Yeongdong Nangye (Famous Korean Musisian) Festival

A futuristic glass wave rises above the old City Hall, blending past and future in one bold design.
Powered by nature and home to the world’s largest indoor vertical garden, it’s one of Seoul’s greenest landmarks.
Open to visitors — step inside and see the living wall for yourself.

In the heart of Seoul stands a hidden architectural gem — a cathedral first envisioned in the 1920s.
A British design, built with Korean devotion, but left unfinished during colonial rule. Then came the miracle: in 1993, the original blueprints were found in an English library.
Finally completed in 1996, the cathedral now stands in its full, intended glory — a story of faith, time, and perseverance.

A blend of nature and urban design, this stream winds through downtown Seoul — though entirely man-made today.
Once a natural river, it was buried after the Korean War and revived in 2005 as a tranquil walkway.
Fountains, illuminated bridges, and the Palgakdam weir make it one of the city’s most beloved evening spots.

The complex of the central Gwanghwamun Square in front of the Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace, which is the compositional center of the capital of Korea, offers amazing views of Seoul: on one side is the main residence of the kings of the Joseon state (now a museum). But along the  Sejong-daero Avenue, departing from the square, there are high-rise modern buildings: government, embassies, Kyobo - the largest bookstore in Korea. Further down the avenue we can see the Seoul City Hall and still further - the Great South Gate of Namdaemun (National Treasure No. 1).

The main palace of the Joseon dynasty — rebuilt more than once, but never lost its grandeur.

Its perfect symmetry, royal guard ceremony, and the chance to wear a hanbok turn your visit into a journey through time.

Winding lanes, wooden hanoks, hidden cafés — this is where time slows down.
Samcheong-dong charms with its hills and galleries, while Bukchon preserves the everyday beauty of Joseon-era homes.
Together, they offer a quiet, romantic escape — a walk through history lined with soft light and gentle stories.

Insadong is famous for the abundance of souvenir shops, traditional restaurants and tea houses, boutiques.

Insadong-kil Pedestrian Street is the central street of the area.

Often you can see street performances - traditional Korean samul-nori percussion quartet or martial arts tekkyon, taekwon-do or performances of youth groups in the fusion style, etc.

In the heart of Seoul stands Jogyesa — the head temple of Korea’s largest Buddhist order.
Small in scale but rich in atmosphere, it changes with the seasons: lotus lanterns in spring, bright chrysanthemums in fall, and peaceful stillness in winter.
No matter the time of year, it’s a place of quiet reflection.

One of the central streets of Seoul, Jongno (literally "Bell Avenue") is named after the pavilion of the same name, which houses the main bell of the country. It is this bell that the best people of the country beat on New Year's Eve.

However, even mere mortals can hit it for good luck: at 12:00 noon, the pavilion is usually opened for visitors. However, a limited number of guests are allowed.

A bustling hub of shopping, street food, and K-beauty.
Amid the trendsetting stores stands Korea’s main Catholic cathedral — a striking symbol of faith and history.
Style meets soul in this lively part of Seoul.

During the dynasty (kingdom) of Goryeo, the island was often used by Korean kings as a temporary refuge when attacking the country by external enemies; this happened in the 13th century. during the military campaigns in Korea of ​​the Mongols, when for a short time the island of Ganghwado became the capital of Korea. In the 17th century, the royal court was evacuated to about. Ganghwado fleeing from the Manchus. A royal palace was built on the island, which, unfortunately, has not survived to the present day; now you can see only a partially restored copy of this palace, as well as the remains of military fortifications (forts) designed to protect the island from intruders.

In the 19th century on about. Ganghwado signed a historic treaty that "opened" Korea to foreign states ("Kanghwa Treaty" between Japan and Korea, 1876). From that moment begins the tragic story of the "discovery" and subsequent subjugation of Korea to foreigners, primarily Japan.

We will visit 2 of the many forts preserved on the island.

When you go to Ganghwa-do Island, you will find not only ancient dolmens, but also other amazing cultural sites that are closely associated with religion. For example, the oldest known Buddhist monastery on the Korean Peninsula is Chongdeunsa, which was founded by the monk Ado Hwasan back in 381.

Chondynsa Monastery attracts with its atmosphere of antiquity and spiritual significance. It is located on the land that in the past served as the site of the ancient fortress of Samnanseong, which was first mentioned in 1259, during the Goryeo era.

Walking through the territory of the Chongdeunsa monastery, you will plunge into the centuries-old history and be able to feel the deep spiritual heritage of Korea. Graceful architecture, surrounded by beautiful nature, creates an atmosphere of peace and inner peace.

Here you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the modern world and feel the energy and spirituality of this place. Jeongdeunsa Monastery on Ganghwa-do Island is a holy retreat where Buddhism, Korean culture and history meet.

Ganghwa-do is a real "open-air museum".

The Dolmens of Ganghwa Island, these Bronze Age relics, are now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Burial and ritual monuments made of massive stones were created in the 2nd and 3rd millennia BC.

Ganghwa-do Island is proud of more than 120 dolmens, which surprise with their grandeur and significance. A visit to the "Dolmen Park" will allow you not only to get acquainted with authentic Korean dolmens, but also to see dolmens from other countries. Here you can discover the diversity of megalithic culture and feel the spirit of antiquity that still lives in these stone monuments.

