Chicken and beer in Daegu

The first thing you’ll notice upon arriving in Daegu in summer is the oppressive heat. This and the humidity makes it feel like you’re walking in a sauna wrapped in an electric blanket. Thus, Daegu has earned the nickname Daefrica, the Africa of Korea. Despite the temperature and the warnings from colleagues that it would be uncomfortable, I decided to travel to Daegu in early July. After all, I couldn’t miss the chicken and beer festival for a second year in a row.

Apsan

Upon arriving at Daegu station I met my friend and together we took the bus to Apsan, the best spot to get a view of the whole city. Just like every other city in South Korea, the buses and metro in Daegu are easy to navigate. I recommend installing the Naver Maps app in order to access all the bus and metro times and routes.

Apsan Park is a large park in the south of Daegu, dominated by Apsan mountain. The hike up the mountain isn’t particularly long, but it does start with a fairly steep climb. Taking plenty of water is a must, especially in the summer months. The path up the mountain features various Buddhist temples and other trails you can follow to explore the whole park, but as it was stiflingly hot we bee lined it to the top.

Not far from the summit is a viewing platform which is worth stopping at for a great view over Daegu. From here you can see most of the city, including the Daegu 83 Tower at E-World. Continuing up just a little further will lead you to the summit stone at 658.7 metres, with another impressive view.

Returning down the same path will lead you back to the bus stops, or cafes if you need a rest. Alternatively there is a cable car that can take you up and down the mountain.

Chicken and Beer Festival

Every year Daegu is host to the chicken and beer festival. It’s normally held in July or August for around five days. The festival takes place in Duryu Park, next to E-World and only a short walk from the Duryu metro station.

The festival is open all day and features plenty of chicken and beer stalls, serving chicken from all the major fried chicken chains in South Korea, Korean beer and also locally brewed craft beer.

There are different stages within the festival, with the main stage featuring the headline acts. As it was very busy when we arrived, we went to a smaller stage inside a big tent. The performances here were still very lively and featured some local actor who also moonlit as a rapper. With the beer flowing it was a good time!

Gysesan Cathedral and jeil Church

Besides hiking and the chicken and beer festival, Daegu also offers other things for tourists to do. Two impressive buildings worth stopping by are the Gysesan Cathedral and Jeil Church, located across the street from each other. If you want to look around inside check service times so you won’t be disappointed.

Seomun Market

Seomun Market is a large mostly covered market located right next to the metro station of the same name. The market sells a large variety of goods, with lots of food on offer.

As I went in the height of summer I was slightly put off by the food sitting in the high heat, so I would recommend visiting and trying the local food when the temperature is more comfortable.

Hyundai Department Store

This particular department store is located near Banwoldang metro station. There are nine floors of shopping as well as a basement dining area. The rooftop is accessible and features an interesting art exhibition. It’s a good place to visit if you’re looking to shop while in Daegu, or just need to ride the escalators with the air conditioning to escape the heat.