Seoul's staggeringly efficient mass transit system makes its surrounding areas incredibly accessible, whether for easy day trips or longer excursions. And despite such proximity, cities such as Suwon, the provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do with its World Heritage–listed fortress, or Incheon with its intriguing multicultural background, have a vibe all their own.

Mountainous Gangwon-do (강원도) gives you some of South Korea’s most spectacular natural parks and scenic landscapes, up-close Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) experiences, and laid-back coastal towns and beaches on the East Sea.

Jeju-do's capital, Jeju-si (제주시) makes a convenient base to explore the island, with a few historic structures, plenty of shopping, the island's hippest bars and a large range of places to eat.

One of Korea's six gwangyoek-si, or 'metropolitan cities', Incheon is the country's third largest, second only to Seoul and Busan (though it can seem like an extension of the former). But what sets Incheon apart is that it also administers the dreamy sweep of West Sea islands or do, the largest of which, Ganghwado, is only separated from the mainland by a narrow channel.