Chuseok is ahead of us in September in Korea!
Chuseok (‘Hangawi’ in Korean), or the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the biggest Korean holidays. This year’s Chuseok holiday will be 6 days long in total, starting from September 28th to October 3rd, including National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol) on October 3rd.
Many shops, department stores, and restaurants will close down at some point during the holiday.
Still, luckily, there are quite a few places to visit and exciting events for travelers and expats in Korea to enjoy during the Chuseok holiday.
1. Historic Sites & Museums
In Seoul, the royal palaces and museums are perfect places to get into the Chuseok holiday spirit as they will offer plenty of cultural and traditional activities to indulge in.
• Korean Folk Village – Korean Folk Village is a “living museum” type of outdoor park where you can feel what Korea was like in the Joseon Dynasty (1392~1910). You can explore every corner of the village and go into various types of ancient houses.
- Korean Folk Village Half Day Tour from Seoul (Morning/Afternoon)
- Korean Folk Village & Suwon Hwaseong Fortress 1 Day Tour from Seoul
• Namsangol Hanok Village – A popular Chuseok holiday destination, located near Chungmuro Station, where visitors can take part in various hands-on activities and enjoy folk music performances.
• National Folk Museum – Located on the grounds of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum offers a wide range of hands-on activities and traditional games. (Closed on September 10th)
• National Museum of Korea – The National Museum of Korea, the nation’s largest museum located in Yongsan in central Seoul, will hold various traditional events. (Closed on September 10th)
• Korean War Memorial – The Korean War Memorial in Yongsan displays replicas of missiles and exhibitions about the Korean War.
2. Amusement Parks
Set out for Korean amusement parks that are open all year round. They may be more crowded than usual, so be sure to get the admission tickets in advance.
- Everland – Everland is Korea’s largest theme park located in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, boasts a wide range of rides and attractions, such as T-Express, one of the best wooden roller coasters in the world. You can book an Everland 1 day pass instantly on Trazy and simply show your QR code ticket on your phone when entering.
→ Get your Everland discount ticket & shuttle bus packages here!
→ Get your Everland One Day Pass here!
- Lotte World – Lotte World is the biggest indoor theme park located in Jamsil, Seoul. Along with its thrilling rides, Lotte World offers a variety of performances and festivals all year round. You can get Magic Pass Premium, an express pass that allows you to skip the long lines of popular attractions!
→ Get your Lotte World’s discount tickets here!
→ Get your Lotte World Theme Park & Aquarium combo discount tickets here!
- Seoul Land – Seoul Land is the best family-friendly park located in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province that has the most kid-friendly rides and attractions.
→ Get your Seoul Land’s discount tickets here!
3. Performances & Shows
If you are staying in Seoul, check out these brilliant musical and cultural performances that will spice up your holiday. Click on each performance below for details. Be sure to reserve your tickets in advance!
• Cookin’ Nanta Show – Cookin’ Nanta Show is a non-verbal performance incorporating traditional percussion and humor that has long been a popular staple since 1997. The show runs every day at Myeongdong Nanta Theatre and Hongdae Nanta Theatre.
→ For more details about the Cookin’ Nanta Show, click here.
→ To enjoy the Cookin’ Nanta Show in Jeju Island, click here.
• Jump Show – Packed with martial arts and humor, Jump Show is an award-winning nonverbal dance performance that incorporates ‘taekwondo’ and other Asian martial arts. Since 2003, the show has run every day at Myeongbo Art Hall in Jung District, Seoul.
→ For more details about Jump Show, click here (Arriving Soon).
4. Autumn Tours
Chuseok is also known as the Korean Thanksgiving. This national holiday symbolizes the official season of Autumn. Usually, around the time of Chuseok, the autumn foliage tours are at its peak, however, this year Chuseok is too early to see the autumn foliage. Still, September is a wonderful time to enjoy the beautiful autumn weather in Korea!
Seoraksan Mountain is a famous place for the color-changing leaves during autumn. Although the Chuseok holiday is quite early this year to witness autumn foliage at Seoraksan Mountain it is still a great way to just take a stroll along with these beautiful trees and relax with the cool autumn breeze!
→ For more details on Seoraksan National Park 1 Day Tour, click here!
→ Join Seoraksan National Park + Nami Island + Garden of Morning Calm 1 Day Tour!
Hwadam Botanic Garden is an eco-friendly garden that features over 4,000 species of plants and flowers. Explore Hwadam Botanic Garden in a day with this hassle-free tour from Seoul that includes all entrance fees and an English-speaking tour guide who will provide insightful commentary! You’ll also get to visit Namhansanseong Fortress, a mountain fortress that rings the hilltops overlooking the Seoul suburb.
→ Join Hwadam Botanic Garden & Namhansanseong Fortress 1 Day Tour from Seoul!
Alpaca World is also a great place to visit in Korea’s fall! Alpaca World is an alpaca ranch where you can see, feed, and touch alpacas and many more farm animals. There are so many beautiful destinations near Alpaca World, such as Nami Island, Garden of Morning Calm, Gangchon Rail Bike, and many more.
→ Nami Island & Alpaca World (+ Gangchon Rail Bike/Petite France) 1 Day Tour from Seoul
→ Alpaca World + Nami Island (+ Rail Bike/Garden of Morning Calm) 1 Day Tour from Seoul
5. Day Trips from Seoul
Check out some of the best day trip destinations to visit from Seoul during the Chuseok holiday season! From Nami Island to DMZ, you can explore various places near Seoul with hassle-free 1 day tours on Trazy.
Nami Island is an absolute must-visit destination when visiting Korea. It’s famous for its pristine walking trails and some K-drama shooting spots!
→ Book Nami Island Shuttle Bus from Seoul!
→ Book Nami Island & Garden of Morning Calm/Petite France 1 Day Tour!
→ Check out more handpicked Nami Island tours from Seoul!
DMZ is Korea’s Demilitarized Zone that separates North and South Korea. If you want to have a close encounter with the North Korean border, join this special DMZ tour!
→ DMZ Tour from Seoul (+ DMZ Gondola/Gallery Greaves option)
→ DMZ Half-day Tour – Experience One of the Deepest Tragedies in Korean History
→ DMZ Tour + Q&A Session with a North Korean Defector
→ DMZ Shuttle Bus from/to Seoul
6. Tandem Paragliding
If you want to have a unique and special experience during the Chuseok holiday, how about booking tandem paragliding? It will be a truly unforgettable experience for anyone who wishes to enjoy the beautiful scenery and thrilling moments.
→ Paragliding Near Seoul – Tandem Paragliding in Yangpyeong
→ Tandem Paragliding in Danyang
→ Tandem Paragliding in Gyeongju (from Gyeongju or Busan)
→ Tandem Paragliding in Jeju Island
For more ideas for your next trip to Korea, check out Trazy.com, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop!
