The 8 Most Beautiful Small Towns in South Korea
Tile-roofed villages, terraced rice paddies, and pine-fringed coasts: the small towns where Korea is at its most photogenic and unhurried.
Last updated June 22, 2026
Gyeonghoeru Pavilion reflecting in the pond at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul during autumn. · Alexander London
South Korea's big cities get the headlines, but the country's quietest pleasures live in its small towns: clusters of curved-roof hanok houses, mountain temples wreathed in mist, fishing harbors stacked with painted houses, and valleys striped with tea bushes and rice terraces. These are the places where the pace drops and the scenery does the talking.
This list ranks eight of the most beautiful, all real and easy to reach by train, bus, or a short drive from Seoul or Busan. Some are UNESCO-listed time capsules; others are coastal escapes or single-crop landscapes that turn impossibly green in summer and gold in autumn.
Use it to build a slow loop through the countryside or to pick one standout day trip. Each entry tells you what makes the place special, what to see and eat, who it suits best, and how to get there.
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1
Hahoe Folk Village (Andong)Near Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, about 3 hours southeast of Seoul Google
Hahoe is the most complete surviving example of a Joseon-era clan village, a living settlement of thatched and tiled houses curled inside a loop of the Nakdong River (the name means 'village enveloped by water'). Families still live here, so woodsmoke, persimmon trees, and clucking hens give it a lived-in feel rather than a museum air. Climb to the Buyongdae Cliff across the river for the classic overhead view, then time your visit for a performance of the Hahoe byeolsin-gut mask dance, a UNESCO-recognized folk theater that pokes fun at nobles and monks. The whole village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pairs naturally with nearby Dosan Seowon, a serene Confucian academy.
- Buyongdae Cliff viewpoint over the river bend
- Hahoe mask dance (byeolsin-gut) performance
- Wood-fired Andong jjimdak (braised chicken) in town
- Dosan Seowon Confucian academy nearby
Best for: history lovers and photographers
Getting there: KTX from Seoul to Andong (about 2 hours), then a local bus or taxi (~25 min) to the village
2
GyeongjuNorth Gyeongsang Province, about 1 hour from Busan by train Google
Often called 'the museum without walls,' Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla kingdom for nearly a thousand years, and royal burial mounds rise like grassy green hills right in the middle of town. The essential sights are the hilltop temple of Bulguksa and the Seokguram Grotto Buddha above it, the reflecting Wolji Pond lit up after dark, and the ancient Cheomseongdae observatory. The walkable Hwangnidan-gil district has filled old hanok houses with cafes and craft shops, and the nearby Yangdong Folk Village is another UNESCO clan village worth half a day. Spring cherry blossoms around the tombs make it one of the prettiest towns in the country.
- Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto
- Daereungwon royal tomb mounds
- Wolji Pond illuminated at night
- Cafes along Hwangnidan-gil
Best for: first-timers wanting history and beauty in one place
Getting there: KTX from Seoul to Singyeongju (about 2 hours), or an easy day tour from Busan
3
TongyeongSouth coast, South Gyeongsang Province, about 1.5 hours west of Busan Google
Tongyeong is a port town scattered across hills above a sheltered harbor, and it earns the nickname 'Naples of Korea' the moment you ride the cable car up Mireuksan for the view over a maze of islands. Don't miss the Dongpirang Wall Painting Village, a hillside warren of fishermen's houses covered in murals, and the lively Jungang Market where you can try local kimbap and freshly shucked oysters. The town is also the gateway to the Hallyeohaesang marine park, with ferries out to islands like Somaemuldo. It is colorful, salty, and unmistakably a working seaside town.
- Tongyeong cable car up Mireuksan
- Dongpirang mural village
- Chungmu gimbap and market seafood
- Ferries to Hallyeohaesang islands
Best for: coast lovers and seafood fans
Getting there: Express bus from Busan (about 1.5 hours) or from Seoul (about 4.5 hours)
4
NamhaeAn island county off the south coast, South Gyeongsang Province Google
Connected to the mainland by bridge, Namhae is an island of terraced fields, cliffside roads, and tiny harbors that feels worlds away from the cities. Its signature sight is Darangyi Village in Gacheon, where centuries-old stone rice terraces step down to the sea in dramatic green tiers. The quirky German Village, built by Koreans who emigrated to Germany as miners and nurses and later returned, adds red-roofed houses and a beer festival to the mix, while Boriam hermitage sits high on Geumsan with sweeping ocean views. It is a place for slow drives, sea breezes, and pulling over for the view.
