First time visiting Korea? Don’t drown in random recommendations. Here’s a simple workflow using the best official tourism websites—so you can plan faster, download maps, and confirm schedules with trusted sources.
Series Navigation
The “official-only” planning workflow (15 minutes)
- Pick your top 2 cities (most first-timers: Seoul + Busan or Seoul + Jeju).
- Open the city’s official tourism portal (links below).
- Download 1–2 map PDFs (subway + attractions).
- Save 6–10 spots from official attraction lists (not 30).
- Check official event calendars if traveling during peak seasons.
Beginner tip: Your itinerary is better with fewer, closer stops. Official sites often group attractions by area—use those clusters.
Best official websites to start with (tourist-friendly)
1) VISITKOREA (national hub)
Best for multi-city planning, big-picture travel themes, and verified attraction information.
2) Visit Seoul (Seoul)
Great for neighborhoods, seasonal events, and visitor guides.
3) Visit Busan (Busan)
Strong coastal routes, beaches, and city-wide travel planning.
4) Visit Jeju (Jeju Island)
Ideal for routes by region and seasonal nature highlights.
5) Incheon iTour (Incheon)
Perfect for airport layovers, day trips, and coastal/heritage spots near Seoul.
Want the fastest map method? : Download Free Tourist Map PDFs in Korea.
What to download first (quick picks)
- Seoul: subway map + “Top attractions by area” PDF
- Busan: coastal route map + beach area guide
- Jeju: route map by region + seasonal highlights
Want official links by city in one place? Go back to the directory: Official City Tourism Websites Directory
Last updated: 2026-01-02 (KST)
