K-Drama Adventures in South Korea: Seoul, Gangneung & Jeju Island - 9 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Myeongdong Street Food Tour

Welcome to Seoul! You'll spend the next nine days living out your K-drama fantasies, starting in the South Korean capital. Located in the north of this small country, Seoul is a sprawling megalopolis that is known for striking a balance between nature and metropolitan sprawl. K-drama and Korean films were born here, which is one reason why the city has earned the nickname "Hollywood." A driver will be waiting at the airport to take you to your accommodation. Take a few hours to recover from jet lag and relax at the hotel before heading out into the streets for your first taste of Korean street food.

Myeongdong is a legendary street food spot in Seoul. Spend the rest of your first day eating your way through this vibrant neighborhood, tucked in the center of the city. A tangle of neon and skyscrapers, you'll hop between steaming street stalls, peddling everything from egg bread to kimchi dumplings, before heading inside traditional restaurants known for specialties like kalguksu and dak galbi. You'll end the tour feeling thoroughly satiated and excited for what's to come.

Day 2: K-Drama Film Locations & Seoul Highlights Excursion

Today, it's time to dive head first into all things K-Drama on a tour of Seoul's famous filming locations. Your first stop is the palace of Gyeongbokgung, the seat of Korean royalty for hundreds of years. Watch the changing of the guard ceremony at the striking Gwanghwamun Gate. You'll also have plenty of time to explore the grounds, strolling past pavilions and ornate buildings. K-drama fanatics will recognize scenes from popular series like "Queen In-Hyun's Man" and "The Moon Embracing the Sun." The National Folk Museum, located on the palace grounds, is also on the docket and provides greater context for Korean history and heritage through interactive exhibits. 

Continue your tour of Seoul's historic sites at the Bukchon Hanok Village. Once a neighborhood for the Joseon Dynasty's elite, Seoulites still live in the traditional homes today. Admire their stone walls, sloping tile roofs, and wooden design elements, all perched on a hill that overlooks the city and N Seoul Tower in the distance. Those familiar with "You Who Came From the Stars" and "The Heir" will recognize this iconic cluster of houses. If you've worked up an appetite, you're in luck because the next stop is Gwangjang Market for street food delights like bindaetteok, crispy fried mungbean pancakes, and tangy tteokbokki, before stopping by Dongdaemun for a bit of retail therapy.

Day 3: Visit COEX Aquarium, N Seoul Tower & Itaewon

The morning is free today to spend however you'd like before heading out with your guide around noon. Head off the beaten path to the ginkgo-lined streets of Garosu-gil, one of Seoul's trendy neighborhoods with cafés galore. You'll have time here to grab lunch and do a little shopping before heading to Starfield COEX Mall. This sprawling complex is home to the COEX Aquarium with 90 different exhibits, including shark and penguin feeding, a mermaid experience, and South Korea's largest shark habitat.

Get a birds-eye view of the city next at the N Seoul Tower, also known as Namsan Tower. This lush park, situated on the edge of the city, is the highest peak in the center of Seoul. You can reach the top via a beautiful but arduous hike or by cable car. Head for the love lock fence to relive moments from K-dramas like "You Who Came From the Stars" and "My Lovely Samsoon." End the day in another charming enclave, Itaewon, known for its cosmopolitan feel and raucous nightlife. You'll have plenty of time to recreate scenes from "Itaewon Class" at Old Danbam Restaurant and the Noksapyeong Bridge. 

Day 4: Transfer to Gangneung via Garden of Morning Calm, Petite France & Nami Island

Today, you'll transfer from Seoul to the eastern city of Gangeung, making stops along the way to check out more famous K-drama sets. Stroll through the Garden of Morning Calm first, appearing in "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" and "She Was Pretty." These gardens were specifically planted to complement each season through blooms or architectural features. Several festivals celebrate the striking foliage and flowers throughout the year, including a cherry blossom celebration and winter light festival. You'll have 20 separate garden areas with over 5,000 plants to discover. 

You might feel as though you've been transported to Europe this afternoon on a visit to Petite France and Italia Village. Featured in the K-drama "My Love From the Star" and many others, Petite France is a charming stop that resembles the colorful villages of southern France. Peace and tranquility await you on your final stop of the day, Nami Island. Surrounded by the North Han River, this quiet respite is a popular day trip for city dwellers, with a flourish of cherry blossoms in spring and scarlet maple trees in autumn. It also happens to be the background for "Winter Sonata." Your day will end in coastal Gangneung, with about three hours of drive time in total.

