of the city, you’ll be able to find parks, gardens, mountains, historic temples, palaces, and lots more to explore, all for free. However, the most convenient way to see all of these is free sights is with a tour. Of course, a free tour is the best kind!

There are two main ways to get free tours of Seoul’s sights, both are open to travellers to Korea:

1: Free Transit Tours From Incheon Airport

If you have a layover of less than 24 hours in Seoul, you should definitely take advantage of the free transit tours offered from Incheon Airport to better acquaint yourself with the capital upon landing. These complimentary shuttles takes travellers into Seoul for guided tours of top sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace or insider neighbourhood walking tours full of history and culture appreciation.

With experienced multilingual volunteers leading the way across language or mobility barriers, these 3 to 4 hour excursions introduce the best free things to do in Seoul in a quick and easy tour. Sadly, these free tours are only available to transit passengers, so if you’re staying in Seoul for longer, then you should check out the second free tour type – walking tours of Seoul.

2: Free Walking Tours of Seoul

No trip to Seoul is complete without understanding the storied history and dynamic culture found on every street corner. Bring the city alive through your eyes and ears by joining a free Seoul walking tour. Knowledgeable volunteer guides versed in Korea’s complex past weave intriguing narratives while leading you to top attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, and more.

With tantalising insights of Seoul from locals, the free walking tours of Seoul allow visitors an insiders’ perspective of Seoul through thoughtful talks and unforgettable experiences without any fees.

Please note: While these tours are free, you may be required to pay entry fees to some attractions.

Free Sightseeing Activities In Seoul

With palaces that transport you back in time, parks emanating tranquility, and lively cultural districts fuelling the future, Seoul overflows with exceptional sights to take in absolutely free of charge. This first section covers some of the best free things to do in Seoul that should be on any visitors’ bucket list. From historic hanok villages and fortress walls to modern design, there’s plenty to see in Seoul for free.

1: Bukchon Hanok Village

Nestled between two royal palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village allows visitors a glimpse into historic Korea. This beautifully preserved neighbourhood contains over 900 Korean hanok houses that date back 600 years. As you explore the winding alleys, you’ll feel transported back in time to the Joseon Dynasty while witnessing Korean cultural heritage continuing into modern everyday life.

Visitors can pick up a free walking map and tour the narrow cobblestone streets lined with tiled-roof houses, peaceful temples, tiny museums, craft workshops, galleries, and cafés at their leisure without tickets or tours. With its old-world charm and residents wearing traditional dress, Bukchon Hanok Village offers a free, living history lesson you can’t find anywhere else in Seoul.

2: Seoul’s Royal Palaces

Slip into the silhouette of Korea’s past by wearing Korean hanbok, the flowing traditional attire, for free entry into Seoul’s most storied sites – the sprawling royal palaces. Built during the imposing Joseon Dynasty, elaborate complexes like Changdeokgung, Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, and Deoksugung transport you centuries back in time once adorned in vividly-hued hanbok.

Stroll through ornate gates guarded by stoic royal guards and traverse serene lotus garden ponds and ornate pavilions, which look beautiful in any season. These royal palaces are great places to photograph yourself alongside colourfully costumed palace actors and feel like Korean nobility yourself.

Please note: Free entry to Seoul’s palaces is only available when wearing hanbok, as well as special dates such as Seollal, Chuseok, and the last Wednesday of each month, which is Culture Day.

3: Cheonggyecheon Stream

After strolling the bustling streets of downtown Seoul, find your inner peace again while wandering the Cheonggyecheon Stream. This oasis of gurgling water winds through the concrete jungle, with paved embankments, public art installations, and stone block bridges crossing its path. It’s one of the best ways to explore downtown Seoul without crossing roads and dodging cars.

Locals and travellers alike come to this urban waterway to rest their feet, have a picnic, and soak in Korean history from the informative plaques along the way. As a free refuge from the city’s chaos, Cheonggyecheon Stream lets you relax and recharge without spending a cent. If you visit during Christmas, you’ll be treated to lantern displays, while night markets are held here in summer.

4: Insadong Art Street

For creative spirits and art aficionados, a must-do free activity in Seoul is wandering Insadong Art Street. This quaint area explodes with inspiration down every alley from galleries showcasing traditional paintings and calligraphy to indie craft shops brimming with pottery and handmade knickknacks. Street culture dazzles with impromptu dances, music, chalk art, and graffiti murals colouring the walls.

Let Insadong ignite your imagination with its eye-popping art that spills onto the streets and inspires at every turn – all free for visitors to glimpse. My favourite spot in this area is the Ssamzigil art mall, which has loads of creative shops and the strangely delicious Poop Cafe on the top floor.

5: Gwanghwamun Square

At the heart of Seoul lies Gwanghwamun Square, a public space with free access offering glimpses into Korea’s dynastic history through art and artefacts. Visitors can explore the plaza’s statues of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and King Sejong the Great while learning about their leadership legacies. Wander through the on-site exhibit displaying parts of a former royal palace.

With cultural shows, temporary art installations, and city views surrounding this downtown square, Gwanghwamun provides free entertainment and education for travellers of all ages to better understand Seoul’s storied past. In winter, this area is home to the Seoul Winter Festa, a dazzling display of lanterns and light installations, while in other seasons you can find free markets to explore.

6: Banpo Rainbow Fountain Bridge

As the sun sets over Seoul, head to the Banpo Rainbow Fountain Bridge to witness its nightly rainbow fountain show lighting up the river, absolutely free. This 10-minute spectacle projects arcing jets of water in sync with a captivating LED light display. The colourful, dancing fountain against the city skyline creates an almost magical illusion not to miss.

From late April through mid-October, the dazzling rainbow fountain performances occur multiple times per night. With different themed multimedia shows featuring music, images, and lasers, visitors never see the same program twice. An iconic Seoul attraction, the Banpo Rainbow Fountain Bridge is a free, family-friendly evening activity perfect for making vacation memories along the Han River.

7: Deoksugung Stone Wall Road

Explore the exterior of one of Seoul’s four grand royal palaces, Deoksugung, on an intimate scale by taking a peaceful walk along the complex’s Stone Wall Road. As a lesser-known alternative to the main gate entrances, this tree-lined pathway hugs the palace perimeter wall giving unique angles gazing into traditional buildings more closely.

Built during King Seonjo’s era when Deoksugung became a primary royal residence in the late 1500s, these historic stone barriers now offer poetic scenery for peaceful palace strolls utterly free of charge, unveiling new beauty found only with adventures off the beaten track when discovering Seoul. It’s a popular location in K-drama’s and you might recognise it if you’re a fan of Korean shows.

8: Myeongdong Cathedral

Rising distinctly above the gleaming high-rises and congested alleyways of Myeongdong’s busy shopping district, the late 19th century Myeongdong Cathedral stands as an elegant heritage landmark open freely to visitors. Marvel at its vaulted Gothic spires, intricate stained glass, and historic pipe organ inside this Anglican church serving Seoul’s community since 1898.

Attend English language masses or benefit concerts within this cultural icon. For a brief reprieve from the consumer chaos of Myeongdong outside, find sublime solace appreciating this architectural beauty as one of the city’s most photographed sites and Korea’s oldest Anglican place of worship, with no admission tickets required. Please be careful not to disturb ceremonies when you enter.

9: Seoul’s Fortress Walls

One of my personal favourite free things to do in Seoul is walking along the many miles of ancient fortress walls that still exist in many parts of the city’s centre and surrounding mountains. The freely accessible fortress walls and towering gatehouses, which date back through the centuries and once protected Korea’s capital from foreign invaders, stretch over 18 kilometres around the city.

Much of these monumental battlements still stand today with scenic hiking trails following their path. Wander past ancient mountain gates, watchtowers, beacon mounds, and signposts guiding wayward travellers. For unparalleled views into the fortress and the city it shields, the Seoul City Wall Museum also provides a free observatory deck overlooking iconic sites like Gyeongbokgung Palace.

10: Dongdaemun Design Plaza

Rising in dramatic curves from Seoul’s central district, the contemporary Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) serves as an iconic exhibition centre and architectural work of art with 24/7 free access to its outdoor spaces, including the plaza’s lawns, rooftop park, and lotus pond. Designed by Zaha Hadid, DDP’s flowing metallic facades encapsulate a creative complex of galleries and event halls.

From experimental art displays wrapped around the structure to dynamic light shows like Seoul Light illuminating DDP in technicolour, this urban design destination dazzles the senses with visionary design open to the public day and night. Explore the free night markets held here during the summer and use some of your saved money to buy yourself some artistic souvenirs.

11: Namsan Mountain Park (N Seoul Tower)

While the observation decks of N Seoul Tower come with admission fees, exploring the surrounding Namsan Mountain Park area is completely free. Ride the cable car up to the tower and then set off walking along the many scenic trails crisscrossing the mountain. Leafy paths snake up to panorama viewpoints, traditional pavilions, and even quirky attractions like the “Locks of Love.”

After exploring all the free things to do in Seoul’s Namsan Mountain Park, work your way down nearly 100 staircases back to downtown. Under spring’s cherry blossoms or fall’s fiery foliage, a trek around Namsan Mountain lets you enjoy the sights of N Seoul Tower’s perch amid nature without opening your wallet. I recommend walking up in the afternoon to enjoy sunset views of Seoul at night.

12: Namsangol Park And Hanok Village

Escape Seoul’s bustling metropolis back in time with a stroll through Namsangol Hanok Village’s tranquil grounds. Within this historic enclave beside Namsan Mountain rest five traditional Korean houses from the Joseon era for visitors to explore the preserved architecture. Surrounding the hanoks, the sprawling Namsangol Park bursts with lovely ponds, gardens, and walking paths underneath tree canopies.

From classic concerts at its outdoor stage to glimpsing folk arts like kite-making demonstrations, you can enjoy free cultural experiences in this area. An oasis in the city, Namsangol Hanok Village and scenic Namsangol Park offers peaceful, educational escapes into old Korea completely gratis. There are some lovely teahouses here which, although not free, offer great views, teas, and tranquility.

Cultural Activities In Seoul That Are Free

Immerse yourself in Seoul’s dynamic culture with an array of superb free experiences across this cosmopolitan capital. From centuries-old traditions to trendsetting pop culture, Seoul overflows with opportunities to tap into its cultural heartbeat. These free things to do in Seoul are perfect for those who want to learn more about Korea’s rich and varied culture, both traditional and modern.

13: Cheong Wa Dae (The Blue House)

Understand Korea’s complex democracy by joining a free tour of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential palace with abundant history as both a royal and colonial site now open to the public. Walk among lotus ponds, through regal meeting halls, over stone bridges previously reserved for private walks by the president, and inside dozens of unique buildings that were previously hidden from public view.

With limited tickets available each day, this opportunity unveils the behind-the-scenes inner workings steering modern Korea from this historically significant landmark free-of-charge to those eager to learn. The Blue House opens at 9am each day and, as this is one of the most popular free places in Seoul since opening in 2023, I recommend being there just before to make sure you get a ticket.

14: K-Star Road For K-Pop Fans

Along Apgujeong’s stylish Rodeo Street lies K-Star Road, letting Hallyu fans glimpse their favourite actors, K-pop idols, and Korean celebrities along a stretch of sidewalk absolutely free. Hundreds of stars’ handprints are immortalised in stone next to bronze name plaques that comprise this unofficial walk of fame. There are also life-sized bear statues of the most popular K-culture icons.

Spy on Korea’s biggest record labels like JYP, SM, and YG in towering company buildings looming nearby as you meander past luxury designer boutiques. For spotting Korea’s rich and famous, this free attraction in Seoul offers the best chances of a celebrity sighting while learning about viral Korean entertainment sensation’s impact nationwide. Don’t expect the rest of this area to be cheap, however.

15: Jogyesa And Bongeunsa Temples

Transport back through the centuries by visiting Jogyesa and Bongeunsa, two of Seoul’s most prominent Buddhist temples open freely to visitors. Built in the 14th century, these serene complexes house preserved relics and serve as urban sanctuaries where monks perform daily rituals. Tour ornamented main halls, join in chanting ceremonies, sample vegetarian Temple cuisine or try meditation with monks.

For authentic cultural experiences, you can learn about traditional tea ceremonies, make lotus lanterns or try on traditional hanbok during workshops on certain days. These free activities in Seoul give you a wonderful insight into Korea’s Buddhist traditions. An oasis amid skyscrapers, these historic temples offer charming glimpses into Korea’s ancient past and Buddhist traditions.

16: Ihwa Mural Village & Naksan Park

Discover quaint cafés, boutique galleries, and explosively colourful street art woven along the sloping hillside neighbourhood of Ihwa Mural Village, open freely for aimless wandering without tickets. Winding pedestrian pathways full of trendy shops and cafes covered top-to-bottom in vibrant murals lead up to the equally stunning Naksan Park perched high above.

Follow the park trail to panorama viewpoints gazing across Seoul’s vast skyline or relax under blossoming fruit orchards blanketing the mountainside from spring through fall. With artistic flair painted everywhere you look, Ihwa and Nakasan beckon the curious to explore their beauty hiding just above the city streets. I recommend following the fortress walls from Naksan Park to Dongdaemun Gate.

17: Seoul’s Traditional Markets

Venture beyond Seoul’s glitzy malls to wander its traditional markets for an authentic look into Korean shopping culture, entirely free. Browse curb side food stalls serving beloved street eats like tteokbokki smothered in fiery sauce. Snake through vibrant Korean markets like Gwangjang’s towering alleys teeming with tempting snacks or Dongdaemun’s endless urban maze packed with fashion bargains.

Haggle with ajummas peddling ginseng, handmade hanji paper, and other unique souvenirs as you immerse in the colourful chaos. For unraveling Seoul’s shopping DNA through loud bartering, intoxicating sights, and tantalising smells, traditional markets promise a sensory experience. These markets offer lots of cheap things to do in Seoul, such as trying street food and buying souvenirs.

18: Royal Palace Changing Of The Guard

Witness Korean military pageantry at the changing of the guard ceremony held at two of Seoul’s royal palaces multiple times daily, the first at 10:00am and the last at 2:00pm. Both Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugung open their gates for crowds to watch guards in traditional costumes marching with military bands playing as symbolic sentinels switch shifts protecting Korea’s cultural treasures.

Hear commands echo as rows bow synchronised on cue to entertain visitors of all ages while learning about dynastic defence tactics and regal rituals. For traditional Korean fanfare infused with modern discipline that makes history come alive through sights and sounds, catching the changing of the guard ignites patriotic pride and is a great free thing to do in Seoul any time of year.

19: Oil Tank Culture Park

Once an oil depot from the 1960s, the Oil Tank Culture Park is now an elevated grassy recreation space open for Seoul residents and tourists alike to enjoy modern art installations and city views absolutely free of charge. Stroll between 15 repurposed fuel tanks decorated vibrantly by local artists then climb outdoor staircases to rooftop lookout plazas guiding eyes across Seoul’s sea of buildings.

Kids will love the Children’s Gallery building offering hands-on learning fun from robots to workshops. Atop four iconic oil tanks, this cultural playground brings together art, technology, and breathtaking vistas. There are cafes, art shops, and occasional markets here, offering plenty of cheap things to do in Seoul besides the aforementioned free activities. Soon to be accessible by the Seoul river bus service.

Seoul’s Best Free Natural Sights

Beyond dynamic cityscapes, Seoul overflows with natural splendour from windswept parks to guardian mountains shielding the capital that visitors can walk through free of charge. These green getaways will take you across the rivers and peaks enveloping central Seoul for serene escapes back into nature and sweeping metropolitan panoramas, as well as offer gentle strolls through beautiful downtown areas.

20: Bukhansan National Park

Escape Seoul’s concrete landscape for pristine wilderness less than an hour away at the stunning Bukhansan National Park. Only a metro and quick bus ride north, its granite peaks offer challenging yet accessible hikes with breathtaking rewards of towering mountain temples and panoramic views across the entire city. The hike to Baegundae Peak offers incredible views over Seoul all for free.

With diverse wildlife, autumn’s scarlet foliage, and one of Korea’s most sacred sites, this easily accessible natural wonderland promises exhilarating treks tailored for all difficulty levels. It’s absolutely free to enter Bukhansan and you can explore at your own pace. There are valley paths to wander along slowly, or various hiking routes that will take you up into the lofty peaks.

21: Seoul Forest

Escape Seoul’s concrete jungle into nature’s tranquility at Seoul Forest Park, an enormous green space featuring flowerbeds, forests trails, a cultural art park, children’s playgrounds, an insect botanical garden and more – all freely open to the public. See native wildlife like storks and herons landing in a lake dotted with blossoms, and cute critters like deer, rabbits, and sheep in the petting zoo.

Renting a bike and riding through the park and along the Han River is one of the best cheap things to do in Seoul during summer and is very popular with locals and tourists alike. If you prefer to walk, it will take a few hours to explore this large green area, more if you have children and they discover the many play areas with slides, swings, etc., that they can enjoy endlessly.

22: Seokchon Lake (Near Lotte World Tower)

Nestled at the foot of Jamsil’s Lotte World Tower lies the tranquil Seokchon Lake, a serene urban oasis offering free lakeside walks and downtown views across this artificial reservoir. Stroll around the long lakeside walkways and marvel at the lazy ducks floating through the pond, the abundant nature, and the cute swan-shaped paddle boats you can rent nearby. At night there are neon-moon boats, too.

Just steps from the bustle of Jamsil, this hidden eco-park promises Instagram-worthy moments beside its undisturbed waters at no cost, with the stunning Lotte World Tower in the background. Seokchon Lake is one of Korea’s most popular places to visit during cherry blossom season and is home to the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival, a must see free festival in Seoul!

23: Han River Parks

Escape the hustle of Seoul by visiting the Han River Parks, an interconnected 12-mile riverside greenway open 24/7 for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy absolutely free. This urban waterfront oasis features landscaped lawns, wooded areas, and cycling paths dotted with unique attractions like public swimming pools, performance venues, and museums. Perfect for a cheap day out in Seoul.

From rollerblading under blooming cherry trees in Yeouido Park to catching golden hour along the Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain, visitors of all ages can bask beside the gentle Han River year-round, making it one of the best free options in the city. Definitely visit during cherry blossom season and autumn foliage season, although expect millions of other people to do the same!

24: Seollo 7017 Nature Walkway

Soar across Seoul for stunning skyline panoramas along Seollo 7017, an overpass reinvented into a 983-meter long elevated park trailing through central Seoul. The name comes from the year this section of the highway became pedestrianised (1970) and the year it became an innovative green walkway between Seoul Station and Namdaemun Market near Myeongdong (2017).

The free footpath now connects people walking to and from Seoul Station, allowing them to pass through charming greenery, elegant footbridges, and contemporary pathways instead of busy city streets. Seollo 7017 is best visited during spring and summer when the trees and plants on the bridge are in full bloom and people come to play the pianos dotted along the pathway at night.

25: Gyeongui Line Forest Park

One of my favourite green areas in central Seoul, the Gyeongui Line Forest Park is a set of public parks that were created from an abandoned railway line that used to cut through central Seoul all the way to Seoul Station. Stroll through contemporary art installations, discover Seoul’s passion for reading in green spaces, and find respite in the 17 unique parts of this urban oasis near Hongdae.

Each section comprises colourful murals, whimsical sculptures, and rotating public exhibits by Korean artists and designers. Kids can play in interactive fountains while adults peruse the outdoor galleries during a walk between buzzing Hongdae and Yeonnam-dong neighbourhoods. Showcasing rising talents and revitalising forgotten urban spaces, these avant-garde parks offer freely accessible art to all.

26: Seoul Grand Park

Reconnect with nature and spend a day seeing the sights at Seoul Grand Park, an enormous green space filled with botanical gardens, forests trails, a zoo, and a children’s theme park. While the zoo and theme park have entrance fees, you can see most of the park for free, including the cherry blossom trees that line wide walkways, making this park an incredible free place to visit in spring.

Have a picnic under flower arbors in the themed gardens blooming seasonally then hike through ginkgo tree forests as your faces brush against golden leaves in fall. For families and nature lovers alike, roomy Seoul Grand Park provides free outdoor adventures found few other places in the city. There are discounted entry tickets for Seoul Zoo online which you can use to save money on your visit.

Free Museums And Galleries In Seoul

Beyond royal palaces, Seoul overflows with exceptional museums and galleries that open their world-class collections to the public completely free-of-charge. Enrich your mind through history, art, science, and creativity without spending a single won with these fascinating cultural repositories. These free things to do in Seoul are just a sample of the free cultural wonders awaiting you in Seoul.

27: Seoul Museum Of Art

For fine art free of charge, visit the elegant Seoul Museum of Art showcasing 7000 years of Korean aesthetic heritage across seven floors of galleries tucked behind Deoksugung Palace. Explore one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world spanning ancient religious works through modern multimedia pieces.

Don’t miss the museum’s highlight – a complete handwritten book of Buddhist scriptures dating back to the 700s considered a national treasure of Korea. Special exhibits also focus on aspects of Asian art history, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the region’s creative roots.

28: War Memorial Of Korea

Pay homage to Korean veterans and fallen soldiers with a free self-guided tour of the mammoth War Memorial of Korea, the country’s only state-run national museum overlooking sprawling Yongsan Park. Hundreds of aircrafts, tanks, and artillery greet visitors outside while expansive exhibit halls detail intense battles fought across oceans through extensive dioramas and documentaries.

29: National Museum Of Korea

Journey through Korea’s expansive history spanning ancient kingdoms to thriving modern society free-of-charge at The National Museum of Korea, the nation’s largest repository safeguarding over 150,000 artifacts. Wander massive exhibition halls displaying age-old pottery, calligraphy scrolls, and Buddhist sculptures while exploring chronicles of cultural milestones and ancient dynasties.

