South Korea: the complete travel guide from Spain

South Korea: the complete travel guide from Spain

Some destinations change you. South Korea is one of them. Your first day in Seoul hits you with a mix of dynastic palace and neon screen, of fermented kimchi and specialty coffee served in hand-painted ceramic cups. It is not an easy destination to summarise — and that is precisely what makes it so addictive.

If you are planning a trip to South Korea from Spain, this guide gives you everything you need: paperwork, the best time to go, what to see in each city, how to get around and what to eat. No filler, no vague generalities.

Documents for travelling to South Korea from Spain

Good news: the paperwork is minimal.

Passport, valid for at least six months from your date of entry. Also make sure it has at least one blank page for the entry and exit stamps.

Visa: you do not need one if you are travelling as a tourist for less than 90 days. Spain has a visa-waiver agreement with South Korea.

K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization): Spanish citizens are temporarily exempt from this electronic authorisation. Korea has extended the waiver for 22 countries — Spain included — through 31 December 2026, so for any trip in 2026 you do not need to apply. If you travel from 2027 onwards, check the current rule before booking: unless the exemption is extended again, you will need to apply online at least 72 hours before departure (10,000 won, roughly 6 euros, valid for three years and multiple trips). One quirk worth knowing: applying for a K-ETA voluntarily, even while exempt, spares you the arrival card below. Either way, review the official page of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs before you fly, because conditions can change.

e-Arrival Card: mandatory since 1 January 2026 for foreign visitors without a K-ETA or Korean residence card. It is free and takes five minutes: fill it in online at the official portal (e-arrivalcard.go.kr) within the three days before you land. Beware of unofficial websites that charge for it — the real one costs nothing.

Biometrics on arrival: at Incheon airport every visitor goes through fingerprint and facial-recognition checks. It is routine and quick.

Travel insurance: technically optional, but strongly recommended. Medical care in Korea is excellent but expensive for foreigners, and hospitals usually require a deposit before admission — an unpleasant surprise if you are not covered.

Flights: since 2025 there is finally a nonstop option — Korean Air flies Madrid–Seoul Incheon direct (flight KE914, currently four times a week on a Boeing 787/A350) in around 13 hours. From Barcelona, or on other dates from Madrid, one-stop routings via Doha, Istanbul, Paris, Amsterdam or Frankfurt take 16–18 hours in total and are often cheaper. You land at Incheon International Airport, about 50 km from Seoul.

When to travel to South Korea: the four seasons

South Korea has very distinct seasons. Each one offers something completely different — and that is an advantage, not a problem.

Spring (March – May): cherry blossoms and perfect temperatures

The favourite of many European travellers. The cherry trees bloom between late March and mid-April, painting parks, riverbanks and city streets pink. The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, on the country's southern coast, is the most famous: millions of flowers over just a few days. Temperatures range from 5 °C in March to 20–24 °C in May — ideal for walking all day without sweating or shivering.

Summer (June – August): heat, monsoon and festivals

The Korean summer is intense. July is monsoon month: heavy rain, high humidity, temperatures above 30 °C. If you travel at this time, pack light clothes and a decent umbrella. That said, it is also festival season: the Boryeong Mud Festival (yes, you literally throw mud at thousands of strangers) and the beaches of Busan and Jeju at their best.

Autumn (September – November): the best season, no contest

For most international travellers, autumn is the best time for a South Korea trip. The skies clear, temperatures settle into a pleasant 10–27 °C range depending on the month, and the forests and mountains turn red, orange and gold. Hiking in Seoraksan National Park or wandering the temples of Gyeongju under autumn leaves is, simply, spectacular. One thing to plan around: in September or October falls Chuseok, the Korean harvest festival — often described as Korea's Thanksgiving. It is a beautiful time to be in the country, but half of Korea travels home for it, so book trains and hotels for those dates well in advance.

