We’re less than 2 months away from winter in Korea! If you’re headed there for the year-end holidays, here are 3 winter activities you must add to your itinerary for the full experience.
1. Visit Gangwon-do
Gangwon-do is a coastal region in northeastern Korea, about 2 hours away from Seoul.
Its mountainous terrain makes it ideal for winter activities such as skiing, making it a popular spot for ski resorts in Korea. Some well-known ones include Yongpyong and Alpensia.
However, Gangwon-do has many other winter attractions worth visiting! Here are 3 you should consider:
Stone Creek Cafe
Stone Creek Cafe (스톤크릭) is in Wonju, about 2 hours away from Seoul.
It’s slightly far out so we recommend driving there. You can rent a car or driver service in advance.
This cafe is known for the massive ice structure in its backyard! The formation is so large that people do ice climbing.
The icicles cascading down the side of the mountain make for a grand sight and perfect for pictures!
If that’s not up your alley, you can enjoy coffee on the ground around the provided heaters.
Their menu includes over seven variations of pour-over coffee, flavoured lattes and seasonal drinks!
Stone Creek Cafe (스톤크릭)
강원 원주시 지정면 지정로 1101
1101, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do
Opening hours: 10.30am to 8pm
Naver Map | Kakao Map
Inje Birch Forest
If you enjoy snow hiking, Wondaeri/Inje Birch Forest should be on your list!
The birch forest is covered in snow during the winter, making for a gorgeous sight. There are also plenty of photo spots like this birch teepee.
You need to hike up to reach the main birch forest that’s estimated to take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
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Just a warning that the paths can get steep, so please get a good pair of hiking shoes and a hiking stick if needed!
You also need to purchase a pair of snow grips for your shoes. You can’t enter without them! These can be purchased near the entrance.
The forest is far out so we recommend getting a taxi or going with a tour!
Inje Birch Forest (원대리 자작나무 숲)
강원 인제군 인제읍 원대리 763-4
763-4 Wondae-ri, Inje-eup, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do
Naver Map | Kakao Map
Daegwallyeong Samyang Farm
Daegwallyeong Samyang Farm (대관령 삼양목장) in Pyeongchang is the largest farm in Asia.
It’s also covered in snow during winter, making it a large outdoor winter playground!
This massive farm boasts 5 different themed trails for you to explore, alongside a sanctuary for animals like sheep, dogs and ostriches.
It’s a great spot for children with many family-friendly activities. You can hike the grounds, feed the sheep and even catch a sheepdog performance where dogs herd the sheep!
Tickets are priced at 10,000 won for children and 12,000 won for adults.
Daegwallyeong Samyang Farm (대관령 삼양목장)
강원특별자치도 평창군 대관령면 꽃밭양지길 708-9
708-9, Kkotbatyangji-gil, Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm
Naver Map | Kakao Map
2. Attend A Korean Winter Festival
Another must-do winter item is to attend a Korean winter festival!
Different regions in Korea host their versions of winter festivals with unique activities, ranging from ice skating and sledging to even ice fishing.
These are 2 popular ones you can consider!
Hwacheon Sancheono Ice Festival
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Known as one of the biggest winter festivals in Korea, the Hwacheon Sancheono Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천 산천어축제) hosts a plethora of winter-themed events!
There’s everything from ice fishing to ice soccer, perfect for spending a day out with family. If you enjoy winter sports, you can also do ice sledging and figure skating.
The festival also has the world’s largest indoor ice sculpture plaza with over 30 hand-carved sculptures!
With everything in one place, you can attend the festival to experience all the quintessential Korean winter activities. There are one-day tours available from Seoul for convenience.
Hwacheon Sancheono Ice Festival (얼음나라 화천 산천어축제)
11 January 2025 to 2 February 2025
Event hours: 9am to 9pm
강원특별자치도 화천군 화천읍 하리 2-1
2-1 Hari, Hwacheon-eup, Hwacheon-gun, Gangwon-do
Admission: Tickets from 15,000 won
Official website
Naver Map | Kakao Map
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival
Those who want to admire snow in Korea can attend the Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival (태백산 눈축제)!
It is held in Taebaeksan National Park and highlights the wonders of snow.
The festival is spread across three locations, including Taebaek Cultural Plaza and Hwangji Pond, so there’s plenty to do!
The highlight is the grand snow sculptures which can go up to 40 meters long! Other fringe activities include snow carving and snow-climbing competitions.
You can also speed down a snow slide and build snowmen. If you’ve always wanted to experience snow, this festival is a must-visit.
Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival (태백산 눈축제)
Dates TBA (Usually Mid Jan to Early Feb)
태백산국립공원 / 강원 태백시 소도동
South Korea, Gangwon-do, Taebaek-si, Mungok-dong
Naver Map | Kakao Map
3. Eat Korean Winter Street Food
Nothing beats hot food in the winter cold! Korea has plenty of seasonal winter street foods you should try.
Our top picks are hotteok (호떡), multteok (물떡) and bungeo-ppang (붕어빵)!
Hotteok is available all year round but is especially tasty in the winter. They are usually available widely at street markets like Mangwon Market and Gwangjang Market, or even vendors on the street.
Multteok is something more special. Unlike regular tteokbokki that’s stir-fried in spicy sauce, multteok features long rice cakes simply simmered in odeng (fish cake) broth.
This is a speciality dish of Busan and popular in winter! The chewy rice cake and warm, slightly savoury broth hits the spot.
Bungeo-ppang is usually only available in winter so we highly recommend you try it!
These fish-shaped pastries are traditionally filled with custard or red bean, but many stores in Korea now offer modern variations.
You can try flavours like green tea, black sesame and even salt bread bunggeoppang. Check out our list of bunggeoppang places to try.
Winter Activities In Korea
We hope this guide helps you maximise your Korea winter itinerary to enjoy what the country offers. Remember to stay warm and prepare warm clothing if you’re travelling!
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Check out other fun things to do and eat in Korea!
- The Hyundai Seoul: Largest Mall in Seoul Filled With Insta-Worthy Interior & Popular Brands
- Haeundae Blueline Park: A Guide To Taking The Sky Capsule & Beach Train in Busan
- 28 Aesthetic Cafes in Seoul To Visit in 2024
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