When to go
How to get around
Where to go
Itineraries
Must-try experiences
What to eat
What to spend your money on
South Korea is all about it’s dazzling contrast between the traditional and the modern. Not 30 years ago, South Korea was still trying to keep up with developed countries. After one of the world’s biggest and quickest transformations from poverty to wealth, the country has now taken on a kind of double personality. You can see these personalities sitting side by side as you wander from a traditional market to a high-rise mall, or an extravagant palace to a neon lit street. There is certainly no shortage of cultural vibrancy and fun to be had here.
But you’ll need some help to tell you what’s most essential. While I'd love to share with you all the hidden gems of the country, this guide is for first timers in South Korea, who are interested in traveling to the most popular destinations.
When to go and what the climate is like
Korea is one of those places that doesn’t have a very long Spring or Autumn so there’s a relatively small window for travel if you really want perfect tepid temperatures with a light breeze. Having said that, if you are like me and enjoy hot summers then any of the summer months, except for scorching hot August maybe, would be a good choice for your travel dates.
September-October: This is probably the most popular time to travel as the temperatures are not too hot, not too cold, pollution is at its lowest and the country takes on a wondrous transformation of colour as the Autumn foliage graces the scene. The best time to see the foliage at its finest is the end of October when a lot of Koreans take to the mountains for hiking and picture-taking.
November- February: It’s very cold. Very very cold. Well, in fact November is manageable but between December and January you’ll see many Koreans walking around in something that looks not far from a big sleeping bag to keep themselves warm. Reaching lows of -15°C but averaging around the -5°C mark, you might consider getting one yourself.
March-April: Spring is the worst month for pollution levels. The fine dust levels will frequently surpass the 75 micrograms level labelled by WHO as “very bad”. You may get an alert on your phone at this time to avoid going outside. However, if pollution levels happen to be low then it’s a nice time to see the charming cherry blossoms that line the streets and parks.
May-August: Summer can get very hot and humid and a lot of Koreans take to staying indoors for most of it with the air con blasting. Really the worst of it is in August though and maybe July, reaching highs of about 35°C . But if you like hot weather then they'll be nothing to worry about.
How to get around
During your time in Korea you’ll be treated to a wonderfully convenient transportation system. The KTX will take you across the country from Seoul to Busan in just 2 hours 45 minutes and there is a vast network of trains and buses to take you all around the country even to the most obscure of places.
KTX: To book a train ticket you can visit any station and normally there are always tickets available from and to most destinations unless you are looking to travel to Seoul on a Friday evening or the start or end of a national holiday. At these peak times you should book maybe a few days to a week in advance at letskorail.com.
Intercity Bus: Again, booking at the station is the best option. Some journeys can only be booked at the station but there are a couple websites to book in advance, including kobus.co.kr and tmoney.co.kr.
Subway: There are subway systems in Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon, Daegu and Busan. You can either purchase individual tickets or purchase a Tmoney card which is a rechargeable card you can use to tap in and out of the subway. This card can also be used with buses and taxis. Note that in South Korea you must tap out as well as in when getting a bus.
Where to go
Seoul
Seoul is the soul of South Korea, and often is the sole destination travellers tend to go to. Although there are many other fascinating places in the country which I fully recommend checking out, Seoul really has the most to offer. Let me break down what the vibes are for the most popular places in the city:
Hongdae: The place to go for popular culture. Fashion, beauty, food, drink, street performances- this is the center of it all and then some. Along the main strip you’ll find performer upon performer with their speakers at the ready and circles of spectators watching on in infatuation at these idol-aspiring dancers and singers. Popular among students, tourists and those looking for a fun night out, hip Hongdae has everything South Korean you can think of to offer.
Gangnam: Made famous by the record-breaking YouTube sensation Gangnam style, this is a place for people with style. It attracts an older crowd than Hongdae, with a bit of a more sophisticated vibe but still all the fun Korean things to do. Shopping is one of the biggest draws to Gangnam with an underground mall at the Express Bus Terminal station where you’ll find a never-ending heaven of small vendor-type shops with very well-priced items.
Itaewon: The party capital of Seoul; Itaewon attracts a lot of foreigners looking for a crazy night of drinking and dancing but there’s a little more on offer here too. You’ll find an impressive array of cuisine from around the world, cute cafes, book shops and antiques.
