Templestay
Explore & experiences

Templestay in Korea for foreigners

A night in a mountain temple is one of Korea's signature experiences — and it has a real English booking site. The wall isn't payment, it's knowing which temple to pick. 10 foreigner-ready temples (9 with English programs, 2 day programs needing no overnight), the 6-step booking flow, 8 etiquette rules, and a 6-line phrasebook.

10 temples — filter + sort + search

10 results

Golgulsa (Sunmudo)

골굴사 · Gyeongju (North Gyeongsang)
🟢 Foreigner-ready

₩70,000 / person · overnight

🧘 Experience-typeEnglish program
Signature
Sunmudo (선무도) — Korean Buddhist martial-art meditation, taught in English
Getting there: KTX to Gyeongju Station, then temple shuttle/taxi (~30 min) — the temple arranges pickup for booked guests.
Highlights:
  • • Most famous foreigner templestay
  • • Daily Sunmudo martial-arts training
  • • English-speaking monks
  • • Cliffside Buddha carving

The go-to for first-time foreigners — strong English program built around Sunmudo. Physically active, not a rest retreat.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Beomeosa

범어사 · Busan
🟢 Foreigner-ready

₩60,000 / person · overnight

🔁 BothEnglish program
Signature
Big-city access — a real mountain temple reachable by Busan subway
Getting there: Busan Metro Line 1 to Beomeosa Station, then bus 90 / taxi (~15 min) — easiest big-city access.
Highlights:
  • • Reachable by Busan subway
  • • Both experience + rest programs
  • • 1,300-year history
  • • Easy add-on to a Busan trip

Best balance of authenticity + access. Ideal if you're already in Busan and want one overnight without a long transfer.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Bongeunsa

봉은사 · Seoul (Gangnam)
🟢 Foreigner-ready

₩30,000 / person · day program

🧘 Experience-typeEnglish program
Signature
A day templestay inside Seoul — no travel needed
Getting there: Seoul Metro Line 9 / Bongeunsa Station Exit 1 — across from COEX, in central Gangnam.
Highlights:
  • • In central Seoul (Gangnam/COEX)
  • • Day program — no overnight required
  • • Lotus-lantern + tea ceremony
  • • Best for short trips

The easiest first taste — a half-day templestay in the middle of the city. No commitment to an overnight or a long trip.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Jogyesa + Templestay Information Center

조계사 / 템플스테이 통합정보센터 · Seoul (Insadong/Jongno)
🟢 Foreigner-ready

₩30,000 / person · day program

🔁 BothEnglish program
Signature
The hub: book any temple in English + a central-Seoul day program
Getting there: Seoul Metro Line 1 Jonggak / Line 3 Anguk — central Jongno, by Insadong.
Highlights:
  • • Head temple of the Jogye Order
  • • Templestay Info Center (English help desk)
  • • Central Insadong location
  • • Day programs + booking support

Start here if confused — the Information Center near Jogyesa is the official English help desk for booking any temple nationwide.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Haeinsa

해인사 · Gayasan (South Gyeongsang)
🟡 Some English

₩80,000 / person · overnight

🧘 Experience-typeEnglish programUNESCO
Signature
See the Tripitaka Koreana — 80,000 woodblocks, a UNESCO treasure
Getting there: Express bus from Daegu Seobu Terminal to Haeinsa (~1h20).
Highlights:
  • • Home of the Tripitaka Koreana (UNESCO)
  • • One of Korea's Three Jewel Temples
  • • Mountain setting in Gayasan
  • • Dawn ceremony

For the history + the woodblocks. English program runs seasonally — confirm dates. Deeply atmospheric.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Magoksa

마곡사 · Gongju (South Chungcheong)
🟡 Some English

₩60,000 / person · overnight

🔁 BothEnglish programUNESCO
Signature
UNESCO "Sansa" mountain temple with a riverside setting
Getting there: KTX to Gongju, then local bus/taxi (~40 min).
Highlights:
  • • UNESCO Sansa World Heritage temple
  • • Stream runs through the grounds
  • • Strong meditation focus
  • • Quieter than the famous names

A UNESCO temple without the crowds. Good for a more contemplative, less touristy stay.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Woljeongsa

월정사 · Pyeongchang (Gangwon)
🟡 Some English

₩70,000 / person · overnight

🌿 Rest-typeEnglish program
Signature
The fir-tree forest path (전나무숲길) — Korea's most beautiful temple approach
Getting there: KTX to Jinbu Station, then bus/taxi (~20 min) — pair with Odaesan hiking or a ski trip.
Highlights:
  • • Famous 1km fir-forest walking path
  • • Inside Odaesan National Park
  • • Rest-type / forest-healing focus
  • • Snow in winter

For nature + rest, not martial arts. The forest path alone is worth it. Combine with /winter-skiing in season.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Naksansa

낙산사 · Yangyang (Gangwon, East Sea)
🟡 Some English

₩65,000 / person · overnight

🌿 Rest-typeEnglish program
Signature
Sunrise over the East Sea from a clifftop seaside temple
Getting there: Bus to Yangyang/Sokcho, then local bus/taxi — on the East Sea coast.
Highlights:
  • • Overlooks the East Sea
  • • Famous sunrise + Haesu Gwaneumsang statue
  • • Rest-type seaside stay
  • • Pair with Sokcho seafood

The seaside templestay — wake for the ocean sunrise. Combine with a Sokcho/East-coast trip (see /seafood-by-coast).

