Mild spring and autumn are the best time to visit South Korea. As cherries, azaleas, and lotuses are in bloom, April through June is the period when the whole country is dressed up pink, and the national parks are at their finest. However, mind that South Korea is a bit crowded at this time. You should avoid visiting this country in summer because of unbearable mugginess and the monsoon season.
In autumn the rainfall is low and hotel rates are more affordable. September through November is high time to taste hangwa and fresh persimmons. Winter is long and freezingly cold, but worth visiting for its quiet atmosphere, Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival, and skiing.
You'll be amazed at the amount of lanterns and their style diversity, but this is more than just a matter of beauty
The numerous mountains of Korea are home to gorgeous treks, Buddhist temples, cute squirrels, and other forest critters
Fresh juicy persimmon is good, but dried fruit ('gotgam') might appeal to you even more
South Korea is home to one of the world's largest coastal marshes which boasts a vast field of tall reeds
When fruit from the outside smells like puke or poo, it's hard to believe the inside can be better, but you'll never know without trying
The oldest private garden in Korea showcases 5,000 plant species, 20 themed sections, dozens of scenic walkways, and a series of festivals held throughout the year
According to a local belief, meeting one of these little fellows can bring you luck
Pine mushrooms are treasured in Korea not just for their subtle flavour and limited availability, but also as cancer preventors
While Korea and Japan try to solve the ownership issue, these small rocky isles inhabited by a single Korean family draw tens of thousands of tourists
Fly away from the city buzz to enjoy peaceful rural surroundings, the indigenous lifestyle, and the living ancient traditions of Korea
Can you imagine that a stone bridge constructed without cement could survive a thousand years in rising and falling river waters?
Paradoxically this is one of world's most militarized areas, labeled the scariest place on Earth, and still drawing lines of curious tourists
The idea to eat seaweed after giving birth might have been borrowed from whales, today seaweed soup is also eaten for birthdays to honour mothers
Psychiatric hospitals are creepy in general and abandoned ones twice as creepy, and when they also have a reputation of being haunted—that's even worse!
Walk three times around the fortress with a stone on your head—and you'll live a long, happy, and healthy life ever after
One of the most important aviation events in Asia
How about discovering the joy and meaning of life through experiencing your own fake funeral?
Established over 1,300 years ago, this annual Buddhist lantern festival brightens the hearts and skies of both Korea and the world
South Korea is blessed with cherry blossoms that turn the country into a fairy tale every spring
A scary, and at the same time majestic spectacle—the sight of burning island is
Chuseok is the Korean version of American Thanksgiving—an important holiday when most locals leave for the countryside and grandma's house to carry on a number of ancient traditions and most importantly to feast on abundant homemade delicacies
The image of a parting sea evokes a figure of Moses and the Red Sea, but in the Korean version the miracle happens to a woman at the Yellow Sea
Korea's largest convention of pop culture and entertainment industry
Winter festival provides an excellent way to beat the cold—enjoy ice fishing along with ice racing competitions and other amusing festivities
Get ready for your heart to burst with excitement at this exuberant celebration of the Korean tradition
Check where your favourite beverage comes from and don't forget to try some green tea ice cream and green tea noodle soup
Ten days of mud-packed activities are an excellent chance to wake up the inner child in you
You may occasionally see beautiful pink mountainsides in Korean movies, but reality is often better than the pictures
If you're into fireworks and other festivities, you're going to like this mix of sparkling clouds, live concerts, and art
At the lotus festival one can walk among thousands of flowers, drink lotus flower tea, learn how to make lotus flower soap and paper, and so much more
This event is all about sand art, beach sports, and night parties at the seaside
Did you know bamboo is used in fishing, cooking, alcohol brewing, and numerous other crafts? Try them all at the bamboo festival in Damyang
Mountains occupy nearly three-quarters of the country's territory, which makes it a great skiing destination
This festival is about fishing activities, cultural performances, and a spectacular night show of 30 fishing boats with torches
Instead of traditional ice cream, Koreans have another ice dessert for hot summers—shaved ice topped with sweet red beans
A chance to enjoy the view in a field of sunflowers occurs just once in a long while—for a few weeks in the summer
A meadow of red wildflowers set amidst the mountains is the perfect place for your mind and soul to relax
On the examination day friends and parents gather at school gates to pray for examinees and cheer them up—all want to pass the exam with a perfect score
If you've never tried anything like maneuvering a cart driven by a cow, or catching grasshoopers, this festival offers some new funny experiences
If you miss Chuseok festival in mid-September, your hunt for bright-coloured Korean confectionary won't be easy
Despite the general trend, Eastern Asian medicine principles still encourage to eat this cold buckwheat noodle soup in the cold season
Korean winter offers rare street treats—cheap, delicious, and healthy at the same time
If you want to try all available varieties, you'll have to make a long stay, for there're 250 types of this side dish
Thousands of "polar bears" gather in the south of Korea every winter to bathe in the freezing sea water
South Korea offers rich birding grounds to observe a variety of species, some of which are hard to see anywhere else in the world
Koreans obey Eastern Asian medicine traditions and consume their hottest dish—boiling hot stuffed chicken—on the year's hottest day
Scenic colorful landscapes show that spring has arrived in South Korea
The beaches of South Korea are delightful in terms of scenery and entertainment
Korea bears juicy figs, distinguished by their sweet flesh and pleasant texture
Pyeongchang's buckwheat fields are amazing during the blooming season
Every year six people die from eating this fish. If you get thrills from life risks, you are welcome to challenge your fortune
Top jazz festival in Asia and one of the largest annual music events in South Korea