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South Korea
From Seoul's glittering nightlife to Seoraksan National Park's vertiginous hikes, South Korea offers the traveler a dazzling range of experiences, beautiful landscapes and 5000 years of culture and history.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
Like a phoenix, Seoul’s premier palace has risen several times from the ashes of destruction. Hordes of tourists have replaced the thousands of government…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
The World Heritage–listed Changdeokgung is the most beautiful of Seoul's five main palaces. You must join a one-hour guided tour to look around. English…
Jeonju
This maeul (village) has more than 800 hanok (traditional wooden homes), making it one of the largest such concentrations in the country. Virtually all of…
Itaewon & Yongsan-gu
Amid the celebrity-owned apartments on the leafy southern slope of Namsan is Korea's premier art gallery. Beautifully designed and laid-out, it balances…
Jeju-do
This majestic 182m-high, extinct tuff volcano, shaped like a giant punchbowl, is one of Jeju-do's most impressive sights and a Unesco World Heritage site…
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Gyeongsangnam-do
The visual imagery of this temple is a feast for the eyes and, like any exquisite dinner, should be savoured with deliberation. Stone walls supporting…
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Gyeongsangnam-do
Jagged ridges, 400m-high peaks, ropes, ladders and awe-inspiring views await travellers looking for a challenging hike. Most travellers disembark the…
Suwon
The World Heritage–listed fortress wall that encloses the original town of Suwon is what brings most travellers to the city. Snaking up and down Paldal…
Top picks from our travel experts
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Jeollanam-do
Here you can learn more than you ever thought you needed to know about tea, both in Korea and around the world, and also take part in a traditional tea…
Dongdaemun & Eastern Seoul
This sprawling fabric market is now best known as Seoul’s busiest meokjagolmok (food alley), thanks to the 200 or so food stalls, kimchi and fresh-seafood…
Jeollanam-do
Sandy walking trails wend through this bamboo grove, past pavilions and film locations for Korean dramas. It's one of the area's most popular attractions…
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Gwangju
Catch the Kia Tigers professional baseball team in action from April through November. Stock up on snacks from the street vendors outside the stadium,…
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Busan
West of Nampo-dong, this traditional market has hundreds of small booths with a staggering selection of items, from leather goods to Korean drums.
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Jeollanam-do
One of Korea's most iconic sights, the Boseong Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation is spectacularly set on a hillside covered with curvy row after row of…
Gwanghwamun & Jongno-gu
With its landscaped walkways, footbridges, waterfalls and a variety of public artworks, such as the enormous pink-and-blue shell entitled Spring in Cheong…
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Jeju-si
Traditional Korean food market. Fun for a wander and peek at local seafood for sale, which you can have cooked up on the spot at small restaurants. It's…
Myeong-dong & Jung-gu
You could spend all day in this swarming night-and-day market and not see it at all. The largest market in Korea, each section has hundreds of stalls,…
Gyeongsangnam-do
Come springtime, cherry blossoms can be found more and more throughout Korea, as more and more trees are being planted.
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Daejeon
Daejeon's biggest traditional market has porridge and pancake vendors, piles of kimchi and chicken feet, clothing and household goods.
Planning Tools
Expert guidance to help you plan your trip
Best Things to Do
South Korea has an incredible mix of attractions that will keep you coming back for more. These are 11 of our favorites.
Read articleThings to Know
Before your trip to this cultural powerhouse, read our tips for planning, navigating etiquette, health and safety concerns and more.
Read articleTransportation
With some of the best public transport in the world, South Korea is a gift to travelers. Here's what you need to know about getting around when you arrive.
Read articleMoney and Costs
If you’re looking to travel to South Korea on a budget, follow this money-saving guide, from advice on SIM cards to tips on transit.
Read articleBest Road Trips
South Korea might not leap out as the obvious place for a road trip, but the back roads reveal a different side to the peninsula. Here are our top trips.
Read articleArticles
Latest stories from South Korea
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Activities
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