Itaewon, Seoul

Without doubt the most popular area of Seoul for foreign visitors, the gritty neighbourhood of Itaewon is one of Korea's coolest, most cosmopolitan urban enclaves. Located near the US Army base in Seoul, Itaewon is full of great bars, restaurants, clubs and shops, while on any given day a polyglot of languages can be heard in the streets. Shopping in Itaewon is a unique experience, as everything from fine tailored suits to cheap plastic jewellery, from impossible-to-find vintage records to American football jerseys can be found. The area is also celebrated for the range and variety of its restaurants: over and above the plethora of fast-food joints and Galbi restaurants, visitors can tuck into authentic French cuisine (Le Saint Ex), fine Indian and Pakistani curries, and even thick steaks and racks of barbecue ribs (Nashville Steakhouse). However, as wonderful as Itaewon is during the day, it really comes alive at night, offering visitors an inexhaustible selection of clubs, bars, discos, karaoke rooms and live music venues to choose from. Some of these places, like Club Volume, are very upmarket and feature internationally-renowned DJs, while others are pretty seedy, and should probably be avoided. An exciting, edgy neighbourhood, Itaewon is the perfect base for young travellers looking for an unforgettable big-city experience from their holiday in Seoul.

Everland, Seoul

Everland is South Korea's version of Disney Land. This massive amusement park is situated on the outskirts of Seoul and is the perfect daytrip for visitors travelling with kids. Everland has a selection of rides ranging from heart stopping to sedate. The amusement park hosts a variety of restaurants, a safari section and a snow sledding area for winter visitors. There is also a fantastic water park called Caribbean Bay, a racing track, golf course and flower display gardens as well as a twice-daily procession of cartoon characters and trapeze artists through the park.

Getting There:
Take bus number 6000 to Yongin from Suwon Station, there is a free shuttle bus from Yongin to Everland.

Opening Times:
10am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 9pm on weekends.

Admission:
37,000 Won (adult); 31,000 Won (teenagers); 28,000 Won (children). Access to Caribbean Bay costs up to 50,000 Won extra.

Galbi Restaurants, Seoul

A quintessential Korean pastime - and a good everyday option for budget-conscious travellers - Galbi Restaurants are immensely popular places, full every night of the week with locals, expatriate workers in Korea and tourists alike. The basic concept of Galbi is simple: you and your friends sit around a private barbecue grill and order portions of raw, succulent pork, which you then cook yourselves at your own leisure. Of course, over the course of the evening, your waiter will bring a seemingly unending selection of complimentary side-dishes ( banchan) to the table, including the ubiquitous national dish kimchi(spicy fermented cabbage), a variety of jjigaes(soups), pajeon(pancakes), bean sprout salad ( kongnamul), spicy soy bean paste ( doenjang) and more. Over and above the culinary experience of eating in a Galbi restaurant, tourists will love the laid-back atmosphere and unique social dynamic of cooking food with friends in a restaurant setting; while solo travellers or newly-arrived expats will find that Galbi restaurants are the perfect places to meet people and establish new friendships. Alcohol - the selection usually consisting of soju or maekju(beer) - is always served at these establishments, and is usually quite cheap.

Jongmyo Shrine, Seoul

Jongmyo Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is heralded as Korea's foremost cultural treasure. Visitors to Seoul will be hard-pressed not to visit the Jongmyo Shrine. Built in 1394, the shrine is the oldest royal Confucian shrine in the world and ceremonies, rituals and traditional dance performances are often held at the shrine. Jongmyo is the official shrine of the Korea's Joseon Dynasty. Tourists visiting Seoul will find the shrine situated within walking distance of the Changdoekgang Palace complex. Jongmyo is made up of a number of halls as well as a small cloister, the interior of the shrine as well as the roofs and ceilings are exquisitely painted and decorated. The Jongmyo Shrine is also home to over 40 memorial tablets of past kings and queens of Korea.

Getting There:
Take subway lines 1, 3 or 5 to Jongno-3-ga subway station.

