Seoul is an amazing city. There’s so much to see and do! When I first moved there I received a typed list of places within Seoul to visit. It was single-spaced 3 pages, front and back… and didn’t even scratch the surface of all the neighborhoods, hidden gems, and more. BUT! There comes a point when enough is enough and one must escape the urban madness for a change of pace and change in scenery. Enter: these 4 Family-Friendly Weekend Getaways near Seoul!
I cherished our time spent further out in Korea! It gave us a chance to see a different side of the country of South Korea, and its people. From beaches to mountains…historic temples and fresh seafood…there’s so much to offer!
Here are my FOUR favorite weekend trips we took as a family. They are equally accessible as solo, couple, and friend travel too!
1. Busan
Train: 2 hrs 30 min; Car: about 4 hours; Bus: about 4 hours
When we visited Busan my 2 year old for some reason called it “Poh Poh Beach” and to this day, that is what I want to call it. I loved, loved Busan! If you are tired of the uptight urban pace of Seoul, then Busan might be just what you need to relax and slow down for a few days.
The train ride down was half the fun for my toddler. (Read more in our FULL guide to Busan for Young Families).
Busan is a beach city with beautiful rocky coastlines. It was a great mix of Northern & Southern California scenery & vibes in my opinion. The Korean food was fabulous. There is a huge variety of other cuisines available too– including the best Indian food I had while living in Korea!!
(Read about the 5 foods unique to Busan you should try HERE!)
Busan is pretty large, and there’s plenty to see and do in this coastal city. The fish market, Gamcheon cultural village, and some of the other nearby hikes were highlights for my family. We spent about 3 days touring and on the beach, which was a good amount of time for us.
We used public transportation the whole time which was doable– but not preferable.
FYI: your T-money subway card will work on the Busan subway system as well!
Major Busan sites include: Haeundae Beach, Jagalchi Fish Market, Gamcheon Cultural Village, unique street food (still dreaming of Busan’s specialty ssiat hotteoks…Korean fried scone-pancakes filled with brown sugar & nuts)
2. Nami Island
Car: 1.5 hours (recommended) Line 7 Subway/Train: 1-2 hours
As you can see, Nami Island is relatively close geographically to Seoul. Don’t let that fool you, though! You’ll feel a million miles away in this charming forested wonderland.
Nami Island is an important place for fans deep into K-dramas. Many famous scenes & series were filmed here on the island, and lots of girls come to get their photo ops.
But there’s still a lot to offer you at Nami Island, even if you aren’t big into the dramas. It’s a beautiful nature haven– especially in juxtaposition to the concrete jungle that is Seoul.
How to Get On Nami Island
Regardless of how you get to this area from Seoul, you’ll need to take a ferry boat to enter the island itself. The ride is quick!
What do kids like to do on Nami Island?
For kids, there’s a small train ride that takes you around the island. My boys loved exploring the woods and enjoying the warm, gooey hotteoks. Playgrounds and ostriches (yes, so random!) were other highlights for my kiddo.
When should I visit Nami Island?
Autumn is a fabulous time to visit. There are tall yellow gingko trees lining the walkways in magical ways. It is, however, also the most crowded time to visit.
We visited on a cold winter weekend, during which time: my phone wasn’t functioning properly, and my son got a 104 F fever that night on the island…(there is no doctor on this island). I was there with my baby and toddler, and my dear friend and her 3 young children. This weekend was NOT one I’m dying to replicate in some ways, BUT!! the beauty of the island (and good company) made this chaotic and quick trip worth it! I highly recommend a visit to Nami Island.
3. Seoraksan National Park & Sokcho Beach
Car: 2 hours; Bus: 2 hrs 30 min
These two destinations are decidedly separate, but close enough geographically to fit them into one weekend away! I also like the pairing of big hiking adventures + relaxing afternoons on the beach. We did this trip with friends and had a great time.
Seoraksan National Park
We were told that Seoraksan is THE Korean national park to prioritize, and I’m glad we did. The views at the top of the mountains were incredible. We took a cable car up to a major summit, and combined that with some lighter hikes. You can do as little or as much hiking as you’d like.
There are also some traditional temples and Buddha statues within the park. It’s well maintained and the distinct rocky mountains (not THOSE Rocky Mountains) made it a great day of exploring for us- even with a toddler and a baby in tow.
Sokcho Beach
Sokcho Beach is nice! The sand and waves were pleasant and we all loved splashing around in the water all day.
Do be aware that certain Korean beaches “close” during off-season months…sometime in July-early September is often the time period where lifeguards are present and swimming is allowed.
Also, Koreans dress with a lot of coverage at the beach. You can expect to find the vast majority of beach-dwellers wearing long sleeves, longer shorts, hats, and cover-ups in order to protect their skin! As foreigners we dressed slightly different, and it was OK.
4. Jeju
Flight: 2 hrs 30 min (recommended!)
Last, but certainly not least, JEJU should be on your list for Seoul weekend getaways. It’s the crowning jewel of “getaways” for Koreans. The flights aren’t too long and are incredibly cheap- you can easily get a $15-30 flight to Jeju City. However, you’ll want to rent a car for the duration of your time on Jeju. If that’s not possible, you can join a bus tour (our friends did this).
Why visit Jeju?
There are museums upon museums so you’re bound to find something that interests you. The main reason you should visit Jeju, though, is for the beautiful scenery and excellent beaches. Jeju is a volcanic island and there are tons of waterfalls and unique rock formations to explore.
(This article’s cover photo was taken on Sunrise Peak, a favorite Jeju hike for our family.)
There are also several foods specific to Jeju:
- hallabong oranges in winter
- black pork year-round
- peanut ice cream; native to Udo Island (a smaller island off of Jeju Island we visited and adored).
Read more about our trip to Jeju! I wrote a complete guide for young families based on our time there:
Your turn!
Where are your favorite weekend getaways near Seoul??
PST! The beautiful and historic town of Jeonju was on my list before the pandemic crushed those dreams– so please visit there for me please!
Let me know all of your thoughts in the comments below!
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