Seoul, South Korea
Speaking of delicious dishes, Seoul is known for its street food. “I dare anyone to have a bad meal in this town,” challenges Fathom’s Pavia Rosati. “Seoul fascinates in ways that continue to change, excite and delight.” Picture modern neon lights juxtaposed against a backdrop of thousands of years of tradition – talk about sensory overload! A visit to the Namdaemun Market, the oldest and largest in Korea, offers more than 10,000 stores that are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, try the oxtail soup, vegetable-filled griddle cakes, and North Korean–style cold buckwheat noodles.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Are you a fan of Game of Thrones? Who isn’t? Well, Dubrovnik might look a bit familiar to you, as it was the main location for filming the scenes of King’s Landing. While you won’t run into any Lannisters while visiting (which is probably a good thing – remember Cersei’s Walk of Shame through these streets?), you can still pretend you’re an extra in the cast by walking along the city’s ancient walls. Climb up the stone walls and walk the circumference of Dubrovnik, while overlooking the Adriatic Sea and the city’s terra-cotta rooftops. These stone walls were built in the 13th century to protect the city from foreign attacks and are protected by strong forts, two round towers, five bastions and two corner towers. The limestone walls against the blue sea make for a beautiful photo.
As long as you’re on a GoT kick, add these amazing destinations from Game of Thrones you can visit in real life to your travel list.
San Sebastian, Spain
Let’s get back to our foodie tour of the world with a stop in San Sebastian. Why this coastal city in northern Spain? “[It’s] the culinary capital of the world!” says Abbey Sharp of Abbey’s Kitchen Inc. “The juxtaposition between high-end Michelin-star restaurants and cheap tapas bars makes this coastal city a must-visit.” The traditional northern Spain version of tapas is called pintxos, so be on the lookout for bars and cafés specialising in those as you walk through the Old Town area, or Parte Vieja. After your belly is full, head to the popular crescent-shaped La Concha Beach and watch the sun set over the water.