Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Korea This Winter | South Korea Travel Guide 2024: Winter Edition
Add these things to your Korea travel bucket list before it's too late!
- Indulge in Korean Winter Street Snacks
- Ice Skating at Seoul City Hall Ice Rink
- Snow Sledding at Ttukseom Hangang Park
- Enjoy Christmas Decorations for Free
- Visit Nami Island
- Go Strawberry Picking
- See the Light Festival at Garden of Morning Calm
- Go Skiing
Anyone that is familiar with Korean weather knows that Korea has 4 distinct seasons. We get white blankets of snow after snowfall at the start of the year. Then follows the cherry blossoms that bloom in every corner. Hot, humid summers welcome increased electricity bills from turning on the AC 24/7, and then we're blessed with vibrant hues of red, orange, and yellow in the fall.
Winters in Korea can be tough. Temperatures reach below 0 degrees Celcius, which may be hard to adjust to for our friends who are visiting from countries with hotter climates. However, there are various attractions that come alive in the winter and activities that can only be enjoyed during colder weather! Check out this list of winter travel must-do's that you can add to your travel bucket list to enhance your winter Korea trip.
Indulge in Korean Winter Street Snacks
There’s nothing quite like enjoying hot, freshly-made Korean street snacks in the freezing winter air. Seasonal treats like hotteok (sweet stuffed pancakes), bungeoppang (fish-shaped pastries filled with red bean or cream), and gunbam (roasted chestnuts) are a must-try. Some of these delicacies are only available during winter, making them extra special for locals and visitors alike.
Pro Tip: Most snack stalls only accept cash or online transfers, so keep some Korean won handy!
Bungeoppang vendors are typically not listed on Naver Maps or Kakao Maps, so finding one often comes down to pure luck—unless you're already familiar with a spot. However, earlier this year, Karrot (당근마켓) introduced a new feature that makes it easier to locate bungeoppang vendors near you: the Bungeoppang Map!
Download the Karrot app here!👇
Ice Skating at Seoul City Hall Ice Rink
Seoul’s City Hall transforms into a winter wonderland every year with its outdoor ice rink. For just 1,000 KRW (1000), you can enjoy an hour of ice skating, including skate and helmet rentals! It’s a fantastic, budget-friendly way to embrace the chilly weather and get into the festive spirit.
Address: 110 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 중구 세종대로 110)
Public Transportation: Subway Station City Hall Station Exit 5
CHANEL THE MAGICAL HOUSE ICE RINK
Lotte Department Store has partnered with Chanel to bring a stunning ice rink to Jamsil, located at Lotte Tower. As a special promotion, customers who spend over 100,000 KRW (100000) at the department store will receive two free tickets to the ice rink. It's the perfect chance to enjoy a luxurious winter experience while indulging in some holiday shopping!
Address: 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul / Lotte World Tower, Jamsil, Outdoor Arena Plaza
Date: November 21, 2024 - January 12, 2025
Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday: 12:00 PM - 8:45 PM (*Last entry at 8:00 PM)
Snow Sledding at Ttukseom Hangang Park
If you’re looking for more outdoor fun, head to Ttukseom Hangang Park for snow sledding. At just 6,000 KRW for unlimited rides, it’s a thrilling activity for all ages. Slide down the snowy hills while enjoying views of the Han River—it’s a classic Korean winter experience. The sled parks are also available at Jamwon Hanggang Park and Yeouido Hanggang Park.