Winter (December – February): dry cold and skiing

Winter is properly cold: sub-zero temperatures are frequent, especially in January. But the air is dry — nothing like the summer humidity — and there is snow in the northern mountains. The ski resorts of Pyeongchang and Yongpyong (venues of the 2018 Winter Olympics) are first-rate. And Seoul in December has a charm of its own: Christmas markets, ice skating by the Han River, and the perfect excuse to eat hot tteokbokki at a street stall at eleven at night.

What to see in South Korea: the key cities

Seoul: the city that never slows down

Seoul has close to 10 million inhabitants and the energy of a city that never drops its pace. But it is not all speed — there are layers of history that hold their own against the skyscrapers.

Gyeongbokgung Palace: the largest of the five Joseon-dynasty palaces, built in 1395. Arrive before 9 a.m. — the light is low, the morning haze has not fully lifted and the crowds are thin. It is worth renting a hanbok (the traditional Korean dress) nearby: wearing one gets you into the palace for free.

Bukchon Hanok Village: a neighbourhood of traditional hanok houses between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung palaces. The trick is to arrive before 8:30 — after 10, tour groups turn the alleys into a funnel.

Insadong and Hongdae: two completely different districts. Insadong has art galleries, craft shops and Ssamziegil, a spiral courtyard mall of independent stores. Hongdae is the university quarter: street art, design cafés, live music on the street.

Gwangjang Market: the oldest street-food market in South Korea. The bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake), at around 5,000 won a piece — less than 3 euros — is one of the best things you will eat on the whole trip.

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone): the border between the two Koreas, about 60 km north of Seoul, visitable on an organised day trip from the capital. It is strange, tense and fascinating in equal parts. Note: you cannot go independently — an authorised tour is mandatory.

Busan: sea, mountains and the country's best seafood

Busan is Korea's second city and has a completely different personality from Seoul. More relaxed, more maritime, with hills that fall straight into the sea.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: a 14th-century Buddhist temple built directly on the seaside rocks. Sunrise here is one of those moments that needs no Instagram filter.

Jagalchi Market: the largest fish and seafood market in the country. Point at what you want at the ground-floor stalls, go upstairs, and they cook it for you on the spot. A feast of hoe (Korean-style sashimi) for two costs around 30,000–40,000 won.

Gamcheon Culture Village: the "Korean Santorini" — colourful houses terraced down a hillside. Yes, it is touristy. But it is also genuinely beautiful, and the neighbourhood has real history behind it.

Haeundae Beach: Korea's most famous beach. Packed in August; in October, nearly empty and perfect for a sunset walk.

Gyeongju: the city that is an open-air museum

Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for almost a thousand years. Today it has the highest density of historical heritage in Korea — burial mounds in the middle of public parks, pagodas among the rice fields, and temples on the peaks of the nearby mountains.

Bulguksa: an 8th-century Buddhist temple and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gardens in autumn are something else entirely.

Seokguram Grotto: 8 km from Bulguksa, an artificial 8th-century cave housing a 3.5-metre granite Buddha. Access is via a forest path — about a 20-minute walk from the car park.

Daereungwon Tomb Complex: a park full of burial mounds of the Silla kings. You can walk inside the Cheonmachong tomb and see the gold objects found in the excavation. Entry: around 3,000 won.

Jeju: the volcanic island of the south

Jeju is something else again. A volcanic island off the southern tip of the country, with black-sand beaches, azalea fields in spring, mandarin groves in autumn and Hallasan — South Korea's highest peak at 1,947 metres — at its centre.

Flights between Seoul and Jeju are frequent and cheap (from 25–40 euros if you book ahead). At Viatsy we can add Jeju as an extension to any itinerary in the country — it is the perfect complement to a tailor-made trip through South Korea.