Don’t miss King Sejong’s original Joseon canon inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register for its global significance. Offering indoor and outdoor venues with rotating traditional performances on weekends, this world-class museum unveils Korea’s storied past completely gratis.

30: National Folk Museum Of Korea

Delve into Korea’s cultural roots spanning dynasties and generations with a free trip to the National Folk Museum of Korea, perfectly placed within the Gyeongbokgung Palace grounds. Three exhibition halls brim with over 4,000 artefacts from ancient to modern times depicting lifestyles in both rural villages and royal courts through authentic clothing, housing models, spiritual symbols and hands-on activities.

Map Of Free Things To Do In Seoul

To help make it easier for you to check out all of these free things to do in Seoul, I’ve placed markers on Google Maps which you can use to navigate to each destination. Use the map below or open and save the details to Google Maps on your phone or browser to check later on. I’ve also added in some extra free or cheap things to do in Seoul that are close by the other attractions.

Money Saving Tips For Seoul

From public transportation to sightseeing, Seoul overflows with money-saving opportunities for budget-conscious travellers able to uncover the city’s generous free offerings. Here are some of my top tips about how to see Seoul for less and save money on your travels. For more tips, check out my Seoul money-saving guide.

Buy a transportation card: Seoul’s public transport system is amazing, cheap, and user-friendly. Take advantage of discounted fares by picking up a transportation card when you arrive at Incheon Airport or at convenience stores across Korea.

Eat Korean street food: Seoul is blessed with lots of incredible cheap street eats that you should try regardless of your budget as they’re absolutely mouth-wateringly tasty. If you want to save money, snack outdoors instead of lunch or dinner and you’ll save lots.

Explore Seoul’s traditional markets: Not only do Seoul’s traditional markets offer the chance to try cheap street food snacks and some of the best traditional dishes in Korea, they’re also full of bargain souvenirs.

Try hanbok for free: Although hanbok rental in Seoul isn’t that expensive (and certainly worth it), you can save some money by trying hanbok for free at cultural and tourists centres in Seoul, including the Seoul Global Culture Centre and the Myeongdong Tourist Information Centre.

Rent a bike to see more sights: Seoul has a great bike rental system that’s cheap and conveniently located throughout the city. This is one of the best ways to explore the long stretches of Han River parks and get some exercise while you move from sight to sight.

Pick up a Seoul city pass: City passes for Seoul allow you to visit some of the most expensive and exciting attractions for one set price and can save you a lot of money vs. paying for each attraction separately. The Discover Seoul Pass and Go City Seoul Pass are two of the best.

Book hotels in advance: Seoul has a wealth of cheap places to stay, but prices always increase the closer you get to your stay. Book ahead and you’ll get the best prices. Not sure where to stay in Seoul? Check out my guide to Seoul’s best districts for travellers.

Claim your tax back: A great way to save money in Seoul, especially if you plan to do a lot of shopping, is with tax refunds on eligible purchases. You can claim up to ₩5,000,000 tax back.

Visit the Jeong-dong Observatory by City Hall: I didn’t include it in this list, but there’s a place in Seoul to get free sights of Deoksugung Palace, as shown in the cover image of this article. On the 13th floor of the Seosomun Building near City Hall is the Jeong-dong Observatory, which offers views of central Seoul from the cafe. However, you kind of have to buy a coffee to enjoy them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about free things to do in Seoul. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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Seoul is a really diverse city with lots of distinctive districts, each offering up the chance to embrace their charms and offer you a home during your stay. From the busy streets of metropolitan Myeongdong, to hip Hongdae, glamorous Gangnam, and beyond. Discover the best areas to stay in Seoul for traditional or modern culture, authentic experiences, entertainment, shopping, sightseeing, and more.

This guide will cover the best areas in Seoul that shouldn’t be missed so you can best experience this fascinating capital based on what speaks to you. There’s a Seoul neighbourhood that will suit your travel style, whether you’re a first-time traveller, travelling as a solo traveller or family, travelling to experience the best of Seoul’s iconic street food, or you want to immerse yourself in Korea’s culture.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Summary: Where To Stay In Seoul 2024

The purpose of this Seoul district guide is to help you figure out where you want to stay in Seoul and show you some hotels in Seoul that will fit your budget. I’ve got dedicated articles about these districts with more information about what to see and do in each neighbourhood, as well as a more complete list of the best hotels in each of those areas. You’ll find links to those articles within this guide.

To help you make your decision about where to stay in Seoul, I’ve narrowed this article down to just 9 neighbourhoods in Seoul that cover the most popular, tourist friendly, and convenient parts of Seoul to stay in. The table below shows you those 9 districts and a brief summary about each area. You can click the district names to jump straight to the section about that area in this article.

There’s also a (poorly made) visual guide to these Seoul neighbourhoods so you can see where they are in relation to each other and some of the famous attractions nearby.

Which Area Of Seoul Is Best For Me?

Foodies find nirvana wandering the night markets of buzzing Myeongdong or Dongdaemun, while traditional culture insights unfold in Insadong. The indie art galleries, live music venues, and hidden cocktail bars of Hongdae cater to night owls and hipsters. Itaewon reflects Seoul’s diversity through its globetrotting cuisine and fashion. And the luxurious high-rises of Gangnam evoke ultra-modern sheen.

I don’t think there is a ‘wrong’ area of Seoul to stay in as Seoul is very safe, ranking as the 8th safest city in the world in 2019. There are certainly areas that are inconvenient for tourists to stay in though, usually because these are far from sightseeing locations, don’t cater to foreign tourists, are mostly residential areas without hotels, or might not have a lot going on to keep you entertained at night.

Everyone has different requirements and expectations when they visit this mega city of 10 million people. Whether you seek historic sights or designer shops, flashing neon lights or quiet hanok houses, stay where your passions lie. Of course, there are usually options for all of these travellers in each of Seoul’s neighbourhoods, but these districts excel at catering to these types of travellers.

Not sure which district is right for you? Here’s a handy breakdown of the best neighbourhoods in Seoul for different types of travellers and a hotel recommendation for each. Check out the section later on about the best district in Seoul by traveller type for more detailed insights.

Why You Should Stay In Seoul

Seoul is Korea’s capital, home to a large portion of it’s population, the heart of the economy, the birthplace of K-pop and the setting for many famous K-dramas and movies. It’s also one of the must-see places to visit when you travel to Korea. If you’re a first-time traveller to Korea, then you definitely don’t want to miss out on Seoul as it’s a really useful place to get used to Korea’s unique charms.

What makes Seoul such a great area to stay in, besides the abundant traditional and modern sights, amazing food options, cool culture, numerous attractions and fantastic shopping, is that it’s a great place to base yourself to see more of Korea. There are lots of day tours from Seoul, such as Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, and Suwon, that depart from Myeongdong, Hongdae, or Gangnam.

With a distinctive written language, called hangul, that’s nothing like English or other languages, Korea might seem a daunting place for travellers to visit. Fortunately, Seoul is an international city that caters to foreign tourists really well, much more so than other cities in Korea. You can find translations across Seoul in English, as well as Chinese, Japanese, and various other languages.

For these reasons, and many more, Seoul is the ideal place to stay in Korea for tourists. Areas like Myeongdong, Hongdae, Insadong, and Gangnam are especially accommodating for tourists, which is why they’re the first 4 places I recommend in this Seoul district guide. Wherever you decide to stay in Seoul, I’m sure you’ll have an eye-opening experience if you stay in one of these neighbourhoods.

My Favourite Place To Stay In Seoul

I don’t live in Seoul, but I travel there many times each year to see Korean festivals, cherry blossoms, autumn foliage, Christmas sights, or just to enjoy the atmosphere and sights of a big city. I’ve stayed in many different districts in Seoul, but I find myself coming back to Myeongdong the most due to the wide selection of hotels, the convenient location, and a good selection of shops and street food.

Regular visitors to Seoul might scoff at this choice, saying that Myeongdong is too touristy and not ‘authentic’, which is certainly true, but it’s a great place to base yourself in the capital and all the ‘authentic’ places are just a short subway ride away. There are hotels in Myeongdong for all budgets and you can find everything from cheap guesthouses for quick trips to luxury hotels for special occasions.

I like to stay at the L7 Myeongdong by Lotte, which offers the views you can see in the pictures below. There’s a rooftop bar and foot spa where you can have a drink or dip your toes while looking out over the city and taking in the sights of the N Seoul Tower and beyond. It’s located right next to Myeongdong Station, which means you can zoom across the city to other places really easily, too.

Where To Stay In Myeongdong (Shops And Convenience)

When friends ask me where to stay in Seoul, I usually direct them to Myeongdong. Conveniently located a couple of stops from Seoul Station, this is a great location for those arriving from Incheon Airport or from other cities in South Korea. Sample the delicious street food that is on sale in the markets – you’ll find all sorts here, from traditional Korean foods, to weird and wonderful modern treats.

Tourist support staff wander the streets, English is widely used, it’s the start point for tours, and you can find street food and souvenirs in the night markets throughout this area. Myeongdong is the perfect base for travellers of all kinds and all budgets, with accommodation options that range from cosy guesthouses and hostels to luxurious high-rise hotels that offer stunning views across the city.

Myeongdong, like Seoul in general, is a melting pot of foreigners, hard working Koreans, shopping addicts, cafe lovers, and all in between. It’s a real microcosm of Korean life – which is fast paced and on the go 24 hours a day. That’s what makes it one of the best neighbourhoods in Seoul. There are markets you can wander through until late at night and practice haggling for bargains.

Location Overview: Located in central Seoul, Myeongdong is perfect for tourists seeking convenience and well connected for transport. Nearby neighbourhoods like Chungmuro offer plenty to explore on foot.

What’s Myeongdong Like: Vibrant retail and commercial district catering heavily to tourists. Bustling atmosphere with bright signs, street vendors, and crowds visiting cosmetics shops and food stalls.

Key Attractions & Sights: Myeongdong Shopping Street, Lotte Department Store, Korean cosmetics stores, street food stalls, Myeongdong Cathedral, Nanta performance arts theatre.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Quick-service restaurants and casual eateries focused on to-go shoppers. Known for street food skewers and dumplings. Limited nightlife, more cafes and dessert shops.

Budget Estimate: Anything from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. You can find mid-range hotels for great prices in this area, especially in off-peak season.

Foreigner Friendliness: Very foreigner-friendly area. Shops and restaurants cater to tourists with English menus readily available. Easy district for non-Korean speakers to stay in.

Main Subway Station: Myeongdong Station

Best Hotels In Myeongdong

Myeongdong has one of the widest selections of hotels in all of Seoul’s districts and there is a hotel to suit any budget. Here are three of the best hotels in Myeongdong to suit different budgets.

$$$ The Westin Josun Seoul (★★★★★):
The Westin Josun Seoul is a luxurious 5-star hotel situated in the popular Myeongdong shopping district, offering well-appointed rooms with views of the city or mountains, exceptional service, multiple dining options, a swimming pool, and convenient access to top attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace.

$$ Four Points by Sheraton Josun (★★★★):
The Four Points by Sheraton Josun is a comfortable hotel located right in the heart of vibrant Myeongdong, placing you steps from the area’s world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment. Contemporary rooms, an indoor pool, and 24-hour fitness centre ensure an enjoyable Seoul stay.

$ Philstay Myeongdong Station (★★):
Philstay Myeongdong Station is a modern budget hotel situated right next to the Myeongdong subway station, providing easy accessibility around Seoul. Its clean, compact rooms coupled with friendly service offer great value in the prime location of Myeongdong – the famous fashion and foodie district.

Learn more: For a full breakdown of where to stay in Myeongdong, including the best budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation options, check out my guide to the best hotels in Myeongdong. It also includes a more detailed guide about visiting Myeongdong and what to see and do in the area.

Where To Stay In Hongdae (Culture And Entertainment)

When I travel to Seoul for a day trip or weekend stay, I usually come to Hongdae to eat, drink, shop, or party. There are so many great places to dine, including foreign-food restaurants, traditional Korean dishes like BBQ, and funky bistros located in the side streets. Hongdae is the best neighbourhood in Seoul for those who want to experience Korea’s youth culture, eat well, and buy modern Korean fashion.

Hongdae is Seoul’s answer to Harajuku in Tokyo, with lots of unique fashion styles, cafes and stores. The streets are packed with clothes shops (boutique or mainstream), artsy goods, souvenirs, and, best of all, lots of Korean snacks to sample! There’s a strong art influence here from nearby Hongik University (Hong-ik Dae-hakkyo), which gives the area its name and culture (it’s an art uni).

The energetic college district packs an explosion of experiences into a few blocks, perfect for the traveller craving the excitement and modern vibe Korea has become famous for. Accommodation is reasonably priced with homely guesthouses and hostels, as well as artistic hotels and smart business hotels for travellers. This is another great place to base yourself to see other parts of Seoul.

Location Overview: Hongdae is just west of central Seoul and close to the Han River. It’s a lively college neighbourhood that’s directly connected to the Airport Expressway.

What’s Hongdae Like: Artsy ambience catering to university students. Young creative vibe with street art, indie galleries, quirky boutiques, and music halls hosting underground performers.

Key Attractions & Sights: Hongdae Playground for street performances, concert venues, Korean crafts and fashion at Free Market, quirky cafes. Popular nightlife clubs.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Casual dining, foreign foods, quirky cafes, and lots of quick bites and street food. Iconic for its club scene – DJs, dance clubs, lively late night entertainment.

Budget Estimate: As this is a student area, there are plenty of lower-budget places to stay in, as well as mid-range hotels and shops. Foreign food and clubs can be expensive.

Foreigner Friendliness: Very open neighbourhood for foreigners. Lots of Western comforts. The high number of younger Koreans means more chance people can speak English.

Main Subway Station: Hongik University Station

Best Hotels In Hongdae

Hongdae’s hotel options aren’t as wide as other tourist areas like Myeongdong or Gangnam, but this district has some of the coolest, most unique hotels in Seoul. Here are some of the best hotels in Hongdae for different budgets.

$$$ RYSE, Autograph Collection (★★★★):
RYSEm Autograph Collection is a stylishly designed hotel in the heart of Hongdae, Seoul’s youth culture and nightlife hub. Its chic rooms with city views, rooftop lounge, and easy access to the area’s countless cafes, galleries, shops, and clubs make it the perfect base to experience this vibrant neighbourhood.

$$ Amanti Hotel Seoul (★★★★):
Nestled in the popular Hongdae area, Amanti Hotel Seoul is a cozy boutique property which affords easy access to all of Hongdae’s attractions while still maintaining tranquility and privacy. With a free-style open lobby, restaurants, a fitness centre, and warm, natural room decor to welcome you.

$ DW Design Residence (★★★):
DW Design Residence is a stylish boutique hotel located in Hongdae. Its chic, modern rooms with city views provide a quiet escape while still being walking distance to Hongdae’s famous shops, clubs, cafes, and street art, making it the perfect base to explore this youthful, artistic neighbourhood.

Learn more: For a full breakdown of where to stay in Hongdae, including the best budget, mid-range, and luxury accommodation options, check out my guide to the best hotels in Hongdae. It also includes a more detailed guide about visiting Hongdae and what to see and do in the area.

Where To Stay In Gangnam (Shopping And Nightlife)

Under the glitzy high-rises lies the opulent heart of Seoul in Gangnam. If you envision the Korean high life of fashion boutiques, Michelin star dining, and pulsing nightclub exclusivity — this is your ideal base. Its reputation as Korea’s Beverly Hills spans well beyond the viral pop song to the district’s extravagant reality. Shop flagship stores carrying luxury labels and ultra-modern Korean goods.

Taste creative fine dining fusing Korean cuisine with other global flavours. Then sip expertly-crafted cocktails at a rooftop bar with city views before you finish off the night at Korea’s most prestigious dance clubs. While the usual Gangnam bucket list caters to those seeking indulgence, there are plenty of wallet-friendly experiences like people-watching in style, riverside walks, and grabbing a Korean dessert.

There’s more to Gangnam than shopping and fancy hotels, though. There’s the historic Bongeunsa Temple, Royal Tombs, and a load of cool art galleries and museums to check out. Fans of K-pop will definitely love the K-Star Road where you can see statues dedicated to Korea’s biggest music stars. You might even bump into your favourite idols in this area if you’re really lucky!

Location Overview: Gangnam is south of the Han River, known as a modern wealthy business district. Well-connected to transit. Nearby Apgujeong is a popular high-end shopping area.

What’s Gangnam Like: Fashionable, elite ambience as Korea’s Beverly Hills. Luxury brand flagships, high-rise corporate offices, refined cafes, glitzy nightlife attract sophisticated crowds.

Key Attractions & Sights: COEX Mall, Starfield Library, Bongeunsa Temple, Gangnam Style K-pop Statue, Gaon Art Centre, K-Star Road, K-pop themed exhibitions.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Michelin-starred restaurants from Japan and Korea. Exceptional fine dining. Trendsetting cocktail bars and exclusive nightclubs with A-list clientele.

Budget Estimate: Most hotels, shops, and restaurants cater to Seoul’s elites, selling designer goods at high prices. However, there are also plenty of budget options in quieter side streets.

Foreigner Friendliness: This area attracts lots of expats who work and live in the area, as well as foreign tourists, making it quite foreigner friendly with some foreign food options.

Main Subway Station: Gangnam Station

Best Hotels In Gangnam

Gangnam boasts the largest collection of upmarket hotels in Seoul and is perfect for travellers who are looking for the finer things when they travel. There are also plenty of mid-range and budget options, too. Here are some hotel recommendations in Gangnam for each budget type.

$$$ Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas (★★★★★):
Overlooking the COEX Mall, the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas is a luxurious 5-star hotel in the heart of Gangnam. With well-appointed rooms boasting panoramic city views, exceptional service, Michelin-starred dining, an indoor pool, and a prime location near top shopping and attractions.

$$ Dormy Inn Seoul Gangnam (★★★):
Dormy Inn Seoul Gangnam is a comfortable hotel situated minutes from Gangnam’s central station, providing easy access to the fashionable district. Clean Japanese-style rooms, therapeutic onsen hot spring baths, saunas, a 24-hour gym, and breakfast buffet offer great value in an ideal location.

$ Toyoko Inn Gangnam Seoul (★★★):
The Toyoko Inn Gangnam Seoul is an affordable hotel in the heart of Gangnam, Seoul’s most stylish district. Its compact rooms offer essential amenities and free Wi-Fi while its prime location places you steps from mega malls, nightlife, K-Pop labels, and easy transportation for exploring Seoul.

Where To Stay In Insadong (Sights And Culture)

For an authentic taste of historic Korean aesthetics, make the charming district of Insadong your Seoul neighbourhood base. Just steps from modern buildings lies this preserved world of hanok houses, tea rooms, and winding alleys that represent Korea of yesterday and still today. Stop into a gallery to admire works by local artisans preserving longtime crafts like handmade hanji paper.

Pop into a tea shop to sip traditional tea while sampling delicate Korean desserts. Wander Insadong’s roads lined with shops offering antiques, traditional attire like hanbok, and quirky souvenirs you won’t find in mass retailers. Yet it’s the ability to take a peaceful break from the hurry of the modern city a few blocks away that makes this a great area to stay in Seoul.

Insadong continues on quietly with locals visiting decades-old restaurants and partaking in cultural experiences unique to Korea. Immerse yourself here in the historic heart of Seoul as a contrast to the gleaming towers surrounding this protected view into the past. There are lots of traditional sights nearby, including Jogyesa Temple, royal palaces, and the charming Bukchon Hanok Village.

Location Overview: Insadong is in central Seoul, known for traditional teahouses, galleries, and antique shops between Anguk Station and Jongno.

What’s Insadong Like: Historic charm with preserved Korean architecture alongside street food stands and peaceful teahouses frequented by locals. Known for traditional ambience.

Key Attractions & Sights: Ssamziegil arts complex housing traditional handicrafts shops, paintings and galleries, Tapgol Park, Jogyesa Buddhist temple, folk museum, and the Dynamic Maze.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Casual local eateries specializing in rice cakes, dumplings and sweet pancakes. Evening entertainment limited but nearby Jongno has plenty of options.

Budget Estimate: Despite the central location to historic sights, this area has many budget options for accommodation, dining, entertainment, and shopping.

Foreigner Friendliness: Historic area has information readily available in other languages. Known for an authentic Korean experience that caters to tourists.

Main Subway Station: Anguk Station

Best Hotels In Insadong

As this is a historic area of Seoul, there aren’t many high-rises. Instead hotels are typically smaller and more dated. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t lots of good accommodation options in Insadong. Here are some hotel recommendations in Insadong for each budget type.

$$$ Orakai Insadong Suites (★★★★):
Orakai Insadong Suites is a charming boutique hotel situated in central Insadong. Spacious suites with traditional décor, an Italian restaurant, and roof terrace provide comfort and style, while its unbeatable location grants easy access to Insadong’s cafés, galleries, shops, and historic sights.

$$ Nine Tree Premier Hotel Insadong (★★★★):
Nine Tree Premier Hotel Insadong is a modern, design-centric hotel nestled in the heart of Insadong. Contemporary rooms, exceptional service, a lounge bar, and rooftop garden integrate style and comfort, while its coveted location connects you to Insadong’s galleries, teahouses, shopping, and historic charm.

$ Yehadoye Guesthouse (★):
Yehadoye Guesthouse is a charming budget guesthouse located in the heart of Insadong, Seoul’s culture and arts district. It offers comfortable rooms with traditional Korean décor and friendly staff who can recommend the best galleries, teahouses, and restaurants in the lively neighbourhood.

Where To Stay In Dongdaemun (Shopping And Culture)

For shoppers seeking the ultimate retail therapy, make vibrant Dongdaemun your Seoul base. This is a prime spot to indulge in the city’s famous shopping culture. The district thrums with immense wholesale and retail complexes like Doota and Migliore catering to Korean fashion wholesalers and trendy shoppers alike. Storefronts crammed with glittering goods and clothing stay open all day and night.

