DAY TOURS FROM SEOUL

1. Visit Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park, and Petite France on a Day Tour

We skipped out on Nami Island on our first trip to Korea because we thought it could only be appreciated by fans of Winter Sonata. We were wrong. Nami Island is achingly beautiful and a must-visit for anyone traveling to Seoul. We went in Winter when there was a thin sheet of fresh powder blanketing the island. It was beautiful, though perhaps not as magical as Fall when the leaves are in fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow. Check out my post on Nami Island, Gangchon Rail Park, and Petite France for more pictures and information.

Our tour consisted of a trip to Nami Island followed by visits to Gangchon Rail Park and Petite France. It normally costs KRW 75,000 but you can get it for KRW 72,800 if you book it through Klook. If you don’t want to do the Rail Bike, then there’s an option for just Nami Island and Petite France for KRW 38,600. Follow the link to book a Nami Island tour with Klook.

Length of Tour: Whole day / Cost: Starts at KRW 38,600

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2. See North Korea on the JSA and DMZ Tour

This was one of my favorite things to do in our two trips to Korea. DMZ stands for “Demilitarized Zone” and refers to the 4 km wide buffer zone dividing North and South Korea. Within the DMZ is the JSA, or “Joint Security Area”. The JSA is the only portion of the DMZ where North and South Korean soldiers stand face to face, which is why it’s often referred to as “the most dangerous place in Korea”.

Within the JSA are five buildings built directly on top of the border, half in the North and half in the South (pictured below). In these buildings are where negotiations between the two Koreas take place. When you go on the JSA tour, you’ll get to physically cross the border and spend a few minutes in North Korea. Check out my post on the JSA and DMZ tourfor more pictures and information.

You can book the DMZ tour (KRW 50,000), JSA (Panmunjom) tour (KRW 86,100), or DMZ and JSA combined tour (KRW 130,000) through Klook. I suggest doing the combined tour if you can. The JSA is intense and nerve-wracking at times. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.

Length of Tour: Whole day for the combined JSA & DMZ tour / Cost: KRW 130,000

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3. Spend the Day at Everland Resort or Lotte World

Many tourists, especially those traveling with young children, will probably want to visit one or both of South Korea’s biggest theme parks – Everland and Lotte World. We visited Everland and it made for a fun day trip from Seoul. Check out my post on Everland Resort for more pictures and information. If you don’t have time to visit both and can’t decide between the two, then you can refer to this Everland or Lotte World comparison post from Klook to help you decide.

When you figure out which theme park you’d like to visit, you can save on the admission cost by booking through Klook. A one-day ticket to Everland costs KRW 29,500 (normally KRW 54,000) while a one-day pass to Lotte World goes for KRW 31,000 (normally KRW 55,000). If you decide to go to Everland, then I suggest getting the Everland full day trip which includes roundtrip transfers from Seoul. At just KRW 52,000 (normally KRW 65,000), it’s the most convenient option. Bear in mind that going in peak seasons means long queues, so you may want to get Everland Q-Passes as well to bypass the lines at popular rides.

Length of Visit: Whole day / Admission: KRW 29,500 (Everland), KRW 31,000 (Lotte World)

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4. Go Sledding, Skiing, or Snowboarding

If you visit Seoul in Winter (Dec-Feb), then you can enjoy the snow by going sledding, skiing, or snowboarding. We went on a day skiing trip to Oak Valley Snow Park which is a small, 9-run ski resort about an hour-and-a-half away from Seoul. You can check out my post on Oak Valley Snow Park for more pictures and information.

We booked through Klook and went on the all-inclusive ski package to Oak Valley Snow Park for KRW 90,000. This included a day lift pass, clothing and equipment rental, and roundtrip transfers from Seoul. You can check that page for other options as well, like sledding or snowboarding. Some packages even come with lessons.

If Oak Valley Snow Park isn’t the right resort for you, then you can check out other ski resort options on Klook: Ski Resorts 1 | Ski Resorts 2 | Ski Resorts 3

Length of Tour: Whole day / Cost: KRW 90,000 for the all-inclusive ski package

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5. Climb Hwaseong Fortress Wall in Suwon

Hwaseong Fortress is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about an hour south of Seoul by subway. It’s name means “Brilliant Castle” and it was built in 1796 by King Jeongjo of the Joseon Dynasty to house and honor the remains of his father, Prince Sado. Offering excellent views of Suwon, it’s a great place to do some hiking, perhaps even trying your hand in some traditional Korean archery. Check out my post on Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon for more pictures and information.

Suggested Length of Visit: 4-5 hrs / Admission: KRW 1,000

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6. Catch the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

Many people visit Seoul in Spring to try and catch the cherry blossoms. They bloom for about two weeks and are dependent on the weather, so planning a trip around the cherry blossoms can be difficult. We tried in 2015 but arrived too early. They were only beginning to bud in Seoul so we took a day trip to Jinhae, home of Korea’s biggest cherry blossom festival. It’s located about four hours south of Seoul so it’s a lot of commuting in one day, but worth it. If you arrive too early in Seoul like we did, then you have the option of taking a day trip to Jinhae.

Check out my post on the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival for more pictures and information on how to get there from Seoul. If you want the most hassle-free way of attending the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival from Seoul, then you can purchase day trip tickets with roundtrip transportation through Klook.

Suggested Length of Visit: Whole day / Cost: KRW 60,000 via Klook

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7. Explore Heyri Art Valley

This place is interesting. Located in Paju not too far from the DMZ, Heyri Art Valley is an art community with museums, galleries, exhibition halls, restaurants, and shops. It’s a curious place located seemingly in the middle of nowhere. We visited Heyri in 2015 but we didn’t know what to make of it since many of the buildings seemed closed at the time. If you enjoy the arts and have time to spare, then Heyri Art Valley may be of interest to you.

To get there, take the subway to Hapjeong Station (Line 2), Exit 2. Exit the subway station and take Bus No. 2200 or 900 to Heyri Bus Stop. The trip takes about 40-50 minutes.

Suggested Length of Visit: Half a day / Admission: FREE, but some exhibits may have entrance fees

 

To inspire you further to visit Korea, check out our video on 10 of the many reasons to love Seoul.