South Korea Guide
Things not to miss
1 Gyeongju This former capital of Silla is the most traditional city in Korea, and should be on every visitor's itinerary.
2 Dongdaemun Market A 24-hour market in a city that never sleeps, Dongdaemun is a Seoul institution, with sights and smells redolent of decades gone by.
3 Hongdae There's no better place to party than Hongdae, Seoul's most happening nightlife district.
4 Boryeong Mud Festival, Daechon beach Korea's dirtiest, most enjoyable festival takes place each July on the west coast – don't forget your soap.
5 West Sea Islands Over three thousand islands sprinkled like confetti around Korea's western coast; Mokpo is the best point of access.
6 The DMZ Take a step inside the 4km-wide Demilitarized Zone, separating North and South Korea, the world's frostiest remnant of the Cold War.
7 Buyeo Fortress • Korea's most charming and historic fortress by far – this is where the Baekje dynasty met its end, literally toppling to extinction into the adjacent river.
8 Guinsa The most distinctive temple complex in the country, Guinsa's paths wind snake-like routes up a tight, remote valley in Korea's heartland.
9 Jagalchi Fish Market Your food may be so fresh that it's still wriggling on your plate at this highly atmospheric Busan fish market.
10 Seoraksan National Park Bald, rocky peaks jut out from the pines at what the locals claim to be the country's most magnificent park.
11 Jeongdongjin Korea's most surreal village has a train station on the beach, a ship-hotel atop a cliff, an American warship and an equally real North Korean spy submarine.
12 Dosan Seowon The wonderfully unspoilt countryside surrounding the city of Andong is studded with gems, but this former Confucian academy is one of the best.
13 Jeonju Hanok Village Here you can sleep in a traditional wooden hanok house heated from underneath by gentle flames, in one of Korea's most agreeable cities.
14 Changdeokgung Relax by the lake as kings once did in a secluded "Secret Garden", which nestles at the back of a UNESCO-listed palace in central Seoul.
15 Jeju Teddy Bear Museum, Jungmun The epitome of kitsch, most notable for its diorama room portraying twentieth-century events such as teddies tearing down the Berlin Wall, landing on the moon and going down with the Titanic.
16 Insa-dong Immerse yourself in wholesome traditional activities on Seoul's most popular street, one peppered with art galleries, tearooms and rustic restaurants.