Seoul, Gyeongju & Busan

Destination 01

Seoul

9 places

Korea's capital of palaces, markets and late-night neighborhoods. Stay 4 days.

• Photo: 아삭 · Google

  Gyeongbokgung Palace

  The largest of Seoul's Joseon palaces, with a guard-changing ceremony at the main gate.

  Tip Entry is free if you wear hanbok; rental shops line the nearby streets.

  SeeJongno$2 hrMorning
• Photo: Peter Fainsan (Peeta) · Google

  Changdeokgung Secret Garden (Huwon)

  Guided walks through a royal garden of ponds, pavilions and old trees behind Changdeokgung.

  Tip Tour slots are limited; book online days ahead.

  OutdoorsJongno$1.5 hrAutumn
• Photo: Bgag · CC0

  Bukchon Hanok Village

  Hillside lanes of traditional tiled-roof homes between two palaces.

  Tip Residents live here; visiting hours are restricted to daytime, so keep voices down.

  SeeBukchonFree60 minMorning
• Photo: Tony Lin · Google

  N Seoul Tower

  Tower atop Namsan with a cable car and city views stretching to the mountains.

  Tip Walk up the Namsan trails instead of queuing for the cable car.

  SeeNamsan$$1.5 hrSunset
• Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Geomr~commonswiki assumed (based on copyrig · CC BY-SA 3.0

  Bukhansan National Park

  Granite peaks inside city limits; the Baegundae summit hike takes about 4 hours round trip.

  Tip Start early on weekdays; trails crowd on weekends.

  OutdoorsFree4 hrAutumn morning
• Photo: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · CC BY 2.0

  National Museum of Korea

  Free national collection spanning gold Silla crowns to Joseon ceramics.

  Tip Do not miss the quiet Room for Contemplation with two pensive Buddhas.

  SeeYongsanFree2.5 hr
• Photo: Bgag · CC0

  Gwangjang Market

  Century-old market with stalls frying mung bean pancakes and serving yukhoe and mayak gimbap.

  Tip Go after 6pm when the food alleys are fullest.

  EatJongno$1.5 hrEvening
• Photo: 명동교자 본점 · Google

  Myeongdong Kyoja

  Long-running spot for kalguksu knife-cut noodles and dumplings since 1966.

  Tip Lines move fast; free noodle refills are offered.

  EatMyeongdong$45 minLunch
• Photo: HOYOUNG LEE (outlllaw) · Google

  Euljiro Nogari Alley

  Plastic tables, cheap beer and dried pollack snacks spill into the street each evening.

  Tip Busiest Thursday and Friday nights after work.

  DrinkEuljiro$1.5 hrEvening

Destination 02

Gyeongju

9 places

The open-air museum of the Silla kingdom, full of tombs, temples and bike paths. Stay 2 days.

• Photo: Jonathan Az · Google

  Bulguksa Temple

  UNESCO-listed 8th-century temple with stone stairways and two famous pagodas.

  Tip Pair with Seokguram Grotto by bus or the steep forest trail.

  See$1.5 hrMorning
• Photo: aj · Google

  Seokguram Grotto

  Granite Buddha in a man-made cave grotto on Tohamsan, viewed behind glass.

  Tip Climb early for sunrise views toward the East Sea.

  See$60 minEarly morning
• Photo: 코코넨네 · Google

  Daereungwon Tomb Complex

  Grassy burial mounds of Silla royalty; enter Cheonmachong to see a tomb's interior.

  Tip Stay until dusk when the mounds are lit.

  SeeHwangnam-dong$60 minLate afternoon
• Photo: Laurent · Google

  Cheomseongdae Observatory

  7th-century stone tower, among the oldest surviving observatories in Asia.

  SeeInwang-dongFree20 minEvening
• Photo: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond

  Rebuilt Silla palace pavilions reflected in a lotus pond, best lit up at night.

  Tip Arrive just before sunset to see it in both light and dark.

  See$60 minNight
• Photo: by martinroell · CC BY-SA 2.0

  Gyeongju National Museum

  Silla gold crowns, the giant Emille Bell and relics from the surrounding tombs.

  Tip Free entry; closes some holidays.

  SeeFree1.5 hr
• Photo: trip camper78 (Riu J) · Google

  Gyochon Hanok Village

  Restored hanok village by Woljeonggyo Bridge, home of the Choi clan's historic house.

  Tip Walk to the covered Woljeonggyo Bridge at night.

  DoGyo-dongFree60 minEvening
• Photo: Seefooddiet · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Hwangnidan-gil

  Hanok-lined street of cafes, bakeries and casual restaurants near the tombs.

  Tip Try Gyeongju bread or chalboribbang barley pancakes.

  EatHwangnam-dong$$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Jong doo Choi · Google

  Ssambap Street

  Row of restaurants near Daereungwon serving rice with dozens of side dishes and leafy wraps.

  Tip Most places require two diners minimum.

  EatHwangnam-dong$$60 minLunch

Destination 03

Busan

9 places

Korea's port city of beaches, seafood markets and hillside neighborhoods. Stay 3 days.

• Photo: Bl00dnFl4mes · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Gamcheon Culture Village

  Pastel houses stacked on a hillside, with murals and small art spaces.

  Tip Buy the stamp map at the info center for a walking loop.

  SeeSaha-guFree2 hrMorning
• Photo: Javier Robles · Google

  Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

  Buddhist temple perched on sea rocks on Busan's east coast.

  Tip Go at opening to beat tour buses.

  SeeGijangFree60 minEarly morning
• Photo: Brit in Seoul · CC BY-SA 4.0

  Haeundae Beach

  Busan's best-known city beach, backed by towers and the Dongbaekseom island walk.

  Tip Walk the coastal path to The Bay 101 for night views.

  OutdoorsHaeundaeFree2 hrAfternoon
• Photo: *intacto · CC BY 2.0

  Taejongdae

  Forested headland with sea cliffs, a lighthouse and views toward Japan's Tsushima on clear days.

  Tip Take the Danubi road train to save the uphill walk.

  OutdoorsYeongdoFree2.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: shinya watanabe · Google

  Huinnyeoul Culture Village

  White-walled cliffside village and coastal walk on Yeongdo island.

  Tip Combine with Taejongdae the same day.

  DoYeongdoFree60 minSunset
• Photo: Angman Lee. · Google

  Jagalchi Fish Market

  Korea's largest seafood market; pick fish downstairs and have it served raw or grilled upstairs.

  Tip Confirm prices per kilo before ordering.

  EatNampo$$1.5 hrLunch
• Photo: Eleanor Lim · Google

  Seomyeon Dwaeji Gukbap Alley

  Cluster of restaurants serving Busan's pork-and-rice soup, open late.

  Tip Season it yourself with salted shrimp and chives.

  EatSeomyeon$45 minLate night
• Photo: 黃鐙鋒 · Google

  Gukje Market and BIFF Square

  Sprawling postwar market next to a street of snack stalls selling ssiat hotteok.

  Tip Hotteok stuffed with seeds is the local snack to try.

  ShopNampo$1.5 hrAfternoon
• Photo: Eric Seidel · Google

  Galmegi Brewing Gwangalli

  Busan craft brewery taproom steps from Gwangalli Beach and its lit-up bridge.

  Tip Grab a seat facing Gwangan Bridge for the night light show.

  DrinkGwangalli$$1.5 hrNight