Highlights
- Shop through the 12 levels of Seoul's famous Hyundai City Outlets
- Wander the historical streets of charming Andong
- Ride the Sky Capsule in Busan for incredible views of the city and ocean
- Savor the views from atop Jeju Island's "Sunrise Peak"
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Incheon, Transfer to Seoul, Myeongdong Street Food Tour | Seoul |
| Day 2 | Historic Sites of Seoul, Explore Hongdae | Seoul |
| Day 3 | Shopping Tour of Seoul, Photo Session at Dream On Studio | Seoul |
| Day 4 | Korean War Memorial Tour | Seoul |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Andong, Tour Andong Hahoe Village & Byeongsan Seowon | Andong |
| Day 6 | Transfer to Gyeongju, Historic Gyeongju Tour | Gyeongju |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Busan, Visit Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square & Jagalchi Market | Busan |
| Day 8 | Temples, Trams & Markets in Busan, Gwangalli Night Food Tour | Busan |
| Day 9 | Fly to Jeju Island, Explore Dongmun Traditional Market | Jeju Island |
| Day 10 | Jeju Island Western & Southern Routes Sightseeing Tour | Jeju Island |
| Day 11 | Jeju Island Eastern & Northern Routes Culture Exploration | Jeju Island |
| Day 12 | Udo Island Day Trip, Snorkeling on Jeju Island | Jeju Island |
| Day 13 | Free Morning on Jeju Island, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Incheon, Transfer to Seoul, Myeongdong Street Food Tour
Welcome to South Korea! Touch down in the dizzying capital, Seoul, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Get your first glimpse of this futuristic metropolis, a sprawling mass of towering skyscrapers set against decorative Buddhist temples, landscaped sculpture parks, and mazelike street markets. Fashion, tech, and karaoke loom large in Seoul, alongside historical palaces and museums.
Settle in and then spend the rest of the day resting at your hotel or exploring the neon streets of the city. Enjoy a cozy afternoon in one of the many themed cafés, which range from board game venues to cat cafés, wander around the artistic Mural Village, or visit a jjimjilbang (bathhouse) to soak in hot pools.
Save the evening for a self-guided tour of Myeongdong, home to the best street food in Seoul. It's hard to go wrong with any of the tasty bites in this area, but a must-try is kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), which is especially delicious paired with garlicky kimchi (fermented and salted vegetables).
Day 2: Historic Sites of Seoul, Explore Hongdae
Meet your guide this morning for a full-day city tour. Step back in time at the palace of Gyeongbokgung, a complex built in 1395 CE and restored in the 19th century. Considered among the most beautiful of Seoul's five grand palaces, you'll tour some of its grounds, including 50 buildings, 7,700 rooms, and over 90 acres (40 ha), uncovering the history of South Korea and its former rulers. Learn more about this history at the National Folk Museum and National Palace Museum, and get your camera ready for a guard-changing ceremony reenacting royal traditions.
Follow up with a visit to the historic Bukchon Hanok Village just outside the palace. Explore narrow streets where more than 900 restored, traditional hanoks (houses) now function as guesthouses, tea houses, and restaurants. Then, enjoy authentic Korean street food such as bibimbap (a rice-based dish) or mung bean pancakes for lunch at Gwangjang Market.
In the afternoon, explore the shops and cafés on the ultra-hip Hongdae Shopping Street. While there, you might want to visit the famous Korean hair salon SOONSIKI for some pampering and a fresh look (appointments are required in advance). Hit the hip cafés and clubs nearby afterward for a bite to eat and to show off your new 'do.
Day 3: Shopping Tour of Seoul, Photo Session at DreamOn Studio
Spend the morning exploring and shopping in some of Seoul's liveliest neighborhoods on a self-guided tour. Begin in Itaewon, known for its trendy boutiques, hip cafés, and numerous character shops. Then, head back to Myeongdong, the center of Seoul's retail and fashion world. Browse shops and department stores like Noon Square, A-Land, and Aritaum, selling luxury brands, Korean skincare, and cosmetics. Most department stores also have duty-free sections, ideal for purchasing tax-free items, from cosmetics to electronics, to take home.
