You may already have some ideas of Korean cuisine, but the authentic ones are another level. Heck, even Prince Charles has popped in for a visit! You could have dog soup as an extra at this meal! Most countries have interesting attractions and North Korea is not an exception. It feels like everything becomes an attraction because it is so different from home and when it’s the same, that’s interesting too! Suwon is another great place to visit on a trip to South Korea. If you are like me, and travel is your job so you never stop working, you will particularly enjoy North Korea. Perched on the south-east coast, Gyeongju is one of the best places in South Korea to visit if you love history. Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbukdo | One of Korea’ best kept and largest historical village, some of the houses date back to 200 years ago. The spring months of April, May, and June are great for clear skies and seeing the cherry blossoms. 9. You need to do a tour but this is very easy to arrange. In fact, many locals go hiking on weekends to mountains such as Bukhansan, which is located in Seoul. At 795 Euros, it wasn’t even that expensive. The good bits, the bad bits and the SUPER AMAZING bits. After visiting all other famous and busy points of South Korea get here for ease now. And it is actually located in the middle of mountain in Busan. There are some beautiful beaches around Korea so in summer all beaches are crowded like you can’t imagine. There are many festivals and events in each season. Some experiences did not seem genuine, like when we watched hundreds of people participate in mass dancing. Much more fascinating is the people. There is also the chance to visit the DMZ, the border with South Korea (not that North and South Korea exist in North Korea, it’s all Korea). During autumn, there is an event called Chuseok, and it is a major harvest festival in Korea. Here we've listed some of the best places to visit in South Korea - some possibly familiar and some new. 6. It is now considered to be one of the most beautiful palaces in the world, which is why it’s one of the best places to visit in Seoul. Here you can visit a beautiful rock quarry, an amusement park, and even a penis restaurant. Nightlife in South Korea is different from rest of the big cities around the world. September, October, and November have mild temperatures with little rain. The best tourist attractions. As one of the largest metropolises in the world, Seoul is the home of a large portion of the South Korean population and is definitley one of the best places to visit in South Korea, if not the most popular! There, they have festivals on weekends, enjoying fireworks, martial arts performances, parades, etc…. I had to live in the moment with nothing to drag me out of it. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); 10 Reasons Why South Korea Is The Country You Must Visit, Japan’s Mysterious Suicide Forest – As Beautiful As It Is Eerie, Top 10 Misconceptions And Myths About Japanese Culture, Top 5 Secrets How KFC Gained Its Popularity In Japan, 10 Major Cultural Differences Between China And Japan. I hope this article has given you a different perspective and why would anyone visit North Korea. There seems to be a constant array of murals and signs. We were treated like honoured guests. 10 Best Cities to Visit in Arizona. I have been to many, many places in the world and none have evoked the reactions I have received when I tell people I have just returned from North Korea. If Temples are your thing, head straight over to the Bulguksa Temple that dates all the way back to the 8th Century. And plastic surgery is also very cheap in South Korea. N Seoul Tower N Seoul Tower is a communications and observation tower, located on Mount Namsan, Seoul, South Korea. North Korea is full of interesting attractions, 2. Despite its small size, … You do generally need to go to Beijing first. It also has some incredible views over the city. Before I visited Myanmar, people would talk about it being like going back in time but that is nothing compared to North Korea. Another popular attraction in the … Often considered the jewel of The Orient, South Korea is one of the best countries in Asia to visit. My personal top 5 best places in Korea. This area is best known as home of the Hwaseong Fortress, which was built in 1794 and circles around part of the city. I am never going to think about a snake or a cow leg without chuckling. I am told all tours there go a bit crazy. Food is definitely the ultimate reason to visit South Korea as this is a place where you can give a relishing experience to your taste buds. Dancing with locals at Moran Hill, Pyongyang. Next is how disciplined and obedient they are. It was obvious our guides wanted to make sure we had a fabulous time visiting their country. In the list of best places to visit in South korea, it is one of the best place you should visit and make your journey in South Korea memorable. Instead