28 Best Things to Do in Daegu, South Korea

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Whether you’re an expat living in Korea or looking to stop by for a short visit, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Daegu! This list shares some of the best.

As Korea’s fourth-largest city, it can be surprisingly difficult to find information online about what this centrally located metropolis has to offer travelers. After teaching English in South Korea with EPIK for 2 years, I’ve uncovered its hidden gems and the top things to do in Daegu.

And even though on the surface (and on google) Daegu may seem like a boring place to visit, this city actually does have a lot going for it. So if you find yourself visiting, working or living in Daegu, don’t miss its top attractions and bucket list-worthy experiences. 

Read More: The Best Weekend Trips in South Korea

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Fun facts about Daegu:

  • Daegu is actually quite a large city with a population of nearly 2.5 million people.
  • Daegu is Korea’s hottest city and has the nickname of Daefrica (Daegu+Africa).
  • This city is considered one of the most conservative in the entire country.
  • There’s quite a large expat community here, no doubt from the US military base stationed within the city, the large number of English teachers and the two large universities.

Where to Stay in Daegu

I have a feeling most reading this list are likely English teachers or American military living in Daegu! But if you happen to be visiting Daegu and are curious where to stay, I’ve gotchu.

In general, when visiting Daegu it’s best to stay downtown, near the Banwoldang or Jungangno metro stops. Dongdaegu is also a good place to stay near the main train station (for easy travel to Seoul and Busan). These stops are near the city’s best restaurants, bars, and shopping. They’re also where Daegu’s main metro and bus lines intersect, making it easy to travel around the city.

Here are some of the best places to stay in Daegu:

Read More: Where to Stay in Daegu: Best Daegu Hotels and Hostels

Best Things to Do in Daegu, South Korea

If you’re curious what to do in Daegu, this extensive list shares a well-rounded list of fun activities for all interests.

1. Visit Apsan Park and hike the mountain to see the sunset and glittering city at night.

Apsan park offers visitors the best birds-eye view of Daegu. You have the option of hiking to the top, a very steep climb that takes only about 30-45 minutes, or taking the Apsan cable car which is 10,500 won per person. I recommend visiting right before sunset so you get the best day time, sunset, and nighttime views of the city!

Read More: A South Korea Ultimate Hiking Bucket List

things to do in daegu korea
Daegu city views from an Apsan hiking trail

2. Visit the Mabijeong Mural Village that’s just outside of the city.

To see a more traditional and rural side of Korea, venture to Mabijeong Mural Village located about an hour by public transport from downtown Daegu. The village is a farming community that has been renovated with colorful paintings and murals to bring in tourism

To get there:

  • Take the red subway line (line #1) to Daegok Station.
  • From Daegok Station, you’ll want to take exit #1 (look out for signs), and walk to the first bus stop.
  • Get on the Dalseong Bus 2 line and take it to the Bolli2-ri bus stop, which should be the last stop on the route.

If you’re worried, ask the bus driver before getting on and off. I also recommend using the app KakaoMaps to confirm what the best route for you is from your starting destination.

3. Hike one of the many mountains surrounding Daegu

There is some pretty killer hiking in South Korea, so if you’re a mountain lover like me, you won’t want to miss some of the best hiking in Daegu! Some of my favorites include Palgongsan, home to the famous Gatbawi Buddha statue and Biseulsan which hosts the lovely Azalea Festival in the spring.

Another option is to take a trip to Gayasan National Park which is a bit outside of the city but a beautiful place to hike. Your best bet to get there is probably by renting a car from Lotte Car Rentals. Renting a car in Korea is actually pretty affordable and driving is easy!

hiking palgongsan daegu
Palgongsan is my absolute fave hiking spot in Daegu

4. Visit E-World amusement park and climb the 83 Tower – during cherry blossom season it’s gorgeous!

E-World is a popular amusement park in Daegu that has fun fair style rides and oh-so-Korean photo opportunities! If the rides and amusement park scene isn’t for you, at least check out the E-World 83 Tower and climb to the top for another great vantage point over Daegu!

Admission to just the tower will cost you about 10,000 won whereas unlimited access to the amusement park for the day, including climbing the tower, is 33,000 won for adults (about $30).

