South Korea travel guide

Neon-lit cities, centuries-old palaces, misty mountains and some of the best food in Asia: South Korea packs a lot into a small country. It's a place where you can sing karaoke in a Seoul noraebang one night and join monks for dawn meditation the next.

Browse the street food stalls of Seoul's buzzing markets, wander the royal tombs of Gyeongju and hike volcanic trails on Jeju Island. Whether you're a K-drama fan, a keen hiker or simply hungry, South Korea has a habit of surprising first-time visitors.

We've put together this guide to help you work out what matters most for your South Korea adventure

Palaces and temples

Step into the Joseon dynasty at Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, ideally in a rented hanbok (traditional dress), which gets you in for free. Beyond the capital, Buddhist temples sit tucked into forest-lined mountains, many offering overnight temple stays.

K-culture fans

K-pop, K-dramas and K-beauty have taken over the world, and Seoul is where it all happens. Browse skincare shops in Myeongdong, spot filming locations from your favourite shows, or catch some live music in the student district of Hongdae.

Foodies

Sizzling barbecue grills, bubbling stews and endless little side dishes: Korean food is generous, spicy and made for sharing. Markets are the best place to dive in, with stalls serving everything from crispy mung bean pancakes to fresh seafood.

Hikers and nature lovers

Around 70% of South Korea is mountainous, and hiking is a national pastime. Follow the granite ridges of Seoraksan National Park, climb Hallasan on Jeju, or stroll coastal trails with views across the sea.

South Korea has four distinct seasons, so it's worth thinking about what you'd like to see before you [choose when to go].

Spring (Mar to May) brings cherry blossom season, usually from late March to mid April. Pink blooms line the streets of Gyeongju and the naval town of Jinhae, and the weather is mild and fresh. It's popular, so booking early is essential.

Summer (Jun to Aug) is hot and humid, with the monsoon season (jangma) bringing heavy rain from late June to July. It's a good time for beaches in Busan and Jeju.

Autumn (Sep to Nov) is many travellers' favourite time to visit. Skies are clear, temperatures are comfortable and the mountains turn red, orange and gold from mid October, especially in Seoraksan.

Winter (Dec to Feb) is cold and dry, with temperatures often below freezing. Head to the ski slopes around Pyeongchang, warm up in a bathhouse or join a winter festival. Hanok stays are especially cosy, thanks to their heated floors.

How to get around

Getting around South Korea is easy. The KTX high-speed train links Seoul to Busan in around two and a half hours, and comfortable intercity buses reach most smaller towns. Jeju is a short flight from the mainland. In cities, the metro is clean, efficient and signed in English. At Rickshaw, we'll arrange your [transport] between each stop, so you can focus on enjoying the journey.

Our top 4 South Korea highlights

1. Palaces and markets in Seoul: A 600-year-old city where royal palaces sit beneath glass skyscrapers. Wander the hanok alleys of Bukchon, then graze your way around Gwangjang Market after dark.
2. Ancient Gyeongju: Once the capital of the Silla kingdom, Gyeongju is often called a "museum without walls". Explore grassy royal burial mounds, Bulguksa Temple and the stone Buddha of Seokguram Grotto.
3. Seaside Busan: South Korea's second city mixes golden beaches with steep, colourful hillside neighbourhoods. Visit Gamcheon Culture Village and the lively Jagalchi fish market.
4. Volcanic Jeju: A subtropical island of lava tubes, craters and black-rock coastline. Look out for the haenyeo, women free divers who have harvested the sea here for generations.

How much will I spend in South Korea

South Korea is relatively good value once you’re there. As a rough guide, 50,000 – 80,000 won per person per day should give you a comfortable budget for food, drinks and other day-to-day spending on a trip with us. A casual restaurant meal usually costs around 10,000–15,000 won, while Korean barbecue is more like 20,000–30,000 won per person. Street food and simple snacks are cheaper, and public transport is inexpensive if you do need it. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but it’s handy to carry some cash for markets and street stalls.

