Seoul is often the start line for many guests to South Korea, however many individuals by no means enterprise past the town. There are good causes to journey past Seoul to see the provinces and different elements of the nation. Fortuitously, there are various locations you may go to on a day journey from Seoul with out staying in a single day. And there’s at all times the choice to go to a number of locations and never essentially journey again to Seoul every day.
South Korea has been invaded ceaselessly by its bigger and extra highly effective neighbours, divided into North and South Korea. The nation has few pure assets apart from the tenacity and resourcefulness of its individuals. South Korea’s extremely educated inhabitants has emerged from an nearly fourth-world standing to a first-world powerhouse in little greater than half a century.
South Korea has a superb transportation community and infrastructure that rivals most nations in Europe and North America, achieved regardless of many obstacles. Now a thriving democracy, while you arrive from overseas, you can be stunned at how fashionable the nation is and that most individuals within the giant metropolitan areas reside in high-rise house complexes. Nonetheless, it isn’t till you journey by means of the countryside that you’ll discover a surprisingly lovely panorama amid the medium and huge cities.
Spend a number of days exploring Seoul, its college campuses, purchasing areas, palaces and enterprise areas. Dealing with Seoul and coping with visitors and thousands and thousands of individuals will be difficult. I like to recommend visiting the town’s many palaces and markets, similar to Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun Market and Yongsan Electronics Market. Then, journey outdoors of the capital.
Most guests reap the benefits of rail and subway transportation and a very good bus community. Nonetheless, there are elements of the nation the place the surest mode of transportation is by automotive, notably if the vacation spot is the smaller cities, provincial and nationwide parks. Highways are extraordinarily crowded on the weekends and hellishly crowded on nationwide holidays, similar to Chuseok and the Asian New Yr. When you journey by automotive, use GPS, because the app will warn you to all of the freeway cameras that will help you keep away from rushing tickets. These cameras are straightforward to identify on the highways and main roads, and the authorities present drivers with ample warning.
20 Day Journeys From Seoul
Day Journeys From Seoul – Below 1 hour
1- Lotte World
Lotte World is in Seoul’s Songpa District, an amusement park inside a constructing complicated divided into Lotte World and Magic Island.
When you are there, don’t miss Lotte World Tower.
When you’re planning an amusement park trip, South Korea is the place to go, as theme parks are dotted throughout the nation.
Different choices are Gyeongju World Park, E-World Daegu, Aiins World in Bucheon Metropolis, Maze Land, Shinhwa Theme Park, Eco Land Theme Park on Jesu-do, Wolmi Theme Park on Womido Island, Imsil Cheese Theme Park in Imsil County and Gimhae Lotte Water Park in Gimhae Metropolis.
There are a number of amusement parks within the Higher Seoul Metropolitan Space, and you’ll simply spend the higher a part of a day in every park.
It’s value happening a day journey from Seoul to Everland, which is South Korea’s equal of Disneyland, or Seoul Land.
Everland gives parades, rides and several other zones similar to American Journey, European Journey, Magic Land, World Truthful and Zoo-Topia.
Seoul Land is in Gwacheon Metropolis inside Seoul Grand Park and is likely one of the finest amusement park choices for households with younger youngsters for its rides, a botanical backyard and zoo.
Seoul Land is nineteen.7 km from Seoul. The journey choices are subway (42 minutes) $1 to $2, taxi (20 minutes) $24, drive ($20 minutes) $3 to $4.
Everland is close to Yeongin Metropolis, 47.2 km from Seoul. The journey choices are bus (41 minutes) $10, subway (2 hours), practice and bus (2 hours) $3 to $9, taxi (37 minutes) $40 to $55 or drive (37 minutes) $6 to $9.
Lotte World is 16.3 km from Seoul. The journey choices are subway (49 minutes) $1 – $2, taxi (quarter-hour) $16 to $20, drive (quarter-hour) $2 to $3.
2- Tour of the Demilitarized Zone
One factor that strikes many travellers is simply how shut Seoul is to North Korea.