Myeongdong: Myeongdong really is the place to go if you want to shop brands and high street-inlets. You’ll be shocked by the amount of cosmetics shops you’ll find in Korea, often with 6 or 7 different brands next to each other offering the same array of face products. Korea probably is the best at cosmetics than any other country in the world though, so it makes sense to make the most of it while you’re there.
Insadong: Culture street will provide you with all your tourist needs from souvenir shops, novelty food vendors (like a really tall ice-cream cone or singing Korean sweet makers) and tea houses. You can also just stroll up the road and find Bukchon Hanok Village, a neighbourhood with traditional Korean architecture where you’ll see Koreans and tourists alike exhibiting the elegant Hanbok dress.
Busan
Many Koreans think of Busan as the Los Angeles of South Korea. But I believe this comparison is made purely on the basis that it has a beach and an international film festival. The city still feels very Korean, but for those who have become bored of the capital life in Seoul, find Busan to be a cooler alternative.
Haeundae: Featuring a strip of restaurants and bars leading up to a city beach, that does admittedly resemble L.A., this is probably the most popular area to stay in Busan.
Seomyeon: This is the more popular area for young locals looking to drink, eat and shop. It’s much like Hongdae or Gangnam in Seoul, also with its own underground shopping mall for all your style icon needs.
Gamcheon Culture Village: Way over on the West side of Busan is one of South Korea’s true treasures. Set on a hill by the sea, a sort of Spanish- looking neighbourhood of multi-coloured houses piled on top of one another, this is a place you must not miss if you go to Busan.
Jeju
Jeju is the summer vacation all Koreans have been on and the tropical gem of an otherwise modern high-tech country. With volcanoes to climb, beaches to lounge on and a cornucopia of strange and blog-worthy museums and amusement parks to visit, Jeju will surely satisfy both your curiosity about Korean culture and desire to appreciate its landscape.
Try Mount Hallasan- the highest peak in South Korea with an elevation of 1,950m. Or take a look at the Loveland museum, perhaps the quirkiest place in South Korea which exhibits many phallic and other sexual sculptures.
Gyeonju
South Korea is often a vision of modernity and bright lights, but here in Gyeonju you’ll find the complete opposite of that.
The ancient capital of Korea is designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. It’s here that learners and explorers of Korean history come to stare wide-eyed at temples, palaces, pagodas, art, tombs and more. The concentration of historical sites is splendiferous and a welcomed break from the claustrophobic bustling of cities like Seoul and Busan.
Jeonju
Similar to Gyeonju but smaller in scale and visited largely for its quaint Hanok Village where you can see homes from the early 20th century, Jeonju is the perfect place for a peaceful weekend trip.
Jeonju is also regarded highly for its culinary delights, including the Korean dish Bibimbap, which consists of many vegetables mixed together with rice and a red pepper sauce. Being the largest producer of Makgeoli- Korean rice wine –many a street can be found dedicated entirely to its consumption.
Seoraksan National Park
The most famous mountain range in South Korea, avid hikers do not want to give this one a miss. Hiking is very popular among old-timers in Korea and you’ll likely meet some friendly people buzzing at the top of the mountain.
There are a couple peaks you can climb- Ulsanbawi rock is the most popular- though not the highest peak - it is the most scenic as you can see the beautiful view of the long thin mountain face sloping on both sides.
Honorable Mentions
Other potential destinations for your itinerary could include:
Daejeon- the “Silicon Valley of Korea”
Daegu- a youthful city in the centre of South Korea
Gwangju- a city with a more rural traditional vibe and few foreigners
Suwon- famed for its 18th century fortress
Namhae- Another beautiful island off the South coast with a white sand beach
Itineraries
I would say 14 days is the best amount of time if you really want to have all the best experiences in South Korea but 7 days suffice to hit up the most concentrated places. Anything over 14 days and you’ll get to experience more of the hidden local culture in the country.
7 Days: Seoul - Busan/ Seoul - Jeju
14 days: Seoul - Jeonju - Busan - Jeju/ Seoul - Gyeongju - Busan - Jeju
14 days +: Add on any of the following destinations:
1. Daejeon 2. Gwangju 3.Daegu 4.Suwon 5.Seoraksan 6.Namhae
Must Try Experiences
South Korea is not just a place of destinations to tick off but somewhere where fun comes as a top priority. Korean people are charismatic and creative and this is expressed no less in all the unique little activities to be found in their culture.
