South Korea – It is the unofficial name of the Republic of Korea, with Seoul as its capital. Here are the largest computer equipment companies. Among Asian countries, South Korea is considered one of the most developed countries. The state on these lands was formed already by the 17th century BC. Most of the land is occupied by mountains, and the highest point of the country is at an altitude of almost two thousand meters.
Once poor, it is now a prosperous country whose culture is fascinated by people around the world. Many tourists come solely for the famous Korean cuisine, which offers a huge range of dishes of varying degrees of spiciness. Unique historical monuments, locations that have preserved the atmosphere of antiquity, noisy night discos and shopping centers where you can get lost – there is something for everyone on tours to South Korea.
➤ Blue House Residence
The building, chosen as the residence for the President of the country, is called the Blue House because of the specific blue color of the tiles on the roof. The style of the residence is inspired by traditional Korean architecture. Here is the main office of the president, and several halls for conferences and meetings, as well as a guest house.
The gates of the house were opened for tourists only at the beginning of the 21st century. Until now, not all palaces are available for visiting. There are seven of them in total.
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Saturday, the time of excursions should be checked before visiting.
- Cost: free.
- How to get there: The residence can be reached by public transport from the city center.
➤ Seoraksan National Park
The amazingly beautiful park occupies a huge territory. There are many routes of different difficulty levels built here. The park is planted with a variety of plants, including many maples. There are mountain areas on the territory of Seoraksan. One of the most popular hiking trails is Ulsanbawi Peak.
Here you can ride a cable car, visit several scenic waterfalls and explore local temples. What is especially interesting, you can stay overnight in the park.
- Opening hours: every day from 9 am to 18 pm.
- Fee: Admission is 3,500 KRW
- How to get there:can be reached from Sokcho City by private transport or by bus.
➤ Hwaseong Fortress
Hwaseong – or as it is also called, “blooming fortress”; – It was rebuilt by King Jeongjo in memory of his father, who died from torture as punishment for trying to overthrow the previous ruler. The architecture of the fortress mixed eastern and western traditions of the 18th century.
Now the buildings of the fortress are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are four gates in the fortress, which are located on the four cardinal points. Here is a unique watchtower equipped with a sophisticated signaling system that warns of the approach of the enemy.
- Opening hours: every day from 9 am to 5 pm.
- Price: Admission starts at KRW 500.
- How to get there: bus #35.
➤ Hahoe Village
Hahoe – the national heritage of South Korea, which annually attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. The village was built during the 16th century during the Joseon Dynasty.
The outline of the village is shaped like a lotus. Interestingly, the village was built according to the basic principles of Feng Shui. And until now, local residents carefully observe the traditions of their ancestors. This is what attracts tourists who are eager to experience authentic Korean culture.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: the most convenient way – get there by private transport.
➤ Jeju Island
Jeju is considered one of the most popular resorts in South Korea. Here are some of the best beaches in the country, equipped in such a way that locals and tourists can enjoy nature in comfort.
Children will be especially interested in seeing the performances of dolphins and trained fur seals. In addition, you can dive to a depth of more than 40 meters on a submarine to explore the seabed during an exciting excursion.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- How to get there: You can fly to the island from Seoul.
< li>Price: Free.
➤ Haedong Yonggunsa Temple
The Buddhist temple is located on the seashore. Here you can enjoy a stunning combination of beautiful traditional architecture and lush nature. There is something to see here: there are many statues on the territory of the temple, and the stone pagoda of four lions stands out in particular.
The path from the entrance to the temple area to the very building of the temple – This is a staircase consisting of 108 steps. We recommend visiting this place in the evening. When the sun goes down, temple attendants light the lanterns and the location looks absolutely magical.
- Opening hours: every day from 5 am to 6 pm.
- Price: We recommend checking the price of the entrance ticket on the day of your visit.
- How to get there: You can get there from Busan by public transport.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: You can swim to the island from Chuncheon City.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Cost: The tour costs 12,000 KRW.
- How to get there: You can take the themed train from Seoul.
- Opening hours: every day from 8 am to 5 pm.
- Price : free.
- How to get there: You can take public transportation from Gyeongju city.
- Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 18 pm.
- Cost: The minimum ticket price is KRW 17,000.
- How to get there: You can take public transportation from Yongin.
- Opening hours: around the clock
- Fee: free.
- How to get there: you can get to the temple by public transportation from Busan.
- Opening hours: every day from 9 am to 9 pm, in summer the observatory is open until 10 pm .
