Around 30km south of Seoul, sprawling Suwon is the largest city in Gyeonggi-do province. It's most known for its World Heritage–listed fortifications built by Joseon dynasty ruler King Jeongjo, who had the idea of moving the capital from Seoul to Suwon in 1794. The fortress wall that surrounded the city was constructed but the king died and power stayed in Seoul.

Less than 10km south of the DMZ, Heyri is a charming village of small-scale contemporary buildings that couldn’t be more of a contrast to the heavily fortified, doom-laden border. Conceived as a ‘book village’ connected to the nearby publishing centre of Paju Book City, it has blossomed into a community of artists, writers, architects and other creative souls.

A short bus ride north of Anyang, 20km south of Seoul, is Anyang Art Park, an open-air sculpture park. Set among the trees of a wooded valley and along the rocky river bank, it comprises 52 quirky pieces by Korean and international artists.

The World Heritage–listed fortress of Namhansanseong, 20km southeast of central Seoul, once guarded the city’s southern entrance. Today it's famous for hiking trails which hug the 17th-century fortress walls, of which 12.3km still remain, taking you through beautiful pine and oak forests, and wild flowers.