Outside the shops, food stalls pump out snacks and coffee to fuel indulgent shopping sprees. You’ll certainly need it with so many places to shop in Dongdaemun, both in traditional markets and modern department stores. Dongdaemun satisfies more than retail desires though with its futuristic architecture like the sleek curve of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and lively Dongdaemun History and Culture Park.

From browsing chic boutiques under the bright lights at 3am to strolling the park amid historic sights from the daytime, Dongdaemun’s around-the-clock energy delivers an intoxicating urban vibe unique to Seoul that visitors won’t soon forget. This is definitely one of the best areas in Seoul for those who want to bring home a lot of souvenirs and be well connected with access to other parts of Seoul.

Location Overview: Dongdaemun is northeast Seoul, known for enormous wholesale and retail shopping complexes open 24/7. Adjacent to the historic area of Jongno.

What’s Dongdaemun Like: Vibrant commercial district with futuristic and eclectic architecture. Caters heavily to fashion trade and retail with camera-ready styling displays attracting youth.

Key Attractions & Sights: Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Dongdaemun History Culture Park, Shopping complexes like Migliore mall and Hello APM. Best area in Seoul for shopping.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Street food snacks late into the evening outside major malls. More casual local eateries than fine dining. Nightlife not a main draw.

Budget Estimate: Very wide range in terms of fashion and market pricing as well as food stall options. Easy to find low budget to moderate accommodations as well as 5-star hotels.

Foreigner Friendliness: Not as much English used but still an accessible location in Seoul that’s used to tourists. Known more for Korean fashion than traditional culture.

Main Subway Station: Dongdaemun Station

Best Hotels In Dongdaemun

Dongdaemun is a shopping district that has a lot of tall department stores with smaller hotels squeezed in between them, as well as small guesthouses in the quieter side streets. You can find hotels with nice views of Seoul. Here are some hotel recommendations in Dongdaemun for each budget type.

$$$ JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul (★★★★★):
The JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square is a luxurious, 5-star hotel centrally located in Dongdaemun, steps from high-end malls and markets that stay open until the wee hours. Conveniently placed with spacious, well-appointed rooms, it serves as an ideal base to explore all that Seoul has to offer.

$$ Hotel Skypark Kingstown Dongdaemun (★★★★):
Hotel Skypark Kingstown is a modern hotel situated next to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, providing easy access to Dongdaemun’s famous markets and shopping centres. Its comfortable, contemporary rooms, free breakfast, and prime location offer convenience and value in dynamic Seoul.

$ Mangrove Dongdaemun (★★★):
Mangrove Dongdaemun is a cozy boutique hotel nestled near the buzzing Dongdaemun shopping district. Its chic, nature-inspired rooms with city views, friendly service, lounge bar, and walking distance to late-night markets, malls, and attractions make it a unique Seoul stay with style and convenience.

Learn more: Check out my review of the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square and learn about the Korean trend called ‘hocance‘, which is a combination of ‘hotel’ and ‘vacance’, meaning to vacation inside a hotel. It’s a lovely hotel and I really enjoyed my stay and exploring the sights of Dongdaemun.

Where To Stay In Jamsil (Nature And Shopping)

For travellers seeking to experience Seoul’s sporting spirit and family-friendly recreation, the athletic district of Jamsil has lots of Seoul accommodation options for you. As a hub of huge stadium event energy and Olympic legacy by the picturesque Han River, visitors can access major concerts and events one day then partake in thrills at the massive Lotte World amusement park the next.

Cheer on Korea’s beloved baseball team at Jamsil Baseball Stadium or visit music festivals and more at Olympic Park while staying steps from the fan action. The surrounding Jamsil and Songpa districts also offer scenic riverside parks such as Seokchon Lake, the landmark Jamsilsa Temple, and access to Lotte World Tower’s soaring views—all balancing culture with modern conveniences.

Jamsil offers a slower-paced stay in Seoul than the fast-paced touristy districts like Myeongdong and Hongdae, along with scenic views, extensive shopping, fine dining, and the best views of Seoul from the Seoul Sky Observatory. This Seoul neighbourhood allows immersion in events and culture only Seoul can offer while still catering to family travellers seeking flexible fun east of the city centre.

Location Overview: Jamsil is a district in southeastern Seoul, known for sports venues and the Olympic Park. There are also many Lotte attractions, including the Lotte World Tower.

What’s Jamsil Like: A family-friendly neighbourhood with athletic ambience. Home to the Olympic Stadium and Arena where concerts / matches are held. More nature than central Seoul.

Key Attractions & Sights: Olympic Park, Lotte World theme park, Seoul Sports Complex (baseball / football), Jamsilsa Buddhist temple, Jamsil Naru Park along the Han River.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Casual restaurants and cafes near Lotte World. Street food stands clustered around the stadium. Nightlife not a main draw but some quiet bars around.

Budget Estimate: Jamsil is a rich neighbourhood in Seoul and attracts wealthy tourists and Seoulites alike to its shopping and attractions. Expect slightly higher prices here, but still bargains around.

Foreigner Friendliness: English less common than other central Seoul districts as popular with locals, but major attractions and shopping centres will be foreigner friendly.

Main Subway Station: Jamsil Station

Best Hotels In Jamsil

Jamsil has the charm and opulence of Gangnam, but in a more peaceful, greener district of Seoul that has a more laid back pace of life. This is a great area in Seoul to have fun, shop, eat well, and spend the evening enjoying the sights. Here are some hotel recommendations in Jamsil for each budget type.

$$$ Signiel Seoul (★★★★★):
Overlooking the Han River, the landmark Signiel Seoul occupies the top floors of the Lotte World Tower in Jamsil. Luxury rooms with panoramic views, exceptional dining, an urban forest, infinity pools, and proximity to attractions like Lotte World make it one of Seoul’s premier hotels.

$$ Rosana Tourist Hotel (★★★★):
The Rosana Tourist Hotel is a comfortable budget hotel located in Jamsil, convenient for those visiting Seoul’s famous amusement park, Lotte World, and the 1988 Olympic sites. With cozy, modern rooms, friendly service, buffet breakfast and easy transportation access, it makes an affordable Seoul stay.

$ Pharos Hotel (★★★):
Pharos Hotel is an affordable guesthouse conveniently situated in the bustling Jamsil district. Its cozy, boutique-style rooms, shared lounges and rooftop garden offer a quiet, budget-friendly respite while still being walking distance to Jamsil’s major attractions.

Where To Stay In Itaewon (Food And Entertainment)

Known as the foreigner district due to its history as a home to American soldiers, Itaewon is the most multicultural place in Seoul and home to many expats. English is more widely spoken here and shops cater to foreigner sizes. Brimming with global flair and nonstop excitement, the lively Itaewon district offers visitors an ideal launchpad for exploring Seoul’s vibrant culture and nightlife.

With lanes packed with diverse cuisines from across the globe, travellers can dine their way around the world without leaving the neighbourhood. After dark, Itaewon’s neon-lit cocktail bars and thumping dance clubs keep the party going into the early morning hours. And thanks to Itaewon’s central location near the Han River, tourists can easily immerse themselves in Seoul’s tradition and modernity.

For guests eager to experience one of Asia’s most dynamic cities, Itaewon’s cosmopolitan vibe and energetic entertainment make it the perfect home base for a Seoul adventure. If you’re worried about getting lost in translation, Itaewon’s international charms can make visiting Korea easier. Muslim travellers to Korea will appreciate the wide selection of Halal food and the Itaewon mosque.

Location Overview: Itaewon is centrally located, close to the Han River and N Seoul Tower and adjacent to the Yongsan district. Known for expat culture and international diversity.

What’s Itaewon Like: Multicultural district with global cuisine, nightlife and shopping. Caters to an international mix from US Army ties. Blend of modern amenities with street food stands.

Key Attractions & Sights: Itaewon Global Village Centre showcases cultural diversity. Also popular for energetic nightclubs, casual lounges with foreign comfort food, and theatres.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Halal, Kosher and vegetarian restaurants indicative of Itaewon’s worldwide options. Find foreign foods from tacos to curries. Bars open late with DJs and themes.

Budget Estimate: Prices typically range from lower budget to mid-range for food, shopping and hotel rates. Itaewon draws all types of traveller, from digital nomads to budget backpackers.

Foreigner Friendliness: Extremely open and welcoming neighbourhood to foreigners with English-language menus and services readily available.

Main Subway Station: Itaewon Station

Best Hotels In Itaewon

The Itaewon district spreads across the slopes of Namsan Mountain with views of the N Seoul Tower possible from many places. That also means that some hotels can be uphill, so be careful when choosing your place. Here are some hotel recommendations in Itaewon for each budget type.

$$$ Grand Hyatt Seoul (★★★★★):
The Grand Hyatt Seoul is an iconic luxury hotel situated on Namsan Mountain in the Itaewon district, featuring well-appointed rooms with city views, exceptional dining options, a spa, fitness centre, outdoor pool, and convenient proximity to top attractions like N Seoul Tower and the War Memorial of Korea.

$$ Mondrian Seoul Itaewon (★★★★★):
Nestled at the foot of Namsan Mountain, the stylish Mondrian Seoul Itaewon offers chic, contemporary accommodations steps from the vibrant Itaewon neighbourhood. Its sleek rooms with city views, eclectic dining, and a rooftop lounge put guests in the heart of this multicultural hub.

$ Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon (★★★):
Imperial Palace Boutique Hotel Itaewon is an affordable, design-centric hotel in the lively Itaewon district. Contemporary rooms, exemplary service, rooftop lounge with city views, and walking distance to global cuisine, nightlife, N Seoul Tower, and subway, make it a stylish, convenient base to explore Seoul.

Where To Stay In Yongsan (Convenience And Culture)

This is where to stay in Seoul if your priority is good value and getting around easily. You’ll find plenty of the city’s traditional charm in this mostly residential area, as well as some of the best prices and peace & quiet. Located close to Hongdae, Myeongdong, Itaewon, and even Gangnam, this is certainly a convenient location for those who plan to move around a lot and see all the sights.

Situated near the centre of Seoul, the Yongsan district gives visitors prime access to the historic and ultra-modern attractions of this fast-paced capital. With cultural sites like the National Museum of Korea and the War Memorial of Korea within its borders, travellers have centuries of Korean history and artwork at their fingertips. The Itaewon shopping and nightlife district is also just a short ride away.

For relaxation amid the bustling metropolis, Yongsan boasts expansive green spaces including the sprawling Hangang Park along the riverfront. With its museums, monuments, restaurants, and natural escapes, Yongsan lets tourists dive into Seoul’s unique layers of tradition and innovation while enjoying comfortable accommodations. Expect great views of the N Seoul Tower from hotels in this area, too.

Location Overview: Yongsan stretches south of the Han River near central Seoul. Home to the enormous Yongsan Electronics Market and War Memorial of Korea.

What’s Yongsan Like: Lively commercial district centred around the dense electronics shopping complex. Also residential in some areas with older architecture and a mix of income levels.

Key Attractions & Sights: Yongsan Electronics Market for tech and gadgets. War Memorial and Museum spans vast grounds honouring military history. Smaller museums in the area too.

Dining & Nightlife Options: More casual everyday eateries and takeout catering to electronics market shoppers and residents. Limited nightlife but good rooftops towards Namsan Mountain.

Budget Estimate: Room rates and dining very inexpensive around the market and residential sections compared to higher-end options around the War Memorial and Yongsan Station.

Foreigner Friendliness: Tourists won’t have any problems in the large malls, hotels, and stations, but the smaller back streets of Yongsan cater more to locals.

Main Subway Station: Yongsan Station

Best Hotels In Yongsan

The Yongsan area stretches out around the Yongsan area up to Seoul Station and down to the Han River and is set to be the future hot place to visit in Seoul with the area set to become Seoul’s tech hub from 2025. Here are some hotel recommendations in Yongsan for each budget type.

$$$ Grand Mercure Ambassador Seoul Yongsan (★★★★):
Luxurious apartments and hotel rooms blend seamlessly at Grand Mercure Ambassador in central Yongsan. Minutes from the river and public transportation, facilities include an executive lounge, a swimming pool, multiple restaurants, and guests enjoy easy access to Yongsan parks.

$$ Nine Tree Premier ROKAUS Hotel Seoul Yongsan (★★★★):
The Nine Tree Premier Hotel is a stylish, design-oriented hotel near Yongsan Station, providing easy transit access around Seoul. Contemporary rooms, exceptional service, lounge bar, and walking distance to the riverside parks, War Memorial, and Itaewon’s global dining make it an ideal base.

$ Hotel WO Yongsan Station (★★★):
Hotel WO Yongsan Station is a sleek, modern hotel located next to Yongsan Station, offering quick access around Seoul and beyond. Its vibrant, artsy rooms feature contemporary decor, while onsite dining, a fitness centre and convenient transport links cater to both leisure and business travellers.

Where To Stay In Yeouido (Nature And Culture)

Sitting on an island in the Han River, Yeouido offers visitors a refreshing oasis in the middle of bustling Seoul. Travellers will enjoy strolling the lush public parks and gardens dotting this “Island of Yeoui” while skyscrapers glitter in the background. During April, the area is home to one of the biggest cherry blossom festivals in all of South Korea, with thousands of cherry trees to walk under.

The National Assembly, Seoul’s stock exchange, and major media outlets call Yeouido home – making it a fascinating destination for witnessing South Korea’s economic and political engines up close. Expect to find upmarket attractions and eateries in this area. Hopping over to the mainland via subway or footbridge leads straight to key sites like Gwanghwamun Plaza and Gangnam.

With its balancing act of nature, commerce and city attractions, Yeouido’s prime location enables tourists to move between serene escapes and urban energy. And sampling Seoul’s celebrated food scene is effortless with local eateries and traditional markets abounding nearby. Stay in Yeouido and enjoy a peaceful stay with bike rides by the river, picnics, and strolls through a quieter part of Seoul.

Location Overview: Yeouido is an island district southwest of central Seoul, connected by bridges and home to the National Assembly Building. Plenty of nearby natural attractions.

What’s Yeouido Like: Mix of financial high-rises and cultural spots like Yeouido Park. Draws business professionals but also outdoorsy families with green spaces, festivals along the Han River.

Key Attractions & Sights: 63 City skyscraper has an observation deck. Yeouido Park local favourite to bike, picnic or see spring cherry blossoms. National Assembly offers free tours.

Dining & Nightlife Options: Casual business area dining like noodles stands popular with lunch crowds. Limited evening entertainment options compared to Hongdae and Gangnam.

Budget Estimate: Mid-range for hotels, meals and attractions. Higher-end lodging also available for executive business clients if needed. Easy to utilise low budget transportation.

Foreigner Friendliness: English less common away from hotel business centres but access to and from Yeouido conveniently English-friendly overall via transit options.

Main Subway Station: Yeouido Station

Best Hotels In Yeouido

As Yeouido is a commerce and political centre, there are more hotels catering to business and luxury travellers than budget travellers. High costs, but expect beautiful views of Seoul and the Han River. Here are some hotel recommendations in Yeouido for each budget type.

$$$ Conrad Seoul (★★★★★):
Overlooking the Han River, the luxurious Conrad Seoul on Yeouido Island is a stylish oasis in Seoul’s financial district, offering well-appointed rooms with stunning views, multiple dining options including Michelin-starred dining, an outdoor pool, spa, and close access to the National Assembly Building.

$$ Glad Yeouido (★★★★):
Glad Yeouido is a sleek, contemporary hotel situated on Yeouido Island in Seoul’s business district. Chic rooms with panoramic city views, an international buffet, fitness centre, and walking distance to the National Assembly and riverside parks make it an ideal base for business and leisure travellers.

$ The Connoisseur Residence Hotel (★★★):
The Connoisseur Residence Hotel is a cozy boutique hotel located in Yeouido. Its stylish, apartment-style rooms with river views, shared kitchen and convenient location provide a quiet escape, while remaining close to corporate offices, cultural sights and the Han River greenway.

Best Districts In Seoul By Traveller Type

There are so many options for places to stay in Seoul that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which is right for your particular travel needs. A family is likely to want a different area than a backpacker out to party or a couple after a romantic weekend. Everyone has their own needs and this section will help recommend some neighbourhoods that I think will be most suitable for you.

Where To Stay In Seoul For First-Timers

For your first visit to Seoul, the most convenient and tourist-friendly districts to stay in are Myeongdong, Insadong, Dongdaemun, Hongdae or Itaewon. Myeongdong’s mix of traditional sights, mega shopping malls and street food provides easy access to top attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace and the charming alleyways of Insadong.

The vibrant, creative youth culture of Hongdae, along with Itaewon’s international dining scene should also be on your list. Dongdaemun’s famous market and shopping centres that stay open all night offers a more local experience. Each area has accommodation options fitting any budget.

Where To Stay In Seoul For Solo Travellers

For those visiting Seoul alone, the most engaging districts to stay in are trendy Hongdae, multicultural Itaewon, or the central downtown (Myeongdong / Insadong / Dongdaemun). Hongdae’s indie arts scene and clubs make it easy to mingle with locals and fellow travellers. Itaewon’s international cuisine and bars fosters social interaction.

Central Seoul’s downtown districts like Myeongdong, Insadong and Dongdaemun place you amidst the action with boutique shops, teahouses and night markets to explore. Hostels here also organise activities. Getting around via transit is seamless, though walking these areas alone is also perfectly safe given Seoul’s low crime rate.

Where To Stay In Seoul For Families

When traveling to Seoul with kids, consider staying in family-friendly districts like Hongdae, Jamsil or near City Hall. Hongdae has playgrounds and cafes, while Jamsil is home to major amusement parks like Lotte World. Areas around City Hall and Euljiro are close to child-friendly museums, Namsan Park, and the expansive Seoul Children’s Grand Park.

Myeongdong also has plenty of malls and food options for picky eaters. Multi-room accommodation is easy to find, though advance booking is recommended as family rooms fill fast. Most districts are very safe for families day or night.

Where To Stay In Seoul For Budget Travellers

For an affordable visit to Seoul, consider staying in Hongdae, Dongdaemun or areas near universities, which cater well to the backpacking crowd. Hostels here can cost under $10/night, or opt for guesthouses for cheap private rooms. Hongdae offers both budget digs and lively nightlife.

Dongdaemun has 24/7 shopping bargains while being metro-close to major sights. Other lower-cost neighbourhoods like Mapo and Seongsu are on the artsy side with cafes and clubs. With public transit connectivity, most places are still conveniently accessible to top attractions on a budget.

Where To Stay In Seoul For Luxury Travellers

For an ultra-indulgent trip to Seoul, consider staying in the opulent Gangnam district, including the stylish Apgujeong / Cheongdam area, or conveniently located Jongno between Myeongdong and Insadong. Gangnam is renowned for its glittering high-rise hotels with Michelin-starred restaurants, chic cocktail bars, luxury shopping at COEX, and Bongeunsa Temple.

The Apgujeong and Cheongdam neighbourhoods of northern Gangnam also offer exclusive boutiques alongside five-star hospitality. For history buffs, Jongno’s heritage hotels situate you among Gyeongbokgung Palace and the traditional hanok village of Bukchon while providing first-class amenities and service.

Where To Stay In Seoul For Business Travellers

For those visiting Seoul on business, the most convenient areas to stay in are Gangnam, Yeouido, or Yongsan districts. Gangnam houses the COEX business hub along with corporate offices and Trade Tower’s exhibition centres, pairing modern accommodations with dining and nightlife options.

Yeouido’s high-rise hotels neighbour Seoul’s key financial institutions and the National Assembly. Yongsan’s proximity to Yongsan Station and Seoul Station provides speedy airport connections and travel to other parts of Seoul. All offer work-friendly amenities from conference rooms to copying services, located only a short cab ride from destinations like Namsan and Myeongdong.

Best Areas In Seoul For Korean Culture

For an authentic taste of Korean culture, opt to stay in areas like Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village or Jongno. Insadong’s streets are lined with galleries exhibiting works by local artists, traditional teahouses and shops selling handicrafts, allowing you to immerse in old Seoul.

The Bukchon Hanok neighbourhood places you right among preserved hanok houses while Jongno juxtaposes historic palaces, temples and the new Seoul City Hall. Trying the Korean cuisine, soju, noraebang karaoke and catching a K-pop show can happen in most districts however. Booking a hanok guesthouse also lets you experience traditional accommodation.

Best Areas In Seoul For Shopping

For shopaholics, the best home bases in Seoul are Myeongdong, Dongdaemun or the Apgujeong / Cheongdam areas in Gangnam. Myeongdong offers over 400 local boutiques alongside retail giants like Shinsegae along brightly-lit pedestrian lanes. Dongdaemun’s expansive 24-hour malls and markets offer everything from designer knock-offs to craft supplies at incredibly low rates.

Known as Korea’s Champs-Élysées, Cheongdam and Apgujeong in Gangnam flaunt posh department stores like Galleria alongside luxury flagship boutiques from brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton. Whichever retail wonderland suits your tastes, staying central allows you to conveniently drop your bags after long shopping adventures.

Best Areas In Seoul For Entertainment

For easy access to Seoul’s buzzing nightlife scene, Hongdae, Itaewon and Gangnam are ideal areas to stay. Hongdae is the city’s epicentre for indie music clubs, hidden bars and late night street food alongside art markets and cafes. Itaewon caters to party-goers with its vast array of lounges and nightclubs spinning hip hop and EDM among burger joints and craft beer pubs.

Upscale Gangnam is renowned for posh clubs playing K-pop and electronic while mega-clubs like Octagon fuel Seoul’s after-dark energy. Myeongdong also stays lively late with its brightly-lit shopping streets and food stalls. If you want somewhere to stay in Seoul that doesn’t sleep, Myeongdong is a great answer.

