Visit Andong

The "museum without walls": grassy royal burial mounds, the Cheomseongdae observatory and Silla-dynasty treasures across the town.

The Hwaseong fortress walls to walk in a loop, and the fried chicken street below them.

The birthplace of bibimbap and a hanok village of 800 traditional houses to stay in.

Visit Jeju, a volcanic island off South Korea's southern coast. Explore Hallasan (South Korea's highest peak at 1,947m with a crater lake), see the Manjanggul Lava Tube (one of the longest in the world at 7.4km), relax at Jungmun Beach (with black volcanic sand and clear waters), and try local specialties like black pork barbecue and hallabong tangerines.

Visit Busan, South Korea's second-largest city and major port. Explore Gamcheon Culture Village (colorful hillside houses and art installations), relax at Haeundae Beach (popular 1.5km sandy stretch with festivals), see the historic Beomeosa Temple (Buddhist temple founded in 678 AD with mountain views), and sample local street food like ssiat hotteok (sweet pancakes with seeds and nuts) at Jagalchi Market (largest seafood market in Korea).

Korea's oldest Chinatown, the Songdo smart city and the island beaches by the airport.

The Seomun night market, a medicine-herb street and the Haeinsa temple with its 80,000 printing blocks nearby.

A city built on water with no cars — gondolas, Byzantine mosaics, and getting happily lost in the back canals