South Korea Things to Do

 
by jckim
 
  •   Gyeongbokgung Palace
    by jckim
  • Historic guards at the Fortress Wall
      Historic guards at the Fortress Wall
    by WStat
  • New terminal at Incheon International Airport
      New terminal at Incheon International...
    by victorwkf
  •   Things to Do
    by victorwkf
  •   Things to Do
    by Gryphon25
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in South Korea

251.

Gyeongbokgung Palace   Seoul

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

 96 Reviews  Much has been written about this place so I won't say much about it except to confirm that if you only have time to visit one palace then make it this one. Enough said. And in one stop, you get to... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

252.

Namsan (South Mountain) and Seoul Tower   Seoul

Namsan (South Mountain) and Seoul Tower, Seoul

 67 Reviews  From the Myeong-dong Station, we walked a long way going uphill to be able to get a ride of the cable car. Round trip costs KW7,500 and it only took us about 3minutes to reach the peak of Mt. Namsan;... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

253.

DMZ - DeMilitarized Zone   Seoul

DMZ - DeMilitarized Zone, Seoul

 51 Reviews  It is only in Korea (whether South or North) where the peninsula's division is highlighted and tourists are allowed in given the fact that a state of war still exists. Not even when Germany was... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

254.

Lotte World   Seoul

Lotte World, Seoul

 37 Reviews  Learn more about Korea's culture in the Lotte World historical folk museum. Exhibition includes a minature village, traditional wedding, market street. Opening hours: Weekday: 9.30am - 8om (Entrance... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

255.

Insadong   Seoul

Insadong, Seoul

 39 Reviews  I really had a hard time to find a nice place to stay online. Lucky me, I was able to find Saerim Hotel which is within the Insadong Street! Hurray!!! Insadong street is the souvenir street where... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

256.

Korean Folk Village   Seoul

Korean Folk Village, Seoul

 51 Reviews  If one wants to see more than just the Hanok village to know how life was in the past, then visit the Korean Folk Village in Suwon, a 2-hour journey by train and bus from Seoul. On display are old... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

257.

Everland   Seoul

Everland, Seoul

 20 Reviews  I find Everland nice & enjoyable. My favorite is the Safari World where you can see different wild animals up close. I wish I could hug those bears. They're so cute & cuddly. Am afraid of the coasters... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

258.

Namdaemun - Great South Gate   Seoul

Namdaemun - Great South Gate, Seoul

 40 Reviews  This open air market of many stalls and shops is a favorite for local and foreign tourists. Famous for bargains from clothes, ceramics, Korean artwork, kitchen utensils, accessories, glasses and... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

259.

Korean War Memorial   Seoul

Korean War Memorial, Seoul

 31 Reviews  When you first hear the name 'War Memorial', you can't help but think it's all about the Korean War. Actually the place is a museum dedicated to warfare and weaponry. It showcases all the important... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

260.

Changgyeonggung Palace   Seoul

Changgyeonggung Palace, Seoul

 39 Reviews  Changgyeonggung Palace was the third palace compound built in 1483 by King Seongjong. the size of the palace is compact and simple, and similar to Changdeokgung Palace. Changgyeonggung Palace is one... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

261.

Myeongdong   Seoul

Myeongdong, Seoul

 25 Reviews  Myeong-dong is a must visit tourist spot with Korea's trendiest shopping area consisting of over 300,000 square meters of shops selling clothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, and cosmetics. Many... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

262.

Dongdaemoon - Great East Gate   Seoul

Dongdaemoon - Great East Gate, Seoul

 37 Reviews  While taking a walk along the Dongdaemum district, I saw this structure that looks like a palace... so I took a picture. Eventually, after reviewing the map, I found out that this is the major eastern... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

263.

Itaewon   Seoul

Itaewon, Seoul

 20 Reviews  Having lived in or around Itaewon off and on since 2004 I have experienced many of the good and the bad that a muticultural area like this has to offer. First and in my opinion the best thing about... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

264.

COEX Mall   Seoul

COEX Mall, Seoul

 14 Reviews  COEX Mall has aquarium for those marine life lovers. This is huge being greatest theme aquarium in Korea. There's a tunnel with automatic walkway to view the diverse marine life including sharks.... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

265.

Korea House & Namsan Hanok Folk Village   Seoul

Korea House & Namsan Hanok Folk Village, Seoul

 13 Reviews  the village contains 5 tradtional houses and a variety of cultural performances, seasonal festivities, exhibitions and folk events are held to re-create Korean lifestyles and entertainment here.... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

266.

Yook-Sam (63) Building   Seoul

Yook-Sam (63) Building, Seoul

 12 Reviews  This building has despite its name only 60 floors. They just counted the 3 floors in the basement as well. It used to be Korea's tallest building with its 249 metres. It was built 1985. You can go... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

267.

