Seoul is a dazzling metropolitan city — with just so much to see and do! If you’re looking to explore more of Korea, why not extend your trip by taking a couple of day trips out of the city? 

Easily rent your car at Seoul city itself, or at the airport — whichever suits your itinerary. Multiple options are available via Klook, where you can even pick your car up from one location, and return it at another. If you have little ones in tow, add on a child’s car seat with just one click — and even throw in an English GPS to sweeten the deal. The best part? Every Klook car rental comes with free cancellation, so you won’t even have to stress about any changes to your travel plans. 

P.S. You’ll need an International Driving Permit to drive in Korea, so don’t forget to apply for one before your trip!

For something more novel, how about renting a camping car for 24 hours? This camping car package comes with all the works: lighting, electricity, wireless water supply, a pop-up roof tent, mattress, heater, camping supplies, and plenty of unique memories to boot.

Contrary to popular misconception, Incheon isn’t only about the airport! Home to Korea’s only Chinatown, Incheon also has the vibrant Songwol-dong Fairytale Village. End the day by catching the sunset at Wolmido Promenade, and having a whirl at the old-school Wolmi Amusement Park.

#KlookTip: Did you know that Incheon’s Chinatown is the birthplace of Jajangmyeon, the popular Korean-Chinese fusion dish? Try it for yourself at restaurants like Gong Hwa Chun and Daechang Banjeom. 

Be transported to Europe at Petite France, a whimsical French cultural village that has been featured in multiple K-dramas. You’ll be able to spot the prince from Le Petite Prince everywhere too! Combine your trip to Petite France with nearby attractions, such as the scenic tree-lined Nami Island; the beautiful Garden of Morning Calm; or the fun Gangchon Rail Park.

#KlookTip: Nami Island is enchanting in all seasons, and especially in autumn. Why not capture it all with a professional photoshoot?

Get up close with furry alpacas at Alpaca World, where you even take the adorable creatures for a walk. That’s not all: you can even hop on a little train to go on a ‘safari’ around the park, which is home to many other animals like deer, ostriches, and more. Purchase some Paca Coins at the ticket office or machine, and use them to purchase food for the animals!

Immerse yourself in Korean culture at the Korean Folk Village, which is a recreation of a village back in the Joseon Dynasty. Explore the traditional Korean houses, check out the exhibitions, watch skilled artisans practice their craft, and watch various live performances. Don’t miss out on visiting the government office — avid fans will recognise it from the drama series ‘Kingdom’, where the zombie corpses come back to life. 

#KlookTip: Get more out of your experience by renting an audio guide, which comes in English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese languages.

With all that good food (read: KBBQ) in Korea, slot in an active day or two into your itinerary to burn off all those calories. Seoraksan National Park fits the bill perfectly, sporting multiple hiking trails that are suitable for all fitness levels. The scenic Ulsanbawi Rock is the most famous trail of all, taking around two to three hours to complete. Other popular hikes include Cheonbuldong Valley, Baekdam Valley, and Osaek Jujeongol.

Hands up if you love the idea of spending the day at a theme park. One of Korea’s largest theme parks, Everland boasts five themed areas, a mini safari, as well as the Caribbean Bay water park. Our favourite is the T-Express, Korea’s first-ever wooden rollercoaster. Warning: you might not be able to stop at just one ride!

#KlookTip: Want to look the part? Rent a trendy Korean school uniform for the day. 

A relatively undiscovered part of Korea, Pyeongchang — also known as the Alps of Korea! — hosted the Winter Olympics in 2018. Visit in winter to experience the Ice Fishing Festival and go skiing at the Alpensia Ski Resort; explore a real-life North Korean spy ship at the Gangneung Unification Park; or check out whimsical art installations at Haslla Art World.

Jeonju Hanok Village is the star of the show here, comprising Korea’s largest hanok village. For the uninitiated, hanoks are traditional Korean houses — in the Jeonju Hanok village, the hanoks have slightly raised roof edges, making them stand out from the rest. A must-do is to take the Hanok Village Route, where you can enjoy a panoramic view from the observation deck at the top.

Be amazed by the sheer size of Hwaseong Fortress, a majestic 18th-century fort that encircles much of Suwon. The fortress has a fascinating history, and was built by King Jeongjo as a tribute to his father, Prince Sado, who was starved to death inside a sealed rice chest. Start your exploration from the Paldalmun gate, and have a leisurely hike along the wall.

#KlookTip: Don’t miss the martial arts performance at the main gate, which happens every day at 11am except Monday. 

Have you ever heard of a cave theme park? Gwangmyeong Cave is a delightful display of lighted tunnels and mesmerising light shows. It also contains an aquarium, a vegetable factory, a horror experience section, as well as a performance arena. There’s even a wine cave housing around 100 varieties of locally-made wine (which are, yes, all for sale!), with wine tastings on the weekend too.

#KlookTip: Keep your eyes peeled for a nine-metre-high waterfall that can be found within the cave itself!

Get some respite from the city chaos at Muuido Island, a popular beach getaway. Make a beeline for Hanagae Beach, where the famous drama ‘Stairway to Heaven’ was filmed.

Zip along the sand in an ATV, strap into a zipline, rent a beach cabin, or check out the Marine Tourism Trail. In fact, Hanagae Beach is a large one-kilometre-long tidal flat, which reveals crabs, clams, and more when the tide goes out.

Besides paragliding, the highlight of Yangpyeong-gun is Dumulmeori Park, which has been showcased in many K-dramas! Translating to mean ‘head of two waters’, the park is where the Namhangang River and Bukhangang River meet — all against a tranquil mountain backdrop. Wander amongst the sprawling fields, visit the sheep ranch, drop by the lovely Saemiwon Garden, and more.

#KlookTip: Looking for a great photo? Frame your shot with the giant wooden picture frame.

Shop till you drop at Yeoju Premium Outlets, and snagging fantastic discounts of up to 65% for almost 150 designer brands sound. Once you’ve had your retail therapy sorted, head to Icheon Termeden — a German-style thermal spa that has both indoor and outdoor pools — to unwind.