10 Day South Korea Itinerary: Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan & Jeju

10 Day South Korea Itinerary: Seoul, Gyeongju, Busan & Jeju

South Korea is a fusion of bustling cities, cultural heritage, incredible nature, and tranquil temples. I’ve wanted to visit ever since I fell in love with the cuisine and this trip exceeded my expectations.

After finally visiting, I can honestly say that 10 days in South Korea gave me an amazing introduction to the country.

This South Korea itinerary takes you from the bright lights and historic palaces of Seoul to the ancient city of Gyeongju, the beaches and coastal temples of Busan, and the volcanic landscapes of Jeju Island.

It’s an action packed itinerary, but it gives you the chance to experience several very different sides of South Korea in just 10 days.

Day 1 – Arriving in Seoul & Korean BBQ

Your South Korea adventure starts in Seoul, the country’s energetic capital.

After arriving, I recommend keeping your first day relatively relaxed. Depending on your flight time, you are likely to be tired. We arrived in the evening. and decided to head out for a late-night Korean BBQ experience. Delicious Korean food? What more could I ask for?The hotel we stayed at was L7 Myeongdong, which is a really convenient base for exploring Seoul. The area has a fun vibe with a ton of  restaurants, shops, cafés and street food. 

Day 2 – Seoul: Namsan Tower & Gyeongbokgung Palace

Start your first full day in Seoul with one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks Namsan Tower.

If you’re a fan of K dramas, you’ll probably recognise Namsan Seoul Tower immediately!

We headed to the top in the cable cars and enjoyed the panoramic views of the skyline from outside. Once we went inside the tower, it was amazing to see a 360 view of Seoul. You get a completely different perspective of just how enormous Seoul is.Lunch was at a local Ginseng Chicken restaurant. As I previously mentioned, I LOVE Korean food. It really is what inspired us to finally book this trip. This was such a comforting and warm dish, pretty simple but worth trying once.

After lunch, we headed to Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the most famous historic sites in Seoul. It feels like stepping back in time watching the Royal Guard Changing Ceremony.

Walking around the Palace, you get a real sense of the history and culture of Korea. This is a great place to dress up in Korean Hanboks, you’ll see a lot of people at the Palace wearing traditional clothes – it’s beautiful. Of course, I had to get involved, you don’t need to ask me twice to dress up.Day 3 – Seoul: Visiting the DMZ

Day three was one of the most memorable experiences of the trip: visiting the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

This is an early start, so be prepared for a long day. We had to leave the hotel at 4am to arrive on time for our DMZ tour. Thankfully there are several places to grab food at the DMZ visitor centre, so we were able to have breakfast whilst waiting to enter.Once we had our confirmed time to enter the DMZ, we met up with a North Korean defector in the visitor centre. This was such an eye-opening experience, to hear first hand of the experience living – and escaping – North Korea. It makes you understand your own privilege and gain an understanding of the tragic history separating these countries.It is a heavy topic and after our conversation, we had lunch to fuel up for our visit to the tunnels underneath. We went down the tunnels and although it’s interesting to understand the political implications of this – it’s a damp tunnel and the walk back uphill is pretty tough.Unfortunately, on the day we visited it was raining and misty, so the observatory was a bit of a let-down. Normally you can view North Korea through the binoculars and from the viewing deck. They have a village on the border of the DMZ, which is thought to be a propaganda village.Overall, I think it’s always important to understand the history of a country and I would say visiting the DMZ is absolutely worth it. For me our Q&A with a defector from the North was a fascinating part of the day and made up for the poor weather and visibility.

However, it isn’t a light-hearted sightseeing day. The history is complex and often difficult, so go prepared for a more serious experience than the rest of your South Korea itinerary.

Day 4 – Gyeongju: Hanok Stay & Historic Korea

This morning, we said goodbye to Seoul and hello to Gyeongju where we would be staying in a traditional Hanok!

