It’s our family’s first time to visit South Korea! Aside from spending it with my extended family (parents, siblings, in-laws, nephew, niece), I consider this trip a big blessing because it’s one big and brave step forward for my anxious self. 🏅
Back when I was still single, traveling was something that really got me excited. Pre-pandemic, I went without a care to Australia and Singapore for work trips. I traveled to a few Asian countries for leisure with family or friends. Yearly, I went on out-of-town trips with colleagues. Every trip lifted my spirit.
But everything changed when I became a mom. Suddenly, traveling came with a whole new layer of worries, what-ifs, and overthinking. I found myself feeling anxious about traveling with little kids, so for quite a while, I kept our family trips local—short travel times, familiar places, and anything that felt more manageable for my momma heart.
This Korea trip was our girls’ first out-of-the-country travel. They were both ecstatic, of course. For their mom, the trip came with overwhelming emotions: excitement, fear, doubt, and a lot of prayer in between. 😅
And now, looking back, I’m writing this blog not just to document our journey, but to share it with other anxious moms out there who might be standing where I once was. If you’re wanting to travel again but anxiety is holding you back, I hope this gives you a little boost of confidence.
This South Korea family travel guide includes:
Table of Contents
Must-see Places in South Korea
🌸 Cherry Blossoms in Yeouido Park (Best for Families Visiting in Spring)
It was raining on the day South Korea welcomed us. Because rain can make petals fall quickly, our proactive tour guide decided to take us straight from Incheon Airport to Yeouido Park so we could catch a glimpse of Korea’s famous spring blooms before they disappear. Such precious, fleeting beauty!
We didn’t have the chance to change out of our airport outfits into the cherry blossom-ready pastel and brown looks I had prepared for the girls, but there we were—still ready to pose and smile in front of the camera!
If you’re planning a Korea family travel itinerary during cherry blossom season, make sure to include Yeouido Park on your list. It is one of the most popular spots for appreciating Cherry Blossoms in South Korea. If you want to witness this beauty, best time to visit is early April.
🏙️ Seoul from Above: Seoul Sky Observatory
For panoramic views of Seoul, we visited Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest and the world’s fifth tallest building. It is one of the best kid-friendly attractions in Seoul. On top of it is the Seoul Sky Observatory.
Getting there was already an experience. We rode the Sky Shuttle, a unique elevator that felt like instant teleportation—bringing us from Basement 2 to the 117th floor in just 1 minute! ⏳With screens on the ceiling and walls, it creates an immersive, almost virtual ride through Seoul’s landmarks.
One of the highlights is the Sky Deck. It’s the highest glass-floor observation deck in the world, standing 478 meters high. Katakot umapak sa glass floor! 🙈
🌿 Nature Break at Garden of Morning Calm
Korea is known as the “Land of the Morning Calm”. As someone who doesn’t like hurried mornings, I think I belong…. 🤭
So despite the rain and a tired toddler in tow, we tried our best to walk around one of the most serene places in the country—Garden of Morning Calm. If you’re looking for peaceful places in Korea for families, this is a must-visit. With soaking wet shoes, holding umbrella and toddler food, it was another tiis ganda moment!
Located more than two hours from Seoul, this well-loved arboretum is home to over 20 themed gardens, each showcasing a beautiful variety of trees, plants, and seasonal blooms. Ideal for forest therapy! 😌
One of the highlights for me was seeing the Millennium Juniper, a 1,000-year-old Chinese juniper tree with a beautifully twisted trunk and vibrant green foliage. They say it’s famous in Korea because it’s a living testament to nature’s resilience and beauty. 💪
Perfect for: introvert moms, nature lovers, and families who want a quieter break from the city
🌳 Kdrama Moment at the Charming Nami Island
My kwarentahin self was already too tired by the time we’re about to go to the famous Nami Island. 🥱 The truth is I was looking forward to sleeping in the hotel room more than taking photos in this must-see Kdrama location.