Admission:
Free

Hwaseong Fortress, Seoul

Hwaseong Fortress is yet another of South Korea's UNESCO World Heritage sites. The fortress is situated in Suwon, a city south of Seoul central but still within the greater Seoul area. Hwaseong Fortress was completed in 1796 in order to protect the capital from Japanese invasions. The 3.5-mile (5.7km) fortress wall weaves in and out of the modern buildings and roads of Suwon. Visitors to Suwon can climb parts of the fortress wall and marvel at the intricate and often colourful architecture that makes this extraordinary stone edifice blend in to its surroundings in a typically Korean, harmonious fashion. The Hwaseong fortress includes 41 watchtowers, the Great South Gate, Paldalmun and Seobuk Gongsimdon. There are also some traditional teahouses in the vicinity of the most popular sections of the wall where visitors can stop for a refreshing cup of iced tea.

Getting There:
Take Seoul Subway line 5 to the Suwon station.

Olympic Park and Stadium, Seoul

The Seoul Olympic Park, or Olpark, was built to host the 1988 Summer Games, located in Songpa-gu, Bangi-dong. It is home to Jamsil Olympic Stadium, the main stadium built for the summer games. The arena occasionally hosts shows, such as the Michael Jackson concert, and other attractions include the Seoul Olympic Museum, Mongchon Fortress and the World Peace Gate.

Getting There:
Subway line 2, Jamsil Station and Jamsillaru Station. Subway line 5 Olympic Park Station. Subway line 8, Mongchon Tosong Station.

Jogyesa, Seoul

Jogyesa is the chief temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. First established in 1395, Jogyesa is located in Gyeonji-dong, Jongno-gu, in central Seoul. In 1998, Jogyesa made international news when several monks occupied the temple for over 40 days in a power struggle between factions of the Jogye Order. A highlight of this attraction is the Natural Monument 9, an ancient white pine tree, within its grounds.

Namsangol Hanok Village, Seoul

Set among the skyscrapers, the Namsangol traditional Korean village comes as a pleasant surprise. Centred on five restored Korean historical homes depicting various social levels from the Joseon Dynasty, the village is a time capsule in the midst of the city with its peaceful pond and pavilion. Visitors can not only explore the houses, but also enjoy traditional tea, shop for souvenirs, browse traditional crafts, or try their hand at ancient games like 'neolttwigi' (jumping on a see-saw) or arrow throwing. At weekends in summer traditional wedding ceremonies are held at midday.

Getting There:
Subway station Chungmuro line 3 and 4, and a five-minute walk from Exit 3

Opening Times:
November to March 9am to 6pm; June to August 9am to 8pm; September to October 9am to 7pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

Admission:
Free

Korean DMZ, Seoul

For those with even a passing interest in historical affairs, the Korean Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) - a 4km-wide strip of land that divides the Korean peninsula in two - is an absolute must-see. The DMZ was established in 1953, at the end of the Korean War, and remains not only the most heavily-armed and guarded territory on the planet, but also the last surviving relic of the Cold War. Day-trips, which include guided tours of North Korean infiltration tunnels and the Joint Security Area ( Panmunjeon), the site of negotiations between the warring nations, cost around USD 40 and leave from downtown Seoul. Upon entry into the DMZ, visitors are required to put their signature on an indemnity form, acknowledging that they are entering a "hostile area", where they face "the possibility of injury or death as a direct result of enemy action" - this, however, is all part of the quiddity of the experience, and should be appreciated as such. Another interesting aspect of the DMZ is that - due to the total absence of development in the area for nearly 60 years - it has become the site of what must be the world's most unlikely wildlife sanctuary. An area of serene and unspoiled beauty, it is (putatively) home to several rare and endangered species, such as Asiatic black bears, Amur leopards and Korean tigers. There are also plenty of hotels and hostels in the area, should one desire to spend their entire weekend 'on the 38th parallel' - enjoying the pristine natural surroundings, soaking up the unique atmosphere, and stealing otherwise-impossible glimpses into the most mysterious country on earth.