English is widely used on signs, menus and transport in Seoul and Busan, and younger people often speak some. In rural areas it's less common, so a translation app like Papago (which handles Korean better than most) is a good idea.
The good news is that the Korean alphabet, Hangul, is surprisingly easy to learn. It was created in the 15th century by King Sejong so ordinary people could read and write, and it's fully phonetic. Spend an hour learning the letters before you go and you'll be able to sound out menus and signs.
Korean culture places a lot of value on respect, particularly towards elders, and on community. You'll find people warm and helpful, and genuinely pleased when you try a few words of Korean.

Key Korean phrases to know

Annyeonghaseyo – Hello

Gamsahamnida – Thank you

Juseyo – Please (when asking for something)

Jeogiyo – Excuse me (to get someone's attention)

Ne – Yes

Aniyo – No

Joesonghamnida – I'm sorry

Masisseoyo! – It's delicious!

Korean etiquette is easy to pick up, and as a visitor you'll be given plenty of leeway. A little awareness goes a long way.

👟 Shoes off: take your shoes off in homes, hanok, temples and restaurants with floor seating.

🙏 A small bow or nod is polite when greeting or thanking people.

🤲 Use two hands (or your right hand supported by your left) when giving or receiving something, especially from older people.

🍶 When drinking with others, pour for them rather than yourself, and turn your head slightly away when drinking in front of elders.

🥢 Don't stand your chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as this is linked to funeral rites.

💳 Tipping isn't expected. A warm gamsahamnida is plenty.

Get ready to eat well. Korean food is all about bold flavours, fermentation and sharing. Grill pork belly at your table, tuck into a bowl of bibimbap in Jeonju (where it's said to have been invented), or order Korean fried chicken with a cold beer, a combo known as chimaek. And of course, there's kimchi at almost every meal.

In the cities you'll find plenty of international food, but it's worth being brave and trying local spots, even if the menu is only in Korean. Many restaurants specialise in one dish, so just point at what the next table is having.

Vegetarian and vegan food in South Korea

Vegetarian and vegan travel in South Korea is getting easier, particularly in Seoul, which has a growing plant-based scene. Elsewhere it can be trickier. Many dishes that look vegetarian are made with anchovy or meat stock, and kimchi is often fermented with fish sauce or salted shrimp.

Temple food is a great option: Buddhist cuisine is fully plant-based and surprisingly varied. It's also worth learning the phrase jeoneun chaesikjuuijaeyo ("I'm vegetarian") and being specific about what you don't eat

Getting around the city

Google Maps doesn't give full directions in South Korea, so download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you go. Both work in English and show metro, bus and walking routes.

Pick up a T-money card at any convenience store. Top it up with cash and tap it on the metro, buses and even some taxis.

Staying connected and powered up

Wi-Fi is fast and available almost everywhere, from cafés to metro stations. South Korea uses two-pin round plugs (types C and F), so bring a European-style adaptor.

Seasonal packing

Summers are sticky and winters are bitterly cold, so pack for the season. In winter, bring warm layers, gloves and a hat. In summer, a light rain jacket is useful during monsoon season.

Meaningful travel in South Korea

South Korea is one of the safest countries in Asia, with low crime rates and a strong sense of community. Cities are clean and recycling is taken seriously, with separate bins for food waste, plastics and general rubbish.

It's also easy to travel lightly. The KTX makes flying between mainland cities unnecessary, and public transport reaches most places you'll want to go. Staying in a hanok or temple supports traditional ways of life, and on Jeju, learning about the haenyeo divers, recognised by UNESCO for their cultural heritage, helps keep an ageing tradition alive.

Brief history of South Korea

Korea's history stretches back thousands of years. The Three Kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje and Silla ruled the peninsula until Silla unified it in the 7th century, with Gyeongju as its capital. The Goryeo dynasty followed, giving Korea its name, before the Joseon dynasty ruled from Seoul for more than 500 years.

The 20th century was turbulent. Japanese occupation lasted from 1910 to 1945, and the peninsula was divided after the Second World War. The Korean War (1950 to 1953) ended in an armistice, and the Demilitarised Zone still separates North and South today.

In the decades since, South Korea has transformed itself into one of the world's most dynamic economies. It became a full democracy in the late 1980s and is now a presidential republic, with its culture reaching fans across the globe.