SOUTH KOREA
South Korea has a habit of making you recalibrate. Seoul feels futuristic until you turn a corner and find a centuries-old gate; ancient traditions sit comfortably alongside technology.
We came for the palaces, temples and atmospheric design cafes, but it was the quieter moments that stayed with us: wandering historic streets, stumbling across traditions still woven into everyday life and discovering stunning landscapes that felt a world away from Seoul.
We've pulled together the places and experiences that made the biggest impression, along with the practical details to help you plan your own journey.
Start here with our South Korea Itinerary and guides.
Most first-time South Korea itineraries head from Seoul to Busan and/or Jeju. But there’s a whole lot more to the country than its greatest hits.
We skipped the usual Seoul, Busan and Jeju circuit in favour of tea fields, traditional villages and an ancient capital unlike anywhere we'd seen before. Here's how we'd spend 10–12 days in South Korea.
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Google maps won't save you
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Your feet are going to work overtime
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Tmoney is simple for foreigners
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Don't automatically take the subway
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Check your cards before you go
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Book the things likely to sell out
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You can relax about safety (and cleanliness)
Read our hard-earned intel →
Is South Korea worth visiting?
Is South Korea worth the long flight? Absolutely. From Seoul’s sensory overload to quiet clan villages, ancient kingdoms and tea-covered hills, it’s a country that keeps changing character.
But there are a few things we wish we’d known before we went...