Best Districts In Seoul For Short Stays

With just a few days to spare, you’ll want to base yourself in Seoul’s most popular central districts like Myeongdong, Hongdae or Dongdaemun. Myeongdong will place you right in the thick of the action with traditional and modern shopping options and street food, along with cultural sights like Deoksugung Palace in walkable distance.

Also centrally located, Hongdae offers a youthful vibe with endless cafes, clubs and entertainment. Dongdaemun gives you 24/7 access to sprawling markets and malls in an inherently local scene. With so much packed into one area, these dynamic locales let you maximise a quick trip.

Best Districts In Seoul For 1-Week Stays

With a full week to explore Seoul, basing yourself in neighbourhoods like Hongdae, Myeongdong and Insadong will enable you to fully experience both historical sights and local colour. Hongdae provides quick access to trendy yet traditional sites along the Han River as well as boutique shops and galleries.

Myeongdong and Insadong places you among top attractions including Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, and Bukchon Hanok Village while also having restaurants, cafes and nightlife within close proximity. With an extensive transit system, all corners of Seoul will still remain at your fingertips from these centrally located districts.

Best Districts In Seoul For Month-long Stays

With 30 days to unpack Seoul, slower-paced residential districts like Euljiro, Seongdong or Mapo allow you to live like a local. Home to universities and hanoks, Euljiro offers budget eats with cultural sights nearby. Seongdong’s parks, family-run shops and library cafés exude neighbourhood charm.

Bordering the Han River, Mapo blends nature trails with an indie arts scene. Staying outside the usual tourist centres grants a richer, community-centric experience. Yet with Seoul’s efficient subway system, iconic attractions are only ever a short ride away at your desire.

Seoul Accommodation Searching Tips

Figuring out where to stay in Seoul is a serious concern and finding the right place at the right time of year for the right price can certainly impact the overall experience of your holiday. As well as providing a Seoul district guide that has covered what I consider the best neighbourhoods to stay in, I want to offer some of my personal tips from decades of travelling in Seoul, Korea, and beyond.

Location is key: Pick a neighbourhood that aligns with your interests, whether that be shopping in Myeongdong, culture in Insadong, or nightlife in Hongdae. This way top attractions will be walkable and you won’t find yourself travelling a long way each day. A central location that’s well connected is better than staying next to one particular attraction you want to visit.

Compare rates: Hotel prices can fluctuate dramatically. Each of the major hotel booking sites have their own deals with hotels and you might find cheaper prices for the same hotel and the same dates from different sites. I always find the hotel I want to stay in and then compare sites like agoda.com, hotels.com, and booking.com to see which has the best price for my stay.

Book early: Reserve at least 2 or 3 months out, especially for peak times like cherry blossom season (April), summer holidays (August), and autumn leaves (October), to avoid disappointment and higher prices. Rooms fill fast in Seoul and you can save a lot of money if you book in advance, so plan ahead.

Seek out guesthouses: For an authentic Korean stay, hanok guesthouses offer traditional charm at budget prices. In Seoul, you can find hanok houses in Bukchon Hanok Village where you can experience life in Joseon-era Korea, but with modern comforts.

Splurge on views: If your budget allows, rooms facing landmarks like N Seoul Tower or Bukchon Hanok Village enhance your stay exponentially. Large hotels generally have better views as they’re taller and places in Myeongdong and Insadong have rooftop bars where you can take in the views at night.

Airport connections: If you’re visiting Seoul for a short time and need to get to and from Incheon Airport conveniently, then staying in Hongdae is a great option as it’s connected to the airport by subway. It’s also connected to Gimpo Airport, which is Seoul’s main airport that flies to Jeju Island. There are also limo buses that travel from Incheon Airport to most major neighbourhoods in Seoul.

I hope these tips help you figure out where to stay in Seoul and start planning your ideal trip to Korea. Remember to check out my South Korea Travel Guide for more tips about travelling to Korea, including details about staying connected, travel money, seasons, attractions, and lots more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about where to stay in Seoul. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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Nestled in the remote Chilgapsan Mountain a couple of hours outside of Seoul, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival transforms this rural valley retreat into a glittering icy world that looks straight out of a fairy tale. This frozen festival of winter delights includes a giant wall of bubbling ice, snowy sculptures, igloos, ice caves, snow statues, ice carvings, and all round winter fun for the whole family.

In this article you can find out what there is to see and do at the Chilgapsan Festival, including the various ice-based activities and attractions, how to get there by tour or public transport, and information about whether this festival is worth visiting or not. If you’re thinking of visiting this Korean ice fountain festival, and want to know why I think it’s definitely worth it, then keep on reading.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Visit The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2024?

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival (칠갑산 얼음분수축제) offers visitors the chance to see a truly unique sight – massive structures crafted entirely from long icicles that appear to sprout up from the ground and have earned this winter festival the nickname of ‘Ice Castle’. The icicles, sparkling to create the illusion of frozen ice fountains, are man-made but that makes them no less magical.

With its stunning mix of dramatic natural scenery and dream-like illuminations, the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival promises a fairy tale experience found nowhere else in Korea. This festival runs from December 23rd, 2023 to February 28th, 2024, which makes it one of Korea’s longest winter festivals and gives you plenty of opportunities to see it if you visit Korea during winter.

By day, you can explore illuminated ice caves and sculptures that get more fantastical each year. But it’s at night when the full effect comes alive, with rainbow-hued lights reflecting off the icy landscape synchronized to festive music. Visitors wander through this winter wonderland with hot chocolate in hand, snapping selfies and admiring over 50,000 tons of magical ice art crafted just for the festival.

Who Will Enjoy This Korean Winter Festival?

I think the Chilgapsan festival will appeal to couples and families, as well as anyone who enjoys playing in the snow. There are many rides and activities aimed at children, so this is a great way to keep them entertained during winter and gives them a fun, snowy playground to play in. Couples will enjoy strolling around the snow-covered landscape, posing for pictures in the many photo zones.

Warning about Korea’s winter weather: Winter in Korea can be very cold, especially during January and February, with temperatures dropping below zero degrees Celsius even during the day. If you are travelling with children, make sure they’re wrapped up well so they don’t suffer from the cold. There are lots of markets in Seoul that sell winter clothes and you can get heat packs and hand warmers, too.

What To Do At The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival provides a whole day of fun for people of all ages with lots of activities available for everyone, especially children. The main draw during the day is the ice fountain, sculptures and ice caves, with winter illuminations bringing the festival site to life once the sun sets. There’s also Korean festival food to try, snow and ice-based sports, and children’s rides.

Here are some of the best things you can see and do at this festival:

Ice Fountain, Ice Wall And Ice Sculptures

The towering ice fountains, which give this festival its name, and giant ice wall really have to be seen to be believed. Created by shooting jets of water which then freeze in place, they look truly unique. They look impressive during the day, but look even more extraordinary once the sun goes down and the lights are turned on, illuminating them in an ever changing rainbow of colours.

As well as the ice fountains, there are carefully created sculptures (inspired by Korean cartoons, Disney, and Pokemon), cute animals, and lots more. There are also ice sculptures shaped like the famous Korean turtle boat, a frozen Gwanghwamun Gate, wild animals, and a life-sized train made from ice.

Ice Caves, Igloos And Illuminations

Head into the ice caves and igloos to escape the cold and see gleaming blocks of ice lit up with vivid lights bouncing from frozen surfaces. There are several icy buildings to wander around and, as with the ice fountains, these look best when it’s dark so you can appreciate the illuminations at their fullest. Speaking of illuminations, there are lots of displays with pretty lights to see at night.

Snow And Ice Sports

There are plenty of winter sports to keep you busy and this festival is a great place to see snow in Korea as there are many snow machines working just in case it doesn’t snow. Slide down the snow sledding slope on a rubber ring or the ice sledding slope on a small sleigh. If you prefer flat surfaces, try the traditional Korean wooden sleighs and push yourself along the ice with short sticks.

Besides sledding, you can also try your hand at other winter sports and activities such as ice fishing, bare hand fishing in frozen tanks of water, a zip line past the frozen fountains, and a cow-drawn sleigh ride through the snow. If you want to try ice fishing, the experience here isn’t as impressive as dedicated ice fishing festivals like the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, but it’s still fun.

Children’s Activities At The Chilgapsan Winter Festival

I saw lots of families at the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival and there were plenty of activities for kids to enjoy, including a tractor-pulled ‘can sled’. These ‘cans’ looked like big cut out barrels with chairs inside, but were quite safe and let the kids feel like they were in their own personal car. The activities aren’t exactly on par with Disneyland, but they’re a good way to play in the snow.

As well as the sled and skis, children can try horse riding while being led around a course by a handler. There are also cultural activities and arts and crafts in small tents, but you might need to know a bit of Korean to understand what’s going on there. Activities will probably vary each year and may only be open during the busier weekend day, but I’m not sure so they could be available.

Food At The Chilgapsan Festival

Fans of Korean food won’t be disappointed with the range of Korean winter snacks at the Chilgapsan winter festival. Inside the festival grounds you can try various winter street foods on skewers, including chicken, rice cakes, and fish cakes, as well as deep fried fish. There’s also a cafe to get coffee, but don’t expect a chain store cafe, this is a temporary hut with a coffee machine inside.

The best part about the food at this festival has to be the roasted chestnuts, sweetcorn, and sweet potatoes. You can roast your own chestnuts on a log fire and cook the sweetcorn over hot coals. The sweet potatoes are roasted inside big metal drum ovens and served piping hot and steaming. These provide not only hot and delicious snacks, but also a fun experience to try at the festival.

For proper meals, there are some restaurants serving traditional Korean dishes such as tteok-guk (rice cake soup), haemul pajeon (Korean seafood pancakes), guk-bap (soupy stew with rice inside), and my favourite, donkasu (pork cutlet). There are simple meals like Korean curry and soybean sauce rice, too.

Sights Near Cheongyang Alps Village

Chilgapsan is the name of the mountain that the Cheongyang Alps Village, home to the ice fountain festival, is located by, which is why this festival is sometimes called the Cheongyang Ice Fountain Festival. If you want to explore more of this area during winter, there’s a really nice suspension bridge, the Chilgapsan Suspension Bridge (천장호 출렁다리), and reservoir near the entrance to the festival.

The reservoir looks really pretty when it’s frozen over and covered in snow, as you can see in the picture above. You can walk around the reservoir by following the wooden pathways, which are decorated with cute Korean messages along the way. You might be wondering why the suspension bridge has two giant chili peppers at each end. That’s because this area is famous for growing chilies.

Ticket Prices And Essential Festival Information

The entry fee for the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is ₩8,000 per person (children under 36 months are free). This gives you access to the festival grounds and access to the sculptures, ice fountains, ice caves, igloos, and other sights and facilities at the festival.

The sledding pass, which includes access to the sledding hill for ice sledding, snow sledding, and bob sledding, costs about ₩20,000 per person. There are also additional costs for the zip line, ice fishing and children’s activities, such as horse riding and the can sled. The prices for these activities aren’t available on the festival’s official website yet, but I’ll update prices here when they are.

For more information about this festival (in Korean), you can visit the official Alps Village website.

Tours To Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2024

Despite the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival becoming more popular each year, there aren’t many tours. If you don’t have a car, taking a tour to the festival is the best option and gives you the benefit of a guaranteed direct journey there and back, as well as a guide who can tell you more about the festival.

Here are two tours that I recommend for the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival:

Cheongyang (Chilgapsan) Ice Festival & Other Winter Sights from Seoul: This all day guided tour from various locations in Seoul will take you to some of the hottest winter destinations in Korea, including the Chilgapsan festival. There are various options to add on extra destinations, such as Nami Island, the Garden of Morning Calm, Eobi Ice Valley, and a strawberry picking farm

Price: From ₩62,200 (about $47 USD)

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival at Cheongyang Alps Village from Seoul: This all day tour from Seoul will take you to the Cheongyang Alps Village to see the Chilgapsan winter festival. You can add on extras, such as ice sledding, snow sledding, and bobsleigh, as well as extra destinations, to give you a full winter experience in Korea. You get over 4 hours to enjoy at the festival.

Price: From ₩69,100 (about $53 USD)

I always recommend booking tours in advance when visiting Korea for these reasons:

Learn more: Paying in your home currency is usually easier and cheaper than converting money into Korean won. Booking ahead is one of the tips included in my guide to paying in Korea, which covers ways to save on travel money in Korea and alternatives to relying on exchanging cash to travel.

How To Get To The Chilgapsan Winter Festival

Cheongyang Alps Village is a resort located in North Chungcheong Province, which is south of Seoul and about an hour west of Daejeon. It’s about 3.5 hours away from Seoul by car and can be reached by car or guided tour. Here are details about how to get to this Korean ice fountain festival by each of those means. There are instructions in Korean on the festival website, too.

From Seoul To Chilgapsan Festival By Car: If you plan to rent a car in Korea, or you live in Korea and have your own car, then you can drive to the festival in just over three hours from Seoul. You can find the main festival location by searching for “칠갑산얼음분수축제” or “알프스마을영농조합법인” in Naver or Kakao map apps. Use the address shown below to get directions with a sat-nav.

Address in Korean: 충남 청양군 정산면 천장호길 223-35 없음

From Seoul To Chilgapsan Festival By Tour: There are various tours to the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival from Seoul, as detailed in the previous section. Taking a tour is a convenient way to see the festival and to save time vs. organising your own way there on public transportation.

Please note: You can get to the Chilgapsan festival by taking a train from Seoul to Gongju and then transferring to a local bus, but the options for buses are very limited and don’t run late. I strongly recommend either renting a car or taking a tour rather than trying to get there by public transport. If you do want to try, there are directions (in Korean) on the festival website.

Best time to visit the Chilgapsan Festival: The best time to visit this festival is in the afternoon so you can enjoy snowy sights during the day, but don’t have to wait so long for the sun to set and to see the night lights and illuminations. Avoid visiting during the weekends if you can as it will be very busy.

Is The Chilgapsan Festival Worth Visiting?

Should you visit the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival? In the words of my friend Tim, who kindly contributed a lot of the pictures for this article, this festival is, “Totally worth it!“. This festival has plenty to see and do and will keep people amused in the afternoon and evening. If you take a tour that also visits another winter destination, such as a strawberry farm, then it’s a great day trip from Seoul.

Families will find plenty to do with lots of the activities aimed at children, such as the sledding slope, horse rides, and the can sleigh. Even if you’re not travelling with children, the beautiful winter displays at the Chilgapsan festival offer couples and solo travellers the chance to take unique pictures with snowy backgrounds and icy buildings, sample traditional Korean snacks, and experience a Korean festival.

This festival is worth visiting, but please consider the weather during winter in Korea. It’s cold and dry, which can be tough for people not used to such conditions. Be sure to wrap up warm and bring skin cream to protect against the dryness. Gloves are a must and heat packs that go in your pockets can save your fingers. Be aware of the cold weather and you should be fine here.

A Special Thanks To Photos Of Korea

I want to give a big shout out and thanks to Tim from Photos of Korea for letting me use his incredible photos from this festival and for sharing his thoughts about the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival, which he visited in 2023. You can see loads of incredible pictures of Korea’s lesser-known locations and festivals from his Facebook page, Instagram page, and his uploads on Unsplash.

2024 Winter Festivals In Korea To See Snowy Sights

Besides this Korean ice fountain festival, there are many other winter festivals that you should check out for exciting activities, incredible views, and cultural immersion. These festivals introduce you to traditional Korean culture in beautiful surroundings and with lots of delicious Korean festival food. Here are some of the other major winter festivals you can see in Korea:

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations: Exploring sculpted gardens and electric forests when the sun has set is like entering into a magical world, a true winter fantasia with lots of photo opportunities. Every year the garden has a range of themed areas that focus on animals, plants, and even love for the sweethearts.

Seoul Lantern Festival: This dazzling festival is held in Gwanghwamun Square outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, which gives over it’s large pedestrianised areas to massive themed lantern installations. These installations feature different concepts each year like aquarium scenes, starry nights, nature landscapes, and Korean folktales.

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival: This is one of Korea’s best winter festivals and made it into CNN’s top 7 ‘Wonder’s of Winter’ for a good reason. The Hwacheon Sancneoneo Ice Festival attracts over a million people each year to try ice fishing (with a rod or bare handed). There are winter activities, ice sculptures, and a Korean Winter Village with cultural games and Korean festival food.

Learn more: Discover all the best festivals to visit in Korea this winter with this guide to Korea’s winter festivals, which includes ice fishing festivals, illumination festivals, New Year festivals, and lots more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is worth visiting because you get to experience a traditional Korean winter festival on a day trip from Seoul. There are also lots of other interesting ice-based games, cultural activities, and opportunities for sightseeing around this fish-focused town. This winter festival creates such a lively atmosphere it’s no wonder that it attracts over one million visitors every year.

In this article you can find out what there is to see and do at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, including the various ice-based activities and attractions, how to get there by tour or public transport, and information about other ice fishing festivals in Korea. If you’re thinking of visiting this fun winter festival, and want to know why it’s one of CNN’s “7 Wonders of Winter”, then keep on reading.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why I Love The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

This festival was the first winter festival that I visited when I moved to Korea and it’s one I’ve gone back to and will go back to again in the future as it’s pretty, fun, and has plenty to do. I bought a souvenir wooden fish from Hwacheon on my first visit and it still sits proudly on the top of my bookcase as a reminder of this festival. The fish I caught for lunch that day, however, has long since gone!

If I know people are coming to visit Korea in January and want to experience a unique winter festival that offers a fun day out from Seoul, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is always the first I recommend to them. This festival provides a mixture of culture, sports, entertainment, involvement, and surprising sights that makes it so memorable. This is a great festival to visit as a group or family.

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival runs from January 6th until January 23rd, 2024, right during the coldest part of winter in Korea when the river freezes over and there is ice over 40cm thick. Don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe to walk on, or even slide and sled on, even with all those holes drilled in it for you to catch fish through.

What To Do At The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival provides a whole day of fun for people of all ages with lots of activities available for everyone. The main draw is the ice fishing, which is one of the first things you see, but as you eyes stretch out over the icy river, you’ll notice a whole town alive with things to explore.

Here are some of the best things you can see and do at this festival:

1: Ice Fishing & Cooking

Ice fishing is the main attraction at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival and one that people typically start with when they arrive. All along the long stretch of frozen river running through the town are temporary ice fishing spots right above where the fish are swimming in the cold waters below.

You will be given a small fishing rod and bag to store your catch in and then shown to your own little hole in the ice. Now it’s your chance to prove your fishing skills by trying to hook the fish out from the frigid waters below. Once you’ve caught a few (limit of 3 per person), you can go to the kitchens and grill the fish or have it prepared as sashimi (raw fish). Both go well with a Korean beer.

Ice fishing on the river is probably not something most people have done and it’s fun to try at least once. There are lots of fun photo opportunities and the fact that you can cook your fish afterwards is a tasty bonus. Slipping along on the ice is also fun, as is watching others fail at walking on it so well.

2: Bare Hand Ice Fishing Competition

For those who want to test themselves in the frosty waters, there’s the chance to join in the bare hand ice fishing competition that’s held on the shore of the river. This is exactly what it sounds like – catching trout with your bare hands in a giant pool of ice cold water. It’s also a great spectator sport.

The contestants jump in the pool dressed in shorts and an overly large t-shirt (provided) and stuff trout down their tops until the 5 minute time limit is up. There’s a special prize for anyone who finds a trout with a golden ring attached, but otherwise you get to keep 3 of the fish you caught. You can eat your catch in the same way as the ice fishing and there’s also a hot foot bath provided to warm you up after.

The competition starts every hour (10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00) with up to 40 people jumping in the pool together – both locals and brave foreigners who have joined in. A friend of mine tried it one time and he really enjoyed it, but was happy to be out of the cold water by the end. I think he managed to catch 2 fish, which is pretty good. Definitely don’t miss watching this.

3: Ice Sledding And Snow Sports

There are all kinds of icy winter sports and activities to try at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival that don’t involve fish. You can try your hand at ice sledding in the traditional Korean way – on a small wooden box with two poles to push yourself along. Grab a box and give it a go.

Alternatively, you can jump in a giant inflatable ring and zoom down the snowy slopes, ending on the frozen river below. I spent quite a while doing this as it’s lots of fun. Fans of the Winter Olympics can try out curling, bobsleigh, and ice skating. If you want something more extreme, there’s also a zip line over the ice and ice suit walking (ice zorbing).

4: Ice Displays And Illuminations

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is home to ‘the world’s largest indoor ice sculpture plaza‘, according to the sign outside the entrance to one of the top attractions at this Korean festival. Inside this large building you’ll find a frosty wonderland of frozen ice sculptures of all different shapes and sizes.

One of the most impressive ice sculptures in this display is the large Korean-style traditional building, which resembles a small palace that you’d find in Seoul. There’s also ice slides, frozen fish sculptures, romantic photo zones, and lots of other interesting icy sights that no doubt change every year.

When the sun starts to set, which happens before 6pm in January, you’ll be dazzled by the beautiful winter illuminations and lanterns strung up throughout the town of Hwacheon. These cover the central street and also spread out across other key areas in the town. Unsurprisingly, a lot of the lanterns are shaped like fish to represent the famous sancheoneo mountain trout the town is famous for.

5: Winter Culture Village And Sights

Between the ice sports, fishing, illuminations, and strange people jumping into pools of freezing cold water are cultural activities to check out, including traditional Korean games like the ones seen on Squid Game, at the Winter Culture Village. Koreans are keen to introduce foreigners to their traditional culture and this ice fishing festival is an opportunity for you to learn more about Korean culture.

