Tips For Visiting South Korea
South Korea is an incredible place to visit, and while not quite as popular as its East Asian neighbours China and Japan, it is a country that is full of culture, history and intrigue.
The country has given us world-renowned K-POP and riveting K-Dramas while also gracing us with the world-famous Gangnam Style, so as you can imagine, there is plenty to discover in this small but fascinating place.
With that being said, there are quite a few things you should know before visiting South Korea. From important customs to quirky little facts, this article will introduce you to everything you need to know before your trip to the Korean Peninsula.
So, let’s dive into: Tips for visiting South Korea
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Tips For Visiting South Korea Overview
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect in this article:
Things to do before arriving in South Korea
Korean Customs and Traditions you should Know
Best Things to Do in South Korea
Tips for Travelling around South Korea
Advice for Eating and Drinking in Korea
Tips on Where To Stay in Korea
General South Korea Travel Tips and Korean Travel Advice
Frequently Asked Questions about South Korea
Things to do Before Arriving in South Korea
We will start our list of the best travel tips for visiting South Korea by outlining some of the things you should be doing before you even arrive in Korea.
These are tasks you should be completing online or at least preparing yourself for, before stepping foot on the Korean Peninsula.
Download Naver Map (Google Maps doesn’t work properly in Korea)
Before visiting South Korea, one of the first things we learned was that Google Maps can be quite hit-and-miss. Usually, it is pretty good at registering your exact location and for using to see restaurants and cafes nearby, but it doesn’t allow you to get directions.
Instead, you should download Naver Map - a similar app in principle but one that works perfectly in Korea. It’s particularly useful for directions as it gives you the exact bus or subway to catch, even going as far as to tell you which exit number you should use to leave the subway station.
Naver Maps is one of the first suggestions for our best apps to use when travelling in Korea. Not only is it great for public transport, but it also helps you when walking around Seoul.
Pre-order a Korean SIM Card and collect it at the Airport
Pre-ordering a Korean SIM Card, ready to collect at the airport once you land, will save you a lot of time and hassle when visiting South Korea.
Buying a SIM Card once you land at one of the country’s international airports means you will be able to navigate your way around South Korea with ease. You can download the aforementioned Naver Map app to help you get around and search for restaurant recommendations on the go while you’re on the subway.
Check out these articles for a step-by-step guide for pre-ordering SIM Cards and wifi eggs online, ready for collection at the major airports in South Korea:
T-Money Cards are super handy
If you’re visiting Korea, it is likely that you will find yourself needing to use public transport at some point.
It is fairly straightforward to navigate public transport in Korea, but the handy T-Money Card makes it even more straightforward.
It’s a reusable, reloadable card that can be used on public transport throughout Korea. You tap on and off at your destination, meaning you don’t have to bother with working out specific fees and charges.
South Korea Travel Tip: You can purchase a discounted T-Money card online before you arrive in Korea. This one even comes with a Korean SIM Card so you check both jobs off the list.
Download Google Translate
This brings us to the next handy Korean travel tip: download the Google Translate app on your phone. with the camera functionality, you can simply take a picture of menus, and it produces a full translation on the spot.
Unless you’re skilled at reading the Hangul alphabet (incidentally, it is one of the simplest written alphabets to learn), then it’s likely you’ll need a few translations now and then.
The handiest feature of the Google Translate app is that you can download a language, meaning you can translate Korean signs even when you’re offline.
Honestly, Google Translate will become a little bit of a lifesaver when you travel around Korea, which is why it’s one of the best apps we recommend downloading for travelling.
Buy a Discover Seoul Pass Online
If you’re travelling to South Korea, you will likely be in Seoul at some point. Korea’s Capital is full of incredible places to visit and amazing things to do, so a convenient South Korea travel tip is to buy a Discover Seoul Pass online before you step foot in the country.
