Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum

Korea's first pine-themed arboretum. Across 240,000 pyeong of land, old-growth Geumgang pines stand as they have for centuries, alongside more than 1,100 plant species. Step onto the pine trails and the phytoncide hits you immediately — a deep breath fills you from nostrils to chest with the scent of resin. The fact that a place this vast is free still surprises. Trekking courses range from short to long, and traditional pavilions and healing gardens offer rest stops along the way. This is not a place to squeeze between other attractions. Give it half a day of its own. To receive what the forest offers, you cannot be in a hurry.