19 Day trips from Seoul: plan your perfect escape from the city

Last Updated on April 10, 2023 by Ingrid & Alex

Whether you are into nature, history, or photography, or you are a foodie, there are some amazing day trips from Seoul you could go on.

Most places are easily accessible by the comfortable train system, others you could visit by bus or by car. Here you can find some of our favorite destinations.

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Table of Contents

• The best day trips from Seoul
  • Useful information for when you travel to Seoul and South Korea
  • Majang Lake – Paju
  • Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress
  • Incheon
  • The Garden of the Morning Calm
  • DMZ – Korean Demilitarized Zone
  • Ganghwa Island
  • Chuncheon
  • Nami Island and Petite France
  • Cheonan and the hobbit cafe
  • Yu Gi-Bang’s house in Seosan
  • Bukhansan National Park
  • Hwadam Forest, Botanical Garden, and its monorail
  • Jeonju Hanok Village
  • Everland Theme Park
  • Busan
  • Boseong Tea Plantation
  • Daegu
  • Gyeongju

The best day trips from Seoul

Useful information for when you travel to Seoul and South Korea

If you are traveling to South Korea for the first time, here are a few things and links you might find useful.

Majang Lake – Paju

The Majang Lake, or Majangho in Korean, was one of the first places we visited outside Seoul. Since our first trip, we returned many times that we craved a bit of peace and quiet.

An hour-and-a-half journey from Seoul’s City Hall, Majang Lake is surrounded by picturesque forested mountains. The site is also a favored camping destination. Koreans love camping, by the way, although not the wild & rough camping I grew up enjoying in the Carpathian mountains. Admittedly, it is not quite as glamorous as the Hong Kong-style glamping, but apart from sleeping in a tent or camper van, Korean camping sites provide all the comforts of a hotel: hot showers, gas stoves, running water, bathroom, supermarkets, and so on.

One of the main attractions of Majang Lake is the suspension bridge linking its forested shores. Officially the Gloucester Heros Bridge, also called the Gamaksan Suspension Bridge, was named to honor the 1st Battalion Gloucester Regiment of the British Army who fought in the Korean War. At 220 meters long and 10 meters high, it is the longest suspension bridge in South Korea. The pleasure of walking over the lake while enjoying the amazing view it’s surpassed only by the joy of taking and sharing a memorable selfie.

On the lake’s southern shore, near the suspension bridge, you can find the Red Bridge Café and Italian Restaurant. The coffee is good, and the food tastes almost Italian. However, the lake view from the restaurant’s terrace is WOW! Our usual routine was to stop for lunch or coffee and then cross the bridge and walk around the lake.

The western part of Majang is reserved for those who’d prefer floating on the lake itself. You can rent a hydro bike at the pier; you should be aware, though, that you might need to line up for half an hour or so during the weekends since it is crowded.

If you are into hikes, there are a few nice trails in the nearby ASEAN Recreational Forest; you should stock up on water and some snacks since there are no places to shop along the route.

Lastly, if you enjoy traditional Korean barbecue as much as we do, you should stop by one of the restaurants on the lake’s eastern side. In some of the places, you can eat in a little hovel just for you instead of sitting at one of the restaurant’s tables. We enjoyed the privacy, especially during the covid pandemic; however, sitting and dining on the floor in the Korean style can be quite uncomfortable if you are not used to it.

How to get there from Seoul City Hall?

You can use different combinations depending on where you stay in Seoul. Just be careful not to confuse Majang Station with Majang Lake or Majang Reservoir (or Majangho in Korean) J

The easiest in our view is to use a subway + taxi combination:

• Take Subway Line 1 from City Hall to Nogyang Station in Uijeongbu – circa 50-minute’s ride.
• Take a Taxi-on-Demand to Majang Reservoir (18-20 USD) – circa 15 minutes ride.

You can always choose to rent a car while in South Korea and easily get to anywhere you want. As with everything, renting a car without a local credit card can be challenging but not impossible. Check out the available options for car rentals here.

Suwon and Hwaseong Fortress

About 30 km south of Seoul, it’s the city of Suwon. It is linked to the capital by train, so it is easy and convenient to get there.

