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TOP 18 Winter Places to Visit in & out Seoul, Korea 2023-2024
Winter holiday in Korea! Where are the best places to go in Seoul or nearby during winter?
Have fun at the snow sledding hills (yes, even for adults!), ice-skating right in Seoul city or skiing at one of the fabulous ski resorts near Seoul! For the non-skiers, look for a Korea's ski resort with gondola rides. Enjoy the thrill of riding through beautiful snowy landscape and ski slopes to the mountain top, covered with fresh puffy snow and taking in the awesome winter views right in front of you.
For nature lovers, enjoy quiet moments at the base of Seoul's National Parks, taking in the beauty of the freezing rivers, snow covered tall trees and walking paths.
For the more adventurous, a winter hike with the proper winter hiking gears to Seoul's mountain peaks will be a memorable experience.
Other fabulous winter festivals held around the country include the popular ice fishing festivals, snow festivals, lighting festivals and strawberry picking (& jam making) festivals.
Here are KoreaToDo's TOP Winter Places and Activities in Seoul and around:
Within Seoul
1. Seoul Plaza - Ice Skating Rink
서울광장 스케이트장
Highlights: City Center / Main Ice Rink, Children Ice Rink & Curling Rink
Period:⏳(ref: 21 Dec 2022 - 12 Feb 2023)
Hours: 10:00 - 21:30 (Sun-Thu) /
10:00 - 23:00 (Fri, Sat, Public Holidays)
Fees: 1,000 won (1 hr, including skate rental)
Getting There: City Hall Station (Line 1/2), Exit 5, 1 min walk
Address: 110, Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul | 서울특별시 중구 세종대로 110 (태평로1가)
Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink (Seoul)
Seoul Plaza Ice Skating Rink (Seoul)
Highlights: Large Skating Rink / Other attractions to explore at Olympic Park
Period: ⏳(ref: 30 Dec 2019 to 2 Feb 2020)
Hours: 9:00-19:50
Fees (incl. skates & helmet rental): 50 mins: 3,000 won / Day-pass: 10,000 won / Gloves: 1,000 won
Getting There: Mongchontoseong Station (line 8, exit 1)
👉 Details on Olympic Park & how to get there.
Olympic Park - Ice Skating Rink (Seoul)
Highlights: Winter snow / Frozen rivers / Snow covered trees, paths or peaks.
Period: Dec 2023 to Mar 2024 / Hiking at night is prohibited (from sunset to 2 hrs before sunrise)
Fees: Free
Getting There: Winter walking experience at the base: Bus from Gireum Station (17 mins) / For Baegundae Peak: Dobongsan Station & a short walk to the park
👉 Details on Bukhansan National Park and how to get there.
Bukhansan National Park (Seoul)
Bukhansan National Park (Seoul)
4. Seoul Land - Winter Festival Luna Happy Holidays
(Accessible on Seoul Metro)
Highlights: Impressive illumination, snow fun land (120m long snow shedding slope, snow playground, ice & smelt fishing), music performances & more
Period: 1 Dec 2023 ~ Mar 2024
Getting There: Seoul Grand Park Station (Line 4), Exit 2. 15 mins walk or take the Elephant Train (1,500 won/Adult, 1000 won/Child) to Seoul Land
Address: 181, Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do | 경기도 과천시 광명로 181 (막계동)
👉 Details on Seoul Land and how to get there.
Seoul Land
Seoul Land
Outside Seoul
Highlights: Strawberry picking at one of the many Yangpyeong's strawberry farms. Enjoy nature beauty of Dumulmeori and Semiwon Garden. Cycle to Bukhangang Railroad Bridge
Period: Nov 2023 - May 2024
Hours: vary according to strawberry farms
Fees: from 10,000 won
Getting There: On Seoul subway (70 mins from Seoul Station), followed by 28 mins walk (7mins by taxi) from Yangsu Station. Normally visited as part of the walking/cycling course to other famous attractions at Yangpyeong
👉 Details on Yangpyeong Strawberry Farms and how to get there.
Yangpyeong Strawberry Picking
Yangpyeong Strawberry Picking
Highlights:
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Magic Garden: Light show, fireworks & parades.
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X-mas Fantasy: Christmas Parade, Santa Village, Christmas Market
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Snow Buster: Family, Racing & Express Courses
Fees: per Everland admission fees
Period:⏳(ref: 1 Dec 2022 - 1 Mar 2023)
Getting There: 40-50 mins by bus from Gangnam Station.
👉 For details on Everland Theme Park and how to get there.
Everland Theme Park
Everland Theme Park
Highlights: Abundance of fresh puffy snow / 18 Ski slopes / 3 Gondolas (for non-skiers too) - Operates the most number of gondolas in Korea / On-site accommodations
Period: 8 Dec 2023 to 29 Feb 2024
Getting There: around 3 hrs by bus. Direct shuttle bus available from Incheon Airport and various bus lines with pick up locations in Seoul City (e.g. Seoul Station, Myeongdong Station, Dongdaemun Gate, Sinchon Station)
👉 Details on High 1 Ski Resort and how to get there.
