Seoul

Seoul fuses centuries of history with a relentlessly modern, trend-setting present. Grand royal palaces like Gyeongbokgung, with its changing-of-the-guard ceremony, sit within blocks of soaring towers and neon-lit shopping streets. Between them, the wooden hanok houses of Bukchon Village preserve a quieter, older Seoul on the hillsides above downtown.

Each district has its own draw. The youthful energy of Hongdae fills the streets with buskers and late-night eateries, glossy Gangnam brings high-end shopping and nightlife, and Myeongdong is the heart of Korea's famous skincare and street-food scenes. Mountains ring the city for easy hikes, the Han River offers green space and bike paths, and Korean barbecue and fried chicken are reason enough to keep coming back to the table.

Seoul has four distinct seasons. Spring cherry blossoms and vivid autumn foliage are the standout times to visit, summers turn hot, humid, and rainy, and winters are cold and dry, so pack accordingly.