At a Korean BBQ restaurant you order raw meat by the portion, usually with a two-portion minimum, and grill it yourself at the table while free side dishes keep arriving. In Seoul in 2026, pork belly averages a little over 21,000 won per 200 g portion, while Korean beef (hanwoo) costs several times more. This guide explains what to order, how the table works, the drinking etiquette that confuses..
Changdeokgung Palace costs 3,000 won for adults and is closed on Mondays, but the real highlight is its Secret Garden (Huwon), which you can only enter at a fixed time on a separate 5,000 won ticket. English-language sessions run at 10:30, 11:30, 14:30 and 15:30 from March to November. Half the places go online from 10:00 six days ahead and the other half are sold at the palace on the day. This ..
You can still visit the DMZ from Seoul in 2026, but only on an organized tour or the city-run shuttle tour from Imjingak in Paju, and you must carry your original passport. The Joint Security Area (JSA) at Panmunjom is a different story: tours for the general public have been suspended since July 2023 and no public dates were scheduled as of October 2026. This guide explains what a standard DMZ ..
In 2026, the Korea Forest Service forecasts peak autumn colour at Seoraksan around October 20, Songnisan around October 28, Naejangsan around November 4 and Hallasan around November 6, with most of the country peaking in late October. In and around Seoul, the best colour usually arrives from late October into the first week of November. This guide brings together the official forecast, the best ..
The easiest way to spend an evening in central Seoul is to go up Namsan (남산) to N Seoul Tower (N서울타워) around sunset, then come back down for street food in Myeongdong (명동). An adult observatory ticket costs 29,000 won, the Namsan cable car is 15,000 won return, and the Namsan circulation buses 01A and 01B reach the summit from Chungmuro and Dongguk University stations. This guide covers prices, ..
For a short trip to Seoul you need three things: a foreign Visa or Mastercard for most purchases, a little cash for markets and card top-ups, and a transport card. For transport, choose T-money if you are travelling around the country, or a Climate Card short-term pass (from 5,000 won a day) if you ride the subway and buses a lot inside Seoul. Add Naver Map or Kakao Map, Papago and a taxi app, a..
Seongsu-dong (성수동) is a former factory district on the east side of Seoul that has become the city's busiest area for warehouse cafes, brand flagship stores and short-run pop-up shops. Take Line 2 to Seongsu Station, walk the streets between the station and Seoul Forest, and plan for a half day. This guide explains why the area is popular, how its sub-areas fit together, which places are well es..
You can see Gyeongju's highlights in one long day from Seoul or Busan: take the KTX to Singyeongju Station, ride bus 700 to Bulguksa Temple, bus 12 up to Seokguram Grotto, then spend the afternoon and evening among the royal tombs, Cheomseongdae Observatory and the lit-up Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. Bulguksa, Seokguram and Cheomseongdae are free to enter, and the paid sites cost a few thousa..