One of the countries that made the biggest impact on my travels all over Asia was the time I spent travelling in South Korea.
The people I met, the beautiful nature, and the incredible cuisine made me consider this small country as one of the best places to visit in Asia.
Travelling in South Korea is ideal for any kind of traveller, whether you’re going solo, with friends, or with family. There are so many things to do, no matter your style of travel.
For many years now, Korea has been booming with its films and K-pop, but there’s a lot more to this country than that. I consider it a really great introduction to Asia if you’ve never been, as it’s incredibly well organised, super safe, and with an eclectic mix of history, modernity, and nature that will guarantee you memories of a lifetime.
If you’re looking to spend your next vacation over there, here’s my suggested 8 Days South Korea Itinerary.
How To Travel Around South Korea
If there’s one thing you can take for granted when travelling in Korea is that the transport will be efficient. They may not be as famous as Japan for their punctuality but every journey I took was spot on, even when taking buses around the mountains.
If using public transport, getting a T-money card is the best way to travel around the country as you can use it for buses, subways, taxis and even convenience stores.
You get a small discount when using a T-money card compared to buying single tickets.
You can purchase a T-money card in metro stations or convenience stores such as 7-Eleven.
If you plan to visit Jeju island (which I highly recommend you to go!), keep an eye on Skyscanner as you can find really cheap flights from Seoul and Busan, the flight I took with Jeju Air was just about US $25. There’s also a ferry but I couldn’t find tickets when I was travelling in South Korea as you need to book them a bit in advance.
Currency In South Korea
The South Korean Won (KRW) is the currency in the country. You can pay in many places with your foreign card if you have a good international travel card, but cash is also accepted in most places.
Koreans do a lot of their payments and browsing with an App called Kakao but you won’t need it if you’re travelling for a few days only.
Common Phrases To Use In South Korea
I always recommend to everyone to learn how to say “hello” and “thank you” in the local language of the countries they’re visiting as this is no exception. Once you learn those two word and go with a smile, all the doors open for you.
- To say hello, good morning or afternoon is: Annyeonghaseyo
- Thank you: Gamsahamnida
- Yes: Ne
- No: Aniyo
- And another phrase that put smiles on the locals is: Masisseoyo, which means “it’s delicious”
Things To Eat In South Korea
South Korea is a foodies paradise without a doubt. Korean food is one of my all-time favourites as it’s an explosion of flavours.
You may be familiar with Kimchi by now but I always find it hard to name a single traditional food as they have so many! From Korean BBQ to Korean Fried Chicken and then Mandu (dumplings), Tteokbokki (their most popular street food), Bibimbap, Pajeon (savoury pancakes), Japchae and lots more.
In many restaurants you order a main dish and it will come with several side dishes (such as kimchi, pickled veggies, etc) so you end up trying many new things in every meal. What’s not to love!
Places To Visit In South Korea
Seoul
Chances are that you will start your trip in the capital. This metropolis can feel a bit overwhelming as there’s lots going on but asides from the general busyness and the bustling nightlife, there’s plenty to explore and even relax.
Some of the best things to do in Seoul are going for a walk in Cheonggyecheon Canal, visit the Bukchon Hanok Traditional Village, and the nearby Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palaces as well as the Jongmyo Royal Shrine.
You cannot leave Seould without a visit to one of their several food markets where you can try lots of delicious (and perhaps unusual!) dishes. The Gwangjang and the Namdaemun Markets are two of the most famous.
Danyang
Located about three hours from Seoul, the town of Danyang was one of my favourite places to visit in Korea as it offers a more traditional lifestyle with stunning nature.
Sobaeksan National Park is just a short bus ride away and you can go for some beautiful, and very accessible, hikes.
For a glimpse of the more traditional stereotypes you can also go by bus to Guinsa Temple. Nestled in the Sobaeksan mountains, you can easily spend a full day admiring the architecture, the landscape and enjoy a free lunch the monks serve every day. Yes, free!
In Danyang I stayed at the Factory G. Ssang Guesthouse which is a beautiful place to stay.
Gyeongju
This is perhaps the most unusual of the places I’m listing on this South Korea travel guide and it’s one not to miss!
The city of Gyeongju is almost entirely a UNESCO World Heritage Site as it was the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom.
The Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are postcard-like sites and the Daereungwon Tomb Complex is a beautiful park full with burial mounds of the ancient rulers.
Busan
The second largest city in Korea is bustling with activities, specially at night as it has a pedestrian area by the BIFF square that can be a sensorial overload, in a good way.
When you visit Busan you can go to the beach but also towards the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village and the Jagalchi Market where you can buy seafood and have it cooked in restaurants upstairs.
If you’re looking to rest your legs after wandering for too long, catch a Sky Capsule which is like a mini-personal train that goes along the coast of Busan.
I stayed at the Kimchee Downtown hostel which was great for meeting other fellow travellers.
Jeju
Last but definitely not least, you cannot go travelling in South Korea and not visit Jeju Island.
This paradisiac place reminds me of beaches in the Philippines and you can relax in excess in Jeju after visiting all the other busy cities.
In Jeju you can go surfing or hike up Mount Hallasan which is the highest mountain in South Korea.
The landscape of the island is marked by all the volcanic cones as there are 368 of them dotted around the island. They’e all dormant, not extinct. Visiting the lava tubes is a really cool activity to do in Jeju.
The volcanic nature of the island has carved incredible coastal sights, dreamy waterfalls the ubiquitous Dol Hareubang (stone grandfathers), which are sculptures carved out of volcanic rock and scattered all over the island.
Are You Ready To Go Travelling To South Korea?
I hope this travel guide convinced you to go. Korea doesn’t tend to top the lists of places to go in Asia but it was one of those wonderful surprises I have had when going to countries without set expectations and having my mind blown very quickly.
About The Author
Text and photos provided by Juan from Planet of Adventures. He writes on his blog about places to visit and activities to do all over the world with a focus on outdoor adventures, solo travel and low cost travel tips.
I really enjoyed Juan’s South Korea travel guide – it’s thoughtfully put together and genuinely helpful for first-time visitors. It’s the kind of guide that makes you feel excited, prepared, and eager to explore.
Thanks for stopping by!
Magda
xoxo
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