Highlights
Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace and the hanok houses of Bukchon sit minutes from the shopping streets of Myeongdong and the nightlife of Hongdae. Gwangjang Market is the place for bindaetteok and mayak gimbap, and Namsan Tower gives views across the city.
Busan
Korea's second city is a port with beaches at Haeundae and Gwangalli, the hillside lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village, the seafront Haedong Yonggungsa temple and Jagalchi, a large fish market where you can eat what you pick.
Gyeongju
The capital of the ancient Silla kingdom, sometimes called a museum without walls. Grassy royal burial mounds stand in the town, and Bulguksa temple and the Seokguram grotto Buddha in the hills nearby are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Jeju Island
A volcanic island with Hallasan, South Korea's highest mountain, the Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, lava tubes and coastal walking trails. Jeju's haenyeo, women free-divers who harvest seafood, are recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
The DMZ
Organised tours from Seoul visit observatories, infiltration tunnels and memorials along the heavily fortified border with North Korea. Access rules change and some sites close at short notice, so book with a licensed operator and bring your passport.
Seoraksan National Park
Granite peaks on the east coast with trails to Ulsanbawi rock and a cable car towards Gwongeumseong fortress. It is one of the most popular places in the country to see autumn colour.
Jeonju Hanok Village
Hundreds of traditional tiled-roof houses in a city famous for bibimbap. Rent a hanbok, visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine and try the street food along Taejo-ro.
Interesting facts about South Korea
- The Korean alphabet, Hangul, was created under King Sejong in the 15th century so that ordinary people could learn to read; it has a national holiday, Hangul Day, on 9 October.
- In 2023 South Korea officially adopted the international way of counting age for legal and administrative purposes, replacing a system in which many people counted themselves a year or two older.
- Hallasan on Jeju is South Korea's highest mountain, at a little under 2,000 metres.
- Many South Korean apartment blocks skip the number four in lifts, using the letter F instead, because the word for four sounds like the word for death.
- The 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang were both held in South Korea.
Best time to visit
Spring (April to early June) brings cherry blossom in early April and mild weather, and autumn (late September to early November) has clear skies and spectacular foliage in the mountains; these are the best times to visit. Summer is hot and humid, with a monsoon season, jangma, from roughly late June to July. Winter is cold and dry, sometimes well below freezing in Seoul, but good for skiing in Gangwon province. Major holidays such as Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (autumn harvest) mean busy transport and some closures.
Practical information
| Capital | Seoul |
|---|---|
| Currency | South Korean won (KRW) |
| Languages | Korean |
| Plugs | Type C, F |
| Voltage | 220 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance; 1330 tourist information and interpretation hotline |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | Not expected and not customary. Some upmarket hotels add a service charge. |
Getting around
Seoul and Busan have large, clean subway networks with signs and announcements in English. KTX high-speed trains link Seoul with Busan in under three hours and also serve Gyeongju, Jeonju and other cities. Intercity express buses are frequent and comfortable. A rechargeable T-money card pays for subways, buses and many taxis and convenience stores across the country. Domestic flights are the quickest way to Jeju. Google Maps gives public transport routes but limited walking and driving directions, so most travellers use Korean map apps.
Staying connected in South Korea
South Korea has some of the fastest and most widespread mobile networks in the world, with 4G and 5G across cities, on trains and in subway tunnels. Coverage is also strong in most rural areas, though it can weaken on high mountain trails and remote coastal islands. Free Wi-Fi is available in subway stations, cafés and many public places, often without sign-up. Many Korean apps work best with a phone number for verification, which a data-only connection may not provide. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
See South Korea eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for South Korea
- Naver Map or KakaoMap: Accurate walking, transit and driving directions, which Google Maps does not fully provide in Korea.
- Papago: Naver's translation app, strong for Korean, with camera translation for menus and signs.
- Kakao T: Hail taxis and see fares; it supports foreign cards for many users.
- KakaoTalk: Korea's dominant messaging app, used by guesthouses, tour operators and restaurants.
- Korail Talk: Book KTX and other train tickets and keep them on your phone.