Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Cherry blossoms bloom in early April, starting in Busan and Jeju and moving north to Seoul. Autumn foliage peaks from mid-October to early November, especially in Seoraksan National Park and around Gyeongju. Summer is hot and humid, with a monsoon season from late June through July. Winter is cold and dry, with clear skies and skiing in the mountains east of Seoul. Try to avoid the Chuseok and Lunar New Year holidays, when trains sell out and many shops close.

Four or five days covers Seoul’s palaces, markets, and neighborhoods, along with a day trip to the DMZ. With eight to ten days, you can add Gyeongju, Andong, and Busan. A trip of 12 to 14 days allows time for Jeju Island as well, or for a temple stay in the mountains.

Yes. The Demilitarized Zone is about an hour’s drive north of Seoul, and guided day trips visit sites such as the Third Infiltration Tunnel, Dora Observatory, and Imjingak Park. Access to the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom has been suspended for long periods in recent years, so availability changes. A passport is required on every DMZ tour, and your specialist will confirm what is open before you travel.

A temple stay is an overnight visit to a working Buddhist monastery, offered at temples such as Haeinsa, Golgulsa, and Bulguksa. Guests wear temple clothing, join predawn chanting with the monks, eat vegetarian temple meals, and take part in meditation or a tea ceremony. Accommodation is simple, with sleeping mats on heated floors, but it’s one of the most memorable experiences in the country.

US citizens can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days. Korea also uses an online travel authorization called K-ETA, and US travelers have been exempt from it during recent temporary waivers. Because the requirement may apply depending on when you travel, your specialist will confirm the current rules before departure.

Start with Korean barbecue, grilled at your table and wrapped in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang. Look for bibimbap in Jeonju, where the dish originated, pork rice soup in Busan, and Jeju’s black pork. Seoul’s Gwangjang Market is the place for bindaetteok, a crisp mung bean pancake, along with spicy tteokbokki rice cakes. Buddhist temple cuisine is another highlight, made without meat, garlic, or onion.

South Korea and Japan pair easily. Flights from Seoul to Tokyo or Osaka take about two hours, and Busan is a short flight from Fukuoka. A combined trip might spend a week in Korea covering Seoul, Gyeongju, and Busan, then continue to Kyoto and Tokyo.