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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.
While Seoul is connected by an infinite web of subways, the rest of Korea is best explored on four wheels. To reach the coastal drives of Namhae, the mountains of Gangwon-do, or the hidden cafes of Jeju, you need a rental car.
But Korea is not a place where you can "wing it." One wrong document, and you will be turned away at the counter.
Packing for South Korea is tricky. One month it's a humid sauna where you sweat through your shirt in 5 minutes. Three months later, it's Siberia.
And while Seoul is a shopping paradise where you can buy almost anything, there are a few surprising items that are impossible to find or extremely expensive. (Spoiler: If you use strong deodorant, bring it from home).
I have lived through the yellow dust of spring and the freezing winds of winter. Here is the ultimate, no-nonsense packing list to ensure you survive and thrive.
You’ve landed at Incheon Airport. You have your bags. You step out into the arrival hall. Now, how do you get to your hotel?
If you open Google Maps, you might panic. It works... sort of. But it won't give you walking directions, and it might tell you to take a bus that hasn't existed for two years.
South Korea has one of the world's most advanced, clean, and punctual public transportation systems, but it runs on its own digital ecosystem. If you try to use Western apps and logic, you will get lost. If you use the local tools, you can cross the entire city of Seoul for $1.50 in 45 minutes flat.
This guide is your cheatsheet. We'll cover the Holy Trinity of Apps, the new 2025 Climate Card, and exactly how to transfer without paying extra.
Seoul is a world-class city. It has palaces, K-pop, and neon lights. But staying only in Seoul is like visiting the US and never leaving Times Square.
South Korea is a land of dramatic mountains, ancient fortresses, and foggy tea fields. It has coastal cities where grandma divers catch seafood by hand, and bamboo forests so quiet you can hear the wind.
The country is compact and connected by high-speed trains (KTX), meaning you can reach almost anywhere in under 4 hours.
If you’re ready to see the real Korea, step off the beaten path. Here are the top 15 destinations you simply cannot miss.
Close your eyes and picture South Korea. What do you see?
Is it soft pink cherry blossoms drifting over a palace wall? Is it fiery red maple leaves framing a mountain temple? Or perhaps it’s a steaming bowl of spicy soup on a snowy street corner?
The "Korea" in your head depends entirely on when you visit.
South Korea is one of the few countries with four distinct, intense seasons. Summer is tropical and humid; winter is Siberian and dry. Spring and Autumn are breathtaking but fleeting. As a traveler, timing is everything. A difference of two weeks can mean missing the cherry blossoms entirely or walking straight into a monsoon downpour.
We’ve broken down the Korean calendar month-by-month, including specific 2025 forecasts, to help you find your perfect window.
You have your flights booked and your itinerary planned. But as your trip approaches, a familiar panic sets in: Do I need a visa? What is this K-ETA thing? And will I get turned away at the border?
It’s a valid concern. South Korea’s entry requirements have shifted significantly in the last few years—from total closures during the pandemic to the introduction of the digital K-ETA system, and now, a temporary exemption that has confused millions of travelers.
Here is the good news: For most travelers in 2025 and 2026, entering South Korea is easier than ever.
This comprehensive guide cuts through the bureaucratic noise. We’ll clarify the "temporary" K-ETA exemption (which lasts until late 2026), explain exactly who qualifies for the new Digital Nomad Visa, and walk you through the Q-CODE health declaration so you can breeze through Incheon Airport’s "Red Lanyard" zone without breaking a sweat.
You've just landed at Incheon Airport. You're holding your passport, staring at signs in Hangul, and wondering: Where do I even start?
Here's the truth: Most first-time itineraries to South Korea cram too much into too little time, leaving you exhausted instead of exhilarated. This guide is different—it's balanced, flexible, and built around avoiding the mistakes that trip up 90% of first-timers.