The Discover Seoul Pass gives you free access to 65 different attractions in and around Seoul, with a further 101 attractions available at a discounted rate - the pass also allows you to skip the line at many of them, maximising the efficiency of your travel in South Korea
Buy your Korean Flights through Skyscanner and land at Seoul Incheon Airport
As one of the busiest international airports in the world, Seoul Incheon Airport is the main hub for travel into the Korean Peninsula and, as a result, has multiple connections all over the world - this makes it the ideal airport to land in when visiting South Korea.
Korean Air, the country’s flagship carrier, has non-stop long-haul routes from all over Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, while other carriers such as Asiana Airlines and Jeju Air are great options for those shorter flights in South Korea and East Asia.
The best way to find the cheapest flights to South Korea is to buy them through Skyscanner - it is consistently the easiest and most affordable way to purchase flights online.
Apply for your Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)
There is no point getting to the airport in your home country and arriving at the check-in desk for them to ask to see your Korean visa, and you’re like, ‘What Korean visa?’
The most crucial piece of South Korea travel advice we can give you is to apply for your K-ETA online as early as possible.
You can apply for your K-ETA online here or read more about the Korean travel visa's eligibility criteria and terms and conditions here.
The famous Starfield Library in Seoul
South Korea Travel Tips - Korean Customs and Traditions you should Know
Next up, we have outlined some of the Korean customs and traditions you should know before visiting South Korea. It’s always important to know regional traditions when travelling, so you don’t unintentionally offend anybody.
You don’t need to tip in South Korea
Something that is important to know before visiting South Korea is that tipping isn’t necessary throughout the country.
In a country that prides itself on a good work ethic, it is expected that the service is always of the highest quality, with no expectation of tipping or extra pay for good service.
While hotels and high-end restaurants may add a compulsory 10% service charge onto some bills, it is generally not expected to tip waiters, taxi drivers or any hotel staff.
Learning when you need to tip and how to pay in Korea before you arrive in the country is sure to make your Korea adventure all the more simple.
Korea is a very Organised/Orderly Place
It may come as a surprise to learn that South Korea is an extremely well-organised and ordered place. Everybody conforms to a way of doing things which makes everyday life so much simpler and routine.
For example, when waiting to get onto a busy subway carriage, everybody forms an orderly line and waits for people to get off before they attempt to get on themselves.
If a popular restaurant exists, people will happily wait patiently outside and make way for others. Everything has a civilised manner about it - honestly, it’s quite refreshing!
Nobody crosses the road in Korea without waiting for the green man
While to some, this might not come as a big shock, particularly for those from the US, it really did surprise us when travelling through South Korea to see how diligent Koreans are in terms of waiting for the green man at road crossings.
In the UK, for example, you only ever wait for the green man when you’re with young kids or the road is super busy. If the road is empty you walk across. Not in Korea, though; even on roads where it’s unlikely a car has ventured for hours, Koreans still wait for that green man to signal that crossing is allowed.
It’s one of those quirky little things about South Korea that you would never know until you’ve visited for yourself.
You should always use 2 hands when receiving anything in Korea
One of the most important South Korea travel tips on this list is that you should always use 2 hands when receiving anything in Korea.
This custom may sound strange to people from the Western World, but in Korea, accepting anything with one hand is considered rude. It is a non-verbal gesture of respect, which is highly regarded in South Korea.
When you’re accepting or handing over something small that really shouldn’t require two hands (E.g. loose change at a shop), it is customary to hand it over with one hand and use your other hand to hold the wrist of the hand you’re using to hand something over.
It’s one of those unique Korean travel tips that people will really appreciate if you respect and follow diligently.
Take Your Shoes Off when inside Houses/Bedrooms (slippers are often provided)
Something you should know before travelling to South Korea is that it is customary to remove your shoes before entering a house or bedroom.
In hotels, slippers will be provided at the door to your room, and the expectation is that you use the slippers when inside the room. Most hotel rooms will have an area by the door to store your shoes.
When going into someone’s home (perhaps during a homestay visit or as part of a tour) or a place of worship, you must remove your shoes before entering.
Koreans have a special relationship with their floors as they often eat, sit and sleep on the floor. To keep the floor as clean and tidy as possible, they remove their shoes.