Read More: 101 of The Most Instagrammable Spots in South Korea

cherry blossom season daegu
Beautiful cherry blossoms near Palgongsan

5. See a live show at the Daegu Opera House.

If you’re a theater geek like me, the Daegu Opera House is a cool place to visit and check out a show. They host fantastic performances ranging from ballet, opera, orchestra concerts and more!

They’ve had famous shows like the Nutcracker, Lion King and more on their stage. The ticket prices for a lot of these events is quite reasonable. To see what’s playing and what the cost is, check out the Daegu Opera’s House website for more information.

6. Explore the bustling downtown streets and sample popular Korean street foods.

While Daegu isn’t quite so large and bustling as Seoul and Busan, the downtown area is still a great place to do some shopping, eat some amazing Korean food, see some of the best cafes in Daegu, and even maybe do a little partying and check out the Daegu bar scene.

Shopping streets of Daegu

7. Visit Suseong Lake and enjoy the water show at night.

Located about a 20 minute public transportation ride from Daegu city center, Suseong Lake is a nice area to enjoy a good meal and take a walk along the pretty lake. During the day, you can rent paddle boats and take a ride along the water.

At night, the lake lights up with a music and fountain show. It’s a ritzy area of Daegu so the prices reflect that, but it’s a cute little neighborhood to wander around and grab a bite to eat.

suseong lake daegu
Paddle boats on Suseong Lake in the summertime

8. See Otgol Village, a traditional Korean Hanok village just outside of the city.

Otgol Village is a pretty hanok village that’s home to traditional wooden Korean buildings. While it’s not the biggest or best example of traditional hanoks in Korea, for those living and working in Daegu, it makes for a nice day trip.

9. Explore Seomun Market at night and munch on beondegi (silkworm larvae).

Seomun Market is the place to go in Daegu to sample amazing Korean street food. During the day, it’s a large traditional market with vendors selling fares ranging from clothing, to dry goods, kimchi, seafood and more. At night, the market comes alive with food trucks serving tons of goodies. You’ll definitely want to check it out!

seomun night market daegu South Korea
Seomun Night Market is the perfect place to try a variety of Korean street foods

10. Shop at the beautiful Shinsegae department store that offers more than just shopping.

One of the most popular things to do in South Korea is to shop! Shinseage Department Store is a popular department store with locations in most of the major cities in Korea. It’s your one-stop-shop for entertainment.

You can come and catch a movie at the in-house movie theater, visit the bouncy trampoline gym, take a gander at the rooftop, eat a delicious meal, visit the aquarium and more!

11. Visit the late night bulgogi tents to dine and drink with the locals.

If you’re looking for one of the best local experiences in Daegu, look no further than the late night bulgogi tents. Located in an unsuspecting neighborhood of the city, finding them can be a bit of a search!

But when you do, prepare to feast on delicious bulgogi (Korean marinated beef BBQ) and udon noodles (thick noodle soup). Don’t forget to order a round of soju and Cass beer!

bulgogi tents daegu
The gang at the bulgogi tents

12. Visit a traditional Korean jjimjilbang and get the infamous nude scrub.

For those feeling brave, one of my favorite experiences to recommend to people visiting Korea is the famous jjimjilbang! A Jjimjilbang is a traditional Korean bathhouse where locals come to bathe, scrub, relax in saunas, watch movies, indulge in massage chairs and more. Half of the experience is done wearing traditional clothing, the other half is done completely nude!

My favorite part of the whole jjimjilbang experience – the naked scrub! Pay someone to scrub the crap out of your naked body and just watch all the skin fly as they dig in. It sounds crazy to westerners, but honestly as soon as you get over the insecurity of going naked, it was one of my favorite things in all of Korea!

A scrub must be paid for in cash and will run you anywear from 15,000 – 30,000 won. The entrance fee to the jjimjilbang ranges from 7,000 – 25,000 won depending where and how new / nice the facilities are.

13. Enjoy one of Daegu’s many festivals.

If there’s one thing Koreans love, it’s a good (or slightly lame tbh) festival! Don’t fall for the hype of every single festival, but some are definitely worth the time. My favorite Daegu festivals that are in my opinon can’t-miss, include:

  • Chimak Chicken and Beer Festival
  • Biseulsan Azalea Festival 
  • Colorful Daegu Festival
  • Buddha’s Birthday Lantern Festival
buddhas birthday daegu
Spring lanterns of Buddha’s birthday in Daegu

14. Wander around Druyu Park to see the Colorful Daegu sign, order fried chicken delivery straight to your picnic blanket and drink soju with friends.

