10 places to visit to get the best Christmas experience in Korea
In most parts of the world, Christmas is seen as a jolly season to celebrate with family, exchange gifts, sing carols, and create beautiful memories. Well, Korea, with its trendy reputation, doesn’t fall short when it comes to this festival. From theme parks to shopping malls, streets, gardens, churches, and numerous festivals, everywhere lights up and becomes more colorful during Christmas.
However, since a majority of them are not Christians, Koreans do not celebrate Christmas as intensely as the westerners do. For instance, exchanging Christmas presents is not really a common tradition, and also, some view Christmas more as a couple-oriented celebration than a family time out. Regardless, you would still find that the mind-blowing decorations, lovely songs, good food, and fun activities all sum up to make Christmas a wonderful time in Korea. And since it usually comes in the winter, you also get to enjoy outdoor sports like ice skating and sledding. So, although Christmas is different in Korea, it is equally a sensational and warm time of the year.
If you happen to be in Korea during Christmas, here is a list of the places to get the best of the festive period:
- Seoul City Hall Square
- Myeongdong Cathedral
- Lotte World
- Everland
- Busan (Busan Xmas Tree Festival)
- N Seoul Tower
- Garden of Morning Calm
- Starfield COEX Mall
- Yeongdeungpo Times Square
- Pcheon Herb Island (Lighting fantasia)
1. Seoul City Hall Square
Photo Credits: Dreamstime
Location: 110 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul,
Telephone: +82 2-731-2120
Seoul is a megacity in Korea, and as expected, it does not disappoint when it comes to celebrating the massive Christmas season; which is sure to put everyone in the high spirits associated with the festivity. There are a good number of festivals to attend, majestic Christmas trees to appreciate, nice meals to devour, and of course, cool shopping to indulge in. Well, the Seoul City Hall Square should be one of the must-visit places for a wonderful feeling of Christmas.
The Seoul City Hall Square is a Korean government building situated at the heart of Seoul, and the administrators take great pride in the monumental decorations and awesome Christmas activities hosted annually, which bring people from far and near to the city. Hence, it is no surprise that it is a renowned location for friends, families, and couples, thanks to the gorgeous Christmas tree on display, shining bright with a billion lights. To say that this area is breathtaking during Christmas is an understatement. And to make it more incredible, the sparkling Cheonggyechon River is nearby, with an equally intense aura of Christmas vibes. You get to see more Christmas displays, visit the Santa village, delight in delicious Korean Christmas desserts, and take lots of beautiful pictures.
2. Myeongdong Cathedral
Photo credits: Agoda
Location: 74 Myeongdong-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 2-774-1784
The Myeongdong Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Korea. If you are in search of a more tranquil way of experiencing Christmas in Korea, then you must pay a visit to the Myeongdong Cathedral, especially from the 24th to the 26th of December. Catholics visiting Korea would really enjoy attending mass in this cathedral.
Anyone would certainly be mesmerized by the brilliant architecture that dazzles during Christmas with lights and lovely decorations. Every corner and angle of the church wraps you up in the sweet Christmas aura and makes you feel warm inside. Then the choir sings like angels, with their voices illuminating the carols’ messages and resonating all around the premises. Another lovely part about the Myeongdong Cathedral is the captivating manger, which stands as a representation of the place where Jesus was born, and the wishing tree, where one can hang their New Year’s wishes after writing them down. Nearby, you can find cafes to refresh, take pictures in the lovely rose garden, and say a prayer. The plus side is that everyone is welcome, Christian or not. This is definitely a spot you want to visit to get the best Christmas experience while in Korea.
3. Lotte World
Location: 240 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 1661-2000
Lotte World has made a name for itself as one of the largest recreational establishments in Korea. It houses a large theme park that is indoors, an equally spellbinding amusement park (popularly known as Magic Island) situated outdoors, several shopping malls, sports facilities, a movie theater, and a luxury hotel. So when it comes to Christmas, it is definitely the place to be. It is fair to say that people look forward to enjoying the Christmas holidays in Lotte World. The Magic Island becomes illuminated by a huge Christmas tree with twinkling bright lights that comes with a 3D multimedia mapping show.
