What awaits travellers in South Korea?
South Korea sets Seoul, a twelve-million-strong metropolis with five royal palaces and ultra-modern districts, against the port city of Busan, with its beaches, a mountain temple and the country's largest fish market. The KTX high-speed train links both cities in around two and a half hours, so a trip can be planned without a domestic flight.
A classic route starts in Seoul with the palaces, the hanok district of Bukchon and the nightlife districts of Hongdae and Myeongdong, continues by KTX around 325 km southeast to the coastal city of Busan, and can be supplemented with a day trip to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) north of Seoul.
This page summarizes regions, best time to visit, entry (as of September 2026), health, and the advisories from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization
What is South Korea like as a travel destination?
South Korea is technologically advanced, safe and well developed for tourism: a dense subway and high-speed rail network, free Wi-Fi in cities and near-universal card payment make travel easy. At the same time, five-century-old palace complexes stand next to skyscrapers and neon signs, which many travellers see as the country's defining image.
The country is mountainous: around 70% of the land area is mountain and hill country, which is why cities are concentrated in valley basins and along coastal strips. Seoul lies on the Han River in the northwest, Busan on the southeast coast facing the Korea Strait, which separates the country from Japan.
The global success of K-pop, Korean TV dramas and films has drawn many younger travellers to Seoul since the 2010s; agency districts, fan cafés and filming locations are now part of the tourist offering, without the historic palaces and temples losing their importance as a result.
Busan feels noticeably more relaxed than Seoul: beach promenades, a large fish market and the international film festival in autumn shape the country's second-largest city, which is also South Korea's most important container port.
What do travellers see in Seoul and Busan?
Seoul is divided into the old town with the palaces Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, the hanok district of Bukchon, and modern nightlife districts such as Hongdae, Myeongdong and Gangnam. Busan shows itself at the beaches of Haeundae and Gwangalli, in the colourful hillside district of Gamcheon, and at the traditional Jagalchi fish market by the harbour.
Seoul
The 14th-century Gyeongbokgung Palace is the largest of Seoul's five palace complexes; the changing of the guard at the main gate, Gwanghwamun, takes place several times a day. Anyone appearing in a hanbok, the traditional garment, gets free admission, which makes rental shops around the palace a fixed part of many trips.
Immediately to the east lies the hanok district of Bukchon, a cluster of traditional wooden houses between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung, whose secret garden (Huwon) can be visited by advance booking. Since the alleys became popular with travellers, quiet hours for photography apply in parts of the district, since people still live there.
Myeongdong is the city's largest shopping and street-food district, with stalls ranging from grilled shellfish to honeycomb; Hongdae around Hongik University stands for live music, street art and nightlife, and Gangnam south of the Han River for luxury boutiques and the entertainment industry behind K-pop.
The N Seoul Tower observation deck on the city's local mountain, Namsan, sits right in the middle of the city and is reachable by cable car or on foot; excursion boats run from the Han River, and cycling paths follow both banks over long stretches.
Around Seoul
Around 55 km north of Seoul lies the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) at the border with North Korea; organized day trips, the only permitted way to visit, lead among other places to the Dora Observatory viewpoint and to one of the tunnels discovered beneath the border.
The Korean Folk Village Suwon or the mountain country around Namsan Seoul can be added as a half-day trip; for a full day, the historic fortress town of Suwon, with its 5.7 km city wall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, is a good option.
Busan
Haeundae is Busan's best-known city beach, with a high-rise skyline and the densest hotel supply; Gwangalli is quieter and offers an unobstructed view of the illuminated Gwangan Bridge. Both beaches are reachable by subway.
Gamcheon Culture Village grew out of a refugee settlement from the 1950s; since 2009 artists have painted the houses of the hillside district, making it one of the most photographed spots in the city. The Jagalchi fish market by the harbour is South Korea's largest fish market, with traders who have sold there for decades.
Beomeosa Temple, at the foot of Mount Geumjeongsan, is one of South Korea's most important Zen temples and offers a temple-stay programme for overnight stays; hiking trails lead from there to the old mountain fortress of Geumjeongsanseong.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization · UNESCO World Heritage Centre
When is the best time to visit South Korea?
