Autumn colors: Andong Mask Festival, Jinju Lantern 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.

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. Over the centuries, it has endured destruction and reconstruction, yet it has retained its grandeur.

Its magnificent symmetry, the changing-of-the-guard ceremony, and the opportunity to try on a *hanbok* (for an additional fee) turn a visit to the palace into a true journey back in 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.

Immerse yourself in the culinary heart of Gwangjang Market, rightfully called a paradise for lovers of traditional food in the heart of Seoul. Here, the rich aromas of Korean street food and more substantial dishes come to life. Enjoy crispy hotteok pancakes, steaming servings of tteokbokki, and juicy Korean dumplings (mandu). The lively atmosphere, filled with the sounds of sizzling and enticing aromas, will give you an unforgettable sensory experience. Whether you're a gourmet or simply looking to explore Korean cuisine, Gwangjang is the perfect place to taste authentic dishes and dive into the culinary culture of Seoul.

The Great Eastern Gate in the Seoul City Wall (drive by)

A futuristic complex by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid, a fashion and design center with flowing lines and modern aesthetics. Located in the Dongdaemun area. A venue for exhibitions, forums, fashion shows, biennales, etc.

The tallest building in Korea is Lotte World Tower. 123 floors and 555 meters high. And on the highest floors is Seoul Sky - an observation deck.

Floor with transparent floor; the floor where you can go outside, the floor with cafes and souvenirs. Even the elevator that takes you to Seoul Sky is a separate attraction with Guinness records to boot.

Temple of Bongeunsa is located in close proximity to the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center.

Originally named Gyeongseongsa, it was built by King Wonseong of the Silla Kingdom in the 10th year of his reign (794 AD).

In 1498, thanks to Queen Jeonghyeon, it was renovated and expanded to the east of King Seongjong's tomb, and at that time it was given its new name - Bongeunsa.

The iconic view of COEX is visible from the Maitreya Buddha statue on the temple grounds.

This statue is a must-visit for fans of PSY's global hit "Gangnam Style." It's a playful spot to capture fun and memorable photos, especially if you strike the famous horse dance pose!

Founded in 676 by the famous monk Uisang, Buseoksa Temple is the "guardian" of one of Korea's oldest wooden structures, the state treasure Muryang Sujeong (Pavilion of Endless Bliss). The name of the temple is associated with the legend about the founder of the temple, Uisan, the “floating stone” pusok, and the girl Sunmyo who fell in love with Uisan. By the way, this stone has survived to this day - you can see for yourself.

The year the temple was founded - 676 - is also the year of the first formal unification of Korea by the Silla state. Of course, the temple has been rebuilt many times since its founding; the oldest building of Muryang Sujeong Temple was built during the Goryeo era; In the pavilion there is another state treasure - a statue of a seated Buddha 2.78 meters high, made using the technique of laying clay on a wooden frame.

The name of the oldest surviving Confucian Academy in Korea, Sosu Seowon, comes from the following saying, composed of Chinese characters (hanmun): 旣廢之學紹而修之 ("Re-learning a teaching that has already fallen into decline"). The head of Pungi County, Chu Sebong, created in 1542 the temple of the scientist Anhyang, the founder of neo-Confucianism in Kore (Anhyang was from Phungi); It was later transformed into the first official private educational institution designed to nurture the young generation of neo-Confucians. Yi Hwang was also the magistrate of Punggi County and it was he who approached King Myeongjong with a request to give the academy a royal name; the king responded favorably to the request, signing the plaque with his own hand and sending it along with a collection of books. Thus, Seosu Seowon became the first officially recognized private educational institution in Korea during the Joseon Dynasty.

The Buddha statue in this small temple in an artificial grotto is considered the most elegant in All of Korea! The grotto is located on the slope of Mount Tohamsan, where the winding serpentine of the mountain road leads.

The walk to the temple through the mountain forest from the parking lot takes about 15-20 minutes; depending on the weather, either a mysterious foggy landscape awaits us (fogs are not uncommon on this mountain), or breathtaking bird's-eye views of the thousand-year-old Gyeongju.

In the grotto, which is formally the hermitage of the Bulguksa temple, located below the slope, the dominant position is occupied by the above-mentioned statue of Buddha, sitting in a lotus position on a pedestal in the shape of a lotus. Around it at different heights are bas-reliefs and statues of bodhisattvas, arhats, Indra and Brahma, the Four Heavenly Kings.

If the group agrees, we can go down the mountainside to the temple of Bulguksa.

The main Buddhist temple of United Silla, it is now a place of pilgrimage for many guests of Korea.

The temple was built in 774 under the leadership of the premier of the state of Silla, Kim Taesong. Legend has it that Bulguksa was dedicated to the parents of the current, so to speak, Kim Taesong. While Seokguram, the temple-hermitage under Bulguksa, was intended for Kim Taesung's parents from his previous incarnations.

In 1995, Bulguksa and Seokguram were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Cheomseongdae is one of the oldest observatories in the world (7th century). The tower of the observatory is full of symbolism: the total number of hewn stones from which it is built; the number of rows of these stones before and above the small window, the shape of the stones... The thoughtful builders of Silla paid attention to everything.

Cheomseongdae was built under the reigning Queen Seondok - one of three in the history of Silla. The queen ended up in a drama that, of course, was filmed in Gyeongju.

The only mound which inner parts are open to the public (though filled with replicas, it shows the inner construction of a Shilla mound)

The main state Gyeongju temple from the Silla period, the "Temple of the Yellow Dragon", Hwangnyongsa, has not survived; however, we still have a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the pagoda of a hermitage temple of Hwangnyongsa. The hermitage temple is called Bunhwangsa.

The peculiarity of the pagoda of Bunhwangsa is that it is built of stones, hewn in such a way that they resemble bricks in shape. What can you not do if you are not familiar with the technology (brick production, in this case)!

Though made anew, it is a nice and quite picturesque place, especially at night.

A picturesque 2-storey bridge over the sea in Busan is one of its most exquisite landmarks.

A very picturesque district in Busan, which was originally founded by some refugees during the Korean War.

Exciting journey above the sea with eye-catching views of the coastal Busan.

The largest seafood market in Korea, where you can see all kinds of marine creatures, both from the plant and animal worlds (and from the border worlds too!).

You can also eat deliciously at the market: fried or raw fish, as well as seafood, is served at the table in numerous restaurants in the market.

If you prefer something less exotic, we recommend the food court at the Lotte department store next door. The observation deck at the department store offers a magnificent view of Busan from a bird's eye view.

Breathtaking views of downtown Busan from the seaside Lotte Department Store.

Most popular beach in Busan and a vivid resort district.

The Island of Geojedo connected to Busan by an amazing under-sea tunnel is the original capital of the Korean shipbuilding industry. However, we are interested in a small island Oedo, which can be reached by a local ferry boat. The island is situated at a distance of four kilometers from the "big" Geoje.
Oedo Island is part of the first Marine National Park of Korea Hallyo Haesang. Mr. Lee Hanh and his wife turned Oedo into a beautiful private botanical garden in which you will find both Korean, and quite a lot of exotic species.

600-year-old village surrounded by a stone wall

Omokdae-Imokdae

Imokdae 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 Yejong, 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 Gyeonggijeon.

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...