Where was Parasite filmed?

This Oscar-winning thriller turned the geography of a city into part of its meaning, and that is exactly what makes it such a compelling set-jetting target. Its story of two families on opposite rungs of the social ladder is told partly through Seoul itself, where altitude becomes a quiet metaphor for class.

The most resonant locations sit in the city's older, hillier neighbourhoods. The steep stair-street the poorer family hurries down in the pouring rain captures the film's whole upstairs-downstairs idea in a single descent, while the modest Woori Supermarket at the foot of those steps is the corner shop glimpsed across their scenes. Both are ordinary working corners of Seoul rather than tourist sights, which is part of why standing there feels so striking.

These spots fold neatly into a wider Seoul itinerary: the city pairs cinematic backstreets with palaces, markets and mountain views, all linked by an excellent subway. Go on foot to feel the slopes the film leans on, treat the residential streets and the working shop with respect, and combine them with the neighbourhood's cafés and food stalls for a half-day wander.