Seoul
Seoul
Palaces, modern city life, shopping and endless attractions.
Activities
Things to Do
Palaces, museums, K-Pop, nature and day trips across Korea.
Popular Activities by Region
Busan
Busan
Ocean views, beaches, seafood and vibrant city life.
Jeju
Jeju
Island nature, volcanic landscapes and unique culture.
Jeonju
Jeonju
Traditional hanok village, Korean food and local culture.
Gyeongju
Gyeongju
Ancient history, temples and Silla heritage.
Sokcho
Sokcho
Seoraksan mountains, East Sea beaches and seafood markets.
Gangneung
Gangneung
Beaches, coffee culture and Joseon-era heritage houses.
Sokcho · Culture
Abai Village
Settlement founded by North Korean refugees, reached by the hand-pulled galsan ferry across the channel.
Abai Village · 1h30m · ₩500 ferry
Gangneung · Experiences
Anmok Coffee Street
Seafront strip of roasteries and cafes that made Gangneung Korea's coffee city.
Anmok · 1h30m · Cafe prices
Gangneung · K-Pop
BTS Bus Stop (Hyangho Beach)
Seaside bus shelter used in the BTS album photo shoot, now a popular photo stop.
Jumunjin · 45m · Free
Seoul · Culture
Bukchon Hanok Village
Hillside lanes of traditional houses between two palaces. Residents live here, so keep noise down.
Jongno · 1h30m · Free
Seoul · Nature
Bukhansan National Park Hike
Granite peaks inside the city limits, with trails from two to six hours.
Northern Seoul · 4h · Free
Gyeongju · History
Bulguksa Temple
8th-century UNESCO temple with two stone pagodas at the base of Mount Toham.
Bulguksa · 2h · ₩6,000
Seoul · Palaces
Changdeokgung & Secret Garden
UNESCO-listed palace whose rear garden is visited only on a timed guided walk.
Jongno · 2h · ₩8,000
Sokcho · Experiences
Daepo Port
Working fishing port with raw fish stalls and rows of fried-seafood vendors along the quay.
Daepo Port · 1h30m · Free entry
Gyeongju · History
Daereungwon Tomb Complex
Grass-covered Silla royal mounds you can walk between, with one tomb open inside.
Hwangnidan-gil · 1h30m · ₩3,000
Seoul · Day Trips
DMZ Day Trip
Guided visit to the border area; passport required and tours must be booked in advance.
Paju · 8h · ₩60,000-100,000
Seoul · Museums
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Zaha Hadid's silver curves, with design exhibitions and late-night wholesale malls next door.
Dongdaemun · 1h30m · Free / exhibition fees
Gyeongju · History
Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond
Reconstructed pleasure palace best seen after dark, reflected in the pond.
Hwangnidan-gil · 1h30m · ₩3,000
Busan · Culture
Gamcheon Culture Village
Pastel hillside village of murals, galleries and stairways over the harbour.
Saha · 3h · Free
Gangneung · Shopping
Gangneung Central Market
Two-floor market for chicken skewers, fish cakes and Gangwon-do produce, busiest in the evening.
Gangneung Downtown · 1h30m · Free entry
Busan · Nightlife
Gwangalli Beach & Bridge Lights
Cafes and bars facing the illuminated Gwangan Bridge; drone shows on some weekends.
Gwangalli · 2h · Free
Seoul · Palaces
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The main Joseon royal palace, with a guard-changing ceremony twice a day and free entry in hanbok.
Jongno · 2h · ₩3,000
Jeonju · History
Gyeonggijeon Shrine
Walled shrine holding the portrait of the founding Joseon king, with a bamboo grove.
Hanok Village · 1h · ₩3,000
Gyeongju · Experiences
Gyeongju Temple Stay
Overnight programme with evening chanting, tea and a 4am wake-up bell. Book ahead.
Bulguksa · Overnight · ₩50,000-80,000
Gangneung · Nature
Gyeongpo Beach
Gangneung's main beach: 1.8 km of sand backed by pine forest and a lakeside cycling path.
Gyeongpo · 2h · Free
Gangneung · History
Gyeongpodae Pavilion
Joseon-era pavilion above Gyeongpo Lake, long famous for its moon-viewing outlook.
Gyeongpo · 1h · Free
Busan · Culture
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Rare seaside temple built on the rocks, best at sunrise before the crowds.
Gijang · 2h · Free
Jeju · Culture
Haenyeo Diver Demonstration
Watch Jeju's women free-divers work, then eat what they bring up.
Seongsan · 1h · Free / seafood extra
Busan · Nature
Haeundae Beach
Busan's main beach, with a coastal walk to Dongbaek Island at one end.
Haeundae · 2h · Free
Busan · Experiences
Haeundae Blueline Park Sky Capsule
Pastel capsule cars running along the old coastal railway between Mipo and Cheongsapo.