Boasting a population of 1.3 million, Suwon is a vibrant city with a thriving economy. If you own a Samsung phone or TV, it was probably designed at the Samsung R&D center in Suwon. It also hosts the Samsung Electronics HQ, among other Samsung subsidiaries.

The main tourist attraction is Hwaseong Fortress or Suwon Hwaseong, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The fortress’ wall surrounds Suwon’s center, and once it encircled the entire city. Walking around its walls and the wooded areas around it can take your mind away from the hustle and bustle of the 21^st century. Today’s visitors can admire the impressive fortress’s several gates and sentry towers.

Just south of the Hwaseong Fortress, tourists can stroll the streets of the traditional part of town. In addition, one can find a wide array of coffee shops and restaurants, many boasting a rooftop terrace overlooking the fortress.

Circa 3km from Hwaseong, one can visit Hyowon Park and Wolhwawon, the Chinese Garden. Imagine a beautiful garden with a small lake, wooden pavilions, and many flowers and greenery; it is the place Chinese fairytale princesses would live in.

Suwon is famous for its special Korean BBQ called the Suwon Galbi – make sure you try it while you are there.

As a Westerner, you might be reluctant to use public facilities. Don’t be! Korean public toilets are usually very clean, but none are as clean as the ones in Suwon. The local authorities take pride in the cleanliness and quality of their public lavatories. Furthermore, if you have already spent a few days in South Korea, you might have noticed the care and high-tech gadgets they invest in their toilets. It is the only country I lived in where I had to read the user’s manual before going to the bathroom for the first time. To honor the South Korean toilet tradition, the city of Suwon hosts a Toilet museum!

Colloquially called the Mr. Toilet House, the Toilet Culture Museum is a must-visit place for those who want to know more about the history of sanitation or just take a selfie with a giant golden turd – there is probably no other place on Earth you could do that, right?

How to get to Suwon from Seoul City Hall?

The easiest way to get there is by train:

• Walk to Seoul Station – circa 15 minutes walk from City Hall.
• Take the train from Seoul Station to Suwon Station in Suwon – circa 35 minutes ride.
• Walk to Hwaseong Fortress – circa 20 minutes walk. Alternatively, you can take a taxi.

Incheon

Given that it hosts South Korea’s largest international airport, you probably passed by the city of Incheon on your way in. However, Incheon has several interesting points of interest which you could visit during a day trip from Seoul.

As the first city to open up to foreigners during the final years of Korea’s Joseon dynasty, Incheon became a cosmopolitan port in the late 19th century. Unsurprisingly, its multicultural heritage is still visible today.

Incheon has close to 3 million inhabitants, and it is one of the main transportation hubs in terms of air transport and oceanic transport. In addition, the local administration’s ambition is to become a global city, similar to Singapore and Hong Kong. To this effect, Incheon created a Free Economic Zone and a so-called Free English Zone, reflecting its plans to increase its inhabitants’ English language knowledge.

The other strategic direction of Incheon’s development is focused on the bio industry. Incheon is competing with San Francisco for the top place in terms of production capacity.

Incheon hosts the only official china town in South Korea. Since we lived in Hong Kong before moving to Seoul, Incheon China Town was among our first destinations; we were not disappointed.

The main entrance is through a paifang, an 11-meters-high Chinese-style gateway, opening into a colorful array of unmistakenly Chinese-inspired architecture. But, interestingly, it also contains a Japanese-inspired area, including a specific Arched Gate.

You can find a wide variety of restaurants covering many of the different Chinese culinary traditions. Moreover, you can enjoy the taste of unique Korean-Chinese fusion cuisine.

If you’d like to relieve some of your childhood fantasies, you should consider visiting Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village, which is close to China Town. There you’ll find a few street blocks where buildings are covered in fairytale-inspired murals. It is a good spot for photo opportunities; however, it is rather crowded during the weekends.

Once you visit the China Town area, you should consider exploring the nearby Wolmido Island. You could go there on foot, or take the bus, but we recommend the suspended monorail. On your arrival, enjoy the island’s Korean Traditional Garden and walk up its hilltop; it offers a nice waterfront view. Then, descend towards the Ocean and stroll on the boardwalk; many nice coffee shops and restaurants are there. You’ll also notice a monument honoring the American and UN troops who took part in MacArthur’s famous Incheon landing, turning the tide of the Korean war. And, you could spend a few hours at the Play Hill Theme Park.

