Korea has 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (15 cultural, 2 natural). Here they are ranked by which to visit first from a foreign traveler's perspective.
Ranking criteria
We applied four weights: symbolism and completeness, accessibility from Seoul, routing efficiency with other sites, and revisit value. It's less 'number one is best' and more 'number one is least likely to disappoint.'
Top picks
- Changdeokgung (Seoul, 2 to 3 hours)
- Jongmyo (Seoul, 1 to 2 hours)
- Seokguram and Bulguksa (Gyeongju, half a day)
- Gyeongju Historic Areas (1 day)
- Jeju volcanic island and lava tubes (2N3D or more)
- Suwon Hwaseong (half to full day)
Guide to the top 15 UNESCO destinations by visit priority