- Gacheon Darangyi seaside rice terraces
- German Village (Dogil Maeul)
- Boriam hermitage on Geumsan
- Sangju Eunmojae sandy beach
Best for: road-trippers and slow travelers
Getting there: Best by car; or bus from Busan or Jinju (about 1.5-2 hours) then local buses
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5
DamyangSouth Jeolla Province, about 30 minutes north of Gwangju Google
Damyang is small-town Korea at its most green and graceful, famous above all for the Juknokwon bamboo forest, where shaded paths wind beneath towering stalks that hiss in the wind. Stroll the Metasequoia-lined road, one of Korea's most photographed avenues, then visit Soswaewon, a 16th-century scholar's garden considered a masterpiece of Joseon landscaping. The town's specialty is daetongbap, rice steamed inside a bamboo tube, served with a spread of side dishes. It is an easy, restorative stop that feels like stepping into a slower century.
- Juknokwon bamboo forest
- Metasequoia tree-lined road
- Soswaewon garden
- Daetongbap (bamboo-tube rice)
Best for: garden walks and a peaceful afternoon
Getting there: KTX to Gwangju-Songjeong (about 1.5 hours from Seoul), then a local bus or taxi (~40 min)
6
SuncheonSouth Jeolla Province, about 3 hours south of Seoul Google
Suncheon wraps two of Korea's loveliest natural set pieces into one easygoing town. Suncheonman Bay is a vast tidal wetland of reed fields and meandering channels that glow gold at sunset, best seen from the Yongsan observatory and prized as a habitat for migratory cranes. On the edge of town, Suncheonman Bay National Garden is a sprawling, beautifully designed park you reach by a little 'Sky Cube' monorail. Add the well-preserved Nagan Eupseong walled folk village just outside town and you have a place that balances nature and heritage as well as anywhere in Korea.
- Suncheonman Bay reed wetlands at sunset
- Suncheonman Bay National Garden
- Nagan Eupseong fortress folk village
- Birdwatching for cranes in winter
Best for: nature lovers and families
Getting there: KTX from Seoul to Suncheon (about 3 hours), then local buses to the bay and garden
7
HadongSouth Gyeongsang Province, along the Seomjin River near Jirisan Google
Tucked between the Seomjin River and the slopes of Jirisan, Hadong is Korea's oldest tea-growing region, and its hills are quilted with low green tea bushes that are spectacular in late spring. The Hwagae Valley road bursts with cherry blossoms in early April, while the riverside village of Akyang and the surrounding tea fields invite slow walks and tastings at small farms. Nearby Ssanggyesa, a serene mountain temple founded in the Silla era, sits amid camellias and waterfalls. This is rural southern Korea at its most tranquil and fragrant.
- Hadong wild green tea fields
- Hwagae cherry blossom road in spring
- Ssanggyesa temple and Buril Falls
- Seomjin River views and riverside cafes
Best for: tea lovers and quiet hikers
Getting there: Bus or train to Hadong/Gurye area (about 4 hours from Seoul); easiest by car from Busan or Jinju
8
GangneungGangwon Province, on the East Sea coast Google
On the breezy east coast, Gangneung blends a long sandy shoreline with an unexpectedly rich coffee culture and old Joseon heritage. Anmok Beach is lined with 'coffee street' cafes where you sip a pour-over with the surf in view, while Ojukheon, a 16th-century scholar's house, and the historic Seongyojang estate preserve the town's genteel past. Gyeongpo Lake and its pine-backed beach are gorgeous in spring cherry-blossom season, and the KTX from Seoul gets you here in barely two hours, making it the quickest beautiful-town fix on this list. It is the easy answer when you want sea air without a long journey.
- Anmok Beach coffee street
- Gyeongpo Lake and beach
- Ojukheon and Seongyojang historic houses
- Fresh seafood at Jumunjin harbor nearby
Best for: a quick coastal escape from Seoul
Getting there: KTX from Seoul Station to Gangneung (about 2 hours)
Good to Know
Getting around Korea's KTX trains link Seoul to Andong, Gyeongju, Suncheon, and Gangneung quickly and cheaply, but the smaller villages and coastal counties (Namhae, Hadong, Tongyeong) are far easier with a rental car or by combining intercity buses with local taxis.
When to go Late March to April brings cherry blossoms (Gyeongju, Hadong, Gangneung), May and June turn the tea fields and rice terraces brilliant green, and October paints the countryside in autumn color. Summers are hot and humid; winter is crisp and good for Suncheon's cranes.
Pay & connectivity Get a rechargeable T-money card for buses and trains, and pick up a tourist SIM or eSIM at the airport, as navigation apps and bus times are essential once you leave the big cities. Cash is still handy at rural markets and small restaurants.
Book ahead Reserve KTX seats in advance for weekends and holiday periods, and book a guided day tour when you want to cover scattered sights (like Gyeongju's temples) without renting a car.
From the mask dances of Hahoe to the bamboo groves of Damyang and the island terraces of Namhae, these towns show a softer, slower side of South Korea that rewards anyone willing to leave the capital behind. String two or three together by train and car, or pick one for a perfect day trip. However you go, the countryside is where the country's quiet beauty truly shows itself.