Your first visit to Korea is expectedly overwhelming!
If you are a K-Drama fan, you want to visit all those beautiful places you saw in your favorite Korean dramas.
As someone who has marked a yearly vacation to Korea since 2012, I still have a lot of places I want to visit.
Ideally, for first-timer, Seoul will take the bulk of your trip. Need not worry since the city offers a lot that you can imagine.
Visiting attractions nearby Seoul would also make your trip extra special. If you have ample time, take advantage of day tours in popular Korean popular destinations.
Below are must-do Korea day tours that would maximize your trip plus bring home happy memories and fantastic pictures.
Seoul Grand Palaces Tour
Of course, the Seoul Grand Palaces are not to be missed on your first Korean trip!
Flocked by millions of tourists each year, Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Gyeonghuigung, Changgyeonggung and Deoksugung palaces effortlessly draw admiration from their visitors.
With its picturesque vistas, elaborated architecture and stunning landscapes, strolling on the palace grounds is surely an experience that will get you closer to Korean culture and nature.
While it is feasible to visit all the palaces in one day, opt to divide and conquer. That way, you get to take other interesting side trips that you can pair up with your palace visit.
- RECOMMENDED SIDE TRIPS: National Palace Museum of Korea | National Folk Museum of Korea | Jogyesa Temple | Insadong | Namdaemun Market | Namsan Seoul Tower | Bukchon Hanok Village | Ikseon-dong | Deoksugung Stone Wall Path | National Museum of Contemporary Arts | Myeongdong Cathedral |
K-Travel: Revel On The Serene and Grandiose Palaces In Seoul
Gapyeong Day Tour
It’s easy to take stunning photos when you visit the tourist spots in Gapyeong.
There are a few day tour selections offered by klook and kkday. I suggest you take this if it is your first time.
Proceeding with a DIY is possible since you can ride the hop-on-hop-off Gapyeong bus service that would take you to Nami Island, Petite France and Garden of the Morning Calm.
If you had hired a service for your vacation then you can also bundle Garden of the Morning Calm and Edelweiss Swiss Theme Park. Another option is to join
- RECOMMENDED SIDE TRIPS: Gapyeong Rail Park | River Land | Cheongpyeong Lake |
Everland Day Tour
While Seoul has Lotte World for a fun amusement park tour; it’s still a must to visit Everland. Opened in 1976, the theme park is divided into five sections and is pretty all seasons because of the decoration celebrating festivals throughout the year.
According to Visit Korea, one of the park’s most famous rides is T-Express, Korea’s first wooden roller coaster, popular among young visitors. Zootopia is a must-see as it spans an area of 15,000 ㎡ and exhibits 2,000 animals. Lost Valley opened in 2013 and features the largest ecological safari world with tours by amphibious car to see 150 animals.
- SUGGESTED SIDE TRIPS: Carribean Bay | Samsung Transportation Museum | Yongin Heobak Deungbul |
Korean Folk Village Day Tour
If you want a taste of the traditional Korean culture from late Joseon period, then a visit to Korean Folk Village will delight you. For K-Drama fans, a few historical dramas were filmed in the village as well including The King’s Affection, Tale of the Nine Tailed, Dong Yi, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Jewel in the Palace and more.
Korean Folk Village introduces traditional culture from the late Joseon period to both local and international visitors through cultural classes experience, shaman faith, seasonal customs and others. It recreated the past through the restoration of houses from the Joseon dynasty.
- SUGGESTED SIDE TRIPS: Korean Folk Village Sledding Hills | Gyeonggi Provincial Museum | Gyeonggi Children’s Museum |
Gangnam Style Fun Day Tour
Situated in Gangnam area, fantasies will be satisfied for lovers of toys and action figures when visiting this Figure Museum W. Animation, manga and movie characters are on display along with rare action figures that are also available inside the theme park.
A shop for beginner and expert toy collectors is also a go-to place for purchasing something to add to your collection.
Definitely, a must-visit place for K-Pop fans, especially if you stan SM Entertainment artists such as EXO, Red Velvet, SHINee, Super Junior, TVXQ, BoA, Girls’ Generation and NCT.
Memorabilia and photograph walls of the artists are on display plus costumes they have worn in the past. A cute AR experience also lets you snap photos with the idols together and have them printed as souvenirs from your visit.
Within the vicinity of COEX Mall is a big aquarium place that you can enjoy with your family. A variety of aquatic creatures are for your viewing which can surely be enjoyed if you are bringing your children to COEX Aquarium.
For the Gangnam route, you can include a visit at the K-star road by taking Exit 2 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station Bundang Line before proceeding to SMTOWN Museum.
TIP: While at COEX Mall, you can also take a peek at Starfield Library or watch a concert at SMTOWN Theater.
You’d be surprised how much fun you will get from visiting these happy places. Plus, it’s also something that the whole family can enjoy.
- SUGGESTED SIDE TRIPS: COEX Artium | Seven Luck Casino |
Make sure to include these Korea day tours when you visit Hallyuland soon!
Source: Visit Korea
Photos: All photos taken by the author from her previous Korean travels