Some of the activities you can try at the Winter Culture Village include archery, slingshot shooting, fire fighting, and games like yut nori. You can eat Korean traditional foods, such as fried rice cakes and nurungji (scorched rice). There’s also performances with traditional instruments on the weekend.

Hwacheon is a town that’s crazy about fish and to show their love for their slippery friends, they’ve painted lots of colourful murals on buildings throughout the town. These make for interesting photo spots and holiday snaps. There’s also a giant rotating fish statue looking over the river that rotates from atop a tall tower. There are many unique sights like this to check out in Hwacheon.

Ticket Prices And Tour Options For This Festival

The fee for the main activities at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival (ice fishing and bare hand ice fishing) is normally ₩15,000 per activity for anyone 11+. However, to encourage foreign visitors to join in this winter festival, there is a discount for all non-Koreans. Foreign visitors to the festival only pay ₩10,000 (~$9 USD) per activity and children under 6 year enter free.

What is included in the entry price? The entry fee for this festival allows you to enter the frozen river and try ice fishing with the provided fishing equipment. You get to eat the fish after you’ve caught it, prepared on a grill or as sashimi (raw fish) for an additional fee of ₩3,000 per fish. There’s a limit of 3 fish per person and you can take them home with you if you like.

Walking around the town and joining in cultural activities is free, as are some of the activities such as curling and badminton. Other activities at the ice fishing festival, such as sledding, bobsleigh, rubber tube slides, zip line etc., come with additional charges as follows:

Tours To The 2024 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

There are a number of tours available to the Hwacheon Sancehoneo Ice Festival that depart from Seoul and are open only to foreign tourists. These tours include transportation to Seoul and back, a tour guide who speaks English, and entry fees to various activities, which means you can see the best of the festival for one price and without the hassle of organising your own transport.

Here are two tours that I recommend for the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival:

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival Day Tour from Seoul: This 11 hour round-trip tour from Myeongdong and Hongdae will show you the best ice fishing festival in Korea with a professional English-speaking driver and guide. The tour fee includes ice fishing with grilled fish, 5 rides on the ice sled, the Ice Sculpture Square, and a complimentary ₩10,000 coupon to spend on other activities.

Price: ₩53,000 (about $43 USD)

Hwacheon Ice Fishing and Garden Of Morning Calm Lighting Festival: This combined tour from Seoul will take you to two of the hottest winter festivals in Korea – the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival and the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival. The tour includes entry fee for the ice fishing activity with all equipment, an English-speaking guide, and entry to the Garden of Morning calm.

Price: ₩73,000 (about $55 USD)

I always recommend booking tours in advance when visiting Korea for these reasons:

Learn more: Paying in your home currency is usually easier and cheaper than converting money into Korean won. Booking ahead is one of the tips included in my guide to paying in Korea, which covers ways to save on travel money in Korea and alternatives to relying on exchanging cash to travel.

How To Get To The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

Hwacheon is a town located in Gangwon Province halfway between Seoul and the east coast. It’s about 2.5 hours away from Seoul by car and can be reached by car, shuttle bus, or guided tour. Here’s some details about how to get to the ice fishing festival by each of those means. There are instructions in Korean on the festival website, too.

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Car: If you plan to rent a car in Korea, or you live in Korea and have your own car, then you can drive to the festival in a couple of hours from Seoul. The main festival location is “화천산천어축제”, but you will probably need to visit a temporary car park to park your car. The address of the festival is shown below. Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for directions.

Address in Korean: 강원 화천군 화천읍 중리 187-15

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Shuttle Bus: There is a special shuttle bus that operates for this festival exclusively for foreign tourists. This shuttle bus only runs once per day at 8:30am from Hongdae / 9:00am from Myeongdong and doesn’t include entry fees to any of the activities. The price for this shuttle bus is ₩20,000 per person.

From Seoul To Hwacheon By Tour: There are various tours to the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival from Seoul, as detailed in the previous section. Taking a tour is a convenient way to see the festival and to save time vs. organising your own way there on public transportation.

Please note: You can get to Hwacheon by bus and train from Seoul but this might be more expensive than taking the shuttle bus and definitely takes longer. I would recommend either using the shuttle bus or one of the tour options rather than trying to get there by public transport. If you do want to try, there are directions (in Korean) on the festival website.

Are Korean Ice Fishing Festivals Worth Visiting?

Should you visit an ice fishing festival in Korea this winter? In my opinion, you absolutely should. These winter festivals are a great opportunity to see snowy and icy landscapes, try a range of fun activities, eat delicious Korean festival foods, and create lasting memories from your time in Korea.

Just look at the guy in the picture. He’s standing in ice-cold water with a slippery trout in his hand and he’s got a big smile on his face. Whether you’re taking part or observing from the sidelines, there are so many entertaining sights and activities to enjoy at the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival.

The festival does involve a long trip from Seoul to attend, about 2.5 hours each way, but you get a full day of activities and unique photo opportunities. If you add a side trip to the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival at the same time, you get your money’s worth in terms of travel time.

The only downside of this festival is its popularity. It can get busy on weekends, which might put some people off. As a tourist, you have the luxury to travel during the week and I would definitely recommend visiting on a weekday to avoid the crowds and get more time and space at the festival.

Other Ice Fishing Festivals In Korea

I would say that the Hwacheon Ice Festival is my favourite fishing festival in Korea, but it’s not the only ice fishing festival that’s on during winter. There are few other big ice fishing festivals that run at the same time of year and offer the chance enjoy more ice and snow-based activities in Korea.

Pyeongchang Trout Ice Fishing Festival 2024: Pyeongchang, home to the 2018 Winter Olympics, hosts a trout ice fishing festival each year with many people attending to try their luck with a rod. There are other events to enjoy, including bare hand fish catching, sledding, snow rafting, and a sleigh train. For extreme sports lovers, you can rent an ATV and zoom through the frozen landscape.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Inje Ice Fishing Festival 2024: Running for more than 20 years, this large ice fishing festival in Inje is a family-friendly winter festival that not only includes ice fishing, but a range of other activities, too. There’s the Ice Playground, Snow Playground, and Mountain Village, where you can build a snowman, learn to sled and ski, slide down slippery slides, see ice sculptures, and see cultural exhibitions.

Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival 2024: Held in the Soomy Village resort, this winter ice fishing festival runs from December to February and hosts a range of activities for families and other visitors to enjoy. Besides ice fishing, you can experience kite-flying, top spinning, sledding, and making traditional Korean snacks (jin-bang).

2024 Winter Festivals In Korea To See Snowy Sights

Besides ice fishing festivals, there are many other winter festivals in Korea that you should check out for exciting activities, incredible views, and cultural immersion. Here are some of the other major winter festivals you can see in Korea:

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations: Exploring sculpted gardens and electric forests when the sun has set is like entering into a magical world, a true winter fantasia with lots of photo opportunities. Every year the garden has a range of themed areas that focus on animals, plants, and even love for the sweethearts.

Seoul Lantern Festival: This dazzling festival is held in Gwanghwamun Square outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, which gives over it’s large pedestrianised areas to massive themed lantern installations. These installations feature different concepts each year like aquarium scenes, starry nights, nature landscapes, and Korean folktales.

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival: The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is a lesser-known gem among Korea’s winter festivals, but is fast becoming a must-see destination as a day trip from Seoul due to the unique ice fountains. There’s also a lot of delicious Korean winter foods to try, such as roasted chestnuts that you can cook yourself.

Learn more: Discover all the best festivals to visit in Korea this winter with this guide to Korea’s winter festivals, which includes ice fishing festivals, illumination festivals, New Year festivals, and lots more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival. These answers are based on my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

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This article will cover the most popular methods of payment, like cash and credit cards, as well as other methods, such as mobile payment apps, Korean debit cards, and transportation cards. From street food to shopping, sightseeing, and singing rooms, spending money in Korea doesn’t need to be difficult.

I’ve lived and travelled in Korea since 2015 and helped hundreds of people plan their trip to Korea through this website and social media groups. I want to share all of my best tips to help you save money, avoid problems, shop, and spend in Korea more easily and to help you plan your Korean adventure.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Cash Or Card: What’s The Best Way To Pay In Korea?

Which is better, cash or card when you want to pay in Korea? Well, it depends on a number of factors, such as what you’re buying, where you’re buying it from, and which country you’re visiting from. You might use cash to pay for small purchases in stores, traditional markets, or for street food, but as all merchants in Korea are required to accept credit cards by law, the need for cash is shrinking.

Using a credit card is the best payment method in Korea and will allow you to pay safely and conveniently for tours, hotels, meals, coffee, and more. Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely for payments in Korea from small purchases in shops to large payments like hotels and tours. However, using a foreign credit card isn’t 100% reliable for payments, so taking cash is a good backup.

Korea is fast becoming a cash-free society with a strong push for digital payments through apps, as well as the use of credit cards and mobile payments. Public transport has long rewarded travellers who don’t use cash with discounted fares available through transportation cards. These days, many buses are cash-free and won’t accept cash in cities like Seoul (20% of buses) and Daejeon (all buses).

If you don’t want to pay with your credit card when travelling in Korea, an alternative is a multi-currency travel card, such as those offered by Wise and Revolut, as well as payment apps such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. These are becoming more common as a means to spend money when visiting Korea and a way to possibly save money vs. exchanging cash.

Recommended Money Mix For Visiting Korea

What payment options would I recommend for Korea? From my own experience of travelling abroad for over 20 years, I recommend a mixture of cash and card, as well as paying for as much as you can before travelling so you can pay in your home currency. Booking hotels, tours, and attractions through sites like Klook.com can potentially save you money and avoid exchange fees.

Here’s a suggested money mix for visiting Korea:

• Bring 20-30% of your budget in cash (Korean won or your own currency).
  • You can withdraw extra cash using a credit card or multi-currency card if you need to.
• Bring a credit card or multi-currency card for the other 70-80% of expenses.
  • Alternatively, get a WOWPASS when you arrive in Korea and bring more cash to top it up.
• Book as much as possible online before you travel.
  • Online prices for attractions are generally much cheaper than the gate prices.

Despite Korea being card-friendly, there are still times when you need cash, so definitely bring some with you or withdraw it from a Global ATM in Korea. I suggest using a card for most of your spending as it’s quick, convenient, and increasingly the only option due to Korea’s move away from using cash.

Which card you bring depends on what you’re comfortable using. I travel using a Wise multi-currency card to make payments and receive money in Korea from my own account and other sources. When I travel to other countries in Asia, such as Thailand, I don’t use my UK credit card as my bank charges me an exchange fee. It’s much cheaper for me to transfer money to my Wise card instead.

Another option that I would recommend to travellers, especially those from other parts of Asia, is bringing cash and loading it onto a WOWPASS, which is a Korean debit card. The WOWPASS allows you to exchange money from 15 foreign currencies into Korean won and load it onto the debit card, which you can use to pay across Korea.

I’ll cover each of the payment methods discussed above in the following sections so you can get a better idea of the pros and cons of each and whether it’s the right way for you or not.

Disclaimer: This guide is intended to provide you information about payment options in Korea and the practicality of using each. I don’t think there is one payment option that is suitable for all travellers and I recommend you look at your own situation and determine what’s best for you based on exchange fees from your country, fees charged by your bank, and whether your credit card works overseas.

Paying By Debit And Credit Card In Korea

Credit cards from Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Korea and will work in most locations, including tourist attractions, hotels, shops, department stores, and restaurants. American Express is also accepted, but not as widely. Using your credit card in Korea can be a great way to build up points / miles and your card may have other benefits, such as travel insurance.

While larger businesses are likely to accept foreign credit cards, you might find that smaller ones refuse to accept them or are unable to process them, which is why I recommend bringing some cash or getting a Korean debit card just in case. However, in most places, especially in tourist-friendly places like Seoul, Busan, and Gyeongju, international credit cards should be accepted without any problems.

Here are some considerations when deciding whether you should pay by credit card in Korea:

Foreign Exchange Fees: Your bank may charge you a fee when you use your credit card overseas. Be sure to check with your bank before travelling so you don’t find unexpected costs when you return.

ATMs: Foreign credit cards should work at ‘Global ATMs’ in popular tourist areas like Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Gangnam, as well as at Incheon Airport. However, other ATMs in Korea may not accept non-Korean credit cards. There is usually a fee to use a Korean ATM of around ₩3,600 (about $3). Also, Korean ATMs don’t operate 24 hours a day and close around 11pm at night.

Chip & Pin Use: Card payments in Korea are done by touching the card to a card reader or inserting the card and signing for the payment if it’s over ₩50,000. Chip & Pin isn’t commonly used in Korea.

Blocked Cards: Your bank may block your credit card when travelling as a security measure. It might be necessary to tell your bank that you plan to travel to Korea so they don’t block it later on.

Fraud & Card Security: Credit card fraud against tourists in Korea isn’t a serious issue, although it can still happen. Phishing is a growing problem in Korea, but usually against Koreans instead of tourists.

Pay Before You Travel: You can book tours, hotels, attractions, and lots more online before you travel and pay with your credit card. These will charge you in your own currency, so there’s no exchange rate fees and you also have peace of mind that everything is booked before you arrive in Korea.

Debit Cards: If your debit card is from Visa, Mastercard, or American Express, you should be fine using it to pay in Korea in the same way you can a credit card, as long as your bank allows it. However, the same issues will apply when trying to withdraw money from an ATM – you’ll need to go to a ‘Global ATM’ to withdraw cash. Also, you’ll need to check if your bank allows you to use it internationally.

Multi-Currency Cards: Wise And Revolut

I know many travellers feel comfortable using their own credit card due to the various benefits their credit card might offer, but there is another way to pay in Korea that could lower the fees you pay. This alternative is a multi-currency travel card, which allows you to convert money from your home currency to Korean won online and then use that balance to pay by card in Korea.

There are many companies that offer multi-currency travel cards, including Wise and Revolut, which are available to residents of the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and many other countries. Starling Bank (UK), YouTrip (Singapore), Chime (US), N26 (Eurozone), and KOHO (Canada) also provide multiple-currency travel cards.

The main benefits of these cards can include:

• Top-up from your home bank account.
• Only spend what you need.
• No transaction fees when you pay by card.*
• You get the mid-market exchange rate.*
• Withdraw cash from ATMs.
• Track your spending with the app.
• Instantly freeze and replace your card.
• Digital payments through Google / Apple Pay*
• Can be used in dozens of countries.*

*depending on the card and the terms and conditions of that card

What’s good about these cards? Multi-currency cards offer a lot of flexibility and cost savings when travelling as you can get the mid-market exchange rate on currency exchanges, which is typically better than the rates offered by money exchanges. It’s easy to control your spending in the connected app and you can transfer more money to the card when you need it. Any leftover money can be refunded, saved for later, or converted into another currency. You can also use them in other countries.

How do these cards let you pay in Korea? The process is really simple. First, apply for the card before you travel and download the relevant app that goes with it. Transfer money from your bank to top-up the card balance in your home currency and then convert that into Korean won (or other currencies you might need). When you arrive in Korea, use the card as you would a regular credit card.

My experience using Wise in Korea: I’ve tested out both the Wise card and Revolut card in Korea and they both worked with no real problems. I tested them in restaurants, shops, cafes, attractions, and other places tourists are likely to visit. The only time they didn’t work was at an automated kiosk for train tickets in Seoul Station. I use the Wise card to spend my UK money in Korea or when I travel.

Learn more: This article about using Wise in Korea shows you how to get a Wise card, how it can save you money as you travel (in many countries), how to activate the card in Korea, and lots more.

WOWPASS Korean Debit Card

An alternative to using your own credit card to pay in Korea is to get a local Korean debit card called the WOWPASS. The WOWPASS has two great functions that make it a practical solution for travellers to Korea, especially those from countries such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Debit Card Function: The main feature of the WOWPASS is the ability to pay like a local in Korea with a debit card issued by a Korean company, which is accepted in most locations. You can exchange 15 currencies, including PHP, IDR, MYR, THB, into Korean won to top-up the debit card (up to a value of 1 million won) at the WOWPASS terminals found across Korea. This helps you to avoid exchanging cash elsewhere and you can withdraw cash from the card in Korean won, too.

T-Money Function: The WOWPASS comes with a built in T-Money transportation card, which means you can use it to travel on Korea’s buses and subways. This makes it really easy to travel around Korea and you can simply touch in and out of buses and subways as you travel and the fee will be automatically deducted.

My experience using WOWPASS in Korea: I wrote an article about the WOWPASS and tried using the card in loads of locations in Seoul, Incheon Airport, and Daejeon. It’s very easy to use and the app helps you find the WOWPASS machines where you can recharge the card and exchange money. I still use the card now and I would definitely recommend it as an option for people visiting Korea.

Learn more: Read my guide to the WOWPASS to see how to get one, where it works, how to top it up, ways it can save you money, and my experience using the WOWPASS in Korea.

Cash And Traveller’s Cheques

South Korea’s currency is called the Korean won (₩) and comes in ₩1,000, ₩5,000 ₩10,000 and ₩50,000 notes as well as coins in ₩1, ₩5, ₩10, ₩50, ₩100, and ₩500 denominations. The value of the Korean won can be confusing to travellers from countries where the numbers of the currency are much smaller, such as in the USA, Europe, and the UK.

To understand the value of Korean money, I find it easier to remember what each one will buy you in Korea. A bottle of water costs around ₩1,000, a coffee costs about ₩5,000, a Korean meal costs around ₩10,000, and a budget to mid-range hotel costs about ₩100,000 per night, depending on the season and location.

Paying with cash in Korea is becoming more difficult as restaurants, supermarkets, public transportation, and attractions are moving towards automated kiosks that only accept card or digital payments. However, you will need some cash to pay to top-up transportation cards, such as the T-Money card, which is why it’s useful to have cash before you travel.

Cash is still important and it will certainly be useful to carry it with you as you explore Korea’s markets and food stalls, which should be happy to accept cash. However, as a tipping culture doesn’t exist in Korea, you don’t really need to worry about keeping small bills with you to leave tips. Koreans won’t expect tips in almost all situations.

Where To Exchange Money In Korea

The best place to convert your foreign currency into Korean won is at a money exchange in Seoul, especially in popular tourist areas such as Hongdae and Myeongdong. The aforementioned WOWPASS machines are also great for converting foreign currency into Korean won (to pay by debit card) and both rates are better than airport exchange rates.

As research for this article, I visited money exchanges in Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Incheon Airport, as well as checking the rates given at WOWPASS machines. Overall, the rates were worst at the airport and best with WOWPASS. Here are the rates offered on this specific day (June 29th, 2023) for converting USD to KRW:

• Airport exchange rate: $1 = ₩1,249.00
• Seoul money exchange: $1 = ₩1,287.80
• WOWPASS exchange rate: $1 = ₩1,302.81

Potential savings with Seoul exchanges: If you were to exchange $500, the difference between the airport exchange rate and the WOWPASS exchange machine is ₩26,905 (roughly $20). Depending on your budget, this might not be enough of an incentive to wait to find a money exchange in Seoul instead of changing money at the airport, but if you want to cut costs, there are cheaper options available.

There are money exchanges near subway stations in Myeongdong and Hongdae where you can get competitive exchange rates in Seoul. WOWPASS exchange machines are located across Seoul.

Which currencies can be converted in Korea? Foreign currencies that can be converted into Korean won at the airport and in money exchange machines typically include USD, JPY, EUR, VND, CNY, THB, PHP, AUD, GBP, CHF, SGD, NZD, CAD, HKD, and TWD. WOWPASS exchange machines also accept MYR and IDR.

Global And Local ATMs In Korea

You can withdraw cash from ATMs in Korea using a debit card, but not all ATMs will accept international cards. Look for a sign saying ‘Global ATM’ or ‘Foreign Currency ATM’ to withdraw cash in Korea, like those pictured above which are located in Hongik University Station in Hongdae. You can also withdraw cash using a credit card, but it might be more expensive due to cash advance fees.

ATM fees: Whether you use a debit or credit card, an ATM is likely to charge a fee to withdraw money using a foreign card. The last time I withdrew cash using a foreign card at a Korean ATM, the fee was ₩3,600 (about $3). Your bank or credit card company may also charge a fee on top of that or give you a bad exchange rate when converting from KRW. These costs can add up a lot if you withdraw regularly, so try to make fewer withdrawals.

Where to find Global ATMs: You can find Global ATMs in popular tourist destinations such as Incheon Airport, Myeongdong, Hongdae, Gangnam, and Jamsil.

Are Traveller’s Cheques Accepted In Korea?

Yes, traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at Korean banks or currency exchange offices in Korea. You might also be able to exchange them at certain hotels. I haven’t used traveller’s cheques in Korea so can’t say how easy it is to exchange them, but large banks in central Seoul are probably your best option. You can ask at your hotel, too.

Currency Restrictions For South Korea

If you plan to bring cash to Korea and exchange it into Korean won, or even if you’re bringing Korean won, please note that there is a limit of $10,000 USD that can be legally brought into the country. This figure includes travellers cheques. The limit of $10,000 can be exceeded, but you must report it to customs when you arrive.

Korean Public Transportation Cards

If you want to travel on Korea’s excellent public transportation network, then you should pick up a transportation card when you arrive at Incheon Airport or from other locations across the country. The best part about these cards is that they not only allow you to pay for transport in Seoul, you can use them for the whole country and to pay for small purchases, too. Some even give discounts.