If you like shopping (and who doesn’t?), you should check out the area at Bupyeong Station. The Incheon Subway and the Seoul Subway lines meet here, so it is convenient to stop at Buypeong before heading back to Seoul. You should visit the large underground shopping mall that mostly sells women’s fashion items. According to the American World Record Academy, it has more than 1400 stores spread over 31.000 square meters, making it the place with the highest number of stores in the world. It is said that many items could be acquired at a bargain compared to the prices in Seoul’s department stores and shopping malls.

How to get to Incheon from Seoul City Hall?

The easiest way to get there is by train:

• Take Subway Line 1 from City Hall Station to Incheon Station – circa 1 hour and 30 minutes ride.
• Walk to Chinatown – circa 5 minutes walk.

The Garden of the Morning Calm

Korea is known to the locals as the ‘Land of the Morning Calm’ because of its natural beauty and picturesque mountain landscapes, evoking a harmonious balance and equilibrium. The similarly-named garden perfectly reflects the country’s self-image. The place reminded me of the elvish settlements from fantasy movies: wildly beautiful yet neatly pedicured and maintained.

The vast arboretum lies to the east of Seoul, nestled between several mountain peaks.

It houses over 5000 plant species, some of them rare or endangered.

The garden is divided into twenty sections, each a micro-ecosystem of its own. For example, one section is dedicated to a thousand flower species from all over Korea. Another one represents a Japanese garden. There is even a part evoking the gardens of Victorian England, with a nice cottage included. Moreover, visitors can admire tropical plants in a dedicated greenhouse section.

The arboretum is traversed by a fresh mountain stream, the gurgling of water adding to the relaxing atmosphere.

One of the mountain trails leads up to a rock garden dedicated to flowers native to Korea’s mountains. Furthermore, there are several belvedere points to rest and admire the view.

You can enjoy a good meal or a hot tea at one of the garden’s restaurants or coffee shops.

If you are a K-drama fan, you’ll surely recognize the beautiful pond made famous by the ‘Moonlight Drawn by the Clouds’ K-drama; several notable scenes were filmed at the Pond Garden. In addition, not less than twenty films feature scenes filmed in the Garden of the Morning Calm.

How to get there from Seoul City Hall?

The easiest way to get there is by train (book your train ticket in advance, or get your Korea Rail Pass for when you plan to travel more by train):

• Take Subway Line 1 to Yongsan Station – circa 8 minutes ride.
• Take the ITX Express train at Seoul’s Yongsan Station and get down at Cheongpyeong Station – circa 50 minutes ride.
• Take the Gapyeong City Tour Bus to the Garden of the Morning Calm – circa 20 minutes ride. Alternatively, you can walk 1 km from Cheongpyeong Station to the Cheongpyeong Bus Terminal and take an intra-city bus to the garden.

However, many tourists prefer to book a guided tour which usually includes Nami Island and The Garden of Morning Calm – if you choose this option, you don’t need to worry about transportation.

DMZ – Korean Demilitarized Zone

Unsurprisingly the area dubbed as ‘the world’s most dangerous border’ is also the number 1 tourist attraction in South Korea; over 1.2 million visitors flock every year to the infamous Korean Demilitarized Zone or DMZ.

To understand the DMZ, we should touch a bit upon Korea’s 20^th-century history.

In 1910 Japan annexed Korea and ran it as part of the Japanese Empire. There are mixed feelings and differing interpretations of that specific period of Korean history to this day.

After Japan lost World War II, the southern part of the Korean peninsula was occupied by the Americans while the northern side was under Soviet administration.

Long story short, the USSR-supported North Korean government decided to unify the peninsula by force and invaded the South in 1950. It prompted the UN to initiate a ‘police action’ eventually joined by 21 nations to defend the South. As a result, China sent millions of ‘volunteer’ troops to help the North Koreans. A full-blown war ensued in all but name.

By 1953 the two sides fought each other to a stand-still, occupying more or less the same lands they did before the war along the 38^th parallel; millions died for nothing, and the Korean peninsula was totally devastated. Finally, an Armistice was signed on 27th July 1953, requiring the opposing armies to retreat two kilometers each to avoid direct contact. Hence, the Korean Demilitarized Zone was born, a 4km wide and over 250km long no-mans-land separating the Northern and Southern armies. Since then, the DMZ has been in place for the war that never also never ended; to this day, the North and South are still at war since a peace treaty was never signed.