Ttukseom Snow Sledding Park
Address: 139, Gangbyeonbuk-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul (서울특별시 광진구 강변북로 139)
Public Transportation: Subway Line 7, Jayang Station (Ttukseom Hangang Park), Exit 2, a 5-minute walk
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed temporarily from 12:00 PM to 12:40 PM for snow and surface maintenance)
Yeouido Snow Sledding Park
Address: Inside Yeouido Hangang Park Swimming Pool, 82-9 Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (서울시 영등포구 여의도동 82-9 여의도한강공원 수영장 내)
Public Transportation: Subway Line 9, National Assembly Station, Exit 1, a 15-minute walk
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed temporarily from 12:00 PM to 12:40 PM for snow and surface maintenance)
Jamwon Snow Sledding Park
Address: Inside Jamwon Hangang Park Swimming Pool, 145-57 Jamwon-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul (서울시 서초구 잠원로 145-57 (잠원동 121) 잠원한강공원 수영장 내)
Public Transportation: Subway Line 3, Jamwon Station, Exit 4, a 20-minute walk
Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Closed temporarily from 12:00 PM to 12:40 PM for snow and surface maintenance)
Enjoy Christmas Decorations for Free
The holiday spirit comes alive in Korea starting in November, with malls and streets decked out in dazzling Christmas lights and displays. Some of the best spots to admire festive decor include The Hyundai Seoul and Lotte Tower. Wander around, snap Instagram-worthy photos, and soak in the holiday cheer—all for free!
🏷️ LE GRAND THEATRE Harry’s Christmas Show
🗓️ Dates: November 1 (Fri) - December 31 (Tue)
📍 Location: Sounds Forest, 5th Floor, The Hyundai Seoul
🏷️ Shinsegae Department Store Main Branch Christmas Lighting
🗓️ Dates: Starting November 1, 2024 (Fri)
📍 Location: 63 Sogong-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
⏰ Lighting Hours: Daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
*Hours may vary based on last year’s schedule and are subject to change.
*Updates will be made as more information is announced.
Visit Nami Island
Nami Island, especially during the colder months, may seem unappealing to some. It's an outdoor park and the signature pine trees and ginkgo trees are nearly barren. But did you know that Nami Island is most famous for being featured in the OG K-drama, Winter Sonata? The park is covered in a white blanket of snow and the main characters share their first kiss on Nami Island.
One thing you have to do is take pictures in front of the infamous pine tree road! Make sure to get length-wise pictures to get the tall pine trees in the full shot!
Anyways, during the winter months, the island has campfires all across the park where you can huddle up and warm your bodies from the cold. They also have snack stalls that sell marshmallows and sticks, so you can roast the marshmallows around the campfire!
Peacocks and rabbits are seen roaming around freely which reminds you of why you came to the island in the first place, to disconnect from urban life and be one with nature.
Go Strawberry Picking
Strawberries are usually a summer fruit in most countries. However, they are the sweetest and burst with flavor in the winter here in Korea! Foreigners are often left in shock after tasting how good Korean winter strawberries are.
Both Koreans and international tourists like to go strawberry picking in the winter!
Be extra and bring your own Nutella, whipped cream, and condensed milk to eat with your strawberries!
You can experience strawberry picking for yourself in the tours below.
Strawberry Picking & more tours
See the Light Festival at Garden of Morning Calm
Garden of Morning Calm holds a light festival in the winter months when the flowers are not in bloom. The nights are illuminated with bright lights with different themes in each section of the garden.
This is one of the places that you wouldn't expect to enjoy but end up as one of your favorite moments in Korea!
Check out the link below for tours to the Garden of Morning Calm!
Go Skiing
Korea may be a small country but it is made of mountainous terrains so there are several great ski resorts not far from Seoul. Sure, the slopes aren't as long as the ones in the Rockies or the Alps, but if it's your first time skiing, the slopes here are perfect for you!
There are also expert-level slopes that real Olympic skiers competed on at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics! Ski resorts like Vivaldi Park have top-notch facilities like saunas, karaoke rooms, bowling alleys, and more!
On the other hand, if you're a ski beginner or if your skiing is a little rusty, basic ski lessons are included in all ski tour packages listed on Creatrip!
Most of the ski resorts may be hard to get to on your own but our tours all have transportation included! Check out the link below to see what options we have!
We hope that this has helped you plan out your winter Korea trip! If you have any questions or concerns, please leave a comment below or send us an email at help@creatrip.com! You can follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook to stay updated on all things Korea!
