If you’re travelling from Australia, New Zealand, the USA, the UK, you should be able rock up visa‑free for 90 days, but you must apply online for a quick K‑ETA before you fly. If you’re travelling to South Korea, the best advice is the check the visa requirements on the government website of your home country.

You’ll be dealing in South Korean Won (KRW) when you visit South Korea.

Aim for spring (Mar-May, ~7‑20 °C) for cherry‑blossom magic or autumn (Sep-Nov, ~10‑25 °C) for picture perfect foliage; summers hit 25‑35 °C with serious humidity. And if snow festivals are more your vibe, the South Korean winters will drop to –5‑5 °C.

It will depend on the time of year you plan to visit and the activities you plan to embark on, but you can never go wrong with bringing:

• Lots of layers
• A light waterproof
• Comfy trainers
• SPF
• Reusable water bottle
• Universal adaptor

K‑style is trendy yet modest: think jeans, tees and sneakers by day, smart‑casual for the evenings. You’ll want to cover shoulders/knees at temples and pack thermals if your South Korea holidays land in winter.

A punchy 7 to 10‑day South Korea itinerary will give you enough time to explore Seoul, Busan and Jeju; give yourself two weeks if you want deeper dives and more chill stops. On our South Korean Soul trip, you’ll discover all the top highlights in 9 days.

Yep – city tap water is clean and regulated. But if you’re cautious or have a sensitive stomach, you might prefer to stick with bottled water.

You’ll find ATMs marked “Global/Foreign” in (almost) every 7‑Eleven, subway and bank. International cards work fine, though you may incur a fee of ₩3,000‑5,000 per withdrawal, so plan your cash hits on South Korea trips.

Bring a Type C or Type F (European two‑pin) adaptor. Voltage is 220 V/60 Hz.

When it comes to restaurants, bars and other services, tipping isn’t expected on South Korea vacations (service charges are usually baked into the bill).