Gyeongju was once the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom and is known for its incredible collection of historical sites.We stayed at Hwangnamkwan Hanok Guesthouse – I immediately fell in love with this charming little town, surrounded by nature with such darling traditional buildings all around.Once checked in we walked around the main area enjoying the atmosphere and stopped for some lunch. I would say it is slightly touristy, but not in a bad way. There are so many street food stands and cute little stores. This is where I first tried Hotteok and I was instantly hooked – an absolute must try!We then went out on a bicycle ride around the city, stopping at ancient sites and enjoying nature. We actually upgraded so we could do the electric bike which was a lot of fun! We made our way to the Folk Village where we found an ancient tea house to enjoy a refreshing drink. It’s truly a magical feeling to be walking around such ancient and traditional style buildings – it really is like stepping back in time.We saw the iconic Woljeonggyo Bridge, it is truly a beautiful location. I can see why it’s one of the most photographed places in the country!We had another delicious dinner, but it was a special dining experience – a traditional set meal in a Hanok! This is known as a Hanjeongsik set and I would say it’s a must try during your time in Korea. You’re able to try so many new dishes (even if you don’t like them, it’s worth trying). Some of the flavours were like nothing I had tried before – specifically acorn jelly, I wasn’t a fan but the number of dishes to try was incredible. We washed it all down with a few glasses of Makgeolli, a traditional rice wine.After our incredible dining experience, we walked along to Anapji Pond to take in the night-time views. It felt magical, a great end to a wonderful evening.

Day 5 – Golgulsa Temple Stay

After a surprisingly comfortable night sleep (you sleep on the floor in a Hanok) we grabbed a traditional breakfast, which again, was incredible.We headed out of the city towards Golgulsa Temple in the mountains where we are doing a temple stay for one night. The temple is located in the mountains outside Gyeongju and offers visitors the opportunity to experience aspects of Korean Buddhist temple life.

Upon arrival, you change into temple clothes, and were assigned our rooms. They were very basic and included sleeping on the floor again but it was clean and comfortable.We joined in with an archery lesson, which was a lot as fun – let me tell you it’s not as easy as it looks!

We then went for a communal lunch. The meals at the temple are all vegetarian and you are encouraged to only take a portion you can finish. You’re also required to clean your own dishes. The food was still very tasty, and I enjoyed the culture of self sufficiency and no waste.We then walked up to the temple at the top of the hill to watch a Sunmundo exhibition. The people in the temple often train this Korean martial art, they are very skilled. After this, we had the opportunity to try it out for ourselves. It was quite intense, but enjoyable and finished with a relaxing meditation session.A communal dinner was once again made for us. It was lovely to be able to chat with different people who are staying there.If you’re looking for something completely different from the usual Seoul-Busan itinerary, I’d definitely consider adding a temple stay.

Day 6 – Busan: KTX, Korean Cooking & Haedong Yonggungsa

There was the opportunity to wake up at sunrise for a meditation experience with the monks, we decided to sleep a little longer and go for a relaxing breakfast.

It was an exciting morning as we took the bullet train to Busan! It is crazy how efficient and cool these trains are, not only that but you can get the best snacks in the train station.

Upon arrival, we checked in at our hotel Youngmu Parade Hotel. The rooms were spacious and clean, I cannot tell you what a treat it was to have a large comfy bed after two nights sleeping on the floor.We then went to a Korean cooking class to make our own lunch! This is an activity that you might not think to book, but truly was one of the best experiences we had. The chef showed us the dishes we were going to cook and then we got to give it a go ourselves.

We made Kimchi jeon (Kimchi pancakes) and Kimbap. Two iconic Korean dishes. It was a lot easier than I had anticipated and the end result eating the lunch we had made was so lovely. We then visited such a beautiful temple by the coast – Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, where we wandered around and took in the views at our leisure. In the evening, we decided to visit a Korean jjimjilbang at Spa Land. Korean jjimjilbangs are large bathhouse and sauna complexes, with communal areas, hot rooms, saunas and relaxation spaces. It’s probably slightly different than a spa experience you’re used to, but exactly what we needed during our busy itinerary, it’s a great place to relax and unwind. They also had a ramen restaurant in the spa, which is what we had for dinner. Ramen is soooo good in Korea, there are an insane number of choices. I know it’s instant noodles, but the banchan are free and you can customise as much as you want. There was a free sikhye drink included in our entrance fee.

Day 7 – Busan: Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square & the Coast

Our second day in Busan was spent exploring, we first went on the Songdo Marine Cable Car for amazing views over the city and ocean. We were able to walk around and enjoy the natural environment, unfortunately the weather was quite changeable during the time we visited but I imagine during summer it would be amazing to spend time at the beaches here.