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Mihwangsa

미황사 · Haenam (South Jeolla)
🟡 Some English

₩55,000 / person · overnight

🌿 Rest-typeEnglish program
Signature
Korea's southernmost temple — sunset over the southern sea + Dharma drum
Getting there: Bus to Haenam (Korea's southwestern tip), then taxi — remote.
Highlights:
  • • Land's-end remoteness
  • • Sunset sea views
  • • Deep quiet / rest-type
  • • Famous evening Dharma-drum ceremony

For travelers who want true isolation at the bottom of the peninsula. Long journey, profound calm.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

Guinsa

구인사 · Danyang (North Chungcheong)
🔴 Korean-only-ish

₩50,000 / person · overnight

🧘 Experience-typeKR-only likely
Signature
A vast valley temple-city of the Cheontae order, built into a gorge
Getting there: Bus to Danyang, then local bus/taxi (~30 min).
Highlights:
  • • Dramatic multi-storey valley complex
  • • Cheontae-order head temple
  • • Very few foreigners
  • • Cheapest stay

Authentic + cheap but Korean-only — bring a translation app + an open mind. For the adventurous, not first-timers.

Cab card →Naver reviews ↗

How to book — 6 steps

There is an official English portal — most travelers just don't know it exists.

  1. 1

    Go to eng.templestay.com

    The Cultural Corps of Korean Buddhism runs the official English booking site. This is the real portal — not a third-party reseller. Most foreigner-friendly temples list here in English.

  2. 2

    Pick program type: experience vs rest

    Experience-type (체험형) is structured — 108 bows, Seon meditation, barugongyang, sometimes Sunmudo. Rest-type (휴식형) is free time + quiet. Filter by what you actually want.

  3. 3

    Check the English-guide flag + dates

    Not every program runs in English every week. Confirm the specific date has an English-speaking guide before booking — listings note this.

  4. 4

    Book + pay online with a foreign card

    Payment takes international cards; no Korean phone or 본인인증 needed. You'll get an email confirmation with arrival instructions.

  5. 5

    Arrange the last-mile transfer

    Many mountain temples are a taxi/shuttle from the nearest station. Temples often arrange pickup for booked guests — ask in the confirmation reply or save the temple's Korean name to /address-card.

  6. 6

    Arrive by mid-afternoon (~15:00)

    Programs start in the late afternoon with orientation + changing into temple clothes. Arriving late means missing the intro and the formal dinner.

Etiquette + what to expect

  • Early start, early sleepThe day often begins with the 3–4am dawn ceremony (yebul) and ends by ~21:00. You don't have to attend every pre-dawn session, but plan to sleep early — there is no nightlife.
  • Phones surrendered or silencedMany programs ask you to hand in or switch off your phone. The point is to disconnect. Tell anyone who needs you that you'll be offline overnight.
  • Temple clothes are providedYou'll wear loose temple uniform (usually grey/maroon) the whole stay — provided on arrival. Bring only modest underlayers, warm socks (floors + halls are cool), and toiletries.
  • Barugongyang = waste nothingThe formal monastic meal (발우공양) follows a strict no-waste ritual: take only what you'll eat, and clean your bowl with water + a piece of radish/kimchi, then drink it. Leaving food is a serious breach.
  • Temple food is vegetarian (no 오신채)All meals are Buddhist vegetarian — no meat, and no garlic/onion/chives/leek/green-onion (오신채). Flag allergies in advance; portions are simple and healthy.
  • Silence + bowing etiquetteKeep your voice low, especially at dawn/night. Put hands together (합장) and bow slightly when greeting monks or entering halls. Step over thresholds, never on them.
  • Modesty + shoes offCover shoulders and knees outside the uniform; remove shoes before entering any hall. No public displays of affection. Gender-separated sleeping quarters are standard.
  • 108 bows are optional but iconicThe 108 prostrations (절) are physically demanding — go at your own pace and stop if needed. Many travelers find it the most memorable part. Bring knee tolerance or skip respectfully.

Survival phrasebook

Hello (palms-together greeting)
성불하세요 / 안녕하세요
Seongbul-haseyo / Annyeonghaseyo
Is there an English program?
영어 프로그램 있어요?
Yeong-eo program isseoyo?
I have a food allergy.
저는 음식 알레르기가 있어요.
Jeoneun eumsik allereugiga isseoyo.
Where do I sleep?
어디서 자요?
Eodiseo jayo?
What time is the morning ceremony?
새벽 예불 몇 시예요?
Saebyeok yebul myeot siyeyo?
Thank you (to a monk).
감사합니다.
Gamsahamnida.

See also

Cab address cardWellness & spaDay trips from Seoul