Just north of Seoul, parts of the DMZ can be visited, but only by guided tours. There are two kinds of tours, a full-day tour, and a half-day tour. The main difference is that the full-day tour includes the Joint Security Area (JSA).

The JSA is the only point of the DMZ where the two opposing militaries actually meet. It is also where politicians from opposing sides can meet and discuss; Trump met Kim Jong-Un here a few years ago. Given the sensitive nature of the JSA, there are strict security rules for visiting. One needs to book the tour minimum of 72 hours in advance for security checks, and no children below the age of 12 are allowed – keep this in mind if you plan to go for the full tour.

When visiting the JSA, another important thing to keep in mind is the dress code. Officially the visitors are expected to show their respect at such an important geopolitical sight, but the real reason is actually much quirkier: North Korean authorities used pics of casually dressed tourists to convince its citizens of how poor and decadent the Western and South Korea citizens are. So no ripped jeans, sleeveless shirts, or mini-skirts, please! Also, avoid clothing with military-like prints, national flags, or other national symbols. For some reason, workout clothes are not allowed either: no sweatpants or leotards! As for footwear, no sandals or similar open-top or open-back shoes; loafers, mocassins, and dressier sneakers are fine.

While you are in the JSA, there are restrictions on what you can photograph. For example, you are not allowed, under any circumstances, to take pics of North Korean soldiers. However, you can take pics with the cool, sunglass-wearing South Korean guards if not otherwise advised. By the way, did you know that sunglasses are part of the South Korean guards’ uniform? It is supposed to shield the soldier’s emotions or, I would guess, the annoyance of being photographed by all the passing tourists.

Apart from the JSA, both the full-day and half-day tours cover important historical landmarks such as Imjingak Park or The Bridge of Freedom.

Since 1974 South Korea has discovered four underground tunnels dug under the DMZ; specialists believe there could be as many as twenty tunnels in total.

The so-called 3^rd Infiltration Tunnel is usually part of the guided tours. Although North Korea denies this, the corridor seems designed to allow a surprise attack on Seoul. Given its dimensions, it has room for 30.000 North Korean soldiers armed with light weaponry to pass every hour. That is 720.000 soldiers in 24 hours; imagine the damage they could do by falling behind the South Korean defenses.

Many are curious to get a glimpse of the isolated hermit state of North Korea, but travel to the country is severely restricted. However, you could safely do this by visiting the Dorasan Observatory. By using its high-power binoculars, you can observe parts of Kaesong, the ninth-largest city in North Korea. On a clear day, you could even glimpse the bronze statue of Kim Il-Sung, the founder of North Korea and grandfather of its current Supreme Leader.

But DMZ is not only about military history and political propaganda. Since it is an almost 1000 square kilometers area with virtually no human population, nature reasserted itself over the decades. There were sightings of the endangered Siberian Tiger, in addition to Amur Leopards and numerous bird species.

How to get there from Seoul City Hall?

The DMZ can be visited by booking a guided tour. For more details, please read our comprehensive guide.

Ganghwa Island

Just north of Incheon, a trip to Ganghwa Island can offer a Korean experience different from what you might expect from other trips within the country.

The most striking feature of the island is the extent of the oceanic tides. Imagine sitting on a beach, an ocean of mud as far as you can see, people playing in it or looking for shells kilometers away from the coast. While in Europe, the sea retreats only a few meters during low tide, and on Africa’s eastern shores, it might retreat hundreds of meters, at Ganghwa, the ocean can withdraw as much as 5 kilometers. The result is breathtaking, the sea leaving room for endless mudflats.

One can enjoy other natural beauties while on Ganghwa; these can be explored by hiking on one of the island’s trails.

The island is known for its unique turnip production. The local turnip seeds have been used in traditional medicine for a thousand years, it is said to have an anti-cancer effect, but it is used for treating skin diseases, digestive ailments, and respiratory diseases as well.

Ganghwa takes pride in its ginseng crop. I strongly encourage you to enjoy the local Korean chicken ginseng soup; my mouth waters just writing about it. Most tours include a basic ginseng farming lesson, digging in the ground included.

If you didn’t have the chance to do it in Seoul, Ganghwa is a good place to rent a hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, and take lots of unforgettable pictures. In addition, you can engage in other cultural activities, such as designing your own traditional Korean handkerchief.

We recommend trying the Mega Luge at Ganghwa Sea Resort for the more adventurous visitors. Don’t feel bad if you don’t know what a “luge” is; since I am not a Winter Olympics fan, I also had to look it up. The one on Ganghwa is similar to the ice-sliding luge, but it has wheels instead. It is quite safe, and people of all ages enjoy it. While you are at Gangwha Sea Resort, you should go for a ride with the gondola; it allows some scenic views of the island.

How to get to Ganghwa Island from Seoul City Hall?

The easiest way to get there is by booking one of the guided tours from Seoul.

However, if you prefer to strike out on your own, you can take the Bus from Sinchon Station:

• Take the subway from City Hall Station to Sinchon Station – circa 8 minutes
• Leave Sinchon Station via Exit 7 and take the long-distance bus 3000 to Gangwha – circa 60 minutes

Chuncheon

The capital city of Gangwon Province, Chuncheon is one of the best and closest mountain destinations to Seoul.

A great weekend destination but also a place where to go for a day only.

While in the region you can find other popular destinations such as the Garden of the Morning Calm, Petite France, Nami Island, or Edelweiss Swiss Theme Park, I would suggest giving Chuncheon a chance as well.

Rent a bike from one of the places outside of the train stop and bike around Chuncheon Lake, stop and walk on the Soyanggang Skywalk, and go all the way to the deserted amusement park. You can also go along the stream and explore some of the unique cafes in town.

Greenboard Cafe (그린보드) is unique, located in the countryside, with beautiful flowers and green plants interior.

A bit outside of town you’ll find Alpaca World, a destination perfect not only for children but also for adults. It is a popular Instagram destination set in a beautiful natural location.

The Organic Cafe (유기농카페) is another pretty place set in between the fields where you will find different kinds of flowers depending on the season you choose to visit.

How to get to Chuncheon from Seoul City Hall?

The easiest way to get from Seoul to Chuncheon is by subway and train. It will take roughly 2 hours one way and you have 2 options:

• Take Line 1 from the City Hall to Cheongnyangni Station; From there hop on the ITX train all the way to Chuncheon Station
• Take Line 1 to Hoegi Station and from there take the Gyeongchun Line to the end of the line.

Nami Island and Petite France

Namiseom or Nami Island is loved by both tourists and Koreans when it comes to natural destinations outside of Seoul. Usually linked together with Petite France, you will find plenty of tour options to choose from.

We tried to visit the island on a Saturday during the fall, but it was impossible to find a parking space anywhere in the city around the island. On top of that, we waited for one hour in line before we could actually see the parking lot.

Needless to say, we would strongly suggest you choose to go during the week and choose a tour so you won’t have to worry about parking spaces or the bus schedule.

Cheonan and the hobbit cafe

The so-called Hobbit cafe in Cheonan is actually a bit outside of the city and when traveling by subway you will have to take a bus as well.

While coffee is not the best out there, they have plenty of pastries and their specialty is the cake filled with red bean paste. Learn from my mistake and do be fooled into thinking that the filling is chocolate and nuts.

Apart from the delicious sweets, you must come here for the architecture of the laboratories. That’s right, the actual cafe is hosted in a normal building, while the hobbit-like buildings are the place where the magic happens.

Around the city, there aren’t many other important tourist attractions, but you will be able to walk around rice paddies and explore other cafes, such as the one with a pool.

How to get to Cheonan from Seoul City Hall

Getting there might be easier than in other places because Line number 1 will get you directly to the city.

From the train station, take the bus or a taxi to either one of the cafes.

Yu Gi-Bang’s house in Seosan

I must admit that getting to this place without a car proved to be a bit challenging. If you don’t speak Korean or are not used to the bus system in South Korea, I strongly encourage you to go by car.

The place is a museum where you can step back in time. The house was built in the early 1900s, during the Japanese colonial era. During spring, the location attracts thousands of people because of its fields of daffodils.