One of the most Korean things to do in the summer is to have a picnic in the beautiful Druyu Park. It’s one of the only large and open green spaces in the city and makes for a great place to spend a sunny day outside. Have a picnic the Korean way by ordering fresh fried chicken straight to your picnic blanket. There are men there with menus to help you order.

You’ll want to bring plenty of soju and beer (yay no open container laws!), games, a nice book and a picnic blanket. If you forget the picnic blanket – it’s all good. There are people there selling those too!

picnic in Druyu park daegu
Fried chicken and friends in Druyu!

15. See a Samsung Lions baseball game at Daegu Stadium.

Baseball is a way of life in Korea, and Samsung Lions is Daegu’s home team. If you happen to be visiting Daegu during Korean baseball season (April – November), check out one of their home games at the Lions stadium! You can buy tickets day of at the stadium.

Samsung Lions Daegu
Daegu’s Samsung Lion Stadium

16. Treat yourself to one of Daegu’s many cute and delicious dessert cafes.

The cafes in Daegu are pretty great. While there are so many to choose from, some of my favorites are…

  • Schumann&
  • Korean Dessert Cafe
  • Ryu Coffee Roasters
Tarr Tarr daegu
Yummy treats at Tarr Tarr

17. Check out the Korean t-shirts at Banwoldang Station and enjoy a laugh at the funny English slogans while indulging in some shopping of Korean goodies.

This one doesn’t need much explanation! The shops in the subway stations tend to have the best budget-friendly things to buy. Check out their funny and goofy phone cases and t-shirts. You might find a fun souvenir there.

18. Drink and dance on foreigner street and enjoy expat favorites.

The bars in Daegu offer up some killer good times and as a visitor, there are a lot of options! There are expat favorites, local dance clubs, and chill places to get craft beer and cocktails.

A quick list of my favorite bars in Daegu:

  • GoGo’s – alcoholic juice pouches you drink on the street.
  • Valv – a dance club favorite so exclusive sometimes foreigners aren’t allowed in.
  • MF Bar – a playroom for western drinking games.
  • Communes Bar – a low-key bar that hosts a story slam once a month.
night out in daegu
Nights on the town in Daegu were a blast

19. Visit Donghwasa Temple and see the famous Gatbawi statue.

To see a more cultural side of Daegu, you don’t want to miss a visit to Donghwasa Temple. Located at the base of Palgongsan, Daegu’s famous mountain park, this temple complex is large and offers a nice break in nature from the city.

If you’re up for a bit of a climb, hike to Gatbawi, Daegu’s famous large stone Buddha statue and see locals bowing and paying their respects.

20. Sign up for a temple stay at Donghwasa Temple.

A temple stay is a classic Korean right of passage, and Donghwasa Temple is a great place to experience it for yourself. Here you dress in the classic temple clothing (see below), and live life like a monk.

Typically an overnight experience, you’ll see just how minimal, and spiritual the life at a temple truly is! Prepare for a bit of discomfort (early morning prayer, floor sleeping arrangements, and vegetarian food).

dongwhasa temple
Temple stays at Donghwasa Temple

21. Take part in the local claw game, arcade and virtual baseball/golf scene.

Even if you’re not into arcade games, the gaming culture in Korea is HUGE and it’s actually super fun! Take some time to unleash your inner child and play all the games and try your hand at winning a stuffed animal from one of many claw game rooms in the city.

claw games daegu
Korean claw games

22. Check out the Arc and cruise around on rented scooters.

The Arc is a famous landmark on the outskirts of the city that houses a waterworks museum detailing the process in Daegu. Aside from that, it’s actually a great place to rent motorized scooters and drive around while munching on sugar-coated corn dogs and watching locals fly their kites. A visit to the Arc is a great way to spend a lazy Sunday.

the arc daegu
All around the Arc is tons of open grassy space for a picnic or flying kites!