of finding things scary when I visited North Korea, it was quite the opposite. It is like going back to the Cold War and how I imagine a Soviet City to be 50 years ago. This is thanks to my tour mates and guides. If you are looking for a vacation full of magic, culture, and friendly people, South Korea is the place for you to be. Whether you are a fan of Winter Sonata or not, Nami Island is one of the best places to visit in Seoul, especially in the winter months. This post may contain compensated links. Located down the south-west just outside Gwangju is a town called Damyang. Jeju Islands are especially known for its volcanic landscapes and beach resorts. It can be a private tour or a group tour but you do have North Korean tour guides with you at all times except in the hotel and on the train ride in. You need to do a tour but this is very easy to arrange. It can be frustrating – enjoying a trip to North Korea does not mean I support the regime in power. 19 Best Tourist Attractions in Seoul. 2. It’s easy to forget with all the demonising of North Korea in the media that this is still a country full of regular people. I don’t know if it’s a result of dealing with the rules, the beer at every meal or how weird the whole experience is, but everyone seems to let loose a little (or a lot!). The best places to see include Bulguksa Temple, Cheomseongdae, the oldest astronomical observatory in Asia, Gyeongju National Museum which contains more than 16,000 artifacts. My name is Masaya. Such unique culture came from the natural isolation of Korean peninsula. There are many temples throughout the country, and locals go there and pray. The most popular and favorite characteristic of South Korean cuisine among the tourists is its various flavorsome side dishes like Banchan and Panchan etc. It might surprise you to learn that it is very easy to visit North Korea. Fun. There is propaganda everywhere like how we have advertisements. The three states, Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, known as the Three Kingdom of Korea are the very early history of the Korean Peninsula, which started from the 1st century and ended by the unification by Silla in 676. There is a constant wonder about what is real and what is fake. If you like history, South Korea is the best place to travel. We cannot just generalize the entire population and describe its people by one sentence, but culturally speaking, Korean people are very generous and polite. I did not feel like I was risking my life. Find more info in my, 1. 1/5. Posted in: South Korea. Like you I love a bit of hiking, but I also enjoy exploring big cities too. 4. 14 Most Charming Smalls Town in Portugal. To the contrary, once there it felt like one of safest places I have visited. 10 Enchanting Cities with Colorful Houses. I had such a good time shopping in Korea. Why do you choose to visit a country? I couldn’t make phone calls. 1. From here, there are trains and flights. In this personal media, you will find informative articles about culture of Japan. There is internet but as a tourist visiting for a few days, like me, you won’t have access to it. Looking over to South Korea at the DMZ. There is even a word “K-Beauty” (Korean Beauty). Locals visiting the birthplace of Kim Il Sung. In addition to this, just visiting a department store, the local park or taking the subway is very interesting in North Korea. I am living in Tokyo and working at a Japanese international trading company as a sales & marketing officer. This makes it hard to know which experiences are genuine and which are fake. Besides those, karaoke industry (noraebang) is huge in South Korea, and I highly recommend you karaoke night with a group of friends. In fact, it is extremely easy to travel around the country using KTX (Korean High-speed Rail System). that can be spotted with every meal. In winter, there are snow festivals in the northern parts of regions, such as Taebaeksan Mountain Snow Festival. Vibrant cities While Seoul is arguably the most thrilling city in South Korea, it’s not the only large city that’s worth a visit. Until visiting North Korea, it was, without a doubt, the most amazing travel experience I had ever had. The amount of food was crazy. If you turn up at … Going to North Korea is like entering a time warp, 6. Check out a day trip to Pocheon including Herb Island and Pocheon Art Valley, you can purchase tickets at a discount here. Although this nature-filled place isn’t the best hiking in South Korea, and is thronged by tourists, it’s quite a cultural experience to … I signed up, paid my money, filled in some forms and I was all set to go. Maybe you choose places based on which have the most history. I was astonished by its culture and people when I first visited there. Hwaseong Fortress is one of the World Heritage sites in South Korea. Therefore, in this post we list 5 other beautiful places to visit in Korea, alongside the capital of South Korea. Explore South Korea