This is a great location for every member of the family and people of all ages. Apart from the fun activities associated with Lotte World, like the exciting rides, games, ice skating, nice food, sweet shopping, etc., there is a special celebration that comes with winter and Christmas. Lotte World usually holds a Christmas light festival with different themes. So in addition to all the thrilling fun, there would be lovely shows and performances to put visitors in high spirits. The snow castle would light up more fiercely, and you could take pictures with Santa, enjoy the Christmas parade, and visit the white winter village, among other attractions. In all, one would get to enjoy Christmas in Lotte world and make fond memories to cherish for a long time.
4. Everland
Photo Credits: YouTube
Location: 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
Telephone: +82 31-320-5000
Magical and grand are the two best words to describe Everland at Christmas. Everland is the largest and most popular amusement park in Korea, with lots of amazing facilities to make it a massively fun time for the whole family. There are five thrilling rides, a safari with animals like grizzly bears, the Kosik (an Asian elephant), tigers, lions, otters, etc., tasty and affordable food, and one can get lots of cute souvenirs and even go snow sledding during the winter. All this sums up a great deal of entertainment that would keep anyone coming back for more. But all that doesn’t compare to the way Everland lights up during Christmas—the places become more illuminated with colorful lights, and the exciting activities triple for maximum pleasure at the park.
There is no need to convince you that this is one of the best places to experience the best Christmas celebration in Korea. From the displays to the gigantic Christmas trees, fireworks, magic garden, parades, Christmas special performances, a Christmas food market, cute photo spots, Snowman World, and Santa Village, Everland becomes a party in itself during the Christmas season. Whether it’s a personal time out, a family Christmas holiday, or a romantic date, Everland has all it takes to make Christmas a memorable time for you.
5. Busan (Busan Xmas Tree Festival)
Photo Credits: Daily Travel Pill
Location: 58-2, Gwangbok-ro, Jung-gu, Busan
Website: bctf.kr
If you happen to be in Busan, particularly around Gwangbok-ro in Jung-gu district, then you do not want to miss the Busan Christmas Tree Festival. Most people who visit Korea feel that Seoul is the heart of the party, which has an element of truth in it. However, Busan is renowned for hosting the biggest festivals in Korea, and its annual Christmas Festival does not fall short, and it is open to everyone.
For a decade now, the Busan Christmas Tree Festival has stood strong as one of the biggest ones to be held yearly in Korea, and with each year, it gets bigger and better. As the name implies, the 18-meter-long Christmas tree decorated with lights and sparkling artifacts is the highlight of the festival each year. As the name implies, the 18-meter-long Christmas tree decorated with lights and sparkling artifacts is the highlight of the festival. Then there were the street performances, caroling around the big tree, video and picture contests, a singing competition, and other family-friendly activities. To see the culture of Christmas in Korea in full and enjoy a massive celebration, Busan is the place to visit and the Busan Christmas Tree Festival is the event to participate in.
6. N Seoul Tower
Location: 105 Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 2-3455-9277
Also known as the Namsan Tower or the Seoul Tower, N Seoul Tower is a must-visit destination during the Christmas season. On a regular day, the 239-meter tower offers visitors a romantic hot spot, a fancy place to enjoy an overview of the glamorous Seoul city, and a lovely site to delight in tasty cuisine. However, during Christmas it takes up a brighter outlook with the metal tree glittering with shiny lights and the ambience taking on the feel of Christmas warmth.
From the decorations to the love padlocks, illuminations, great food, wonderful aura, and Christmas vibes, you would surely be intoxicated by the festive season. If you happen to be in Seoul with your special someone during the Christmas holiday, a visit to Namsan Tower can be a very unique date and if you happen to be with friends and family, it could be memories to talk about for years to come.
7. Garden of Morning Calm
Photo Credits: Pinterest
Location: 432 Sumogwon-ro, Sang-myeon, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do
Many would agree that the Garden of Morning Calm is one of the most mesmerizing places to visit all year while in Korea. So imagine how much more grand and breathtaking it would be during the Christmas celebration. The Garden of Morning Calm is a botanical garden situated in the Gapyeong district. It houses over 4,000 species of plants, which include endangered or rare plants and flowers. Asides the beautiful garden decorated naturally with flowers and plants that takes different form as the season changes, there are other amenities available. There is the Cottage Café that offers snacks; the Korean Food Garden for much heavier Korean dishes; and a store to get organic products, amongst others. And all these have a nice view of the lovely surroundings.
