South Korea trips
South Korea is where you sip tea in centuries-old hanok houses, wander palaces built for royals, and dive into neighborhoods fueled by fashion, K-pop, and late-night eats. It’s history and hype living side by side.
Trip reviews
The people have spoken, and they looove South Korea.
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Elizabeth
This trip was a perfect mixture of sightseeing, cuisine, cultural experiences, shopping, and meeting other amazing EF travelers! The itinerary EF created offered so many aspects of Korea, I truly enjoyed the blend of modern and cultural experiences. The highlight of the trip was...
Traveled in Oct 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Candace
Our guides were so fun and helpful! Each have their own style of education which makes the trip exciting. I have unforgettable memories, thank you EF!
Traveled in Sep 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Brooke
I've been wanting to visit both Japan and Korea for a few years now but was nervous about visiting someplace I didn't really speak the language, so EF seemed like the best idea! Having a group of people who are generally just as eager to travel and have fun makes going on a...
Traveled in Jun 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
4 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Anonymous
This trip was super fun. I wish it was longer so that we could spend more time in the different cities we went to or add more places to go to. There’s plenty to see and do. Our tour guide Yoon was phenomenal! Such a great guy, wiling and eager to help us with any solo...
Traveled in Sep 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler John-Henry
Amazing trip. Highly recommend
Traveled in Nov 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Liz
Went on this tour in October 2025 and had a spectacular time. On top of providing great recommendations for free time activities, Johnny was great at accommodating our separately booked activities, providing instructions on how to get around Seoul and Busan via public transit...
Traveled in Oct 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler Anonymous
The perfect tour with an amazing tour guide. Yoon made the tour seamless, efficient, and incredibly fun.
Traveled in Sep 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
I had such a blast on the trip! This was my first EF tour and I would definitely book again. I really liked having about 2 days in each country where there were guided activities and tours and then still having free days where we could explore and do activities on our own. The...
Traveled in Aug 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
5th-time traveler Danielle
Life changing trip and amazing tour guide!! 100% recommend! Can’t wait for my next trip!
Traveled in Aug 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
2nd-time traveler James
I just want to say this trip was amazing. I had the time of my life. I met amazing people and had two of the best tour directors in all times.
Traveled in Jul 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Marissa
South Korea was a dream. I loved every second of it. Thank you Mikyung for the best trip ever!!!
Traveled in May 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
It was so nice traveling with same-age like minded people. This trip was amazing! We had an amazing tour director (JJ) and she made this trip the experience that it was. It was so well organized and we learned a lot about the history and culture while we were traveling. She...
Traveled in Apr 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Izabelle
My first trip with EF was absolutely amazing! JJ, our tour guide, made the experience unforgettable. She listened attentively to all our requests and went out of her way to ensure we could see and do everything we wanted. The trip itself was incredibly fun, with plenty of free...
Traveled in Apr 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
5th-time traveler Anonymous
Such a great trip! Even though there wasn’t as much free time as other trips, it was still amazing. Fast paced, but a good time. I would recommend coming early or staying late, even just one day, to do anything you didn’t get to do. Leeshin was a phenomenal tour director! Always...
Traveled in Apr 2025 on South Korea Spotlight
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Tia
I don’t usually write reviews, but since this was my first time being out of my home country by myself and had such an amazing experience I just had to. While booking the trip I had a hard time deciding on if I wanted to go to Japan or South Korea, so when I saw they had both of...
Traveled in Mar 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
5 out of 5 stars
1st-time traveler Anonymous
An incredible experience from start to finish. Both tour directors were very knowledgeable and kind. Often giving advice on what to do during free time and telling others hidden gems to experience.
Traveled in Mar 2025 on Japan & South Korea Getaway
Pics or it didn’t happen
Just think...this could be you.
K-pop is only the beginning
Cultural experiences you cannot miss.

Cheffing the classics
Waaay more than just kbbq. Level up your tteokbokki, kimchi, and bulgogi game in a cooking class on Japan & South Korea Getaway.

Dancing your heart out
Finally, the climactic moment of your Black Pink arc. Take a K-pop dance lesson with some real pros on South Korea Spotlight.
We’re that really organized friend
Our group trips are known for unforgettable cultural experiences, but we’re super type-A, too. We coordinate, book, prepare, and obsess—so you can have the best trip ever with your new travel friends.

Multilingual Tour Director & local guides

Sightseeing activities and excursions

Entrances to top attractions

Metro passes in major cities

Hand-picked accommodations

New travel BFFs

Welcome & Farewell Dinners

Private deluxe motorcoach
South Korea by the insiders
Find trip inspiration, unforgettable stories, and more from our travel-obsessed team.
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Know before you go
Insider tips about how to navigate South Korean culture.
The official language of South Korea is Korean. While it may feel awkward at first, attempting the local language goes a long way when navigating a city and interacting with people. Practice these basic phrases to get started:
- Hello: An-nyeong-ha-se-yo
- Goodbye: An-nyeon-ghi ga-se-yo
- Thank you: Go-map-seum-ni-da
- Excuse me: Sill-ye-ham-ni-da
- Yes: Ne
- No: A-ni-yo
- Cheers: Geonbae
As you prepare to spend time in a new culture, here are some expert tips to help you get the lay of the land and feel like a true local.
- Short bows with eyes closed are a common form of greeting.
- Age is considered very important, and may be one of the first things locals ask about upon meeting you.
- Chopsticks are a staple of the cuisine and culture. Attempting to use chopsticks instead of western cutlery will earn you some respect with the locals, but be wary of using chopsticks to point at someone, poke at food, or play them like musical instruments - these are all signs of disrespect.
- If you need to put down your chopsticks while eating, put them on the table or lie them horizontally across the rim of your bowl. Avoid sticking them upright into the bowl.
- Korean food is spicy, but resist the urge to blow your nose at the table. Excuse yourself to the restroom if you need to do so.
- There is a distinct lack of public trash cans throughout the cities in South Korea. Most locals carry their trash in a bag with them until they come across one.
- Pushing and shoving isn't considered rude. Cities are incredibly crowded, and bumping into people constantly is so inevitable, that you won't be hearing any sort of "excuse me".
- Avoid comparing South Korea to other Asian countries, particularly Japan. Koreans are very proud people that value the country's individualism, and they have a rocky history with Japan.
South Korea's food scene is one of its most beloved aspects bursting with flavor and variety. These are just a few signature offerings to get you started off:
- Kimchi: Get ready for a lot of kimchi. Many Koreans don't consider a meal complete without these fermented vegetables.
- Bulgogi: Grilled marinated beef, often flavored with garlic and onions.
- Bibimbap: This rice-based dish is loaded up with toppings that can vary wildly but often included beef, eggs, and vegetables.
- Japchae: A typical stir fry differentiated by the use of glass noodles made from sweet potato starch.
- Fried chicken: There's a reason Korean fried chicken places have become popular elsewhere in the world. The crispy texture and sweet-and-sauces make it dangerously craveable.
- Hotteok: These sweet, syrup-filled pancakes with notes of cinnamon and peanuts are a popular street food.
- Samgyetang: A ginseng chicken soup for the soul with garlic, scallion, rice, and spices.
- Makgeolli: A light, sweet rice wine that is easy to drink but can pack a punch.
- Soju: This "Korean vodka" typically made from rice comes in a wide variety of flavors and is typically sipped neat and chilled.

































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