Historical Places in South Korea

Exploring historical places in South Korea is like stepping back in time. Ancient monuments, heritage buildings and cultural landmarks reveal the city’s fascinating journey through the centuries. MakeMyTrip offers 1236 historical attractions in South Korea for 2026, perfect for travellers who enjoy history, culture and architecture.

Historical Places in South Korea: Temples, Palaces and Heritage Sites

South Korea is a country where the past never really steps aside for the present. You can be standing in the middle of a neon-lit street and still stumble upon a quiet courtyard, tiled roofs curving gracefully, and walls that have been there for centuries. The historical places in South Korea aren’t locked away; they’re stitched into everyday life, from bustling Seoul to small mountain valleys.

Think of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where guards in bright robes still march with drums, or Bulguksa Temple, where the smell of incense drifts through pine trees, and then there’s the old hanok villages, wooden homes with paper windows that creak in the wind. These are the historical places South Korea is proud of, and you feel it the moment you step inside.

The beauty lies in the small moments. Sitting on cool stone steps while bells ring from a temple, tracing the grooves in a wooden pillar polished by centuries of hands, or just watching locals light candles as the sun fades. The historical places in South Korea invite you to slow down. Even simple activities, like trying a bowl of hot noodles in a market next to a centuries-old gate, remind you that here, history and daily life flow together without pause.

Historical Place in South Korea

Palaces & Royal Heritage

Gyeongbokgung Palace

The first time you step through its gates, the city noise fades. Wide courtyards stretch in front of you, framed by painted beams and sweeping tiled roofs. Among the historical places South Korea is proud of, Gyeongbokgung stands at the top.

Historical Background: The historical background dates to 1395, built as the main palace of the Joseon Dynasty, though much of it was rebuilt after wars and fires.

Key Highlights: You walk slowly, the wooden floors creaking faintly, guards in bright robes passing by with drums. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, this one feels like the heart, a reminder of royal life in the middle of modern Seoul.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (closed Tuesdays).
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 300.
• Location: Seoul.

Changdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden

It looks simpler than Gyeongbokgung at first, less grand, but the beauty lies in the garden behind it. Out of the many historical places in South Korea, this one feels intimate. It belongs on the list of historical places to visit in South Korea, especially if you want to see how nature was folded into royal life.

Historical Background: The historical background traces to the early 15th century, when this palace became the preferred residence of Joseon kings. Its Secret Garden is a masterpiece of balance, with pavilions, ponds, and paths designed for quiet reflection.

Key Highlights: You find yourself listening to the wind through tall trees, the crunch of gravel under your shoes.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 400 for palace and garden.
• Location: Seoul.

Deoksugung Palace

You might stumble on it unexpectedly, right beside busy streets and modern buildings. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, Deoksugung feels like a blend of old and new. And if you’re looking for simple activities, catching the changing of the guards here in the evening adds colour to your day.

Historical Background: The historical background dates to the late 16th century, used by kings after invasions destroyed other palaces.

Key Highlights: Stone walls surround a mix of traditional wooden halls and later Western-style buildings, showing the shift of Korea into modern times. You sit for a moment on the low steps, hearing the hum of traffic outside.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 200.
• Location: Seoul.

Temples & Spiritual Sites

Bulguksa Temple, Gyeongju

You climb stone steps worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims, the sound of birds in the pines above. It’s also one of the historical places to visit in South Korea if you want to feel how faith and history sit side by side.

Historical Background: The historical background takes you back to 774 AD, when the temple was completed during the Silla Dynasty. It has been rebuilt, restored, and honoured as a UNESCO site, but it still feels like a working temple.

Key Highlights: The scent of incense drifts through painted gates, monks move quietly, and lanterns sway gently in the breeze. Among the historical places in South Korea, Bulguksa is one of the most spiritual.

• Timing: 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 300.
• Location: Gyeongju.

Jogyesa Temple, Seoul

Right in the middle of the city, skyscrapers buzzing around it, Jogyesa stands calm. It belongs naturally among the historical places South Korea. Even small activities, like joining a temple stay or just lighting a candle, make the visit linger in your memory.

Historical Background: The historical background begins in the late 14th century, though much of what you see today was restored in the 20th century.

Key Highlights: Walking in, you hear wooden gongs and chanting. Colourful lanterns hang low, fluttering in the wind. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, this one feels most alive with daily rhythm.

• Timing: Open all day.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Seoul.

Beomeosa Temple, Busan

The path winds up the mountain, pines thick around you, until the temple gates appear. Out of the many historical places in South Korea, Beomeosa carries a deep calm. For travellers, it’s one of the best historical places to visit in South Korea if you want quiet with your history.

