Autumn is special in Korea as the cool, clear weather is perfect for outdoor activities. The autumn scenery is magnificent not only because of colorful leaves, but also the beautiful sunflowers, cosmos, silver grass, pink muhly, and other vegetation turning the landscape into a painting. Check out these top autumn activities that allow you to take in the wonderful scenery, sample delicious foods and simply have fun with your family and friends!

Camping and glamping are great ways to spend a fall getaway in Korea. You can find campsites in different settings near mountains, rivers and beaches across the country. Here are four destinations to check out for your camping trip in Korea.

Finding a campsite:

You can find more options on Go Camping, Korea Tourism Organization’s official campground website. The site is in Korean but you can use the browser’s translation feature to view it in English. Search by region or use filters and tags such as fall foliage, stargazing, cultural heritage and walking trails to find places that fit your trip. You can also search Naver Map using the destination plus “캠핑장” (campground) or “글램핑” (glamping) or compare options on travel booking sites like Trip.com or Agoda.

National Parks

For a more adventurous experience, try a multi-day hike at a national park to conquer more challenging courses or to just go at a more relaxed pace. It’s important to note that camping in the parks is illegal in Korea, except in designated areas. If you wish to spend the night in a national park, visit the Korea National Park Service website to explore available accommodations. Learn more about camping in Korea’s national parks (Check QR code).

Note:

If you need assistance with booking, please call 1670-9201 (available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m.) or email csnp@knps.or.kr.

• Reservations

• Learn more

Gyeongju

Gyeongju is a great choice if you want to combine camping with sightseeing. The city is surrounded by historic sites from the ancient Silla Kingdom as well as mountains and the East Sea. You can spend the day exploring temples, royal tombs and other cultural sites, then head toward the coast or countryside for a relaxing time outdoors.

• Naver Map

Gapyeong

Surrounded by mountains, streams and rivers, Gapyeong is one of the most popular areas near Seoul for camping and outdoor activities. It has plenty of natural scenery, making fall especially beautiful when the leaves begin to change. You can also combine your camping trip with nearby destinations like Nami Island and Jara Island. 

• Naver Map

Taean

Taean is one of the best choices for travelers who want to camp near the sea. Its long West Coast shoreline is home to 27 beaches, pine forests and camping areas near the water. During the day, you can explore the mudflats, go fishing, visit a local seafood market or simply walk along the coast. In the evening you can sit near the water and enjoy a barbecue with clams and other seafood you catch in the mudflats.

• Naver Map

Jeju Island

Jeju offers a variety of camping options. Depending on where you stay, you can camp near the coast, in the forest or around the island’s calm inland areas. Fall is a great time to enjoy Jeju outdoors in cooler weather and a camping trip can easily be combined with hiking, coastal drives and sightseeing. 

• Naver Map

Many famous mountains in Korea are home to Buddhist temples as Buddhism was a dominant religion for over a thousand years. These temples feature a peaceful atmosphere that blends beautifully with the surrounding mountains. Regardless of your belief, anyone can visit, but did you know that some temples offer overnight stays? Travelers can experience meditation, trekking and other activities within the temple grounds for a taste of monk life.

Temple Stay website:

The “Templestay” website offers comprehensive details and a list of temples with stay programs. The website is easy to navigate even for foreigners, so you can browse options that suit your taste, from historical temples to fun activities. Check the QR code for booking. 

Price:

Most temple stay programs are affordable, usually from 30,000 won to 80,000 won per night. Many temples also accept credit cards.

Reservations for Golgulsa:

Golgulsa is a popular temple that offers a variety of programs with English-speaking monks. If you want to learn martial arts, they have programs for you.

• Reservations

• Reservations for Golgulsa

Trains in the fall are full of travelers with backpacks who want to leave their homes and explore other cities. The great parts of the train trip are enjoying the beautiful scenery from the tracks and trying tasty local food while wandering a different city. There are a lot of great destinations to visit when traveling by train, but here are three spots that are the best during the fall.

