South Korea
Destination Guide
How to use my destination guides
My destination guides are organised in two main sections:
Overview
This will help you to decide if this is a location for you, and if so, where you may want to spend your time. For larger countries, I also provide additional overviews of different regions, states and territories.
Specific Recommendations
Here I list specific things to see and do. For each, I provide star ratings so that you can easily see how good, unique and adventurous each place is. This means that you can easily pick out where sounds right for you!
Photos note: All of the photos you see on my website are taken by me or of me!
Overview
South Korea is an amazing place and popular amongst travellers of many ages. Best of all is the Korean people, you will be very hard pressed to find nicer and more friendly people. The country is developed and affordable, with amazing food, cities and landscapes. You will also find great food, activities and nightlife all in a clean, safe and incredible environment. Hongdae in Seoul is one of my favourite city locations ever for the amazing vibe alone! The only negative I can propose for Korea is that although it has some beautiful nature and wildlife, it is still a densely populated country, so it is lacking in huge national parks. That being said, flights are cheap to places like Japan and Mongolia to experience places with more wilderness areas.
The Language
People speak Korean, but many people, especially young people, speak some degree of English, although most people are not fluent. There are quite a few opportunities to teach English and do language exchanges in Korea too, so if you are interested in learning the language, that may be an option to consider.
Economy and Safety
South Korea is a very developed country with a strong economy. The entire country is also incredibly safe and clean. The locals are also some of the nicest and most reliably trustworthy you will ever meet, so it’s an easy and great place to travel.
Travel Ease
Korea is incredibly easy to travel in with cheap, clean and reliable internal flights and trains. Flights to other countries in the region are also largely reasonably-priced and frequent.
You can also take a ferry from Busan in the south-east of South Korea to Japan. I think that this would be an incredible adventure, however when I arrived in Busan, I had not reserved a seat, assuming that it would be easy to organise for a foot passenger. Unfortunately, the ferry was fully booked for a week when I was there, so if you do choose this method of travel to Japan, make sure that you book it in advance.
The Beaches
Korea has some beautiful beaches and is definitely warm enough for a swim in the sea in the summer. One of my favourite beaches was Gwangalli Beach, Busan. If you are looking for more of a ‘beach holiday’, however, where you spend a lot of time in the ocean and on the beach, I would recommend you prioritise alternative destinations such as south-east Asia or Australia.
The Wildlife
South Korea is quite densely populated, so you won’t find huge national parks here that you find in other parts of the world. That being said, the wildlife I did see here was beautiful. Some of the best wildlife I saw was on the island of Jeju off the south coast of the country. When hiking up Hallasan, a volcano in the centre of the island, I saw an array of beautiful insect and bird life as well as a deer.
The Cities
Korea is incredibly developed and densely populated, with a number of cities. Many cities in Korea have limited tourism, although Busan and especially the capital Seoul, have plenty of tourism. Korean cities are generally incredibly safe, clean and easy to navigate on foot and public transport.
The South Korean Capital of Seoul is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s a modern city without many historical buildings and its architecture is nice enough, but does not rival the likes of Singapore or Sydney. What it does have though, is the people! I am a big fan of Hongdae in particular, which is a lively part of the city located south-west of the city centre. It has a good social atmosphere with everything from restaurants and cafes to great nightlife. It’s a great place to meet other travellers and locals alike.
The People
You will find people all over the world who are nice, friendly and great fun to be around. I would say, however, that Korea ranks in my top countries for having consistently good and helpful people. They are always happy to help; many speak some degree of English and they are very open-minded towards foreigners.
History
Korea has a long and fascinating history. Like many parts of the world, it was originally made up of differing kingdoms; however, it united as the Silla Kingdom 668-935 AD. After this time, it fractured once more. By 936 AD, the Goryeo Dynasty had united the Korean Peninsula, and this unity lasted until 1910, although the ruling dynasty changed from the Goryeo to the Joseon Dynasty in 1392 following a bloodless coup.
Japan and Korea have influenced each other greatly. The Yayoi migration is the name given to the period from roughly 900–300 BC, whereby a large number of migrants from the Korean Peninsula and the wider area travelled from the Korean Peninsula to Japan. For this reason, many modern-day Japanese people share common ancient ancestry with Koreans. Following a long period of war in Japan, the recently united country invaded Korea in 1592 and attempted to conquer the Peninsula. The fighting was brutal, but by 1598 the Koreans had repulsed the invasion.
King Sejong statue, Seoul. He ruled Korea from 1418 to 1450 and is famed for creating the Korean Alphabet.
