South Korea / Gyeongsang: Busan, Gyeongju & Andong / AndongAndong
Hahoe Village and Korea's Confucian Heartland
The home of Korea's Confucian scholar families: Hahoe Folk Village, a UNESCO-listed clan village of thatched and tiled houses in a bend of the Nakdong River, 25 km from town, with its mask-dance performances; Byeongsan Seowon, the most beautiful of the Confucian academies; and Dosan Seowon. Andong is known for jjimdak (braised chicken) and soju, and for the Mask Dance Festival in late September and early October. KTX-Eum trains reach it from Seoul's Cheongnyangni in about two hours. A night in a hanok inside Hahoe is the thing to book.
Highlights
- Hahoe Folk Village
- Hahoe mask-dance performance
- View from Buyongdae cliff
- Byeongsan Seowon academy
- Night in a Hahoe hanok
- Andong jjimdak
- Woryeonggyo wooden bridge at night
- Mask Dance Festival
Things to do
- Hahoe Folk Village walk & Buyongdae cliff (ferry across the river)Morning · 3h 30m
- Hahoe Byeolsingut mask dance (scheduled shows)Afternoon · 1h
- Byeongsan Seowon Confucian academyAfternoon · 1h 30m
- Jjimdak dinner & Woryeonggyo bridge at nightEvening · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – May, September – November
Worth knowing
Jangma: the Summer Monsoon
The monsoon (jangma) brings days of heavy rain from late June to late July, hot and humid in between. Flash floods can close riverside parks, mountain trails and some roads. Plan museums, markets and indoor days, carry an umbrella, and keep hiking days flexible.
Worth knowing
Seollal (Lunar New Year) Travel Rush
Seollal falls on 6 February 2027 (holidays 5-7 February). Trains, express buses and Jeju flights sell out weeks ahead, expressways jam, and many small restaurants and shops close for the three days. Book every train and flight that week early, or stay in one city over the holiday.
Worth knowing
Chuseok Holiday Rush
Chuseok, the harvest holiday, falls on 15 September 2027 (holidays 14-16 September; in 2026 it was 24-26 September). KTX and bus seats for the holiday sell out within hours of opening, roads are gridlocked, and many shops and family restaurants close. Stay put over the three days and book any train before or after them.
Heads up
Autumn Foliage Season
Late October to mid-November is the most popular time of year: palaces, temples and tree-lined avenues (Nami Island, Gyeongju) are at their best and at their busiest at weekends. Book rooms early and visit the big sights on weekdays.
Heads up
Hard Winter Cold
December to February is dry and bitterly cold: Seoul averages around -2 °C in January with cold snaps to -15 °C and below, colder in Gangwon with the wind. Bring a down jacket, gloves, a hat and thermals; heated floors and hot soups make up for it. Sunny days are good for palaces and ski slopes.
- Seollal (Lunar New Year) — Three days of family holiday when much of Korea travels home: KTX, SRT and express-bus seats sell out weeks ahead, Gimpo–Jeju flights are full, and many small restaurants, markets and shops close. Palaces and the big sights stay open, often with folk games and free entry days. Avoid moving between cities on the first and last day.
- Chuseok (harvest festival) — Korea's biggest holiday: tens of millions travel to their home towns, trains and buses sell out the day bookings open, expressways jam, and many family restaurants, markets and shops shut for the three days. Seoul's palaces and folk villages hold events. Plan to stay put in one city over the holiday, and book any train before it.
- Andong Mask Dance Festival — Ten days of mask-dance troupes from Korea and abroad in Andong and at Hahoe Village, from late September into early October. Book Hahoe hanok stays early.