Korea City Guides
In-depth guides for every major destination — top attractions, must-eat food, getting there, where to stay, and Korean phrases to use in each city.
1 Seoul · 서울
Where ancient palaces stand in the shadow of glass skyscrapers. A city of 10 million that never sleeps — futuristic, traditional, and endlessly fascinating.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
경복궁
북촌 한옥마을
남산타워
청계천
홍대
명동
한강공원
DDP
창덕궁 후원
이태원
🍽️ Must-Eat Food · 서울 대표 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 설렁탕 | Seolleongtang | Slow-simmered ox bone milky broth — Seoul's soul food |
| 삼겹살 | Samgyeopsal | Grilled pork belly — eaten with lettuce, garlic, ssamjang paste |
| 치맥 | Chimaek | Fried chicken (치킨) + beer (맥주) — the Han River combo |
| 떡볶이 | Tteokbokki | Spicy rice cakes — iconic street food found everywhere |
| 순대국밥 | Sundae-gukbap | Blood sausage soup with rice — hearty winter comfort food |
🚇 Getting Around · 서울 교통
Seoul's subway covers the entire city and beyond. Get a T-Money card (티머니) at any convenience store — top it up and use it on all buses, subways, and some convenience stores. Standard fare is ₩1,400–2,000 per trip. Taxis start at ₩4,800 base fare. KakaoTaxi is the easiest way to hail one.
🏨 Where to Stay · 숙박
💬 Seoul Phrases · 서울 필수 표현
| Korean | Romanisation | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| 이 역이 경복궁이에요? | I yeogi Gyeongbokgungi-eyo? | Is this station Gyeongbokgung? |
| 환승하면 어디로 가요? | Hwanseunghamyeon eodiro gayo? | Where do I transfer? |
| 한복 입어보고 싶어요 | Hanbok ibeobo-go sipeoyo | I want to try wearing a hanbok |
| 사진 찍어도 돼요? | Sajin jjik-eodo daeyo? | May I take a photo? |
2 Incheon · 인천
Home to the world's best airport (Incheon International), a vibrant Chinatown, and the futuristic Songdo smart city. Only 30 km from Seoul — perfect for half-day excursions.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
차이나타운
송도 국제도시
월미도
개항로 골목
을왕리 해수욕장
인천 도호부청사
🍽️ Must-Eat in Incheon · 인천 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 짜장면 | Jjajangmyeon | Black bean noodles — a Korean-Chinese staple, best eaten in Chinatown |
| 탕수육 | Tangsuyuk | Sweet-and-sour pork — served in Chinatown, crispy and addictive |
| 공화춘 냉채 | Gonghwachun naengchae | Cold vegetable noodle salad from Incheon's oldest Chinese restaurant |
💬 Incheon Airport Phrases · 공항 표현
| Korean | Romanisation | English |
|---|---|---|
| 탑승 게이트가 어디예요? | Tapseung geiteu ga eodiyeyo? | Where is the boarding gate? |
| 수하물 찾는 곳이 어디예요? | Suhamul chantneun gosi eodiyeyo? | Where is baggage claim? |
| 환전소가 어디예요? | Hwanjeonso ga eodiyeyo? | Where is the currency exchange? |
| 공항버스 어디서 타요? | Gonghangbeoseu eodiseo tayo? | Where do I board the airport bus? |
3 Busan · 부산
Korea's second-largest city, squeezed between mountains and sea. Famous for beaches, seafood, colourful hillside villages, and a laid-back coastal energy unlike anywhere else in Korea.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
해운대
감천문화마을
자갈치 시장
광안대교
해동 용궁사
범어사
BIFF 광장
해리단길
🍽️ Must-Eat in Busan · 부산 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 돼지국밥 | Dwaeji-gukbap | Pork bone soup with rice — Busan's most iconic dish, eaten at dawn |
| 밀면 | Milmyeon | Cold wheat noodles — Busan's answer to Pyongyang naengmyeon |
| 씨앗호떡 | Ssiat-hotteok | Street pancakes filled with sunflower seeds, nuts, and honey |
| 곰장어 | Gomjangeo | Grilled eel — chewy and charred, best at the eel alleys near Jagalchi |
| 납작만두 | Napjak-mandu | Flat dumplings pan-fried crispy — Busan street food icon |
🏨 Where to Stay · 숙박
4 Suwon · 수원
30 minutes from Seoul, Suwon contains one of Korea's greatest architectural achievements — the 18th-century Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site that encircles an entire city.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
화성 성곽
화홍문 수문
한국민속촌
행궁동 벽화마을
팔달산
🍽️ Must-Eat in Suwon · 수원 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 수원 왕갈비 | Suwon wang-galbi | Suwon-style king beef short ribs — enormous, grilled at the table |
| 순대타운 순대 | Sundae-taun sundae | Blood sausage variety market — uniquely concentrated in Suwon |
Fortress Walk Tip 화성 산책 팁
The full 5.7 km fortress wall walk takes about 2 hours at a relaxed pace. Start from Paldalmun Gate (팔달문) and walk counter-clockwise for the best light. The 화성열차 (Hwaseong Train) also does a circuit for those who prefer not to walk. Entry: ₩1,500.
