South Korea Travel Guide Page

Intro

This travel guide page is dedicated to all things travel in South Korea! It is meant to give you an overview of what’s important when it comes to planning your trip to South Korea and provide links to all our South Korea posts, which is where you will find way more detailed information on various topics and specific destinations. Let’s get travel-planning!

South Korea or Republic of Korea (대한민국) is a country in East Asia that is located on the southern part of the Korean peninsula, bordering the Yellow Sea as well as the East Sea (or Sea of Japan depending on which country you ask). The name Korea was derived from the historical kingdom of Goryeo, however the exact pronunciation ‘Korea’ actually came from visiting merchants. South Korea has a really interesting history and beautiful culture, which make it an exciting country to visit and learn more about!

Today Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, is the forth most populous city in the world. Also in recent years Korean pop culture has started to become more and more popular all around the world.

We spend 6 weeks in South Korea, exploring some major cities such as Seoul and Busan, as well as some smaller towns, national parks and the famous “Hawaii of Korea” – Jeju Island!

Map of places covered in this South Korea Travel Guide
🇰🇷 South Korea at a glance:

📌 Where? East Asia
💬 Language: Korean
🌥️ Climate: Temperate Climate
💱 Currency: Korean Won(₩)
💰 Budget: middle

South Korea FAQ’s

The best time to travel to South Korea is generally either during spring or autumn as temperatures are mildest during these seasons. During the summer months it gets really hot and during winter pretty cold!

Apart from Jeju island, where renting a car does make sense, we would say no, you don’t need a rental car to travel South Korea. You can travel South Korea pretty comfortably via public transport! Especially the South Korean bus system is very efficient and will probably get you anywhere you want to go.

The currency used in South Korea is the Korean Won (₩).

South Korea uses the plug type C or F, which is the same one as in Continental Europe. The voltage is typically 220 V.

We spent six weeks in South Korea without knowing any Korean apart from a few words we learned through a language App and we survived! So yes you can definitely travel around South Korea without knowing Korean. Be aware though that a lot of shop and restaurant owners as well as bus and taxi drivers etc. do not speak English. And this is not only the case in the countryside, but in major cities such as Seoul and Busan as well.

A bridge leading onto a Pavillon built above the ocean.
Sunset over Seoul view from the cable car up to Seoul Tower.
Huge entry gate to enter Gyeongbokgung Palace an old Palace complex in Seoul.
A couple taking a photoshoot while wearing tradional korean clothes named hanbok.
View over the cliffs and the ocean from a little hill on the Igidae Coastal Walk near Busan.
Girl walking on astreet with the Busan Sky Capsule driving on rails above her head.
A temple complex near cliffs and the ocean on the left side and build into more of a forest on the right side.
girl standing on handam coastal walk and looking at the sea
view from above on crater lake of Mt. Hallasan
Night view from Seoul Tower in Seoul over the whole city.

Most Popular Posts

How to spend 3-4 epic days in Busan (Itinerary)

Ultimate 14-Day South Korea Itinerary: Explore Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island!

Ultimate Jeju Island Road Trip Itinerary (5-Day Itinerary)

What to know before you go

Getting to South Korea

South Korea is located on a peninsula. However, since land travel is blocked to the north, South Korea can essentially be considered an island in terms of possible ways to get there. Most likely, you are going to fly to South Korea.

✈️ Flying to South Korea

If you are travelling to South Korea from further overseas, you will most likely fly to Seoul, more precisely:

If you are travelling to South Korea from more close-by (e.g. mainland China, Japan or Taiwan), apart from Seoul, you might also find direct flights to Jeju or Busan:

Map showing the most common points of entry for tourists travelling to South Korea
Map of the most common points of entry for tourists travelling South Korea.

South Korea Itineraries

How to spend 7 days in South Korea

If you only have 7 days in South Korea, we would suggest sticking mostly to Seoul and Busan on this trip:

  • Spend the first 4 days exploring Seoul (Day 1-4). 3 days for exploring the city and one for e.g. a day trip to the DMZ*. On day 5 take the KTX to Busan. Spend the remaining 3 days in Busan (Day 5-7).
  • Alternatively, you could also spend the first 3 days in Seoul (Day 1-3) and then (instead of a day trip to the DMZ) take the KTX* to Gyeongju on Day 4. Then, in the afternoon of Day 5, travel onward to Busan where you will spend the remaining 2 days. This variation is more fast-paced and will require you to be a bit more strategic about what you wish to see and do in each destination.

How to spend 14 days in South Korea

If you have the option to do so, we would recommend spending at least 14 days in South Korea. That way you have time to see this fascinating country more in-depth and explore beyond the cities of Seoul and Busan.

How To Get Around South Korea

There are several ways to get around South Korea. What mode of transportation is best for you largely depends on your budget and itinerary. To give a quick overview:

  • 🚄 Train Travel. The railway system can get you to quite a number of places within South Korea. Especially the KTX – South Korea’s high speed train is an efficient way to travel longer distances.
  • 🚌 Bus Travel. South Korea has quite a prominent bus system. Personally, we think bus travel is one of the best ways to travel around mainland South Korea as it can get you pretty much anywhere.
  • ✈️ Domestic Flights. For a country the size of South Korea, you would be surprised just how many domestic flights there are.
  • 🚗 Car Rental. We highly recommend renting a car on Jeju Island. While Jeju also has a decent bus system, taking the bus will limit you quite a bit. The same is also true for very rural areas in mainland South Korea.

If you are currently overwhelmed as to what mode of transportation may be best for you, fret not. In our South Korea itineraries and destination guides, we always tell you exactly what options you have to get from one specific destination to the next!

Down below you can find all our transportation guides!

Here we tackle more specific questions such as how to navigate a certain mode of transportation, where to buy tickets, what to watch out for etc.!

Tips for Travelling South Korea on a Budget

Did you know that South Korea is home to numerous amazing free activities? Check out:

10 Very Best Free Things Not to Miss in Busan!

20 Amazing Free Things to Do in Seoul

South Korea Regional Guides

In this section you will find all of our South Korea guides grouped by province! Featured cities and provinces can be found in our South Korea overview map or navigate using the ‘Go To’ Button on the top left corner of this page!

BUSAN

GANGWON (e.g. Sokcho, Seoraksan NP)

GYEONGSANGBUK-DO (e.g. Gyeongju)

JEJU ISLAND

JEOLLABUK-DO (e.g. Jeonju)

SEOUL


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We are Florence and Andy, the faces behind The Migratory Birds!

On this blog we share our experiences, but also focus a lot on travel planning as well as destination guides. With our posts, we aim to give you inspiration for your own travels and provide the tools you need to plan your own trips.

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