6 best day trips from Seoul

Day trips compared

The day trips

55 km · Full-day organised tour

1.DMZ

Tours to the Demilitarised Zone visit observatories looking into North Korea, infiltration tunnels and Imjingak park. Access is controlled and itineraries change with the security situation, so go with a licensed tour operator and carry your passport.

Getting there

Organised tour from central Seoul

Best for

First-timers, Culture

35 km · About 1 hour by subway or train

2.Suwon Hwaseong Fortress

The UNESCO-listed walls of Hwaseong, built in the 1790s, loop for about 5.7 km around central Suwon with gates, watchtowers and the reconstructed Hwaseong Haenggung palace. Walking the walls takes about two to three hours.

Getting there

Subway Line 1 or Shinbundang Line, or train to Suwon Station

Best for

Culture, Families, First-timers

63 km · About 1.5 hours by train and ferry

3.Nami Island

A half-moon island in the Bukhan River known for tree-lined avenues of ginkgo and metasequoia, especially vivid in autumn. It is popular and gets very busy on weekends.

Getting there

ITX-Cheongchun train to Gapyeong, then taxi or bus and ferry

Best for

Couples, Families

30 km · About 1 hour by subway

4.Incheon

Korea's only official Chinatown, birthplace of jjajangmyeon noodles, sits beside the colourful Songwol-dong Fairy Tale Village and Jayu Park; the modern Songdo district has a canal-side Central Park.

Getting there

Subway Line 1 to Incheon Station

Best for

Food lovers, Families, Budget

40 km · About 1 hour by express bus

5.Everland

Korea's largest theme park, in Yongin, combines roller coasters including the wooden T Express, a safari zoo and seasonal flower festivals. Allow a full day.

Getting there

Express bus from Gangnam or central Seoul, or subway and Everland Line

Best for

Families

200 km · About 1.5–2 hours by KTX

6.Jeonju Hanok Village

Jeonju has more than 700 hanok houses in its preserved village, Gyeonggijeon shrine with a portrait of the Joseon founder, and a reputation as Korea's food capital — this is the home of Jeonju bibimbap.

Getting there

KTX from Yongsan Station to Jeonju

Best for

Culture, Food lovers, Couples

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Blue trunk buses, green local buses and red express buses cover the city and suburbs. Board at the front, tap your card, and tap again at the back door when you get off.
• KTX high-speed trains leave Seoul and Yongsan stations for Busan in about 2.5 hours and Jeonju in about 1.5 hours.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask