The seasons in Korea tend to be very extreme; while this is great for the Spring and Fall seasons (they’re stunning), it also means that winters here are harsh and very * cold *. The chilly months typically last from mid-November to mid-March and are exacerbated by Siberian winds that blow through. While the temperatures are definitely not ideal, Korea is still very beautiful in the snow and offers plenty of fun winter activities to make the most of the cold winter months (just make sure to dress warm)!

Below are the top 15 things to do in South Korea this winter:

See the Christmas Lights in Seoul. Like most major cities, the department stores and businesses in Seoul go all out during the holiday season. Typically around late-Nov you can start to see extravagant Christmas displays pop up around the city. One of my favorite thing to do in December is to get a hot chocolate and walk around looking at the displays.

For some of the best Christmas light spots in Seoul, check out this blog post.

*photos are from 2021

Go Ice Skating in the City. There’s something magical about iceskating in a big city in the snow, and Seoul has several ice skating spots during the winter. Some of the popular ones are at Seoul Plaza, the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Olympic Park, and an indoor ice skating rink at Lotte World amusement park.

Visit an Ice Festival. Visit an ice festival to see some beautiful ice sculptures and back drops. These festivals are super pretty to walk through, but they also usually have plenty of activities such as sledding, ice fishing, etc.

Go Snowboarding (or skiing) at an Olympic Site. South Korea hosted the winter Olympics in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Most of this area was built up especially for the olympics, so there are now plenty of beautiful ski resorts to enjoy. You can also check out some of the cool jump sites that were used. Some of the more popular resorts here are Phoenix Park, Alpensia, High1 Ski Resort, and Vivaldi Park.

Go on a Snowy Winter Hike. I personally hate the cold, so I’m not sure I could handle this, but winter hikes are very popular in Korea and look so incredibly beautiful. A lot of the famous hikes feature a cable car and have ramen near the top of the mountain to help you warm up. As with any winter activity, it’s important you have the right clothing and gear to stay warm and prevent frostbite during your hike (thick socks and sneakers are not enough for a winter hike).

*photos are by @lol_travel on Instagram

Have a Cozy Staycation. There are so many beautiful resorts that are perfect for a cozy staycation with a view. One of the hotels I’ve been wanting to visit, the Sono Felice (linked here), even features a heated rooftop pool where you can soak and take in the view of the snow capped mountains.

*photos by @_yh-yhh on Instagram

Visit a Jjimjilbang Spa. Enjoy a traditional Korean spa day where you can soak in hot tubs and get scrubbed down from head to toe. As a heads up, these spas do require you to get naked, but are separated by gender.

See the Lights at the Garden of Morning Calm. This is another great spot to see holiday lights in the winter. The entire garden is decked out in extravagant Christmas displays that you’re able to walk through. Make sure you dress warm!

*photos are from 2021

Enjoy Strawberry Flavored Everything. Winter is strawberry season in Korea and they honestly have some of the largest and most delicious strawberries I’ve ever had. Typically from December thru February you can find amazing strawberry desserts, afternoon teas, etc at most cafes.

Visit the DDP. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza is a major landmark in Seoul that is typically where Seoul Fashion Week and several other exhibits are held throughout the year. While it looks beautiful during all seasons, I actually think it looks especially beautiful on a gray or snowy day.

Warm up with Hotteok. South Korea has some amazing street foods to try, but my favorite winter street food is hotteok. This is a traditional Korean pancake filled with a warm brown sugar and honey filling that tastes amazing.

Get in the Christmas Spirit at Festive Cafes. The cafe culture in Korea is something I’ve never experienced anywhere else. There are so many beautiful coffee shops everywhere that are usually extravagantly themed and aesthetic. During the winter months you can find most of them fully decked out in Christmas decor to really get into the holiday spirit.

Visit the Wondaeri Birch Forest. The stark white bark of these trees looks so beautiful in the snow, making this a beautiful photo spot in the winter.

Visit the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm. For a wholesome winter wonderland experience, visit this beautiful farm during the winter. The rolling hills look so stunning in the snow.

*photos by @ssunday_k on Instagram

Warm Up at a Dirt Spa. Another fun experience in Korea is to visit a rice enzyme spa. These are said to be healing, detoxifying, and supposedly anti-aging. Upon entering, you’ll change into a set of clothes provided and are then buried in hot rice enzymes for 15 minutes, you’ll then be unburied but remain in the sand for another 30 minutes. Afterwards you’ll shower and be provided with plenty of water while you relax in a massage chair.

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*as a note, this article contains hotel affiliate links, meaning I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you when you book through my links. Thank you for supporting my business.

xoxo

Alicia