Seoul & Busan — 5 days
K-pop, Joseon palaces and spicy street food. Day-by-day itinerary: Arrival in Seoul; Palaces & the Hanok Village; DMZ + Itaewon; KTX to Busan.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Seoul
- 08:00 — Arrival at Incheon ICN
- 10:30 — AREX Express → Seoul Station
- 13:00 — Hotel in Jongno or Myeongdong — Seoul
- Walk to Myeongdong — Seoul → Myeongdong
- 15:00 — Myeongdong — shopping & street food — Myeongdong
- Up to Namsan — Myeongdong → Namsan
- 18:00 — N Seoul Tower at sunset — Namsan
- Subway to Mapo — Namsan → Mapo BBQ Street
- 20:30 — Galbi dinner (grilled short ribs) — Mapo BBQ Street
Day 2 — Palaces & the Hanok Village
- 09:00 — Gyeongbokgung Palace — Jongno-gu
- Subway to Bukchon — Jongno-gu → Gahoe-dong
- 11:00 — Bukchon Hanok Village — Gahoe-dong
- Walk to Insadong — Gahoe-dong → Insadong
- 13:00 — Jeonju-style bibimbap — Insadong
- 15:00 — Insadong — art & traditional tea — Insadong
- Subway to Dongdaemun — Insadong → Dongdaemun
- 17:30 — Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) — Dongdaemun
- Subway to Hongdae — Dongdaemun → Hongdae
- 20:00 — Evening in Hongdae (student district) — Hongdae
Day 3 — DMZ + Itaewon
- 08:00 — DMZ tour (Demilitarised Zone) — DMZ
- Bus back from the DMZ — DMZ → Itaewon
- 14:00 — Lunch in Itaewon — Itaewon
- Subway to Gangnam — Itaewon → Gangnam
- 16:00 — Gangnam & COEX Mall — Gangnam
- Subway to Hongdae — Gangnam → Hongdae
- 20:00 — Dakgalbi dinner (spicy chicken) — Hongdae
Day 4 — KTX to Busan
- 08:00 — KTX Seoul → Busan
- 11:00 — Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (by the sea) — Busan
- Walk to the market — Busan → Jagalchi Market
- 13:30 — Jagalchi Market — ultra-fresh sashimi — Jagalchi Market
- On to Gamcheon — Jagalchi Market → Busan
- 15:30 — Gamcheon Culture Village — Busan
- Taxi to Haeundae — Busan → Haeundae
- 18:00 — Haeundae beach at sunset — Haeundae
- 20:00 — Milmyeon dinner (Busan cold noodles)
- 22:00 — KTX back to Seoul
Day 5 — Shopping & Departure
- 09:00 — Lotte World Tower — view from the 123rd floor — Jamsil
- Subway to Namdaemun — Jamsil → Namdaemun
- 11:30 — Namdaemun Market — Namdaemun
- 14:00 — AREX → Incheon
- 18:00 — Return flight from ICN