Explore Korea (한국 탐험하기)
Top places to see in Korea. Where to go in Korea and what to do. Want to travel in Korea? See more outside of Seoul. (한국에서 볼 수 있는 최고의 장소. 한국에서 어디로 갈 것인지, 무엇을 할 것인지. 한국에서 여행하고 싶으세요? 서울 외곽에서 더 많이 보십시오.)
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Cafe Valor: K-Drama Filming Location, Coffee & More!
[NOW CLOSED] Cafe Valor (카페발로) first drew my attention when I was planning my trip out to Incheon to stay at the immaculately designed Nest Hotel some months back but I didn’t get a chance to visit the cafe/studio until recently. Not having spent terribly much time in Incheon, I wanted to know what there was to see and one tool at my disposal was, of course, Instagram. I ended up with a great itinerary for the westernmost coast of Incheon that included Incheon’s Chinatown, the Fairytale Village and more but just couldn’t find the time to get to Cafe Valor which really took my fancy. Was it a cafe? Was…
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Incheon Chinatown Guide: What To See, Where To Eat and How To Get There
People flock to Incheon’s China Town (인천 차이나타운) looking for authentic Chinese food and the quintessential red lanterns hanging from windows. Once leased territory to Qing China in 1884, the area is now known as the birthplace of jjajangmyeon, the Korean-Chinese black bean noodle dish that Koreans eat approximately 7 million times a day. While that’s something worth knowing upfront, it’s Korean-Chinese cuisine rather than authentic Chinese food, and the distinction is real, it’s still a super fun area to visit. Colorful gates welcome visitors to this small but bustling neighborhood. The streets and alleys are packed door to door with restaurants, street food stalls, and treats. Walking the area…
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A One Day Incheon Itinerary: From Chinatown to Fairytales
Do you want to make the most of a daytrip to Incheon? If you’re looking for a packed Incheon itinerary so you can eat until your belly is content, find plenty to take pictures of, and have some fun, then this is it. Incheon, Korea has a lot to do and Incheon is actually a lot more than just the Incheon International Airport, so don’t be confused. For this itinerary in Incheon, we’re headed to the popular Jung-gu district home to the only official Chinatown in Korea, the Songwol-dong Fairytale Village and more! Here’s what to go on a daytrip to Jung-gu, Incheon, Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which…
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Nest Hotel: A Modern Hotel Near Incheon International Airport
Looking to have a weekend away in Incheon without much fuss and loads of chic and modern aesthetic appeal, I began my search by checking the Design Hotels properties in Korea knowing that they have properties around the world that are amazingly interesting to stay in. Nest Hotel is one of the best hotels near Incheon International Airport and you’d be surprised how much there is to actually do on the island that the airport is located on. Whether you’re a tourist in Korea or looking for a staycation, this is a great hotel to do it. Have a great stay at Nest Hotel in Incheon, Korea: (This post contains…
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A One-Day Itinerary in Incheon: From Moraenae Market to GTower Sunsets
When people think of Incheon, Korea, generally they think of Incheon International Airport and that’s it. The island around Incheon International Airport has way more to do than people take advantage of but, Incheon is a lot larger than that too. Probably the most popular places in Incheon to go are Chinatown and Wolmido Island, and yet there’s more. Whether you’re planning a day trip from Seoul or looking to explore Incheon in more depth, this itinerary offers a perfect mix of culture, history, and scenic views. Here are three places to visit on a one-day trip to Incheon, Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a…
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Best Buddhist Temples in Korea: 25 Must-Visit Sites From Seoul to Busan
There are around 900 traditional Buddhist temples in Korea, welcoming visitors for quiet meditation and extraordinary architecture. They range from a few modest buildings to complexes spanning dozens of structures across mountainsides. From the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju to the Tripitaka Koreana at Haeinsa, the range is extraordinary. What they share is an almost universal commitment to beauty, intricately painted facades, religious relics housed in lacquered halls, and grounds that feel genuinely set apart from wherever you’ve just come from. Some sit in the middle of cities. Some require a two-hour hike into the mountains. Some look out at the ocean. Some are built into cliff faces or carved…
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Mt. Munboksan & Epic Camping In Korea
Camping in Korea has gotten more and more popular over the past few years though it could seem like it’s more popular than it really is with the number of tents that can be seen in every park on every weekend. Don’t be confused. If you want to go camping in Korea, look into some of the great mountainous camp sites like the ones on Munboksan Mountain. We stayed at Munboksan Camping Grounds (문복산캠핑장) and it was great, family-friendly, and near some beautiful views. (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost…
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See The Beauty of Seoknamsa Temple in Ulsan
Seoknamsa Temple (석남사-울산) sits on the southern side of the Gaji mountain range in Ulsan, Korea and is one of the four major Buddhist temples of the Gajisan Provincial Park. A peaceful escape in Ulsan, this Buddhist temple is easily accessible and just gorgeous with quiet walking paths, forest air, and colorful architecture that will draw you in. Take a trip outside of Ulsan, Korea and see what you can see! (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something, I will get a percentage of the transaction at no cost to you. Thanks for the support!) Basic Info Address: 557 Seongnam-ro, Sangbuk-myeon, Ulju-gun,…
