Korean food Updated 16 October 2026
Korean Food Guide: What to Eat and How to Order It
A traveller guide to Korean food: barbecue, stews, street food, free banchan side dishes, what beginners should order, drinking culture and table manners.
Dynasty palaces and trains of tomorrow
Between a tteokbokki stall and a temple on the sea Korea is waiting for you
My trip
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Every hour worked out, every place open
Day 2 · Seoul · 5 stops- Hanok Langsom Ikseon 10:30-11:30
- Deoksugung Palace 12:00-13:30
- Inwangsan Mountain 14:00-16:00
- HiKR Ground 16:30-18:30
closes 20:00 - Myeongdong Korean BBQ Pig Company 19:00-20:30
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Where to go
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A season for every mood
Every season has its own reason to come.
And at the end of the day, Korean barbecue
Korea is a table too: meat grilled over charcoal, steaming bibimbap, kimchi with every meal and K-pop in the background. Do not leave without knowing what to order and where to sit.
🍖 Barbecue 🍚 Bibimbap 🌶️ Kimchi 🎤 K-pop
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Must reads
The core guides to start from.
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Best Time to Visit South Korea: A Season-by-Season Guide
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Korean Etiquette: What to Do and What to Avoid
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South Korea Visa, K-ETA and Entry Rules by Passport
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Money & practical Updated 14 October 2026
South Korea on a Budget: What Things Cost
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How to get around South Korea: the KTX bullet train, subways, buses and taxis, the T-money card, flights to Jeju, and the map apps you actually need.
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Hiking in Korea: The National Sport Nobody Warns You About
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Money & practical Updated 22 October 2026
Korea Tax Refund for Tourists: What You Actually Get Back
How Korea's tourist VAT refund works: what qualifies, the store counter versus the airport kiosk, and why the net refund is nearer 5 to 8% than 10%.
Culture & K-culture Updated 19 October 2026
KPop Demon Hunters in Seoul: The Real Places, Honestly Sorted
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Busan & the south Updated 18 October 2026
Gamcheon Culture Village: A Hillside of Painted Houses Where People Live
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Jeju Updated 18 October 2026
Lava Tubes and a Sunrise Crater: Volcanic Jeju in One Day
East Jeju holds a tuff cone rising out of the sea and a lava tube you can walk inside. How to fit both into one day and what to wear underground.
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Common questions
Do I need a visa for South Korea?
Many nationalities can visit visa-free for up to 90 days for tourism. Before you fly, check whether you need the online K-ETA travel authorisation or fall under a temporary exemption, and make sure your passport is valid. Our arrival guide has the full details.
When is the best time to visit Korea?
Spring (late March to April, the cherry blossom season) and autumn (October to November, when the leaves turn) are the most beautiful and comfortable. Summer is hot and humid with a rainy season, and winter is cold but great for skiing and for fewer crowds.
How much does Korea cost and how do I pay?
Korea is pricier than Southeast Asia but cheaper than Japan. The currency is the won (KRW) and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. Pick up a T-money transit card for the metro and buses. A good local meal runs around 8 to 12 dollars.
What is Korean food like and can I find something for every taste?
Korean food is built around rice, vegetables, seaweed and grilled meat, so there is always plenty to choose from. Barbecue, bibimbap and kimchi are everywhere, side dishes come free with most meals, and vegetarians will find tofu and vegetable dishes on most menus. Our food guide breaks down what to order.
How do I get around Korea without speaking Korean?
Public transport is excellent: fast KTX trains between cities, and an easy metro in Seoul and Busan with English signage. Apps like Naver Map and Kakao Metro replace Google Maps, which is limited in Korea, and an eSIM sorted in advance means navigation works from the moment you land.
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