Korean Experience Guide
Temple Stay (템플 스테이)
Sleep at a 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple — wake at 4am for chanting, meditate at sunrise.
Templestay is a government-supported program where you spend 1-3 nights at an active Buddhist temple. You wear monk-style robes, eat barugongyang (formal monastic meal), join 4am chanting, do walking meditation, and learn 108 prostrations. Over 130 temples nationwide participate. Beomeosa (Busan), Bulguksa (Gyeongju), and Magoksa (Gongju) are the most foreigner-friendly.
Best season
Spring + autumn (mountain temples shine)
What's included
- • 1-3 nights accommodation (shared dorm or private)
- • Monk-style robes (jangsam)
- • 3 vegetarian meals daily (barugongyang)
- • Guided meditation + chanting + 108 prostrations
- • Tea ceremony with a monk
Where to experience Temple Stay
- 1.Beomeosa (Busan) — easy English, mountain views, 678 CE
- 2.Bulguksa (Gyeongju) — UNESCO, classical Silla architecture
- 3.Magoksa (Gongju) — Chungnam, river valley, 640 CE
- 4.Geumsunsa (Seoul) — closest to Seoul, beginners welcome
- 5.Hwaeomsa (Jirisan) — mountain forest, advanced meditation
Tips
- •Book via templestay.com (official, English) — avoid 3rd party markup.
- •Bring layers — mountain temples drop 10°C below city temperature at night.
- •Phone is allowed but Wi-Fi is usually weak — embrace the digital detox.
- •Vegetarian throughout — no exceptions, even for guests.
Frequently asked
Do I need to be Buddhist for templestay?
No — most participants are foreigners with no Buddhist background. Monks are happy to introduce basics.
Is templestay strict?
Surprisingly relaxed — you can skip some activities. But 4am wake-up is universal.
Which temple is best for first-timers?
Geumsunsa (Seoul) for convenience, Beomeosa (Busan) for English support, Bulguksa (Gyeongju) for the UNESCO experience.