Now, if you want to enjoy the best of the Christmas season in Korea, a visit to the Garden of Morning Calm is highly recommended. Firstly, in addition to its natural beauty, the garden is decorated and lit up creatively to resemble a place carved out of a fairytale storybook. Then, there is the spectacular Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival that brings all the splendor of the garden together with the holiday spirit to give visitors the most wonderful time ever. When you happen to pay a visit, make sure you allow yourself to fall in love with the garden and the Christmas scenery, take many perfect pictures, enjoy nice meals, and indulge yourself in all the wonderful side attractions the festivity has to offer in the Garden of Morning Calm. Visit the official website for more information.
8. Starfield COEX Mall
Photo Credits: Korea Roads
Location: 513 Yeongdong-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 2-6002-5300
Website: https://www.starfield.co.kr/coexmall/main.do
Starfield COEX Mall is another shopping mall in Korea that is worth a visit to get the best of the Christmas experience in Korea. Located in Gangnam, Seoul, it houses various malls, exhibition halls, and convention centers. One thing many people appreciate is how beautifully their Christmas tree is decorated and lit up. The lights shine bright like stars, and the decorations on the massive tree contribute to leaving the visitors speechless with amazement. In all, a trip down to the Starfield COEX Mall is a step into a magical Christmas world.
Another wonderful thing about Starfield COEX Mall at Christmas is the delightful Christmas shopping. Everything from clothes to shoes, foods, souvenirs, and many other items would need a strong hand to pull you out of the mall. The awesome thing about Christmas shopping is the availability of many glowy things, the sweetness of window shopping, and of course, the Christmas discounts. Starfield COEX Mall is definitely a place to feel the Korean Christmas ambience.
9. Yeongdeungpo Times Square
Location: 15, Yeongjung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Telephone: +82 2-2638-2000
Yeongdeungpo Time Square is one of the largest shopping malls in Seoul, even bigger than COEX Mall, and contains numerous shopping malls, several restaurants, a department store, and a multiplex theater. It also happens to be a hot destination during Christmas, thanks to its shopping services and entertainment facilities, and most especially its amazing Christmas tinsel, glorious twinkling lights, and lovely decorations that are sure to light up your heart.
During the day, the place is very vibrant, with lots of people shopping, enjoying the side attractions put in place for the festivity, taking pictures by the Christmas trees, and visiting other nice spots around the complex. Then at night, when darkness envelopes the area and allows the lights to be the center of attraction, the magical effect of Yeongdeungpo Time Square becomes more pronounced. You most definitely have to visit this majestic complex to have a beautiful tale to tell of what Christmas feels like in Korea. Visit the website for more information.
10. Pcheon Herb Island (Lighting fantasia)
Location: 35, Cheongsin-ro 947beon-gil, Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Website: www.herbisland.co.kr
Pocheon Herb Island is one of the best places to visit in Korea to get the best Christmas experience ever. It gives the feel of stepping into a magical, gigantic garden with wonderful colors that wraps you up in its fascinating ambience. Lovers of Korean dramas would recall it being featured in series like Oh My Venus or The Producers.
During Christmas, this already magnificent garden transforms into a world of colorful lights and Christmas vibes, with loads of fun activities waiting to be enjoyed. The popular Herb Island Light festival is one event that people look forward to at Christmas, especially couples, due to its romantic aura and potential as a date night venue. The Christmas programs include the Santa Village Lighting Show, hands-on experiences in making Christmas-themed candles and soaps, shopping for souvenirs, cookies, and baked turkey at the Christmas market and shop available, outfit rentals, amazing performances, a cool photo zone, and a host of others. You are guaranteed to make precious memories and enjoy every bit of your Christmas.
If you will be celebrating Christmas in Korea, I hope this article helps you with places to visit so you don’t miss out on all the fun.
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