11 Days in South Korea
In April 2023, after visiting Taiwan, we flew into Daegu International Airport in South Korea's southeast and spent 11 days exploring the country (plus sneaking a peak over the border into North Korea). We travelled clockwise from Gyeongju to Seoul, making our way around the country but missing the northeast coast.
Below are our top 10 experiences from South Korea:
Below are our top 10 experiences from South Korea:
#10- N Seoul Tower and parks
At the height of 236 metres, the N Seoul tower is the second highest point of Seoul. If you're feeling fit, you can take the stairs from the city up through Namsan Park (otherwise you can catch a cable car). On a clear day, the view from the tower and the surrounding viewing decks offer a 360 view of the city below.
Located on Mount Namsan, the Namsan park surrounding the tower is the largest park in Seoul and a great place for a stroll. You'll pass a lot of locals out exercising and enjoying the nature. On your way out of the park, stop at Namsangol Hanok Village, a recreated Korean village with 5 restored hanoks, built between 1392–1910. |
#9- Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve
Suncheon is the largest city in the Jeollanam-do province of South Korea, with a population of nearly 280,000. Suncheon Bay Wetland Reserve includes 21.6 km² of mudflats and 5.4 km² of reed beds and is a natural habitat for over 140 species of birds, including migratory and endangered bird species. Follow the wooden walkways through the reed fields and up a hill on the other side to reach the Observation Deck overlooking the wetlands.
The admission ticket to Suncheon Bay Wetland also includes Suncheon Bay National Garden, but an additional ticket is required to ride the monorail SkyCube 5km between the two sites.We visited in 2023, during the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo so there were many visitors taking in the beautiful displays and exhibitions. |
#8- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Busan
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is about an hour bus ride from Busan city centre. It is a Buddhist temple which was built in 1376. Located on the cliff's edge, overlooking the sea, it is a beautiful place to walk around on a sunny day. Try to avoid peak holiday or weekends, as it does get very crowded, especially since there is no entrance fee.
On the way back to Busan, stop at Haeundae Beach and explore the traditional market. Make sure to try Hotteok (a fried, sweet pancake stuffed with honey, brown sugar or nuts) from one of the street vendors. |
#7- DMZ Tour
While a visit into North Korea might be a bit too risky, you can get within 2kms of it on a DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) tour from Seoul.
Since 15 November 1974, South Korea has discovered four tunnels crossing the DMZ that had been dug by North Korea. You can visit the Third Tunnel of Aggression during the tour, and walk to the end of the South Korean side, where it has now been sealed off to prevent anyone from crossing between the two countries. Another highlight is visiting the Dora Observatory, where you can use binoculars to look across the border into North Korea. When the sky is clear, you can make out a guard tower, a North Korean flag, some buildings and a Kim Il-Sung Statue. Things did feel a little more tense while we were in South Korea after North Korea stopped answering the daily check in phone calls from South Korea for 4 days in a row (North Korea and South Korea normally communicate through a military hotline at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. every day). |
#6- Palaces & Secret Garden, Seoul
No visit to Seoul is complete without visiting the Palaces. The main sites are Gyeongbokgung (built in 1395), Changdeokgung (1405), and Changgyeonggung (1483).
When visiting Changdeokgung Palace, if you book in advance, you can also secure a ticket to visit the Huwon Secret Garden. The garden was used as a place of leisure by members of the royal family. |
#5- Gamcheon Cultural Village, Busan
Located just outside of Busan's city centre, the Gamcheon Cultural Village is a picturesque village of colorful houses, painted murals, shops & cafes. The buildings are set on a steep slope, with small winding alleys connecting the buildings, which creates countless view points as you get lost in the labyrinth of streets.
Gamcheon Village was built during the 1920s and 1930s when the Busan city administration decided to relocate the working-class population into an area secluded from the port, yet close enough to provide labor. In the midst of a post-war recovery in 1955, around 800 families moved to the village. In 2009, the Village Art Project was launched by local artists and villagers to decorate and revive Gamcheon. |
#4- Gwangjang Market, Seoul
#3- Old Town & Staying in a Hanok, Jeonju
After Gyeongju, Jeonju was our second favourite town to explore in Soth Korea. We chose to stay in a Hanok, a traditional South Korean accommodation, which is a small empty wooden room with a roll out mattress pad and bedding for the floor. It was surprisingly comfortable and a fun experience for a couple of nights.
The old town of Jeonju is full of traditional buildings, including the Gyeonggijeon Shrine, Hanok Village, and Pungnammun Gate. You can also visit the Jeondong Cathedral, Jaman Mural Village, and walk along the Jeonjuchun River. Jeonju is the fourth city to be appointed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, so there is a lot to explore in the food scene as well. Make sure you eat at Hankookjib restaurant, said to be the originator of bibimbap, which has been open since 1952. Another favourite is PNB, known for their choco-pies (a round, chocolate cake-pie). If you need a break while exploring, stop in for a local craft beer at Nomadic Beer Garden. |
#2- Tomb Mounds, Gyeongju
As you wander through Gyeongju, you will notice rounded mounds scattered across the landscape. These aren't hills, they are burial mounds. While you can see some of these for free, it is worth the entry fee to visit the Daereungwon Tomb Complex, where large ancient tombs of kings and nobles of the Silla Kingdom can be seen. There are twenty-three large tombs located here- the most famous being Cheonmachong and Hwangnamdaechong. Cheonmachong is the tomb of an unknown king. A total of 11,500 artifacts were recovered here, including a famous painting of a white horse which is depicted on a birch bark saddle flap.
Hwangnamdaechong Tomb is a double tomb, consisting of two attached tomb mounds; the king is buried in the south mound, while the queen is buried in the north mound. In addition to being the largest Silla wooden-chamber tomb with stone mound ever discovered, Hwangnamdaechong Tomb contained an impressive array of personal ornaments, including a gold crown. |
#1- Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
Located outside of Gyeongju, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple is an excellent (and easy) day trip you can do with the local bus routes. In 1995, Bulguksa Temple was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage as a set of religious architecture of exceptional value, and it is considered a masterpiece of Buddhist art. The current temple was constructed under King Gyeongdeok in 751, but records show a small temple was built on the site in 528.
Established in the 8th century on the slopes of Mount Toham, the Seokguram Grotto contains a monumental statue of the Buddha looking at the sea. It is 3.5 meters in height and sits on a 1.34-meter tall lotus pedestal. No photos are allowed in the Grotto. |
Questions about travelling in South Korea? Email us and we will be happy to help!