South Korea
Seoul is one of the most exciting cities in Asia.
Korea has gone from underrated to unmissable. Seoul for street food, nightlife, design, and 24-hour energy; Busan for coast and lighter pace; Jeju for nature; the DMZ for history. Hiking culture is huge — mountains within Seoul itself.
At a glance
- Best time
- March, April, May, September…
- Climate
- Mild
- Budget
- Budget – Mid-range
- Trip length
- 1–4 weeks
- Language
- Korean
- Currency
- KRW (Won)
Best time to visit
- January: fine
- February: fine
- March: peak
- April: peak
- May: peak
- June: fine
- July: avoid
- August: avoid
- September: peak
- October: peak
- November: peak
- December: fine
Peak Fine Avoid
Avoid: July, August. Shoulder: January, February, June, December.
Highlights
-
Seoul
Distinct neighborhoods, late-night everything, strong coffee culture.
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Busan
Coastal city with great seafood and fewer expats.
-
Jeju Island
Volcano, lava tubes, beaches — the domestic getaway.
-
Gyeongju
Tombs, temples, and the historical heart.
Practical info
- Visa
- K-ETA required for visa-free entry for most Western passports. Verify before travel.
- Currency
- KRW (Won). Roughly 1,350 KRW ≈ 1 USD.
- Language
- Korean. English signage in Seoul; less elsewhere.
- Safety
- Extremely safe.
- Getting around
- Excellent metros and KTX trains. T-money card for everything.
- Tap water
- Tap water technically safe but most locals filter or buy bottled.
- Plug type
- Type C Type F 220V
- Money
- Cards everywhere. Cash rarely needed.
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Last updated 2026-05-04