The Taebaek Snow Festival: Snowy Fun In Korea
Last Updated on December 10, 2025
The Taebaek Snow Festival (태백산 눈축제) is one of the most popular winter festivals in South Korea. Every winter in Korea, this quiet mountainside town becomes home to snow and ice sculptures, winter sports, traditional and not so traditional cultural performances and more. Located in the picturesque Taebaek Mountain range, the area often sees some of the heaviest and most reliable snowfall in Korea. If you’re looking for where to find snow in Korea, the Taebaek Mountains are the ideal destination with abundant snowfall and breathtaking scenery.
Taebaek will be cold, crisp, and full of beautiful and playful scenery. Here’s what to expect:
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How To Get There
Address: 168 Cheonjedan-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do (강원도 태백시 천제단길 168)
By Public Transportation: You can take a bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Taebaek Bus Terminal. There’s an intercity bus that takes just over 3 hours. Alternatively, you could take the train from Cheongnyangri Station to Taebaek Station that takes just a bit over 3 hours either way. Just choose whichever option is closest to you.
Join a Tour: If you don’t want to deal with the hassle of planning, there are some great day trip options you can join. You can sign up on Creatrip or on Klook.
Where To Stay
Ramada Taebaek Hotel
The Ramada Taebaek Hotel is the nicest place to stay in the area with easy access to the Taebaek Mountain range area so you can be out, get chilly, and get back and warm up in no time. It’s a cozy comfortable stay in the winter.
Book a room at the Ramada Taebaek Hotel on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
What To Know Before You Visit
Festival dates: Usually held the last week of January through the first weeks of February.
The Taebaek Mountain range is a beautiful mountainous area in South Korea, stretching for over 500 kilometers along the east coast of the country. It is home to some of the highest peaks in Korea, including the famous Seoraksan which rises to a height of 1,708 meters.
The mountain range receives a significant amount of snowfall annually which makes it a popular winter destination for people that want to be guaranteed they will see snow. With an average of over 100 inches of snow per year, it is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts and travelers who want postcard-perfect winter scenery.
Expect snow-covered trails, crisp mountain air, and views of pine forests frosted white, and snow-capped peaks. Warm up after all of the cold fun with the region’s hot springs. It’s the perfect winter getaway in Korea.
The Taebaek Snow Festival
The Taebaek Snow Festival has been held since 1995 and is usually from the last week of January until the second week of February, though dates may be adjusted due to various events year to year. The festival grounds sit at the base of Taebaeksan National Park, which means if you don’t want to trudge through snow or have kids that you’re taking and aren’t sure they’ll last long in the mountains, not to worry. It’s much more accessible than many might realize.
The highlight for most people, aside from the snow, are the numerous ice and snow sculptures that are created by artists from all over the world. We got to see sculptures that depicted a Korean gate, people and heads with mouths open, cartoon characters and a mammoth, a car and more. There was an igloo and an icy maze too. The entire area feels whimsical and creative.
The forests of the area feature tall pine trees everywhere and are so inviting with the white on the ground. Make sure to explore the area because there are plenty of peaceful escapes just nearby away from festival crowds. There is a coal and train museum in the area and Mandeoksa Temple as well if you don’t want to hike but want to see something.
If you really want the snow views though, you’ll want to start a hike from here up into the mountain range.
And because no Korean festival is complete without a bit of humor and chaos, our favorite moment was stumbling into a lively trot dance party hosted by older men dressed as women, singing classic Korean hits at the top of their lungs. It was silly and heartfelt and exactly why I love going to townie festivals in Korea. They definitely make for some good memories.
The Taebaek Snow Festival is one of the best reasons to head east in the winter. If you want guaranteed snow, fun sculptures, and a peek at Korea’s more playful side, this mountain festival is worth the trip.
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