More recently, Japan invaded again and occupied Korea from 1910 to 1945. Following this period and Japan’s surrender, marking the end of World War II, Korea was divided into the communist north (backed by the USSR and China) and the south (backed by the allies, namely the USA). The idea was that this division was temporary and that the country would be reunited at a later date. In 1950, however, North Korea launched a surprise invasion of the south, leading to more than three years of brutal war across the whole of Korea. The war saw a UN force made up of a number of nations, including the USA, UK, Australia, Netherlands, France and others intervening to support the south. The South and UN forces pushed the North Koreans out of South Korea and into the north of North Korea. At this point, China intervened, adding its troops to those of the North and reversing the gains of the allies. Ultimately, the war ended in a stalemate with North and South being cut off from one another, creating the current situation and border which are present today.
Many Korean families are separated with relatives on either side of the border. It’s a really sad story, especially when Koreans are easily some of the best people you will ever meet, being warm, welcoming, respectful and openhearted. The War Memorial of Korea, which is located in Seoul, tells a far better story of these events than I ever could and it is definitely worth visiting to gain a better understanding of the situation. A visit to the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), which denotes the border between the North and South is also worthwhile, with tours including transport taking a day and leaving regularly from Seoul. I provide more information on this under my specific recommendations for South Korea.
Overview Summary
South Korea is an incredible country. It’s a place of great people, food and culture and I enjoyed my time there. The country is small, safe and developed making it very easy to travel.
Specific Recommendations
How to interpret my specific recommendations
My specific recommendations are listed below. Firstly, you will find: its name, a quick link to locate and save it to your Google Maps, and for some, a photo. The photos, if present, like all those on this page, have either been taken by me or feature me in them. If you save the location to your Google Maps, I suggest that you add a note on there too, to remind you that you heard about it here. A good way to do this is by copying my website link into the location description. This way, you can check back here nearer the time of your visit to jog your memory as to what is there. I use Google Maps to plan all of my trips and, when used to its full potential, it is incredible! If you haven’t already, check out my blog post on how I use Google Maps to revolutionise my travels!
I provide a description of each location, as well as a duration estimate for how long you may want to spend at that location, to help with your planning.
I also provide star ratings for three categories.
Andy Argo
My overall rating
Worth seeing if you’re passing
Worth a detour if you have time
A must see!
Adventure
The level of exertion and danger involved
Easy to access, low risk and no strenuous exercise required
Some exercise is required, such as hiking. Some risks, such as bad weather, uneven ground, steep edges, etc.
Involves more exercise, greater danger or both. Examples include diving or scrambling up mountains, where experience is required.
Uniqueness
How well known and unique a destination is
A well-known destination or one that is not overly unique. I have listed restaurants in this category as food is everywhere.
Somewhat unknown or unique
Very unique
Some other points to note are:
- I like a bit of danger and history, so you may find that my ‘Andy Argo’ star ratings are sometimes (but not always) a little biased in favour of these types of locations.
- On my ‘Andy Argo’ stars, if I have given something one star, it’s good and worth doing. Having one star doesn’t mean it’s bad; it’s still high praise, as I only include the crème de la crème on this list!
- My duration recommendations are based on what I think is the minimum amount of time you would want to spend there. I always recommend being spontaneous when travelling and changing plans depending on your circumstances, how you feel, and following advice from locals. Remember you’re there to enjoy it, so don’t feel rushed and stressed, you’re on holiday!
- In a small handful of instances, I have included somewhere I have been with zero Andy Argo stars. I have done this a handful of times for very touristy places. These are locations which I have been to and which are sufficiently famous that I think people would wonder why they aren’t on the list, but which, in my opinion, don’t make the cut and are overrated (sorry).
- I have been to the vast majority of these recommendations; however, sometimes I include several locations which I haven’t been to for the following reasons:
- A friend of mine has been there and has highly recommended it to me.
- Internet searches suggest it sounds noteworthy enough to include.
Disclaimer – I am not responsible for your safety or enjoyment at any of these locations. Everything I have recommended here is based on my experience and opinion. I may have recommended places I visited years ago or, as mentioned previously, a handful which I have had recommended to me. Do your own research before visiting any attractions to ensure that you think you will enjoy them and that they are sufficiently safe. My recommended duration times are also estimates based on my opinion; do your own further research and plan accordingly. I have recommended places which I think people will like, but it is all based on my opinion; I may love something that you hate. Be sure to have sufficient travel insurance and make your own judgments. Check weather forecasts and consult reputable local guidance before visiting anywhere you seek to visit. For more adventurous activities, ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared and that you have the right supervision, equipment, and training for the activity. Long story short, use some common sense and don’t sue me, I’m broke enough already. Happy travels, Andy
Specific Recommendations
I have separated my recommendations into ‘Seoul’ for recommendations for actiuvities inand around the capital, ‘Mainland’, for everything else on the mainland, and ‘Jeju’ for recommendations on the island of Jeju, which is located just off the south coast of Korea.
