In 2017, South Korea welcomed 13 million tourists, many of whom were Italian.
Some say it is similar to Japan, but those who have already been there say Korea is something completely different.
It is one of the destinations recommended by Lonely Planet and we know that the rankings prepared by qualified media always have a certain value. We try to understand why Italians chose South Korea for their vacation.
Many were impressed by the Korean pavilion installed at Expo 2015 in Milan, which showed the beauties of a country that few knew from a tourist and landscape point of view until then.
In the meantime, they have been added new direct flights from Italy towards Seoul. There are two daily flights from Rome alone, one from Milan and the other from Venice. Then Korea became much closer.
Another important aspect is that, for those who visit the country, for stays of less than 90 days, you do not have to apply for a visa. Therefore, the logistical aspect of the trip is decidedly facilitated.
But what is there to see in Korea? Korea is famous for its modern architecture. The Incheon airport where it lands is beautiful, high-tech and green and is considered the third best airport in the world according to Skytrax.
The capital Seoul is also very modern, with its new skyscrapers such as the Lotte World Tower Opened last year with a crazy panoramic view. It looks like the Shard in London. At 555 meters high, it is the fifth tallest skyscraper in the world.
But Seoul is not only modern, it is the cradle of Korean culture. There are many historical buildings worth visiting, such as Changdeokgung, the Palace of Prosperous Virtue, which is located in a beautiful park and is one of Five large buildings built by the rulers of the Chosun dynasty, perhaps their favorite. Since 1997 he has been one of 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites present in the country. The other palaces are Gyeongbokgung, Changgyeonggung, Deoksugung and Gyeonghuigung.
Jogyesa Temple is one of the most popular temples in Seoul as it is the center of Zen Buddhism in Korea.
Seoul is not an expensive city and other places outside the capital are even cheaper. In fact, Korea is considered one of the cheapest destinations in Asia. Eating, drinking and sleeping are cheap.
Those who want to try authentic experiences, instead of choosing a hotel from an international chain, can sleep in traditional Korean houses or even in temples, together with monks (Temple Stay). Woljeong Temple, for example, built in the mid-600th century on the eastern slope of Mount Odae in Pyeongchang County, welcomes people all year round, with an average of 50 foreigners per month. The average price for a stay of two days and one night is around 25-XNUMX euros.
For those staying in Korean houses, it is important to know that they are built using geomancy. In fact, any configuration is believed to generate invisible forces of good or evil. It is necessary to balance negative and positive energies (yin and yang).
Main Buddhist temples that tourists visit are in the mountains, surrounded by nature, in postcard settings. They all offer tea ceremonies, as most of the country's green tea is grown here and anyone who wants can learn how to make traditional tea.
Il Tempio Naksan It is one of the most beautiful temples as it is located in a unique location: it is built on the top of a mountain and near the Sea of Japan. He Beomeosa Temple It is located on a mountain outside the city of Pusan. It is made up of several chapels, connected to each other by corridors of stairs and patios decorated with colorful lanterns that light up at dusk, making the atmosphere truly evocative.
70% of Korea is covered with mountains and the nature here is beautiful in all seasons. Korea too. Like us, it has its four different seasons and each one is beautiful to visit the country. The long hot and humid summer favors the development of lush and varied vegetation.
Among the main tourist attractions to visit is the Mount Halla, an extinct volcano located in the center of Jeju Island, as well as the highest peak in South Korea.
Finally, an important aspect of the country is its gastronomy. Basically, Korean dishes are always quite spicy, but in their cuisine there is everything, rice, cereals, legumes, meat, fish. Nothing is really missing.
