5 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 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. 

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.

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.