You should Never Pour your Own Drink in South Korea
One of the quirkiest travel tips for South Korea on this list, it is essential to know that you shouldn’t pour your own drink at a restaurant or bar.
In Korean culture, it is considered bad luck to pour your own drink. If you see somebody else’s drink is empty, it is customary to offer a top-up for them, so they don’t have to pour their own.
An exception can be made when somebody is pouring a round of drinks for everyone at the table. In this scenario, you are expected to pour your own drink last, as it can be good luck to receive the last drop of alcohol.
This tip is mainly geared towards alcoholic drinking etiquette but is often used when pouring any beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, throughout South Korea.
The beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace
Best Things to Do in South Korea
Surely, the best travel advice we can give you is what to do in Korea, right?
This section will give you a brief overview of everything there is to do in South Korea, including some of the main highlights and activities you may not have considered yet.
The DMZ Tour is definitely worth the hype
You may be conflicted about visiting the Korean DMZ before arriving in South Korea. While it is an entirely once-in-a-lifetime activity that you cannot experience anywhere else in the world, it isn’t without its moral quandaries.
Visiting the Korean DMZ means entering into one of the most heavily fortified borders in the world. A border resulting from a war that has caused the loss of over 5 million lives. Not only that but only a matter of metres from the border, unfortunate residents of North Korea live in one of the most strict and repressive regimes in the world.
Having said all of this, however, a trip to the Korean DMZ offers a unique insight into the relationship between the two East-Asian neighbours and provides a real, authentic history lesson.
Embarking on a Korean DMZ tour is one of the best day trips from Seoul and will absolutely be one of the most unforgettable and poignant moments of your trip to the Korean peninsula.
Seoul is one of the liveliest and most dynamic cities in the world
It really is true that South Korea’s capital city is one of the most unique and thrilling cities in the world. Everything in Seoul is hyper-modern, hyper-clean and hyper-sized.
Bright neon lights will guide you to Gangnam, an area that shot to global fame when PSY released his mega-hit single Gangnam Style in 2012.
Hongdae is another district of Seoul that screams organised chaos. Close to Hongik University, Hongdae is famous for its indie-music scene and its lively party atmosphere.
Some excellent advice for visiting South Korea would be to sample as many of the districts of Seoul as possible. Each area offers its own distinctive and unmistakable twist on the iconic K-culture.
Jeju is like the Hawaii of South Korea
If you dream of a tropical paradise when visiting South Korea, your best option is to head south to the beautiful island of Jeju.
South Korea’s largest island offers a peaceful escape from the chaotic worlds of Seoul and Busan. Breathtaking scenery, stunning coastlines, and Korea’s highest mountain await in this island paradise.
Koreans themselves often travel over to Jeju for a long weekend. It offers a chance to relax and rewind, and visitors to Korea should seriously consider getting in on the action.
Did you know? There are more than 85,000 flights a year between Seoul and Jeju, operated by 8 different airlines. This makes it the world’s busiest flying route!
There is much more to explore than just Seoul
Okay, so we know this might sound silly after having just bigged Seoul up so much. Seoul is certainly the main highlight of the country for many travellers to Korea, but there is far more to see than just the lively capital city.
There are 22 national parks in South Korea, each boasting an incredible array of wildlife and stunning scenery. Our favourite was Seoraksan National Park because the Ulsanbawi Rock Hike is easily one of the most impressive hikes we have ever done.
To the South, there is Busan. As Korea’s second-largest city and an important fishing hub - you will get the best seafood in the country here - there are many amazing things to do in Busan. Getting from Seoul to Busan is thankfully very simple, making it an accessible city to visit.
South Korea is home to many Beautiful Palaces
While South Korea is blessed with many amazingly intricate palaces, perhaps the most famous are in the capital city - The Five Palaces of Seoul.
Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace is one of the best things to do in Seoul because it was the principal palace of the Joseon Dynasty and is the largest of the palaces in South Korea’s capital city.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Changdeokgung Palace is also a palace that needs to be explored during your time in the Korean capital - many observers consider it to be the most beautiful of the Five Palaces of Seoul.
