South Korea, an Asian economic tiger, is a mosaic of old and new: rural folk villages and DVD mini-cinemas, ancient stone pagodas and rock music bars, buzzing modern cities and feudal-era fortresses, densely forested mountains graced by some of Asia's finest Buddhist temples. It's a compact and little-explored country, where Asian traditions, Western fashions, Confucian ideals and democratic ideas mingle to form an identity based equal parts on language, national pride and a fondness for nature's beauties.

Best time to visit

September to November.

Essential experiences

Rubbing shoulders with the locals at one of Seoul's boisterous traditional markets; wandering through Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla kingdom; early-morning jostling at Busan's hectic fish market; hitting the beach at Daecheon, for the best sand and seafood on the west coast; exploring the past by visiting Jikjisa, a temple dating back to the 5th century; hiking around spectacular Sereoksan National Park.

In a few words, South Korea is

Big City Seoul, seafood and rice, the 38th Parallel, Confucius drinking in Itaeown, young salary-mad workers, the land between Japan and China.

Did you know?

In Korea, the youngest person in the party always pours the drinks, and when exchanging money in a shop always use your right hand - the left signals disrespect.