One Week in Korea: A 7-Day Seoul and Busan Itinerary

The week at a glance

Day	Where	Plan
1	Seoul	Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon, Insadong, Gwangjang Market
2	Seoul	Myeongdong, N Seoul Tower, Dongdaemun Design Plaza
3	Seoul	Seoul Forest and Seongsu, Hongdae, Mangwon Hangang Park at sunset
4	Day trip	DMZ (not Monday) or Suwon Hwaseong Fortress
5	→ Busan	KTX in the morning; Nampo, Jagalchi and Gukje Market, Gamcheon Culture Village
6	Busan	Haeundae Beach, Blueline Park, Gwangalli at night
7	Busan	Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, then fly out or take the KTX back

Days 1–3: Seoul

Follow our Seoul in 3 days itinerary. It has hours, closing days and transport for each stop. Two things to remember:

• Don’t do Day 1 on a Tuesday. Gyeongbokgung Palace is closed.
• Bukchon’s core area is open to tourists only from 10:00 to 17:00.

Day 4: A day trip from Seoul

• DMZ: the city-run DMZ Peace Tour from Imjingak costs ₩9,200–12,200. Bring your original passport. It’s closed on Mondays.
• Suwon Hwaseong Fortress: free to walk, and easy by subway or express bus.

Details for both, plus Nami Island and the Korean Folk Village, are in day trips from Seoul.

Day 5: KTX to Busan and old Busan

Morning: take the KTX from Seoul Station (or Suseo, if you’re staying in Gangnam) to Busan Station: about 2½ hours, ₩54,400 in standard class. See Seoul to Busan by train. Drop your bags at your hotel. For a short stay, Nampo, Seomyeon or Busan Station are the most convenient bases. See where to stay in Busan.

Afternoon: the markets around Nampo

• Jagalchi Market, one of Korea’s biggest fish markets: open 5:00–22:00, closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays. It’s 6 minutes’ walk from Jagalchi Station (Line 1).
• Gukje Market next door: open about 9:00–20:00, with hours varying by shop.

Late afternoon: Gamcheon Culture Village

Busan’s hillside village of colorful houses:

• Open 9:00–18:00 from March to October and 9:00–17:00 from November to February. Free.
• From Toseong Station (Line 1), Exit 6, take village bus Saha 1-1, Seo-gu 2 or Seo-gu 2-2 to Gamjeong Elementary School.

Evening: dinner back in Nampo or Seomyeon.

Day 6: Haeundae and Gwangalli

Morning: Haeundae Beach. It’s 15 minutes’ walk from Haeundae Station (Line 2), Exit 5.

Midday: Haeundae Blueline Park, along the old coastal railway:

• Beach Train: from ₩10,000 one way, ₩16,000 for an all-day pass. It runs from Mipo, at the end of Haeundae Beach, to Songjeong.
• Sky Capsule: priced per capsule, from ₩50,000 for 2 people. Book ahead at weekends and in summer.

Evening: Gwangalli Beach for the view of the lit-up Gwangan Bridge. It’s 13 minutes’ walk from Gwangan Station (Line 2). On Saturdays there’s a drone show.

Day 7: Haedong Yonggungsa, then home

Haedong Yonggungsa is a Buddhist temple built on the sea cliffs, best early in the day before the crowds.

• Hours: opens at 4:30. Visit Busan lists the last entry as 18:50.
• Admission: free.
• Getting there: Donghae Line to Osiria (Exit 1), then bus 139. Or from Haeundae Station (Exit 7), bus 181, 100 or Haeundae 9.

Then:

• Flying from Gimhae Airport? Take the light rail via Sasang, or the limousine bus from Haeundae. See getting around Busan.
• Going back to Seoul? Book the KTX in advance, especially on Sundays.

Got an extra day?

• Taejongdae: coastal cliffs and a lighthouse at the southern tip of Busan, with a small train around the park. The train doesn’t run on Mondays.
• Gyeongju: the ancient Silla capital, with royal tombs, Bulguksa Temple and Donggung Palace lit up at night. Stop off on the way between Seoul and Busan. Check opening hours locally before you go.

Budget and planning

• Estimate costs for the week with the budget calculator.
• Build your own version in the trip planner.
• Get a transit card on day 1. The same card works in Busan.