Many people that come to visit Korea tend to head over to the capital city, Seoul! However after a few days exploring the city, we recommend that you try and head out to some other nearby places to get a deeper dive into Korean culture and explore other parts of Korea!
Today we have put together a list of the best places to take a day trip from Seoul!
Yeoncheon
Yeonchon, Gyeonggi-do is the closest area to North Korea in Gyeonggi-do! Although it is somewhat farther out from other regions in Korea, it is a region that is deep with Korean history and filled to the brim with beautiful nature.
We recommend a trip out to Yeoncheon for those that are interested n Korean history and enjoy nature! So what should you see in Yeoncheon?
1. Yeoncheon Jeongokri Ruins
The Yeoncheon Jeongokri Ruins is a prehistoric archaeological site where the first fist ax was found in East Asia. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll in the Jeongokri Ruins plaza and learn more about the soil and history of the grounds here. Another thing you don't want to miss is the mammoth statues, and a house made bones, which was built by the people of that time. If you are interested in Korean history, this is a must-visit spot!
2. Herb Village
At the Herb Village, you can enjoy the river and mountains as well as large green gardens and vegetation filled with various herbs and flowers! There are various programs here that use the herbs to create soaps, candles, and aromas. You can also take a foot bath that uses various herbs! There are many interesting and fun attractions in the village.
3. Jaein Waterfall
Source: Getty Images
Jaein Waterfall has been known as one of the most beautiful and scenic spots along the Hantan River. At Jaein Waterfall, you can observe various rocks such as basalt rocks and explore eroded caves.
There is also trails and areas to walk around the fall and enjoy the nature!
Yangju
Yangju in Gyeonggi-do is a central city in norther Gyeonggi-do with 600 years of history. It is a growing hub city in the northeastern part of the metropolitan area. This area is a city where you can feel art wherever you go! It is the perfect city to visit for art lovers. The streets are filled with museums, art parks and galleries!
1. Hesse's Garden
Hesse's Garden is located at the entrance of Bukhansan National park, and is a beautiful garden-type complex cultural space. It is a place that is very popular on social media as well! In the garden, you can find a flowers and trees that have been nurtured for 40 years, as well as modern architecture!
Additionally, there are many restaurants and cafes in the garden, so you can take a break in the middle! It is a perfect place to enjoy the nature and relax.
2. Chang Ucchin Museum of Art
Chang Ucchin is one of the representatives of modern Korean fine art. At this muse,. you can see works that helped contribute to the development of Korean contemporary art, including online exhibitions. When we visited, we had a meaningful time exploring the artwork. There are various modern sculptures in the outdoor exhibition area as well as a restaurant famous for tiramisu at the museum!
3. Gana Art Park
Gana Art Park is the predecessor of the Total Museum of Art, is Korea's first private art museum that opened in 1984. Gana Art Park was created for the purpose of creating a space where everyone, including children could enjoy contemporary art.
It is an experience-oriented museum with areas where children can actively participate and enjoy the art and exhibitions. There are also collections from famous artists such as Andy Warhol and Picasso, as well as various contemporary sculpture outside of the museum.
4. Nari Park
Source: Getty Images
Nari Park in Yangju is a popular tourist destination where you can see all kind of flowers! Every September there is a Globe Amaranth Festival as well as carious cultural events and market festivals! If you even visit Korea in the fall, make sure to take a trip out to Yangju!
Paju
Paju is a city in Korea where it seems time passes by much slower.
The city prides itself on it's large amount of history museums where you can find artifacts from the past and take a trip back into Korea's past days.
1. Paju Book CIty Center
Paju Book City Center is in the Paju publishing complex and is a large communal library where you can find many valuable books., If you are a book lover, you can look around the library without realizing time is passing by.
You might also recognize this place from the Korean dramas 'Chicago Typewriter', 'WWW', or 'Hotel Del Luna'!
2. Provence Village
In this themed village, you will find many beautiful French restaurants, beautiful gardens, murals, and a space where you can enjoy life in harmony with the night lights. There are many greenhouses here as well as outdoor gardens that host many different cultural performances and beautiful events throughout the year. Make sure to stop by and check one out!
3. Hyeri Art Village
Source: Getty Images
Hyeri Art Village is a filled with numerous galleries, museums, exhibition halls, performance halls, small theaters, cafes, restaurants, art shops and creative spaces for artists.
About 300 creators and artists from various fields come here to live in this community village and create art. If you are going to Hyeri Village, we recommend getting more detailed information from the tourist information center before looking around as the area is large and there is much to cover. It may be difficult to scope out everything at once!
Dongducheon
Dongducheon is a city surrounded by mountains. It is also at the end of subway Line 1, which makes it very accessible from Seoul!
1. Foreign Tourist Special Zone
There is a special tourist zone in Bosan-dong in Dongducheon which has traces of the years of US military presence in Korea. This area has developed into a unique place where you can experience all sorts of multi ethnic and multi cultural experiences due to the history of the region.