Day 5: Tour of K-Drama Filming Locations in Gangneung

It's all about following the K-drama trail in Gangeung today. Set the scene at Jumunjin Breakwater, famous for its scene in "Goblin: The Lonely and Great God." This strip of concrete that juts into the ocean provides dramatic scenery and plenty of fans recreating shots. Afterward, you'll head for Gyeongpo Beach, a stretch of powdered sugar sand flanked by the cerulean sea that stretches in front of the city skyline.

Satiate your growling stomach back at Gangneung Jungang Market, where seafood is the name of the game. Perched on South Korea's east coast, squid is a local specialty, along with a bounty of other fresh seafood options. You'll also find steaming bowls of makguksu (buckwheat noodles) and dak-gangjeong (sweet-and-spicy chicken). Finish your day exploring Gangneung at Haslla Art World. Set on 27 acres (11 ha), overlooking the ocean, there are multiple exhibits to explore, including an outdoor sculpture park and interactive, indoor art galleries. 

Day 6: Transfer to Jeju Island, Free Time to Explore

Day six is all about your journey to reach South Korea's paradise island, Jeju. Head out from Gangneung early this morning to get back to Seoul in time for your flight. The drive takes about 3.5 hours without traffic, and you'll have plenty of time to catch the plane to Jeju. Jeju-do is the most popular vacation spot in all of South Korea and you'll soon see why. After a short, one-hour flight, you'll land on this mountainous isle known for tangerines, epic hikes, and, of course, K-drama.

Enjoy the rest of the day, choosing to do whatever suits your fancy. You might want to relax on one of the island's striking stretches of sand, like Hamdeok Beach or Hyeopjae Beach, as the next few days will be jam-packed itineraries. For adventurous travelers, the Manjanggul Lava Tubes offer an otherworldly experience as you descend into the heart of the island and learn more about its volcanic past. History buffs will want to make a beeline for the captivating Jeju Stone Park and its stoic statues known as stone grandpas, or dol hareubang, carved hundreds of years ago.

Day 7: Seongsan Ilchulbong, Seopjikoji & Seongeup Folk Village Excursion

Start your first full day on Jeju at the UNESCO-listed Seongan Ilchulbong. Affectionately referred to as "Sunrise Peak," this rocky outcrop overlooks the island and can be seen from various vantage points around Jeju. Over 100,000 years old, the archetypal tuff cone has a grassy crater at its center, and you can walk along its sheer cliffs for a better perspective on its creation. You'll continue exploring more of Jeju's geographic features at Seopjikoji, a rocky stretch of coastline and a white lighthouse. This scenery has appeared in countless K-dramas, including "Orange Marmalade" and "Squid Game."

The Seongeup Folk Village, with its residential charms, is up next. Here, you'll see what life was like on Jeju over 100 years ago. Walk the streets, exploring the traditional thatched roof homes and stone fences. One of K-drama's most famous historical dramas, "De Jang Geum," was filmed here. Head back to Jeju City in the afternoon to visit the Dongmun Traditional Market, the largest on the island. This colorful, bustling market is chock-full of mouthwatering food stalls, with octopus-stuffed mandu dumplings and the local specialty, black pork. Don't forget to grab tangerine-themed souvenirs to take home. 

Day 8: Visit Hallasan National Park, Green Tea Plantation & K-Drama Film Sites

Kick off your last day of hunting for K-drama filming locations in Hallasan National Park. The tallest peak in the entire country, Hallasan, is actually a dormant volcano and the site of several K-dramas. Climb up to the observation deck for sprawling views of the entire island and wildflowers along the way before heading back down the mountain to the Osulloc Green Tea Plantation. You can walk the rows of fragrant tea bushes, admiring Jeju's largest green tea grower, before popping into the Green Tea Museum to taste a piping hot cup of fresh tea and learn more about the harvesting process.

With a little more pep in your step, you're off to the Teddy Bear Museum next. Featured in the K-drama "Goong," each exhibit features teddy bears acting out famous artworks, including the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper." In the afternoon, it's time for one last adventure in the great outdoors at Jusangjeoli Cliff. Admire the unusual volcanic rock formations that seem to flow into the ocean, a leftover from one of Hallasan's eruptions. Your final stop is at the striking Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. 

Day 9: Fly to Seoul, Depart

Say your goodbyes to Jeju this morning as you fly back to Seoul, where you'll catch your flight home or continue on to your next destination. Wave goodbye to your K-drama dreams as they slip away beneath the clouds below.