Gongsanseong is a mountain fortress in Gongju that protected the capital of the Baekje kingdom in the 5th and 6th centuries. Its walls follow the ridges above the Geumgang River, with gates and pavilions along the way. It is part of the Baekje Historic Areas UNESCO site. A walk along the walls takes about an hour and offers good views of the river and town.

Jeonju Hanok Village holds hundreds of traditional Korean houses, making it one of the largest hanok neighbourhoods in the country. Visitors stroll its streets in rented hanbok, try local food such as bibimbap and visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Jeondong Cathedral. Many hanok guesthouses offer overnight stays. The village is liveliest in the evening when street food stalls open.

Juknokwon is a bamboo forest garden in Damyang, a county famous for its bamboo. Several walking trails wind through tall bamboo groves, past pavilions and small streams, where the air is noticeably cooler. The garden also has a traditional pavilion area and a hanok café. Visit on a weekday morning to enjoy the sound of wind in the bamboo without crowds.

Boseong is Korea's largest green tea growing region, and its tea plantations cover rolling hillsides in neat green rows. Walking paths climb through the bushes to viewpoints over the valley, framed by tall cedar trees. Tea cafés serve green tea and green tea ice cream. The fields look freshest in spring and early summer, during the first harvests.

Suncheon Bay is one of the best preserved coastal wetlands in Korea, with vast reed beds and tidal flats. Wooden boardwalks lead through the reeds, and a hill viewpoint looks over the S-shaped channels of the bay. The wetland is an important stop for migratory birds, including hooded cranes in winter. Late afternoon is ideal when the sunset lights the reeds.