Each North and South are armed to the tooth, and each Korean male should spend 20 months within the South Korean navy.
Hundreds of U.S. troops are stationed within the nation in case North Korea decides to launch an assault.
Within the occasion of struggle, there are literally thousands of missiles geared toward Seoul, and people weapons would kill hundreds of residents within the south.
Then, the mixed armed forces would flip North Korea into an enormous smouldering car parking zone.
You’ll be able to go to the DMZ by bus or practice, and if you happen to journey to the border, you will notice barbed wire and different oddities you’ll not see elsewhere.
The Demilitarized Zone is a buffer zone that separates the 2 Koreas, ensuing from the Armistice Settlement signed in 1953.
The zone runs from Gyeongi-do to Gangwon-do, and it’s an sudden haven for wildlife.
There are a number of methods to get to the Demilitarized Zone, however notice that many locations are outdoors the civilian management line, so particular person travellers can’t be there.
Join varied journey packs, together with the DMZ Peace Practice, and can want passports. Taking pictures is extremely restricted.
KORAIL’s DMZ Peace Tour departs from Seoul and is a one-day tour combining the Dorasan Safety Tour, the Cheorwon Safety Tour, and the Yeoncheon Dreaming Tour.
The Dorasan Safety tour brings guests to Paju on the Dorasan Station, Dorasan Peace Park, the Dora Observatory, and the Third Tunnel.
The North Koreans are continuously digging below the DMZ, and the South Koreans have been discovering these tunnels.
One of many belongings you may be stunned at is simply how brief in stature the North Koreans are in contrast with their South Korean counterparts as vacationers bump their heads as they undergo the Third Tunnel.
This tunnel has a top and width of two metres and a size of 1,636 meters.
The DMZ is 53.7 km from Seoul. Journey choices (Seoul Station to Dorasan Station) are practice (1 hour 29 minutes) $4 to $7, taxi (54 minutes) $45 to $60, drive (54 minutes) $7 to $10.
3- Gyeonggi-do
Gyeonggi-do is a province that surrounds Seoul and an space the place many former Seoul residents fled as a result of they may not afford the housing costs in Seoul to reside in a much less congested space.
It’s too giant to sort out as a single-day journey, so the urged day journeys from Seoul are Suwon, a folks village, and the Yi Dynasty Royal Tombs.
A day journey to the Hwaseong Fortress can also be value a go to.
The province has many lovely parks, forests, temples and Buddhist shrines.
Gyeonggi-do is a big province that extends to the borders of North Korea. It has an array of nationwide parks and a big seashore.
Incheon is a serious metropolis, and most guests to South Korea arrive by means of Incheon Airport, which is related to the Seoul Metropolitan Subway.
Suwon
Suwon is Gyeonggi-do’s capital, with roughly 1.3 million individuals.
It’s straightforward to succeed in by subway as there are a number of stops alongside the Seoul Metropolitan Subway, the nationwide railroad community and by automotive.
Suwon has a number of skilled sports activities groups, 11 universities and two junior faculties.
Yi Royal Tombs
You will see that the Yi Royal Tombs an enchanting delve into historical past.
The standard technique of royal burials was to bury the deceased in earthen mounds guarded by granite sentries or legendary animals.
Related royal tombs exist all through the nation.
Korean People Village
Suwon’s Korean People Village is standard and sometimes crowded.
The village gives a peek into South Korean tradition, with artisans’ workshops, a Buddhist temple and dance performances.
Suwon is 34.5 km from Seoul. Journey choices are: practice (39 minutes) $1 to $6, subway (1 hour), $2 to $3, bus (2 hours) $11, taxi (31 minutes) $30 to $40, drive (31 minutes) $5 to $7.
4- Gangwon-do
Gangwon-do is a province bordering North Korea within the nation’s northeastern half.
Chuncheon, its capital, is a wonderful stopover in your strategy to Soraksan Nationwide Park.
Go to the Unification Observatory to see the Demilitarized Zone.