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Jeongdongjin Beach: The Most Beautiful Beach In Gangneung
Jeongdongjin is one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in the Gangneung area of Korea. While everyone else is hanging out on Gyeongpo Beach just north, this gorgeous beach is quiet but epic especially considering the giant and quirky Sun Cruise Ship, oh wait it’s a resort in the shape of a cruise ship, that towers above the the seaside here. When looking for beaches on the east coast of Korea, don’t miss this one. Here’s what to expect when you get to Jeongdongjin Beach (정동진해변). Get ready to see more in Gangneung starting with the Jeongdongjin area: (This page contains affiliate links. That means if you click on…
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Gangneung’s Sungeut Beach in Gangneung is Quiet and Ideal
The beaches on the northeastern shores of Korea always stun me. The white sands and the emerald blue clear waters that lap against the shore are so dreamy. It’s a wonder that anyone lives in a city NOT on a coast in Korea when the kind of beauty that exists in Gangneung is out there. We took three days and went out to Sungeut Beach (순긋해변). It’s a bit smaller than the other popular beaches in the vicinity and doesn’t offer the numerous cafes and restaurants of the areas surrounding, but that meant it was perfect for our first trip to the coast of the season. Gangneung is a popular…
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Aqua Planet: Sea Life, A Petting Zoo & More
Aqua Planet (아쿠아플라넷) is a aquarium brand you can find all over South Korea. We first visited the Aqua Planet in Ilsan, Korea, but you can find them in Gwanggyo, the 63 Building on Yeouido Island in Seoul, Jeju, and Yeosu. I had initially expected this to be just an aquarium, meaning sea life, sea creatures and the like, but was pleasantly surprised to find birds, a petting zoo with farm animals and just so much more. If you have kids in Korea and want to introduce them to sea life, Aqua Planet in Korea is a great place to go. There are a number of amazing aquariums in Korea,…
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An Amazing Bamboo Forest on Geoje Island
On a recent trip to Geoje Island in Korea for a business meeting, my host took me to a bamboo theme park or the Maengjongjuk Theme Park (맹종죽테마파크). I was pleasantly surprised when we came upon the natural 90,000 square meter bamboo forest on the side of a hill. If you’re looking to enjoy the beautiful nature of Geoje Island, definitely check out this bamboo forest. Get ready to find this bamboo forest on Geoje Island in Korea: (This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking. Thank you for your support.) Basic Info Address: 700 Geojebuk-ro, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do…
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Haengjusanseong Fortress: Where 2,300 Koreans Defeated 30,000
Bike west along the northern side of the Han River in Seoul long enough, and the path eventually seems to end, before actually just turning inland and heading toward Goyang, a suburb of greater Seoul. Goyang has far more to see and do than most Seoulites or visitors realize, and Deogyangsan Mountain (덕양산) is one of its better-kept open secrets. The bike paths curve around the base of the mountain, easy to spot thanks to a victory monument visible at the summit from a distance. This is an excellent mountain to climb, gentle enough that a stroller can make the trip, with paved paths the entire way. Visit in autumn…
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Yeonji Park’s Lake in Gimhae
While most people probably don’t head out of Busan to the nearby city of Gimhae unless they’re going to the airport located there, my in-laws live in that ‘burb so I am always on the lookout for places to go around town when my mother-in-law is not trying to fill our bellies. On previous trips, we’d stumbled upon the dilapidated and abandoned Gaya Land Amusement Park, learned about the historical relevance of the area at King Suro’s Tomb and enjoyed Dongrimsa and Eunhasa Buddhist temples located nearby. While there for Chuseok this past weekend, we decided to find a park so that the little one could enjoy some swings and…
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Naksan Beach: Yangyang’s Best-Kept Summer Secret Near Seoraksan
Gangneung draws most of the summer beach traffic from Seoul. Most visitors lock onto Gyeongpo Beach specifically, which means Naksan Beach (낙산해변), just north in Yangyang-gun, closer to Sokcho, stays quieter than it deserves to be. That’s good news if you’re the kind of person who’d rather have sand than crowds. The waters are clear and genuinely beautiful shades of blue. The sand is soft and white for four kilometers straight, backed by pine tree forests that cast shade along a wooden boardwalk. And perched on the cliff above the beach is Naksansa Temple, one of the more striking seaside temples in Korea. I booked a pension here as soon…
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Taean-gun: A Guide To The Beaches, Forests, and More!
Summer in Korea can be hot, humid, and a weekend away to the coast is an absolute must to cool off. During the summer, the humidity can be so immense in Seoul that taking a walk is more like swimming through hot heavy air. The only cure to really get that deep breath is to find a coast with breezes blowing this way and that and calming ocean tide sounds. While I usually recommend heading to the gorgeous beaches with white sand and emerald blue waters on the east coast of Korea in the Sokcho and Gangneung areas, the west coast has some hidden gems too like the rocky seaside…
