Comprising 25 districts, Seoul is home to an abundance of attractions and historical sites, with complete immersion in all things Korean. Gyeongbokgung Palace is an absolute must-do when in the city; built in 1395, it served as the home to Kings of the Joseon dynasty. You can also visit more recent historic sites, like the War Memorial of Korea, dedicated to those who died during the Korean War. Getting around is made easy by the efficient, spotlessly clean and ultra-punctual subway, which conveniently connects this mega city.

If you think New York is the city that never sleeps, then you haven't been to Seoul. The city comes alive every night of the week in this vibrant metropolis, with bars, nightclubs, famous DJ's, late night coffee shops and restaurants.  Hongdae, Itaewan and the lyrically famous Gangnam are truly the party areas, all accessible by the subway system. Want a steak at 4am? No problem, but be prepared to wait in line as these restaurants are packed and full of revellers, no matter what the time.

The Myeongdong district of Seoul is a shoppers paradise, filled with quirky shops, high end fashion and an array of designer boutiques, and restaurants.  Hongdae is another fabulous area; its location close to Hondae University makes it affordable, interesting and a great place for speciality coffees, tea houses and a South Korean first- the cat cafés!  Just like the song, the district of Gangnam is the crème de la crème of extravagance.  It’s a great place to watch the socialites of Seoul drive by in their Lamborghini’s, whilst sipping a cocktail at one of the many suave bars.

Commanding more and more influence on the music world, K-Pop (Korean Pop Music) has taken off by epic proportions. With its infiltration into mainstream music, more and more people are flocking to Seoul to catch a glimpse of their pop idols, and K-Pop can be credited with putting South Korea firmly on the map. Usually known for its serious tech industry brands such as Samsung, LG, Kia & Hyundai, K-Pop has shone a different light on South Korea as fun, modern, young and a welcoming place to visit.

South Korea has recently established itself as one of the world’s most exciting movie hubs and has attracted worldwide interest following the success of 2019's Parasite; winner of both the Palme d’Or and best picture at the Oscars. Popular TV shows such as Squid Game has also placed South Korea firmly on the world's film and television radar.

The DMZ is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula and is one of the worlds most dangerous borders. Splitting North Korea from South Korea, it is one of the rarest manmade sights on earth, and it's almost incomprehensible that you can stand literally footsteps away from North Korea. Since no one won the Korean war, an armistice agreement was drawn up as a peace treaty in 1953 but was never signed. Since that day, it's served as a poignant relic of the families and two countries pulled apart by war; a sad irony that they share the same language.

For those with a sense of adventure and a curiosity for the unknown, it's well worth a tour of the Demilitarised Zone (The DMZ) and The Joint Security Area which sits right on the border.  Probably one of the most unique and fascinating history tours that exists on earth.

Only 35 miles from Seoul, this bleak reminder of the past sits ominously; heavily fortified and under complete military surveillance.  Overseen by the United Nations, the tour allows access to places you’d never imagine you could be. Walking deep down into the infiltration tunnels gives you a fascinating glimpse into the North Korean mentality and shows the lengths the North went to, in an attempted yet thwarted invasion of the South. The bridge of no return is a sombre sight and having North Korean army guards watch your every step is daunting in every sense. The whole area is very surreal, almost as though you’ve stepped back in time.

Without a doubt, this tour (which is usually led by US Army personnel) is worth taking time to do. You don’t have to be a history buff to find this whole area fascinating and seeing it in person is truly astonishing.

Korean food is delicious, there's no other way of describing it. That said, it won’t always appeal to everyone! From blood sausage to live octopus, there are certain levels that even the strongest stomachs won’t be able to manage. Nevertheless, there's a vast array of mouthwatering food where it would be a shame to refuse.

You may recognise Korean BBQ’s from certain speciality restaurants in larger cities in the UK & Ireland. These are commonplace everywhere in South Korea, from the big cities to the tiny hamlets and villages throughout the peninsula. Characterised by their retractable chimney, the barbecue's are usually lit by a welcoming waiter and the rest is then completely down to you!  Think of a butchers shop, whereby you go up, pick your own meat, then cook it yourself. By no means is this a selfish affair; usually these are group events where a group of work colleagues/friends/family gather and share the cooking whilst chatting and drinking around the table. 

Street markets and vendors are popular too, allowing the opportunity to tase some of the following:

• Hobakjuk (pumpkin porridge)


• Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)


• Soondae (blood sausage)


• Samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup)


• Haemul Pajeon (seafood vegetable pancake)


• Seolleongtang (ox bone soup)


• Bibimbap (mixed rice)


• Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)


• Ddukbokki (spicy rice cake)


• Japchae (stir-fried noodles)


• Bulgogi (marinated beef barbecue)


• Hoeddeok (sweet syrupy pancakes)


• And last but not least Kimchi (fermented vegetables)

Yes, you read correctly, South Korea really does have it all! With summers regularly hitting 37 degrees Celsius, and winters dropping to an icy -17 degrees, beaches are a big hit in summer and ski slopes in winter.

Yongpyong Resort, which hosted several events at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic 2018, is a popular ski slope in winter, along with Phoenix Park, Vivaldi Park and High1 resort.

Given that snow is plentiful in winter, a lift day pass costs roughly £50 at the better resorts, and £30 at the ones further out. Ski and snowboard lessons are everywhere, and given their close proximity to Seoul, it's not an uncommon sight to see snowboarders walking through the city at rush hour, or groups of older women in ski suits amongst office workers.

Summer is hot hot hot!  So much so that waterparks are big and bold in South Korea. Stepping a bit further down south to Busan, South Koreas second biggest city, offers a stunning beach, holiday atmosphere and an opportunity to forget it all and surf the waves.