South Korea Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul

This 14th-century imperial palace complex has been destroyed and reconstructed many times in its long history. The current site covers 40 hectares and includes around 500 buildings and structures rebuilt from detailed archaeological studies to represent the architectural styles tied to the Joseon dynasty. The image above shows a 19th-century addition to the site in the form of a pavilion built on an artificial island in accordance with landscape gardening traditions.

Autumn brings a rich palette of colours to the extensive gardens but also increased numbers of visitors to contend with.

Parking is available but the site is also reachable by an excellent public transport network from within central Seoul.