National Folk Museum   Seoul

National Folk Museum, Seoul

 27 Reviews  National Folk Museum is situated beside the Gyeongbukgung Palace. The museum is free & has an internet room for use without charge. There's also a cafe inside. Quite interesting piece of architecture.... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

268.

City Hall   Seoul

City Hall, Seoul

 23 Reviews  Hi Seoul festival was held from May.1st to May.9th. This was the 2nd festival and will be held every year in Seoul. There were diverse kinds of events during this period. And the "Light show (PiGi... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

269.

Yeouido Island   Seoul

Yeouido Island, Seoul

 10 Reviews  A nice park for a walk. It's the size of a few city blocks, but it feels a lot larger. Yeouido Park is a haven for families, rollerbladers, cyclists, couples and salarymen who want to take a stroll... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

270.

Bukhansan Mountain   Seoul

Bukhansan Mountain, Seoul

 7 Reviews  Bugaksan, like Ingwangsan, has a great view of the city to the south and of Bukhansan to the north. Unfortunately, there are no photographs allowed on the south overlooks of the mountain because of... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

271.

Jogyesa - Buddhist Temple   Seoul

Jogyesa - Buddhist Temple, Seoul

 8 Reviews  This is the odd Buddhist temple. Most temples I have been to are located in these quiet areas surrounded by trees and nature, not so at Jogyesa. This is right in the middle of downtown Seoul, and it... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

272.

Deoksugung Palace   Seoul

Deoksugung Palace, Seoul

 38 Reviews  The Gyeongbokgung Palace is a BIG place to walk around but if you wish to see something small-scale then Deoksugung is an alternative. It's also closer to restaurants and a subway stop if these things... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

273.

'88 Olympic Park   Seoul

'88 Olympic Park, Seoul

 11 Reviews  Created for the 88 Olympics, this park is massive. There are wide spaces; the Olympic cycling bowl, swimming pool, tennis courts (all covered) and other stadiums as well as outdoor tennis and miles of... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

274.

Sinchon   Seoul

Sinchon, Seoul

 4 Reviews  Sinchon University District is an area of Seoul, Korea, that is famous for its shopping and nightlife. It is jam-packed with restaurants, bars, cafes, and clothing stores. Sinchon is at the heart of... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

275.

Suwon Fortress   Seoul

Suwon Fortress, Seoul

 8 Reviews  If you've been to the Citadel in Hue, Vietnam then this place seems to be its counterpart. The ancient city was protected by a wall and entrances/exits are through massive and elaborate gates. At the... 

 See All 1,114 Things to Do in Seoul

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Crazy shopping

by elainetph

When you go Korea, shopping is one of the best thing to do. The cloths are cheap & nice. If you like branded immitation, they have it in Dong Dae Mun, but do get the Cat A, cause you hardly tell the difference. You might need to request from your tour manager where are these shops located. The last time I went in 2003 we could not find any except some clips & hair bands from the street stalls.You can find along the streets with cheap boots & winter coats (ladies). I bought a pink winter coat at only S$16.00 (come with head cover with fur edging)!! You simply cant get this elsewhere!!

Saving the past

by hindu1936

Nostalgia is a trait we all share. We rmember the past and think about how carefree it was. (wasn't really, we just didn't pay taxes) At the National Folk Village near Suwon or Yong'in, it can bee seen that it was really hard work just to get something to eat, wear, or sleep under. The crafts of those distant days have been kept alive and you can watch artisans making silk, carving bowls, weaving rugs, and everyone one of the skills needed in pre-industrial Korea. Gardens provide the vegetables, and there are cows, chickens, pigs and goats. All provide food for the restaurants located in several places. The entire village is composed of real buildings, not recreations. They were moved in on trucks where possible and where not, reassembled exactly as they appeared in the villages from which they were taken. None of them are younger than 200 years. In fact, in rural Korea, you can still...

Tip Photo
Visit the Past

by hindu1936

Near Yong'in City is the National Folk Village, often called the Suwon Folk Village. The authorities gathered homes, shops, and farm buildings from all over South Korea, transported them to this site, and lovingly, painstakingly restored them to their original appearance and function. Gardens full of plants grown centuries ago are found in several locations. These are not just showpieces, however. They are harvested using the techniques of ages past and utilized in the same manner. You can see women doing the traditional work of making Doheen Jong paste to use in the Doheen Jong cheegae sold in the shinsabang (restaurants). At another site there are women shucking the corn you can buy elsewhere, roasted and chewy. Don't ask for butter. That is not Korean.

Tip Photo
National Museum of Korea

by ghweeh

This striking new National Museum of Korea was opened in October 2005 in a new location within Yongsan Family Park. It looked more like a vast spaceship structure, rather than a museum. The majestic main building was constructed of marble, steel and glass, with an ultra modern look.On displayed were national treasures from various dynasties; paintings from the Chosun Dynasty, tomb treasures from the Shilla Dynasty, bronze incense burner from the Baekje dynasty, cartography section displaying old maps dated back to 15th century, calligraphy showing how Korean language were influenced by Chinese characters, jewellery and accessories used in the Baekje Dynasty, Buddhist sculptures and so for.In particular, we enjoyed watching a traditional folk dance and observed some of the traditional customs in a traditional Korean wedding. My sister and hubby even get to “play” the bride and groom...

