South Korea 101: What First Time Visitors Need to Know
- Maria DiCicco
- 10 minutes ago
- 11 min read
As I plan my fourth trip to South Korea, I've come to realize - there's a LOT to absorb when it comes to planning a trip to Korea. Beyond the typical "where should I go" and "how long in each place" type of queries, there's so many details that feel a lot harder to plan.
South Korea is very foreign to my typical mode of travel. Since I've got a holiday home in Spain, we're jet-setting to Europe several times a year. It's easy, I speak the language (or at least can order a meal) in multiple countries, and it's comfortable.
In Korea? New ball game completely.
Here I break down some of the basics on what you need to know to start planning a trip to South Korea, including some key language to know, how to tackle the food scene, and some very important logistics for planning up front.
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Topics in this article:
How Long Do I Need to Visit South Korea?
I just told my husband recently, the more I research Korea, the deeper in the weeds I get. I keep finding amazing places that I want to put on our itinerary that we just don't have the time for!
In an ideal world, I'd suggest 3-4 weeks. In a typical "dealing with PTO and school schedules" world, 10-12 days can do it if you don't mind a hustle.
What Cities Should I Visit in South Korea?
There are four primary targets for tourist travel in South Korea, including:
Seoul
Busan
Gyeongju
Jeonju
Deciding your itinerary will largely be determined by your method of travel - are you taking the KTX train? Are you renting a car? Are you relying on day trips with organized group tours? Think about this as you choose your destinations. Not all of the cities are easily connected by train, and may require buses.
Pro Tip: Use Klook to get your KORAIL pass for train travel |
Beyond these four cities, there's a million places to check out. From coastal retreats to inland mountain landscapes, South Korea is a huge country full of gorgeous places to see. But, for the purposes of this article and a first-time visitor perspective, these are the best four to focus on.
For a short itinerary, plan 3 days in Seoul, 2 in Busan, 2 in Gyeongju and 1 in Jeongju as a starter baseline. Of course some folks opt to stay just in Seoul for their first trip, which is totally ok! There's plenty to do, and this is what I did for my first trip.
Keep in mind that travel to and from the United States will eat up at least 2-4 days of your trip. More on this in the flight section below.
Activities You May Want to Try in Korea
City Escapes
Visit the palaces and temples of each major city
Pop into hanok cafes (a hanok is a traditional style homestead)
Get a Korean skincare analysis
Try a K-Pop class
Get hands on in a cooking class or makgeolli making workshop
Rent a hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) to get free entry to numerous temples and palaces
Have an authentic jimjilbang Korean spa experience
Experience Lotte World and other theme parks
Shopping, shopping, shopping. Shop til you drop! Look for Daiso stores, which feature 1000 Won merchandise and souvenirs.
Wander the local markets for souvenirs or street food
Country Escapes
Visit caves, often converted into random theme parks
Go on a rail bike ride
Take a coastal train or mountain cable car ride
Go clam digging (in season)
Experience waterfall hikes and mountain scenery
Stay overnight in a hanok (sleep on the floor!)
For example itineraries and detailed things to do, stay tuned for more from me in the coming months.
To Book Tours in South KoreaUse Klook as your primary tour booking tool, with Viator as a backup. Klook tends to have the most options for Asian countries. |
What Is the Best Time of Year to Travel to South Korea?
I'm really cuckholded by school schedules and family work schedules on this one. In summer, I've experienced the epic monsoon rains in August and still had a good trip, despite my clothes being perpetually soaked.
I've been in the height of cherry blossom season donning just a jean jacket and a comfortable, temperate climate.
Then there's the brutal winters. I've only heard of them, but do dream of a magical fall Chuseok or Christmas season there.
Chuseok, by the way, is their huge family harvest festival holiday - similar to American Thanksgiving - and it's a big deal. Expect holiday flair, but with that also expect higher prices, traffic, etc. It is in late September/early October.
In short:
Winter: cold!
Spring: temperate but still chilly
Summer: rain rain rain
Fall: lovely!
Ideally, target a March to late May timeframe, or a late September to November timeframe for the best weather!
Tips for Flying to South Korea
What is the shortest flight from the United States to South Korea?
Not counting flights from Hawaii, you'll find the shortest flights from San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Salt Lake City (SLC), Seattle (SEA) and Vancouver (YVR).
For this next trip I spent weeks pouring over every possible connection point from my home base in Orlando, trying to minimize time spent in the air.
