Comparison · Beijing vs Seoul · China / South Korea
Beijing vs Seoul
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
_(1).jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Choose Beijing for Forbidden City and Great Wall; choose Seoul for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 952 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 952 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Beijing
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Seoul
- April–May and September–November
Side by side
| Beijing | Seoul | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | China | South Korea |
| Known for | Forbidden City, Great Wall and Peking duck | Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue and K-pop and K-beauty |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–November |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$230 | $120–$230 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | August, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 2°C (36°F) | January, 2°C (36°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 6 | 11 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | PEK, PKX | ICN, GMP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Beijing for…
Forbidden City and Great Wall. Beijing has been China's capital for most of the last 800 years, and its imperial core still lines up along a north–south axis from the Temple of Heaven through Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to the Drum and Bell Towers. Around it, grey-brick hutong…
Choose Seoul for…
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue and free sights. Seoul spreads along both banks of the Han River, with the Joseon-dynasty palaces, hanok lanes and markets of Jongno in the old city north of the river and the towers of Gangnam to the south. A fast, inexpensive subway connects everything, and the city's food…
Top sights compared
| # | Beijing | Seoul |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Forbidden City (Palace Museum) | Gyeongbokgung Palace |
| 2 | Great Wall at Mutianyu | Changdeokgung and the Secret Garden |
| 3 | Temple of Heaven | Bukchon Hanok Village |
| 4 | Summer Palace | N Seoul Tower and Namsan |
| 5 | Tiananmen Square | Gwangjang Market |
Food compared
| Beijing | Seoul |
|---|---|
| Peking duck | Korean barbecue |
| Noodles with soybean paste | Bibimbap |
| Dumplings | Kimchi stew |
| Jianbing | Tteokbokki |
Which is cheaper?
Beijing and Seoul cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $120–$230 in Beijing and $120–$230 in Seoul (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Beijing on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 952 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 11 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Beijing or Seoul cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $120–$230 in Beijing and $120–$230 in Seoul (estimates).
+Is Beijing or Seoul better for a first trip?
Pick Beijing for Forbidden City and Great Wall, or Seoul for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Korean barbecue and free sights.
+How far is Beijing from Seoul?
About 952 km in a straight line.