Spring (April to June) and autumn (September to November) are considered the best time to visit, with mild temperatures, little rain, cherry blossoms in April and autumn foliage in October and November. High summer brings the Jangma rainy season from late June to late July as well as typhoon risk in August and September, and winter brings severe cold with night temperatures well below zero.
| Seoul | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 2 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 27 | 20 | 12 | 3 |
| Low °C | -7 | -4 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 19 | 23 | 23 | 18 | 10 | 3 | -5 |
| Rainfall mm | 20 | 31 | 37 | 72 | 84 | 116 | 361 | 260 | 138 | 53 | 47 | 22 |
| Busan | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 8 | 10 | 14 | 19 | 24 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 27 | 22 | 16 | 9 |
| Low °C | -2 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 19 | 13 | 6 | -1 |
| Rainfall mm | 39 | 58 | 87 | 138 | 148 | 177 | 287 | 224 | 187 | 81 | 54 | 41 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station SEOUL CITY (2 km, 87 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station GIMHAE INTL (12 km, 2 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
Seoul sees lows around −7 °C in January and highs around 30 to 31 °C in August; most rain falls concentrated in July, with over 360 mm, while the winter months stay dry with under 30 mm per month. Busan lies closer to the sea and is therefore milder in winter but wetter in summer, with sometimes over 280 mm of rain in July.
Typhoons reach the south coast around Busan more often and more directly than Seoul; between July and September it is worth checking the weather forecast shortly before the trip and keeping outdoor activities flexible.
Cherry blossom in Seoul usually falls in the first week of April, but can shift by several days depending on spring weather; the peak of autumn colour in mountain parks such as Seoraksan is usually mid to late October.
The three-day New Year festival Seollal falls in January or February according to the lunar calendar, and the harvest festival Chuseok in September or October; on both holidays, rail and road traffic are heavily loaded nationwide, and many smaller shops stay closed.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization
What do you need to enter South Korea?
Swiss, German and Austrian nationals enter without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days; the otherwise mandatory electronic travel authorization K-ETA is temporarily suspended for nationals of these countries (as of September 2026). Instead, since February 2025 the free electronic arrival card (E-Arrival Card) must be filled out online, at the earliest three days before arrival.
- Switzerland, Germany, Austria: visa-free up to 90 days for tourist purposes; the passport must be valid on entry.
- K-ETA: the actual requirement for the electronic travel authorization is temporarily suspended for nationals of these three countries (as of September 2026); the suspension may end, so it is worth checking shortly before departure.
- E-Arrival Card: free online arrival card, mandatory for all arrivals since February 2025, can be filled out at the earliest three days before arrival.
- Other nationalities: their own rules apply; the information from the South Korean embassy or consulate in the country of residence is decisive.
For a stay of more than 90 days or a purpose other than tourism, a visa must be applied for in advance at a South Korean representation. A return or onward flight ticket is usually required at immigration control.
The current information from the FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office, the BMEIA and the South Korean immigration authority at the time of travel is decisive; the K-ETA suspension has been extended several times in the past but is only valid for a limited period.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Swiss Confederation
What vaccinations and health precautions does South Korea require?
No vaccination is mandatory for arrivals from Europe. healthytravel.ch recommends the standard vaccinations under the Swiss immunization schedule plus hepatitis A for all travellers, hepatitis B depending on travel style, and a pre-exposure rabies vaccination for most travellers. According to the CDC, a low malaria risk exists from March to December only in rural border provinces in the north (Incheon, Gangwon, Gyeonggi), not in Seoul or Busan.
In Seoul itself there is no malaria risk year-round, according to healthytravel.ch; in the other northern provinces, it is limited to the months outside January and February and is overall classified as low. Mosquito protection is nonetheless advisable there in the summer months.
The CDC also points to tuberculosis, hantavirus and leptospirosis as non-vaccine-preventable risks; these mainly affect travellers with close animal contact or rural stays, less so city trips to Seoul or Busan.
Medical care in Seoul and Busan is of a high standard and often available in English; outside the major cities, communication can be more difficult. Travel and repatriation insurance is advisable, since there is no social security agreement with Switzerland, Germany or Austria.
Sources: healthytravel.ch, Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
How safe is South Korea for travellers?
The FDFA, the Federal Foreign Office and the BMEIA consider South Korea a fundamentally safe destination with a low crime rate. Domestic political demonstrations occur regularly in Seoul but proceed almost without exception peacefully; under South Korean law, foreigners may not take part in political rallies and should avoid crowds.
