Country guide
Half of South Korea's 51 million people live in a single metropolitan area, and that shapes a visit more than the country's 100,472 square kilometres do. Seoul...
Photograph · Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Half of South Korea's 51 million people live in a single metropolitan area, and that shapes a visit more than the country's 100,472 square kilometres do. Seoul and the region around it hold the palaces, the museums and most of the reasons to come, and everywhere else is measured as a train ride out from it. Busan, at the far southeastern corner, is the coastal counterweight of beaches, a fish market and hills of stacked houses, while Gyeongju in between is the old Silla capital and is largely tombs and temples. The northern border is closed, so every route out of Seoul runs south.
Checked 2026-08-25
Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.
Photograph · USAGI_POST · CC0
Seasonal closures come from recorded opening hours.
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
101 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
경복궁
Gyeongbokgung was the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, established in 1395 a year after Hanyang, now Seoul, was chosen as the capital.
창덕궁
Changdeokgung was raised in 1405 as a secondary palace to Gyeongbokgung, and the garden on the slope behind it was laid out the following year.
북촌한옥마을 ДЕРЕВНЯ
Bukchon is a lived-in neighbourhood rather than a museum village, and every rule a visitor meets there follows from that one fact.
남산서울타워
Namsan Seoul Tower is a working broadcast mast with an observation deck bolted onto it, standing on the summit of Namsan, the wooded hill that sits in the middle of central Seoul.
국립중앙박물관
The National Museum of Korea is the flagship museum of Korean history and art in Seoul. Established as a central institution for preserving and exhibiting Korea's cultural heritage, it stands as one of the largest museums in Asia.
광장시장
Gwangjang Market fills a block of Jongno-gu at 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, on the ground between Jongno 4-ga and Yeji-dong, and its merchants describe it as the first permanent market in Korea.
종묘
Jongmyo is the Confucian royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon dynasty, and it is a working ritual precinct rather than a temple or a palace.
청계천공원
Cheonggyecheon is an 11-kilometre stream running through the middle of Seoul, sunk a storey below street level between Cheonggye Plaza and the Hangang River.
전쟁기념관
The War Memorial of Korea, known locally as 전쟁기념관, is a military museum and memorial in Seoul. It stands as a significant institution commemorating Korean military history and honoring those who served in conflicts.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a major independently entered design, exhibition and public-space complex with active programming. The local name is 동대문디자인플라자. It occupies a prominent position in Seoul's Dongdaemun district, an area historically associated with commerce and fashion.
롯데월드
Lotte World is a major recreation complex in Seoul, South Korea. The local name is 롯데월드. It comprises both indoor and outdoor facilities, with the indoor portion known as Lotte World Adventure and the outdoor portion called Magic Island.
덕수궁
Deoksugung is the palace of the Korean Empire, and the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center's own history of it is unusually blunt about how it became one.
서울한양도성
The Seoul City Wall, known locally as 서울한양도성, is a historic fortification that originally enclosed the capital of the Joseon dynasty.
남대문시장
Namdaemun Market, known locally as 남대문시장, is a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. It stands as one of the oldest and largest retail markets in the country, with a history stretching back centuries.
롯데월드타워
Lotte World Tower is a supertall skyscraper in Seoul, South Korea, bearing the local name 롯데월드타워. It stands as a landmark in the Songpa District and serves multiple functions including commercial, retail, and observation purposes.
광화문광장
Gwanghwamun Plaza is a major public open space in central Seoul, South Korea. The plaza sits in front of Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the Five Grand Palaces built during the Joseon Dynasty.
창경궁
Changgyeonggung is a Joseon dynasty palace located in Seoul, South Korea. Its local name is 창경궁. The palace was originally built in the 15th century and served as a royal residence.
서울숲
Seoul Forest is a major urban park located in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. The local name is 서울숲. It was developed on former landfill and industrial sites, transforming degraded land into substantial green space.
올림픽공원
Olympic Park is a major public park in Seoul, South Korea, established for the 1988 Summer Olympics. The local name is 올림픽공원. It occupies a large site in the Songpa-gu district and serves as a legacy venue from the Games.
서대문형무소역사관
Seodaemun Prison History Hall is a former colonial-era penitentiary turned museum in Seoul, South Korea. The site was constructed during Japanese rule and later used by subsequent governments.
Leeum
Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art is a private art museum in Seoul, South Korea. Established by the Samsung Foundation of Culture, it houses collections of traditional Korean art and contemporary international works.
봉은사
Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple located in Seoul, South Korea. Its local name is 봉은사. The temple stands as a significant religious and cultural site within the modern urban environment of the Gangnam district.
국립현대미술관 서울관
The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA Seoul) is a branch of South Korea's national museum system dedicated to contemporary art. Located in the Samcheong-dong area near Gyeongbokgung Palace, it occupies a renovated military compound.
조계사
Jogyesa is a major Buddhist temple in Seoul, South Korea, serving as the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It stands in the Jongno district near Insadong.
숭례문
Namdaemun, officially named Sungnyemun, is a historic gate located in Seoul, South Korea. Its local name is 숭례문. The structure is designated as National Treasure No.
Seven to ten days gives Seoul several district-based days and leaves room for Busan or Gyeongju. Jeju requires a separate flight or ferry plan, and Gyeongju works better with an overnight than as a rushed return from Seoul.
South Korea's visa-free eligibility and K-ETA rules depend on nationality and can change. Check the official immigration and K-ETA services for the travel date rather than relying on an exemption announced for an earlier year.
Incheon connects to Seoul by airport rail and buses; KTX trains and intercity buses handle longer mainland journeys. Rechargeable transport cards are useful across city systems, while Jeju and some regional areas need separate road planning.
April to May and October to November are broad windows for this Seoul-led route. Blossom timing, autumn colour, summer rain, and Jeju conditions vary, so confirm the dates for the intended region.
South Korea uses the won (KRW). Cards are widely used, but retain some won for traditional markets, small operators, or transport contingencies and verify the KRW total before payment.
Call 112 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance in South Korea. Type C and F sockets supply 220 V; tap-water guidance is not recorded here.
