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.
21 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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.
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.
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.
국립민속박물관
The National Folk Museum of Korea is a national museum located in Seoul, South Korea. It is situated within the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the major royal palaces of the Joseon dynasty.
국립고궁박물관
The National Palace Museum of Korea is a Seoul museum devoted to the Joseon Dynasty and Korean imperial court. Near Gyeongbokgung Palace, it brings together objects connected with royal ceremonies, court life, administration, art, and palace culture.
서울역사박물관
Seoul Museum of History, known locally as 서울역사박물관, is a municipal museum devoted to the history of Seoul. The museum presents the capital as a changing city, linking earlier settlements, dynastic development, modern transformation and metropolitan life.
대한민국역사박물관
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History presents South Korea’s modern story from the late nineteenth century to the present.
국립한글박물관
The National Hangeul Museum is devoted to Hangeul, the Korean writing system. Its subject reaches from the alphabet’s creation in the fifteenth century under King Sejong to its continuing role in Korean education, culture, publishing, and everyday communication.
뮤지엄김치간
Museum Kimchikan is a Seoul museum devoted to kimchi, Korea’s fermented vegetable dish and an important part of Korean food culture. Its Korean name is 뮤지엄김치간.
문화비축기지
Oil Tank Culture Park is a Seoul cultural complex created from former oil storage tanks. The cylindrical industrial structures remain the defining feature of the site, while their new role supports public culture, exhibitions, performances, and outdoor exploration.
국립대한민국임시정부기념관
The National Memorial of the Korean Provisional Government presents the story of the Korean Provisional Government, established in Shanghai in 1919 during Japanese colonial rule.
한국은행 화폐박물관
The Bank of Korea Museum is a currency museum in Seoul operated by South Korea’s central bank. Known locally as 한국은행 화폐박물관, it connects the country’s monetary heritage with the institution responsible for issuing the South Korean won.
한성백제박물관
Seoul Baekje Museum introduces the history of Baekje in the Seoul area, especially the Hanseong period, when the Han River basin was an important political and strategic centre.
한국가구박물관
The Korea Furniture Museum presents traditional Korean furniture within a hanok setting in Seoul. The buildings and collection belong together: chests, wardrobes, cabinets and tables can be understood as objects made for particular rooms, habits and social settings.
국악박물관
The Museum of Gugak introduces Seoul visitors to gugak, the broad tradition of Korean music and performance. Gugak includes court music, folk music, ritual music and forms shaped by regional practice.
환기미술관
The Whanki Museum is an art museum in Seoul dedicated to the work of Kim Whanki, a pioneering Korean abstract painter. The museum honors his artistic legacy and contribution to modern Korean art.
서울올림픽기념관
Seoul Olympic Museum is a commemorative institution for the 1988 Summer Olympics, located within Olympic Park in Songpa-gu.
국립서울과학관
The National Children’s Science Center, known locally as 국립서울과학관, is a science museum in Seoul designed to engage children and families with scientific ideas. As a national educational facility, it offers a hands-on alternative to conventional sightseeing.
국립과천과학관
Gwacheon National Science Museum, known in Korean as 국립과천과학관, is a major national science museum in Gwacheon, a separate city within the Seoul Capital Area.
경찰박물관
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.
