28 Best Sights in Side Trips from Seoul, South Korea

The best known and first Chinatown in Korea, Incheon's Chinatown is well over a century old. Its historic streets are lined with Chinese restaurants, Chinese-style townhouses, and a temple or garden or two hidden in the alleyways. Seek out the landmark flight of steps marking the boundary between the old Chinese and Japanese settlements, the stone lanterns that flank the steps representing the architectural styles of the respective nations.

This small but unique zone straddling the inter-Korean border secured by the United Nations Command and the North Korean military is where negotiations between the two sides are ongoing. This is usually the only place in South Korea where you can often see North Korean soldiers in the flesh. Within the Joint Security Area is the Bridge of No Return, a military line between the two sides where prisoners of war were exchanged after the Korean Armistice was signed in 1953.

This beautifully forested island in the Bukhangang River was created in 1944 when water rose with the construction of the nearby Cheongpyeong Dam. Initially just a sand bar, the island caught the attention of financier and former Bank of Korea governor Minn Byeong-do, who bought it in 1965 and turned it into an arboretum dissected by lanes of trees. Its tranquil walking paths lined by towering metasequoia and ginkgo draw more than 3 million visitors a year, including more than 1 million international visitors. Be sure to snap photos in the rows of trees at Ginkgo Tree Lane, Metasequoia Tree Lane, and Central Korean Pine Tree Lane to capture the island in all its majesty. The island has appeared in popular Korean TV shows, most notably the 2002 hit Winter Sonata, one of the first Korean TV series to achieve international success. This further drives its popularity, particularly with visitors from Korea's Asian neighbors. Be warned that the island can become crowded, particularly in autumn when the ginkgo trees turn golden. 

The spectacular Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was built in the late 18th century as part of a failed attempt to move the royal capital from Seoul. Consisting of more than three and half miles of stone and brick walls that reach 20 feet in height, the fortifications include imposing gates, watch towers, turrets, and even a detached palace. Designed by Jeong Yakyong, a renowned scholar of the so-called "practical knowledge" school of thought, the fortress incorporates scientific principles and leading fortification techniques from around the world in its construction and design. The fortress was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. With well-maintained paths lining the walls, you can circumnavigate the fortress in a couple of hours.

Right next to Everland theme park is Caribbean Bay, a water park complete with several twisting slides, an indoor diving pool, kids' pools, and a giant wave pool. There are several restaurants and "villages" where you can stay on site, plus a gift shop.

For 40 years, what is now COSMO 40 was one of Korea's largest chemical factories. After the company moved to a new facility in Ulsan in 2016, however, the abandoned plant was transformed into an award-winning cultural complex, complete with hip cafes, eateries and bars, market spaces, halls for exhibitions and performances, and even the occasional skateboarding competition. The complex fully embraces its past, preserving the original factory space as much as possible, supplemented by newer additions which is fitting, as it gives the place the edgier, industrial look favored by urban cool crowd worldwide.

Opened in 1986, replacing the former Songaksan Observation Post, Dora offers impressive views over the DMZ and into North Korea. You can see a collective farm, a statue of late North Korean leader Kim Il Sung, and parts of the city of Kaesong. For a closer look, use one of the observatory's countless stationary binoculars. There's also an indoor observatory with seating for 500.

Though it pales in comparison to Korean beaches in Busan or Jeju Island, Incheon's golden stretch of sand wins points for being the most conveniently located beach. It takes just 20 minutes by bus from Incheon International Airport (take bus 306 or 111) and is within day-trip distance of Seoul. There are plenty of restaurants and facilities nearby as well as rock formations such as Turtle Rock and Angel Rock to fill a day. Amenities: food and drink; parking; showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; walking.

Korea's largest theme park is about an hour from Suwon (or about 40 minutes by bus from Seoul Station), but it's worth the detour if you're looking to fill a day with the kids on roller coasters and strolling through the zoo. Highlights include the Thunder Falls water ride; Panda World, where you can spot the cuddly bears; and the sprawling Four Seasons Garden, filled with rows of colorful blooms.

Hipsters should seek out the vintage vibes of the cool "Open Port" street in Old Incheon, where many of the old homes and commercial buildings are now trendy eateries, cafes, and shops. Nearby is Sinpo International Market.

Despite the island's history of invasions, not all of Ganghwa's interactions with foreigners have been violent. The sublime Ganghwa Anglican Church was built in a beautifully harmonized Western-Korean style (displaying both a hanok exterior and Western basilica interior) at the turn of the 20th century by British missionaries and a Korean architect who helped rebuild Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace in the late 19th century.

At the northern tip of Ganghwa Island, this observatory and military complex lets you peer across the water into North Korea with the use of high-powered binoculars. Aside from the peeping and lovely natural landscape, you can also read up on the history of Korea at the center's several exhibits.

For something really off the beaten path, visit Gyodong Island, a tiny island just across the river from North Korea and attached via bridge to Ganghwa Island. Settled by refugees from nearby parts of North Korea after the Korean War, the place is essentially a time machine back to the 1960s, with its retro market, alleyways, shops and Korean-style tearooms. Bring your ID with you, though—South Korean marines will hold on to it when you enter Gyodong Island, issuing you a pass that you turn in when you leave.