Soraksan Nationwide Park and Odaesan Nationwide Park are extremely beneficial.
Gangwon-do is 95.1 km from Seoul. Journey choices are practice (1 hour, 48 minutes) $7 to $13, bus (2 hours) $13, subway (2 hours, 31 minutes) $2 to $4, taxi (1 hour, 13 minutes) $100.
5- Daegu
Gyongsangbuk-do is a province that features Daegu, Korea’s third-largest metropolis and plenty of attention-grabbing parks, together with P’algongsan Provincial Park, Kaysan Nationwide Park and Chuwangsan Nationwide Park.
The province is dotted with Buddhist temples and folks villages.
Daegu is 277.3 km from Seoul. Journey choices from Seoul Station to Taegu are practice (2 to three hours) $23 to $53, bus (3.5 hours) $15 to $21 and automotive (3 hours).
6- Gyeongju (Kyongju)
Korea was divided into a number of kingdoms, and Gyeongju was the capital of the Shilla dynasty.
The Mongols and the Japanese pillaged the town, however an incredible quantity of restoration work has been accomplished, so guests can see what life was like throughout the Shilla dynasty period.
You’ll be notably fascinated by the royal tombs.
Gyeongju is 323.4 km from Seoul. The journey choices are practice (2.5 hours) $28 to $41, bus (3.5 hours) $15 to $24 and automotive (3.5 hours).
7- Busan
Busan is South Korea’s second-largest metropolis and the primary metropolis in Kyongsangnam-do within the nation’s southeast.
It escaped seize by the Communists throughout the Korean Conflict.
Its atmosphere displays its port metropolis standing and the big variety of international sailors passing by means of.
It’s large, has a superb subway, and guests ought to think about bus excursions.
Along with the town of Busan, it is best to discover Kajisan Provincial Park, the Chinja Fortress, Yonhwasan Provincial Park, and Chirisan Nationwide Park.
Busan is 389 km from Seoul. Journey choices are practice (2 hours, 41 minutes) $17 to $50 or by automotive (4 hours).
8- Namhae
Namhae-gun can also be in Kyongsangnam-do and there’s a stunning quantity to do there.
Go to Namhae Pyeonbaek Leisure Forest, the Namhae German Village, the American Village, the Baram Heunjeok Museum of Artwork, the Namhae Bomulseom Jeonmangdae and Skywalk, quite a few temples, and ocean surroundings.
It’s a little bit additional than different day journeys from Seoul however if you happen to go away early and keep out till after darkish, you’ll have the ability to squeeze alot in.
Namhae is 361.7 km from Seoul. Journey choices are however (4.5 hours) $27, practice (4.5 hours) $76 to $103 or automotive ( 3 hours, 50 minutes) $44 to- $64.
9- Gwangju
Gwangju is the Chollanam-do’s provincial capital and the place you may be taught concerning the Gwangju Bloodbath of scholars in 1980 throughout the protest towards the navy regime.
Chollanam-do is a province in Korea’s southwest that’s dotted with islands and definitely worth the time to take a ferry and discover coastal areas.
Among the many locations to go to is Hwaomsa with its three temples, Yosu with its hydrofoil going forwards and backwards to Pusan.
Different parks to discover are Chogyesan Provincial Park, Mudungsan Provincial Park, Tadohae Haesang Nationwide Park, Wolch’ulsan Nationwide Park and Turyunsan Provincial Park.
Gwangju is 292.8 km from Seoul. Journey choices are practice (2.5 hours) $13 to $41, bus (3.5 hours) $15 to $22 and automotive (3 hours) $36 to $52.
10- Daejeon
Daejeon is the primary metropolis in Gyongsangbuk-do and South Korea’s sixth largest metropolis.
It’s a superb transit level to go to different attention-grabbing locations within the nation.
Though Taejon isn’t stunningly lovely, on its southern facet is Pomunsan, a mountain park with temples and unimaginable surroundings.
Daejeon has a science park, sizzling springs, and lodging for a metropolis of over a million individuals.
