How to Plan a Family Trip to South Korea in 2024 — Handpicked Experiences and Itineraries

South Korea has become an exciting travel destination, thanks to the immense popularity of K-pop music, Korean movies and dramas, and mouthwatering Korean barbecues. This makes it an excellent choice for a family getaway, especially if you have teenagers who are into these trends. Just imagine you and your kid creating a K-pop dancing video together, with a backdrop that mimics a real-life idol music video. It's an experience that would make you all feel like true stars.

If you're planning your first trip to South Korea, we recommend spending at least 10 days exploring the country's top cities: Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju Island. These cities offer a fantastic blend of culture, history, and modern attractions that would leave you in awe. And if you're eager for a more immersive adventure, you could extend your trip to 12–14 days for an even deeper understanding of this fascinating country.

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The Top 5 Things to Do for Families with Kids in South Korea

South Korea offers plenty of sights and unique experiences that would exceed your expectations and all members of the family would enjoy. Here, we've detailed some handpicked activities for families to experience.

1) Discover Korean Pop Culture in Hongdae and Shoot Your K-Pop Dance Video to Be Like a Real Idol

Experience a K-pop dance class in Seoul

This is an excellent opportunity for kids who like K-pop to fulfill their desires of feeling like a real K-pop star and stepping out of their comfort zone.

Usually, a K-pop dance class consists of about 20 people. However, if you desire a more exclusive experience, we could arrange private classes for your family. You might get the chance to be trained by the same expert who trains your kid's idol. The best part of this experience is to film your own dance video in front of a CG-created background, which is the same as the music video of a K-pop idol, creating lifetime memories for your whole family.

2) Explore the Demilitarized Zone and Tunnels to Learn About the History of the Korean War

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established after the Korean War, dividing the Korean Peninsula into North Korea and South Korea. It is recommended that you visit this site accompanied by a private guide who could provide storytelling insights into the history and answer your every question.

There are currently four main tunnels in the DMZ but only the Third Tunnel is open to the public. Explore the narrow Third Tunnel, which was dug by North Korea, to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between the two countries.

Just let us know your interests and requirements, and our South Korea travel advisor can help make it happen.

3) Immerse Yourself in the Traditional Atmosphere by Wearing a Hanbok

Wearing Hanbok to visit the attraction.

Seoul has more hanbok shops than any other place, making it an ideal place to experience wearing a hanbok. Visiting Gyeongbokgung Palace is free if you're wearing a hanbok, so most visitors choose to wear one when they visit this royal palace. By being one of the locals and wearing a hanbok, you would feel more immersed in the experience and like you've traveled back in time. You could also witness the changing of the guard ceremony in ancient-style clothes in the palace.

4) Experience Authentic Korean Accommodation at Hanok Hotels

Experience a traditional Hanok Hotel

Seoul and Gyeongju are excellent places to experience wooden Hanok hotels. Seoul offers both traditional and modern Hanok hotels for you to choose from, while Gyeongju's Hanok hotels have a more traditional atmosphere. This is because Gyeongju is an ancient capital with many well-preserved ancient buildings.

We would help you to select a family-friendly Hanok hotel that satisfies your requirements from among thousands of options, contact us to tailor-made your Korean trip.

5) Engage in Kimchi-Making to Enrich Your Trip

Kimchi is the representative dish of Korea

Kimchi is a well-known Korean cuisine around the world. At Museum Kimchikan in Seoul, you and your kid could explore the diverse range of kimchi varieties and delve into the cuisine's fascinating origins. You could experience the amazing sight of lactic acid bacteria through microscopes, which play a vital role in creating the delicious flavor of kimchi, and engage in an interactive cooking class where you could make your very own kimchi and savor it immediately.

You can just tell us your preferences and requirements, and we will customize a tour for you.

How Long to Spend in South Korea

We recommend that you take at least 10 days to explore the highlights of South Korea in the most popular destinations from north to south, covering Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju Island.

If you have 12–14 days of vacation to spend there, you could consider combining a visit to South Korea with a visit to neighboring Japan to experience kid-friendly anime and Nintendo too in one trip.

1) 10-Day Classic Family Itinerary in South Korea: Cover the Major Highlights

A period of 10 days is recommended for a family trip to South Korea as it allows enough time to explore the best cities, including Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan, and Jeju Island.

Here is our well-selected itinerary, for inspiration:

Days 1–3 in Seoul: Witness the performance of the changing of the guard ceremony in ancient-style clothes at Gyeongbokgung Palace, stroll around Bukchon Hanok Village while wearing a hanbok to be fully immersed in the traditional atmosphere, gain insights into the Korean War by exploring the tunnels in the DMZ, and indulge in an energetic private K-pop dancing class to groove with your child(ren).

Days 4–5 in Gyeongju: Soak up the culture-rich atmosphere in the ancient capital of Gyeongju. You could explore some UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as Bulguksa Temple, which has thousands of years of history, visit Gyeongju National Museum to get more ideas about the ancient dynasty by observing the elegant artifacts, and stay at a Hanok hotel to experience sleeping on a tatami with your child.