Ganghwa is a place where the past and the present merge, where you can see the world heritage that represents the cultural richness of Ganghwa-do and all of Korea.

According to legend, the fortress, in which the famous temple of Jeonyn-sa is located, was built by the children of Tangun, the ancestor of all Koreans! We get acquainted with its history, as well as with the history of Ganghwa-do, at the Ganghwa-do History Museum.

Ganghwa Peace Observatory is a symbol of the divided Korean Peninsula — an observation facility located just 2.3 kilometers from the North Korean border. From the third floor, visitors are treated to sweeping views of the Han River estuary, the Gaepung Plain, and the sacred Mount Songaksan in Kaesong.

Don’t speak Korean? No problem — inside, you’ll find a quirky exhibit that teaches you “North Korean language” (that is, the vocabulary differences between North and South Koreans).

The country's largest Joseon Royal Burial Park, Tongurung - literally "Nine Royal Burial Mounds East [of Seoul]" - is a vast area specially selected for the construction of royal burial mounds according to the principles of Pungsu (Fenshui). Through the mounds in this park you can get acquainted with the intriguing history of the Land of Morning Freshness - Joseon, because kings such as the founder of the dynasty - Taejo; Seonjo - it was under him that the country experienced the largest invasion of Japan; Yeongjo is a long-liver among the kings of the dynasty, and others.

In the park you can meet wild roe deer - there are a lot of them here, but they are cautious, so not everyone has such luck...

Garden of Morning Calm was founded by Mr. Han Sangkyeon in 1996. This private garden is rightfully recognized as one of the most beautiful in South Korea. The name comes from the poetic name of Korea - "Land of the Morning Calm". The founder and his team tried to introduce the natural beauty of Korea, the oriental mystique and the spirit of the Korean people to visitors.

The design of the garden focuses on curved lines, space, balance and asymmetry, unique natural beauty, classic elegance and the uniqueness of Korea.

During each of the four seasons - winter, spring, summer, autumn - you will find in the garden echoes of a particular "theme" of that season...

High-end museum near Wonju City in Gangwon province.

On the way to the village of Hahoe, there is a small factory that produces traditional Korean hanji paper. The plant is open to the general public: you can walk through the workshops and get acquainted with the process of making paper, raw materials.

Hahoe - a village surrounded on three sides by the Naktong River, as if located in a loop of this river; from this geographical feature comes the name of the village - literally "fifth of the river".

Hahoe is famous for its old houses that have been preserved and are still used by the owners - both peasant and aristocratic houses; the famous dance with masks "Thalchhum", as well as the oldest surviving set of these same wooden masks for dancing. In 1999, Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain celebrated her birthday in the village.

A regular masked dance performance will be a nice live addition to the tour (the performance may not take place on a given day, depending on the season and day of the week).

A typical private educational institution (now a museum), in which representatives of the ruling elite of Joseon - the yangban - received a decent Confucian education in order to pass state exams in the future and enter the service.

The name, which includes the word "sowon", was given to this place in memory of the famous Prime Minister of Joseon, Ryu Seongnyeon, who moved to Andong in the 16th century. The official name "Pyeongsang Sowon" was established in 1614, the 6th year of the reign of King Gwanghaegun.

Ah, what a view of the romantic mountains and river from Byeonsan Seowon!

Monastery Popchusa: "The place where the law lives / resides", the law refers to the Buddhist law - dharma.

The temple/monastery is believed to have been built in 6th to 8th, or even to the 13th century AD. Even if it was only the 13th century, it is an old monastery;there are some ancient relics there, but a modern statue of Maitreya Buddha (height 33 m) you will see on the premisis strikes the imagination too.

One of the oldest Buddhist temples in Korea, enlisted in UNESCO world heritage.

Omokdae-Imokdae

Imokte is in a small area called Chaman Graffiti Village; the walls of the houses here are painted by professionals and amateurs: the world of Japanese manga and Korean manhwa; korean alphabet, fantastic, disney cartoon characters, traditional korean stories.

Unfortunately, the Confucians were not very tolerant of Catholicism. We are reminded of this by the Jeonju Catholic Cathedral (built in 1908-1931), located on the site of the executions of Catholics.

A shrine that houses a portrait of the founder of the Joseon Dynasty, King Taejo (Lee Songye). An extensive complex of buildings, including the sanctuary itself, the state sago archive, a museum, the burial place of the placenta of King Yechzhon, and a complex of auxiliary buildings.

Why and who made portraits of kings, what is a historical archive, why bury the royal placenta - we will try to find answers to these questions in Gyeonggijeong.

In the very historical center of Jeonju, you will find yourself in a fabulous atmosphere. Traditional Korean hanok houses with tiled roofs line the romantic narrow streets. Here, each house is a unique masterpiece of architecture, reflecting the richness and depth of Korean history.

Walking along these streets, you will notice how each house merges with the surrounding nature and creates a harmonious image. You will see small gardens with flowers, well-kept courtyards, as well as traditional decor elements that recreate the atmosphere of antiquity, and sometimes, on the contrary, remind us of modern design trends.

Recently, it has become fashionable for Koreans and guests of the Land of the Morning Calm to rent stylized costumes - traditional hanbok, or European costumes of the era of the first half of the 20th century, which is closer to us. In Jeonju, you will see many such couples or families looking exotic against the backdrop of historical buildings and traditional hanok houses...