High 1 Ski Resort
High 1 Ski Resort
Highlights: Venue for 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games / 28 Ski slopes / Longest Gondola Course (7.8km) in Asia - for skiers & non-skiers / Water park / On-site accommodations
Period: 24 Nov 2023 - Mar 2024
Getting There:
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2 hrs by KTX train followed by free shuttle bus to resort OR
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3 hrs on direct shuttle bus from Incheon/Gimpo Airport OR
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3 hrs on various bus lines with pick up locations in Seoul City (e.g. Myeongdong Station, Seoul Station, Dongdaemun Gate, Sinchon Station)
👉 Details on Yongpyong Ski Resort and how to get there.
Yongpyong Ski Resort
Yongpyong Ski Resort
Highlights: One of the biggest festivals of lights in Korea, covering nearly 330,000 m2 with lights.
Period: 1 Dec 2023 - 17 Mar 2024
Hours: 17:00 to 21:00 (till 23:00 on Saturdays)
Fees: per The Garden of Morning Calm entrance fees
Getting There: 1-1.5 hrs from Seoul on Seoul Subway or ITX Train followed by Taxi/City bus/Gapyeong City Tour Bus to The Garden of Morning Calm
👉 Details on The Garden of Morning Calm and how to get there.
The Garden of Morning Calm
The Garden of Morning Calm
Highlights: The festival lights up the entire France village beautifully, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere
Period:⏳(ref: 2 Dec 2022 - 5 Mar 2023)
Hours: sunset to 20:00 (Ticketing ends at 19:00)
Fees: per Petite France entrance fees
Getting There: 1-1.5 hrs from Seoul on Seoul Subway/ITX Train followed by Taxi/Gapyeong City Tour Bus to Petite France
👉 Details on Petite France and how to get there.
Petite France
Petite France
Highlights: Snow covered island in nature
Period: 29 Dec 2023 to 4 Feb 2024
Hours: 7:30-21:40
Fees: per Nami Island entrance fees
Getting There: 1.5-2hrs from Seoul on Seoul Subway/ITX Train followed by Taxi/Gapyeong City Tour Bus to the wharf and ferry/zipline to Nami Island
👉 Details on Nami Island and how to get there.
Nami Island
Nami Island
Gangwon Winter Festivals
Highlights: Sheep farm transforms into a winter wonderland, often referred as the Alps of Korea
Period: Dec 2023 to Feb 2024
Hours: 9:00-17:00
Fees: per Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm entrance fees
Getting There: 3 hrs from Seoul on intercity bus followed by local bus/taxi to Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm
👉 Details on Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm and how to get there.
Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm
Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm
Highlights: Over 700,000 tall white bark birch trees raising towards the blue sky in the snow-covered landscape
Period: 1 Nov 2023 to 1 Mar 2024
Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry time 14:00)
Fees: Free
Getting There: 1.5 hrs from Seoul on intercity bus followed by city bus or 15 mins taxi ride to Wondaeri Birch Forest
👉 Details on Wondaeri Birch Forest and how to get there.
Wondaeri Birch Forest
Wondaeri Birch Forest
Tips: Mobile battery may drain fairly fast in cold weather. If you do not want to miss out any photo opportunity, do bring along a power bank and charge your mobile phone whenever the battery is running low. Transport and meal times are probably the best times to give your phone the 'extra' boost and be ready for your next destination/place of attraction. 😉
❄ WINTER COLLECTION ❄ Handpicked Experiences from Seoul
1. Vivaldi Park Ski World (@ Daemyung Resort)
From Seoul: 45 mins by bus
Highlights: Most visited ski resort in Korea / Up to 20,0000 visitors daily / 12 Slopes / Total slope length of 6,784m / 9 Lifts / 1 Gondola / Ocean World (with outdoor hot spring & jjimjilbang)
2. Elysian Gangchon Ski Resort
From Seoul: 1 hr by train/bus
Highlights: The only ski resort in Korea reachable by subway or ITX train / Lower difficulty level of slopes than other ski resorts / 10 Slopes / 5 Lifts / Sledding Slope
3. High1 Ski Resort
From Seoul: 3 hrs by bus
Highlights: The highest attitude and world-class ski resort that operates the most number of gondolas in Korea / Known for its beautifully clean, natural and puffy snow / 18 Slopes / Total slope length of 21km / 7 Lifts / 3 Gondolas / Casino
4. Host Venues of PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games
From Seoul: 2.5 hrs by bus
Ski Resorts: Phoenix Park Ski Resort, Yongpyong Ski Resort & Alpensia Ski Resort
5. Other Ski Resorts from Seoul
Ski Resorts: Eden Valley / Oak Valley / Jisan /Bears Town / Welli Hilli / Konjiam
6. Ice / Snow Festivals
7. Other Winter Activities from Seoul
![The Garden of Morning Calm [Starlight Festival] & Alpaca World Day Tour](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0505b9_38178e1d94824cbe95b4cf5751b96f11~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_309,h_173,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Jinhae%20Cherry%20Blossom%20Festival%20-%20small_j.jpg)
![Strawberry Picking, Sledding & Morning Calm [Starlight Festival] Day Tour](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0505b9_9b45f0d403b54c578dc4fbb74e4f8868~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_309,h_174,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Jinhae%20Cherry%20Blossom%20Festival%20-%20small_j.jpg)
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