Temple stay in Korea: what to expect, schedule, etiquette and how to book

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A temple stay lets you spend a day or a night at a Korean Buddhist temple, follow the monks' routine and eat temple food. You do not need to be Buddhist, and many participants are not. For a lot of visitors it becomes the most memorable part of their trip: a mountain valley, a bell at dawn and a few hours with no phone.

What a temple stay is

The programme was opened to visitors in the early 2000s and is now offered by temples across the country, from city temples in central Seoul to remote mountain monasteries. The official English site lists three broad kinds:

Day programmes: a few hours, usually a temple tour, meditation and tea. Good if you are short on time.
Experience programmes: usually one night, often at weekends, with chanting, prostrations, a formal monastic meal and meditation.
Rest programmes: a quieter stay with fewer fixed activities, for people who simply want to rest.

For a first time, one night is usually the right length.

A typical overnight schedule

Timings vary by temple, but a weekend programme often looks like this:

Afternoon arrival: check in, receive a temple uniform (a loose vest and trousers) and learn basic manners.
Temple tour: a monk or volunteer explains the halls, the bell and the art.
Barugongyang (발우공양): the formal monastic meal with a set of wooden bowls. You take only what you will eat, eat in silence and finish every grain, then clean your bowls with water and a piece of pickled vegetable and drink the water. It sounds daunting; it is calm and memorable.
Evening yebul (예불): the evening service with chanting, and the temple drum and bell at dusk.
Early night, often around 9pm.
Morning yebul around 3 or 4am. Waking in the dark to chanting is part of the experience.
108 bows (108배): a set of full prostrations, often while threading a prayer bead for each bow. Go at your own pace; nobody minds if you stop.
Seon meditation, a forest walk, breakfast, communal work and tea with a monk, before departure around midday.

Etiquette

Greet monks and staff with hapjang: palms together at your chest and a slight bow.
Enter halls through the side doors; the central door is for senior monks.
Take shoes off before entering halls and rooms.
Keep voices low, and do not wander into areas marked as monks' quarters.
No alcohol, no meat and no smoking on temple grounds.
Dress modestly: the uniform goes over your own clothes, so wear something comfortable that covers shoulders and knees.
Ask before photographing monks or services.

What to bring

Toiletries and a small towel; facilities range from shared to simple private rooms.
Warm layers and thick socks. Mountain temples are cold at night and early morning, even outside winter.
Comfortable clothes to wear under the uniform and to sleep in.
Slip-on shoes, since you will take them on and off many times.
Any medicines you need, and earplugs if you sleep lightly in shared rooms.

How to book

Book through the official Templestay website (eng.templestay.com), which lists participating temples, programmes, dates and fees, and shows which temples offer programmes in English or other languages. Fees, timetables and cancellation terms are set by each temple, so read the details for the one you choose. Popular temples and weekends book up, so reserve a few weeks ahead if you can.

Choosing a temple

Short on time: city temples in Seoul run shorter programmes that fit around sightseeing.
Scenery: mountain temples in national parks offer the most atmosphere, often combined with a hike.
History: some temples are UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as Haeinsa, home of the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks.
Something different: Golgulsa near Gyeongju is known for sunmudo, a Buddhist martial art, and some coastal temples look out over the sea.

Filter by region and language on the official site, then check how you will reach the temple: some are a long bus ride from the nearest town. Have you done a temple stay, or are you choosing between temples? Share your experience or questions in the comments.