Finally, visit Dongdaemun Market, a bustling wholesale and retail shopping district with malls and traditional markets. For the latest fashion, head to DOOTA Mall or Hello apM for the best prices. To experience a proper South Korean shopping mall, wander the 12 floors of Hyundai City Outlets.
In the afternoon, head to the DreamOn Studio for a fun, dreamy professional photography session. Fulfill your princess (or princely) fantasies with a room full of flowers or in a grove of trees, as you and the photographer design your ideal costumes and poses. (Note: sessions must be booked in advance).
Day 4: Korean War Memorial Tour
Today, join your guide for a 30-mile (44 km) drive up to the border between South and North Korea, known as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Delve into the complex history and tensions between the "two Koreas" that characterize the area to this day and highlight the importance of peace. Your tour starts at the Third Infiltration Tunnel, an invasion tool dug by North Korea and discovered by South Korea in 1978.
Next, you'll visit the Dora Observatory, where you can look through telescopes over North Korea and see sites, including the spooky Propaganda Village, People School, a statue of Kim Il Sung, and Geummamgol, a local cooperative farm. Finally, visit the Imjingak Resort Unification Park to gain insight into the history of the Korean War. Return with your guide to Seoul and spend the evening relaxing at your hotel.
Day 5: Transfer to Andong, Tour Andong Hahoe Village & Byeongsan Seowon
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Leave Seoul this morning and set off on a 2.5-hour transfer to historic Andong. On arrival, you'll meet your guide for a tour of the area, starting with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Andong Hahoe Folk Village on the Nakdong River. Explore the village's narrow alleyways and the Mask Museum, which displays masks from around the world. Then, board a river boat to Buyongdae Cliff at the end of the Taebaeksan Mountain Range. For an overhead view of the village, climb to Buyongdae's summit.
For lunch, sample an Andong specialty, heotjesabap, a traditional dish mixed in a rice bowl and made with grilled fish, Korean pancakes, veggies, and ganjang (soy sauce). Then, walk along a forest trail to the historic Confucian academy, Byeongsan Seowon, where you can learn more about South Korean history and admire the well-preserved architecture, including the Jondeoksa Shrine and Ipgyodang Lecture Hall. Check into your hotel in Andong and relax for the evening.
Day 6: Transfer to Gyeongju, Historic Gyeongju Tour
After breakfast at your hotel in Daegu, transfer for one hour to Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient Silla Kingdom (57 BCE to 935 CE). Today, it's nicknamed the "museum without walls." Immerse yourself in history by beginning your full-day tour at the beautiful Bulguksa temple, an eighth-century architectural wonder housing six national treasures, including the Dabotap and Seokgatap stone pagodas. Continue to the Seokguram Grotto on Mount Toham, home to a monumental Buddha statue facing the sea.
From the grotto, travel about one hour north to Tumuli Park, where you'll walk among 23 royal tombs within green hills, some of which were built in the fifth century. Visit the Cheonmachong tomb, created for an unknown Silla king, to see some of the ruler's ornamental jewelry. From the park, take a break for lunch, then step into one of the oldest astronomical observatories in Asia, Cheomseongdae Observatory, followed by a visit to the Gyeongju National Museum where you can admire Silla-era relics, such as a fourth-century gold crown.
In the evening, you'll finish the tour at the palace Donggung, once the site of state festivals and banquets in ancient times, and Wolji Pond to watch lights dance on the water. Afterward, have dinner at a local restaurant before heading to your hotel in Gyeongju.
Day 7: Transfer to Busan, Visit Gamcheon Village, BIFF Square & Jagalchi Market
In the afternoon, you'll head to Gamcheon Culture Village, the "Machu Picchu of Busan," known for its colorful traditional houses, unique street art, and pastries. Continue to BIFF Square, one of the best places in Busan, to sample local street food. The streets are lined with food stalls and vendors selling everything from tteokbokki (simmered rice cake) to hotteok (pancake with brown sugar and nut filling).
End the day with a visit to Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest fish market in South Korea. Trawl through its treasures, split between indoor and outdoor areas, from dried sea products to freshly-caught seafood and a range of fish, prawns, shellfish, lobster, and squid.