Here’s a breakdown of the main transportation cards in Korea and where to buy them:

• T-Money Card: This is the most popular transportation card and can be used on buses and subways, as well as to pay for items in shops, cafes, vending machines, and even tickets for attractions. These cards are available from convenience stores nationwide and come included with the WOWPASS.
• Korea Tour Card: This is a tourist-only transportation card that can be bought at airports and harbours in Korea. It uses the T-Money system to pay for public transport and make payments. You can also get certain discounts when you show this card.
• Cashbee Card: The Cashbee Card by Lotte can be purchased and used in most of the same locations as T-Money. You can purchase a Cashbee Card at convenience stores and subway stations across Korea.
• Rail + Card: The Rail+ Card is sold at train stations across Korea and is run by the national train network. You can use it to pay for train services, including Korea’s high-speed KTX trains, which the other cards can’t.
• Namane Card: The Namane Card by KB Bank uses the Rail+ Card system and can be used in the same locations. However, this card allows you to create personalised card designs.
• Creatrip X Bellygom Card: The Creatrip X Bellygom transportation card is a travel card from Creatrip and features a popular character from YouTube, Bellygom.

Price differences: These cards all cost around ₩3,000 to ₩10,000 for the card, depending on where you buy it, what features it comes with, and whether it has a personalised design or not.

Benefits of transportation cards: These cards offer discounted rates on bus and subway fares (varies by city) and allows you to travel cash-free and conveniently.

Learn more: I’ve written about Korean transportation cards a lot as they’re really useful for travellers coming to Korea. Two of my favourites are the Korea Tour Card, which is a tourist-only transportation card, and the T-Money Card, which is the most popular transportation card used in Korea.

Apple Pay And Samsung Pay

Apple Pay has been available in Korea from March 2023 and can be used in locations that come equipped with NFC enabled payment terminals. There are over 100,000 shops that have NFC terminals in Korea right now, but that number is growing since Apple Pay’s introduction.

Samsung Pay can be used widely in Korea as it doesn’t require NFC terminals to operate and so Korean establishments didn’t bother to install them. Korea is home to Samsung and its payment options have been widely integrated into the Korean payments system.

Can you use Apple Pay or Samsung Pay in Korea? Yes, you can pay with Apple Pay and Samsung Pay if you’ve registered a credit card to either service in your home country.

Will I pay a fee to use Apple Pay? Apple won’t charge a fee to use Apple Pay internationally, but the credit card that you’ve registered with Apple Pay may charge you. If your credit card doesn’t charge a fee to make payments when travelling, then you shouldn’t have any problems paying with Apple Pay in Korea. The same applies to Samsung Pay.

What exchange rate does Apple Pay use? Apple’s exchange rate is whatever rate the credit card issuer is using. The same applies to Samsung Pay. The Wise multi-currency card, in comparison, uses the mid-market rate, which could give you a better rate when you pay in Korea.

What places in Korea accept Apple Pay? It is mostly small and medium sized businesses that have embraced Apple Pay in Korea, such as cafes, restaurants, convenience stores, and shops. Online apps such as Baedal Minjok (food delivery) accepts Apple Pay, but only with Apple Pay accounts registered with a Korean credit card. Samsung Pay is accepted much more widely across Korea.

Korean Mobile Payment Apps

Korea is one of the world leaders in mobile payment apps, which allow you to use your smartphone to make payments as if you’re using a credit card, both online and offline. These are really useful services for foreigners living in Korea and I use Kakao Pay regularly to book train tickets, send money to friends, pay for food deliveries, and more.

Can tourists use Korean mobile payments? Unfortunately, apps such as Naver Pay, Kakao Pay, and Payco, require a Korean phone number and Korean bank account for you to register due to tough banking rules in Korea. The other issue is that these services usually require some Korean language skills to use. Therefore, these aren’t really options for short term travellers in Korea and although they’re useful, I wouldn’t recommend trying to use them.

Learn more: Even if you can’t use Kakao Pay to pay in Korea, you can use services like Kakao talk and Kakao Taxi by creating a Kakao account. This article about Kakao Taxi will show you how to do that.

Problems Paying In Korea

As mentioned, travellers may have some problems when they try to pay in Korea due to certain Korean regulations and policies, especially the no-cash buses and automated kiosks that are increasingly common these days. Here are a few issues tourists to Korea might have regarding making payments.

Online payments: Spending money online in Korea as a foreigner, even when you live here, is frankly a hassle and one that can cause real headaches. Korea has a lot of regulations about online payments, including security checks where you have to provide a Korean phone number to prove your identity to make a payment. Not to mention everything is done in Korean, too.

Most of the time only Korean bank accounts or mobile payments are accepted (which require a Korean bank account) for online transactions in Korea and those are a problem for foreigners even when you have a Korean account and live in Korea. Booking flights using my Korean bank card has been so difficult that I usually end up using my UK card instead and going through a non-Korean website.

Automated kiosks: I see automated kiosks appearing in more and more places these days, including popular attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. They’re also prevalent in cafes and chain restaurants as it saves money on staff (don’t get me started on the robot waiters!). These machines mostly don’t accept cash payments. Fortunately, they usually come with multiple language options.

Non-staffed convenience stores: Another trend that has been growing, but isn’t too big yet, is non-staffed convenience stores where you enter by swiping your credit card, pick what you want, scan everything at the checkout, then pay with your credit card. As far as I know, these don’t always accept cash and cards are preferred.

Booking rail travel: Korea has a great rail network that’s really well run, is cheap, and covers a lot of the country. The big downside is that you might have trouble paying for tickets online through the official Korail website – letskorail.com – as all payments require 3D Secure verification. An alternative is to use sites like 12Go to book train tickets in Korea, but you’ll pay a slightly higher price.

Similarly, tourists might have trouble booking train tickets at station ticket machines as they require a Korean debit card, as shown in the image below. You should be able to pay at a ticket office in cash or with a credit card, as long as these tickets offices are available and open.

Tips To Save Money In Korea

Here are a few tips I want to share with you to help you save money when visiting Korea.

• Book attractions and tours online: I know I’ve said it several times before, but it really is a lot cheaper and more convenient as you can guarantee your booking. Especially useful during peak travel times like spring and autumn.
• Get tax back when shopping: Korea has increased the tax-free shopping allowance for travellers to ₩5,000,000 (about $4,000) and it’s really easy to get your tax back when shopping in certain stores. Eligible tax-free shops and department stores offer instant tax refunds (up to ₩1,000,000 per transaction) or you can keep your receipts and get your tax back at Incheon Airport and other departure points.
• Use a transportation card: This is a no-brainer. It’s not only cheaper to pay by transportation card, it’s also a lot more convenient and will save you fishing in your pocket for small change.
• Don’t eat or drink at hotels: Korean hotels are reasonably priced, but I find their food and drink offerings are really expensive and, worse, not that delicious. There are so many great cafes and restaurants you can visit to get a meal in instead and you can eat much better traditional Korean meals instead of Western buffet.
• Take advantage of free things: There are loads of free things to do in Seoul and other places, from walking tours to free attractions and street performances. And if you’re visiting a Korean supermarket or department store, eat your fill of free samples!
• Buy souvenirs from Hongdae or traditional markets: Hongdae has loads of snack shops where you can fill your suitcase with gifts for friends and family back home. Traditional markets also offer lots of interesting souvenirs at lower prices than expensive museum gift shops. Insadong is also good for bargain souvenirs.

Learn more: I’ve a whole article dedicated to money saving tips in Seoul that have ways to help you get more from your travel budget. It includes more details about tax-free shopping, discounts, and special days like Culture Day where attractions are free or discounted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions you might have about travel money and how to pay in Korea. This information is from my own experience and from research conducted to write this article.

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I was invited to participate in this day of kimchi making and kimchi eating with a family in Daejeon in late November as they were getting ready to fill their kimchi fridge with fresh kimchi for the year ahead. Yes, Koreans have a whole refrigerator dedicated to storing just one dish! That’s how much is made during kimjang day.

In this article I want to share my experience of making kimchi in Korea, as well as pass on some cultural insights and information about this arduous day of cabbage cutting and stuffing. If you’re interested in trying kimjang yourself, I’ll also tell you about where you can try it in Seoul and other places in Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What Is Kimjang And Why Did I Do It?

What is kimjang? kimjang is a Korean cultural tradition where families gather in late autumn or early winter to make large batches of kimchi together. During kimjang, ingredients like napa cabbage are chopped, salted, and seasoned before being stored to ferment and eat during the colder months.

Koreans don’t just use napa cabbages, however, there are over 200 hundred types of kimchi that can be made, including mul kimchi (water kimchi), baek kimchi (white kimchi), pa kimchi (spring onion kimchi) and more. All are great Korean banchan. When I joined kimjang, we made 3 different types of kimchi in one day.

When is kimjang? There is no set date for kimchi making day in Korea, but it’s traditionally around late November or early December when the temperature drops below zero degrees. This is apparently the ideal condition to make kimchi and weather reports in Korea will alert people when to start kimjang.

November 22nd is designated as Kimchi Day in Korea, but this isn’t a set date for making kimchi, more a day where the cultural importance of kimchi is celebrated. Some US states have even started to adopt Kimchi Day on the same day in recognition of Korean communities in the US.

Why did I join kimjang? kimjang is a traditional cultural event that centres around the family working together to prepare food for the winter ahead. I was able to do kimjang like a local as I joined my girlfriend’s family on this special day for the first time this November. I’d never done it before.

This experience was interesting, but also physically and culturally intense. Joining Korean family events as an insider opens up a different view of what is essentially a day of food prep and one of the benefits of dating in Korea. I hope to share some of these insights with you in this article

Joining these experiences is hard for foreigners in Korea, even those who live here as expats or students, unless you have some nice Korean friends. However, if you want to get your hands covered in red paste, you can experience making kimchi at the Seoul Kimchi Academy in Seoul. More details on that later.

The Kimjang Experience: How To Make Kimchi

I’ve got a confession to make. I didn’t do everything needed to make kimchi this kimchi making day. Some steps were done by other people both before I arrived and on another day. That’s because modern kimjang can involve a few shortcuts to make things easier. After all, modern life is busy and time is precious!

There are a few things to prepare before you start making kimchi onkimjang, such as buying the ingredients, making the sauce, and cutting up the cabbages. As well as this, you’ll need a big area to prepare the kimchi with lots of newspapers down to stop the bright red sauce staining everything.

Traditionally, Koreans prepare the ingredients for kimjang throughout the year, collecting seafood in spring, sea salt and chili peppers in summer, and the cabbages, spring onions, radishes and other ingredients in autumn. These ingredients are fermented (seafood) and dried out (chili peppers) throughout the year.

Honestly though, I don’t think Koreans really collect all those things in each season, and most people purchase them closer to the time. That’s why the price of ingredients for kimchi making tend to shoot up in late November. I was told the price of oysters (for geotjeori) was three times higher than normal right now!

Step 1: Prepare The Cabbage

This step is best done the night before kimjang as the baechu cabbages need time to soak and dry out so they’re ready to be covered in the spicy sauce that turns them into delicious kimchi. Each cabbage should be cut into quarters and soaked in salty water. This helps make them soft and easy to pull apart and also removes impurities and excess water.

In the morning, take the cabbages out of the water, wash them thoroughly, and put them somewhere sunny to dry. My girlfriend’s mum got up at 6am to do this. I was busy sleeping at this time, saving energy for the rest of the kimchi making process.

Step 2: Make The Marinade

This is probably the most important step for a successful kimjang. If you don’t have the perfect marinade to coat the cabbages with, your kimchi won’t bring a bite of joy to every meal throughout the year. Fortunately, I wasn’t involved in making the marinade, so it was perfect!

The marinade is made of a range of ingredients (more details later) that typically include red chili pepper powder, garlic, spring onions, pear, fermented fish, rice paste, and ginger. my girlfriend’s mum was in charge of mixing a giant metal bowl of marinade, adding in generous helpings of the various ingredients to get it sweet yet spicy. It’s a family recipe that’s been perfected through dozens of kimchi making days.

Step 3: Marinade The Cabbages

This is the heart of kimjang and the toughest part where you really earn the big meal that’s waiting for you at the end. To marinade the cabbages, you’ll need a big metal bowl that is big enough to hold the cabbage spread out. Start with a large dollop of kimchi marinade in the bottom of the bowl and then slap your cabbage on top of it so that you coat the outside.

So far, so easy, but next up is the tricky part and one that takes a long time. Lift the cabbage up and separate each leaf, laying the first leaf down on the bottom of the bowl. Massage a generous helping of the sauce onto the leaf, then place the next leaf down and do the same. Keep doing this until the whole cabbage has a layer of marinade between each leaf and around the outside.

Tip: Make sure you get all the ingredients (spring onions, radish, etc.) between each leaf, not just the sauce.

Step 4: Store The Kimchi

After a couple of hours of back-breaking marinading, with the occasional thumbs up from my girlfriend’s mum for encouragement, all of the kimchi was safely placed in boxes, ready to start fermenting in the kimchi fridge. Historically, kimchi was stored in stone pots and buried outside, but the neighbours might steal it if we did.

Before I put each one into the box, I had to wrap the kimchi in a special way, which I never knew about until I joined this kimchi making day. Using the outer leaf of the cabbage, you need to gently wrap it around the bottom of the cabbage and then tuck it around the front.

The cabbages are stored facing up, as in the outside of the cabbage is facing the bottom of the box, except for the last ones, which go face down. We packed in some radish kimchi with the cabbage kimchi as they can ferment together and it fits in nicely at the side.

Step 5: Make Other Kimchi

The main star of the kimjang show is baechu kimchi, but there are many other types of kimchi you can make at the same time. We made 3 different types of kimchi on this day, including one that we ate for dinner.

The first type was baechu kimchi, which is the kimchi you most commonly see in Korean restaurants and the one you use for a kimchi slap. The second type was radish kimchi, which is also very common in Korean restaurants and cut into bite-sized chunks that are more like sliced apples. The third type was baechu geotjeori kimchi, which is a non-fermented kimchi that you can eat fresh. This fresh kimchi is the one we ate for dinner after a long afternoon making kimchi.

Step 6: Share Dinner Together

After a hard day’s work making kimchi, we were all tired and ready for a big meal. Korean’s typically eat boiled pork slices, called suyuk (수육) in Korean, after kimjang with a big helping of fresh geotjeori kimchi. This is one of my favourite traditional Korean dishes and I definitely recommend it wrapped in lettuce leaves (bossam).

While my girlfriend and I were marinading an endless supply of cabbages (36 wrapped pieces in total, but it felt like 100), her mum was preparing dinner for everyone. This dinner was certainly the best part of kimjang and a welcome reward for everyone’s hard work. There’s nothing like tucking into freshly prepared kimchi. And of course we had to wash it down with some makgeolli.

My Thoughts On Kimjang

Overall, it was a really interesting experience making kimchi with my girlfriend’s family. We all worked hard to make several boxes of kimchi that will be eaten throughout the year. I got to take a box home for myself (although my girlfriend will probably steal it all) and I look forward to that fresh kimchi smell in the fridge!

Kimchi making day certainly is a time when everyone comes together and the camaraderie and teamwork that I found through kimjang was a welcome reward for all the hard work. My back was quite stiff for a couple of days after sitting on the floor filling dozens of cabbages with the family’s secret sauce. but it was worth it.

I’ll never forget my girlfriend’s mum using her limited English to direct me to put more sauce on the leaves while commenting how much of a natural I am at making kimchi throughout the day. Her regular thumbs ups while my gloved hands were wrist-deep in kimchi seasoning gave me the motivation to keep on going.

It’s little things like being fed boiled pork slices as I wrapped the cabbages, preparing the table and cleaning up together, and everyone being involved that made it a very memorable day of my life in Korea. It’s not something that I’d want to do often as it’s hard work, but I’d definitely do it again next year.

To help sum up my thoughts on the cultural aspects of kimchi making day, I asked DALL-E 3 to create an image of kimjang that shows everyone working together. What do you think? Does it look right? Check out the next section of this article to learn more about the cultural and historic aspects of kimjang.

History & Origins Of Kimjang

Since 2013, kimjang has been recognised as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, demonstrating the importance of kimchi making day for Korean culture. It’s not just a practical day of food production, it’s a shared experience that reflects Korea’s traditional values.

The origins of kimchi making date back centuries as a way to preserve vegetables without refrigeration during Korea’s harsh winters. Neighbours would make large amounts of kimchi collectively to share. Over time, kimjang became a family tradition, with recipes and techniques passed down through generations.

While modern refrigeration allows year-round kimchi today, some Korean families still honour their heritage by coming together each winter for kimjang. It’s an opportunity to bond across generations while ensuring a supply of homemade kimchi is stocked in kimchi refrigerators. And homemade kimchi is the best kind of kimchi!

The tradition highlights values of community, cooperation, and shared work while celebrating Korean food traditions. I would say that these values are still strong in Korea today, even if kimjang’s popularity is waning. Community and cooperation are key facets of Korean culture and etiquette and can be seen in many places.

Unfortunately, the practice of kimjang isn’t as common as it was in previous decades as Koreans have moved away from their hometowns and spend less time with their family except during big holidays. I think this is reflective of how many societies spend less time as a family and not just a Korean issue.

See how kimchi is made in this interesting video that explores the cultural and historic roots of kimjang.

What Ingredients Are Used For Kimjang?

Korean families may have their own recipe for kimjang, but most of them will use a standard set of ingredients as a base for the marinade and then add in extra ingredients or use different quantities of the standard ingredients. I don’t want to spoil the family secret, so here are the typical kimchi marinade ingredients for kimjang.

Gochugaru (고추가루) – dried chili pepper flakes: This is the heart of the kimchi marinade and the ingredient that gives it a deep red colour. Add as much as you can handle.

Maneul (마늘) – garlic: Koreans love garlic and Korea is one of the countries that eats it the most. Loads of garlic cloves are crushed and added into the kimchi marinade.

Saeng-gang (생강) – ginger: Another popular ingredient in Korean cooking, ginger is both healthy and delicious and gives the kimchi it’s basic taste.

Pa (파) – spring onions: Finely chopped spring onions are added into the sauce and placed between the leaves. This gives the kimchi a crunchy texture and added flavour.

Mu (무) radish: As with the spring onions, these are chopped into small parts and added between the cabbage leaves. We used grounded radish instead of chopped radish.

Bae (배) – pear: Korean pears are gigantic, crunchy, and quite different from pears I’m used to from England. When they’re grounded and added to the sauce, they bring a good amount of sweetness.

Seol-tang (설탕) – sugar: An easier way to add sweetness to the kimchi marinade is through spoonfuls of sugar. The mixture of sweet and spicy is quite common in Korean cooking and is called yangnyeom (양념).

Chap-ssal-pul (찹쌀풀) glutinous rice paste: this white sauce is an essential ingredient to help with the fermentation process along with the fermented seafood ingredients. It helps the growth of bacteria in kimchi.

Saeu-jeot (새우젓) – fermented shrimp: These minuscule shrimp are commonly used as a seasoning for dishes and are really salty. They’re used to help the kimchi ferment and give it a strong, rich and sour taste.

Gganari-aeg-jeot (까나리액젓) – fermented anchovy sauce: As with the fermented shrimp, this fish sauce adds a rich taste to the marinade and contributes to the high level of health benefits of kimchi.

So-geum (소금) – salt: Used to bring out the flavour of kimchi. You don’t need too much if you’re using lots of fermented shrimp or anchovy sauce.

The quantities of these ingredients will vary depending on how much kimchi you’re making, which can range from a few cabbages to dozens. Here’s a simple kimchi recipe you can use to make a batch of kimchi at home.

How To Make Vegetarian Kimchi

If you want to make kimchi that’s vegetarian or vegan-friendly, you can use all of the above ingredients, but leave out the fermented shrimp and anchovy sauce. Unfortunately, this takes away the strong savoury taste that kimchi is known for, so you’ll need to replace them with alternative ingredients, such as vegetable stock or soy sauce.

For those who prefer to make kimchi without seafood, here’s a recipe for vegan kimchi that you can use when you try kimjang at home. It’s worth being aware of kimchi’s seafood ingredients if you’re travelling in Korea and want to eat only vegan-friendly food. Most restaurants will serve non vegan-friendly kimchi.

How To Experience Kimjang In Korea

I’ll be honest, it’s not going to be easy to persuade a typical Korean family to let you join them for kimjang, but you might be lucky if they think the offer of free help is better than having a stranger in their house. Fortunately, there are other options to try kimchi making when you’re in Korea. Here are few ways you can try making kimchi:

Visit the Museum Kimchikan in Seoul: If you’re visiting Seoul, there’s an excellent museum dedicated to the world of kimchi in Insadong called Museum Kimchikan. Groups that want to experience kimchi making can contact the museum one day in advance to try kimjang. I recommend calling 1330 (tourist support) in Korea to do this.

Join a kimchi making class in Seoul: There are regular classes in Seoul that will introduce you to the world of kimjang, such as those run by the Seoul Kimchi Academy. Here you can try making kimchi with pre-prepared cabbages and learn about the history and culture of Korean kimchi at the same time.

Here are a couple of classes to learn how to make kimchi in Seoul:

• Seoul Kimchi & Culture Experience
• Kimchi Making, Hanbok Wearing and Tea Ceremony in Seoul

If you’re from Singapore, there’s an authentic kimchi making class in Singapore that you can join.

Experience a kimchi making event at Songtan Market (Pyeongtaek): For expats in Korea or tourists who are visiting in early December, there’s an authentic kimchi making experience happening at a traditional market in Pyeongtaek. This 2-day event will take you through the whole kimjang process and includes meals and snacks.

You can find out more about this event from this South of Seoul blog post. It’s just $25 and designed to introduce people to local Korean culture and customs.

Kimchi Making Day FAQs

Finally, here are a few FAQs about winter in Korea, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you. If you have any other questions you’d like to ask, feel free to leave a comment.

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As a frequent traveler, I know that having reliable connectivity is essential as you travel. We use apps to navigate, communicate, upload pictures, and to find out what to see and where to go. And to check this blog for the latest travel tips, I’m sure. That’s why having the best SIM card is really important.