Daejeon is 154.7 km from Seoul. Journey choices are practice (1 hour), bus (from two hours) $7 to $14, automotive (1 hour, 42 minutes) $19 to $28.
11- Jeju-do
Jeju is Korea’s model of Hawaii and was remoted from the remainder of the nation for a lot of centuries.
Jeju Island has a hotter local weather than the remainder of Korea and it’s the place many South Koreans spend their honeymoon.
Really useful locations are Jeju Metropolis, Ch’ungmun Seaside, Tune-up People Village, the volcanoes and the caves.
Strolling to the height of Mount Hallasan is likely one of the highlights, however the climate as much as the summit can change dramatically, so deliver one thing heat, good climbing footwear and rain gear.
It takes about 2.5 hours to climb to the highest and there are a number of eating places initially of the paths.
One of the simplest ways to go to as a day journey from Seoul is to fly (2.5 hours) and prices about $136. Different journey choices involving trains, buses and ferries can take greater than seven hours.
12- Chonju (Jeongu)
Chonju is the provincial capital of Chollabuk-do and a serious transit space and it has inter-city bus and specific bus terminals.
Factors of curiosity are some Buddhist temples, together with Anhaengsa and Ch’ilsongsa and a Confucian faculty.
Chollanam-do is the province simply north of Chollabuk-do and residential to Maisan Provincial Park, Togyusan Nationwide Park, Pyonsanbando Nationwide Park and Naejangsan Nationwide Park.
Chonju is 211 km from Seoul. Journey choices to Chonju are practice (3 hours) $12 to $38, bus (over 3 hours) $12 to $18 and automotive (over 2 hours) $26 to $38.
13- Chungchongnam-do
Chungchongnam-do has a number of great parks and temples however you received’t have time to go to all of them on a day journey from Seoul.
Make sure that to see the Independence Corridor of Korea in Ch’onan (Cheonon).
Taejunsan Provincial Park comprises Kwanch’oksa, Korea’s second largest Buddhist temple containing stone lanterns and a five-story pagoda.
Locals know Kyeryongsan Nationwide Park because the rooster dragon mountain as a result of the form of the mountain resembles a rooster’s head.
Throughout the park are Kapsa, a Buddhist temple courting from the eighth century, and Tonghaksa, one other Buddhist temple nearly as previous as Kapsa.
One other Buddhist temple it is best to go to is Magoksa to the northwest of Gongju, which has been there from when Chinese language Tang tradition was launched in Korea round 632 AD.
Cheonon is 96.3 km from Seoul. Journey choices to Cheonon are bus (1 hour, 14 minutes) $17 to $21, practice (1.5 hours) $15 to $26, taxi (1 hour) $80 to $100 and automotive (1 hour) $12 to $17.
14- Gongju
Gongju grew to become the capital of the Shilla kingdom in 457 A.D. after its first capital was deserted.
It has well-known tombs, a close-by fortress and a museum. Restoration work has begun to revive these treasures.
There may be an annual pageant held in October for 3 or 4 days.
Gongju is 128.5 km from Seoul. Journey choices are however (1.5 hours) $10, taxi (1.5 hours) $110 to $140 and automotive (1.5 hours) $16 to $23.
15- Chunchonbuk-do
Chungchongbuk-do is the one province that isn’t bordered by an ocean.
It has a number of lovely parks nevertheless it’s fundamental sights are Woraksan Nationwide Park, Sobaeksan Nationwide Park and Songisanan Nationwide Park, which you’ll go to throughout the identical day journey.
Woraksan Nationwide Park has many climbing trails, whereas Sobaeksan Nationwide Park is a big park, nevertheless it lacks Soraksan’s rock formations and cliffs.
Songisanan Nationwide Park is house to the spectacular Popchusa temple, which was constructed throughout the Shilla dynasty and is house to the biggest Buddha statue in northeast Asia.
Ch’unch’onbuk-do is 173.8 km from Seoul. Journey choices are practice and taxi (two hours) $57 to $84, automotive (two hours) $22 to $31.
