{"id":1302964,"date":"2026-10-01T12:56:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T12:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1302964"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:10:04","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:10:04","slug":"south-korea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/asia\/south-korea\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"parent":1302035,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-country","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"South Korea country guide","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"Things To Do In South Korea","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"Mountains behind every city, a capital that does not sleep, and food that has taken over the world in the last decade. Cheaper than Japan and far easier than its reputation.","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"1302966","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"light","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"Pick a city | #cities\r\nWhat it costs | #money","hw_hub_country_stats":"\u20ac18 | Dorm bed, from\r\n70% | Of the country is mountains\r\n\u20ac7 | A Korean BBQ portion\r\n2h20 | Seoul to Busan by KTX","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"A small country that moves fast","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"South Korea is roughly the size of Portugal and seventy per cent mountains, which means every city has hiking trails within reach of a metro station. Seoul even has a national park, Bukhansan, inside its city limits.\r\n\r\nSeoul is the centre of everything: a city of ten million with distinct neighbourhoods \u2014 Hongdae for students and live music, Itaewon for international, Gangnam for money, Bukchon for hanok houses \u2014 and a nightlife that genuinely runs until the metro restarts at five.\r\n\r\nBusan on the south coast is beaches, seafood and a more relaxed pace, two hours twenty by high-speed train. Gyeongju has the tombs and temples of a thousand-year kingdom, and Jeju island off the south coast is volcanic, green and where Koreans themselves holiday.\r\n\r\nTwo weeks covers Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju and Jeju comfortably.","hw_hub_country_facts":"Language | Korean. English is patchier than in Japan outside Seoul, but signage is good\r\nCurrency | South Korean won (KRW)\r\nEmergency | 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance\r\nTap water | Safe, though most Koreans drink filtered\r\nTipping | Not practised. Do not tip\r\nApps | Google Maps works poorly here. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap\r\nHow long to stay | Two weeks for the main circuit\r\nBest months | April to June and September to November","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"Where to go","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"KTX high-speed trains link the country end to end in under three hours.","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"1","hw_hub_country_cities":"Seoul | Palaces, mountains, markets and the best nightlife in Asia. A week would not be too long. |  | 1302967 | Seoul inspires you with their culture, great sites, advanced easy transport options. As well as great food. | \nBusan | The second city: beaches, the world's largest department store, and a hillside village of painted houses. |  | 1302968 | Will definitely be back. People only speak of Seoul but this is a hidden gem. | \nJeju City | The main city on Jeju island: the base for volcanic craters, lava tubes, coastal walks and the haenyeo diving women. |  | 1302969 |  | \nGyeongju | The old Silla capital: burial mounds, temples and a thousand years of history in a small city. |  | 1302970 | Gyeonju is definitely worth a visit. Once the capital of the Silla Kingdom, there is plenty to see and do here. I stayed 3 nights and that was too short. The city is built for loads of tourists but when I visited in January it was completely dead. Perhaps that\u2019s different in other seasons. | \nJeonju | A preserved hanok village and the city Koreans name as the country's food capital. |  | 1302971 |  | ","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"What kind of trip is this?","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"Korea does cities, mountains and food, and links them with excellent trains.","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"City break | blue | city | Seoul, which rewards a week more than a weekend. | Gyeongbokgung palace at opening; A night in Hongdae; Hike Bukhansan from a metro station | Hongdae; Bukchon; Seongsu | Seoul; Busan | city-break\nFood | sunset | local-markets | Korean barbecue, fried chicken, and markets that run all night. | Korean BBQ with soju; Late-night fried chicken and beer; Gwangjang market for street food | Gwangjang market; Jeonju; Busan fish market | Seoul; Jeonju; Busan | food\nNightlife | pink | nightclub | Until the metro restarts at five, and then some. | Hongdae on a Friday; Noraebang karaoke rooms; Pojangmacha street