Jeongju

Things to try

• Wearing hanok at Jeonju Hanok Village

• Walking through the bamboo forest at Gyeonggijeon Shrine

• Wandering at Jaman Mural Village

• Seeing golden ginkgo trees at Jeonjuhyanggyo Local Confucian School

• Eating local food at Nambu Traditional Market

Suncheon

Things to try

• Enjoying one of the greatest landscapes in Korea at Suncheonman Wetland Reserve

• Seeing flowers at Suncheonman National Garden

• Stepping back into to Joseon Dynasty at Nakan Eupseong Folk Village

• Taking photos at Suncheon Drama Open Flim Set

• Visiting the historical Songgwangsa Temple

Gangneung

Things to try

• Riding the Jeongdongjin Railbike

• Going on a cafe tour on Anmok Beach

• Renting a scooter or bike at Gyeongpodae Beach

• Trying local food at Gangneung Jungang Market

• Walking at Daegwallyeong Natural Recreation Forest

• Walking the Jeongdongsimgok Badabuchae Trail along the East Sea

Visit The Five Royal Palaces in Seoul, wear beautiful traditional clothes, hanbok, and take photos in the breathtaking autumn scenery! In Korea, wearing hanbok near historical sites is a popular activity during the fall and spring seasons. Among the numerous historical sites, Gyeongbokgung Palace stands out as a top destination for this experience. For those who wear hanbok, the admission fees for all five palaces which cost about 3,000 won are free.

Please note that Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed on Tuesdays and rental shops may close early in case of rain.

Hanbok rental shops

Hanbok rental shops are easy to find around the major palaces in Seoul and other historic sites. Around Gyeongbokgung Palace, many are clustered near Gyeongbokgung Station Exit 3 and 4. Most shops offer a variety of colors and designs, and rentals usually cost about 15,000 won to 45,000 won depending on the style and rental time. Similar shops can also be found around other popular palaces, traditional villages and hanok areas. 

The K-Royal Culture Festival

Experience life of the royal family in Joseon Dynasty at the K-Royal Culture Festival, held at the royal palaces in Seoul. During the festival period, many visitors rent hanboks to fully experience Korea’s royal culture. Take this wonderful opportunity to wear a hanbok and enjoy the beautiful palace festival!

• Dates: Oct. 7 (Wed.) to Oct. 11 (Sun.) 

• Location: Gyeongbokgung Palace / Changdeokgung Palace / Changgyeonggung Palace / Deoksugung Palace

Since hiking is a popular activity in Korea, make sure to follow the rules to prevent harm to the local nature and disrupt the ecology of the inhabitants at national parks. 

• Do not enter restricted areas or you could be fined 200,000-500,000 won.

• Do not making loud noises with devices like Bluetooth speakers or this can result in fines starting at 600,000 won.

• Pets are not usually allowed in national parks except service dogs, but some national parks have designated pet-friendly areas.  

• Drinking alcohol in shelters or other designated no-drinking zones can result in a 100,000 won fine.

• Smoking outside designated areas or carrying flammable materials can result in fines from 600,000 won to 2 million won.

• Do not camp or cook in areas that are not designated: maximum 500,000 won fine.

• Do not take forest products like acorns, mushrooms and wild greens: maximum 50,000,000 won fine or five years in prison.

While hiking, it’s very common to friendly say hi or engage in chatting with other hikers. For hiking greetings, Koreans usually say “good work!” and “cheer up!” to encourage each other instead of saying hello when running into people in the mountains. Give some of these phrases below a try to give your fellow hikers on the path a smile! Making interaction with locals will definitely add more excitement on hiking!

• Take care/Good work/ Keep up the hard work: Sugo-haseyo (수고하세요)

• Cheer up/ Hang in there: Himnaeseyo (힘내세요)

• You can do it!: Hal su isseoyo! (할 수 있어요!)

• Go first please/After you: Meonjeo gaseyo (먼저 가세요)

• Thank you: Gamsa-hamnida (감사합니다)

• How far should I go more?: Eolmana deo gaya haeyo? (얼마나 더 가야 해요?)

• I love hiking: Jeoneun deung-san-ee joayo (저는 등산이 좋아요)

• The autumn leaves are really beautiful: Danpung-ee neomu ah-reum-da-woyo (단풍이 너무 아름다워요)

• Mountain: San (산)

• Hiking: Deung-san (등산)

• Nature: Jayeon (자연)

• Fall/Autumn: Gaeul (가을)

• Autumn leaves: Danpung (단풍)

Camp Casey

USAG Yongsan

USAG Daegu

Fleet Chinhae

Osan Air Base

Camp Humphreys

Kunsan Air Base

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