Days 6–7 in Busan: As a vibrant seaside city with culture-rich attractions, you could visit Haedong Yonggung Temple with its charming sea views and enjoy the unique art of Gamcheon Culture Village with its multicolored houses.

Days 8–10 on Jeju Island: Formed by volcanic activity, Jeju Island has a unique volcanic landscape, including attractions such as the Manjanggul lava tube. You could go hiking on Seongsan Ilchulbong to admire the stunning sunrises or sunsets, enjoy snorkeling in the crystal-clear sea, and relish some leisure time at the sandy beach.

You can contact us to tailor-made a tour for you if the above itinerary does not meet your requirement.

2) 12-Day Japan and South Korea Itinerary

To make the most of a 12-day vacation, you could consider traveling to Japan and South Korea in one trip. They are two of the most popular countries for kids. In Japan, you could experience anime, sushi-making, ninja experiences, and ryokans with onsens.

Here is a well-selected itinerary, for inspiration:

• Days 1–3: Seoul
• Days 4–5: Gyeongju
• Days 6–7: Kyoto
• Days 8–9: Hakone
• Days 10–12: Tokyo

In South Korea, you could enjoy an exclusive K-pop dancing class with your family, sample Korean food at a lively market, explore the DMZ to get an in-depth understanding of the Korean War, visit Bulguksa Temple, which has thousands of years of history, and experience Korean accommodation at a Hanok hotel.

Fly to Japan to continue your trip. In the ancient capital of Kyoto, dress up like a ninja to learn about the techniques and weapons from a ninja master. Many fathers and sons of our family clients have enjoyed this activity. Wear a kimono for a memorable family photo and feed lovely deer in Nara.

Take the Shinkansen to Hakone, which is the home of onsens (hot-spring baths). Stay at a Japanese-style ryokan inn with a hot spring.

In Tokyo, you and your kid could buy your favorite anime products at Pokémon Center, spend some great family time at the Ghibli Museum, make sushi with the help of an experienced chef, and immerse your bodies in digital artworks and interact with them at teamLab Borderless.

Check more details about How to Plan a 12-Day Trip in Japan and South Korea>>>

3) 14-Day Japan and South Korea Itinerary

• Days 1–3: Seoul
• Days 4–5: Gyeongju
• Days 6-7: Fly to Osaka in Japan
• Days 8–9: Kyoto
• Days 10-11: Hakone
• Days 12–14: Tokyo

This 14-day itinerary is based on the 12-day itinerary with the addition of Osaka. In Osaka, you could have fun at Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan and experience a unique ukiyo-e printmaking session to gain insights into the Japanese culture.

Get more ideas about How to Plan a 2-Week Itinerary in Japan and South Korea>>>

16-Day South Korea and Japan Adventure Tour Seoul - Pusan - Gyeongju - Osaka - Nara - Kyoto - Hakone - Tokyo

How Much Does It Cost for a Family Trip to South Korea?

A private tour of South Korea costs about US$400–500 per day per person based on a family of 3–5 people. This includes 4-star hotels, private guides, private cars, a full-day itinerary, and tickets for attractions.

The peak tourist times to visit South Korea are from March to April (the cherry blossom season), June to August (the summer vacations), and Christmas and New Year. Prices during these periods are twice as expensive as usual. We suggest planning your family trip at least 3 months in advance, especially for these times, when booking earlier will give you more options and savings.

Our travel expert would help you to make the most of your time and money when customizing your family trip according to your preferences and requirements.

Best Times to Visit South Korea for a Family Trip

Cherry Blossoms with Seoul Tower

South Korea is suitable to travel to all year round, during all its four distinct seasons. The best times to visit South Korea are in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the weather is pleasant, the average temperature is about 12–18°C (54–64°F), and there are more clear days.

Most family groups choose to travel during the school vacations, such as in April, June, July, August, October, December, and January. Of these months, April, June, October, and January are recommended for better weather and fewer crowds.

The climate of Seoul in South Korea (averages):

How to Select a Family-Friendly Hotel in South Korea

If you're seeking both reliable comfort and exceptional service, consider renowned international hotel chains and domestic hotel brands as your first choice. These hotels ensure a consistent level of quality that you could truly rely on.

However, family rooms are often limited in availability and some hotels may not offer extra bed options. So, if you need a family room, you might need to choose a higher-end room or explore alternative hotels.

Staying at a Hanok hotel is an excellent way to immerse yourself in traditional Korean accommodation. If you're traveling with a family of 3–5 members, you could all comfortably stay together in one room. Sleeping on tatami mat floors and savoring delightful Korean delicacies would provide you with a profound insight into the rich heritage of Korea.

Family rooms and Hanok hotels are in short supply and their prices fluctuate frequently. Contact us at least 3 months in advance to have the best chance of room availability and choices.