Food: eating in South Korea

Korean food is not just kimchi — although kimchi (cabbage fermented with chile paste, garlic and ginger) is on practically every table, in dozens of varieties. These are the dishes you cannot miss:

• Bibimbap: rice with sautéed vegetables, meat, egg and gochujang chile paste. The deluxe version is in Jeonju, the country's food capital.
• Samgyeopsal: pork belly you grill yourself at the table, eaten wrapped in lettuce leaves with garlic, ssamjang (spicy soybean paste) and kimchi. A portion for two costs around 20,000–25,000 won.
• Tteokbokki: rice cakes in spicy chile sauce. The street version, at a pojangmacha stall, is the best one.
• Japchae: sweet-potato noodles stir-fried with vegetables and meat. Mild, slightly sweet, addictive.
• Haemul pajeon: seafood and spring-onion pancake. The perfect pairing is makgeolli, the cloudy, lightly sparkling rice wine served in earthenware bowls.

A full meal at a local, non-touristy restaurant runs 9,000–15,000 won per person (5–9 euros). Eating well and cheaply in South Korea is very easy.

Getting around South Korea

Korean public transport is enviably efficient. Seriously.

Seoul metro: covers practically the whole city and part of the metropolitan area. Lines are colour-coded, announcements are in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, and trains run every 2–3 minutes at rush hour. Buy a T-money card when you land — the card itself costs 2,500–4,000 won at airport convenience stores, you top it up with cash, and it works on the metro, buses and even some taxis nationwide. Any leftover balance can be refunded before you fly home.

KTX (Korea Train Express): the high-speed train links Seoul with Busan in about 2h 30min (from 59,800 won, roughly 34 euros, in standard class) and with Gyeongju — Singyeongju station — in just over 2 hours. Fast, punctual and comfortable. Book ahead through the Korail app or website if you travel in high season or around Chuseok; if you plan several long train rides, the KORAIL Pass for foreign visitors can pay for itself quickly.

Incheon airport to Seoul: the nonstop AREX Express train takes 43 minutes from Terminal 1 (51 from Terminal 2) to Seoul Station and costs about 11,000–13,000 won — slightly cheaper booked online. The all-stop commuter train on the same line costs around 5,000 won and takes about an hour. A taxi to central Seoul can reach 70,000–90,000 won depending on traffic.

Taxis: plentiful, affordable and safe. The catch is that few drivers speak English. The fix: carry your destination written in Korean (Google Maps makes it easy to copy the text) or use the Kakao T app, Korea's answer to Uber.

Connectivity: South Korea has some of the fastest mobile internet coverage in the world. You can buy a local SIM at Incheon airport the moment you land — SK, KT and LG have counters in arrivals — or, more conveniently, set up an eSIM before leaving Spain.

Practical tips before you travel

Currency: the Korean won (KRW). As a rule of thumb, 1 euro is worth about 1,750 won, so 10,000 won is roughly 5.70 euros. International cards work almost everywhere, but carry some cash for markets and small restaurants. Tell your bank before you leave — and consider a card with no foreign-exchange fees.

Language: Korean (hangul) has its own alphabet, which you can genuinely learn to read phonetically in a couple of hours. You do not need to understand the meaning — just recognising the sounds helps you read restaurant signs. In Seoul, English works reasonably well in tourist areas; in smaller cities, less so.

Safety: South Korea is one of the safest countries in the world, with low crime rates. Use common sense in nightlife districts like Itaewon or Hongdae — as you would in any big city.

Tipping: not done. Tips are not customary in South Korea and can even embarrass your host. Do not leave money on the table when you go.

Plugs: the Korean standard is type C and F, 220 V — the same as in Spain. You do not need an adapter.

Plan your South Korea trip with Viatsy

Viatsy is a Barcelona-based travel agency specialising in Asia. We design tailor-made itineraries for South Korea — whether a two-week circuit combining Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan and Jeju, or a Korea extension within a longer trip across the continent.

We build every itinerary from scratch around your dates, interests and pace. No 40-person tour groups, no souvenir-shop stops. If you want to see what we can put together for you, browse our South Korea trips or write to us directly.

Sources consulted: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – South Korea travel advice · Korea Tourism Organization · K-ETA official portal · Korea e-Arrival Card official portal · Korail