From festivals to popular landmarks, there are plenty of free things to do in South Korea.
Are you thinking about heading to South Korea? You should! South Korea is an amazing place filled with great food, wonderful people, and fantastic culture.
If you’re traveling on a budget but want to take in all that you can, there are plenty of free things to do in South Korea. While you may have to pay the way on bus fare, food, and accommodations, the following activities can be found throughout South Korea, and they are free.
From festivals to popular landmarks, there are plenty of free things to do in South Korea.
Festivals
South Koreans will throw a festival for just about any reason. From fireworks to roses to mud, Koreans love festivals. Best of all, most are free. If you visit any major city in South Korea from April to November, you’re going to have plenty of opportunities to attend a variety of festivals.
You can easily arrange for bus transportation to the most popular festivals in South Korea. I highly recommend taking a bus to avoid the headaches of traffic, crowds, and navigation.
Here are a few festivals that I’d recommend checking out:
- May: Rose Festival in Ulsan
- July: Mud Festival in Boryeong
- September: Oktoberfest in Namhae
Hiking
One of the most popular things to do in South Korea is to hike. Hiking isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life. As modern industry meets nature, you can easily find parks inside major cities along with easy access to the more serious hikes just outside metropolitan areas.
Hiking is so popular that the Korean brands of hiking clothes are popular worldwide due to their high durability and low cost. South Korea boasts some of the most rewarding hikes in the world. Two of my favorite mountains to hike in South Korea are Hallasan in Jeju and Gijisan near Ulsan. Best of all, you won’t have to pay a dime to climb these majestic hills.
Beaches
When you think about the world’s most beautiful beaches, you probably don’t think about South Korea, but I’m here to say…yeah, you’re right.
South Korea may not have white sand, bright turquoise water, or colorful fish, but the beaches are free, clean, and located next to breathtaking landscapes and convenient downtown areas. If you want to get some beach time and even out those tan lines, suit up and check out the beaches of South Korea.
The most popular beach in South Korea is Busan, which is southeast of Seoul. If you’re in Seoul, I would recommend taking the bullet trainline, KTX. It’s only two hours from Seoul to Busan.
Historical Landmarks
When you travel around the world, you are going to want to see the most famous landmarks: King’s Palace in Thailand, Machu Picchu in Peru, and Taipei 101 in Taiwan. These are all fantastic landmarks to see, but they also come with an arguably hefty price tag.
South Korea has countless historical landmarks, and most are free. The ones you pay for are laughably inexpensive. If you want to experience the history of South Korea without breaking your bank, there are plenty of sites to see that won’t hurt your wallet, so you can save money for important things like bus fare, souvenirs, and soju.
Popular and free landmarks in Seoul include the Korean War Memorial and the Bukchon Hanok Village.
Parks
When you’re on a budget, one of the best things to do in South Korea is walk through a local park.
Just like hiking, Koreans are serious about their power walking. South Korea has no shortage of incredible parks that you can walk through, even inside the major cities.
Remember how I mentioned that Koreans are always holding festivals? More often than not, these awesome and free festivals are happening in the very same parks that you’ll be touring. Look at that, two birds with one stone.
For the travel fitness-focused, these are great places for a park workout.
More Things To Do in South Korea?
Have you been to South Korea? Do you know of any other free or cheap things to do in South Korea? Let me know in the comments below.