South Korea: Seoul to Busan
K-pop buzz, palace gardens, street food heaven, and bullet trains.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Seoul
Gyeongbokgung Palace and guard changing ceremony
Gyeongbokgung Palace
Hanbok rental and photos at Bukchon Hanok Village
Bukchon Hanok Village
Lunch at Tosokchon (samgyetang — ginseng chicken soup)
Tosokchon
Insadong art and craft street stroll
Insadong
Jogyesa Temple and traditional tea house
Jogyesa Temple
Gwangjang Market night food crawl (bindaetteok, mayak gimbap)
Gwangjang Market
N Seoul Tower sunset and city lights
N Seoul Tower
Day 2
Seoul
Changdeokgung Palace and Secret Garden tour
Changdeokgung Palace
Explore Ikseon-dong hanok café alley
Ikseon-dong
Korean BBQ lunch at Mapo Jeong Daepo
Mapo Jeong Daepo
Explore Hongdae — K-indie, street performances
Hongdae
Visit the War Memorial of Korea
War Memorial of Korea
Myeongdong shopping and street food (tteokbokki, hotteok)
Myeongdong
Cheonggyecheon Stream night walk
Cheonggyecheon Stream
Day 3
Seoul
DMZ and JSA border tour (half day)
DMZ
Return to Seoul, lunch at Noryangjin Fish Market
Noryangjin Fish Market
Explore Gangnam district and COEX Mall starfield library
Starfield Library
K-beauty shopping in Apgujeong
Apgujeong
Dinner at Jungsik (modern Korean fine dining)
Jungsik
Live music or K-pop karaoke in Hongdae
Hongdae
Day 4
Busan
KTX bullet train Seoul to Busan (2.5 hrs)
Seoul Station
Arrive in Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village (colourful hillside)
Gamcheon Culture Village
Lunch at Jagalchi Fish Market (raw fish and seafood)
Jagalchi Market
BIFF Square street food (hotteok, ssiat hotteok)
BIFF Square
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (seaside temple)
Haedong Yonggungsa
Sunset at Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach
Dinner at The Bay 101 (harbour-view dining)
The Bay 101
Day 5
Busan
Hike Igidae Coastal Walk (cliff trail, ocean views)
Igidae Park
Taejongdae cliffside park and lighthouse
Taejongdae
Lunch at a Gukbap (pork soup rice) restaurant
Busan centre
Spa Land centum city (Korean jjimjilbang experience)
Spa Land
Gwangalli Beach and Diamond Bridge views
Gwangalli Beach
Farewell dinner at Geumsu Bokguk (blowfish soup)
Geumsu Bokguk
Day 6
Busan
Morning walk at Songdo Skywalk (glass bridge over the sea)
Songdo Skywalk
Visit Beomeosa Temple (mountain temple)
Beomeosa Temple
Final Korean BBQ lunch
Busan
Last shopping at Shinsegae Centum City (world's largest dept store)
Shinsegae Centum City
Transfer to Gimhae International Airport
Gimhae Airport
Where to stay
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Things to do
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Travel essentials
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