South Korea Holidays

Most foreigners living in Poland can enter South Korea visa-free — but requirements vary by nationality.

• EU citizens (incl. Poles), US, UK, Canadian, Australian and most other Western nationals: visa-free up to 90 days — valid passport, return ticket and hotel booking
• Nationals requiring a visa: apply at the Korean Embassy in Warsaw — $40 fee for single-entry tourist visa; processing 5 working days; visa is electronic, no passport surrender
• All arrivals from 2026: complete the e-Arrival Card online at least 72 hours before landing — mandatory for everyone
• Travel insurance strongly recommended — healthcare in South Korea is excellent but expensive; EHIC is not valid

South Korea is most spectacular in spring and autumn — the two seasons people fly there specifically to experience.

• March–April — cherry blossom and canola flower season: peak in Seoul late March, Jeju Island early March
• September–November — autumn foliage: red maples in Seoul and Seoraksan mountains, +15–22°C, ideal for hiking
• June–August — hot and humid summer (+30–35°C), rainy season in June–July; cheaper
• December–February — cold winter (-5–5°C in Seoul), ski resorts (Yongpyong, Alpensia), ice sculpture festivals
• Avoid: Chuseok and Seollal (major national holidays) — most places closed, all transport packed

South Korea offers ancient palaces minutes from futuristic skyscrapers, volcanic islands and some of Asia's best street food.

• Seoul — Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces, Gwangjang market (street food), Sangsu-dong alleys, Hongdae nightlife
• Jeju Island — Hallasan volcano (1,950 m), Manjanggul lava tube, beaches and waterfalls all in one place
• Busan — Haedong Yonggungsa temple clinging to the seaside, Jagalchi fish market, Haeundae beach and Gwangan Bridge
• Gyeongju — "museum without walls": ancient Silla capital, royal tombs, Bulguksa temple — UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) — guided tour to the North Korean border from Seoul: tunnels and Panmunjom

K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty and K-food — Korean culture has become a global phenomenon, and in Korea you can experience it live.

• K-pop: HYBE Insight museum in Yongsan, SM and YG offices; live street performances in Myeongdong daily
• K-beauty: hundreds of brand stores in Myeongdong — Innisfree, COSRX, Laneige, Dr. Jart+ at 2–3 times less than in Europe
• K-drama filming locations — Squid Game island Thasoom or Winter Sonata spots in Chuncheon
• K-food: samgyeopsal, tteokbokki, bibimbap and endless banchan side dishes at every table

South Korea is one of the safest countries in Asia and the world — violent crime rates are exceptionally low.

• Walking alone at night in Seoul's busiest districts is perfectly fine
• Lost belongings are frequently returned — metro and taxis have dedicated lost-and-found offices
• Travel insurance mandatory — excellent but expensive healthcare; EHIC not valid

Korean cuisine is one of Asia's most diverse — spicy, fermented and always served with dozens of banchan side dishes.

• Samgyeopsal — pork belly grilled at your table, wrapped in perilla leaves with kimchi and garlic
• Tteokbokki — rice cakes in spicy gochujang sauce; the ultimate Korean street food, on every corner
• Bibimbap — rice with vegetables, meat and gochujang paste; an icon of Korean home cooking
• Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) — restaurant-quality food around the clock for ₩1,500–3,000

South Korea is a shopper's paradise — skincare, snacks and K-pop merchandise at a fraction of European prices.

• K-beauty — Innisfree, COSRX, Laneige, Dr. Jart+: twice cheaper in Myeongdong and Hongdae than in Poland
• Korean snacks — Honey Butter chips, Pepero, Choco Pie, dried seaweed; at every convenience store
• K-pop albums and merch — official HYBE, SM and YG stores; photocards, posters, figurines
• Traditional gifts: yuzu tea, Korean red ginseng and Incheon ceramics