Seoul Historical Museum

by ghweeh

Completed in 1997, it chronicles the history and culture of city of Seoul from the Stone Ages to contemporary times with a special focus on the era of the Joseon Dynasty. The collections in the museums were mostly from the Joseon Dynasty era with some public artefacts and heritage figuring and collections.It exhibitions were categorized to four zones principally evolving around the Joseon Dynasty era to a comprehensive look into the landscape of Seoul, lifestyle of Seoul citizens, culture of Seoul and its development as a city.

Shinheungsa Temple

by ghweeh

It was a historical monument constructed during the Shilla era.Legend said that it was built in 653 CE but was burned down in 699 and then rebuilt in the present site. Again, it was destroyed in 1644 with three monks remaining. One night, the three months dreamt that it they built the temple behind the original site, it would never be touched by disasters; fire, water and wind. Hence, its present location and renamed Shinhunsa, meaning Divinely Inspired Temple.We visited the Judgment Hall, dedicated to the benevolent Ksitigarbha, the Bodhisattva who cares for those in trouble; between the Main Hall and Judgment Hall was the shrine to the indigenous gods, Geukrakbo-jeon which was located beside Samseong-gok with an octagonal roof engraved with special structural pattern and great variety of design.We also passed through the white bridge and could see that the water in the river has dried...

Tip Photo
Kyongbok Palace

by ghweeh

The Majestic Kyongbok Palace was built in 1394, more than six hundred years ago during the Chosun Dynasty. The main hall, Kunjongion is an imposing structure with beautifully crafted and colourful eaves, where the King conducting his official business and receiving foreign guests. Sajongjon was near the center of the complex and served like an office for the King and within walking distance from the King’s chamber. Kyonghoeru was surrounded by a scenic lotus pond and the largest elevated pavilion in Korea. It has hosted many royal parties and banquets in its time, and is sometimes used even today on very special occasions.Although it was winter, it has not started snowing and we felt like it was autumn with withered trees around the palace…

Tip Photo
Mt. Sorak

by ghweeh

It was said to be the one of the most beautiful mountain and highest [1,708m high] in Korea that was often packed with tourists. A beautiful tourist sport for all seasons; be it Spring, Summer, Autumn or Winter, there is a different attraction at each season. There were magnificent waterfalls and lush green valleys in summer….glittering golden, red and crimson leaves throughout the mountain in autumn….mountain covered with untainted and thick white snow in winter…colourful flowers of different species blooming in spring… It was Korea’s 171st natural monument and 5th national park, declared in November 195 and March 1970 respectively. It has also been selected as a conservation area by UNESCO in 1982. Bisondae, also named as “flying fairy place” as according to legend, a fairy named Mago visited this place. And the water from Biryong Waterfall flows in a single stream for 150 feet. It was...

Tip Photo
"Hostess Bar"

by WilliamHarper

I strongly recommend the Las Vegas Club on "T" Street, behind the Pusan train station. It's an experience in personal endurance. World-class dive, minimalist architecture - ignore your desire to RUN away - and deal with it. You'll never ever forget the experience. Take at least $200, drink slow, and find your way upstairs.

Culture central

by itsCharlie

Ok so it's true- Gyeongju has the most cultural attrations in Korea. It's a nice weekend trip and you can rent bike and bike around if you're feeling energetic. Palace was really nice and the buddah cave up the mountain was cool. The tourist lake area is interesting but the hotels/restaurants in the real town are much cheaper. The nearby beach was all rock but a few seafood restaurants and a crazy mountain drive to get there. Go- it's a must see.

Tip Photo

Top 3 Hotels in South Korea

Lotte Hotel Seoul  Seoul

 7 Reviews and 696 Opinions  We stayed here for a week. It is very nice but DO NOT have your laundry done by them, a piece of... 

 Hotels in Seoul

The Westin Chosun Busan  Busan

 4 Reviews and 150 Opinions  My wife and I have stayed twice at the Westin Chosun within the last three months. The rooms are... 

 Hotels in Busan

Youngpyung Resort  Kangwon-do

 0 Opinions

 Hotels in Kangwon-do

Questions and Answers

Angrylilazngrl profile photo

Q:  Hi all, I am traveling to South Korea from 4/15-4/21 for a friend's wedding on 4/19 in Seoul. The majority of the wedding... 

dreamybd profile photo

A: Have a nice trip and fun. Be sure to visit the two tourist kiosks to get maps and guides. One is next to the express bus terminal while the other is beside the main train... 

Read 2 Replies

postQuestion_button