Check out this SK SIM card review to learn whether this tourist SIM is perfect for you. I’ll cover the convenience of getting set up, the different plan options, data speeds and coverage, pros and cons, FAQs, and ultimately whether it’s the right pick for your upcoming Korea trip.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

4G SK SIM Card Review Summary

If you just want the quick facts about the SK 4G SIM card and to know if it’s the best option when you visit Korea, this summary will cover a few of the pros and cons and my overall feelings about the SIM card. Please read through the whole article if you want a more detailed review of the SIM card.

I purchased a tourist-only 4G SK SIM card at Incheon Airport and used it for 5 days as I travelled across Korea to write this review. The SIM gave me high-speed data everywhere I went and I could receive calls and texts without any problems. It took about 3 minutes to install and start using this SIM.

I chose a SIM card from SK Telecom as they have the biggest, most reliable network in South Korea and their tourist SIMs are really popular and offer great service when travelling in Korea. Their prices are the same as the other operators and their SIM card will fit most phones from the last decade.

SK tourist SIM cards are convenient to purchase at Incheon Airport and activate in minutes. You can order them online at a lower price, too. You get unlimited data which you can use across Korea, as well as a Korean phone number and free incoming calls and texts (but not outgoing).

Compared to the SIM card I purchased the last time I visited the UK, which often lost connection and only worked half the time, the SK tourist SIM card is an absolute dream! It might even be better than your home service and a cheaper, more reliable alternative to expensive roaming charges.

Pros And Cons Of The SK 4G SIM Card

I think it’s always best to summarise by looking at the pros and cons before going into more detail in the rest of the article. So, here’s a run down of the good and bad things about the SK 4G SIM card for tourists to help you decide whether it’s something you might want to get.

Cheapest Place To Get The SK 4G SIM Card

I preordered my SK SIM card online and picked it up at Incheon Airport as many tourists would do. You can purchase the SIM card online before you travel and collect it when you arrive, or you can wait and purchase it when you arrive at the same location. Both options give you the same SIM card.

As you can see from the table below, there is a discount for buying the SK 4G Tourist SIM card online through online sellers such as Klook, Trazy, or KKDay. If you plan to book tours online through one of these operators, I recommend preordering a SIM card at the same time to save money.

Why Get A SIM Card In Korea?

Being able to access the internet through a local SIM card, like the 4G SK SIM card, is definitely a top priority when travelling to Korea. As a regular traveller, I always make getting a SIM card one of the first things I do upon arrival in any country and Korea would certainly be no exception.

Although free WiFi is available in public places in big cities such as Seoul, it’s not so easy to connect when you’re out and about on the street, which is when you usually need it most. Public WiFi can also be insecure, so having your own SIM helps keep your data safe, giving you peace of mind

Having mobile data through a local SIM is crucial for using apps that provide maps, translations, travel bookings, taxi-hailing apps and more. A local SIM allows you to use the internet without running up a huge bill and paying expensive roaming charges from your home provider.

There are alternatives to a Korean SIM card, such as a portable WiFi router or your home provider’s roaming service, which you might find more suitable. In this article I’ll share my experience using a 4G SIM card from SK Telecom and explain why a SIM card might be the best option for you (or not).

A Quick Overview Of SK Telecom

SK Telecom is one of Korea’s big three mobile operators. It has been in the Korean telecom industry since 1984 and continues to be the largest mobile provider in Korea today with over 30 million subscribers locally, far more than 2nd place KT Telecom, which has fewer than 9 million subscribers.

SK Telecom built and owns the country’s top mobile network that has excellent connectivity across Korea. They operate 4G LTE-Advanced nationwide and were the first in Korea to launch 5G in 2019 and rank first in many categories in the Mobile Experience Awards, as shown below.

Like all three major Korean mobile operators, SK Telecom produces SIM cards specifically for foreign travellers, allowing them to connect to their network for up to 30 days. SK Telecom’s prepaid tourist SIM plans leverage the company’s excellent network to provide fast speeds and reliable service.

With widespread coverage across Korea, easy setup, and competitive rates for data and calling, SK Telecom visitor SIM cards are a great option for seamlessly keeping connected on your Korea trip through a highly reputable provider. They’re arguably the best SIM cards for tourists in Korea.

It’s because of the high reputation and many awards that I decided to choose the 4G SK Telecom SIM card to review. I want to provide information about the best SIM card options to travellers to Korea and starting with the most popular and best ranked SIM in Korea is the obvious place to start.

SK SIM Card Options For Foreigners

Travellers to Korea have a wide range of SIM card options that can be purchased online or in-person at Incheon Airport and other entry points into Korea. I’ve covered those in detail in my guide to Korean SIM Cards, which you should definitely check out for a more detailed look at SIM options in Korea.

This article will only look at SIM cards offered by SK Telecom for tourists in Korea, which are different from the long-term plans available to Koreans and expats living in Korea. There are special plans only available for tourists in Korea that allow them to use the Korean mobile networks for up to 90 days.

There are basically two choices for SK SIM cards for tourists:

1: 4G SIM Cards For Tourists: These are regular SIM cards that come in ‘normal’, ‘nano’, and ‘micro’ sizes, as shown in the picture below. They fit in most phones made in the last 10 years.

2: 4G eSIM Cards For Tourists: For phones that are eSIM compatible, SK Telecom also offer a digital version of their tourist SIM card that is downloaded to your device instead of inserting a SIM.

Both of these SIM cards:

• Use SK Telecom’s 4G LTE network.
• Cost the same amount of money
• Last for the same number of days
• Provide the same great service

I’ll provide more details about my experience buying, installing, and using the regular 4G SK SIM card in the next few sections, as well as my review of the process and how tourist-friendly it is.

What’s The Availability Of SK SIM Cards?

As SK Telecom is Korea’s largest mobile operator, it’s really easy to find a shop or booth selling their SIM cards at entry points into Korea like Incheon Airport. Tourists who want to buy a SK SIM card can either preorder a SIM card online to collect on arrival, or buy from a shop or booth in Korea.

Here’s a quick overview of the two ways to get a SIM card.

1: Preordering A SIM Card: You can buy a Korean SIM card online from tour operators such as Klook and Get Your Guide. You can compare SIM card periods and prices and there are exclusive offers that might not be available when purchasing at the airport.

• Benefit: Preordering a SIM card online is cheaper than buying on arrival, gives you a chance to check reviews, and allows you to pay online in your home currency.

2: Buying A SIM Card At The Airport: This is the easiest option for many travellers to Korea as the booths selling SIM cards at Incheon Airport are directly outside the arrivals hall. Simply approach the booth, ask for a SIM card, and the staff there will help you set it up.

• Benefit: Getting your SIM card when you arrive saves time looking online and allows you to ask questions and check your phone’s compatibility with staff at the airport booths.

As well as dedicated booths by the 3 major Korean operators, you can also buy a SK SIM card from convenience stores at the airport, such as CU, 7/11, and GS 25. However, I recommend either buying online or direct from booths as it’ll be more convenient and trustworthy.

Features & Benefits Of The SK SIM Card

Here’s a quick overview of the features and benefits of the 4G SIM card from SK Telecom so you can see why it’s really useful for travellers to Korea. These are some of the things that I experienced when I used the SK SIM card for 5 days while moving around Korea.

High Speed Internet Access: Browsing the Internet with the SK SIM card was an absolute joy. Pages and apps load quickly, there’s no delay when playing a video, and using the network connection to make calls and video calls within Korean caused no problems at all.

No Data Limit: The SK 4G SIM card comes with unlimited data, which means you can browse the web, watch videos, and use apps freely. SK guarantees that the data speed won’t be slowed down no matter how much you use it, which is really reassuring as some SIM cards come with limits.

Korean Phone Number: Mobile phone numbers in Korea start with ‘010’ and with a 4G SK SIM card, you will get a number that starts with 010. This means that you can use your SIM card to receive calls and texts and to make reservations / bookings online.

Free Incoming Calls & Texts: Even though this SIM card doesn’t come with calls and texts, although you can add them on, you’re always able to receive calls and texts for free. This lasts as long as the SIM card is valid and you won’t be able to get them after the period has expired.

Coverage: I tried the SK SIM card while I was in Seoul and Daejeon and never had any connectivity issues. The coverage was always great and I had full signal the whole time, even when I was in a lift or underground. This is usual for Korean mobile coverage, which is really good.

Works Instantly: After I inserted the SK SIM card into my phone and turned the power on, the SIM card connected to the SK Telecom network and I was able to use it immediately. This is really useful for people who need to connect to the Internet to navigate from Incheon Airport to their hotel.

Can Be Activated Later: If you don’t plan to use your SIM card immediately, you can keep it with you and activate it later on. This is useful if you plan to use free WiFi in the city but want to have a reliable network connection if you’re visiting locations outside the city.

Which SIM Card Has The Best Features?

I have used both a KT Telecom SIM card (my regular SIM card) and this SK Telecom SIM card while visiting different locations in Korea. Which SIM card has the best features? That’s hard to tell as they both offer great coverage, network connection, data speed, and are very reliable.

I use KT as I’ve had it since I moved to Korea and don’t see the need to change mobile provider (I get a big discount for staying loyal). However, if I was to change company, I would certainly consider SK as the experience I had during the 5 days when I was testing the SIM card was perfect.

For tourists, I don’t think there’ll be much difference, but the fact that SK Telecom has won so many awards for its excellent network and service, as well as its leading position in the Korean market, makes it a safe bet. If you have to choose a safe, reliable SIM card with great coverage, choose SK.

What Plans And Prices Are There For SK SIMs?

In this section, I want to share some basic information about the SK SIM card plans for tourists and give some insights into how it compares to other phone companies.

SIM Card Plans: There are 6 basic SK 4G SIM card plans available at Incheon Airport, as you can see in the picture above. These plans all come with unlimited data, which is not capped, as well as ‘free’ incoming voice calls and text messages. The plans range from 1 to 30 days.

SIM Card Costs: SIM cards from SK start at ₩6,600 for one day and go up in price to ₩71,500 for a 30 day plan. The cost-per-day of each plan drops, giving you lower prices with longer plans. The 30 day plan has a cost-per-day of just ₩2,383.

Outgoing Calls & Texts: The big let-down with the 4G SK SIM card is that you can’t make outgoing calls and texts with this SIM plan. You can receive incoming calls and texts from within Korea.

Cost To Activate: There is no cost to activate the SK 4G SIM card and no unexpected costs.

SIM Plan Extension: Unfortunately, it seems that the SK Telecom SIM card can’t be extended beyond 30 days. This shouldn’t be a problem for most tourists, but if you plan to stay in Korea for more than 30 days, it might be worth considering a KT SIM card which goes up to 90 days.

SIM Card Vs. Portable WiFi Router: The cost of a portable WiFi router is ₩3,200 per day, which is cheaper than the daily cost of any SK SIM card under 20 days. SIM cards become cheaper per day when you use them for more than 20 days, but offer different benefits than you get with a router.

Discounted SK SIM Cards: There are ways to get a discounted tourist SIM card when you visit Korea by buying them online. For example, the WOWPASS Airport Package offers the SK 4G SIM card as part of a bundle that includes a WOWPASS, T-Money Card and Airport Express Ticket.

Overall, the price of the tourist SIM card from SK is pretty decent in a country where mobile phone costs are high. As an expat in Korea, I pay around ₩50,000 for unlimited data, which is a low price compared to some price plans which can go up to ₩100,000 per month for 5G services.

SK SIM Card Prices Vs Other Companies

The SK SIM card and SIM cards from KT Telecom and LG U+ are all priced exactly the same if you purchase the SIM card from Incheon Airport, as you can see in the table below. These prices apply for both physical SIM cards and eSIMs and both SIM types come with unlimited data from all companies.

Please Note: I’ve added links for these SIM plans so you can buy them online. The online price is lower than the price at Incheon Airport so the prices won’t match what you see below.

I think the SK SIM card offers the best value for money due to it’s excellent service, network coverage, and reliability across Korea. The price of 1/3/5/10/20/30 day SIM card plans are the same for all networks and therefore it makes sense to go with the mobile operator with the best service.

However, if you want a 7-day or 15-day SIM card, these are only available from LG U+ and can provide better value for money vs. getting a longer SIM plan than you need with SK. Tourists to Korea who want a SIM card for exactly 1 or 2 weeks would be better off getting the LG U+ SIMs.

The KT and LG U+ SIM cards also have the extra benefit of offering a 60-day and 90-day SIM plan, which makes them more suitable for longer-term travellers to Korea who will need a SIM card for up to 3 months. If you’re visiting for 30 to 90 days, I would recommend a KT or LG U+ SIM card.

How Easy Was It To Set Up?

Purchasing and installing the SK 4G SIM card is really easy and I had no problems setting it up. The instructions for setting up the SIM card are clearly displayed at the SK Telecom booth at Incheon Airport and there are instructions in multiple languages, including English.

Whether you purchase your SK tourist SIM online (to collect at Incheon Airport) or buy it in person at Incheon Airport, there will be someone available to help you install the SIM card in case you have any problems. The small pin needed to remove your existing SIM card is included with the SK SIM.

The pictures below show the process of how I setup my SK SIM card with my phone. I opened the SIM card and took the metal pin out, used that to open the SIM card tray in my phone, then replaced my existing SIM card with the SK SIM card. My phone uses the micro SIM card size.

Please Note: You’ll need your passport to collect your SIM card and the matching credit card if you ordered it online. When you arrive at the booth at Incheon Airport, you should get a ticket and wait to be served if it’s busy. Otherwise, go to the counter to get your SIM card.

How Do You Activate The SK SIM Card?

As with installing the SIM card, activating the SK SIM card is really easy and can be done in the following ways, depending on whether you’re using an Android or Apple.

How To Setup For Android:

1. Turn off your mobile device and place the SIM inside.
2. Turn on your mobile device, then disable airplane mode and activate the data network.
3. Check if the phone is displayed as “SKT”

How To Setup For Apple:

1. Set Wi-Fi and Airplane mode OFF, and cellular data ON.
2. Turn off your mobile device and place the SIM inside.
3. Check if the phone is displayed as “SKT”

The SK website offers troubleshooting tips if you have any problems activating your SIM card. If you’re at Incheon Airport, you can also ask the staff for help. The customer service from the booths are very good and when I picked up my SIM card, it was really fast and effortless.

Activating the SIM was simple and all I had to do to activate it was turn the phone on after installing the SIM card. It worked first time for me, but I’ve heard it may take a couple of times for some phones.

Conclusion: Is It The Best Korean Tourist SIM?

Is the SK 4G SIM card the best option for tourists and travellers to South Korea? Honestly, I don’t think there’s much of a difference between the 3 major mobile operators in Korea, but SK is the best of the bunch and their tourist SIM is definitely great value for money, therefore it’s the best.

The network connection from SK is amazing, one of the best I’ve used in any country that I’ve visited, and the service is reliable, meaning you’ll always be connected. The browsing speeds are fast and you can easily watch videos and access the Internet as you travel across Korea.

The user reviews of the thousands of other travellers who have purchased the SK SIM card speak volumes for how good the SIM card is. Everyone agrees that as a pick-up-and-go SIM card, the SK SIM card is easy to install, simple to use, and provides a reliable service.

Here’s a small selection of reviews from the Klook page for this SIM:

Highly recommend! Easy to get SIM card & they will activate for you!

This 4G Sim Card was easily redeemable at the Incheon Airport. This kept us connected during our stay in South Korea without interruption.

Great value and superb reception. Useful if you’re in Korea on a business trip or visiting family, unlimited data and great coverage all at a very economic price.

However, there are some downsides that might put you off SK’s offering vs. those from other Korean mobile operators. The main downside is the length of the SIM card, which is only 30 days vs. 90 days for other operators. You can’t extend the SIM card (as far as I can tell) past the original 30 days.

The other problem is that you can’t make outgoing calls and texts. This probably won’t be an issue for the majority of travellers, but if you are in a situation where you need to make a call, this SIM card has no options for you. Other networks allow call add-ons, but not the SK Telecom network.

I can understand why they don’t offer calls and texts. It’s probably not a feature many people use. It’s easy enough to send messages through the Internet via Messenger, Kakao Talk, WhatsApp and similar apps. I don’t make that many calls with my own network and I live in Korea, so I understand.

Should you get the SK 4G SIM card? Absolutely, if the price is right for you and you need an easy to use mobile Internet option when visiting Korea. There are cheaper options, such as getting a global roaming SIM that you can use in other countries, but they might not have the same service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions that you might have about the SK tourist SIM card that will help you figure out if this SIM card is right for you or not. This information is from my own experience and from the help page of the SK Telecom website.

Can you refund the SIM card? Once the case is opened, you can’t request a refund. Refunds can’t be processed after 30 days from when you bought the SIM card, either.

Can this SIM card be used on phones with a country lock? No, this SIM card will only work with unlocked phones. Contact your mobile provider to check if your phone is unlocked or not.

Can you receive calls and texts? Yes. The SK SIM card comes with a Korean phone number which can receive calls and texts.

Can you make calls and texts? No, you can’t use the SK SIM card to make outgoing calls and texts.

How long is the SIM card valid for? The prepaid SK SIM card is valid for 1 year after purchase and can’t be used after that.

Does the plan start immediately or from midnight when you activate? The SIM card works immediately and will expire 1/3/5/10/20/30 days from the moment you activated it based on your chosen plan. If you activate the 1 day SIM at 1pm on Monday, it will expire at 12:59pm on Tuesday.

Does the SK 4G SIM card limit data? No, the SIM card comes with unlimited 4G data that you can use continuously at a speed of 20Mbps.

Does the SIM support NFC? No, the SIM doesn’t support NFC functions.

Is this SK SIM purchased online the same as the one sold at Incheon Airport? Yes, the SK Telecom 4G SIM sold through online tour companies is the same as the one sold at the SK Telecom booths at Incheon Airport. You need to collect SIM cards purchased online at the airport booths.

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Skate on frozen lakes, fish through holes in the ice, slide down snowy slopes, and marvel at illuminated landscapes glowing against the night – there are so many ways to embrace the magic of Korea’s winter! From frosty ice fishing festivals that turn into carnivals on ice to beaches that brighten the shore with artistic light sculptures, Korea puts on an incredible festival spread all winter long.

In this article I’ll introduce you to snowy adventures, eye-popping light displays, fishy festivals, and exciting New Year’s festivities. Bundle up, grab your mittens, and get ready to join in the frozen fun as we explore these fantastic winter festivals across Korea that you won’t want to miss!

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Why Visit Korean Winter Festivals In 2024?

Winter in Korea might be cold with early sunsets, but it’s also filled with blue skies, little rain, and lots of beautiful winter festivals that will cheer you up and wash away the winter blues. These frosty festivities provide the chance to see and join in unique Korean cultural celebrations that go back centuries.

Catching trout bare-handed in freezing waters, strolling hand-in-hand through magical illuminations, sledding down snowy slopes, or contemplating all the New Year has to offer you. There are so many incredible winter festivals in Korea that will make your trip to Korea an unforgettable adventure.

Perhaps the main reasons you should visit a Korean winter festival (or two) is that they’re a lot of fun, provide lots of unique opportunities to experience Korean culture, and look great in your travel photos. And if you’re from a country that doesn’t get much snow, it might be your best chance to enjoy it.

There are many awesome winter festivals to check out if you’re in Korea during winter that I’m sure you’ll love. Click the links below to jump to those festivals, or read on to discover all the festivals in this article. There are delicious Korean winter food festivals to check out at the end, too.

My Favourite Winter Festivals In Korea

There are so many astounding winter festivals in Korea, it’s hard to choose just 3. I love fun festivals where you can get your hands dirty and try something unique. I also enjoy learning about culture and witnessing something I can’t see back home, which is why I chose these Korean winter festivals.

1: Hwacheon Sancheono Ice Fishing Festival – this was one of my first festivals in Korea and I can still remember the taste of my freshly caught trout, sliding around on the ice, the beautiful night lights, and all the fun I had there. It really is a completely Korean experience.

2: Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival – the sights and colours at this winter festival are amazing, and really helped brighten up a dull wintry day. These gardens are a great place to check out any time of year, but even more so during the dark nights of a Korean winter.

3: Bosingak Bell Ringing New Year’s Eve Festival – I love to join in any kind of traditional festival when possible, and seeing in the New Year with something a bit different makes it a lot more memorable. Don’t miss the chance to see something unique as the New Year approaches.

2024 Korean Winter Festival Summary

There are so many winter festivals in Korea to check out from December to February. To help you see what festivals are on when you’re visiting, here’s a summary of the festivals by month. These festivals are included in the article and you can find more information about each in the following sections.

Please note, some festivals last for several months and therefore are included more than once.

Recommended Tours To Korean Winter Festivals

Why not take a day trip to a fun festival this winter? Travelling to Korea’s winter festivals by public transport can sometimes take longer and be more difficult than a guided tour. Here’s a collection of the best winter festival tours leaving from Seoul and Busan that you can add to your Korean itinerary.

Winter Festival Tours Leaving From Seoul:

• Cheongyang Alps Village Ice Fountain Festival Day Tour
• Eobi Ice Valley | Nami Island | Morning Calm | Railbike | Petite France
• Frozen Journey at Hantan Ice Canyon Day Tour
• Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing | Morning Calm Lighting Festival
• Nami Island | Elysian Gangchon Ski | Garden of Morning Calm Tour
• New Year Sunrise Tour: Sokcho Beach 1 Day Tour
• Pocheon Apple | Strawberry Farm Day Tour
• Pyeongchang Trout Festival Ice Fishing Tour
• Snowyland | Alpaca World | Strawberry Picking | Ice Fishing | Morning Calm

Winter Festival Tours Leaving From Busan:

• New Year Sunrise Tour: Ulsan Ganjeolgot & Gyeongju

Ice Fishing Festivals In Korea 2024

The very first winter festival I visited in Korea was an ice fishing festival in Hwacheon and it was an absolute blast. Ice fishing has long been a traditional winter activity in Korea that is now celebrated at various festivals across the country and open for travellers to Korea to enjoy.

