We started our adventures in the vibrant capital of Seoul, and on our first day we headed straight for a clothes shop where we picked out some traditional hanbok dress. Feeling confident in our new colourful attire, we headed for the historic Gyeongbokgung Palace and Gwanghwamun Plaza. The palace was the main royal place of the Joseon dynasty, and it was beautiful with stunning paintwork, lakes and city views. On our way out we were lucky enough to catch the ceremonial changing of the guard taking place in the main grounds of the palace, which was a great spectacle with lots of music and dance!

After reluctantly handing back our hanbok dress we continued our tour of Seoul with our lovely guide Chris, and our next stop was the picturesque Bukchon Hanok Village. This village has over 900 traditional Korean style home known as Hanoks, and it was a lovely place to stroll around and take in this more laidback part of Seoul. The abundance of small shops, cafes and restaurants meant you could easily spend a whole day wandering through the narrow streets.

Day two began with an early start for the one-hour drive to the notorious DMZ. The DMZ serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea and it’s a very eerie place to explore, unsurprisingly given there were many remnants from the Korean war reminding us of the significance of this location. We spent a few hours exploring the different areas of the DMZ including museums, artefacts, the secret tunnels used to sneak between the border, and we even caught a glimpse of the elusive North Korea. 

Once we returned to Seoul we headed to Jogyesa Temple, a 14th Century Buddhist temple. It was very pretty with lots of colourful lanterns making it a lovely place to roam around, and we were even able to observe a prayer session and learn more about Buddhism in South Korea.

To finish day two, we headed to the bustling food market to ignite our senses with some wonderful south Korean food and drink. We wandered through the vibrant narrow alleys of Seoul which teemed with life and boasted lots of authentic restaurants and quirky bars! We experienced a traditional Korean BBQ meal at a lovely local backstreet place and went to a bar where the entrance was through a vending machine!

The next morning we headed to the train station to board the KTX bullet train to Gyeongju. In no time at all we saw the clouds coming in over the hills which signalled we had arrived in Gyeongju. Expectations were high as the city is known as the museum without walls and we were keen to see what all the fuss was about. As we headed into the hills towards the Bulguksa Temple Complex we quickly saw how it had earned that name; the temples are relics from the 8th Century Silla Kingdom, and they were visually stunning with the views, colours and artwork making it a feast for the senses. We also paid a visit to the iconic Seokguram Grotto which portrays the enlightenment of Buddha and overlooks the East Sea, giving great views on a sunny day. 

That evening we headed out to a small brewery where we had the luxury of being served by robots, a real glimpse into the future!

Our first stop on our second day in Gyeongju was visiting Woljeonggyo Bridge before taking a leisurely Sunday morning stroll around Donggung Palace and Woji Pond, both of which were beautiful. There was a nice 1km loop around making it a nice stroll for anyone. 

After a slow-paced morning we headed to Golgulsa Temple where we had a full afternoon of activities. We started by getting into some traditional dress before heading out for some archery. Then we headed into the hills where we enjoyed some sunmudo demonstrations by the experts and a small concert. After we got some pictures with the Buddha that overlooks the temple, we headed down to do some sunmudo training of our own. This was brilliant fun as we undertook lots of energising activities and learned about some of the key principles of Buddhism. 

To finish our day in Gyeongju we headed back to Woljeonggyo Bridge and Woji Pond to get a glimpse of these sights at night; this was spectacular as they were beautifully lit up.

Our final journey on this trip was a short drive to the bustling port city of Busan. On the way we stopped at Tongdosa Temple, one of the Three Jewel Temples in South Korea. It was a lovely site to explore with sprawling landscapes, stunning temples and great views of the mountains. Soon after we arrived in our final city of Busan, and as the sun was shining when we arrived, we headed straight to Haeundae Beach. The beach was lined with skyscrapers, coffee shops, restaurants and bars, giving the city a very cosmopolitan feel. 

Later that evening we went up to Dalmaji Hill in a quieter part of town which gave us some lovely sunset views overlooking the sea.

The following day we went on a guided tour of Busan, and our first stop was to take part in an interactive cooking class with a local chef which was a very enjoyable experience. We cooked a traditional Korean dish called Bibimbap and means 'mixed rice'. We were able to pick our own vegetables before being expertly guided through the cooking process, as well learning a bit about the history behind the food.

After a tasty morning we headed of full tour of Busan, starting with a trip to the world famous Gamcheon Cultural Village. The vibrant colours made for some great picture opportunities, and we were able to grab a coffee and wander around the picturesque streets. There was also the chance to learn about the fascinating history of Gamcheon and how it came to be a place for refugees to live during the Korean war.

After lunch we made our way to Songnim Park for a relaxing trip on the Busan Cable Car; on a clear day you can experience stunning views over Busan! The cable car disembarks a stone’s throw away from Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge which connects Amnam Park with Dongdeom Island, giving marvellous views over Busans rugged coastline. 

On our final evening we took a boat cruise giving us the chance to see the city beautifully lit up from the sea! The captain along with all the other boats set of fireworks into the night sky which was an incredible spectacle and a lovely way to spend our last evening.

South Korea is a melting pot of old and new; from historic temples and robots, to laidback beach towns and bustling high rise cities. It’s incredibly easy to get around with the excellent train network, and with direct flights from the UK and links to other parts of Asia it makes it a great destination to do on its own or as part of multi centre trip. 

My advice: get yourself to South Korea while it’s still quiet, because it won’t be long until it’s the place to be!

For more inspiration, take a look at our South Korea Holidays pages.