We had some free time in BIFF Square where we grabbed lunch and did a little shopping. This area is filled with amazing restaurants and street food, you can find literally anything you would want. We had Army stew, which is such a hearty dish filled with a great mix of ingredients. Then it was time to shop, if you’re interested in K beauty, this is the place for you! I found a lot of great beauty stores and got a bargain or two, I came home with a lot of sheet masks. After that we visited Gamcheon village, one of Busan’s most photographed attractions.

The colourful houses are built into the hillside, creating a distinctive landscape that’s very different from the rest of the city.

It’s fun to wander around, take photographs and browse the cute shops.

Personally, I wouldn’t dedicate an entire day to Gamcheon Culture Village, but I definitely think it’s worth including while you’re exploring Busan.

Luckily the weather cleared up for us to enjoy an evening on the water. We went out on a catamaran to enjoy the views of Busan at night – the city lights are so pretty from on board. There was also a drone show, it sounds a bit weird, but it was such an amazing way to wrap up our time in Busan.

Day 8 – Jeju Island: Yacht Trip & Coastal Views

We flew over to Jeju island on this morning, it’s crazy because you leave the bustling city of Busan and an hour later you’re on a tropical island of Jeju!

Jeju is famous for its distinctive volcanic scenery, beaches and unique culture, including the haenyeo women divers.

We checked into our phenomenal hotel, Parnas Hotel Jeju. The rooms were pristine and it has beautiful panoramic views over the coastline. Then we headed out for yacht sailing to take in this stunning island from the water and partake in fishing out on the ocean. One thing to note about Jeju is that the island is famously quite windy – it was a rough trip out on the yacht! The coastline was absolutely beautiful and the water was an incredible shade of blue. It was still a memorable experience, but if you suffer from seasickness, check the weather before heading out.

We had a free evening and found a nearby restaurant to try some Jeju seafood dishes.

Day 9 – Jeju: Olle Trail & Seongsan Ilchulbong

We woke up and enjoyed a delicious breakfast at the hotel – it was a great fusion of Korean and western dishes, and we were ready to explore the island.We embarked on a walk along the Jeju Olle Trail, this incredible path brings you along the coast of the island really giving you the opportunity to enjoy the natural splendour of Jeju.

The Olle Trail network is one of the best ways to experience the island on foot, with routes taking you through coastal scenery, villages, forests and countryside.

You’ll want to stop all of the time to take in the beautiful views of crystal-clear waters, volcanic peaks and waterfalls. After a gorgeous morning walking in the sunshine, we stopped at Olle Market to grab a spot of lunch. We wandered around the market and ended up trying something from one of the stands. I so wish I could have brought home a ton of the kimchi – they had so many varieties, it looked tasty! Then we made our way to Sangumburi Crater, which had such beautiful views of rolling fields and great to see this natural monument. It was a peaceful contrast to the busy cities we’d visited earlier in the trip.We finished the day at Seongsan Ilchulbong, also known as Sunrise Peak.

Seongsan Ilchulbong is a volcanic tuff cone and one of Jeju’s best-known natural landmarks. The hike provides incredible views across the island, a must do.

Day 10 – Back to Seoul

We woke up early and headed to the airport, we had a morning flight back to Seoul and our onward flight was booked for the same evening.

Unfortunately, the weather had different plans for us, and all flights were cancelled due to high winds – this is where I would caution everyone to building in extra time for your travel plans. Apparently, this is very common for high winds to cancel flights from Jeju.

We ended up spending all day in the airport rescheduling multiple flights, until we were able to fly back to Seoul on the evening. However, I was quite happy to have another day in Seoul and we indulged in some more incredible Korean food, plus checked out a sheep café – café culture here is next level!

The Verdict

I think you can tell we packed a lot of activities and experiences into this 10 day South Korea itinerary, making it a perfect trip for first time visitors. You’re able to get a real insight into the country and how different the regions are. I left wanting to return – there is still so much to see and do!

If you’re planning your first trip, I’d use this itinerary as a starting point rather than a strict schedule. Move things around depending on your interests, the season and how quickly you like to travel.