11 Very Best Things to Do in South Korea

We used our knowledge of Seoul and South Korea at large to put together a list of the 11 best things to do in Korea, including tasting the delicacies of Gwangjang Market, taking a K-pop dance class, and getting off the beaten path.

K-pop, K-dramas and K-food – Korean culture is hot right now in every way. That alone can make a journey to South Korea an essential part of your bucket list.

There are innumerable reasons to visit Seoul in particular: the traditional Namdaemun Market, the trendy cafes and art galleries in Seochon and the plethora of Korean BBQ restaurants and street food offerings in every nightlife district. Seoul is truly a capital city where old meets new, creating endless opportunities for exploration.

While the many activity options and attractions in South Korea are vast, your trip time may be limited. So how can you make the most of your South Korea trip and ensure that you have an amazing experience?

1. Hike to N Seoul Tower

Travelers visiting Seoul for the first time should be sure to hike to N Seoul Tower. The N Seoul Tower is one of the highest points in Seoul and gives you panoramic views of the city. It was opened to the public in 1980 after being built as the nation’s first general radio wave tower in 1969. The tower was built on top of Namsan Mountain, which is why it’s also commonly known as Namsan Tower.

You can get to the tower by cable car, but the best way to reach it is by foot. Strap on a good pair of shoes and walk up hiking trails and steps through the scenic Namsan Park, a 1.5 kilometer or one mile walk.

There are rest stops along the way where you can take pictures. You also can join in the tradition of buying a padlock to put on the fences around N Seoul Tower, symbolizing your love for someone.

Once you get to the tower you can enjoy restaurants, shops and an art exhibit, along with the observation decks that can be reached via elevator. At night the N Seoul Tower lights up in various colors, making it a spectacular centerpiece for this bustling city.

2. Wander around Gyeongbokgung Palace or any of Seoul’s royal palaces

You should wander around Gyeongbokgung Palace, which is the largest of Seoul’s five palaces built during the Joseon dynasty. It was first constructed in 1395 but was destroyed and rebuilt several times over the centuries. It was fully restored in the 1990s.

Following the construction of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Changdeokgung Palace was built in 1405 and listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. It is the most well-preserved royal Joseon palace. To visit the Secret Garden of this grand palace make sure to book tickets in advance!

A visit to one of Seoul’s royal palaces isn’t complete without dressing up in traditional Korean hanbok attire and maybe even getting your hair done. Then you can explore the expansive palace grounds for free and take in the colorfully vivid traditional Korean architecture in style.

The full list of Seoul’s grand palaces is:

• Gyeongbukgung Palace
• Changdeokgung Palace
• Deoksugung Palace
• Changgyeonggung Palace
• Gyeonghuigung Palace

3. Eat Korean fried chicken & more

No trip to South Korea is complete without trying the many delectable dishes available in the country and Korea in particular is known for its good food. One food you may not think about trying is Korean fried chicken, but there’s a reason it’s the number one delivery item in Korea

Of course, that’s not all you’ll want to savor while you’re in the country. Another essential is kimchi. There are about 250 different types of kimchi to choose from, but the most common is baechu kimchi, made from cabbage. Likewise, you’ll see options like mung bean pancakes throughout the country.

For drinks, coffee culture is quite important in the country, and flavored milk like banana milk is a popular item at convenience stores. For dessert, dig into some delicious tofu gelato.

Check out our guide on the 50+ Best Korean Snacks, Ramen and Beverages which we ranked on things like taste, nutrition, uniqueness and more.

4. Shop at Gwangjang Market

Speaking of food, the Gwangjang Market is one of the best places to go for authentic Korean street food and fresh seafood. The market is open year round and was featured on Netflix’s Street Food series. It is one of the oldest and largest traditional markets in South Korea. Tens of thousands of people visit the market and its many shops in Seoul each day.

In the booths you can find food ranging from fruits and vegetables to meat and bread. There are also many clothing and textile options, along with souvenirs.

This a great spot to try mung bean pancakes or other popular Korean cuisine like gimbap, which has ingredients such as vegetables and meat rolled in rice and dried seaweed.