5 Jeju Island · 제주도
A UNESCO Triple Crown (Biosphere Reserve, World Natural Heritage, Global Geopark) — volcanic craters, lava tube caves, black sand beaches, and haenyeo sea-diving women. Fly from Seoul in 1 hour.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
한라산
성산일출봉
만장굴
협재 해수욕장
오설록 차밭
오름
해녀
산방산
🍽️ Must-Eat on Jeju · 제주 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 흑돼지 구이 | Heukdwaeji-gui | Jeju black pig BBQ — gamier, richer than mainland pork, unmissable |
| 성게국수 | Seongge-guksu | Sea urchin noodle soup — creamy golden broth, surprisingly mild |
| 전복죽 | Jeonbok-juk | Abalone porridge — silky, rich, and deeply comforting |
| 갈치조림 | Galchi-jorim | Braised hairtail fish in spicy sauce — Jeju specialty |
| 한라봉 | Hallabong | Jeju mandarin orange — sweet, seedless, larger than regular tangerines |
🚗 Getting Around Jeju · 제주 교통
Renting a car is by far the best way to explore Jeju — attractions are spread across the island and buses are infrequent. International driving licence accepted. Motorbike and e-bike rentals are also popular. For hiking Hallasan: the Seongpanak trail (13.5 km round trip) is most scenic; the shorter Eorimok trail (8.6 km) is suitable for beginners.
Hallasan Hiking 한라산 등산
Summit access (윗세오름 crater) via Seongpanak trail closes at 12:00 PM — arrive before 8:00 AM. Bring warm layers (even in summer), 2L water, and snacks. Entry is free. The crater lake 백록담 is spectacular.
6 Gyeongju · 경주
The ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE–935 CE), Gyeongju is an open-air museum unlike anywhere else — royal burial mounds rise from the city streets, temples dot mountain slopes, and every corner holds 1,000 years of history.
🏛️ Top Attractions · 관광명소
불국사
석굴암
대릉원
첨성대
안압지
황리단길
🍽️ Must-Eat in Gyeongju · 경주 음식
| Korean | Romanisation | What It Is |
|---|---|---|
| 황남빵 | Hwangnam-ppang | Traditional red bean pastry — made since 1939, the souvenir of Gyeongju |
| 쌈밥 | Ssam-bap | Rice eaten wrapped in fresh leaves with side dishes — wholesome local set |
| 경주법주 | Gyeongju beopju | Traditional rice wine from Korea's oldest documented brewery |
7 Other Cities · 기타 도시
Korea rewards travellers who venture beyond the classic route. These four cities each offer a distinct experience that few tourists discover.
Korea's designated slow-food city. Home to the nation's largest intact 한옥 village, the best bibimbap (비빔밥) in the country, and extraordinary 막걸리 (rice wine) bars. The Friday/Saturday night market is a bucket-list food experience.
A small coastal city that serves as the launching point for Seoraksan National Park (설악산) — Korea's most dramatic mountain landscape with granite peaks, waterfalls, and ancient temples. The waterfront seafood market is exceptional.
Famous for its vast 메타세쿼이아 (metasequoia) tree-lined road and Korea's most celebrated bamboo grove (죽녹원). The slow-food village serves 대통밥 (bamboo tube rice) and fresh rice noodles. Only 30 minutes from Gwangju.
A stunning harbour city on Korea's southern coast — islands scattered in turquoise water, fresh oysters by the kilo, and cable cars up to panoramic ocean views. The birthplace of composer Yun I-sang and painter Jeon Hyuk-lim.