But after a short ferry ride, the shore of Nami Island welcomed us with its irresistible charm. Despite the dramatic rain, this river island’s beauty was something no mere human can reject. Ok fine, game for another photo sesh! 😅
Umbrellas up, we did our obligatory pictorial along the island’s popular tree-lined avenue. 🌳
Yomi the Toddler had other plans though as she was completely tired and freezing. All she wanted was to sit down and play. Good thing we found a cozy café where Daddy and Mommy could recharge with a comforting cup of hot coffee and some cake while Yomi was resting.
😎 Exploring Gangnam District + Starfield Library
A South Korea family itinerary wouldn’t be complete without a stop in the iconic Gangnam District—made world-famous by Psy’s hit song Gangnam Style. Tourists from all over the world come here to dance a few moves in front of the famous Gangnam Style sculpture.
The sculpture stands in front of the Starfield COEX Mall, home to the social media popular Starfield Library.
Starfield Library is a huge, aesthetic public library with towering bookshelves that double as one of Korea’s most popular photo spots. 📚 Feeling smart ka na, estetik ka pa! 😉
☕ Coffee Stop at Cafe Pleno
When in Gangnam, visit Café Pleno, a cozy coffee shop run by popular South Korean actor Jang Keun-suk, often referred to as the “Asian Prince”. This explains why it’s a favorite stop among K-drama fans of all ages.
The food and beverages are really good. Our daughters gave it 10/10. ⭐️😋
Parent tip: Always schedule café breaks when traveling with kids. It’s like a power bank for tired kids and adults. 😅
🗼 Morning Visit to N Seoul Tower
N Seoul Tower is one of the iconic family-friendly spots in Seoul, offering:
- City views
- Nature walks
- Love locks
Though we missed to take photos at the love locks (sleeping toddler 😴), it was still worth visiting.
🏡 Cultural Stop: Korean Folk Village
Travel becomes more meaningful when it’s educational. This stop gave us a glimpse of Korea’s past—perfect for families who want kids to learn while traveling.
🎡 Everland: Best Theme Park in Korea for Families
If you’re searching for things to do in Korea with kids, Everland should be on your list. As Korea’s largest amusement park, it has all the classic attractions—carousels, roller coasters, and other thrilling rides. 🎠🎡
But since I’m not really a fan of amusement park rides, what I loved most during our Everland visit was the Tulip Festival. 🌷🌸
It was perfect timing that we visited Korea in spring, as the festival runs from mid-March to the end of April. The festival features over a million spring flowers from more than 100 varieties, including tulips and daffodils.
Another highlight for our family was the cable car ride. 🚠 Though it was short, it gave us a scenic bird’s-eye view of Everland and a much-needed break and rest for our tired legs. 🤭
👑 Hanbok Experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace
South Korea is a wonderful blend of modern and traditional wonders. While the Lotte World Tower is impressive, we can never overlook the timeless beauty of centuries-old architecture.
Among Seoul’s five grand palaces, Gyeongbokgung Palace is considered the most beautiful—and the most symbolic of the Korean royal family. This 14th-century structure once served as the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty.
Of course, for a full Korean travel experience, we took the chance to wear a hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, perfectly matching the majestic Gyeongbokgung Palace backdrop. This is a must for any Korea family travel guide. 😉
🍢 Food Trip at Myeongdong
Myeongdong is one of the primary shopping districts in Seoul, but what I enjoyed most here was the street food! It’s a long stretch filled with a wide variety of delicious flavors.
What we tried:
🥞 Fluffy Korean Nutella pancakes — Tashy’s favorite
🦞 Roasted lobster with cheese
🥩 Wagyu cubes
🦐 Baked Shrimps
🇯🇵 Takoyaki
🐷Skewers
🥤 Fruit drinks 🍓🍍
Tip: Great for picky eaters—lots of options!
🏡 Eunpyeong Hanok Village
Our last stop was calm, scenic, and beautiful…
until our toddler spilled her strawberry drink. 😅
Because that’s the reality of traveling with kids in Korea (or anywhere!).
