Why South Korea for a Honeymoon
Korea gives you range in a small, efficient package. Within ten days you can walk palace grounds in rented hanbok, soak in a spa with a sea view, hike a volcanic crater and eat your way through markets that stay open past midnight. The KTX bullet train and cheap domestic flights mean you spend little of that time in transit.
The food is a major draw. Grilling pork belly at your table, sharing a bubbling pot of kimchi stew and working through a spread of side dishes is an intimate, sociable way to eat together.
Safety matters on a honeymoon too. Korea is one of the easiest places in Asia to wander at night. Cities are clean and well lit, with low street crime.
There is also plenty of romance built into local culture. Couples rings, matching outfits and photo studios are part of everyday dating life. On a spring weekend, Seoul's parks are full of couples in matching jackets.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and fall are the sweet spots.
Cherry blossoms usually arrive on Jeju and in Busan in late March, reaching Seoul in early April. Gyeongju's lakeside and tomb parks are among the prettiest blossom spots in the country. May brings warm days and fresh green hills before the summer humidity.
The rainy season, called jangma, typically runs from late June into late July, followed by hot, sticky weather into August. Typhoons can affect Jeju and the south coast in late summer and early fall.
Fall foliage begins in the mountains in October and reaches Seoul in late October and early November. Clear skies and crisp air make this the best time for hiking.
Winter is cold in Seoul, often below freezing, but it brings clear skies, ski resorts and quieter palaces. Jeju and Busan stay milder. Expect higher prices and crowds around Lunar New Year and Chuseok, the harvest holiday in early fall.
Where to Go
Our guides cover four places that make up most Korean honeymoons.
- Seoul: the capital, with five royal palaces, the hanok lanes of Bukchon and Ikseon-dong, Han River parks and a dining and nightlife scene that never really stops.
- Gyeongju: the former Silla capital in the southeast, with Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram Grotto, royal burial mounds and a lit-up palace pond at night.
- Busan: the country's second city, a port with sandy beaches at Haeundae and Gwangalli, a seaside temple and a famous fish market.
- Jeju Island: a volcanic island off the south coast with Hallasan, the country's highest peak, sunrise crater views, coastal trails and resort hotels.
If you have extra time, the Seoraksan mountains on the east coast are spectacular in fall. Jeonju is known for its hanok village and food.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
This route uses trains and one short flight, with no backtracking.
- Days 1 to 4: Seoul. Recover from the flight with a palace morning, then work through Bukchon, Insadong, a Han River picnic, a market crawl and N Seoul Tower at night.
- Day 5: KTX to Gyeongju, about two hours. Bike between the royal tombs and see Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit after dark.
- Day 6: Bulguksa and Seokguram in the morning, then a slow afternoon in a hanok cafe.
- Days 7 and 8: Busan, under an hour away. Beach walks at Haeundae, sunset bridge views at Gwangalli and the seaside Haedong Yonggungsa temple.
- Days 9 and 10: Fly to Jeju for a sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong, a coastal drive and a final night in Jungmun.
Fly back to Seoul to connect home, or add days on Jeju if the weather is good.
Budget and Costs
These are approximate figures and depend on season and exchange rates.
Top hotels in Seoul and Busan often start around $300 to $500 a night, with suites and peak dates higher. Good midrange hotels typically fall between about $120 and $220. Traditional hanok guesthouses in Seoul and Gyeongju vary widely, from simple rooms to designer stays.
Food can be cheap or lavish. A bowl of noodles or a bibimbap at a casual restaurant usually costs around $8 to $15. A Korean barbecue dinner for two with drinks often runs $40 to $80. Fine dining tasting menus in Seoul can cost several hundred dollars.
Transit is a bargain. Subway rides cost about a dollar or two. A KTX ticket from Seoul to Busan is about $45 to $65 one way in standard class. Domestic flights to Jeju are often inexpensive if booked early. Tipping is not expected.
Getting There and Around
Most couples fly nonstop into Incheon International Airport, about an hour west of central Seoul. Korean Air, Asiana, Delta, United and several other carriers serve US gateways. The AREX express train runs nonstop to Seoul Station. Limousine buses reach most big hotels.
For travel between cities, the KTX high-speed train is fast and comfortable. Seoul to Busan takes a little over two hours on the quickest services. Gyeongju has its own KTX station outside town.
Jeju is reached by short domestic flights from Gimpo in Seoul, Busan and other cities. The Gimpo to Jeju route is one of the busiest air routes in the world, with departures all day.
Taxis are plentiful and fairly cheap. Kakao T is the main app for calling one. An International Driving Permit is required to rent a car, which mainly makes sense on Jeju.
Culture and Etiquette
Remove your shoes when entering homes, some restaurants with floor seating, temples and guesthouses. Look for a raised step or shoe shelves at the entrance.
At meals, wait for the eldest at the table to start. Pour drinks for each other rather than for yourself. Hold the glass with two hands when someone older pours for you. Never stand chopsticks upright in rice, which recalls funeral rites.
Use two hands, or one hand supporting the other wrist, when handing over money or gifts. Keep your voice low on the subway. Leave the priority seats empty.
Public baths and jjimjilbang spas are single sex and require full nudity in the bathing area. Couples can still enjoy the shared lounges and sauna rooms together in the provided clothing.
Wearing hanbok to palaces is welcomed and often earns free entry. Tipping is not customary.
Quick tips
- Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you land; Google Maps gives no walking or driving directions in Korea.
- Buy a T-money card at the airport convenience store for subways, buses and many taxis.
- Book KTX train seats ahead for weekends and holidays such as Chuseok, when trains sell out.