This collection of galleries, workshops, cafes, and shops near the inter-Korean DMZ makes for a romantic day trip from Seoul. The planned community of creatives was designed to harmonize with the surrounding landscape, and features several works by locally and internationally renowned architects. It's a fun place to simply stroll around and take in nature, drop in and out of art spaces, and perhaps enjoy a coffee and a dessert. It does get a bit crowded on a weekend, though.

If you don't want to go through the hassle of a guided tour to Panmunjeom, the Imjingak Pavilion, an observation deck overlooking the DMZ area, is a mere subway trip from Seoul. The site is home to several Korean War monuments and artifacts, including a destroyed railroad bridge, a battle-scarred old locomotive, and the historic "Freedom Bridge" that Korean War POWs walked across to freedom. Just next to Imjingak is Pyeonghwa Nuri Park, a sprawling grass field with scenic walking trails and plenty of photo-friendly spots, including the so-called Hill of Wind, a hillock covered with 3,000 pinwheels.

Art lovers should check out this sprawling complex of colonial-era brick warehouses in Old Incheon that now serves as a cultural complex with exhibition spaces, performing venues, and studios. Its artists-in-residency program ensures there's always something new and exciting to ponder.

Many aisles of seafood vendors showcase the best of Incheon's coastal treasures along the city's wharf. Open every day from 5 am to 9:30 pm, it's the place to buy fresh or dried fish, or just to sample a slice of everyday Korean life, especially if you have a layover at the airport and need to kill a few hours.

Incheon's sprawling city park complex is home to the city's zoo, a rose garden, a lake, and an arboretum. It's a peaceful place to stroll, bike, or picnic on a spring or summer day among the blossoms, or to leaf peep in the fall.

It's all about the beloved jajangmyeon (black bean noodles) at this specialized museum in Incheon's Chinatown. Learn about the noodles' history and how they're made, marvel at the early 20th-century building, and then go forth and order the dish at one of the neighborhood's surrounding restaurants.

Another highlight of Ganghwa-do is this beautiful Buddhist temple, with its outstanding collection of Joseon-era buildings, including its 17th-century main hall. The temple participates in Temple Stay, a cultural program that allows you to stay over and experience chanting, meditation, and teatime.

Korean culture from the Joseon period is on display at this 245-acre folk village, where you can see recreations of 270 traditional houses, nine work shops, a traditional farm, and museum-like exhibits showcasing tools used in daily life. There are also traditional teahouses and restaurants where you can fuel up, folk shops where you can purchase a souvenir, and a "Play Village" where kids can let loose. Traditional cultural performances by actors in period outfits take place throughout the year. An English audio guide is available for ₩2,000.

Climbing 1,540 feet above Ganghwa Island, Manisan is one of Korea's most sacred mountains. Dangun, the legendary founder of Korea, is said to have performed sacrificial rites to the heavens from near its peak. The site where he performed those rites is now marked by an ancient stone altar, the Chamseongdan, where memorial rites are held every October.

Built in perfect harmony with the surrounding wetlands, Paju Book City is a collection of publishing companies, bookshops, museums, and cafes, established in the 2000s as Korea's answer to Hay-on-Wye on the border of England and Wales. The tranquil community adheres to strict architectural guidelines, resulting in a town of real beauty. The centerpiece is the Asia Publication Culture & Information Center, home of the Forest of Wisdom, a network of 3.1 km (1.9 miles) of bookshelves containing more than 200,000 volumes donated by local publishing companies and individuals. One particular architectural gem is the Mimesis Art Museum, a flowing concrete mass designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Álvaro Siza. Another recommended stop is the Youlhwadang Book Museum, a collection of 40,000 historic and contemporary volumes operated by art book publisher Youlhwadang. Parents, meanwhile, will love MilkBook Cafe, a book cafe that also serves as a learning space where children can learn the beauty and power of the written word.

Inspired by New York City's Central Park, this is the star sight of the futuristic Songdo district. Unless you're directing a TV commercial or music video, there isn't a tremendous amount to do, but it's a pleasant place to stroll about gardens, take boat ride from the Boat House, grab a bite to eat, and take in the cityscape.

Next to Chinatown is a peculiar treasure trove of colorful houses smattered with murals depicting local fairytales. There's not much to do per se, but it's an entertaining place to bring the kids or stop for a photo opportunity and pop into a cafe.

Located in Songhyun Park, this hidden gem of a museum explores the lives of people who lived in Incheon's daldongne (impoverished hillside towns), spanning their history after the Korean War from the 1960s to 1970s. It's an eye-opening, detailed look into the effects and aftermath of the war, and the recreations are so life-like you probably won't miss English translations.

Built by North Korea to initiate a planned (but never executed) surprise attack on Seoul, this tunnel was discovered by South Korean troops in 1978. Two meters high, two meters wide (6.5 by 6.5 feet), and stretching 1,635 meters (5,364 feet) long, the tunnel would have enabled 30,000 North Korean troops to enter South Korea per hour. Visitors can now tour much of the tunnel, which has been preserved as a reminder of the perceived North Korean threat.

A 26-foot gold Buddha head called buldu towers over a reflecting pond set between the Yeonhwasan mountains at this peaceful temple built in 1970. As you stroll, you'll notice more than 3,000 smaller Buddha statues on the grounds.