- Fee: Admission starts at 200 KRW.
- How to get there:you can get to the observatory by bus number 70 or 11 or 10 from Gyeongju city.
- Opening hours: every day from 5 am to 10 pm.
- Fee: free.
- How to get there:You can get to the market from Busan by subway line 1.
- Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 20 pm, Check the park's website for exact closing times.
- Fee: The minimum ticket price is KRW 37,000.
- How to get there: accessible by public transportation from Seoul.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 10 am to 19 pm
- Price: Admission starts at KRW 29,000.
- How to get there: Huengde Station.
- Opening hours: every day from 4 am to 4 pm.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: The park can be comfortably reached by taxi or private transport.
- Opening hours: every day from 7 am to 5 pm.
- Fee: Free.
- How to get there: The temple can be reached by bus from Gyeongju Station.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: You can take the subway or bus from Seoul.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free .
- How to get there: Walking distance from downtown Busan.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Fee: free.
- How to get there: can be reached by public transport from Seoul.
- Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 5 pm, at any other time you can freely view the gate from sides.
- Fee: free.
- How to get there: You can take public transportation from Seoul to the gate.
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, from 6 am to 11 pm.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: You can take the metro line 4 to the market.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.
- How to get there:the center is a short walk from Dongdaemun Market.
- Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 am to 21 pm.
- Price: We recommend checking the price of the entrance ticket on the day of your visit.
- How to get there: the village is within walking distance from downtown Seoul.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: Walking distance from Dongdaemun Market
- Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 6 pm
- Cost: free.
- How to get there: You can take the subway or bus from Seoul to the market.
- Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 5 pm.
- Price: You should check the price of the entrance ticket on the official website before visiting the museum.
- How to get there: You can take the subway to the museum.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.< /li>
- How to get there: Buses 2 and 5 are available to the park.
- Opening hours: every day from 11 am to 10 pm.
- How to get there: You can get to the library building by public transport.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Cost: free.
- How to get there: You can take the subway to the mosque.
- Opening hours:Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am to 7 pm
- Fee: Admission starts at KRW 1,500
- How to get there: You can take the subway from Seoul or take your own vehicle, or walk from the city center.
- Opening hours: 24/7.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: You can take the metro to the square from Seoul.
- Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 11 pm.
- Price : Admission starts at KRW 7,000.
- How to get there: Walking distance from Namsan Park.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Price: free.
- How to get there: You can take public transportation from Seoul to the park.
- Opening hours: around the clock.
- Cost: free.
- How to get there: the most convenient way – take a taxi.
< /ul>
➤ Namisom Island
The cozy island has the shape of a crescent. It was formed after the construction of the Cheonpyeong Dam. Name «Namisom» refers to the name of the general who is buried on the island. General Nami became famous during the battles in the 15th century during the period of rebellions and uprisings.
The nature of the island is incredibly beautiful, there are many interesting trees: from cedars to metasequoias. Namis – one of the most popular places among families with children. There are many playgrounds on the island, and in addition, there is a library of fairy tales.
➤ Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)< /h2>
The buffer zone between South and North Korea was approved in the middle of the 20th century as confirmation of a temporary truce between the parties involved in the Korean War. There are no private tours here. In addition, you must definitely take your passport with you on a trip, and it’s also better to clarify in advance in which areas you can shoot.
You can get to the DMZ on the “peace train” that leaves from Seoul. During the day, he drives through the buffer zone, and then returns to Seoul. During the tour, you will be told about the history of the country and the reasons for the war between the two Koreas.
➤ Bulguksa Temple
One of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Korea, famous all over the world. The temple was completed in the 6th century AD. Then he had a different name and was called Hwaom Bulguksa. The buildings of the complex have been rebuilt many times since construction, adding new elements to the elegant architecture of the temple.
In the 16th century, the buildings, which were almost all wooden, burned down. It was during the war between Korea and Japan. For several years, the main work on the restoration of temple buildings lasted. Restoration work on some parts of the complex is still ongoing.
➤ Korean National Village
Korean National Village – it is a location inspired by Joseon Korea, which has been painstakingly recreated in a dedicated area. More than thirty thousand cultural monuments are represented here, including authentic houses.
There are several playgrounds on the territory of the village. It is especially interesting here during national holidays.
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➤ Pomos Temple
The Pomosa Temple is considered one of the five key religious sites that are located in Busan. This is a whole complex of buildings that stretches over eight square kilometers. In addition to the main temple building, there are more than 150 huts designed for priests who want to retire.