tents | Hongdae; Itaewon; Seomyeon, Busan | Seoul; Busan | nightlife\nAdventure | green | backpack | Seventy per cent mountains, and trails from every city. | Hike Seoraksan in autumn; Climb Hallasan on Jeju; Bukhansan from central Seoul | Seoraksan; Hallasan; Bukhansan | Sokcho; Jeju Island | adventure\nCulture | purple | culture | Palaces, temple stays and a thousand-year-old capital. | Wear hanbok for free palace entry; Stay overnight in a mountain temple; Gyeongju's burial mounds | Gyeongbokgung; Bulguksa; Gyeongju | Seoul; Gyeongju | culture\nBeach | sunset | sunglasses | Busan and Jeju in a short, intense summer season. | Haeundae beach in July; Jeju's coastal path; A seafood dinner on the sand | Haeundae; Jeju coast; Sokcho | Busan; Jeju Island | beach","hw_hub_country_do_title":"Things to do in South Korea","hw_hub_country_do_body":"In Seoul, the palaces are the anchor \u2014 Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, both free to enter if you wear hanbok, which you can rent nearby for a few euros and which most visitors enjoy more than they expect. Bukchon's hanok village sits between them.\r\n\r\nThe mountains are the surprise. Bukhansan National Park is inside Seoul's city limits and reachable by metro, with granite peaks and a full day's walking at the end of a subway line.\r\n\r\nElsewhere, temple stays let you spend a night in a working mountain temple with monks, meals and a 4am service, for around \u20ac40 to \u20ac60. Gyeongju has the Silla dynasty tombs and Bulguksa temple, and the DMZ tour to the North Korean border is a half-day trip from Seoul that must be booked in advance with passport details.","hw_hub_country_do_points":"Hanbok | Rent for a few euros and get free palace entry\r\nBukhansan | A national park inside Seoul, reachable by metro\r\nTemple stay | \u20ac40\u201360 for a night in a working mountain temple\r\nDMZ tour | Book ahead with passport details. Runs from Seoul","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_country_do_more":"All things to do in South Korea","hw_hub_country_food_title":"Eating in South Korea","hw_hub_country_food_body":"Korean food is built around sharing and side dishes. Order a main and banchan arrive unasked \u2014 kimchi, pickles, greens \u2014 and they are refilled free. Korean barbecue is cooked at your table and runs \u20ac10 to \u20ac18 a head, and it is designed for groups, though many places will serve two.\r\n\r\nCheap eating is everywhere: kimbap rolls at \u20ac2, bibimbap at \u20ac6 to \u20ac8, and street food at Gwangjang and Myeongdong markets for a couple of euros a portion.\r\n\r\nFried chicken and beer \u2014 chimaek \u2014 is a national institution and the correct late-night meal. Soju costs about \u20ac1.50 a bottle in a convenience store and is drunk with food rather than instead of it. Solo diners were once unusual and are now entirely normal.","hw_hub_country_food_points":"Banchan | Side dishes arrive free with every meal and are refilled\r\nKorean BBQ | \u20ac10\u201318 a head, cooked at your table\r\nChimaek | Fried chicken and beer. The national late-night meal\r\nSoju | About \u20ac1.50 a bottle in a convenience store","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_country_food_more":"All food guides for South Korea","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"Going out in South Korea","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"Seoul has one of the best nightlife scenes in the world and it runs on a simple logic: the metro stops around midnight and restarts at half five, so you either leave early or stay out. Most people stay out.\r\n\r\nHongdae is the student district with live music, clubs and street performers; Itaewon is the international quarter; Gangnam is expensive and glossy. Between rounds, noraebang \u2014 private karaoke rooms rented by the hour \u2014 are where half the night ends up.\r\n\r\nDrinking here is social and food-centred: soju and beer with barbecue, then a second round somewhere else, then a third. Pojangmacha, orange tented street stalls, serve food and drink outdoors until very late.","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"Timing | Metro stops around midnight, restarts at 05:30. Plan around it\r\nHongdae | Students, live music and clubs. The heart of it\r\nNoraebang | Private karaoke rooms by the hour. Where nights end\r\nRounds | Drinking moves venue by round. Expect at least three","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"All nightlife guides for South Korea","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"Getting around South Korea","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"The KTX high-speed train runs Seoul to Busan in two hours twenty for around \u20ac40, and the network reaches most major cities. Regular trains and express buses are cheaper and only slightly slower on shorter routes.\r\n\r\nIn cities, a T-money card covers every metro, bus and most taxis nationwide, and it is sold in any convenience store. Seoul's metro is extensive, cheap and signed in English.