5. Take a K-Pop dance class

Back to K-Pop, could there be a better place to take a K-pop dance class? You can put on some casual attire and learn famous K-pop moves in numerous studios in South Korea. Then you can dance along with your favorite group the next time you see a performance.

If you are passing by Hongdae and Shinchon, popular university districts, the streets are filled with street performers dancing and singing to their favorite K-pop songs.

6. Sing your heart out at a noraebang

To be a true K-pop star you of course have to be able to sing as well. To practice your vocals you can head to a singing room called a noraebang. One big advantage of South Korea’s version of karaoke is that the rooms are private. So if you make a vocal blunder, your audience will be limited – in most cases to just your friends or family.

7. Bike along the Han River

An experience not to be missed is to bike along the Han River. The Han River divides the north and south parts of the city of Seoul and snakes across 307 miles in the northern part of South Korea. The river is lined with walkways, parks and convenience stores. The river is rather wide in the city – more than a half mile.

Along the river there are many locations where you can take a leisurely stroll or rent a public bike, and get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

8. Visit a traditional hanok village

Visit a hanok village, an area with numerous traditional Korean houses. One of the most visited hanok villages is Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul that’s next to Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Many of these hanok communities offer opportunities to immerse yourself in the village life and traditional hanok architecture by featuring cultural centers and tea houses. These charming communities will make you feel at home while you explore some of what makes South Korea unique.

Jeonju Hanok Village is one of the most popular destinations outside of Seoul, thanks to its extensive size and sheer number of traditional houses.

9. Tour the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Running between North and South Korea lies one of the world’s most intriguing tourist destinations, the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The DMZ serves as a poignant reminder of the Korean War, which ended in an armistice in 1953, leaving the Korean Peninsula divided.

This heavily guarded border area, spanning approximately 250 kilometers, offers visitors a unique glimpse into the complex history and current geopolitical situation of the Korean Peninsula.

Only guided tours are allowed and visitors can explore historic sites such as the Third Tunnel of Aggression, a secret passage dug by North Korea, and the Dora Observatory, where visitors can see villages, mountains and farmlands on the North Korean side of the DMZ.

10. Learn Some Korean

If you love languages, then it will be fun to learn some Korean. The Korean alphabet, Hangul, was created by King Sejong the Great in 1443 to increase literacy in Korea. It’s a phonetic language and the alphabet is surprisingly easy to learn. South Korea follows the Seoul dialect, which differs from the dialect in North Korea.

The language has 14 consonants (ㄱ ㄴ ㄷ ㄹ ㅁ ㅂ ㅅ ㅇ ㅈ ㅊ ㅋ ㅌ ㅍ ㅎ) and 10 vowels (ㅏ ㅑ ㅓ ㅕ ㅗ ㅛ ㅜ ㅠ ㅡ ㅣ).

Statue of King Sejong, the king during the Joseon Dynasty accredited with creating the modern Korean alphabet.

Hangul groups syllables into blocks. The blocks are written left to right. Within each block you read the symbols left to right, top to bottom. You’ll get the hang of it after a quick lesson. Then you can try your new skills as you explore South Korea!

11. Get out of Seoul

In my personal opinion, you need to get out of Seoul to truly experience what Korea has to offer. For example, Gangwon Province is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the peninsula and it would be a real shame for anyone to travel to Korea without seeing at least one of them.

There are plenty of other locations to visit around the nation, however. One of these is Hahoe Folk Village in Andong, a city known for its traditional masks.

For a more modern experience, try the one-of-a-kind Korean spa experience. There are countless of these spas around the nation but my favorite is Busan Spa Land.

To see the true beauty of nature in Korea, Jeju Island is an essential trip to make.

If you’re pressed for time, there are plenty of day trips you can take from Seoul, including to the Garden of Morning Calm.

This is just a taste of what you can experience while traveling in South Korea. To try all these activities, students can register for the Seoul Searching: Modern Korea program. Designed by our Korean team, this program offers the best South Korea has to offer.