Sydkorea

This beautiful southwest province is one of Korea’s greenest and least developed. The heartland of Jeollanam-do (전라남도) has rolling hills, the towering Sobaek Mountains to the east and 6100km of coastline to the south and west, with more than 2000 islands offshore – less than 300 of which are inhabited. The province was largely isolated for centuries and it retains an off-the-beaten-track feel. It also has a rebel edge, and is proud of its ceramic and artistic traditions, its exiled poets and its pro-democracy martyrs.

The best sites in Korea either awe you with beauty or deepen your understanding of the culture. Busan (부산) and Gyeongsangnam-do (경상남도) do both.

Home to high-rise malls and labyrinthine covered markets, the 24-hour retail frenzy that is Dongdaemun attracts suitcase-wheeling shoppers from all over Asia. It's mostly clothing and fabrics, but you can also find Seoul's busiest street-food arcades within Gwangjang Market. Further east the couture gives way to antiques, flea-market goods and herbal medicines. Dramatic contemporary architecture is provided by Zaha Hadid’s Dongdaemun Plaza & Park, while up-and-coming Seongsu-dong, an old shoemaking district being touted as Seoul’s answer to Brooklyn, is awash with industrial-chic cafes and hip boutiques.

Korea’s cultural warehouse, Gyeongsangbuk-do (경상북도) is a region resplendent in both natural beauty and heritage sites, including enchanting temples, ancient pagodas, rock-carved Buddhas and sublime tombs. Gyeongju is often called ‘the museum without walls’ for its historical treasures, many of which are outdoors. The rounded tumuli (burial mounds) hillocks in the centre of town are beautiful and serene pyramids – stately reminders of the dead they still honour.

If you only have a short time on Jeju-do, make Seogwipo your base. It has the best climate and coastal scenery, plus easy access to Halla-san and Seongsan Ilchul-bong. It is a little far from the airport but there are direct buses to and from there. it is also well connected to the atmospheric Buddha in a cave at Sagye-ri and group-package favourite Jungmun Resort.

Upptäck Sydkorea på våren när landet är inbäddat i rosa blomster. Vi listar tre platser att besöka för praktfulla körsbärsblommor och unika sevärdheter du inte vill missa.

Mountainous Gangwon-do (강원도) gives you some of South Korea’s most spectacular natural parks and scenic landscapes, up-close Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) experiences, and laid-back coastal towns and beaches on the East Sea. This is where many Seoulites escape – to get lost in the hills, chow down on Chuncheon’s fiery chicken dish dakgalbi or the raw fish of the coastal towns, or leap into a frenzy of sports such as skiing in Pyeongchang, which hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Gyeonggi-do (경기도), its name literally meaning the 'province surrounding Seoul', is the most populous province in Korea, encompassing some 28 cities that often feel like extended suburbs of the capital. But start to explore a little and you'll find pockets of fascinating history, public art, hilltop hiking and much more, all within easy access of Seoul.

Home to majestic mountains, glistening beaches, steaming hot springs and fantastic seafood, South Korea’s second-largest city is a rollicking port town with tons to offer. From casual tent bars and chic designer cafes to fish markets teeming with every species imaginable, Busan (부산) has something for all tastes. Rugged mountain ranges slice through the urban landscape, and events such as the Busan International Film Festival underscore the city’s desire to be a global meeting place.

Under flera års tid ägnade kocken Gustav Kyhlberg sig åt att äta sig runt i staden Seoul i Sydkorea. Här är hans bästa restaurangtips i mångmiljonstaden.