Things to see and do in South Korea

The Seorak range is considered to be the most beautiful in the whole of South Korea, and with its austere pinnacles of rock, its verdant forests, rushing spring streams, waterfalls, and temples, it's got everything a hiker might want to see.

Learn about Korea's Buddhist heritage by experiencing the serenity of a temple. The country has over 10,000 temples and 20,000 monks and you can stay at some of them, practising meditation, lantern-making, tea ceremonies and simple elements of Buddhism.

Soak up the wonderful atmosphere of Bulguksa Temple. This large wooden temple is beautifully painted. A winding road high on the mountain above leads to the Seokguram Grotto, with the magnificent granite Buddha looking serenely down through his protective glass case.

Head west of Daegu to the Mount Gayasan National Park, at the centre of which is Haeinsa, Korea's best-known temple. It houses the extraordinary UNESCO-listed Tripitaka Koreana: 80,000 wooden printing blocks engraved with the complete Buddhist scriptures. Completed in 1252 after 16 years of work, it is still in perfect condition.

Haeinsa Temple was originally built in AD 802 by two monks, Sunung and Ijong, during King Aejang of the Silla Kingdom's reign. Despite many fires and subsequent reconstructions, the temple remains one of the most beautiful in Korea set in an idyllic location deep in Gayasan National Park. It eventually reached its present-day size during the mid-10th century. The temple is famous for housing the Tripitaka Koreana - 80,000 wooden printing blocks carved during the Goryo Dynasty (AD 918-1392), which, together, make up the oldest and best-preserved collection of Buddhist scriptures in the world. The temple also houses a great number of artefacts that have been designated national treasures including the Seated Stone Buddha, found at Cheongyangsa Temple, and the Stone Pagoda at Wolgwang Temple.

Hike in the three national parks, Seoraksan, Odaesan and Chuwangsan, each accessible from the East Coast highway. Seoraksan National Park, the northernmost, is widely considered to offer the most beautiful scenery in Korea.

Ascend N-Seoul Tower (238m / 776ft), a viewing spire conspicuously situated atop landscaped Namsan Mountain. You'll have an unparalleled view of Seoul's majestic cityscape. It's especially beautiful at night, when the tower is lit up - as is all of Seoul.

One of Seoul's largest suburban areas, Suwon has all kinds of things for the tourist to enjoy. The UNESCO-listed city walls and defences of Suwon City and Hwaseong Fortress are some of the most famous. Night life is another draw, as is a special kind of fiery hot seafood paella-type platter.