The longest flight is 14 hours and change, with some rare routes being even longer.
The shortest flight is around 12 hours.
Typical flights from the west coast might have you in air for 12-13 hours.
The silver lining: the return trip from Korea is much faster, because of the tailwinds. You'll come home in a breezy 10-11 hours to the west coast airports.
Decide If You Need a Stopover
Why is this worth noting? Well, all trips start with the flight. Without the flight, you don't know your start and end dates, or if you want to have an overnight layover built in on the way there or back. I highly recommend this if you are coming from the east coast.
By baking in this overnight pit stop, you allow a whisper of jet lag acclimation, but mostly you break up the travel day.
For me, flying five hours from the east to west coast is a full day as it is. No need to tack on another 12-13 hours in the same day.
Pause, regroup, and fly the next day. Do the same thing in reverse, and make it fun!
Flight Costs and Deal Hacks
I got our most recent trip to Korea for $540 per person, round trip from Orlando to Seoul. I used my clever tracking skills on Google Flights, and paired with points and other hacks I was able to really save a ton. I think we saved $3000 as a family of three.
Here's some tricks:
Search round trip flights from the west coast to Korea. Leave out your home airport.
Set tracking on the best flights to watch the ebb and flow of the price history.
Book when the deal is great!
Utilize any points programs you have.
Go back and book your home airport to the west coast airport as a separate round trip.
Pro Tip: If you have Delta Points - Delta and Korean Air have code shared flights, and the food on Korean Air is LEGIT. You'll get bibimbap and seaweed soup if you want it. Worth it!
Good To Note: Traveling to Korea from the US, you will typically arrive 2 days later.
I call this my 'lost day'. For instance, if you travel on the 11th in the morning United States time, you won't arrive until the evening on the 12th in Korea. You'll lose all day on the 11th in the air, and the time difference takes away the remainder of your following day.
This may seem obvious when you book your airfare, but it's important to note so you don't make any plans incorrectly! The return is simpler - you can leave on the evening of the 21st and arrive on the west coast of the US also on the 21st, mid day. You gain that lost day back!
One time returning from Vietnam, I had experienced a doozy of a final night - way too much alcohol and dancing into the wee hours (I was young, what can I say), and it was an awful next morning. The slog home took me forever, and I was calling it the worst day of my life. Unfortunately, I had to experience the worst day twice over. The day just never ended, because of the time difference!
A Brief Note on Culture
Koreans are very polite - especially the older generations. Be patient, courteous, grateful, and humble. Always smile and say thank you. You can follow some similar cultural etiquette cues from my article on Japanese etiquette.
Kids are welcome always, and solo travelers needn't feel intimidated or unsafe. Korea as a whole is safe and welcoming to travelers!
Super Important Things to Note Before You Go
You need to get your K-ETA at least 72 hours before you travel.
Similar to the UK ETA and the indefinitely delayed European ETIAS, Korea has its own ETA entry system application that needs to be filled out, regardless if you are American or European. I have both passports (I'm a dual citizen of the US and Italy) so I made sure to check this).
There is only one valid site to do this, and it costs about $8 for a three year validation period. Go here to start your application.
!! Google Maps will not work in Korea for walking or driving directions.
You will need to download Naver maps or Kakaomap. This is crucial!
You will need an international driver's license if you plan to rent a car.
This is primarily because you need a license that is readable in languages that aren't Latin. You wouldn't traditionally need an IDP (International Driver's Permit) in Europe, for instance, but perhaps where they speak Arabic, or in countries that use symbols like kanji, you will need one.
Important note: As part of the IDP process you might be prompted to get your K-ETA for around $46. The K-ETA website was explicit in saying that you cannot get this fulfilled on outside sites, so don't do it. The cost for the K-ETA is only $8. If anyone is asking you for more money than that, stay clear.
Hotels often do not appear on travel booking platforms until closer to your travel date.
I started planning my Korea trip in July, for a spring break (March) trip. I often begin my travel planning with hotel bookings, so I can secure a roadmap of A to B destinations and plan the in between stuff later.
There were a very small amount of hotels available online for booking until a few months from my travel date. I guess patience is a virtue.
To Book Hotels in KoreaMarriott and Hilton have a lot of hotels in Seoul and Busan, with an occasional hotel or two inland. Use Booking.com for cheap hotels and hanok stays, and visit Agoda or Klook for more options. |
What are Some Traditional Korean Foods?
