If you have two weeks in South Korea, you don't have to choose between the city and the countryside. You can have both. This comprehensive itinerary takes you on a clockwise loop through the peninsula's "Big 5": Seoul, Andong, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju.
Pack your walking shoes. We are covering 5,000 years of history.
Summer in Korea (July-August) feels like a sauna. But this heat is the perfect excuse to explore the country's stunning coastline. Whether you want to surf, sip coffee by the sea, or party under a drone show, Korea has a beach for you.
But first, a warning about the "Jangma" (Monsoon).
Jeju Island is often called "The Hawaii of Korea," but it is arguably more diverse. Volcanic craters, emerald beaches, green tea fields, and waterfalls—all packed into an island that takes about 4 hours to circumnavigate.
To see it right, you need 4 days and a set of wheels.
Korean winter (December - February) is famous for its "Kalbaram" (Knife Wind). It is dry, biting, and brutally cold. But it is also the season of pristine snow, world-class skiing, and one of the most unique festivals on earth.
Don't hibernate. Put on your "Long Padding" and head to Gangwon-do.
If you ask a Korean for their favorite season, 9 out of 10 will say Autumn (Gaeul). The humidity of summer vanishes, leaving behind crystal clear blue skies and mountains that look like they are on fire with red and orange leaves.
To see the "Danpung" (Foliage) at its peak, you must follow the cold weather as it sweeps from North to South.
Spring in Korea is not a season; it is an event. For about ten days, the entire country turns a shade of pale pink. But the "Beotkkot" (Cherry Blossom) waits for no one. To see it at its peak, you must move with the bloom.
Here is your 7-day plan to chase the flowers from the southern coast up to the capital.
A Temple Stay is not a vacation; it is a glimpse into the monastic life. For 24 hours, you trade your smartphone for prayer beads and your stress for silence. But this tranquility comes with a strict set of rules.
Here is what you need to know before you bow.
Seoul may have everything, but it doesn't always have the best of everything. In Korea, every region has "Hyangto Eumsik" (local foods) born from its specific geography, history, and climate. To truly understand Korean cuisine, you have to leave the capital and follow the map.
Here is your culinary compass.
In the fast-paced, "Pali-Pali" (Hurry Hurry) culture of Seoul, the tea ceremony stands as a radical act of slowness. Known as Darye ("Etiquette for Tea"), it is less rigid than the Japanese ceremony but more structured than a casual coffee break. It is about "Sisu"—the art of cooling water—and finding peace in the pouring.
Here is how to experience it without feeling awkward.
If you ask a Korean grandmother about food, she will talk about "Son-mat" (hand taste) and fermentation that takes months. If you ask a Korean teenager, they will talk about "Map-Dan-Jjan" (Spicy, Sweet, Salty) and pouring cheese on everything.
Korean cuisine is currently in a civil war between its healthy, balanced roots and its hyper-palatable, viral future. To understand Korea, you must taste both.
