The star of Seoul’s five Joseon Dynasty palaces, Changdeokgung Palace was built by King Taejong in 1405 and designed to blend harmoniously with its natural surroundings. Today, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its ornate royal residence buildings and extensive tree-filled gardens.
Known for the blue tiles that cover its roof, Seoul’s Blue House (Cheong Wa Dae or Cheongwadae) sits at the foot of Mount Bugaksan and is the official residence of South Korea’s president. The house was built in the traditional Korean architectural style within a Joseon Dynasty–era royal garden.
Seoul’s answer to Fifth Avenue in New York, Myeongdong Shopping Street teems with affordable brand name shops and department stores selling all varieties of clothing, shoes, and accessories. This retail mecca stretches from Myeongdong Subway Station to the Lotte Department Store and encompasses many of the surrounding streets and alleyways as well. For shoppers who’ve worked up an appetite, the area’s restaurants specialize in Korean pork cutlet (dongaseu) and noodle soup (kalguksu).
This cultural village looks like it was lifted straight from the Piedmont Alps of France and dropped in the middle of the South Korean countryside. The aptly named Petite France comprises over a dozen French-style buildings on a scenic hillside, housing shops, cafés, art galleries, and French restaurants within their colorful walls.
The 8th-century Seokguram Grotto is a remarkable Buddhist temple located in South Korea’s Gyeongju National Park. The temple houses an ornately carved statue of Buddha and is renowned for its intricate architecture and serene atmosphere. A visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must for anyone interested in Buddhist culture and history.
Set 16 feet (5 meters) below street level, the pedestrianized Cheonggyecheon stream runs east-west through the South Korean capital and ranks among the city’s best spots for walking and people watching. The 3.6-mile (5.8-kilometer) route through Seoul passes 22 bridges and several art installations and fountains (illuminated at night) along the way.
The cover star of just about every Busan tourism poster since it opened in 2003, Gwangan Bridge (Gwangandaegyo) is the city's answer to the Golden Gate Bridge. Particularly impressive at night when it's illuminated, the bridge is best viewed from Gwangalli Beach, where you can see the nightly light show.
Whether you’re looking for street food, ginseng, jewelry, housewares, clothes, or souvenirs, you’ll find these (and just about everything else under the sun) in the stalls of Namdaemun Market. South Korea’s largest market is busy around the clock as locals and tourists rub elbows in search of the best deals.
With its magnificent, towering hilltops and more than 2,000 species of animals, Seoraksan National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere Protection site and ranks among the most beautiful parks on the Korean Peninsula. Well-marked trails lead past Buddhist temples as they wind through the picturesque landscape.
During the 1950s, refugees of war-torn Korea began opening small shops to try to earn a living. This modest collection of shops has since transformed into Gukje Market, Busan’s largest traditional market. Today, stalls sell everything from seaweed and street snacks to electronics and hanbok (Korean formalwear.
Housed in the beautiful Joseon dynasty Gyeongbokgung Palace, the National Folk Museum of Korea highlights the history, agriculture, and folk art of the Korean peninsula. The collection consists of nearly 100,000 artifacts, as well as some historical buildings and 20th-century structures in an open-air setting.
The Gangchon Rail Park gives visitors the opportunity to cycle along a disused, double-tracked railway line to view the scenery along Nami Island, an easy day trip from South Korea’s capital of Seoul. The cycle is not strenuous, and the route features themed tunnels, rest stops, and a ride on a vintage-style train at the end.
Travelers to Korean Folk Village can explore 250 acres of natural landscape, dotted with 260 replica houses from the Joseon Dynasty. Learn about traditional foods, handicrafts, and clothing while visiting the workshops and open-air attractions; take in a live performance; or treat the kids to the rides and craft workshops in Play Village.
Always abuzz with energy and excitement, the district of Hongdae is known for its lively nightlife. Set on Seoul's western end near Hongik University, the area is home to quirky cafés, avant-garde art galleries, boutique shops, and gourmet eateries. It’s a popular spot for young locals, and a fascinating destination for visitors.
Namsangol Hanok Village brings to life the Joseon dynasty through five restored traditional Korean houses (called hanoks) that were relocated to the village from other parts of the city. Each house reflects a different stratum of society, from working-class to nobility. The site also hosts demonstrations, workshops, and live performances.