holidays and discover the best time and places to visit. Obviously this by itself is not interesting at all, but it was like this with everything. During our visit to South Korea, we were lucky that we had a local friend from Seoul who showed us his amazing country. On top of the usual plethora of pubs, bars, and clubs to the patrons, South Korea has so many nightlife activities for everyone to enjoy a night. In the history of Korea, people have practiced Buddhism as well as Confucianism. I have never felt so much like I was watching a movie rather than living an experience. They did everything they could to make sure this happened. I did have reception momentarily when we were near the South Korean border and it was good to message home and find out everyone was ok. 15 Best Countries to Visit in Asia. 10 Best Things to do in Gyeongju. That it’s one of the best trips I have ever taken. South Korea is by far the largest market for men's cosmetics, with Korean men buying a quarter of the world's men's cosmetics -- around $900 million a year, according to Euromonitor. At the same time, once you become friends with a Korean and get to know each other, they are very friendly and treat you like a part of family. People wear suits or traditional dress and not a hair is out of place. We have reviews of the best places to see in South Korea. South Korea is blessed with four seasons. But then would they really go to that much effort for the benefit of 30 tourists? Writer / Web Marketer / International Trader Hi there! Most people visit Korea because they are obsessed with Korean culture or K-pop scenes. 1. The fall and spring are the best seasons to visit Korea. South Korea is well known for its night life and joy, but there are still so many quiet local temples and hidden places there. The best place to visit is Gyonghwa Station - known as cherry blossom road ... 10 reasons why you should visit South Korea in 2017. I couldn’t check Facebook or email. South Korea has one of the richest history around the globe. At times, I felt like I was in an old Disney movie, like when I took the hotel lift and there was man pressing the buttons in a full on uniform including hat and gloves. Samsung and Hyundai are probably two top famous Korean companies, but South Korea is a home to many tech companies. There are some other options but this is the one that Western tourists are going to be the most likely to use. Seoul only takes up a mere 0.6% of South Korea's territory: here are 50 beautiful places other 99.4% of the country that are all worth a visit. Much. They gave us the best of what they had which, I must admit, did make me feel guilty when I knew things like meat are a treat for the locals. As well as the history, South Korea has amazing culture. 3/5. Meal times were amazing. In fact, I doubt there is a more interesting place in the world than North Korea. Gyeongju is the ancient capital of Korea during the Silla Dynasty, and you can enjoy so many historical sites and architecture in the city. Seoul, especially, is where you can find malls and markets that will leave you spoilt for choice. If you want to embrace the local culture and get to know its history, make your way to the Jeonju Hanok Village. South Korea has amazing nightlife, but they also have quiet and beautiful nature at the same time. It sounds crazy but visiting North Korea is the first break I have had in years. Gyeongju is the ancient capital of Korea during the Silla Dynasty, and you can enjoy so many historical sites and architecture in the city. Some people seem to muddle these things up. Seoul has huge metropolis and tall skyscrapers, yet so many historic buildings, including the castle and the palace from the Joseon dynasty, were well preserved today. Jindo (Jin island) When someone asks me about the nicest beach in Korea I immediately think about the beach in Jindo. South Koreans are not allowed to visit (unless they have a different passport) but other nationalities can. Considered to be the largest inland wetland in Korea, Upo March is a must-visit site for all tourists and one of the best free tourist attractions in South Korea. You are treated like an honoured guest. At least when we were around. North Korea is very easy to visit. It’s even more interesting to visit it from the other side. Even if you don’t like parties and clubs, many stores, restaurants, and shopping areas are 24 hours openot in the big cities like Seoul and Busan. Northeast of Seoul and a bit more difficult to get around in is the gorgeous mountainous area of Pocheon. Every single one. I spent a lot of money. The people of South Korea still maintain its cultural beauty to this day. after touring … Yes, South Korean is a food Paradise, and Korean people are proud of its unique cuisine. Best of all, this is a great spot if you want to watch t… 10 Best Places to Visit in South Korea. What to do there: There are lots of places in the city where you can hire a hanbok – a traditional Korean dress. At 795 Euros, it wasn’t even that expensive. This mega-city has a wonderful mix of traditional architecture, combined with some ultra-modern high-rise districts. I expected North Korea to be one of the most fascinating places I have ever visited but what I did not expect was that I would have so much fun. Fun. I spent a lot of time looking out bus and train windows and everyone I saw was well presented. I travelled with Young Pioneer Tours who I can’t recommend highly enough. Many friends of mine actually travel to South Korea, and literally everyone comes back to me and says “South Korea was amazing!”