South Korea Travel Guide

Five days covers Seoul and one excursion. Seven days allows Seoul, Busan and Gyeongju or Jeju, which is a practical first trip. Ten to fourteen days suits a broader circuit with Jeju. Three days is possible only as a tight Seoul-only trip, with no time for regional travel.

South Korea is generally considered safe for travellers, including solo visitors, with low violent-crime risk in most tourist areas. Use normal precautions in crowded places, follow weather and hiking alerts, and keep your visa and accommodation details easy to reach during your trip.

The South Korean won (KRW) is used. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, department stores and many restaurants, but keep some cash or a local payment option for markets and small vendors. The exchange rate changes, so check it before you travel.

English is available in major tourist areas, at airports, in hotels and at many transport hubs. It is less widely used outside the big cities, so a translation app is helpful. Menus and transport signs can be hard to read, so download an offline translation app before you travel.

South Korea is on UTC+9, which is 3 hours 30 minutes ahead of India. Check your flight times against local time when you plan arrivals and hotel check-in, especially on overnight flights that cross the date line.

Indian ordinary-passport holders generally need a visa before travel. Visa-free entry and the K-ETA temporary exemption do not generally apply to Indian nationals. Confirm the requirement with the Korean Embassy or its designated visa channel before you book flights.

April to May and September to October are the most comfortable periods. Spring brings cherry blossoms and autumn brings clear skies and foliage. Summer is hot and humid with heavy rain, and winter is cold, so plan indoor activities if you travel in those months.

Yes, with planning. Busan is reached by the KTX train from Seoul in about two and a half hours. Jeju needs a domestic flight and at least four nights to see the island properly. Travellers often say that over-scheduling is the biggest mistake, so keep one regional stop on a short trip.