The other 3 palaces (Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung, Gyeonghuigung) are equally as spectacular and give you a great sense of the impressive history of the entire Korean Peninsula.
The NANTA Theatre Show is hysterical
Going to see a theatre performance when you’re visiting a country that you don’t speak the language of may seem counter-productive. The NANTA Theatre Show in Myeongdong (Seoul) is a definitive outlier.
The performance is a completely non-verbal comedy show about 4 chefs who are trying to prepare a wedding meal in just one hour. Going to see the NANTA performance is one of the best things to do in Myeongdong.
The NANTA Theatre performance is high-octane hilarity, with several audience interactions only adding to the theatre. It really is worth going to see when you’re visiting Seoul!
Bonus tip: You can purchase NANTA Theatre Show tickets online here before you arrive in Korea
Visiting the N Seoul Tower is one of the best things to do in Seoul
Tips for Travelling around South Korea
In this section, we are going to provide you with as many little tips and pieces of advice as we can think of for travelling around South Korea.
Thankfully, South Korea is an incredibly well-connected country, with regular bus, train and plane routes connecting each region. So, here’s our tips for getting around in Korea:
Save Money on Trains by Buying a Korea Rail Pass
A great and handy tip for travelling around Korea, particularly if you’re planning on visiting a few different cities and regions during your trip, is to buy a Korea Rail Pass.
The rail pass grants you unlimited rides on the KTX high-speed rail throughout Korea. You can visit over 600 different stations and travel on a whopping 80 different routes.
Best of all, you can choose whether to pay for the use of the rail pass for consecutive days if you want to visit Gyeongju on a day trip, for example, or buy a flexible pass that allows you to use the ticket for 2 or 4 separate days - this option is great for those with a more fluid South Korea travel itinerary.
Buses are clean, roomy and very fancy
A top travel tip for visiting South Korea, if you prefer to avoid the trains, is to use buses as much as possible if you decide to visit places outside of Seoul.
The majority of inter-city buses throughout the country come with reclining seats, wifi, and a TV screen as standard. Imagine business class from a plane but on a 4-hour bus ride from Seoul to Busan.
Buses in Korea will often stop at services along the way, too, allowing you plenty of time to use the bathroom and grab some snacks for the rest of the journey.
English Signage is common in Seoul but less common outside of the Capital
Mercifully for those who aren’t familiar with the Korean Hangul alphabet, there are plenty of signs written in English throughout Seoul. Particularly when you’re in the popular areas to visit like Myeongdong, Hongdae and Gangnam, most signs for anything will have an English equivalent nearby.
This is particularly useful when trying to get around by Subway in Korea; even the screens inside the train carriages show the English version of the next station.
When you leave Seoul, however, English signage is harder to come by. Not all restaurants will have an English equivalent anymore.
Seoul has one of the best subway systems we’ve ever seen
The Subway system in Seoul is renowned for being one of the most reliable, punctual, organised and clean transportation systems in the world - so one of our big tips for getting around Seoul is to use the subway as often as possible.
Contrary to some articles and videos we’d read before we visited, there is English signage in the Subway system, so it is very easy to navigate.
As we have mentioned earlier, getting a T-money Transportation card is a handy way to travel on the subway as you can tap, and you’re on. Alternatively, though, especially if you’re only planning to use the subway a few times, it is easy to walk up to the little self-service machines and buy a ticket directly to the station you want to travel to.
Intricately designed Korean Temple in Seoraksan National Park
Advice for Eating and Drinking in Korea
One of the significant draws of travelling to South Korea is the chance to explore the country's incredible food scene. South Korea has a world-renowned cuisine that features culinary delights such as Kimchi, Gochujang and Korean BBQ.
Underneath, we have highlighted some things you should know about eating and drinking in Korea.
Street food is cheap and delicious in South Korea
It will come as no surprise to learn that the street food in South Korea is cheap and delicious. As with most East Asia, street food is the cuisine of choice for many locals in Korea and something you should always consider when travelling is to ‘do as the locals do’.