. See it from the other side here. 2/5. Places to Visit in South Korea, Asia: See Tripadvisor's 8,43,755 traveller reviews and photos of South Korea tourist attractions. Even if it was fake, the fact that they do that fascinates me. In fact, South Korea is home to many large cosmetic brands, and they are amazingly affordable (To Westerns). Damyang Bamboo Forest. Today, Jeonju is filled with temples and museums and is one of the best places to visit in South Korea. The most famous food (hell, I here you on that one!) It was a nice touch to give a historical background on why Korea is like that. Just driving around the centre of Pyongyang, the capital, is interesting. As a Korean American with a more impartial stance, I can say that Korea is not really a tourist destination unless you are absolutely invested with Korea to begin with. We were able to visit their most important monuments, museums, the tall Juche Tower, the Arch of Triumph. The capital of South Korea is Seoul, below are 10 best places to visit in South Korea: 10 best places to visit in South Korea 1. Hallasan Mountain. 15 Top Tourist Attractions in South Korea. Everything is so convenient and maintained. other travelers come for the food, because Chuncheon is known as a foodie’s paradise. Just to be clear, this isn’t a satire. I plan to do a more in-depth blog on the journey but until then I have compiled a list below of my three places I recommend you visit if you are ever in South Korea! This is a very large and impressive wall that is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Geojedo (Geoje Island) It is a perfect place for relaxing your soul. There are countless food other than those and you should definitely try them once in your life time. 8. South Korea looks and sounds like my kind of place. As it is known South Korea is one of the most innovative and advanced nation in the world, the infrastructure is well developed even in the country side. This time last year we were in South Korea. First, there is the propaganda. As long as the country didn’t enter into a war and I didn’t do anything stupid to disrespect their rules or laws, then I had nothing to worry about. It has a height of 236,7m and the landmarks of the city of Seoul. Seoul has huge metropolis and tall skyscrapers, yet so many historic buildings, including the castle and the palace from the Joseon dynasty, were well preserved today. Our top 5. Places to Visit in Gyeongsangnamdo. So why do people visit North Korea? So here are 10 reasons why South Korea is such a great place to visit. Nice post lexx, I would love to visit South Korea – I’m a big fan of Asia in general – I lived and worked in Thailand and Taiwan (I’m married to a Thai – 18 years) but I’ve yet to see South Korea. I felt like I was in The Truman Show and kept expecting to see the same people walk past. Many tourists actually come to Korea for their cosmetic products and bring them back to their countries. There are a few different companies. Boseong is a county located Southern West in the peninsula that is famous for its high quality and huge tea gardens. I tried memorising faces to catch them out! It is said that this land was formed over almost 140 million years ago and it is home to about 1500 species of plants and animals too. South Korea is definitely one of the most popular destinations. For a start, they are all dressed and groomed perfectly. JINHAE Jinhae is a popular tourist destination in spring and every year it attracts more than 2 million tourists willing to experience cherry blossom festival. North Korean visa. It’s long and it’s taking time so for now, I want to share 8 reasons why North Korea should be your next destination. I couldn’t read them, but most had an obvious military focus. Otherwise, it was awesome to have a few days disconnected from the world. That being said, you can also pop over to the Seokguram Grotto where you’ll find one monumental Buddha. Surrounded by scenic lakes and towering mountains in Chuncheon, the capital city of Gangwon Province. Everything is arranged. There are so many monuments, big plazas and impressive buildings. Korean food has been catching on in the United States, but South Korea is the place to go for a true taste of authenticity. Cosmetic industry in South Korea is another level. I couldn’t. 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