South Korea family guide

South Korea is the perfect destination for a fun-filled and adventure-packed family holiday. The country is great to travel with kids of all ages, however far off the beaten track you wish to go. Leisure around the palace courtyards and playgrounds in Seoul, take a trip on the cable cars through the mountains of Seoraksan National Park, tuck into a tasty bibimbap in the street food markets, and visit the traditional hanok villages. However, South Korea does need a little more detailed planning than your average family holiday, so it’s handy to have an expert on hand. As well as your own travel plan we’ll tailor to your needs and preferences, we've put together some advice and inspiration in our South Korea family guide to start you off.

South Korea is bursting at the seams with its futuristic cities, emerald green mountains, quiet fishing villages and volcanic islands, all well connected by some of the best public transport in the world. They also have a very welcoming, child-friendly culture, so you’ll rarely feel out of place among the locals as you travel through the country.

So, can you visit South Korea with kids? Absolutely. A family holiday here has something for every age. For younger children, there are plenty of parks, playgrounds and non-strenuous city sightseeing tours, along with cable cars and quiet temple visits in the mountains. Older kids and teens can enjoy some gentle cycling along the coast, tasting street food at local markets, hiking in national parks and sleeping in a traditional hanok. Whatever you choose, there’ll be lots of options for all the family.

South Korean weather is heavily dependent on the season, so picking the right time to go will make a big difference to what to pack and what activities are best suited. Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to November) will be the best time to go, as they bring mild temperatures, low humidity and some of the best scenery of the year. Late March into April is cherry blossom season, ideal for coordinating a trip around if you fancy seeing parks, palace grounds and riverside paths across the country turn pink for a couple of weeks. Summer (June to August) can get very hot here, along with humidity and a monsoon season, which can be tough with little ones, while winter is cold and crisp, but could be a great time for city sightseeing if wrapped up warm.

South Korea is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world to travel, ideal for traveling with your youngsters. The most common thing families need to be extra vigilant about is the fast paced nature of South Korea’s busy cities. Otherwise, usual travel precautions apply: stick to bottled or filtered water if you're at all unsure (tap water is generally safe to drink in most major cities, but bottled water is cheap and widely available if you'd prefer), pack the basics for little ones (including sun cream in summer and warm layers in winter), and always take out travel insurance covering medical treatment, just in case.

South Korea’s transport systems are very well connected, making life a lot easier especially when travelling with kids. High-speed KTX trains link Seoul with cities like Gyeongju and Busan in a couple of hours, while local buses and an excellent metro make it easy to travel around the capital. If you’re heading out to Jeju Island, a hire car will probably become your best bet, since public transport there is more limited. We'll always plan your route to minimise long travel days and build in time to stretch your legs.

Palaces, temples and the DMZ are great places for kids (and adults!) to learn all about South Korea’s fascinating culture and history. But we also know that even the most dedicated little explorer can get temple fatigue, so we’ll integrate some action-packed activities to keep up everyone’s interests. For example, cycle along the Han River in Seoul, ride the cable car up Seoraksan, dress up in hanbok for a day exploring a palace, or hop between K-drama or K-pop filming spots if you've got young fans in the family.

– Seoul - with its palaces, parks and one of the world's great food scenes, it’s at the top of our must-see list. Watch the guard-changing ceremony at Gyeongbokgung Palace, wander the traditional lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village, and let the older kids loose on the stalls of Gwangjang Market.

– The DMZ – straight from the history books in school to a visit in person, and just a short trip from Seoul, the Demilitarized Zone is a fascinating history lesson for older kids and teens. Spot the infiltration tunnels and observation posts looking out over North Korea.

– Seoraksan National Park and Sokcho – the cable cars, mountain trails and the atmosphere of a laid-back coastal town make this a brilliant change of pace, with golden beaches and fresh seafood from the harbourside market.

– Jeonju – home to one of the country's largest hanok villages, with over 700 traditional houses to wander between. It's also the birthplace of bibimbap, so come hungry.

– Gyeongju – often called Korea's open-air museum, with ancient tombs, ornate temples like Golgulsa, and even the option to stay the night in a traditional hanok.

– Jeju Island – a volcanic island with lava-rock coastlines, waterfalls and gentle hiking along the Olle trails. Look out for the haenyeo, Jeju's famous free-diving sea women, that still fish using traditional methods.

For more inspiration, take a look at all of our South Korea itineraries and trips. These can be tailored to your family's needs and put together to create your ultimate family holiday.

South Korea's accommodation can range from modern city hotels to family-run guesthouses or even, if you fancy something different, a night in a traditional hanok. Sleeping on an ondol-heated floor, in a traditional courtyard house, is a great excursion for kids, and a once in a lifetime experience. In cities, your hotels will be centrally located, meaning less travel time between sights and giving you somewhere easy to retreat to when little legs need a break.

Whether you’re a family that likes all kinds of flavour, or you’re accommodating to picky-eaters, Korean food can serve all palette-types. Most dishes are rice, noodles and/or grilled meat based (with a good few vegetarian and vegan options). Korean barbecue, where you cook bite-sized pieces of meat at your own tabletop grill is a guaranteed hit with kids of all ages. Other local dishes include bibimbap (rice topped with vegetables, meat and a fried egg) which is mild, filling and easily customisable, or Kimbap (seaweed rice rolls, similar to Japanese sushi) are great for a grab-and-go lunch between sights.

For the more adventurous, street food markets are definitely worth exploring: try tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes in a mildly spicy sauce) or hotteok, a sweet, syrup-filled pancake popular among the local children. Spice levels can usually be adjusted on request, and western options are easy to find in the bigger cities if anyone needs a break from something new.

1. Set a slower pace – it's tempting to pack in every palace and market, but we also know that little ones can get tired quickly. It’s a good idea to build in slower days between the big sights.

2. Mix culture with some green space – South Korea's cities are full of parks, riversides and playgrounds, perfect for letting kids run off some steam between temples and museums.

3. Stay in a hanok – even one night in a traditional courtyard house, sleeping on a heated floor, is a lot of fun for kids, and a memory that will be remembered long after the trip.

4. Balance city time with the coast or mountains – a couple of days in Seoraksan or on Jeju Island gives a brilliant (and sometimes much needed) contrast to the pace of the capital, with cable cars, beaches and easy trails to explore as a family.

5. Keep some screen-free games up your sleeve – KTX journeys are fast, but a little distraction on the train or between sights can come in handy.