Historical Background: The historical background dates to 678 AD, built during the Unified Silla period, destroyed and rebuilt many times over the centuries.

Key Highlights: Inside, bright paintings cover wooden halls, each detail telling stories of Buddhist teachings. The air feels cool, even in summer, and the sound of a stream trickles nearby.

• Timing: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 150.
• Location: Busan.

Fortresses & City Walls

Hwaseong Fortress, Suwon

The walls rise and curve across the hills, stone and brick stretching into the distance. Among the historical places in South Korea, this one feels both protective and graceful, and it belongs among the historical places South Korea is proud of, blending beauty with strategy.

Historical Background: The historical background takes you to the late 18th century, when King Jeongjo built the fortress to honour his father and strengthen the city.

Key Highlights: You walk along the ramparts, the sound of your shoes tapping against stone, while the city spreads out below. Pavilions break up the walls, each one offering a spot to stop, catch your breath, and look.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 200.
• Location: Suwon.

Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong)

You find it where the modern city meets the old, staircases climbing into the hills, stone paths winding between towers. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, this one feels like a living line of history. It’s also one of the most rewarding historical places to visit in South Korea if you enjoy walks mixed with views.

Historical Background: The historical background dates to the 14th century, built to defend the capital during the Joseon Dynasty.

Key Highlights: Hike a stretch and the city looks different: skyscrapers to one side, ancient gates to the other. The air smells of pine as you climb higher.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Seoul.

Namhansanseong Fortress

Nestled in the mountains just outside the capital, this fortress feels less crowded, more raw. Out of the historical places in South Korea, this one offers both history and calm. If you’re looking for activities beyond the usual, a half-day trek here gives you both exercise and perspective. And it’s easily one of the quieter historical places to visit in South Korea.

Historical Background: The historical background tells of its role as an emergency capital during the 17th-century Manchu invasions. The walls stretch for kilometres, wrapping around forests and villages.

Key Highlights: You hike through shaded paths, stone towers appearing suddenly between trees. The smell of pine needles, the rustle of leaves underfoot, it feels far from the city.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 150.
• Location: Gyeonggi Province.

Museums & Heritage Villages

National Museum of Korea, Seoul

You step inside and the air shifts, quiet, cool, the smell of polished wood and faint dust from old paper. It belongs among the historical places South Korea treasures most, and even small activities, like sketching a sculpture or just sitting in the courtyard garden, make you part of the story.

Historical Background: The historical background goes back to its founding in 1945, but its collection stretches far deeper: golden crowns from Silla tombs, painted scrolls, stone pagodas rescued from temples.

Key Highlights: You drift slowly through, pausing longer than you meant to in front of a single artifact. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, this one feels like a condensed version of the entire country’s memory.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Seoul.

Andong Hahoe Folk Village

The roofs curve low, thatch and tile mixed together, and alleys wind past wooden gates. Out of all the historical places in South Korea, Hahoe feels most alive. It’s also one of the most atmospheric historical places to visit in South Korea, especially if you want daily life mixed with heritage.

Historical Background: The historical background takes you to the 14th century, when this Confucian village grew into a place of scholars and farmers. Families still live here, carrying on traditions that have lasted centuries.

Key Highlights: Walking through, you catch the smell of woodsmoke and soy from kitchen courtyards. Masks hang in shops, rice fields stretch just beyond the village edge.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 400.
• Location: Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Jeonju Hanok Village

You hear it before you see it, footsteps on wooden porches, laughter spilling from tea houses, the shuffle of hanbok skirts rented for the day. And if you’re after simple activities, renting a hanbok to stroll through the village turns your visit into a memory that feels both playful and timeless. It’s easily one of the most loved historical places South Korea has to offer.

Historical Background: The historical background goes back hundreds of years, and today the village still holds over 700 hanok houses, each with sloping tiled roofs and latticed windows.

Key Highlights: You wander narrow lanes, sip makgeolli rice wine in a courtyard, and watch the late afternoon light fall on curved rooftops. Out of the many historical places in South Korea, this one combines tradition with a touch of festivity.

• Timing: Open all day.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do.

Traveller Tips for Exploring South Korea’s History

• Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Palaces and temples feel different in softer light, and even crowded spots thin out. Some of the most atmospheric historical places South Korea has to offer look their best just as the sun rises or dips.
• Comfortable shoes are a must. Climbing fortress walls or wandering through old villages means uneven paths.
• Respect silence in temples. A whisper can feel loud under painted beams.
• Carry some cash for smaller entries or snacks outside the gates.
• Mix in everyday activities, a bowl of noodles after exploring a market gate, tea inside a hanok courtyard, or just sitting on fortress walls watching the city below.