On tensions on the Korean peninsula, the Federal Foreign Office writes that in recent years these have had practically no effect on the security situation for travellers; short-notice changes, for example due to missile tests, cannot nonetheless be ruled out. A visit to the Demilitarized Zone is only possible as part of organized tours.
In the nightlife districts of Hongdae and Itaewon, the Federal Foreign Office warns of drink spiking and sexual assault; as everywhere, it is advisable not to leave drinks unattended. Petty crime such as pickpocketing remains rare.
In late summer, typhoons can cause flooding and landslides, especially on the south coast around Busan; South Korea also lies in a seismically active zone, though noticeable earthquakes are rare.
Sources: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
How do you travel to South Korea and get around the country?
International flights land almost exclusively on Incheon island (ICN) west of Seoul, the country's largest airport; the smaller Gimpo (GMP) mainly serves inter-Korean and regional connections to Japan and China. Busan has its own international airport in Gimhae (PUS), but with significantly fewer long-haul connections.
| Route | Mode of transport | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Incheon Airport – central Seoul | AREX train (express variant) or taxi | around 45–60 min |
| Seoul – Busan | KTX high-speed train | around 2 h 20 min |
| Seoul – Busan | long-distance bus | around 4–4.5 h |
| Seoul – DMZ (border area) | organized day tour from Seoul | around 2–3 h on site |
| Gimhae Airport – central Busan | subway/light rail or taxi | around 30–40 min |
Year-round nonstop flights to Seoul-Incheon run from several European hubs: Korean Air and Asiana serve, among others, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Vienna, Prague and Budapest; Lufthansa flies nonstop to Frankfurt and Munich, and Zurich is served seasonally by Korean Air. From North America, nonstop connections exist from several US West Coast cities as well as from Toronto and Vancouver.
Within East Asia, Incheon is an important hub with dense connections to Japan, China and Southeast Asia, which makes combination trips easier. Busan Gimhae is served mainly by regional airlines from Japan, China and Southeast Asia; long-haul connections are rare.
Within the country, the high-speed trains KTX and SRT run on several routes; tickets can be bought online or at the station, and early reservation is advisable on weekends and public holidays. Within Seoul and Busan, dense subway networks handle most traffic, supplemented by buses and taxis.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization
What money do you need in South Korea and how do you pay?
The national currency is the South Korean won (₩, KRW), issued in notes of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won and coins from 10 won. South Korea is among the least cash-dependent countries in Asia: card payment is possible almost everywhere, and it is increasingly accepted even at small street-food stalls.
ATMs accepting international cards can be found in subway stations, convenience stores such as GS25 or CU, and banks; not every machine works with foreign cards, so it is worth trying a second machine.
For buses and subways, a T-money card is worthwhile, available at kiosks and machines, topped up and paid cashless; it works nationwide, including in Busan and other cities, and saves time and sometimes money compared with single tickets.
Tipping is not customary in South Korea and is generally not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels; an offered tip can even cause confusion in some places.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany
Where is best to stay in South Korea?
In Seoul, many travellers stay centrally in Myeongdong or around the palaces; those seeking nightlife stay in Hongdae, those seeking upscale comfort in Gangnam. In Busan, the largest choice of hotels and serviced apartments is around Haeundae beach; quieter and closer to the station is the centre near Nampo-dong.
A hanok stay in a traditional wooden house in the Bukchon or Ikseondong district combines historic atmosphere with a central location, but is usually smaller-scale and has fewer rooms than a classic hotel. For short stays, business hotels near a subway station are a good option.
In Busan, Haeundae offers proximity to the beach and nightlife, while Seomyeon, as the city's transport hub, and Nampo-dong, near the Jagalchi market, offer short distances to the old town and harbour. A temple-stay at Beomeosa monastery is a special alternative for one or more nights.
What do you eat in South Korea?
Korean cuisine is shaped by grilled meat (Korean BBQ), fermented vegetables such as kimchi, and a wide array of small side dishes (banchan) served with practically every meal. Busan is additionally known for fresh seafood and its local noodle soup, dwaeji gukbap.
The basic repertoire includes bibimbap (rice with vegetables and egg), bulgogi (marinated grilled beef), samgyeopsal (pork belly from a tabletop grill), and the spicy rice-cake speciality tteokbokki, available at many street-food stalls.