Getting There:
Since tours of the DMZ are strictly by reservation only, visitors will need to engage the services of a tour company to visit the site. The leading DMZ tour operators are: the USO (02-795-3028), the Korean Travel Bureau (02-778-0150), Chung Ang Express (02-2266-3350), and the International Cultural Service Club (02-399-2700)

Opening Times:
Tour times vary

Admission:
Tour costs are as follows: USD 42 (USO); KRW 77,000 (Korean Travel Bureau and Chung Ang Express); KRW 78,000 (International Cultural Service Club)

Jeju Island, Seoul

Jejudo is one of the most popular holiday destinations in South Korea. Jeju Island is situated off the southern tip of the Korean peninsula and enjoys relatively warm weather throughout the year. Visitors to the island generally flock to the beaches, but there are many other fantastic sightseeing opportunities on Jejudo.

The island is home to a number of interesting museums including the Folklore and History Museum, the Independence Museum and the fascinating Haenyeo Museum which provides valuable insight into the tradition of the Haenyeo women divers of Jeju Island. Other places of interest on Jejudo include the Teddy Bear Museum, the Green Tea Museum and the Museum of African Art which is a life-sized replica of the Djenne Grand Mosque in Mali and boasts Asia's best collection of African Art. The touring Mount Halla Volcano is certainly one of the island's principal attractions.

Jeju Island has many places of interest: some are fascinating natural wonders such as the Gimnyeong Maze and Manjanggul lava-tube cave on the northern shores of Jejudo, Jusangjeolli hexagonal shaped rock, Cheonjiyeon Waterfall, or Iho beach which is made up of yellow sand and the dark grey volcanic sand which create beautiful patterns in the tidal waters. While others are quirky such as Mini World, a theme park with miniature replicas of famous buildings such as the Taj Mahal or the Eiffel Tower. And other Jejudo attractions are unashamedly eccentric like Loveland, a themed sculpture park dedicated to the phallus and phallic representations which can often be found throughout South Korea as an ancient Confucian symbol.

Visitors to Jejudo can go on numerous tours of the island or they can relax on the beaches or at hot spring resorts. There are many hiking trails and going scuba diving is definitely one of the top things to do on Jeju Island. The island has a broad range of hotels and accommodation options and there are many small restaurants serving up regional delicacies ranging from live squid to Mandarin oranges, mushrooms, abalone and wild boar.

Changdeokgung, Seoul

One of the 'Five Grand Palaces' built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty, Changdeokgung is set within a large park in Jongno-gu and the whole complex has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Located east of Gyeongbok, Changdeokgung is also referred to as the East Palace. It was the favoured palace of many kings of the Joseon Dynasty and in accordance with the Three Kingdoms of Korea period, its buildings blend harmoniously with the natural landscape.

Getting There:
Subway line 3, Anguk Station, Exit 3. Subway lines 1, 3 or 5, Jongno 3-ga Station, Exit 6.

Opening Times:
9am to 6.30pm from April to October, 9am to 5.30pm from November to March. Closed on Mondays. Visitors can only view the palace complex as part of a guided tour. The English tours leave the ticket office at 11.30am and 2.30pm daily.

Admission:
3,000 Won (adults), 1,500 won (children). Access to the secret garden costs extra. Visitors can buy a combination ticket for 10,000 won which includes access to Gyeongbok Palace, Changdeok Palace (and secret garden), Changgyeong Palace, Deoksu Palace and

Gyeongbokgung, Seoul

The jewel of Seoul's five historic palaces, Gyeongbokgung was built in 1395 by Lee Seong-Gye, founder of the Joseon Dynasty, who established the city as the capital of Korea. The magnificent rectangular palace, which now contains the National Folk Museum of Korea, features Royal apartments and staterooms, gardens and elegant lotus ponds. The pavilion features on the 10,000 won note. The palace is in a process of continual restoration as new archaeological treasures are uncovered and restored to their former glory.

Getting There:
Five-minute walk from exit 5 of Gyeongbokgung station (Seoul Subway Line 3)

Opening Times:
Daily except Tuesdays 9am to 6pm, closes at 5pm November to February

Admission:
3,000 won (adults 19-64 years old); 1,500 won (children 7-18 years old)

Myeong-dong, Seoul

Paradise for shoppers, Myeong-dong is Seoul's retail haven covering a vast area that spreads out from the Myeong-dong subway station. Massive department stores, boutiques, restaurants, fast-food outlets and malls are crammed into this buzzing district. Brand name clothing and accessories can be had at good prices at venues like the Lotte or Shinsegae Department stores, and malls like U-too Zone, or seek out bargains at outlet stores like Migliore and Avatar. If you need to rest your feet and your credit card take a look at the famed Gothic style Myeong-dong Catholic Church, where you'll find a peaceful garden.