How much time do you have?
Seriously, this is an impossible question to answer without whittling down the subject. So let's talk about palates.
Most American or western palates are not accustomed to the flavors of the Orient, namely the fish and oyster sauces and the spice. I think this may even ward people off from traveling to Asia, which is a shame if you ask me.
I always suggest sampling flavors of where you'll travel if you are able beforehand - and learn what you like, and what you might acquire a taste for.
Korea is definitely having a moment so it's not hard to find H Mart or Lotte Market near me, or a local KBBQ joint in the big cities around the US. Even Aldi is carrying things like kimbap in their freezer section.
So, with a mild palate in mind, like with my parents or my seven year old daughter, here's some easily accessible, yet still traditional, Korean foods you can try:
For Mild Palates
Scallion pancakes (pajeon)
Ramyeon (Korean ramen noodles)
Korean barbeque (kalbi and bulgogi are approachable favorites)
Sweet street foods
Dumplings (mandu)
Glass noodles called japchae
Rice dishes (bap, bap is cooked rice)
Korean fried chicken (chikin - many versions are spicy, but you can find huraideu or ganjang, which are mild sauces or plain)
Don't be afraid to try new things and to amp up your spice level! The next level of food is still very approachable, but requires an open-minded palate often involving spice, seaweed, or fishy flavors.
Look at little old me, about 12 years ago before I knew anything about Korean culture or cuisine, before I was a blogger, before I was a mom! We stumbled into this house with no clue. We pointed at photos of food and hoped for the best. Mama came out to cut our food for us with scissors. I had no idea what to expect, but I loved every minute of it.
Sometimes the menu doesn't even exist. In this case, below, the menu was written in Korean on a spoon.
Keep an open mind! You may have no choice! (Ha!).
For Next Level and Adventurous Eaters
Bibimbap (rice with egg, vegetables and spicy gochujang sauce)
Everything pickled (from kimchi to radish, picked items come in small plates called banchan at most meals)
Tteokbokki (sweet and spicy rice cakes - my favorite!)
Gimmari (seaweed rolls filled with japchae noodles)
KBBQ oysters, clams and other shellfish
Seafood stews (jjigae is the word for stew, this will save you if you're stuck in the cold or a rainstorm and need a warming meal!)
KBBQ spicy live-octopus (jjukkumi)
Seafood pancake (haemul pajeon)
Kimbap (similar to sushi but with sesame oil rice, not a vinegar based rice. the ingredients - often egg, daikon and carrots, differs from sushi as well - there is no raw fish)
Patbingsu (pictured below): a shaved ice dessert topped with fruit, sweet red beans, condensed milk, and chewy rice cake pieces. Don't knock it 'til you try it!
I'm afraid I barely brushed the surface, but this will get you going in the right direction.
Korean Language 101 for Travelers
I like to know a few basics to get by, namely being polite, and ordering comfortably. You'll need to utilize Google Translate no matter what, but it's good to know a few of these things in advance:
Korean Basics To Be Used Often:
Yes: ne (this may be confusing! ne sounds like no, so just practice this one!)
No: aniyo or ani
Hello/Goodbye: annyeonghaseyo or simply, annyeong
Please: juseyo
Thank You: gamsahamnida
Water: mul
Tea: cha
Beer: maekju
Extra Phrases to Help:
Sorry: joesonghamnida
Excuse me (to get someone's attention): jeogiyo
Excuse me (to push through a crowd or if you need to get by): jamsimanyo
Photo okay? (to get approval before taking someone's picture): sajin dwaeyo; be sure to say "gimchi!" - like cheese! - for added fun to cut the tension
Not spicy: an maepge
Numbers:
My kid had to learn these when she was in taekwondo at age 3 and 4, so as a family we're good on numbers! She even carries us as a group when it comes to counting from 1 to 10! This is how she pronounces some of these anyway.
Hana
Dul
Set ("say")
Net ("nay")
Daseot ("dah-say")
Yeoseot ("yah-say")
Ilgop
Yeodeol
Ahop
Yeol
Key Takeaways
While planning a trip to Korea is often daunting and utterly overwhelming given the sheer amount of amazing opportunities for fun, if you take it into chunks and slowly learn what you need to about the language, the food, the landscape and the culture, you'll be set for a perfect family adventure!
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