A trip to Seoul is always refreshing—for the soul, for the wardrobe and beauty cabinet, for the tummy. However, the city can get a little too bustling and crazy, so much so that it is overwhelming.
If shopping all day every day is not your thing, or even if you are just looking for a little more sightseeing outside of the city, day trips might just be what your itinerary needs.
Take a look at these 7 Most Fulfilling Day Trips From Seoul, and set off for an adventure that does not just involve facial masks and day-to-night retail therapy.
Photo Credit: Flickr
#1 CHUNCHEON
Chuncheon is a city often visited by Korean locals and tourists alike. It is one of the best places if you love nature. The famous Nami Island is also found within Chuncheon, and was one of the locations for the iconic Winter Sonata drama series many years ago.
Nami Island is dotted with many picturesque waterside picnic spots. There are even bike rental services and electric car tours for you to explore the area with. The trip to Chuncheon takes about three hours from Seoul, but the scenery and the ambience make the long ride worthwhile. We suggest setting off bright and early in the morning to make the most out of your day there.
Some people stay overnight at Nami Island too.
Here are 10 Hotels in Myeong-dong That You Can Stay At For Under S$200 Per Night. This should help you with some savings!
Photo Credit: Mini En Monde
#2 POCHEON
The quaint Pocheon is definitely one for those looking for brilliant photo opportunities. It is located near the Demilitarized Zone (the border between North and South Korean), so the military presence within the city is going to be pretty obvious.
Pocheon is home to the Pocheon Art Valley—what used to be a granite quarry on Cheonjuho Lake. It doesn’t matter whether you are a fan of natural landscapes or not; Pocheon Art Valley will be sure to take your breath away.
You can even visit Herb Island within the city. It looks slightly less developed, but there are gardens and quiet little restaurants and shops that look extra pretty in spring. It takes about an hour to get from Seoul to Pocheon by taxi.
#3 BUSAN
Busan has recently been gaining popularity, especially with the movie Train To Busan. It seems almost uncanny that you would have to take a train from Seoul to Busan, but fear not, zombies are not included on this ride.
Busan is one of the more famous villages in Korea, and getting to it is pretty convenient too, thanks to the express KTX trains. The fares might be a little pricier, but it is much faster to get to the city compared to driving or catching a bus. You can expect a commute time of about 2.5 hours by train from Seoul.
The city has many treasures just waiting to be explored. The Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan Aquarium, Gamcheon Culture Village—these are just some of the attractions you can expect to visit. Because there is so much to do, you might want to consider staying in Busan for more than a day.
Photo Credit: UNESCO
#4 HWASEONG FORTRESS IN SUWON
The Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon is one of the many fragments that make up Korea’s rich cultural history. It boasts formidable stone walls that are about six kilometres high, with big gates and towers. But besides its structures, the fortress also has parks.
Hwaseong Fortress is located in the middle of Suwon city, which takes about an hour of subway ride from Seoul. From there, you can catch different buses that will drop you off near the fortress. There are still other things to do in Suwon, such as visiting the Toilet Museum, or relaxing your muscles at Buksuwon Spa.
Hwaseong Fortress
11 Haenggung-ro, Paldal-gu
Suwon-si, Gyeongggi-do
Tel: +65 82 31-228-4677
Photo Credit: San Shin
#5 MANGWOLSA MOUNTAIN TEMPLE
Who can say no to day trip locations easily accessible by subway? The Mangwolsa Temple is one such destination, despite it being a little farther outside of Seoul, in the Gyeonggi province.
The temple is situated within Bukhansan National Park and is surrounded by lush greenery. But besides getting to Mangwolsa station via train, you will still have to hike for an hour to get to your destination. It is, after all, a mountain temple. But think of the hike as a morning workout! Your efforts will pay off once you look out of the temple and behold nature’s wonders before you.
Mangwolsa Mountain Temple
26 Bogukmun-ro
Seoungbuk-go, Bukhansan National Park
Tel: +82 2-909-0497
Nearest Station: Mangwolsa
Seoul is fascinating to say the least. There are so many things to see, so much to do, lots to eat, and many to fall in love with. Here are 24 reasons to love Seoul. #SeoulFun
Photo Credit: Life in Korea
#6 DAECHEON BEACH IN BORYEONG
Daecheon Beach in Boryeong is a great option for some family fun, and is about three hours away from central Seoul. The 3km long beach is always filled with people playing around in the water and sand.
In the summertime, lifeguards will clear the beach out close to evening, when the tide is high. During that time, you can take a stroll along the beachside restaurants and stalls that sell fresh seafood.
Up for more? The Daecheon Fish Market is just a five-minute cab ride away from the beach!
Daechon Beach
Sinheuk-dong, Boryeong-si
Chungcheongnam-d
Tel: +82 41-933-7051
Nearest Station: Daecheon
Photo Credit: Hotel-R
#7 YONGIN
Yongin is another city that is also popular among other tourists visiting the country. It is two hours away from Seoul by train and bus, but you can get there within 30 to 40 minutes by taxi.
Yongin is home to some of Korea’s most famous attractions, including the Korean Folk Village. It is an area with over 200 restored traditional Korean homes from the various regions around the country. This village is the best way to immerse yourself in old-world Korean architecture, and have a glimpse of the day-to-day lives of Koreans back in the day.
The popular Everland can also be found inside Yongin city and is not a theme park to belittle. The T Express is one of the world’s biggest wooden roller coasters, and there is even the Carribean Bay (Korea’s best water park) connected to Everland.
For more recommendations, read our Seoul food and travel guides.
Hi,
Thanks for posting this. Two things to point out:
1. Nami Island is in Gapyeong, not in Chuncheon.
2. Hwaseong Fortress is (almost) 6 kilometers long, not 6 kilometers high.
I hope this is helpful!