\r\n\r\nOne practical thing that catches everyone out: Google Maps does not work properly for directions in South Korea because of mapping restrictions. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you arrive \u2014 they work in English and they are genuinely necessary.","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"KTX | Seoul to Busan in 2h20 for about \u20ac40\r\nT-money | One card for metro, bus and taxi nationwide. Buy at any convenience store\r\nNaver Map or KakaoMap | Google Maps does not do directions here. Download before arriving\r\nExpress buses | Cheaper than KTX and comfortable on shorter routes","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"All transport guides for South Korea","hw_hub_country_money_title":"What South Korea costs","hw_hub_country_money_body":"South Korea is cheaper than Japan and considerably cheaper than western Europe for food and transport. Dorms start around \u20ac18, bibimbap is \u20ac6 to \u20ac8, a metro ride is about a euro, and convenience store meals are genuinely good for \u20ac3 to \u20ac5.\r\n\r\nA day comes to \u20ac40 to \u20ac60 without effort. Korean barbecue, a temple stay or a KTX leg are the things that push it up.\r\n\r\nCard payment is close to universal \u2014 Korea is one of the most cashless countries in the world \u2014 and foreign cards work almost everywhere, though a small amount of cash is still useful at markets.","hw_hub_country_money_points":"Dorm bed | From \u20ac18 in Seoul\r\nA day, all in | \u20ac40\u201360\r\nConvenience stores | \u20ac3\u20135 for a decent meal, and they are everywhere\r\nCards | Accepted almost universally. Carry a little cash for markets","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_country_money_more":"All budget guides for South Korea","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"Staying safe in South Korea","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"South Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. Violent crime against travellers is very rare, people leave laptops on caf\u00e9 tables to reserve seats, and walking alone at night in Seoul is unremarkable.\r\n\r\nThe practical cautions are small: drinking culture is heavy and pacing matters, and Korea has strict drug laws that apply to foreigners and, in some cases, to Korean citizens for offences committed abroad.\r\n\r\nOn North Korea \u2014 the border is 50km from Seoul and the situation makes headlines periodically, but daily life is entirely unaffected and tourism continues normally. The DMZ tours are safe, well organised and require passport registration in advance.","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"Emergency | 112 police, 119 ambulance\r\nDrinking | Heavy drinking culture and rounds. Pace yourself\r\nDrug laws | Strict, and enforced against foreigners\r\nNorth Korea | Headlines aside, daily life and tourism are unaffected","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"All safety guides for South Korea","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"Entry and documents","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"Most Western nationalities enter visa-free for 30 to 90 days depending on nationality.\r\n\r\nK-ETA, the electronic travel authorisation, has been temporarily waived for many countries while the scheme is reviewed, and the list of exempt nationalities and the waiver period have both changed more than once. Check the official K-ETA site before booking \u2014 it is the single most changeable entry requirement in this guide.\r\n\r\nThere is also an arrival card, now often submitted digitally. Passports need to be valid for the stay.","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"Visa-free | 30\u201390 days depending on nationality\r\nK-ETA | Waived for many countries, temporarily. Check the official site\r\nArrival card | Often submitted digitally before landing\r\nCurrency | Won, and the country is close to cashless","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"travel-tips","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"All travel tips for South Korea","hw_hub_country_season_title":"When to go","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"Spring and autumn are the two great seasons here, and both are short. Summer is hot, humid and includes a proper rainy season; winter is genuinely cold.","hw_hub_country_season_note":"Average highs for Seoul, which is genuinely cold in winter and humid in summer. Jeju is a few degrees milder year-round, and the rainy season runs late June to late July.","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"January | 2 | 2 | Cold and dry. Ski season, and the cheapest month\r\nFebruary | 4 | 2 | Still cold. Quiet in the cities\r\nMarch | 10 | 3 | Warming. Cherry blossom starts in the south late in the month\r\nApril | 17 | 5 | Cherry blossom nationwide. The busiest and prettiest weeks\r\nMay | 23 | 4 | Excellent. Warm, clear and green before the rains\r\nJune | 27 | 3 | Hot and humid. Rainy season begins late in the month\r\nJuly | 29 | 2 | Monsoon. Heavy rain and high humidity\r\nAugust | 30 | 3 | Hottest and most humid. Beaches and Jeju are busy\r\nSeptember | 26 | 3 | Rain ending. Chuseok holiday fills transport\r\nOctober | 20 | 5 | The best month. Clear skies and autumn colour in the mountains\r\nNovember | 12 | 4 | Autumn colour continues, and the crowds thin\r\nDecember | 4 | 2 | Cold and clear. Christmas is a couples' holiday here","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"What your trip will cost","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"Pick how you travel and how long for. Per night, for one person, in euro equivalents of won.","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"Excludes KTX legs at around \u20ac40 each. Temple stays at \u20ac40\u201360 and Korean barbecue are the other notable extras.","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 18 | 12 | 4 | 5\r\nMiddle of the road | 26 | 24 | 8 | 15\r\nComfortable | 42 | 42 | 15 | 30","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_country_events_title":"What is on while you are there","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"Two national holidays fill every train in the country, and cherry blossom is as busy here as in Japan.","hw_hub_country_events_source":"api","hw_hub_country_events_country":"south-korea","hw_hub_country_events_count":"8","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"All events in South Korea","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/asia\/south-korea\/","hw_hub_country_events":"Cherry blossom | Late March to April | Nationwide | Moves north over a few weeks, with Jinhae and Seoul's riversides the classic spots. |  | \nSeollal | January or February | Nationwide | Lunar new year. Families travel, transport books out and many businesses close. |  | \nBoryeong Mud Festival | July | Boryeong | Exactly what it sounds like, and enormously popular with visitors. |  | \nChuseok | September or October | Nationwide | Harvest festival and the other great travel holiday. Book transport far ahead. |  | \nAutumn foliage | October and November | Seoraksan \u00b7 Naejangsan | The mountains turn, and Koreans hike in enormous numbers. |  | \nBusan International Film Festival | October | Busan | Asia's largest film festival, and the city fills for it. |  | ","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"Where to stay in South Korea","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"The highest-rated hostels in the country, live from Hostelworld. Seoul has the most, concentrated in Hongdae and Myeongdong, with Busan next.","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in South Korea","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/south-korea\/","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"api","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"country","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"112","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"EUR","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"South Korea travel questions","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"The ones we get asked most.","hw_hub_country_faqs":"How long do you need in South Korea? | Two weeks covers Seoul, Busan, Gyeongju and Jeju comfortably. Seoul alone justifies five days \u2014 it has distinct neighbourhoods, palaces and national parks inside the city limits.\r\nIs South Korea expensive? | Cheaper than Japan and well below western Europe for food and transport. Dorms from \u20ac18, bibimbap at \u20ac6 to \u20ac8, metro rides about a euro, and a day between \u20ac40 and \u20ac60.\r\nWhy does Google Maps not work in Korea? | Mapping restrictions mean Google Maps cannot give proper directions here. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you arrive \u2014 both work in English and are genuinely necessary rather than a nice-to-have.\r\nDo I need a K-ETA? | It depends and it keeps changing. K-ETA has been temporarily waived for many nationalities while the scheme is reviewed, and the exempt list and waiver period have both moved. Check the official K-ETA site close to booking.\r\nWhen is the best time to visit? | April for cherry blossom and October for autumn colour, both short and both busy. May and November are the quieter edges. Summer is hot and humid with a rainy season from late June, and winter is properly cold.\r\nWhat is a temple stay? | A night in a working mountain temple with monks \u2014 simple accommodation, vegetarian meals, meditation and an early morning service \u2014 for around \u20ac40 to \u20ac60. Many are set up for foreign visitors and run in English.\r\nIs Seoul safe at night? | Very. South Korea is among the safest countries in the world, and Seoul is busy and comfortable at any hour. The practical caution is the drinking culture rather than crime, and the metro stopping at midnight.","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"Compare hostels across South Korea \u2014 live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"Find hostels in South Korea | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/asia\/south-korea\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. No 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