You can easily find a hearty bowl of noodles for around 5000 KRW (~£3.30/$4) or a plate of tasty mandu (Korean dumplings) for as little as 4000 KRW (~£3.00/$3.50).
Gwangjang market in Seoul and the Gigalji fish market in Busan are great options for authentic street food, but for the best the country has to offer, head towards the night market to try street food in Myeongdong.
Some of the best and cheapest street foods in Myeongdong are hotteok (warm Korean pancakes), tteokbokki (rice cakes) and bungeo-ppang (fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweet bean paste).
Finding Vegetarian/Vegan Food can be tricky in Korea
While the foodie scene in South Korea is certainly alive and well, it can often be challenging to find truly vegetarian/vegan food when travelling in the country.
Often, a meal that you assume would be vegetarian may come served with traces of seafood or meat just mixed in there.
Similarly, with Vegan food, you will often be mistakenly served egg or cheese as part of a ‘vegan’ meal. It is really worth double-checking with your server at a restaurant to ensure you don’t get served something you weren’t bargaining for.
Convenience Store Food is Cheap and Delicious
Something that may come in handy when visiting South Korea is knowing that convenience store food is not only cheap, but it can actually be quite delicious.
Typically, when at home, many choose to avoid cheap and sometimes questionable fast food from convenience stores, but this isn’t the case in Korea.
Fresh Gimbap (Korean Sushi Rolls) and make-your-own iced coffees are among the favourites, but perhaps the highlight is the extensive collection of Ramen. All convenience stores in Korea even provide microwaves and boiling water stations, so you happily eat your food right there and then.
Korean BBQ is absolutely delicious
A trip to South Korea wouldn’t be complete without experiencing a delicious Korean BBQ. Restaurants dedicated to this brilliant cuisine have been popping up all over the world, but to experience the real thing when travelling in South Korea is an opportunity that cannot be missed.
For those who aren’t familiar with Korean BBQ, here’s a quick overview. You sit around a table with a grill/BBQ built into the middle, often with an extravagant extractor fan above. You order several cuts of meat, and when the waiter brings them, you cook them to your liking on the grill before you.
While it may not sound too special, it is one of the best foodie experiences you can have anywhere in the world - provided, of course, you’re not travelling to South Korea alone, which brings us to our next travel tip…
Eating as a Solo Traveller in Korea can be Tricky
Something to know before visiting South Korea is that it isn’t always easy for solo travellers to find a table at a restaurant. It can be quite typical for single guests to enter a restaurant just to be turned away because the restaurant doesn’t cater for one-person orders.
It can be even more challenging for solo travellers to try Korean BBQ because restaurants often won’t turn the grill on unless there are at least 2 of you in the party.
Our advice would be to ask your hotel/accommodation for the best recommendations near you for solo travellers or to meet people in a hostel and suggest going to eat together.
Alternatively, if all else fails, street food vendors are more than happy to welcome solo diners, and the food is delicious and half the price of a traditional sit-down restaurant.
Coffee is Very Expensive in South Korea
When visiting Korea, you should be aware of how expensive even a small, basic coffee can be. Typically you’re looking at least £4.00($5.00) for even the most basic coffee!
That kind of price for a small coffee is typical of central London, so it’s to be expected that Seoul would have similar prices.
What is trickier to understand, however, is that the price of coffee doesn’t really vary throughout the country, even in the smallest of villages.
Fruit is even more Expensive
If you weren’t prepared for the price of coffee in Korea, then the country's average fruit price will absolutely blow your mind. According to many consumer advocacy groups, South Korea has higher prices for imported fruits than any other country in the world.
To get an idea of just how expensive fruit is in South Korea, here are a few quick examples of some of the prices we saw for fruit when we visited Korea:
Pack of Bananas = 5500 won ($4.50)
Watermelon = 42000 won ($34.00)
A packet of blueberries = 10000 won ($8.00)
A tip for reducing the prices slightly would be to avoid bigger shops and department stores and head for the local markets instead. Warning, though, it still won’t be cheap!
