South Korea

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Seoul

Palaces, neighbourhoods and night markets

Visa & entry checker Plan a trip to Seoul Plan a trip around South Korea

Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Currency: KRW
Time zone: UTC+9
Country: South Korea

Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Royal palaces and hanok alleys next to neon districts, cafés and some of Asia's best street food.

Largest cities

Seoul
Busan
Incheon
Daegu
Jeju

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Korea
Capital: Seoul
City population: 9.4M
Population of South Korea: 51.7M
Country area: 100,410 km²
Official language: Korean
Currency: South Korean Won (KRW) · 1 USD ≈ 1,339 KRW
Time zone: UTC+9
Calling code: +82
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 38 m
Plugs: C / F · 220V
Emergency numbers: 112 · 119 · 1330
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	1°	4°	10°	18°	23°	27°	29°	30°	26°	20°	12°	4°
Low	-6°	-4°	1°	7°	13°	18°	22°	22°	17°	10°	3°	-4°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$50
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$125
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$315

Plan a trip to Seoul

Top things to do

≈ $3
Gyeongbokgung Palace
The main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, with the changing of the guard at the gate. Closed on Tuesdays.
- Half day
- Jongno (palaces)
- Good for kids
- Closed: Tuesday
Free
Bukchon Hanok Village and Insadong
Traditional tiled houses (a residential area: keep quiet and respect visiting hours), then tea houses and craft shops.
- Half day
- Bukchon and Insadong
≈ $7
Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden
A UNESCO-listed palace; the Secret Garden is visited by guided tour with limited places. Closed on Mondays.
- Half day
- Jongno (palaces)
- Closed: Monday
≈ $20
Myeongdong and N Seoul Tower
Street food and cosmetics shops, then the cable car up Namsan for city views at night.
- Half day
- Myeongdong and Namsan
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
National Museum of Korea
Free entry to Korea's largest collection, from ancient crowns to Buddhist art, set beside a lake.
- Half day
- Myeongdong and Namsan
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Hongdae evening
The university district of buskers, cafés, K-pop shops and late-night Korean barbecue.
- Half day
- Hongdae
- Good in the evening
≈ $25
Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake
Seoul Sky on one of the world's tallest buildings, with a walk around the lake below.
- Half day
- Gangnam and Jamsil
- Good for kids
- Indoors
≈ $70
Day trip: the DMZ
The border zone with North Korea can only be visited on an authorised tour; bring your passport.
- Full day
- DMZ

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visa-exempt visitors normally need a K-ETA before travelling, but citizens of a list of countries, including the GCC states, the UK, the US and most of the EU, are exempt until 31 December 2026. Since January 2026, visitors without a K-ETA fill in the online e-Arrival card. Indian citizens need a visa.

Official website

From the airport

From Incheon Airport, the AREX train reaches Seoul Station in about 45 minutes (express) or an hour (all-stop).

Getting around

Buy a T-money card for the subway and buses; the subway is fast, cheap and signed in English.

Local tips

Naver Map and KakaoMap work far better than international map apps here.
Tipping is not expected in restaurants or taxis.
The Korea Travel Hotline, 1330, answers in English and other languages 24 hours a day.
Summers are hot and wet; winters are dry and well below freezing.