Just a stone’s throw away from mysterious royal tombs, a world-famous observatory, and a lotus-filled palace complex, the Gyeongju National Museum is the perfect starting point for any Gyeongju visit. Its treasure trove of artifacts brings thousands of years of Korean history to life and adds illuminating context to a city visit.
Dongbaek Island (Dongbaekseom), considered one of Busan’s most scenic places, isn’t really an island at all. The former island, now connected to the Korean mainland by a land bridge made up of accumulated sediment, gets its name from the abundant camellia (dongbaek in Korean) trees that grow throughout.
Busan’s proximity to the sea is one of its charms, and Haeundae Beach is perhaps the most famous beach in South Korea. Nearly a mile long (1.5 kilometers), this stretch of coastline is lined with some of Busan’s top international hotels, as well as an assortment of restaurants, shops, and the Sea Life Busan Aquarium.
The 35-acre (14-hectare) UN Memorial Cemetery is one of Busan’s most peaceful spots. Established in 1951, the quiet park and cemetery honors a total of 2,300 United Nations soldiers representing 16 countries who were killed during the Korean War. Manicured hedges and flower bushes add to the beautiful and somber sight.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hwaseong Fortress was built between 1794 and 1796 by King Jeongjo for defensive purposes and to house the remains of his father, Crown Prince Jangheon. The unique architecture of the fort, which took more than 700,000 man-hours to build, incorporates elements from China and Korea.
Located at a bend in the Nakdong River, Andong Hahoe Folk Village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by pine forests, sandy beaches, and dramatic cliffs and offers a glimpse of bygone Korea. Wander the village to learn about South Korean architecture and traditions that date back to the 10th century.
Perched behind Seoul's former—and more traditional—city hall from 1926, the sleek 13‐story Seoul City Hall looks like a wave of glass. Highlights include the 7-story Green Wall vertical garden and quirky Metaseosa Seobeol art installation, as well as the glass elevator which leads to the Sky Plaza Gallery, an art exhibition space.
Originally built in 1395 by the first Joseon king, Gwanghwamun Gate is the main gate to Seoul’s Gyeongbokgung Palace, the largest of the five Joseon Dynasty palaces. After being destroyed twice by fire and war, the gate that stands today was rebuilt in 1968 using concrete and steel instead of the original granite.
Busan Tower (or Diamond Tower) soars skyward 120 meters (400 feet) from the center of the city’s Yongdusan Park—where you’ll find a forest-covered mountain reminiscent of a dragon’s head. Built in 1973 and modeled on Bulguksa Temple’s Dabotap Pagoda, the tower is an architectural icon of Korea’s second city. From the structure’s observation deck, you can enjoy panoramic views that stretch across both land and sea.
South Korea’s largest theme park is like the Disney World of Asia, a massive complex filled with rides, food, fairy-tale characters, and live stage shows. It’s also home to Caribbean Bay, the country’s largest water park. There’s something for everyone, from a zoo area with live animals to the world’s steepest wooden roller coaster.
Sinheungsa Temple, the oldest Zen temple in South Korea, was built by a traveling Shilla monk by the name of Jajang Yulsa in AD 652 and has been destroyed by fire and rebuilt many times since. The current structure dates back to 1648. Located in Seoraksan National Park, the temple features a 3-level pagoda and two Buddha statues.
Yongdusan Park, a mountainous park in the center of Busan, is one of the city’s most popular green spaces. Its name translates to “dragon’s head mountain,” as it’s thought to resemble a dragon poking its head above the surface of the sea. Highlights of the park include various monuments to battles and Korean heroes, Busan Tower, and the octagonal Palgakjeong pavilion.
Cheongwadae Sarangchae is a 2-story museum where visitors can learn about Korea’s political and cultural history. Originally the home of the public information hall of Cheongwadae, the facility reopened as a museum in 2010, with exhibit halls on past presidents and first ladies, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Korean culture.
Set in the huge underground COEX Mall, the SEA LIFE® COEX Aquarium features nearly 100 exhibit tanks, spread across 16 themed zones, including the Deep Blue Sea Tunnel, Garden of Jellyfish, and Penguin’s Playground. The Marine Touch zone offers visitors of all ages the chance to make personal contact with baby sea creatures.
Bukhansan National Park is an urban oasis within the boundaries of Seoul. The park covers nearly 50 square miles (129 square kilometers) and contains hiking trails, sweeping mountaintop views, and streams rushing between gorges and granite peaks. Bukhansanseong Fortress and many Buddhist temples are also set here.
