Daegu

Daegu’s cityscape is walled by mountains, making it a hikers’ dream. On the mountain tops you will find not just incredible views, but also Buddhist monuments like the impressive Donghwasa temple or the 1,100-year-old Gatbawi Buddha. Get back down to the bottom and avail of the dozens of local restaurants you’ll find adjacent to any hike trail in the city with a feast of local cuisine, or avail of the many bathhouses in the city adored by locals and expats alike. If markets are your thing meander the endless streets of Seomun Market, famed for its fabrics, and it is a staple street food paradise after nightfall. With a thriving expat scene, it is also extremely welcoming to those who chose to make it home. Picture weekends exploring the compact city and sampling the incredible food, the karaoke bars and the wonderful DVD-bangs (private cinemas). For group activities there are expat baseball and basketball teams, yoga classes, book clubs and trivia nights too. Daegu’s location makes it the perfect launching spot for weekend adventures. The Korean high-speed train (KTX) goes directly through the city and weekend trips to Seoul, Busan and other interesting areas are very simple, in the mid-summer heat you can be at the beach in an hour.