Maybe it’s because of the absence of towering buildings that Gyeongju feels immediately relaxed. In this South Korean city, you’ll find a nice mix of historical sights and hip bars and restaurants.
Andong is the cultural heart of South Korea. Centuries-old traditions are still alive here. People dance with wooden masks and still live in traditional houses. But there’s also…
Gangneung. South Korea’s coffee city. When I read that, I immediately thought: barista workshops, coffee tastings, and an exclusive coffee experience. So when I traveled south from Sokcho, Gangneung seemed like the perfect stopover. It turned out differently than I expected, but it was a wonderfully relaxed day.
Sokcho is a coastal town in northeastern South Korea that most people only know as a base for Seoraksan National Park. And yes, that park is why you come to Sokcho, but since you’re there anyway, you might as well check out the town itself. Or at least try to check it out, because the rain really messes up my plans.
Seoraksan National Park is green and beautiful, and it’s the main reason most people come to Sokcho. You can do several hikes through nature here. And with the paved trails and many, many stairs, it’s maybe a bit less wild than I’d hoped, but still a welcome change from South Korea’s cities.