Day 8: Temples, Trams & Markets in Busan, Gwangalli Night Food Tour
Discover Busan's highlights on a full-day tour. Begin at the beautiful Haedong Yonggungsa temple on Busan's rugged coastline, then relax with a cup of tea at a local café. Take a stroll on the Cheongsapo Skywalk for even more incredible views, then head to Haeundae Blueline Park for a ride on the Haeundae Sky Capsule. You'll travel in a brightly colored capsule, like a retro-style car that seats four, on an elevated railway over the coastline. Enjoy the fun experience with spectacular sea, hill, and city views.
After lunch, walk along scenic Haeundae Beach and explore Dongbaek Island, a wooded island with beautiful nature trails and camellias. Visit the Nurimaru APEC House, a modern design of a traditional Korean pavilion, for spectacular views. Wander the walking trail to take in the scenic beauty along the sandy beach, then follow your guide to Haeundae Traditional Market to immerse yourself in local culture and pick up a few souvenirs.
Tonight, you'll set off on a Gwangalli night food tour with a guide. Feast on authentic Busan cuisine, like jangeo-gui (grilled eel) or bibim dangmyeon (boiled glass noodles with fish cakes), at a busy Korean restaurant. Afterward, take a walk on Gwangalli Beach to experience the bustling nightlife, treat yourself to tasty Korean street food (if you're not too full), and appreciate the spectacular night view of Busan with the dazzling Gwangan Bridge stretching across the water.
Day 9: Fly to Jeju Island, Explore Dongmun Traditional Market
Day 10: Jeju Island Western & Southern Routes Sightseeing Tour
Begin today's guided tour of Jeju's western and southern routes at the beautiful Gwakj Beach, known for its crystal-clear water. Walk along the Handam Coastal Trail to appreciate the views, then continue 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. In the afternoon, follow the trail along Mount Songak on the coast, for views of the famous volcano, Hallasan.
Then, head to Jusangjeoli Cliff on the island's south coast to see where lava from Hallasan erupted into the sea of Jungmun. In the afternoon, stroll through a tranquil forest to the 72-foot-high (22 m) Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. The name translates to "sky connected with land." End the day at the Seaweed Museum to learn about the history of Korean seaweed and sample some locally roasted seaweed. Another great activity is to observe the island's haenyeo (female divers), who make a living by free diving and harvesting seaweed and mollusks, like sea urchins, from the ocean.
Day 11: Jeju Island Eastern & Northern Routes Culture Exploration
Today, you'll discover Jeju's eastern and northern routes with your guide, beginning at the scenic Hamdeok Beach, known for its emerald sea and palm trees. Have a cup of tea at the famous Café Delmondo before heading to Ilchul Land, a cultural site that showcases the history, biology, and ecology of Jeju. Explore the lava tube of Micheon Cave, home to charming gardens and ponds. Nearby, stop at the Folk Village, a recreation of a traditional island town, then a bonsai garden and cactus greenhouse.
Next, travel to Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak), which seems to emerge directly from the sea on the island's eastern side, for spectacular ocean and sky views. Stop by the picturesque Seopjikoji coastline to see the otherworldly rock formations and charming lighthouse, and then learn about the island's culture at Seongeup Folk Village, a town of 3,000 thatched roof and lava rock homes passed down through generations. Learn folk songs in the local dialect, and see dol haruebangs ("grandfather made of stone" statues), which you can take home in miniature.
Day 12: Udo Island Day Trip, Snorkeling on Jeju Island
Start your day with an approximately 15-minute boat ride to nearby Udo Island (called "Cow Island" because of its shape) off Jeju's northeast coast. There, rent a bicycle or scooter to explore the island's beaches and sea caves. Try local specialties such as haemul ttukbaegi (hotpot seafood stew), peanut ice cream, hallabong juice, and abalone porridge.
After you've explored to your heart's content, take the boat back to Jeju, where you can relax or spend the afternoon exploring the underwater world with a snorkeling tour. Meet a guide, then head to the island's east coast, where the water is clearest, and get stunning views both above and below the water.
Day 13: Free Morning on Jeju Island, Depart
More Great South Korea Itineraries
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