The Pomosa Temple was built during the Joseon era and perfectly reflects the architectural traditions of that time. This is a cozy and peaceful place where you can usefully spend hours in silence, alone with yourself. Or you can hire a guide who will tell you in detail about the history of the temple.
➤ Cheomseongdae Observatory
This observatory is considered one of the oldest in Korea. It is located on the territory of the capital of the ancient state of Silla, whose lands are now part of South Korea.
The observatory has the shape of a tapering cylinder. It was built from flat granite stones laid out in 27 rows. The height of the observatory at its highest point reaches 4 meters. This building was once used to calculate the period of the equinox and solstice.
➤ Jagalchi Fish Market< /h2>
One of the country's most famous markets is located on the coast. Here you can find a variety of seafood: from freshly caught to dried and marinated. Near the market there are several restaurants where the freshest fish is delivered.
Besides, you can visit the cozy terrace, which is poetically called the “Sky Park”. The market in this place was formed by the beginning of the 20th century, but its current building was rebuilt at the beginning of the 21st century. The building consists of seven floors, each of which contains shopping arcades.
➤ Everland< /h2>
Everland is one of the top 15 amusement parks in the world. This place was created by Samsung. An amusement park is not exactly the right definition for Everland. This is a whole town with a developed infrastructure, occupying a vast territory. We recommend setting aside a full day, or even several days, to fully enjoy all the entertainment available here.
➤ Busan Sea Life Aquarium
Busan Aquarium has collected a huge collection of diverse marine life. It will be equally interesting for both adults and children. The oceanarium is considered the largest in South Korea.
What is especially fascinating is that the aquarium is located underground, right under one of the beaches, namely Haeundae Beach. It is best to set aside a day to visit this place so that you have time to get to know all the locals.
➤ Mudeungsan National Park
Mudeungsan is located near the city of Gwangju. On its territory there are many mountainous areas through which hiking trails are laid. The highest point in the park is over 1,180 meters above sea level. This place is popular with both young and old people.
Despite the high peaks, the slopes of Mudeungsan are not very steep, so it was possible to arrange routes here for families with children and for pensioners. The park is especially beautiful in winter, when the slopes are covered with snow. Museum complexes, playgrounds and shops are located at the foot of the mountains.
➤ Seokguram Rock Temple
Rock temple – this is a grotto on the side of a mountain, equipped for religious purposes. Seokguram – this is the second name of the temple, the first sounded different and was translated as “temple of the stone Buddha.” Interestingly, in the very center of the grotto there is a huge stone statue depicting a seated Buddha.
The temple is very beautiful. This is one of the most popular places among tourists. The entrance to the temple is crowned with an arch, from which the road leads to a rectangular hall. This hall symbolically represents the earth. The next hall is built to symbolize the sky.
➤ National Museum of Korea
The progenitor of the national museum, which is now considered one of the largest in South Korea, – Museum of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace Museum was established at the beginning of the 20th century by order of Emperor Sunjong. The museum's collections changed location several times until they were housed in the building where they are now.
To understand the scale, the collection consists of more than 300 thousand exhibits belonging to different periods. These are paintings, household items, and even ceramics dating back to the Neolithic era. The museum is divided into two sections. One symbolizes the past, and the second – the future.
➤ Busan City Park
City Park in Busan – favorite place for families with children. There is everything you need for a comfortable pastime: toilets, benches, cafes and many shops. In the store you can buy leisure and picnic items, such as toys for children or items for active games like badminton, or mats to sit on the grass. Entrance to the park is free. Despite the popularity of the place, it is quite calm and cozy.
➤ Hongdae Area
Center for youth parties – This is Hongdae, Seoul. Here life boils day and night. When the sun sets, the street is transformed by the light of numerous lamps, live music spills around, and art exhibitions begin to shine with new colors.
The area is home to many unique museums, such as Trick Eye, which – as you can guess from the name – various optical illusions are presented. They can be freely touched, interacted with and photographed.
➤ Sunnemun Gate (Namdaemun)
The majestic gate was erected in the 14th century. Then they received the name of the Great South Gate. But later, a second name was born among the people, more poetic, which can be translated as the gate of sublime ceremonies.
Sunnemun used to be connected to other gates through a fortress wall, but it was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century. The gate ranks first in the list of national treasures of South Korea.
