2 Best Sights in Seoul, South Korea

Both a much-welcomed swath of nature as well as one of the city's greatest historical treasures, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the burial mounds of two kings and one queen from Korea's Joseon era. King Seongjong—widely considered to be one of Korea's great leaders—is buried with his wife, Queen Jeonghyeon, in the park's west side, while the east side contains the tomb of King Jeongneung, their second son. While the history is impressive, the park also offers visitors a chance to unwind, exercise, and otherwise soak up fresh air in the midst of Gangnam's concrete jungle.

While the Jamsil neighborhood is known for ultra-modern high rises and shopping malls, you don't have to look too far (like anywhere in Korea) to stumble over some serious history. The Seokchong-dong Ancient Tombs park is home to burial mounds of leaders from from the Baekje dynasty (18 BCE–AD 660). There were thought to be more than 300 such tombs in the area, but most were destroyed during development in the 1970s. The remaining tombs are estimated to date back to the mid-3rd to late-4th centuries, and were discovered along with thousands artifacts such as pottery, roof tiles, beads, and gold.