A Realistic South Korea Family Travel Guide
If you’re planning a family trip to South Korea, here’s what I learned:
- It won’t be perfect, and that’s okay
- Build in rest stops (cafés are lifesavers!)
- Expect changes, delays, and toddler moods
- Focus on moments, not just itineraries
- People may judge you because traveling with kids can make you slow, messy, or screen time lenient. Don’t mind them and try to enjoy every authentic moment.
Because in the end, it’s not about completing every stop.
It’s about savoring moments with your family.
Our Trip Highlights ✈️
Our Korea adventure was a 5-day, 4-night spring getaway on the 2nd week of April. While it wasn’t a long vacation, our itinerary was thoughtfully planned, allowing us to experience many of South Korea’s iconic sights without feeling too rushed.
Season: Spring
One of the reasons we chose to visit in April was to experience Korea in spring. We were lucky enough to catch the tail end of the cherry blossom season, with blooming trees still adding pops of pink to parks, palaces, and streets. The cool weather, ranging from 14°C to 18°C during the day, made sightseeing comfortable, especially since we spent much of our time walking outdoors.
Airport and Flight Experience
We flew with Jeju Air, departing from Clark International Airport at 1:40 a.m. and arriving at Incheon International Airport at 6:30 a.m. The early arrival meant we could begin sightseeing almost immediately and make the most of our first day in Korea.
For our return journey, we departed Incheon at night, arriving back in Clark just after midnight.
One of the things I love about Incheon International Airport is how thoughtfully designed it is for families. The restrooms have child-friendly toilet cubicles in addition to dedicated diaper-changing areas, making airport breaks much easier for parents traveling with little ones. There’s also a Pororo-themed play area where kids can run, climb, and play free of charge while waiting for their flight. It’s these little family-friendly touches that make traveling through Incheon a much more enjoyable experience for both kids and adults.
Where We Stayed
Throughout our trip, we stayed at Goldcoast Hotel Incheon, located in Namdong-gu, Incheon. Since most of our days were spent exploring different parts of Seoul and nearby attractions, we mainly used the hotel as a comfortable place to rest and recharge each evening.
The rooms were clean and comfortable, and breakfast was included each morning—something we especially appreciated before heading out for another full day of sightseeing. Its location also made it a convenient base for our group’s itinerary, particularly for airport transfers and daily tours.
The Food We Still Talk About
No trip to South Korea would be complete without experiencing its food, and thankfully, our itinerary gave us plenty of opportunities to do just that. From comforting local dishes to familiar fast-food favorites, every meal became another memorable part of our family adventure.
Authentic Korean Flavors
Most of our meals introduced us to authentic Korean cuisine. We enjoyed hearty hot pots filled with ramen, luncheon meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and savory broth—a comforting meal that was especially perfect for the cool spring weather. Sitting around a steaming pot, sharing food and conversation, quickly became one of our favorite dining experiences.
Of course, we also couldn’t leave Korea without having Korean barbecue. Grilling marinated meats right at our table, wrapping them in fresh lettuce, and pairing them with an assortment of banchan (side dishes) made every bite feel like a celebration. Even our kids enjoyed joining in, choosing their favorite cuts of meat and learning the Korean way of eating barbecue.
Another highlight was the abundance of complimentary side dishes served with almost every meal. Kimchi, pickled vegetables, fish cakes, and other banchan added different flavors and textures that made each dining experience unique.
More Than Just Korean Food
While we wanted to immerse ourselves in Korean cuisine, we also appreciated having a few familiar meals in between, especially because we have little humans yearning for fries. After long days of sightseeing, stopping by Shake Shack was a welcome change of pace. It became one of those simple family moments that reminded us that travel isn’t just about trying new things. It’s also about enjoying comfort food together after a busy day of exploring.
Kimbap Making Workshop
One of the most memorable food experiences during our trip wasn’t just eating—it was learning how to make our own kimbap.
