I've had some truly spectacular travel experiences, but spending five days in South Korea's capital Seoul might be the most magical all-round destination I've had the pleasure of visiting.
From the food to the nature to the incredible mashup of history and extreme modernity, it ticked every box I could possibly want. And basically, I need to yell at you about how great it is. Welcome to that!
If you are looking for a unique holiday experience, but also don't want to break the bank, Seoul should be added to your list immediately. The city offers an absurd amount of cheap or even free experiences, eating out is affordable, and you can waste entire days just wandering around, exploring the many hidden side streets, climbing its peaks and soaking up the city atmosphere.
It's surprisingly easy to get there too, which is obviously a HUGE bonus. Jetstar recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its three-weekly direct flights from Sydney, announcing that a fourth weekly service and flights direct from Brisbane will begin in February 2024.
Here are my top recs.
Rent Hanboks at Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The history of Gyeongbokgung Palace, in northern Seoul, is really interesting. It was built in 1395 by Korea's Joseon dynasty and served as the home of the royal family and the seat of government, until a fire destroyed it 200 years later. It was restored in the 19th century, but then mostly destroyed again under Japanese colonialism before restoration began once again in the '90s.