Bursting with student energy and home to some dynamite markets, Daegu is the place to experience authentic South Korea. It’s best known for Daegu Herbal Medicine Market, which preserves traditional healing culture by selling everything from dried mushrooms and ginseng to lizard tails; it’s also the go-to place for acupuncture. But things to do in Daegu aren’t just rooted in medicine. You can shop till you drop at Dongseong-ro Street, sample street food at Seomun Market, and follow the Daegu Modern History Street route, which leads you past noteworthy architecture.
The best time to visit Daegu is on the weekend when the famous Seomun Night Market erupts into life with live music and illuminated street food stalls—it’s closed on the first and third Sunday of the month. The hours of the Daegu Herbal Medicine Market vary by store, but it is typically open daily. For the best weather, visit Daegu in summer (June–August) or spring, when you’ll see cherry blossoms.
Daegu is an easy place to explore using public transport. It’s home to a subway with two lines that cover most of the city’s major attractions. You need to buy a rechargeable transport card to use it, which you can get at newspaper stands and almost all stations. Hop-on hop-off city buses cover sightseeing routes, while taxis are plentiful and generally cost-effective, though nighttime journeys cost more.
Daegu harbors a rich culinary heritage that is best explored at Seomun Market, the city’s street food epicenter. Dishes range from cheesy lobster tails to pork pancakes smothered in a “secret sauce.” You'll find makchang (grilled intestines), fiery Korean sausages, traditional Korean fried chicken, and tteokbokki (hot and spicy rice cakes). Most signage is in Korean, so tours are a great way to overcome the language barrier.