Street food vendors lined up at the night market in Myeongdong
Tips on Where To Stay in Korea
Booking.com and Hostelworld are the Best Places to Find Affordable Accommodation in Korea
If you’re looking for high-quality South Korea accommodation at the best prices when looking for where to stay in Seoul, regardless of your travel style, then we’d recommend searching for Korean Hotels with Booking.com.
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option when searching for accommodation in South Korea - perhaps you’re a solo backpacker looking for a more sociable atmosphere, or like us, you’re a budget backpacking couple - then searching for hostels in South Korea with Hostelworld is the best way to go about it.
Both of these companies represent the industry standard when it comes to finding great accommodation deals in South Korea. When we travelled around the country, we often had 2 tabs open, one with Booking and one with Hostelworld, and would compare all the accommodation options to find the best deal for us.
Mixed-sex hostel dorms are rare in Korea
If you’re planning on budget backpacking through South Korea, either as a mixed-sexed couple or a group of friends, then something you may find tricky is finding hostels that accommodate mixed-sex groups.
Although many of the best hostels in Seoul give you the option of booking mixed-dorms, often you will find that you can book 2 beds in the same hostel room online, then once you arrive at the accommodation, you will be told that ‘there isn’t any availability in the same room’.
It’s important to remember that South Korea is still a relatively conservative country, so customs like this are generally to be expected. A tip for travelling in South Korea as a couple would be to book private rooms to avoid this scenario.
If you do happen to come across mixed-sex hostel dorms in Korea, then perhaps you will need some of these handy tips for staying in a hostel as a couple. These tips are just some of the things we’ve learned from staying in hostels together all around the world!
Beds are super hard in Korea
Something we weren’t prepared for before travelling to South Korea was how hard the beds are throughout the country.
Our first few nights in Seoul were in a relatively basic hostel room, so we just thought that the beds weren’t overly comfortable there, but as we travelled up and down the country, staying in a range of hostels and hotels, we soon realised that in fact all beds in Korea are super hard.
Soft and bouncy mattresses don’t seem to be a thing in South Korea - it’s one of those bizarre little quirks of travelling that you don’t really anticipate until you arrive at a destination.
Most bathrooms have a shower/toilet combination
Koreans clearly appreciate saving space in their hotel/hostel rooms, and one way to achieve this is by not having a dedicated shower cubicle.
Instead, entire bathrooms in South Korea act as the shower cubicle, similar to a wet room, you turn the shower on and the water flows down the drain in the middle of the room.
The obvious downside to this approach is that as soon as you’ve had a shower, the next time you want to use the bathroom, the floor (and likely the entire room) is absolutely soaked.
One of our long-term travel packing tips is to buy a set of travel towels - never is this more appropriate than when trying to navigate the shower/toilet combination in South Korea.
Ulsanbawi Rock - Seoraksan National Park - Our favourite hike in South Korea
General South Korea Travel Tips and Korean Travel Advice
Next up on our tips for visiting South Korea, we have a section that incorporates all the other little pieces of advice that we think will be useful for your Korea trip. So, without further ado, here are the rest of our general South Korea travel tips and Korean travel advice.
The currency is South Korean Won
A good travel tip when visiting any new country is to know the local currency, right?
Well, South Korea uses the South Korean Won. £10 usually fetches around ₩150,000, with US$10 pocketing you roughly ₩125,000.
There are several foreign-exchange banks at all the major airports in Korea, and you will find many smaller currency-exchange stores littered throughout the bigger cities, too.
Thankfully all major bank cards are accepted throughout South Korea, except street food vendors and local markets, which typically only accept cash.
South Korea uses the same plug sockets as mainland Europe
This piece of South Korea travel advice will be a welcome sight to many of our Continental European readers - South Korea uses the familiar F Plug Type (the one with 2 round pins).
For those who are travelling to South Korea from the UK, North America or elsewhere, we’d recommend buying a Universal Travel Adapter - this one is similar to the one we use. They’re great not only because you will be able to use it in South Korea, but you’ll also be able to take it with you anywhere in the world, and it will still work. The USB ports are also a welcome addition to this particular travel adapter.
