Daegu lines up tours, cultural programs for World Masters Athletics Championships visitors

Seomun Market in Jung District, Daegu / Courtesy of Daegu City

With the World Masters Athletics Championships (WMAC) 2026 slated for Daegu this August, the city is getting ready to welcome athletes with more than just a venue for demonstrating their physical prowess, preparing a slate of exciting activities around town. Beyond the track, the city has put together a broad range of tours, cultural experiences and discounts for the some 11,000 athletes and family members from 90 countries expected at the event running from Aug. 22 to Sept. 3.

Headlining the program are three daytime tours running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., each winding through a different part of the city and mixing traditional landmarks with trending spots.

The art tour visits some of Daegu's most iconic cultural landmarks, including Kansong Art Museum Daegu, home to an extensive collection of Korea's cultural heritage, and 83 Tower, a skyscraper offering sweeping views of downtown Daegu.

The modern history tour explores the city's historic downtown, including Seomun Market, its largest traditional marketplace.

The nature tour heads to Mount Palgong, where the Palgongsan Cable Car carries visitors up to 820 meters above sea level, with panoramic views of the Daegu cityscape stretching out below.

An evening tour, designed with summer heat in mind, runs from 4 to 9 p.m. and offers two routes. One centers on Suseong Lake, known for its scenic nighttime views, and 83 Tower; the other takes in Mount Ap Observatory, where the Nakdong River curves into view alongside layers of mountain ridges embracing the city, and its lively cafe district.

Daegu's two counties have also put together their own tour programs. Dalseong County runs a four full-day tours on weekends to visit the historic Nampyeong Moon Clan Village and Sojae Temple on Mount Biseul.

Gunwi County leads with its Sayuwon Arboretum and Architecture Park, offering a running program tailored for visiting athletes, a fitting way for them to take in Korea's countryside.

A view from 83 Tower in Dalseo District, Daegu / Courtesy of Daegu City

Day trips to nearby cities will also be available, including Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–A.D. 935), which is often described as a "museum without walls." Another day trip will visit Andong, also in North Gyeongsang Province, the heartland of Korean Confucian culture.

In Gyeongju, visitors can take in Cheomseongdae, a seventh-century stone tower believed to be the oldest observatory in Asia, the city's famed tomb mounds, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond. A modern reconstruction of a secondary palace for the Silla royal family, the site served as the crown prince's residence and a venue for grand royal banquets. Today the park is famed for its shimmering nighttime reflections of tile-roofed buildings in the serene Wolji Pond. The city also made headlines last October, hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation events that drew world leaders and global business executives.

In Andong, the tour takes in the UNESCO-listed Hahoe Folk Village, considered the finest example of Korea's Confucian heritage and domestic architecture, and includes a taste of Andong jjimdak, the city's signature braised chicken dish.

WMAC participants and their companions will also receive discounts at major attractions: free admission to Daegu Art Museum, 30 percent off at Kansong Art Museum Daegu and 50 percent off all-day passes at E-World, the city's main theme park, with free access to 83 Tower included.

A medical tourism program is also being developed. The program may include cosmetic procedures, dental services, health checkups and oriental medicine experiences such as herbal foot baths and body constitution diagnosis at the Oriental Medicine Medical Experience Town and hands-on exhibits at the Daegu Yangnyeongsi Oriental Medicine Museum.

The city said it is also working on offering hands-on cultural experiences, including traditional tea ceremonies and hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) at the Korea Traditional Culture Center.

A dedicated tourism information center will operate from Aug. 20 to Sept. 3, offering program registration, transport guidance and general visitor assistance.