During a hands-on workshop, our family and tour group mates gathered around the preparation tables, put on gloves, and learned how to spread rice evenly over seaweed before carefully arranging the fillings and rolling everything into neat cylinders. It looked so easy when the instructor demonstrated it, but we quickly discovered that making a perfectly shaped kimbap takes a bit of practice!
It turned into a fun family activity filled with laughter as we compared our creations and proudly sampled the rolls we had made ourselves. It wasn’t just a cooking lesson—it was a wonderful way to experience Korean culture together.
Looking back, the food was one of the biggest highlights of our trip. Whether we were enjoying authentic Korean barbecue, sharing a bubbling hot pot, grabbing burgers at Shake Shack, or rolling our very first kimbap, every meal gave us another reason to gather around the table and create lasting memories together.
Travel Essentials That Made Our Korea Trip Easier
If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, there are a few travel essentials I genuinely recommend bringing. These items made our family vacation much smoother, and I’d happily use them again on our next international trip.
1. RFID Passport Holder
With passports, boarding passes, immigration forms, hotel vouchers, and travel insurance documents to keep track of, staying organized is essential—especially when traveling as a family.
I used a passport holder that kept all our important travel documents in one place, making airport check-ins and immigration much less stressful. Choose one with RFID protection for added security and enough slots for passports, cards, cash, and boarding passes.
2. Portable Pocket WiFi
Having reliable internet throughout our trip was one of the best decisions we made.
Instead of relying on public WiFi, we rented a portable Pocket WiFi through the Klook app, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made for the trip. The process was hassle-free—we simply picked it up upon arrival and returned it at the designated booth at Incheon International Airport before flying home.
The device allowed multiple family members to connect at the same time, so everyone stayed online throughout the trip. It was incredibly useful for navigating with Google Maps, booking Uber rides, translating Korean signs and menus, searching for restaurants and cafés, and keeping in touch with our tour group and loved ones back in the Philippines.
If you’re traveling as a family or with friends, I highly recommend renting a Pocket WiFi. It’s convenient, reliable, and often more cost-effective than getting individual SIM cards or eSIMs for everyone.
➡️ Rent your Korea Pocket WiFi here.
3. High-Capacity Power Bank
You’ll be surprised how quickly your phone battery drains while traveling.
Between taking hundreds of photos, recording videos, using navigation apps, translating menus, and messaging family, our phones were constantly in use.
A high-capacity power bank saved us countless times, especially during full-day tours when charging outlets weren’t available. I recommend bringing one with at least 20,000mAh, which can recharge your phone multiple times before needing a recharge itself.
4. Universal Travel Adapter
South Korea uses Type C and Type F plugs, so don’t forget to pack a universal travel adapter.
We had several devices to charge each night—phones, cameras, power banks, and smartwatches—so having an adapter with multiple USB ports made life much easier.
5. Comfortable Walking Shoes
Whether you’re exploring palaces, strolling through Myeongdong, visiting Nami Island, or riding the subway, it’s easy to reach 15,000–20,000 steps in a day. Comfortable walking shoes are absolutely worth the luggage space.
Should You Travel DIY or Join a Tour?
One of the questions I often get after sharing our Korea experience is, “Is it better to travel DIY or join a tour?”
For me, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best option depends on your budget, travel style, who you’re traveling with, and how comfortable you are planning an overseas trip.
Option 1: Go DIY
If you’re traveling as a couple, with a small family, or with friends who enjoy planning, a DIY trip can be incredibly rewarding. South Korea has an excellent public transportation system, English signages are common in tourist areas, and navigation apps make getting around relatively easy.
Planning your own itinerary also gives you the freedom to:
- Spend more time at places you love.
- Skip attractions that don’t interest you.
- Explore hidden cafés and neighborhoods.
- Travel at your own pace.
Here are a few tips if you’re planning a DIY Korea trip:
🚇 Learn to use the subway.
Seoul’s subway system is clean, efficient, and connects most major tourist attractions. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap, as they often provide more accurate directions than Google Maps in Korea.