Haeundae · 1h30m · ₩30,000-60,000
Jeju · Nature
Hallasan National Park
Korea's highest mountain; shorter trails are easy, summit routes need an early start.
Central Jeju · 5-8h · Free
Seoul · Nature
Han River Picnic
Rent a mat, order fried chicken to the park and watch the bridge fountains.
Yeouido · 2h · ₩10,000-20,000
Seoul · Experiences
Hanbok & Palace Photo Walk
Rent traditional dress near the palace gates; wearing it also waives palace admission.
Jongno · 3h · ₩15,000-30,000
Jeonju · Experiences
Hanji Paper Workshop
Make a sheet of traditional mulberry paper in the city that has produced it for centuries.
Hanok Village · 1h · ₩10,000-20,000
Seoul · Nightlife
Hongdae Live Music Crawl
Indie clubs, buskers and small venues around the art university district.
Hongdae · 3h · ₩10,000-25,000
Busan · Experiences
Jagalchi & Nampo Street Walk
Fish market, BIFF film street and the covered night market in one loop.
Nampo · 3h · Free
Jeonju · Culture
Jaman Mural Village
Hillside lanes painted with murals, overlooking the hanok rooftops.
Hanok Village · 1h · Free
Jeju · Nature
Jeju Olle Coastal Trail
Waymarked coastal walking routes; Route 7 along the southern cliffs is the classic.
Seogwipo · 4h · Free
Jeonju · Culture
Jeonju Hanok Village
Around 700 traditional houses, with craft workshops, tea rooms and street food lanes.
Hanok Village · 3h · Free
Gangneung · Nature
Jumunjin Beach & Port
Fishing port and beach north of the city, with a busy morning fish market.
Jumunjin · 2h · Free
Seoul · K-Drama
K-Drama Location Walk
Filming spots around Ikseon-dong, Cheonggyecheon and the Han River bridges.
Jongno · 2h30m · Free
Seoul · K-Pop
K-Pop Agency & Cafe Walk
Entertainment company buildings, artist-run cafes and album shops around Seongsu and Gangnam.
Gangnam · 2h30m · Free
Seoul · K-Pop
K-Pop Dance Class
Beginner choreography sessions taught in English at Hongdae studios.
Hongdae · 1h30m · ₩30,000-50,000
Seoul · Museums
Leeum Museum of Art
Traditional Korean art and contemporary galleries in three architect-designed buildings.
Itaewon · 2h · Free / special exhibitions
Jeju · Nature
Manjanggul Lava Tube
One of the world's longest lava tubes; bring a jacket, it stays cold inside.
Gujwa · 1h30m · ₩4,000
Seoul · Shopping
Myeongdong Shopping Night
Cosmetics flagships, fashion floors and a street-food cart lane that fills after dark.
Myeongdong · 2h · Free entry
Seoul · Culture
N Seoul Tower
City-wide views from Namsan, reached by cable car or a 40-minute walk up.
Namsan · 2h · ₩21,000
Seoul · Day Trips
Nami Island Day Trip
Tree-lined river island famous from Korean drama, reached by ferry or zipline.
Chuncheon · 7h · ₩16,000
Seoul · Museums
National Museum of Korea
The country's flagship museum, from Baekje gold crowns to a ten-storey stone pagoda. Free entry.
Yongsan · 2h30m · Free
Gangneung · History
Ojukheon House
Birthplace of scholar Yi I and his mother Shin Saimdang, one of Korea's oldest surviving wooden homes.
Gangneung Downtown · 1h30m · ₩3,000
Gyeongju · History
Seokguram Grotto
Granite Buddha in a mountain chamber above Bulguksa, facing the East Sea.
Bulguksa · 1h30m · ₩6,000
Jeju · Nature
Seongsan Ilchulbong Sunrise Peak
UNESCO volcanic crater rising from the sea; a 25-minute climb to the rim.
Seongsan · 2h · ₩5,000
Gangneung · History
Seongyojang House
Aristocratic Joseon estate with a lotus pond pavilion and original guest quarters.
Gangneung Downtown · 1h30m · ₩5,000
Sokcho · Nature
Seoraksan National Park
Granite peaks, temple trails and a cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress, 20 minutes from central Sokcho.
Seorak-dong · 4h · ₩4,500
Sokcho · Nature
Sokcho Beach
Wide city beach with a pine-backed promenade and a lighthouse walk at the northern end.
Sokcho Beach · 1h30m · Free
Sokcho · Experiences
Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market
Covered market famous for dakgangjeong stalls, dried fish and fresh seafood counters.
Jungang · 1h30m · Free entry
Jeju · Day Trips
Udo Island Half Day
Short ferry to a flat island of white-sand coves, peanut ice cream and scooter lanes.
Seongsan · 5h · ₩10,000 ferry
Sokcho · Nature
Yeongnangho Lake
Lagoon with a flat 7.7 km walking and cycling loop and Seoraksan views at sunset.
Yeongnangho · 1h30m · Free