In the shopping mall in Bonsan-dong, you will be able to find US military clubs, foreign restaurants, workshops, and custom clothing stores.
There are also many interesting cultural festivals and celebrations that are held in the area such as the Korea-U.S Friendship Night, Dongducheon Rock Festival, Halloween Festival and Yetri Flea Market.
2. Donggwang Theater
Source: tvN Reply 1988
For all our K-drama fans, this theather is the place where Hyeri and Park Bo-gum watched a movie together in 'Reply 1988'! Donggwang Theather was first opened in 1959 and is a cinema that seems frozen in time. The signboard is hung the same was as it was in old Korean theaters and the ticket booth still give out tickets in the same way they did back in 1988. For those that want to take a trip back into the past, this is the perfect place to stop by!
3. Nijimori Studio
Nijimori Studio is a theme park toursit attraction that captures the Edo period in Japan, and is a very popular spot on Korean social media. This place is also used as a filimg space for many historical dramas that take place in Japan or China.
As soon as you enter the premise, you will feel as though you have traveled to another period in time!
Pocheon
Pocheon, located in Gyeonggi-do is known for it's outstanding scenery and nature. This city is also a popular spot for drama and movie filming due to it's beautiful landscape.
1. Bidulginang Cascade
This park is a UNESCO World Geopark that preserves the beautiful columnar joint topography of the Hantan River in Pocheon. This spot has also appeared in numerous Korean dramas such as Kingdom and Queen Seondeok.
2. Pocheon Hantan River Sky Bridge
If you walk along the Hantan River and the Bidulinang Cascade, you will come across this 200m long Sky Bridge. This bridge is famous for being a filming location in the popular Korean dramas Crash Langing on You and What's Wrong with Seretary Kim!
Take in the scenery from the 50m high bridge!
3. Pocheon Art Valley
This picturesque emerald lake is located in Pocheon! It is a complex cultural space where you can enjoy art in the nature! It is visited by 400,000 people yearly and is a space where art and nature coexist.
4. Pocheon Herb Island
Pocheon Herb Island is a unique space with a Mediterranean theme. This area is known for having nice night views and beautiful fragrant herbs.
Incheon
Incheon is known for it's beaches, Wolmido isalnd, and it's abundance in culture!
1. Chinatown
Many Chinese immigrants flocked to Incheon in 1883, therefore Incheon has a thriving Chinatown. The streets of Incheon's Chinatown is filled with shopping, art, and delicious food! Make sure to try some delicious Korean-Chinese food like jajangmyeon when you are here!
2. Songdo Central Park
Songdo Central Park is a relaxing space along the waterway and the bustling city of Songdo where you can enjoy a relaxing time by biking, canoeing, or just taking walk around the park!
You can also check out the Incheon Urban History Center to learn more about the history of the city!
3. Wolmido
Wolmido is known for being a hub for culture and art. There are also many fun attractions, restaurants, and cafes that you can enjoy here. This is a popular spot for Koreans when they are on holiday to come to.
Yangpeyong
In Yangpyeong you can find beautiful mountians and rivers together!
1. Dumulmeori
Source: Getty Images
Dumulmeori is where Namhan River and Bukhan River come together and is a famous tourist attraction that has appeared in many Korean dramas and films.
It was also selected as one of the top Korean tourist destinations! If you go in the morning, you will be greeted with a morning mist and sunrise that hits on the hwangpo sail boats, creating a ethereal atmosphere.
2. Koo House Museum
Source: Koo House
Koo House Museum is an art museum that tries to mimic a home atmosphere as a way to make art more approachable and easier to approach. This art museum looks like a home as a way to create a unique art experience.
3. The GREEM
Source :Travel Yangpyeong
This pictureque house is The Greem, which is a mini botanical garden with a cafe-like atmopshere. You can see 200-300 different kinds of flowers and trees here. There is even a glass greenhouse where you can enjoy plants indoors during the winter months.
Danyang
Danyang is a village known for it's beautiful scenery and delicious garlic food! Come here and enjoy garlic dumplings and garlic chicken!
1. Dodamsambong Peaks
The most famous place in Danyang is the Dodamsambong Peak and Seokmun Gate. It is one of the eight sceneic spots of Danyang. Here you can also enjoy the Hwangpo Sailing Boat that passes around Dodamsanbong. You can learn more about Danyang Dodmasambong Peaks here.
2. Danyang Paraglinding
Many Koreans also like to visit Danyang to come paragliding! Come enjoy the beautiful scenery from the sky! If you are interested in paragliding in Danyang, click here!
3. Rose Tunnel
Source: Danyang City
This is Danyang's famous riversie promendae. If you visit in June when the roses are in bloom, you can walk along the Namhan River and enjoy the roses being in full bloom.
Every spring, over 20,000 roses of various colors bloom here and people from all over Korea come to enjoy the scenery!
Where will you be heading off too? Let us know if the comments below! If you have any quesitons, send us an email at help@creatrip.com! Also make sure to follow us on Instagram, Tik Tok and Facebook to stay updated with all things Korea!
