Are you looking to experience a Templestay in South Korea with Buddhist monks? Discover the program concept, as well as the activities offered during a monastic retreat. Digital detox, meditation, forest walks, or religious rituals: here are 5 temples where you can experience authentic immersion in the heart of Korean Buddhism.

Top 5 Essential Temples for a Templestay in South Korea

1. Haeinsa Temple (Gayasan)

The Haeinsa temple is one of the ten Avatamsaka monasteries founded during the Silla dynasty. It was designed in 802 by disciples of the great master Uisang – the founder of the Huayan school (Mahayana Buddhism).

Haeinsa is a particularly unique temple that houses 70 national treasures, as well as the Tripitaka Koreana; a collection of 80,000 sacred texts created in the 13th century on wooden tablets.

The temple, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is situated at the foot of Gayasan Mountain (in the eponymous park), not far from the city of Daegu. Around the temple, it is possible to go hiking. Ideal for a spiritual retreat far from everything.

Address: Gyeongsangnam-do Hapcheon-gun Gaya-myeon Haeinsa-gil 122

2. Beomeosa Temple (Busan)

Located in Busan, Beomeosa temple was founded in 678, under the reign of King Munmu of Silla, and has welcomed great Buddhist masters over the centuries – including Dongsan, known for creating modern Buddhism.

In addition to housing three national treasures (a gate, a three-tiered stone pagoda, and a hall typical of traditional Korean architecture), the site offers a superb meditative setting where inner reconnection, silence, and hiking shape monastic life. Known for "purifying the spirit,