For K-Drama lovers, this is a must-see destination since many famous movies have been filmed here, such as Mr. Sunshine.

A few kilometers away, you can explore the coastline and the city of Dangjin. With its cafes along the sea and plenty of seafood restaurants, this is a dream destination for any foodie out there.

How to get there from Seoul City Hall

The address for Yu Gi Bang’s house is 72-10 Imunan-gil, Unsan-myeon, Seosan-si, Chungcheongnam-do (충남 서산시 운산면 이문안길 72-10) and you must first get to Nambu Bus Terminal from where you will take a bus to Unsan Intercity Bus Stop. From there, take bus number 45-2 to Yoogibanggaok.

It is worth knowing that from the bus stop, you will need to walk a bit, and most part of the road doesn’t have a sidewalk and is basically in the middle of nowhere, in between fields.

However, as with the previous destination, getting there by car is far easier and less time-consuming.

Bukhansan National Park

The mountains behind Seoul, are easily reachable from different places in town, hiding plenty of trails, temples, and cafes.

No matter your level there will be something for you to explore, and you can even get closer to nature by car or bus.

If you are really passionate about hiking, a great way to start your day would be to go on a sunrise hike on Bukhansan Mountain. You will spend a night at a mountain camp, meet like-minded people, and make some memories that will last forever.

Hwadam Forest, Botanical Garden, and its monorail

A beautiful forest park with 17 sections that have been populated with many types of local trees and plants in an effort to revive the country’s forest ecosystem.

Many people flock to the forest during the fall season because of the picturesque setting and the beautiful foliage. However, since the place is a botanical garden, every season has its beauty and will charm you with different types of flowers.

The monorail inside Hwadam Forest (화담숲) will help you see the park from above and is one of the main attractions. Bear in mind that because of that you might find it hard to get a ticket. Plan your trip for the first part of the day and try to get there as early as possible after the park’s opening time.

As with most destinations in South Korea, Hwadam Forest has been throughout the years set for various K-Dramas – Little Forest, Be With You, only to name a few.

How to get to Hwadam Forest from Seoul City Hall

Driving there would take around 40 minutes but getting there by public transportation is also easy.

Address: 278-1, Docheokwit-ro, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do (경기 광주시 도척면 도척윗로 278-1 )

By subway:

Make your way to Gangnam Station. From there, take the red line – Sinbundang Line to Pangyo Station. A short walk or a taxi ride away, you will find the forest.

It will take roughly one hour to get there by public transportation.

By organized tour

If you would don’t want to worry about timetables, trains, buses, and whatnot, you can always choose to go on an organized tour.

The tour will take you to Hwadam Forest, Gwangmyeong Cave, and will offer an ice cream-making experience. The itinerary departs from Honkig University Station early in the morning and takes you back in the afternoon at Myeong-dong station or Hongik Univ. station.

Jeonju Hanok Village

If the Hanok Villages in the city are not enough and you want to go for a day trip from Seoul, Jeonju can be reached in roughly one hour and a half by KTX.

I suggest you buy your train ticket ahead of time online so you don’t have to worry about availability and prices. Book it here!

In Jeonju Hanok Village (전북 전주 한옥마을) you will get to see over 700 traditional houses and you will feel like stepping back in time, back to the Joseon era.

The city was once the capital of Hubaekje – one of the 3 important Korean kingdoms, and at some point was surrounded by city walls.

For those who want to learn more about the city and its past, a visit to the Hanok Life Experience Hall should not be skipped. Go for a stroll on the streets and admire the houses, look for the Omokdae (오목대) because it offers the best view of the rooftops, rent a hanbok and take some beautiful pictures, and visit some of the local museums.

Another way of living in South Korea to the fullest is by choosing to stay overnight in a hanok. In Jeonju there are plenty of options, but Sarangroo or Starlight Rest Area not only has affordable prices but also beautiful traditional houses.

How to get to Jeonju Hanok Village from Seoul City Hall

From the City Hall, take Line 1 (blue line) to Yongsan Station, and from there take the KTX train all the way to Jeonju.

Everland Theme Park

South Korea’s largest amusement park, a place that attracts millions of visitors every year, Everland Theme Park should be a great day trip from Seoul for anyone who enjoys this kind of activity.