Noraebang: The translation for this is literally singing room, otherwise known by its Japanese name, karaoke. Koreans are just as avid singers in rooms as the Japanese and you’ll notice this by the fact that noraebang are everywhere! Often catering to the more inebriated sorts, noraebang is extremely fun and a great way to bond with whoever your with.
Jimjilbang: Also very communal in spirit, the jimjilbang is a spa with public baths and saunas. There are also communal rooms for lounging around, normally a snack bar/ restaurant, games room, noraebang room, gym, TV room, sometimes a swimming pool and sometimes even sleeping facilities. All this and its ridiculously cheap. Whether your with friends or travelling solo, the jimjilbang is a uniquely Korean experience where you’ll truly get the feel for the collectivist culture.
Animal Cafes: Ever thought about drinking your latte with a Corgi on your lap, how about a racoon, or a meerkat? Some of these cafes are more ethical than others so watch out for places where the animals aren’t treated well or do not suit being domesticated. It’s not uncommon to find cat and dog cafes around the country. In Seoul you can also find a sheep café, owl café, bunny café and more.
Hiking: The world of hiking enthusiasts is strong in Korea, but usually only among the older generation. There are some beautiful and not too challenging mountains in Korea which often have ornate Buddhist temples and shrines you can visit and some even offer temple stays where you can experience the daily life of a Korean Buddhist.
PC Bang: Korean gamers are the best gamers in the world and top all the league charts. In facilitation of this obssession with video games came the PC Bang. A place with high speed internet where you can sit for hours on end, if you so wish, playing online games with your friends and people from around the world. Very popular among young Koreans, this would be a truly local experience.
Escape Rooms: Escape rooms have become a great hit all over the world now. If you haven’t tried one yet, Seoul offers a range of affordable and thrilling games all with different themes and levels. Whether it’s a scary zombie theme or a mind-bending time-travel theme, you must work against the clock, finding clues and solving puzzles so you can eventually escape.
What to Eat
A travel guide for South Korea would not be complete without mention of its cuisine. For Korean food is one of if not the biggest draws for tourists around the world. Let’s take a look at just some of the most mouth-watering options.
Kimchi: Kimchi is spicy pickled cabbage. Kimchi is the pride and joy of the Korean people. A healthy side dish, as well as an ingredient compatible with pretty much any Korean dish, kimchi is the most consumed food in the whole country.
Korean Barbeque: Korea has its own unique take on the barbeque which is first of all cooked by the customer directly on their table. It is then wrapped in a lettuce leaf with various other fillings and sauces. It’s deliciously addictive and hard not to eat so much you have to lie down afterwards.
Bibimbap: A simple mix of vegetables, rice and a delicious red pepper sauce sometimes cooked in a hot stone pot, this is the most traditional of dishes.
Jjigae: There are many different types of jiggaes, or stews from soft tofu to soybean to kimchi, all of which are the perfect hangover food and dare I say, better than any other stews I’ve had from around the world.
Tteokbokki: Glutinous and spicy, tteokbokki is rice cake in a smooth gochujang (red pepper) sauce that satisfies the need for warmth and comfort. Kind of like a thicker version of pasta with a spicier Korean sauce.
What to Spend your money on
Cosmetics: Koreans are obsessed with looking good and so the cosmetic industry is thriving not just in Korea but to customers abroad as well. Places like Olive Young, Etude House or Innis free offer the best bargains for all your face needs.
Clothes: Koreans may be some of the most fashionable people on the planet. While you may find their fashion more homogenous than other cultures, there are a diversity of different kinds of outlets from high end shopping malls, high street stores and vendors selling cheaper items. Though these vendors get a bad wrap for being low quality, I think they’re still stylish and the quality for its price is not offered in any other country on such a mass scale.
Plastic Surgery: Not something I would ever do but I have to give it a mention as Korea is famous for its medical tourism. It is the cheapest place in the world to get good quality work done and not uncommon to see people walking around Seoul with face scaffolding.
K-Pop Albums and Merchandise: You must have heard of BTS by now and how they’re popularity is raging around the world. Well there’s a whole scene of K-pop artists and fanatics and it would be impossible to avoid seeing the merchandise being sold all round the country. Give an album a listen or watch a music video so you can see what all the fuss is about.