These festivals, held in January and February, contain a lot more than what the name suggests. Combining ice fishing with other winter activities, such as ice sledding, bare-hand fishing, ice sports, ice sculptures, and snowy displays, ice fishing festivals in Korea provide a whole day of fun.

The main reason to visit one of these winter festivals is to try your hand at ice fishing. When you go ice fishing, you’ll be given a small fishing rod and bag for your catch. Slide over the icy river or lake to an available hole and begin fishing for your lunch. Once you’ve caught a fish or two (and taken a few pictures for social media), take it back to get grilled and savour the taste of your hard-earned catch.

Here are 3 of the best ice fishing festivals in Korea in 2024 for you to enjoy:

Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Fishing Festival 2024

The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of Korea’s most popular winter festivals held every January along a frozen river in Hwacheon County. Drawing over a million visitors each year, this iconic festival celebrates the mountain trout fish (sancheoneo) that live in the clean waters of the river.

Ice fishing sites, which come with all necessary equipment, are set up along the 1.5km stretch of frozen river where visitors can try ice fishing. Other activities include ice sledding, ice sports, and riding down the river on tube rafts, which is a lot of fun and what I spent a lot of time doing at this festival.

I recommend staying until it gets dark as at night the ice glows with colourful lights and sculptures and there are winter lights on display. Festival highlights are the ice fishing competition and the grand prize draw for all who catch a fish with their bare hands in the freezing pools!

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Pyeongchang Trout Ice Fishing Festival 2024

Home to the 2018 Winter Olympics, you can understand why Pyeongchang would be the perfect place to host another of the best winter festivals in Korea. As with the Hwacheon Ice Fishing Festival, the main draw at this festival is the chance to catch your lunch in the frozen waters.

Head over to the large icy river and get ready to fish. There are also many fun events held throughout the festival, such as bare-handed fish catching (only for the very brave), sledding, snow rafting, and sleigh trains. You can even rent an ATV and go zooming about through the snowy landscape.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Inje Ice Fishing Festival 2024

This winter festival has a lot more to offer than just ice fishing. Running for more than 20 years now, the Inje Ice Fishing Festival has developed a range of other activities to enjoy. You can find family-friendly areas such as the Ice Playground and Snow Playground.

There are loads of ice and snow-based activities and sports for all ages. Learn to sled and ski, or just play around with the various slides and build a snowman. If you want to learn more about how Koreans survive the cold weather, visit the mountain village and join the cultural exhibitions and activities there.

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival

The Yangpyeong Ice Fish Festival is held in the Soomy Village resort, which is a couple of hours away from Seoul. This winter ice fishing festival runs from December to February and hosts a range of activities for families and other visitors to enjoy. Besides ice fishing, you can experience kite-flying, top spinning, sledding, and making traditional Korean snacks (jin-bang).

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Other ice fishing festivals that might be on but I can’t confirm:

• Hongcheon Ggong Ggong River Ginseng Trout Festival 2024

Winter Light Festivals Across Korea

With the advent of winter in Korea, cities across the country light up with magical illumination and light festivals. These dazzling winter events feature artistic light installations, massive LED displays, neon sculptures, and seas of sparkling bulbs that transform cities into winter wonderlands.

Korea’s winter light festivals are a feast for the eyes and spirit, spreading joy during the long, cold nights. Families, couples, or anyone who wants to see magical wintry wonderlands as the sun sets will certainly enjoy these festivals. I go every year and never fail to be impressed with the displays.

The winter days are short and the sun sets early in Korea, making it the perfect time of year for bright and colourful lights. You’ll find many brilliant light displays in places that are usually areas of natural beauty throughout the rest of the year, as well as in popular city-centre areas and attractions.

Here are 5 of the best winter illumination festivals in Korea in 2024 for you to enjoy:

Garden of Morning Calm Winter Illuminations 2024

Another of my favourite Korean winter festivals, the Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival is one of the top spots to visit during the dark, wintry days. What makes this so special is the effort they put into making everything so colourful and alive with lights, even when the plants aren’t so alive.

Walking with your loved ones through these gardens and electric forests when the sun has set is like entering into a magical world, a true winter fantasia with lots of photo opportunities. Every year the garden has a range of themed areas that focus on animals, plants, and even love for the sweethearts.

If you take a guided tour from Seoul during winter, it’s almost guaranteed the final stop will be at the Garden of Morning Calm on the way back to the city. You only need a couple of hours to take everything in, and it’s only an hour from Seoul so you can be back in time for a late dinner in town.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Herb Island Light Festival 2024

The Herb Island Lighting Festival in winter and allows travellers to see Herb Garden, which is a popular destination year-round, transformed into a glittering winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling bulbs and light installations. The entire garden is electrified with millions of little lights.

This winter festival is a place for lovers to share a romantic stroll along the Magic Road, adorned with shimmering lights shaped like herbs, flowers, butterflies and other pretty designs. Friends can make lasting memories of their adventures together crossing the glowing arch of the Rainbow Bridge.

Sparkling tunnels of light and fluorescent mushroom sculptures make for whimsical photo ops that the whole family will enjoy. In the evenings, the lights sync with music for delightful performances. I recommend warming up with a hot herbal tea, fresh from the surrounding gardens.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Seoul Lantern Festival 2024

I love travelling to Seoul during winter, especially in the build up to Christmas as you can see lots of Christmassy scenes that remind me of home. One of my favourite festivals in Seoul during winter is therefore the Seoul Lantern Festival, which puts on a festive display of lights and lanterns.

This dazzling festival is held in the newly converted Gwanghwamun Square outside Gyeongbokgung Palace, which gives over it’s large pedestrianised areas to massive themed lantern installations. These installations are definitely the main draw, featuring different concepts each year like aquarium scenes, starry nights, nature landscapes, and Korean folktales. Last year there was a giant rabbit.

The Seoul Lantern Festival’s illuminated sculptures and immersive atmosphere attract over 2 million visitors every year, including me, making it one of Korea’s brightest and most popular winter lights events. If you want to experience a blend of Korean culture and winter lights in Seoul, visit here.

Seoul Winter Festa 2024

The Seoul Lantern Festival is part of the wider Seoul Winter Festa, which includes light displays at the newly opened Gwanghwamun Square (Seoul Light Gwanghwamun) and Songhyeon Green Plaza (Light Festa in Songhyeon). There’s also the impressive Seoul Light DDP where you can see digital light displays on the side of the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza. That runs from December 21st until 31st.

Haeundae Beach Lighting Festival 2024

The Haeundae Lighting Festival covers Busan’s Haeundae beach in glittering lights and illuminations during the dark winter when it’s too cold to go swimming in the sea. As one of Korea’s largest winter light festivals, Haeundae features a dazzling array of over 800,000 LED lights and installations.

Gunam-ro Street becomes a neon forest with towering light tree sculptures. Along Haeundae Beach, light structures create aquatic scenes like waves, jellyfish, and glowing reefs in the sand. Meanwhile, Dalmaji Hill is covered in romantic illuminations for couples to stroll through.

I highly recommend spending an evening visiting this winter festival and grabbing a hot drink to watch the light shows choreographed to music. There’s also a show on Haeundae Beach with lasers and fireworks over the sea. This is certainly a very impressive and photo-worthy winter festival.

Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival 2024

Located in Busan’s bustling downtown Nampo area, close to Jagalchi Market and popular Busan attractions, is the Busan Christmas Tree Culture Festival. If you’re in Busan and want Christmassy sights, this is absolutely a winter festival you shouldn’t miss and probably can’t miss as a tourist.

Wandering around the streets of Busan during this festival is like walking the streets of London or New York, with rows of Christmas lights, a giant Christmas tree, musical performances, and lots of other Christmassy events going on in the area. There are even reindeer and snowman lanterns to see.

Jeju Light Garden Winter Illuminations

Opened in 2017, the Jeju Light Garden is a large garden that spans more than 11,900 square meters of Jeju’s beautiful lowlands and immerses visitors in a fantasy world of vibrant lighting displays synchronised to music. This is not technically a winter festival, but it’s a great place to see winter lights.

The garden is comprised of themed sections like the Rainbow Bridge, Water Light Cave, Moonlight Garden, and Jeju Forest, utilising thousands of LED lights to create stunning visual effects. Intricate animal light sculptures, neon portraits, and dynamic light tunnels reflect off the surfaces at night.

Visitors can take a romantic stroll along the illuminated walking paths and bridges to admire the bright splendour. With shows choreographed nightly to Korean pop songs and classical music, the Jeju Light Garden provides a whimsical ambience unlike anywhere else on the island.

Other winter illumination light festivals that might be on but I can’t confirm:

• Boseong Green Tea Plantation Winter Light Festival 2024
• DDP Light & Winter Festa Festival 2024

Korean Snow & Ice Festivals 2024

For winter lovers like me, Korea has no shortage of frosty festivals focused on snow and ice activities. Head to Korea’s snowy countryside regions, which are mostly in the north, to discover opportunities for skating on frozen lakes, sledding down mountains, building snowmen, and more snowy fun.

From elaborate snow and ice sculptures to professional ice carving contests, these festivals showcase stunning frozen creations while giving you a chance to see Korea’s rural charm. Put on your warmest winter gear and get ready to have fun in the Korean snow at these terrific winter festivals.

It doesn’t always snow in Korea, but when it does, the sights are breathtaking, with snow-capped peaks, blanketed trees, and shimmering frost-covered waters. I highly recommend getting out of the big cities if you want to see snow in Korea as it’s colder and the snow stays around longer.

Here are 4 of the best snow and ice festivals in Korea in 2024 for you to enjoy:

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival 2024

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is a lesser-known gem among Korea’s winter festivals, but is fast becoming a must-see destination as a day trip from Seoul due to the unique ice fountains. There’s also a lot of delicious Korean winter foods to try, such as roasted chestnuts you cook yourself.

The centrepiece of the festival is its majestic ice fountains, where water sprays from the ground and freezes, creating towering, shimmering structures that resemble frozen waterfalls. These ice fountains, like an enchanting ice kingdom, look best during the night when they are set aglow with colour.

Apart from the ice fountains, this Korean winter festival offers a variety of other snowy activities for you to enjoy. You can try ice sledding, ice climbing, and traditional Korean games. Children and those young at heart can play around the many snowmen and ice sculptures, perfect for photo opportunities.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook. Please note, this is called the Cheongyang Ice Fountain Festival, but it is the same location. Cheongyang is the area, Chilgapsan is the mountain.

Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival 2024

Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival, located in picturesque Taebaeksan National Park, is a great place for snow lovers to enjoy winter festivities in rural Korea. Walk among gigantic snow and ice sculptures, join in the various fun activities on offer in this mountainous area, and try hiking, too.

There’s more to do here than just see the snow and natural beauty of Taebaeksan. For example, you can enjoy snow sliding, snow hiking, pop into an ice igloo, and see the various performances. Come on the weekend during the daytime for the performances, or any time for snowy beauty.

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Daegwallyeong Snowflake Festival 2024

A family-friendly fun festival for lovers of snow, the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival is a good day out from Seoul or Busan. Located in the ‘Alps of Korea’, this festival is packed full of fun activities in the snow. Try snow sledding and enjoy sliding down the snowy slopes and into the soft snow below.

Furthermore, you can walk around huge ice sculptures representing building-sized structures, such as castles, people, characters, and more. There’s also performances during the day, parades, and a fireworks show to light up the skies at night, as well as obligatory night illuminations all around.

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival 2024

This is not really a festival, but it’s a cute destination outside of Seoul that’s lots of fun, especially if you’re travelling with children. The Sanjeong Lake Sledding Festival is held on Sanjeong Lake when it’s frozen over with thick layers of ice and you can safely enjoy sledding and riding and falling over.

Children will love a ride on the bright yellow duck sled train, which looks like something out of a fairy tale, or riding on a penguin pedal bike. When it snows, this area is gorgeous, with soft snow covering everything. Relax and stay warm at the food stalls, amusement park, and other attractions.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

Other snow and ice winter festivals that might be on but I can’t confirm:

• Jaraseom Singsing Winter Festival
• Go-Go Ski Festival at High1 Ski Resort
• Gangwon Snow Festa

2024 New Year Festivals In Korea

As the winter chill sets in, Korea comes alive with festivals and events to welcome the start of a fresh year according to both the solar and lunar calendars. Yes, there are two new years in Korea, one on January 1st, and one that changes based on the lunar calendar, which is called Seollal.

Major New Year’s Eve festivals include the spectacular Bosingak Bell Ringing in Seoul and firework celebrations across the country to welcome the start of the new year. There are also traditional New Year’s Day events where Koreans watch the first sunrise of the new year by heading to the East Coast.

These lively festivals feature bell ringing ceremonies, fireworks shows, cultural performances, delicious holiday food, traditional games, and so much more. In Seoul, countdown festivities centre around Bosingak Bell and Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink and are free to enter, but might be rather crowded.

Seollal brings Koreans together to hold ancestral memorial rituals, dress in colourful hanbok, play folk games, and honour Korean heritage. There aren’t really any winter festivals in Korea that celebrate Seollal, but it’s a great time to be in Seoul as some attractions are free and certainly less crowded.

Here are 5 of the best New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivals in Korea in 2024:

Bosingak Bell Ringing New Year’s Eve Festival 2024

If you’re in Seoul for the New Year and want to join the locals in welcoming in the year ahead, head to Jongno for the Bosingak Bell Ringing ceremony. At the stroke of midnight, people will crowd around the gigantic bell in the Buddhist shrine and watch together as the bell rings out for the New Year.

Join in as people cheer and watch hundreds of balloons fly into the sky, celebrating the start of a new year and new opportunity for fortune and happiness in the year ahead. Bell ringing ceremonies take place at midnight across the country and you can find them in other major cities across Korea.

Lotte World Tower New Year’s Eve Fireworks

Winter festivals in Korea are often breathtaking, but few can compare to the sight of the world’s 6th tallest building alight with fire and colours on all 123 levels. With fireworks shooting off in all directions, reflected in the gorgeous Seokchon Lake below, this will be a sight not to miss.

If the celebrations for 2024 are the same as 2023, Lotte will put on a grand spectacle to welcome in the new year with 555 seconds of fireworks. This represents the 555 metres of the skyscraper. The festival starts at 8:30 pm with performances and attractions going on before the main event at midnight.

If you want to see what the fireworks at the Lotte World Tower look like, here’s a video of them from last year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Homigot New Year Sunrise Festival 2024

Join thousands of Koreans celebrating the New Year by watching the very first sunrise of the year at Homgiot Sunrise Square. Wake up early, or stay out late, and see the sun hitting the crisp waves on the horizon. This is one of those winter festivals in Korea that is perfect if you’re alone or with others.

This particular New Year sunrise festival is the best place to see the first sunrise in Korea as Homigot Village near Pohang is the eastern-most point on the Korean peninsula. Therefore, it sees the sun before anyone else in the country. Be the first to welcome the New Year with this fun festival

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Jeju Seongsan New Year Sunrise Festival 2024

Situated at a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is certainly a unique place to watch the sun rise in the New Year. The Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak is a volcanic cone rising out of the sea and connecting to Jeju Island. It offers fantastic views of the sea and the glowing light of the first sunrise of the year.

This is a very special location for Koreans due to it’s unique geography. It has been a famous spot for watching the sunrise since at least the 13th Century. The festival provides a chance to learn more about Korea’s rich history and to join in cultural activities and games before exploring Jeju in winter.

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Gyeongpo & Jeongdongjin Sunrise Festivals 2024

If you’re staying in Seoul but want to watch the first sunrise of the year on the beach, then the easiest way is to head over to Gangneung and visit Gyeongpo Beach. This is one of my favourite summer beach destinations and easily accessible from Seoul thanks to the KTX high-speed train.

Not only is there the New Year sunrise to watch, there are also celebrations the night before right on the beach. Head to the beach for New Year’s Eve and watch fireworks shoot off over the rocking sea. Then stay warm in the bars and cafes along the coast. Once you’re done celebrating, check out Gangneung’s great cafes and keep staring out into the distance with a hot coffee.

There are currently no tours available, but there may be closer to the start of the festival.

Ganjeolgot Sunrise Festival 2024

If you’re near Ulsan at the start of the year, head to Ganjeolgot Cape and watch the New Year sunrise from the viewing spot above the rocky slopes. You can see some impressive views of the sunrise and join in with hundreds of other revellers in this popular sunrise point close to Ulsan. Stand in silence, clasp your hands together, and make a wish for the year ahead.

You can join this festival with a tour from Klook.

If you’re interested in seeing the sunrise on January 1st on Korea’s East Coast, here’s a tour that will take you to a lovely beach in Sokcho.

• New Year Sunrise Tour: Sokcho Beach 1 Day Tour – from Seoul

Other New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivals that might be on but I can’t confirm:

• Sampo Beach New Year’s Eve Fireworks Festival 2024
• Jeongdongjin New Year Sunrise Festival 2024
• Seogwipo Winter Sea International Penguin Swimming Festival 2024

About Seollal – New Year’s Day In Korea

There’s not just one New Year in Korea, but two. The Korean New Year, known as Seollal, is based on the lunar calendar and occurs sometime in January or February. Seollal spreads over several days and is one of two long public holidays in Korea – the other being Chuseok in autumn.

The dates for Seollal for the next three years are as follows:

*When major Korean holidays such as Seollal or Chuseok fall on a Sunday, there is often an extra day off granted so people get more time off work / school. It’s likely that the February 12th will be an extra holiday to account for the Sunday Seollal date in 2024.

Whilst there aren’t many big festivals occurring during Seollal, as Koreans spend time with their families, this is a great time to visit Korea. Seoul’s royal palaces, including Gyeongbokgung, are free to enter and there are cultural events put on to celebrate Korea’s rich cultural heritage.

Korean Winter Food Festivals 2024

If you’re a fan of Korean winter food, these tasty festivals will have your mouth watering. Although winter isn’t normally associated with food festivals, which are abundant in autumn harvest time, there’s still a few winter fruits and foods for you to enjoy eating, including winter strawberries and snow crabs.

For those visiting Jeju Island during winter, be sure to check out the tangerines and hallabong (big oranges). Winter is when they’re in season and you can find them in traditional markets for low prices. They’re sweet and juicy and absolutely irresistible – my favourite winter snack for sure.

Here are 2 Korean winter food festivals for you to visit in Korea in 2024:

Winter Strawberry Picking Festival

Winter welcomes the start of strawberry season in Korea, one of the juiciest times of year. There are several places to go strawberry picking, including in the major strawberry producing regions, Nonsan (Nonsan Strawberry Festival) and Yangpyeong (Yangpyeong Strawberry Festival). You’ll find big, juicy strawberries as you wander through the fields, picking them to eat later, or right then.

There are usually a feast of other activities at these festivals, such as strawberry cake making, strawberry jam making, and lots of other strawberry-based activities. Get your gardening gloves on and go out into the strawberry fields to gather some of the abundant red gems to fill your belly.

The easiest way to experience strawberry picking is with a tour from Klook. These tours typically stop at these festivals as part of a day trip that also visits other popular destinations in the area.

Uljin Snow Crab Festival

The Uljin Snow Crab Festival is dedicated to Uljin’s local delight, the snow crab. Whilst this might lack the glamour and excitement of other big winter festivals, it’s a chance to see how small town Korea celebrates. Witness the crab fancy-dress parade, crab fishing, and music performances. And, of course, try some delicious local crabs for dinner – perfect during a cold winter’s day.

Guide To Visiting Korean Winter Festivals

Here’s a brief guide to surviving and enjoying winter in Korea. There are a few things you’ll need to consider when you travel at this time, including the weather, getting around, and where to stay.

Weather In Korea During Winter:

There is no guarantee about how the weather will be during winter in Korea, except that it’s going to be cold and dry. Be sure to pack lots of skin cream as the dry air can be tough on your skin. Snow falls mostly in January and February, although you can also see some in December and March if you’re lucky. The snow is not constant, but can fall for up to a week at a time when it does arrive.

From late November the temperature quickly drops below 0 degrees Celsius at night and the days will be below 0 most of the time during January and February. The coldest I’ve seen the temperature drop was -18 Celsius at night. Make sure you bring lots of cold-weather clothes, such as a padded jacket and gloves, etc. Most indoor places and public transport will be well heated, no worries.

Getting To Winter Festivals In Korea:

Travelling around Korea is actually really easy, even if you don’t speak much Korean. There are great public transport options available in English, especially in big cities such as Seoul and Busan. To get around on all public transport, and taxis, too, you should definitely get a Korean transportation card such as the T-Money Card. You can buy one at Incheon Airport when you arrive in Korea.

Use apps and websites to help you navigate public transport in Korea. The best ones that I use regularly are Naver Map for planning where to go and Papago to translate any Korean into English. To book trains, use the Korea Rail website for train tickets between cities. You can book a taxi really easily using the Kakao Taxi app to call a taxi directly to your location.

Travelling outside of the big cities, however, can be a bit more difficult as there are not so many buses or trains and fewer English translations. Seeing as a lot of these festivals are in the countryside, you might want to consider booking a tour to travel to remote winter festivals. That’s why I’ve included tour links to festivals when I think it’ll save you time and hassle vs. trying to get there on public transport.

If you want to book a tour in Korea, I recommend using one of these tour companies:

• Klook
• Get Your Guide
• Viator
• Trazy

Seasonal Guides For Korea:

I think you’ll love these winter festivals and chances are you’ll want to come to Korea again later. No worries, I’ve got you covered for the other seasons in Korea, too. Check out my season-specific guides to Korea that will help you plan more amazing journeys in the Land of the Morning Calm.

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