23. Explore Daegu’s colorful and blossoming Arboretum.

The Daegu arboretum is a pretty place to spend a day wandering around and celebrating the beauty of plants. The best time of year at the Daegu arboretum is during their annual Daegu Chrysanthemum Festival in the fall where everything becomes a flower sculpture. Makes for great Insta photos 😉

24. Grab dinner at one of the popular restaurants on K-BBQ alley in downtown Daegu.

If you don’t eat some Korean BBQ while visiting Korea, did you really visit Korea? Check out Daegu’s famous K-BBQ alley, a narrow little street that connects two of the main streets downtown. Take your pic from any of the BBQ options, but my top recommendations are for What? and The Meat Eating Man, a joint located across the way from What?

Read More: The Best Restaurants in Daegu, South Korea

korean bbq daegu South Korea
Delicious Korean BBQ

25. Sip persimmon wine at Daegu’s wine tunnels and explore the bull ring nearby.

So technically not in Daegu, but very very close to the city in Cheongdo, is the famous Daegu wine tunnels. Take a day trip to explore the underground wine cellars and sample the local wine made from persimmons. The wine is honestly not the greatest, but it is a fun experience to try something new and unique!

How to get to the Daegu wine tunnels:

  • From Dongdaegu Station, take the train to Cheongdo Station and taxi the 15 minute drive to the entrance
  • Or take a 20+ min taxi from downtown.
wine tunnels daegu
The wine tunnels of Daegu

26. Wander Along Kim Kwang-Seok Road

Kim Kwang-Seok Road is a cute little street that pays homage to one of Korea’s most cherished musicians, Kim Kwang-Seok. Here you’ll find tons of cute cafes, including some of the best rooftops in Daegu, as well as colorful murals and street performers. Take a stroll down Kim Kwang-Seok next time there’s beautiful weather in Daegu!

kim Kwang
One of many art murals on Kim Kwang-Seok Road

27: Bike the many trails around the city

Daegu has many biking trails that allow you to actually ride the length of the city along the rivers and into fields that make for a nice way to spend the day! If you don’t have a bike, that’s ok! You can actually borrow bikes for free from certain metro stations in the city. Read more about it here!

daegu biker gang
Hardcore Daegu biker gang gang gang

28. Talk a walk around Bullo Dong Tomb Park

Bullo Tomb Park was located right in my backyard! And although it’s about a 30 minute bus ride from downtown Daegu, on a nice sunny day, it’s a fantastic place to talk a walk, have a picnic and enjoy the distant city views.

The park is home to more than 200 ancient burial mounds that create a unique and lumpy landscape! Come feel the history at one of the few large green spaces in Daegu.

So pretty to see during sunset!

Have you been to Daegu? What’s YOUR favorite thing to do here? Share below!

things to do in daegu South Korea

11 thoughts on “28 Best Things to Do in Daegu, South Korea

    • Brit says:

      Daegu is a good place to call home! It’s not the most tourist friendly place, but if you have the extra time, it definitely has it’s hidden charm if you know where to look 😀

  1. Michael Hyland says:

    Thanks for the excellent info. I have lived in Seoul before and planning to move to Daegu in March. I’m going to be using your blog as a constant resource. Thank you!

  2. Regina says:

    Thank you! I’m moving to Daegu in 3 (!!) weeks for EPIK. I’ve never even been to Korea before and your blog is super helpful!

    • Brit says:

      Thank you dear ❤️ That’s SO exciting and I hope you have an incredible time!! If you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out! Hopefully COVID doesn’t get in the way of your experience 🤞🏻

  3. Yvonne says:

    Hi,

    We’re moving to Daegu in September 2021. Being a city girl all my life. I’m excited and terrified at the same time, my husband will be at work all day, while I have to figure out what I’m going to do with all the time on my hands. The best thing is my doggy is coming with me, so I’ll feel like I have a friend from home 🙂

    • Brit says:

      Hi Yvonne! Sounds like an exciting new chapter in your life!! Thankfully there’s a lot in Daegu and around the country to keep you busy and lots of outdoor hikes too if your pup enjoys long walks!! Any questions please let me know and thank you for reading! I hope you have a safe and stress free move😍

  4. Seb says:

    Daegu is also a great place for Road Cyclists. It has both local and Expat Cycling Communities and a few good bike shops like Red-Dot
    There are even UCI segments … Strava will be a good guide

  5. recommendedonka says:

    Thank you so much for the blog post. I found it to be very interesting and enjoyed reading about what your thoughts are on this subject!

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