Gwangjang Market in Seoul is considered one of the country's best-known street-food markets, with stalls for mung-bean pancakes (bindaetteok) and marinated raw beef (yukhoe). In Busan, the Jagalchi fish market shapes the culinary offering with fresh sashimi and grilled fish right at the harbour.
Tap water is generally considered safe in cities, though many restaurants serve filtered or bottled water free with meals anyway. Vegetarian options are common in Buddhist temple kitchens, but often need explaining in classic restaurants, since many broths are meat- or fish-based.
What culture and festivals shape South Korea?
Confucian values such as respect for elders, a slight bow as a greeting, and a degree of restraint in public behaviour shape everyday life, even as Seoul has simultaneously produced one of the fastest-changing pop cultures in the world. The biggest festivals are Seollal, the lunar New Year, and Chuseok, the three-day autumn harvest festival.
Shoes are removed when entering temples, traditional restaurants with floor seating, and some accommodations; while eating, it is considered rude to stick chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice, since this resembles a funeral ritual.
Seollal falls in January or February according to the lunar calendar, Chuseok in September or October; on both holidays many Koreans travel to their hometowns, so trains and roads are correspondingly busy, while palaces and major sights are often quieter than usual.
The boom of K-pop and Korean dramas has turned fan tourism into a travel category of its own: filming locations, themed cafés and concerts in Seoul attract an international, often young audience, without displacing traditional palace and temple culture.
What experiences are worthwhile in South Korea?
Highlights include Seoul's palace complexes and hanok alleys, a day trip to the Demilitarized Zone, Busan's beaches and fish market, and a stay in a traditional jjimjilbang sauna. Those staying longer can add a mountain hike in Seoraksan National Park or a temple-stay programme.
Seoul
The changing-of-the-guard ceremony at the Gwanghwamun gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace takes place several times a day and is free to watch; an evening walk along the Cheonggyecheon stream in the middle of downtown shows a quieter side of the otherwise dense metropolis.
A jjimjilbang, a sauna complex open around the clock with separate and mixed areas, is an affordable and very Korean way to spend an evening or an entire night, including a sleeping area.
Busan and surroundings
A walk through Taejongdae Coastal Park on Yeongdo Peninsula offers cliffs and sea views just a short bus ride from the centre; Haedong Yonggungsa Temple sits unusually right on the sea rather than in the mountains, as is otherwise typical for Korean temples.
The Busan International Film Festival takes place every autumn and draws an international audience to the city; anyone travelling at this time should book accommodation well in advance.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization
How do you travel responsibly in South Korea?
People still live in the historic houses of the Bukchon hanok district; outside official visiting hours, quiet hours apply that travellers should respect to avoid conflicts with residents. The Jagalchi fish market in Busan depends on traditional small trade, which is why respectful photography and asking before close-up shots are part of a visit.
- In Bukchon, keep photography to public areas and respect designated quiet hours.
- At Jagalchi Market, ask before taking close-up photos of traders.
- Use public transport rather than taxis where time allows; the subway and KTX are reliable in both cities.
- In temples such as Beomeosa, observe silence and dress codes during ongoing ceremonies.
Sources: Korea Tourism Organization
Which countries can South Korea be combined with?
Japan and Taiwan are the most obvious choices, both reachable by short regional flights from Seoul or Busan and well connected via Incheon. China can also be added, though its entry requirements should be checked separately.
To Tokyo, Osaka or Fukuoka there are several daily flights of under two hours from Seoul and, in some cases, Busan, making a combination of South Korea and Japan realistic within two to three weeks.
To Taipei it is around two and a half flight hours from Incheon; those with extra time can add Hong Kong or Shanghai as a further stop via Incheon.
Who is South Korea suited to, and who less so?
South Korea suits city travellers, culture enthusiasts, food fans and younger travellers interested in K-pop and Korean dramas, as well as anyone seeking a safe, technologically comfortable trip without a major everyday language barrier. It is less suited to anyone looking mainly for a classic beach holiday or untouched nature without infrastructure.
Solo travellers and families benefit from the good infrastructure, the low crime rates and the dense public transport network; many museums in Seoul are designed interactively for children.
Anyone seeking a pure beach or island trip will find city beaches in Busan, but not the tropical island feel of, say, Jeju, which is not covered on this page. Anyone wanting to avoid language barriers entirely should know that English is not widely spoken outside tourist centres.