There is wifi everywhere in South Korea
South Korea is considered by many to be the most high-tech country in the world, which means you’re likely to find free, reliable and fast wifi anywhere you travel in the country.
Bigger cities like Busan and Seoul have many public hotspots, meaning you can stay connected throughout your entire trip to the peninsula.
On top of that, virtually every cafe, restaurant and museum will have wifi - even the public metro system in Seoul has its own dedicated wifi.
You get public safety alerts sent directly to your phone
One of the handiest safety tips for travelling around South Korea is to always watch for public safety alerts sent directly to your phone.
Picture the scene where you’re travelling on a crowded subway carriage in Seoul when suddenly everybody’s phones on the train begin to buzz in unison with alarm sounds blaring out from the speakers. This would be incredibly alarming if you’re unfamiliar with public safety alerts.
The reality is, however, whether you’re a Korean resident or not, your phone will receive public safety messages automatically relating to weather, persons of interest in the area and general government updates and warnings.
Koreans love hiking
Something to know before visiting South Korea is that you will be visiting a country that loves its outdoor pursuits. From climbing to golf, Koreans love being outdoors in their spare time. One outdoor endeavour is particularly popular - hiking.
It isn’t uncommon to see Koreans decked out in brand-new hiking regalia, poles and everything, even on the gentlest of trails.
You will find that the hiking trails in the National Parks will be very busy as people try to escape the busy metropolises as often as possible.
Something to note: unlike while hiking in Europe and North America, it isn’t customary to say ‘hello’ to others on the hiking trail. Not even a friendly smile is common.
Koreans say ‘Kimchi’ instead of ‘Cheese’ when taking a photo
One of our favourite quirky facts you’ll quickly learn while travelling in South Korea is that instead of saying ‘Cheese’ when posing for a photo, as is customary back at home, they opt for ‘Kimchi’.
If you want to get a giggle from the locals, try saying ‘Kimchi’ when posing for photos in South Korea - they will love it!
Frequently Asked Questions about South Korea
We are going to finish this mammoth article by answering some of the most common questions about travelling in South Korea.
How long to spend in South Korea?
We would recommend spending at least 2 weeks in South Korea so you get to spend 1 full week exploring Seoul, and then another week exploring places like Busan, Gyeongju, Jeju or Seoraksan.
Typically 1 week is enough time to fully explore Seoul and perhaps do a day-trip to Busan or Gyeongju, but in general, 1 week in South Korea isn’t enough to see the entire country.
For reference: we spent 3 and a half weeks in South Korea, with at least 2 weeks exploring Seoul!
Is South Korea safe to visit?
In general, South Korea is a very safe place to visit for tourists before it has a low crime rate, similar to that of Europe.
One thing to bear in mind, of course, is the political tensions between South Korea and North Korea at the time of your visit. Most South Koreans tend not to spend too much time giving thought to their Northern neighbours, but it is always advised to check the news every so often to keep up with current affairs.
What’s the best time to visit South Korea?
The best time to visit South Korea is between March to May, to give yourself the best chance of seeing the vibrant, cherry blossoms that illuminate the country.
Visiting in September-November (as we did) is the best time to visit South Korea to see the dazzling autumnal colours throughout the country.
If you want to enjoy snow sports during your time in South Korea, then the best time of year to visit would naturally be January- February.
Clearly, South Korea is a great year-round destination to visit!
Is South Korea an expensive place to visit?
In general, South Korea can be a very affordable place to visit when you factor in cheap transportation, affordable accommodation and great-value street food.
Exported goods, like coffee and fruit, are wildly expensive in South Korea, but overall, it is a country that can certainly be visited on a budget.
Autumnal colours of Seoraksan National Park in October
There we have it folks! A complete round-up of all the tips you will need for visiting South Korea. It’s one of the most unique countries in the world, so hopefully these handy travel tips will help you get the most from your trip to South Korea.
Seoul, South Korea, is routinely voted one of the world’s most walkable cities - but how walkable is Seoul in reality? In this article, we discuss how easy it is to walk around Seoul.