Things to do in South Korea
3 destinations in South Korea, when to visit each, and what a trip actually costs.
Places to visit in South Korea
- Things to do in Busan beach, city, food
- Things to do in Jeju nature, beach, relax
- Things to do in Seoul city, food, culture
Best time to visit South Korea
When flights to each destination are cheapest.
- Busan
- Flights to Busan are cheapest from late January through February (avoid Lunar New Year) and again in mid-November, when round-trip fares from US hubs can run 25-35% below the summer peak. Tuesdays and Wednesdays consistently produce the lowest fares; booking 6-10 weeks out typically beats last-minute pricing by a wide margin.
- Jeju
- Shoulder seasons, late April to early June and mid-September to October, offer the best value with flights 20-35% cheaper than peak summer (July-August) and the Chuseok holiday period. Midweek (Tuesday-Wednesday) domestic flights from Seoul can be 30-40% cheaper than Friday or Sunday departures.
- Seoul
- The cheapest months to fly to Seoul are January through February (excluding Lunar New Year) and late June through early July, where fares from US hubs can run 25-35% below the peak autumn (September-November) foliage season. Mid-week departures on Tuesday or Wednesday consistently shave another 10-15% off published fares.
Is South Korea expensive?
It depends on the city and how you travel. Open any destination below and set your dates, budget and home airport to get an estimated total for flights, stays and day-to-day spending, rather than a generic average.
Free things to do in South Korea
- Busan: Gwangalli Beach Promenade Stroll the shore at night for dazzling light shows on the Diamond Bridge reflected across the water
- Jeju: Hyeopjae Beach Turquoise water and white sand that rivals the Caribbean, no entry fee, just show up.
- Seoul: Cheonggyecheon Stream Walk A beautifully restored urban stream running 6 miles through the heart of the city, perfect for an evening stroll.