Finished exploring Seoul, but still have some time to kill before heading to Jeju or Busan? Luckily for you, the South Korean capital makes a great home base for exploring more of the northern part of the country. There are so many easy day trips to choose from! Below I’ve pulled together 5 super popular tourist destinations, all of which can be reached in under 2 hours from Seoul. You’ll find a mix of full and half day trip ideas.
Most of the day trips mentioned below can be done through tour groups that provide bus transportation. Others, like Incheon, are easily accessible via public transportation. I’ve included the time it takes to get to each location, as well as the average time visitors generally spend there!
Tour the Demilitarized Zone
Average Day Trip Duration: 8 – 10 hours
Distance from Seoul: approx. 1 hour via tour bus.
The Demilitarized zone, or DMZ for short, is an approximately 154 mile long neutral zone between North and South Korea that was established at the end of the Korean War in 1953. The buffer zone is technically only about 2.5 miles wide, but generally when people refer to the DMZ they mean all of the land from the border to the Civilian Control Line (CCL). The CCL is a security border separating the DMZ from civilian areas.
The only way to visit the DMZ is through an approved tour agency. You cannot DIY this trip. Keep i mind that tourists must have their passport with them at all times in the DMZ. Photography is restricted or prohibited in some areas, including the Joint Security Area and the Third Infiltration Tunnel. While not every tour is the same, they often include a number of attractions in Paju such as Imjingak Peace Park, Jangdan Station and the Dora Observatory. Book yourself a tour on Klook!
Majang Lake Suspension Bridge
Average Day Trip Duration: 4 – 5 hours
Distance from Seoul: approx. 20 minutes via tour bus.
Located in Paju in the Gyeonggi-do Province northwest of Seoul, the Majang Lake suspension bridge is the longest towerless suspension bridge in South Korea. The bridge has a clear bottom, giving you views of the lake as you cross. Be prepared, it’s a little wobbly! The surrounding area also offers water sports, Bogwangsa Temple, Byukchoji Gardens, restaurants and cafes, making it easy to spend an entire day here!
Suspension bridges have been built left and right in South Korea over the last decade, so which is the longest is often contested. Also in Paju, the Gamaksan suspension bridge was the longest for a short time at 150 meters, until the Majang opened at 220 meters. Instead of crossing a lake, the Gamaksan Suspension bridge is up in the mountains. Visiting the Majang bridge can be it’s own excursion, but tour agencies also often include it in their DMZ tours. If you’re looking to make a day of it, check out this Klook tour.
MBC Dream Center Studio Tour
Average Day Trip Duration: 7 – 8 hours
Distance from Seoul: approx. 30 minutes via tour bus.
MBC, short for Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, is a leading tv and radio broadcaster in South Korea. The Dream Center, located in Goyang City, is the largest indoor tv studio in the country. The building spans 10 stories (plus 4 basement levels) and nearly 850,000 sq ft. A number of popular K-dramas/shows are produced here, including The King of the Masked Singer and Champion.
On the Dream Center tour, you get a behind the scenes look at tv control rooms, script rehearsal spaces, and studio stages/sets. Before heading back to Seoul you’ll also make a stop at the nearby MBC Headquarters and Garden Radio Studio. If you take the tour on a Monday or Wednesday, you can even watch a live rehearsal! Everyone on the tour gets to take home their own script booklet as well. You can book this tour through KTourStory on Klook.
Nami Island
Average Day Trip Duration: 6 – 8 hours
Distance from Seoul: approx. 1.5 hours via tour bus/ferry – up to 2.5 hours via public transit.
This river island shaped like a half-moon is known for its beautiful tree-lined paths, water features, and one of the longest ziplines in all of Asia. It was created in 1944 when the land around the island flooded due to the construction of the Cheongpyeong Dam to the south. The privately run island is the home of a self-declared micronation, the Naminara Republic. It seems to be more of a marketing tactic than anything else, but it worked because close to 3 million tourists visit the island annually.
Also helping it become a popular tourist attraction was being featured as the main setting for the popular K-drama Winter Sonata. At the end of Metasequoia Lane, you’ll find a statue commemorating the main characters of the show! When visiting the island, People often lump in stops to The Garden of Morning Calm and Gapyeong Rail Park as well – you can check out all the different available options here.
Incheon
Average Day Trip Duration: 6 – 8 hours
Distance from Seoul: 45 min – 1 hr+ via public transit.
Located just to the west of Seoul, Incheon is a major transportation hub – home to South Korea’s main international airport, Incheon International Airport, as well as a busy port. It’s the third most populous city in the country, after Seoul and Busan. Popular attractions in this modern city include Songdo Central Park, Hyeungryunsa Temple, Wolmido Island, and the Gwangseongbo Fortress. You could even hop on a ferry to one of the nearby islands to spend some time on the beach!
Some people choose to spend the last night of their South Korea trip in Incheon to make their day a little easier before an international flight. There are plenty of hotel options both in the city, as well as at the airport itself. My mom stayed at the Sheraton Grand Incheon Hotel and loved it!
Not Worth The Trip
Italian Village & Petite France
Average Day Trip Duration: 2 – 3 hours
Distance from Seoul: approx. 1 hour via car/tour bus.
These two theme parks/cultural villages are located next to each other in Gapyeong, by Cheongpyeong Lake. The Italian Village is themed around Pinocchio and Leonardo da Vinci, while Petite France is a nod to the novel, The Little Prince. They feel a bit (or a lot) like cheesy tourist traps and are often included in tours to Nami Island. So depending on the tour you choose, there’s a chance you might not have a choice but to stop. They’re definitely not worth making a trip to see them specifically!
What are some other great day trips from Seoul, South Korea?
Let me know in the comments!
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