Seoul
Hongdae, Seoul
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: District
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Hongdae is a district located to the west of Seoul’s city centre and was easily my favourite part of the city. It’s full of young people (locals and tourists) and it has a great vibe. You will find plenty of restaurants, shops and nightlife activities here.
I’m not one for staying in cities for long, but even I loved it here! I would recommend staying here for most of your time in Seoul if not all of it, although maybe consider Itaewon for your first night to be near the museums before you come here for the more lively side of life! The nightlife here is a lot of fun; the younger generation of Koreans often speak good English and are really welcoming.
Unlike many Western places, you will find the nightlife fun but also extremely safe and not ‘crazy for crazies’ sake. For example, you can be in the street after a night out at 3am in Hongdae when it hits you: everything is relaxed! Despite everyone being drunk and having fun, nobody is being sick in a side street, arguing with their partner, singing drunk at full volume, scrapping (fighting) and subsequently, there is no police presence. People are happy, drunk but not crazy, it’s a really nice vibe and a welcome change from nights out in the north of England, that’s for sure!
You will find plenty to do in Hongdae other than partying too, as it’s a nice, vibrant and fun part of town. I popped into a video game cafe with banks of gaming computers and people playing which was interesting for me as I’ve not seen that sort of thing before; if you are a gamer I met another English backpacker (who coincidentally I had also befriended in New Zealand several months prior – small world!) and she used one as well to get her gaming fix out of her system while away from home so they must be foreigner-friendly to use too if you need to get your gaming fix. I also went through a period of visiting the great board game cafes they have in the area too, something I wouldn’t normally do but really enjoyed for a relaxing but social night.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: District
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Located south of Seoul’s city centre is the district of Itaewon. The district is nice enough, as with the rest of Korea, it is clean, safe and pleasant. I would recommend staying here for a night when you first arrive, as it’s close to the museums, which are worth checking out. For a longer duration in Seoul, however, I preferred life in Hongdae. See more information on the Museums below.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Museum
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
As many are aware, Korea is divided into the communist north, ruled by Kim Jong Un, with his father and grandfather being in power before him. South Korea is a democracy.
The north is backed by China, whereas the south is backed by many democracies, namely the USA. The museum tells the sad story of the Korean Civil War, which is not only a sad and important chapter in Korea’s history but which also leads into why Korea is still divided to this day. Many of you reading this will also have had your countrymen fight and die in the conflict, as it saw many combatants from many countries, including the USA, UK, Australia, France, the Netherlands and many more and the museum provides information and honours those who fought. Outside the museum to the left is the Statue of Brothers with the story it represents written beside it and I found that very moving and recommend that you see it.
National Museum of Korea
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Museum
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I enjoyed this museum, although if you are pushed for time, I would recommend the War Memorial of Korea (detailed above) over this museum. It has a range of information and artefacts from Korea. It is also located near the War Memorial of Korea, so you can do them both in a Museum-based day, although this can be quite heavy.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: History
Recommended Duration: 2 hours
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
A large complex of palaces, shrines and gardens. My photo was taken at the Okcheongyo Bridge.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: History
Recommended Duration: 1 hour
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
A recreated historical Korean village with beautiful architecture.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Mountain with walled defences
Recommended Duration: 1 day
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Bukhansan is awesome and makes for an amazing day trip from Seoul as it is just north of the city and easy to get to. The mountain is a good hike up and gives beautiful views of the city. It is also protected by a historic defensive wall, which you can pass through, making it even more of a treat. It’s an intermediate-level hike and will take most people at least half a day, so bring water, food, etc.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Border, viewpoint, museum
Recommended Duration: 1 day
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
The Demilitarised Zone, commonly referred to as the ‘DMZ’, is the border between North and South Korea.
No peace treaty was ever signed between the two countries and both claim to be the ‘rightful’ Korea. For that reason, this border is heavily guarded with both sides having a large military presence. Despite this, it’s safe to visit (subject to a surprise war kicking off) and many tourists visit every day. I thought it would be a bit touristy and not my thing, but I am really glad I went, as I loved it and found it fascinating.
I got a bus from Seoul, which takes you there and on the tour, it wasn’t overly expensive and was really fascinating. I would recommend that you also organise a tour in Seoul. It’s cheap and I expect you may struggle to head near the border without a tour, although I haven’t looked into it. You can head up to viewpoints and look north across the border into North Korea, seeing the large North Korean flags blowing in the wind. You can also buy North Korean Won and North Korean Beer at the border, which has been smuggled into South Korea to be sold to Tourists via China. There is information about the tension at the border and some of the history as they try to one-up each other: from blaring K-pop and North Korean Propaganda at each other to discovering North Korean tunnels being dug into South Korea. My favourite of all is the flagpole arms race, as each side has built increasingly high flagpoles on either side of the border to one-up each other. North Korea’s has come out the tallest and can be seen from miles away.
