Let’s Discover Korea in Winter !
November, December, January and February are cold months of the year not often put forward for travel. But Winter is also an opportunity to explore snowy landscapes. And why not South Korea, a developed country in Asia, as a choice for traveling during Winter as the snow add a new aspect to the country. The visit calls for winter clothes but is guaranteed to generate loads of warm, fuzzy feelings. Let me present it to you, the best Korea Tour Itinerary in Winter!
Day 1 – Get on your feet and visit Seoul
Namsan Tower
Unmissable tourist spot in South Korea, Namsan Tower is a telecommunications tower located in Seoul measuring 236 meters, providing an overview of the city. This tower was originally used as a transmission antenna for channels in Korea, before being gradually transformed into a cultural and tourist complex. Day or night, the panorama of the city is sublime, as visiting in winter means seeing the city covered in snow! Such a nice start !
Han River
Frozen Han River is a sight to see during winter! Han River after snow fall is a really magical setting to experience! You can walk alongside Han River, It’s a very popular place for couple, family and group of friends ! There is also swan-boat-peddling and boarding a cruise or a ferry where you can move around and observe Seoul architecture!
Ice Skating
Winter will gave you the opportunity to take advantage of the variety of ice skating rinks available in Seoul and do exciting activities to spend your winter vacation in Korea. You can spin in glide across the ice even if you’re a beginner or if you’re experienced. Several ice rinks exist in Seoul such as Seoul Plaza Ice Rink, Olympic Park Ice Rink, Yeouido Ice Park or Lotte World Indoor Ice Skating Rink. They are generally open from December through mid-February so be careful of the dates you plan on going and check if the attraction is still open !
Day 2 – Traditional Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Let’s begin our second day with a vision of a traditional South Korea. Gyeongbokgung palace meaning “Greatly Blessed by Heaven” is the most famous and iconic palace in Seoul and was the main Palace of the Joseon Dynasty. It was destroyed, abandoned and renovated through the centuries and is now an emblem of South Korea ! You can see the sleeping quarter of the king, the a cabinet office and other building of that period ! It’s one of the beautiful place to see during winter!
Wearing Hanbok
Hanbok is the Korean traditional clothing, The closthing exist for both sexes! The weather might lead you to regret wearing it during this period of the year but it’s going to be an unforgettable memory! It is not disrespectful for strangers to wear these clothes and you can feel like a Korean from the past for several hours!
Insadong Street
The Insadong district is well known to foreigners for its multiple shops and restaurants, but especially for these streets and the combined historic and modern atmosphere you can found there. It’s an unique region of Seoul that truly symbolizes the past of South Korea.
Gwangjang Traditional Market
The Gwangjang traditional market is one of the largest in Seoul, you will find a little of everything, crafts and especially fabrics and textiles mixed with the many colors and smells of food and vegetable stalls! It’s the ultimate place to experience traditional Korean street food and culture
Day 3 – Relaxing Day in Seoul
Enjoy Jjimjilbang
Today is relaxation Day ! Jjimjilbang are public baths, hot and cold rooms where you can clean your body. Nothing better to relax than a good dose of warmth and calm. There is a female side and a male side. If you are shy, this is not the best place to go because everyone is naked for the bath part. Immerse yourself in the local culture as it’s a very common activity for Koreans. After your bath, you get dress up (with t-shirt and pant given by the public bath) and you enter the common area where you can eat, drink, watch TV, play sports… and decompress for the day.
Winter Street Food
Korean food is designed to warm you up from the inside! You can seek different varieties of food :
- Chi-maek (Korean fried chicken)
- Tteokbokki (rice cakes in spicy sauce)
- Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)
- Tteok-mandu guk (rice cake dumpling soup)
- Tokkebi (fried corn dog)
- Hotteok (pancake filled with syrup)
- Gyeran Bbang (egg muffin)
- Odeng (fish cake served with dipping broth)
- Dakkochi (marinated grilled chicken)
- Tteokgalbi meatballs (sweet and sour beef rib meatballs)
After that, your taste buds will be delighted!!
Winter Illumination
During this season, you can march through some of the most fascinating light shows in the korean peninsula. For instance, Lighting Festival at The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, Seoul Christmas Festival (Taking place along Cheonggyecheon Stream), or Seoul Lights (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) are both spendid winter illuminations to see ! Check the dates for the Festival before going as some only take place during January and February. Let the light transport you to a magical winter in wonderland and you will not regret it !
Day 4 – Ski Resort
Because Winter also means Ski ! You can’t come to Korea in Winter and not go to a Ski Resort nearby Seoul. Daemyung Vilvaldi Park Sky (1 hour and half from Seoul) or Jisan Ski Resort (around 45 minutes from Gangnam) offer one or two days ski packages that include your lift ticket and ski or snowboard rental! You can enjoy skiing with your family or friends and experience the popular resort culture together !
Day 5 – Escapade to Nami Island
Nami Island is one of the best tourist destinations near Seoul and Winter give it another aura. You can see a beautiful ice sculpture when you arrive on the island and take amazing pictures in the snow-covered woodlands and tree lanes of the island! You can go through the colourful European-style buildings of Petite France, the Garden of Morning Calm and multiple filming locations from K-dramas!
Day 6 – Direction Busan
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach is one of the most famous beach in South Korea, clean sand and wide area for 1,5 km long! In winter, the water is cold but you have so much fun and a lovely view as the beach is less busy! You can experience a nice walk in the nearby district, the Aquarium and Cinema Street close by and even the Light Festival in December !
Gamcheon Cultural Village
Gamcheon Cultural Village, were alley, murals and houses are decorated in different colours ! You can enjoy a relaxing time taking pictures and having fun with the hidden alleys, cute cafes and incredible art pieces that are worth seeing and will make you forget how cold it is. You can take your time di uncover incredible creativity and art around the area as not many tourism are to be seen in comparison to summer.
Jagalchi Market
Jagalchi Market is Korea’s largest seafood market, offering a large varieties of live and dried seafood and on-site restaurants.You can find all the fish species and sea creatures you can imagine, you buy your fish on the first floor and you eat it in restaurants in the second floor (there is fees for cooking services).When it’s cold like in winter, what could be better than warming up with food!
Day 7 – Last Day in Busan
Yongdusan Park & Busan Tower
Yongdusan signify “dragon’s head mountains”. The 120-meter-high above sea levels, Busan Tower is located here but there are other sights to see in the area such as the statue of Yi sun-sin, Korea’s naval hero or witness a Korean Traditional Bell and other activities to do.
Shinsegae Shopping Mall
After walking a bit in Busan city, let’s finish this Korea Tour Itinerary in Winter on a perfect ending by a Shopping spree in the World’s largest department store! Foreigners can download the discount coupon from Korea E Tour website here and use it when they visit the duty Free Shop. You can commit to other occupations inside the mall, for instance a spa experience in Centum City Spa Land, or in Shinsegae Centum City Zooraji – Outdoor Theme park!
Now I hope everything was helpful for your next visit to Korea, where fun and beautiful spots are waiting for you! If you have any questions about Korea, don’t hesitate to send us an email and we will reply to us as best as we can and try to create the best Korea Tour itinerary in Winter with you!!
Written by Laura Caillebotte