From high speed glamour to hillside hot springs, South Korea gives good holiday.

Of course, you think ‘South Korea’, you think ‘Seoul’, and this K-popping capital is a cracker – surrounded by mountains and supercharged with contemporary galleries and stylish boutiques, it’s high-tech and high-speed on one hand, with calming parks, temples and riverside cafes on the other. The port city of Busan is South Korea’s second largest and it’s a gem, with its Rivieria-style beaches, impressive annual film festival and famed Jagalchi seafood market. It’s also home to some lush, mountain-side hot springs and a whole hillside village of street art, so it should definitely be on your itinerary.

If you want to dive into some natural wonders, the UNESCO-listed Jeju Island is a knock-out getaway – a stunning volcanic island, swathed in lake-studded greenery. South Korea also has a fabulous roster of festivals, including the fun, messy Boryeong Mud Festival and the Seoul Kimchi Festival – fitting for this food-centric country. And for that ‘only in South Korea’ experience, take a train trip to the famed and fascinating DMZ (demilitarized zone).