Daegu: Top 5 Things to See and Do for Free

Daegu is the little known, yet third largest city in South Korea.

In 2011, it hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championships and in 2002 it, hosted the FIFA World Cup.

I spent a year teaching English in this city and took my time to find the best free attractions.

Climb Palgongsan

팔공산 관암사의 가을 Autumn in Gwanamsa, Palgongsan, Daegu

Palgonsan is a mountain that is just a short bus ride out from the city. If you’re feeling really energetic, you can bike or walk there. When you climb this mountain, you forget that you are living in a city of two and a half million people and really start to love the nature that surrounds you. This is how Korea looked in times gone by. This is how you imagined it to be.

Visit a Giant Stone Man in a Hat

DSC04153

Gatbawi is a stone buddhist statue atop a 850m peak on the mountain of Palgongsan. The statue is around 4 metres high and wears a 15 cm thick stone hat. Everyday, many Koreans climb up to the peak to worship the statue and offer money in hope of receiving good luck. Even if you don’t like the statue, the views from the peak are worth the climb.

Walk Around Donghwasa

Tongil-daebul

Donghwasa is a large temple that is also home to a 17 m high stone buddha. You can enjoy both in a tranquil environment that is surrounded by nature and small streams for your viewing pleasure.

Visit Daegu Stadium

Match 2: Scale of Said Flag

Formerly known as Daegu World Cup Stadium, this ground holds up to 65,000 people and was used to host the third place playoff in the 2002 World Cup. It regularly hosts the daegu marathon and in 2011, the IAAF World Championships were held here in which the 4 x 100 m relay men’s world record was broken by Jamaica (of course featuring Usain Bolt). At certain times, you can enter the stadium and walk around it.

See a Lake, Play on a Fairground

Suseongmot, Daegu, South Korea

In the centre of Daegu is a lake, Suseongmot. Nearby is a miniature golf course and a fairground for your enjoyment. In summer, the lake offers laser water displays every evening, while in winter, the lake ices over. Ice skating is not recommended. You can walk around the lake for a pleasant stroll and even climb inside a real-life aeroplane that now serves as a cafe. When staff realise that you don’t want to buy anything and that you only came to see the cockpit, they may ask you to leave.

By | 2013-12-22T00:23:16+00:00 March 4th, 2013|Advice|6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Derek Metcalf 23/01/2015 at 20:03 - Reply

    My Names Derek, I am Looking to tech in Deagu SK, I was wondering about the Tefl? Tesol? do you recomend getting one before I leave? Also how would I tet ahold of the Agencies? And how will I know the good ones from the not so good? I would really appreciate a comment back when you have some time. This Blog of yours has Helped me Tremendously, its really nice of you to put all your experieNces up, I think It helps people with there own perspective. Thanks again and I hope to hear from you soon.

  2. Kate Bietta 11/11/2013 at 12:30 - Reply

    Great article! I’m heading to Deagu soon to teach for the EPIK program 😉 There’s some good information about Daegu on the following sites as well.

    http://www.gone2korea.com/popular-destinations/daegu.html

    http://english.daegu.go.kr/main.asp

    I heard Daegu is ridiculously hot in the winter, hopefully there’s some places to swim.

    • Jamie 16/11/2013 at 10:28 - Reply

      Sadly there is nowhere to swim in winter. The only swimming pools I knew were at hotels (you pay a few dollars to go in) and only open for a few warm months of the year. As for hot, being English, I didn’t find it particularly warm: the daily average temperature in January is just over zero degrees Celsius compared with around seven where I grew up!

  3. Jamie 15/03/2013 at 16:02 - Reply

    I wouldn’t necessarily recommend walking on the frozen lake. Definitely pay the others a visit though!

  4. The Guy 15/03/2013 at 15:02 - Reply

    Some great tips on a place I’ve yet to see. I particularly like the stone man with the hat although I certainly wouldn’t be brave enough to walk on a frozen lake.

    Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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