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Plan Your Korea Trip
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Not another generic travel blog. This is the practical guide you actually need \u2014 written by someone who lives here.
Where to Go
Click a city to see the essentials.
Best Season
Spring (April) or Autumn (October) — perfect weather, cherry blossoms or golden leaves
Must-Eat
Korean BBQ in Mapo-gu, tteokbokki in Sindang-dong, chicken and beer in any alley
Must-See
Gyeongbokgung Palace at sunrise, Bukchon Hanok Village, Hongdae at night
Getting There
Incheon Airport to Seoul: take the AREX express train (43 min, ~9,000 won). Skip the taxi unless you enjoy traffic.
Best Season
Summer (July–August) for beaches, or October for the Busan Film Festival
Must-Eat
Dwaeji gukbap (pork rice soup), fresh sashimi at Jagalchi Market, ssiat hotteok at BIFF Square
Must-See
Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Getting There
KTX from Seoul takes just 2.5 hours. Book early on weekends — trains fill up fast.
Best Season
Spring (April–May) for canola flower fields, or Autumn for clear skies and mild weather
Must-Eat
Black pork BBQ, abalone porridge, hallabong (Jeju tangerines), seafood from haenyeo divers
Must-See
Hallasan Mountain hike, Manjanggul Lava Tube, Seongsan Ilchulbong sunrise
Getting There
Fly from Seoul (1 hour, often under $50). Rent a car — public transport is limited on the island.
Best Season
Spring for cherry blossoms around Bomun Lake, or Autumn for the golden temple grounds
Must-Eat
Gyeongju bread (hwangnam-ppang), ssambap (lettuce wraps), and traditional temple food
Must-See
Bulguksa Temple (UNESCO), Seokguram Grotto, royal tombs of Tumuli Park at sunset
Getting There
KTX from Seoul to Singyeongju station (2 hours), then bus #700 to the old town.
Best Season
Any season works. Spring and Autumn are the most comfortable for walking the Hanok Village.
Must-Eat
Jeonju bibimbap (THE original), kongnamul gukbap (bean sprout soup), choco pie from PNB
Must-See
Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeondong Cathedral, traditional paper-making workshops
Getting There
KTX from Seoul is about 1.5 hours. The Hanok Village is walkable from the station by bus.
Best Season
Spring or Autumn for Wolmido and the waterfront. Summer for the beach towns nearby.
Must-Eat
Jajangmyeon in Chinatown (it was literally invented here), dakgangjeong (sweet crispy chicken)
Must-See
Incheon Chinatown, Wolmido Island, Songdo Central Park, open port area
Getting There
It's right next to Seoul. Take subway Line 1 from Seoul Station, or the airport railroad (AREX).
Practical Tips
The stuff no one tells you until you're already confused at Incheon Airport.
Get a T-Money card at any convenience store (2,500 won). It works on all subways, buses, and even some taxis nationwide. Charge it at any CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven. You can also use a phone-based version via Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.
Grab a tourist SIM or eSIM at Incheon Airport arrivals. KT, SKT, and LG U+ all have booths. eSIM options like Airalo or Ubigi can be set up before you land. Data-only plans start around $15 for 5 days.
Korea has no tipping culture. Don't tip at restaurants, cafes, taxis, or hotels. It can actually confuse people. The price on the menu is the price you pay. Service charge is included if applicable.
Don't sit in the priority seats (even if they're empty). Don't talk on the phone in the subway car. Stand on the right side of escalators. During rush hour, let people exit before boarding.
Spring (Mar–May): 10–20°C, cherry blossoms. Summer (Jun–Aug): hot and humid, monsoon season in July. Autumn (Sep–Nov): 10–25°C, the best season. Winter (Dec–Feb): -10 to 5°C, dry and cold.
Korea uses Type C and Type F plugs (European-style round prongs) at 220V. If you're coming from the US, UK, or Australia, you'll need an adapter. Most hotels have universal outlets, but don't count on it.
Essential Apps
Download these before you land. Seriously.
KakaoMap
The best navigation app in Korea. Google Maps is unreliable here — KakaoMap has accurate transit, walking, and driving directions.
Papago
Naver's translator. Better than Google Translate for Korean. Has camera translation for menus and signs.
KakaoTaxi
Korea's Uber. Hail taxis without speaking Korean. Payment is automatic. Works everywhere.
Naver Map
Alternative to KakaoMap with great restaurant reviews and photos. Some prefer its UI for finding food spots.
Baemin
Korea's #1 food delivery app. Order anything to anywhere. Interface is in Korean, but the food is worth the struggle.