Mainland
Eulji Observatory
Category: Viewpoint
Recommended Duration: Unknown
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
I wanted to go here while in Korea, but never got around to it. Far east along the border with North Korea is the Eulji Observatory, where you can book a tour to go and see (reviews mention that you likely can’t get in if you go yourself for security reasons). This observation post is said to give incredible views of the defences on both sides of the border between North and South Korea.
Sangdang Sanseong Fortress
Category: History
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
An impressive fortress.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: City and hikes
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I landed in Daegu from Mongolia, as this was where the flights were cheapest, and I am really glad I did. Although I don’t think you need long to see the city, I really enjoyed my time there.
Firstly, the airport is cool, it’s got commercial flights coming in and out at the same time as fighter jets taking off and landing, so it’s great to get a free airshow! The town is more of a typical Korean town with no really international tourist presence, so you can experience ‘real’ Korea. I also enjoyed the hikes nearby, including up to the Apsan Observatory, which gives great views of wooded areas and the city skyline. Although I wouldn’t drastically detour to get to Daegu, if you do pass near or through here, I definitely think it’s worth stopping in for a night to explore the place and do some local hikes.
The photo below of the market stall and food was my Harry Potter, “anything from the trolley, dear?”, moment, where I asked for the lot! Great guys who gave me a good mix of all the food they had and I spent a happy hour eating my way through loads of great food.
Wolchulsan
Category: National park and hiking
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
A mountainous national park with exposed bridges and incredible views.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: City with beaches
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Busan is Korea’s second city and also a famous port. I was excited to see Busan after first hearing of the city from the Korean zombie film, Train to Busan; worth a watch if you get time!
I liked Busan, but I think I went there with very high expectations. Don’t get me wrong, it is a great city with a cool atmosphere and nice beaches, but it is, in many ways, much like many other modern cities without too much that feels really unique about it. Popular areas include Gwangalli Beach (which is really nice) and feels like Korea’s version of Manly Beach, Sydney, Australia. The beach is beautiful, there is a busy but nice vibe and lots of restaurants and bars nearby. Gamcheon Culture Village is also a popular place for tourists, but I found it a little overwhelming; it’s mainly just different coloured houses on a sloped hill.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Buddhist temple
Recommended Duration: 2 hours
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Located just north of Busan is Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, a beautiful coastal temple with views of the sea and elegant bridges over gaps in the rocky cliffs. I’ve seen a lot of cool Buddhist temples in my time, but this one felt special, given its coastal cliff setting.
Ferry to Japan, Busan
Category: Ferry, international border
Recommended Duration: 3.5 hours – 19 hours (times vary depending on destination and ferry speed)
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
I really wanted to head to Japan by ferry from Korea, which can be done from Busan. There are different options, including a faster ferry for 3-4 hours and longer 12-hour overnight ferries. Where I went wrong is that I assumed, as a lone backpacker, it would be easy to get a seat; however, when I arrived, it was already booked up a week in advance and I didn’t fancy killing another week in Korea waiting on a ferry, so I ended up flying out instead. Long story short, book it in advance! As I mention a lot, I love crossing borders without flying and think that this is a really cool way to do it!
Mainland
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: National Park and volcano
Recommended Duration: 1 day
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Hallasan is an awesome, dormant volcano with a beautiful national park around it. It is located on the island of Jeju, just off Korea’s south coast and flights to the island are cheap.
Many Koreans love Jeju as it is their country’s only warm island. I thought the island was nice, but from what I saw of it, this was the only worthwhile thing to see on the island. The island feels like it’s more of a Korean Honeymoon destination rather than a place for travellers for the most part. I did love Hallasan National Park though!
I would recommend hiking up the volcano in the centre of the park and starting from the north, checking out Gwaneumsa Temple, which is at the entrance to the hike. The hike is intermediate with well-defined trails, but it will also take you a while to get up it. You will see loads of weird and wonderful wildlife on the way, from birds to insects and deer. The view at the top is also beautiful, as well as the forests on the way back down. My advice is not to rush the hike but to enjoy the nature on the way.
I hope that you have found this free Destination Guide useful. It took a lot of time and travel for me to make this, so if you would like to show your thanks by sending a small donation, I would be very grateful. This can be done on my Support Me page. Thank you!
Happy travels!
Andy Argo
You may also like…
Enjoy hearing incredible stories of travellers from all walks of life as they share their stories of exploring the world
Check out my top tips for travellers – whether you’re planning your first trip or continuing the adventure!
Looking to save some money on travel and adventure brands? Use my exclusive discount codes to save on your next trip!
Title image: Street in Daegu, South Korea