🚕 Download the Uber app before your trip.
We found Uber very convenient when we traveled with kids from Incheon to Gangnam. The app works in South Korea and made getting around much easier, especially after a long day of sightseeing or shopping.
📶 Rent a Pocket WiFi or eSIM.
Reliable internet is a must for navigation, translation apps, restaurant searches, and booking rides. We rented our Pocket WiFi through Klook and highly recommend it for families traveling together. I’ve personally used Klook for our Pocket WiFi rental, and the pick-up and return process at Incheon Airport was seamless.
💳 Get a transportation card.
Purchase a T-money card at the airport or any convenience store. It can be used on subways, buses, and even at selected convenience stores, making cashless travel much more convenient.
To make planning easier, here are the booking platforms we personally recommend:
🏨 Book your hotel through Agoda
Find the best deals on hotels, apartments, and family-friendly accommodations.
🎟️ Book your Pocket WiFi, airport transfers, attraction tickets, and day tours through Klook
It’s where we booked our Pocket WiFi, and the pickup and return process at Incheon Airport was quick and hassle-free.
With a little planning and the right apps, traveling around South Korea on your own is very manageable and can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
Option 2: Join a Guided Tour
For our family, however, joining a tour was the better choice.
There were 13 of us traveling together, ranging from grandparents to young children. Coordinating transportation, accommodations, attraction tickets, and meal stops for a group that size would have been challenging—not to mention exhausting.
By booking a tour, we didn’t have to worry about navigating train stations, arranging transfers, or keeping track of everyone’s schedule. We simply showed up each day, enjoyed the sights, and focused on spending quality time together.
It also allowed our parents to enjoy the trip without the stress of logistics, while we parents could spend more time making memories with our children instead of constantly checking maps and train schedules.
To be completely transparent, joining a guided tour also comes with a few trade-offs.
Based on our experience, the itinerary was quite structured and the schedule was strictly followed. Everyone in the group was expected to be punctual so the day’s activities could run smoothly and no one would be kept waiting. While this made the tour efficient and allowed us to visit many attractions in just five days, it also meant there wasn’t much flexibility.
As a mom of two young girls, this was probably the biggest challenge for me. Kids don’t always operate on a schedule—they may need an unexpected bathroom break, get hungry at the wrong time, or simply want a few extra minutes to rest. There were moments when I felt a bit rushed trying to keep up with the group’s timetable while making sure my daughters were comfortable.
If you’re traveling with very young children or anyone who may need a slower pace, it’s something worth considering when deciding between a guided tour and a DIY itinerary. Ultimately, it comes down to your family’s travel style and priorities.
Our Recommended Travel Agency
For this trip, we booked with Aboex Travel and Tours, and we’re happy with the experience.
From processing our Korean visa and travel arrangements to coordinating the itinerary, everything was well organized. Having an experienced tour guide and transportation throughout the trip made traveling with three generations much more comfortable and enjoyable.
If you’re traveling with a large family, seniors, young children, or simply prefer a stress-free vacation, I’d definitely recommend Aboex Travel and Tours. A big part of our wonderful experience was also thanks to Faye of Aboex, our approachable Filipino tour guide, who stayed with us throughout the trip and made sure everything ran smoothly.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose to travel DIY or join a guided tour, South Korea is a destination that’s easy to fall in love with. Its beautiful scenery, efficient transportation, delicious food, rich culture, and family-friendly attractions make it a wonderful destination for travelers of all ages.
For me, this trip was about so much more than checking famous landmarks off a list. It was about watching our children experience a new country, seeing our parents enjoy traveling with their grandchildren, sharing meals around the same table, and creating memories we’ll treasure for years to come.
If South Korea is on your family’s travel bucket list, I hope our South Korea Family Travel Guide helps you plan a trip that’s just right for you. Safe travels, enjoy every moment, and don’t forget to say “Annyeong!” (hello) to new adventures and “Kamsahamnida!” (thank you) for the memories you’ll make along the way.