In our family opinions are different when it comes to amusement parks, but I’m sure there are plenty of adrenaline lovers out there.

The park has 5 different themed zones. Magic Land is where you will want to go to when traveling with kids, American Adventure offers thrilling rides, European Adventure will have you walking through gardens, and Zootopia is a place where kids can meet with animals.

You can easily spend one whole day at Everland without getting bored.

How to get to Everland from Seoul Station

Get to Gangnam station (5002A or B) or Gangbyeon station (5002B or 1113 bus) and hop on the red bus heading to Everland Themed Park.

The ride will take between 1h30 min and up to 2 hours, depending on the traffic.

The easiest and fastest way is to book a transfer. The bus leaves from various places around town (Yeongdeungpo Station, Sindorim Station, Sinnonhyeon Station, or Gangnam Station), making it easy for you to take it, no matter where you choose to stay.

Busan

I must admit that we discussed a little before adding Busan as a day trip from the Seoul destination. Because of its location all the way to the southern shores of South Korea, but also because of its size and myriad of things to do, one could spend weeks in Busan without getting bored or seeing it all.

However, because KTX can get you there in roughly 2hours and a half, we cannot leave the city off this list.

Book your train ticket here!

While with 5 hours on the road, you won’t have too much time to explore, you can still spend some time at the fish market, lay on the beach at Haeundae (해운대해수욕장) or Gwangalli (광안리해수욕장), or go shopping at the largest departments store in South Korea.

Colorful and vibrant, with delicious food, Busan is one of our favorite cities in South Korea, and we strongly encourage you not to skip it, and hopefully spend at least a weekend there.

How to get to Busan from Seoul City Hall

As mentioned before, the fastest way to get from Seoul to Busan is by high-speed train.

Of course, there is always to flight option, but you will have to think about the time it takes to get to Gimpo airport, and also that you must come at least one hour before the flight.

Boseong Tea Plantation

Boseong tea plantations are one of the most iconic sights in South Korea.

Located near the southern coast, these vast green fields stretch out over rolling hills and valleys, creating a stunning landscape that’s unlike anything else in the world.

The region is home to some of the best tea-producing regions in all of Asia, producing teas that are highly prized for their flavor and aroma. Here, we tasted various traditional food with a green tea twist – for example, cold noodle soup with green tea, at the restaurant by the tea plantation’s entrance.

Visitors can take tours through these lush plantations or enjoy a cup of freshly brewed tea while taking in views from nearby peaks. If you are visiting during summer, come prepared with a hat and something to cover your shoulders because the sun is hot and there is some hiking involved.

Whether you’re looking for an immersive cultural experience or simply want to relax and enjoy beautiful scenery, Boseong Tea Plantations offer something for everyone.

You can book a day tour from Busan or Seoul, and enjoy round-trip transportation with a local guide.

Daegu

Daegu is one of the largest cities in South Korea and serves as an important transportation hub for both domestic and international travelers.

The city has a population of over 2.5 million people, making it one of the most populous cities in all of Asia.

Daegu is known for its vibrant culture, delicious food, historical sites, and beautiful landscape that make it an ideal destination for tourists from around the world.

From traditional markets such as the Seomun Market to modern malls and from ancient temples like Dongwhasa to bustling nightlife spots, Daegu has something for everyone to enjoy!

Don’t miss a visit to the Daegu Art Museum, a walk on Kim-Kwang-seok Street, take a picture with the 83 Tower, especially during spring, take the cable car in Apsan Park, or enjoy a boat ride on Suseong Lake.

How to get to Daegu: take KTX directly from Seoul, and ride for around 1.5 hours.

Gyeongju

Gyeongju is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.

It was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, one of the Three Kingdoms that ruled much of the Korean Peninsula from 57 BC to 935 AD.

As such, Gyeongju has many archaeological sites and relics that are now designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, Cheomseongdae Observatory and numerous tombs from the Silla Kingdom period.

Today visitors can explore these ruins as well as other attractions such as Anapji Pond, Bomun Lake Resort Complex and several museums dedicated to preserving Gyeongju’s past. There are also plenty of shopping opportunities in this vibrant city along with traditional restaurants offering local cuisine.

How to get to Gyeongju: Take KTX to train to Singyeongju Station

Read our comprehensive guide for a day trip to Gyeongju

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