Flights and holidays to South Korea

Long neglected by tourists, today South Korea is impressing visitors with its modish shops, traditional temples and dazzling efficiency. Seoul, with its fast-adapting citizens carrying the latest high-tech devices, is a hub of modernity. Delve into the rural parts of the country to find ancient relics, sizzling barbecue and elaborate, multi-coloured palaces. The world’s cleanest public toilets are also a bonus.

Hotels in Seoul

You’ll find hotels in Seoul – even the budget places – are generally of a very high standard. So whichever hotel you choose it is bound to suit your taste and purpose.

New global foodie capitals

You might have dined in Copenhagen’s Noma and Maxim’s in Paris – but where next? Discover the world’s new hubs for creative cooking. Japan’s capital has more Michelin stars than any other city in the guide book – book a food tour to find the best dishes in town.

Where to ski without the crowds

Swerve the packed pistes this season and head for these secret and surprising slopes around the globe. Felice Hardy reveals nine of the world’s little-known ski resorts, from Spain and Austria, to South Korea and Canada.

Discover South Korea

City breaks in South Korea

One of the world’s fastest (and cheapest) internet connections, boutiques stocking hip clothes from local designers and a dazzlingly clean and efficient subway system are just a few reasons to spend time in Seoul. Myeongdong is a shopping district packed with cosmetics and clothing shops, while Hongdae offers karaoke bars, nightclubs blasting K-pop (the sound of the country’s infectious popstars, now a worldwide internet sensation), and streets crowded with students looking for a good time. As a contrast, the changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace is a peek into Korea’s royal past.

Things to do in South Korea

Gyeongju, capital of the Silla Kingdom until AD 935, is known as the ‘museum without walls’ thanks to the number of ancient tombs and ruins scattered throughout the city. A short flight from Seoul, Jeju Island is a paradise for nature enthusiasts, with walking trails that take visitors from the top of a (dormant) volcano to fields blooming with yellow rapeseed to clean, dune-backed beaches in a few short miles.