➤ Namdaemun Market
The huge Seoul market, divided into ground and underground parts, sheltered more than ten thousand stalls and shops. Here you can buy literally anything: from food to consumer electronics.
The modern building of the market has grown on the site of spontaneous trade, which was formed already in the 15th century. At that time, mainly products were sold here: fresh fish and various plants. The market is popular with both tourists and locals looking for the right things at a bargain price.
➤ Dongdaemun Design Plaza
The Donaemun area was designed in the 20th century. This street is popularly called “fashion street”. DDP or Dongdaemun Design Plaza – an attraction that is within walking distance of Dongdaemun Market.
We recommend visiting this place at night. The lights of nearby buildings are bizarrely reflected from the surface of the DDP – an unforgettable experience!
➤ Namsan Village Museum of Traditional Korean Hanok Dwelling
At the end of the 20th century, a village in the traditional Korean style was built in the very center of the South Korean capital. It consists of five houses, several gardens, a stage for performances and a small seating area.
A visit to the village is an opportunity to enjoy the architecture and authentic atmosphere of the recreated village, which is like a time capsule. Here you will learn about the history of the country during the Joseon period and about the life of the local people.
➤ Dongdaemun Gate
The gate was built in the late 14th century during the Joseon period. Then it was part of the fortress wall encircling the city. The wall was demolished in the 20th century, only two gates remained from the entire building.
Dongdaemun Gate is called the “Gate of Ascending Kindness”. Surprisingly, they were built in less than two months. It was expected that at such a speed of construction it was impossible to achieve the desired quality. Pretty soon, the gates were destroyed due to rain and rebuilt by order of the king.
➤ Dongdaemun Market
The market was formed by the 14th century near the recently erected Dongdaemun Gate, which has survived to this day. It sells a variety of goods, but what Dongdaemun has become famous for is clothing. Find the best selection of textile products here.
➤ Bank of Korea Money Museum
The museum is housed in a building that once housed the Bank of Korea. This is a monumental beautiful building, the entrance to which is decorated with impressive columns.
During the tour you will be told about the national currency, how it originated and how it changed during the development of the state. The expositions present a variety of forms of securities and metals that were in use in different historical periods.
➤ Naksan Park
In Naksan Park is the Seoul TV Tower, on top of which is located viewpoint. There are several cafes here, located so well that even they offer stunning views of the city.
There are no such high peaks here as in other parks, but the nature in Naksan is always beautiful. You can come here with children – there will be no heavy climbs on the way to the tower.
➤ Starfield Library
The Star Library was opened in 2017. The building stands out for its interesting architectural solutions and scale. The territory of the center occupied more than 2.5 thousand square meters. The library's collection is huge and includes about 50,000 titles.
The library operates in a single format: books are not issued at home, they can only be read within the library. In addition, exhibitions, meetings of literary clubs and other creative events are often held here.
< Cost: free.
➤ Seoul Cathedral Mosque
The cathedral mosque was built in the 20th century on the territory of an area known for the fact that many visitors from other countries live here. Various lectures are regularly held in the building of the mosque in three languages: English, Korean and Arabic.
The architecture of the mosque reflects Muslim traditions, but at the same time it is organically inscribed in the style of the Korean region. If you hire a guide, he will tell you in detail about the rich history of this place, about the tragedies and joys associated with the building.
➤ Unhyeonggung Palace
The palace was once a royal residence and today functions as a museum. The palace building was built in the 14th century during the Joseon period. Unhyeonggun was heavily damaged several times and then restored. In this amazing place, you can immerse yourself in the country's interesting history while enjoying views of nature and traditional Korean architecture.
➤ Gwanghwamun Square
A wonderful place to walk. The vast square is almost always full of tourists who come to photograph the majestic memorial built in the very center of the square.
➤ Namsan Cable Car
The cable car is located on the territory of the famous Namsan Park. It connects the sector of the park with the Seoul TV Tower. During the trip, you can enjoy the enchanting views of the city.
➤ Park Overpass Seoullo 7017
The suspension park was built in 2017 on the site of an overpass that operated at the end of the 20th century. The intoxicating aroma of flowers, interesting sights and a particularly romantic atmosphere in the evening when additional lighting is turned on. You can learn more about the history of the place by hiring a guide.
➤ Ewha Women's University
Seoul University has the status of a non-state. It is the largest institution of its kind in the world that teaches exclusively to women. Ihwa was founded in the 19th century. Since then, many famous women have graduated from here, including politicians, doctors, judges and the first woman to hold the position of prime minister.