Getting There:
Myeong-dong station (Seoul Subway Line 4)

Namsan Park, Seoul

Namsan, the mountain that stands sentinel in the centre of Seoul, is a popular recreational feature in the city. A cable car, and stairway, takes visitors to the summit, where there are several attractions to enjoy, including the Maritime Aquarium, botanical gardens, fountains and the Seoul Tower, which, rising 1,575ft (480m), offers a fantastic view of the city and surrounds. The revolving restaurant on top of the tower is particularly popular for dinner because of the breathtaking view it affords of Seoul by night.

Getting There:
A 10-minute walk in the direction of Lila Elementary School from Myeong-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 4 (Exit 2 or 3)

Opening Times:
Namsan Park is open 24 hours every day. The cable car operates daily from 10am to 11pm daily. Seoul Tower is open from 9am to 1am the next day.

Admission:
Cable Car 7,500 Won return (adults), 5,000 Won return (children), Seoul Tower 7,000 Won.

Insadong, Seoul

No visit to Seoul is complete without exploring the capital's heart and artistic soul: the alleyways of the Insadong district, known colloquially as 'Mary's Alley'. More than 100 antique shops and countless art galleries are tucked away here, delighting collectors and casual browsers alike. From ancient Chinese pottery to yellowed books and delicate jewellery, most visitors manage to find a treasured souvenir or special gift among the quaint stores. There are plenty of restaurants, taverns and traditional teahouses in the area, too, to ensure shoppers stay refreshed.

Getting There:
Subway to Anguk Station (Seoul Subway Line No.3)

Opening Times:
Daily 10am to 10pm

Lotte World, Seoul

Fun and thrills are the order of the day at Seoul's main theme park, which draws about six million visitors annually. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Lotte is the largest indoor theme park in the world. The park is divided into an indoor and outdoor section. Inside, 'Adventure Land' covers acres of streets representing different countries, filled with hundreds of activities, entertainments, shops, restaurants and ongoing parades. Outdoor, Magic Island with its fairy-tale castle, offers thrilling high-altitude rides, laser shows and pleasant walking trails around a lake. There is also an indoor ice-rink and a fascinating Folk Museum complete with miniature villages.

Getting There:
Jamsil Subway Station (Line 2 and 8). Take exit 4 directly to Lotte World

Opening Times:
9.30am to 10pm from Mon to Thurs. Open until 11pm from Friday to Sunday.

Admission:
Day Pass 37,000 Won (adults), 32,000 Won (Teenagers); 28,000 Won (Children under 12). Cheaper after 5pm.

Bongeunsa, Seoul

Bongeunsa is a Buddhist temple in Gangnam-gu and was founded in 794 AD by Yeon-hoe, the highest-ranking monk of Silla at the time. The temple was reconstructed in 1498 and became the main temple of the Korean Seon (Zen) sect of Buddhism. Today Bongeunsa is a flourishing complex offering a 'Temple Stay Program' where visitors can live as monks do for a few hours.

Incheon, Seoul

Hop a bus and visit Incheon, a major Korean port city on the West Sea about an hour from Seoul, where the surrounding irregular coastline with its islets and mountainous inland terrain provide a popular getaway from the city. Incheon is home to the International Airport, but this does not stop it from being a charming city, surrounded by rice fields, source of the renowned Incheon flavoursome rice. Since the days of the Joseon Dynasty the city has also been famed for its therapeutic hot springs, and the downtown hotels all operate public bath facilities and swimming pools where visitors can bathe in the spa waters, claimed to benefit skin ailments, eye problems, neuralgia and gynaecological diseases. This is also the place to buy ceramics. In the Incheon Ceramics Village there are hundreds of studios and shops with traditional wood-fired kilns producing traditional porcelain.

Getting There:
Buses depart for Incheon from Dongseoul Express Bus Terminal every 15 minutes between 6.30am and 9.40pm, and from Gangnam Express Bus Terminal every 30 minutes between 6.20am and 9.20pm