The South Korean port city of Busan has been named the best destination in Asia for 2018 by Lonely Planet in the third edition of the travel platform’s “Best in Asia” list.
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Busan topped the tally compiled by Lonely Planet editors that rounded up 10 destinations worth visiting over the next 12 months across East, South and Western Asia.
Busan, which is 325km south of Seoul, is the country’s second largest city and a popular summer destination for domestic travelers, known for its seafood and picturesque beaches.
Busan’s Diamond Bridge (Image: Pixabay)
As Lonely Planet described it:
In repose between mountains and sea, Busan is a stunning confluence of scenery, culture and cuisine. It’s long been domestically lauded as the country’s best beach getaway, but South Korea’s second largest city packs an eclectic offering of activities to suit all travellers: hike hills to Buddhist temples, settle into sizzling hot springs and feast on seafood still a-wriggle at Jagalchi, the country’s largest fish market.
Bestowed the title of East Asia Culture City for 2018, Busan will be at its most vibrant this year with a medley of colourful events showcasing the country’s cultural heritage, from street art festivals to traditional dance shows. Add in a prestigious international film festival and it seems this second-city is poised to steal the spotlight.
Coming in second this year is Uzbekistan as a “dreamy mosaic-clad mosques and Silk Road lore,” while Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh took the number three spot.
Top 10 Best in Asia 2018
1. Busan, South Korea
2. Uzbekistan
3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
4. Western Ghats, India
5. Nagasaki, Japan
6. Chiang Mai, Thailand
7. Lumbini, Nepal
8. Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
9. Sichuan Province, China
10. Komodo National Park, Indonesia
For info and news on the city, check out Busan’s longest running independently produced English publication, Haps Korea.
