South Korea is a place where dynastic palaces stand beside LED billboards, and markets run late into the night with sizzling tteokbokki and grilled short rib. Once a peninsula of warring kingdoms and the epicenter of the Korean Wave, it now welcomes travelers with efficient transit, deep-rooted traditions, and an obsession with good food and design.

Your week splits between Seoul and Busan—Seoul for Joseon history, design-forward neighborhoods, and world-class dining; Busan for sea breezes, mountain-meets-ocean hiking, and the country’s largest fish market. Expect punctual trains, cashless convenience, and cafes so photogenic you’ll linger longer than planned.

Practical notes: Pick up a T-money transit card on arrival for subways and buses; tap-to-pay is common. Pack for the season—humid summers, crisp autumns, cold winters, and a floral spring. Bring your passport for DMZ tours, and come hungry: BBQ, bibimbap, milmyeon, and live markets are all on the menu.

Seoul

Seoul is the country’s high-energy capital, where hanok lanes slope toward teahouses and fashion-forward districts pulse with street performers. Five grand palaces, riverside bike paths, and a network of markets show a city that cooks, studies, shops, and plays late.

• Top sights: Gyeongbokgung and its guard ceremony, Bukchon Hanok Village, Namsan Seoul Tower, Cheonggyecheon Stream, and COEX’s Starfield Library.
• Food focus: Gwangjang Market for bindaetteok and mayak gimbap; Mapo and Euljiro for BBQ; Ikseon-dong for modern Korean bistros and teahouses.
• Fun fact: The Han River has 30+ riverside parks and convenience-store terraces where locals picnic with fried chicken after sunset.

Where to stay: Search stays near Myeong-dong (shopping), Insadong/Jongno (historic core), or Hongdae (youthful vibe) via VRBO Seoul or Hotels.com Seoul.

How to get in: Fly into Incheon (ICN) and compare fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Into the city, use AREX, taxi, or prebooked shuttles.

Day 1: Arrival, Palaces-at-Dusk, and a Hanok Stroll

Afternoon: Land in Seoul and check in. Ease into the city with a wander through Insadong’s galleries and teahouses. Pop into a traditional teahouse for yujacha (citron tea) and yakgwa cookies, then browse stationery and ceramics along the main drag and side alleys.

Evening: Walk to Cheonggyecheon Stream for lantern-lit paths and bridges. For dinner, try Korean BBQ in Mapo at a local favorite like a charcoal-grill spot serving beef galbi and pork neck—learn the flow: lettuce wrap, ssamjang, slivers of garlic, and kimchi. Nightcap at a small bar in Ikseon-dong or a dessert café serving bingsu (shaved ice) with seasonal fruit.

Day 2: DMZ Context and Old Seoul Flavors

Morning: Join a guided visit to the frontier that shaped modern Korea. Book the Best DMZ Tour Korea from Seoul (Red Suspension Bridge Optional). Bring a passport; itineraries may adjust for security or weather.

Afternoon: Back in Seoul, graze Gwangjang Market. Order bindaetteok (mung-bean pancake) fried to order, mayak gimbap with a soy-mustard dip, and hand-cut kalguksu noodles from vendors made famous by food shows. Stroll to Bukchon Hanok Village for tiled roofs and artisan workshops; be respectful—this is a living neighborhood.

Evening: Dinner in Ikseon-dong’s narrow lanes: pick a modern hansik bistro serving seasonal jeongshik tasting menus, or try dakhanmari (whole chicken hotpot) with scallion, dipping sauces, and kkakdugi radish kimchi. For dessert, visit Café Onion Anguk in a refurbished hanok for signature pandoro pastries and excellent espresso.

Day 3: Royal Seoul Highlights and Night Market Bites

Morning: Cover the icons with a guide on the Seoul City Sightseeing Tour—Jogyesa Temple, Gyeongbokgung Palace with the guard ceremony, and the National Folk Museum.

Afternoon: Continue to Namsangol Hanok Village for period homes and crafts, then ascend N Seoul Tower for a panoramic sweep of the city’s skyline and the Han River. Snack on hotteok (brown sugar–filled pancakes) near Myeong-dong between stops.

Evening: Dive into the Night Market Food Tour in Seoul for a guided feast—tteokbokki, soondae (blood sausage), twigim (K-style tempura), and makgeolli rice wine—wrapped in stories of how markets fueled the city’s late-night culture.

Day 4: Contemporary Seoul—Hongdae, Yeonnam, and Gangnam

Morning: Coffee-hop in Yeonnam-dong’s Gyeongui Line Forest Park. Try a specialty roastery for pour-overs and a bakery for soboro buns. Wander artful alleys to Hongdae for street murals, indie shops, and buskers.

Afternoon: Head south to COEX in Gangnam. Photograph Starfield Library’s soaring book walls, then cross to Bongeunsa Temple for a tranquil counterpoint to the mall’s buzz. Lunch on samgyeopsal (pork belly) sets or a handmade mandu spot nearby.

Evening: Dine in Sinsa’s Garosu-gil at a contemporary Korean spot plating jang-aged seafood or doenjang-infused pastas. Cap the night with noraebang (karaoke) or a sleek cocktail bar doing soju infusions and Korean botanicals.

Busan

Busan sprawls between green hills and a glittering coastline, a city of beaches, temples perched over waves, and Korea’s busiest fish market. It’s relaxed yet lively—think sunrise swims, afternoon hikes, and sashimi dinners with sea views.

• Top sights: Haedong Yonggungsa seaside temple, Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches, Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi Market, and the Songdo Skywalk.
• Food focus: Dwaeji-gukbap (pork soup rice), eomuk fish cakes, hoe (raw fish), and Busan-style milmyeon (wheat noodles in chilled broth).
• Fun fact: Busan’s Gwangan Bridge lights up with color shows at night, best seen from Gwangalli cafes or The Bay 101 deck.

Where to stay: Base in Haeundae (beach vibes), Gwangalli (bridge views), or Nampo (markets, old town) via VRBO Busan or Hotels.com Busan.

Getting there from Seoul: Take the KTX from Seoul Station to Busan Station (~2.5–3 hours, from about $45–60 one-way). Check schedules and fares on Trip.com Trains.

Day 5: KTX to Busan, Gamcheon Colors, and Bridge Lights

Morning: Depart Seoul on the KTX. Grab a station breakfast—gimbap rolls and canned coffee—and enjoy countryside views sliding into seaside Busan. Check in near Nampo or Haeundae.

Afternoon: Lunch at Jagalchi Market: choose a stall for hoe (raw fish), abalone, or grilled mackerel; upstairs restaurants will slice your selection and serve with lettuce wraps and gochujang. Continue to Gamcheon Culture Village for hillside lanes, pastel houses, and small studios selling prints and ceramics.

Evening: Head to Gwangalli Beach. Sip an americano at a beachfront cafe as the Gwangan Bridge light show begins. Dinner at a local spot specializing in dwaeji-gukbap—rich pork broth poured over rice with chives, saeujeot (salted shrimp), and chili; it’s the soul food of Busan.

Day 6: Private Best-of-Busan Day

Morning: Meet a guide for a tailored circuit on the Busan Private Tour with licensed tour guide + private vehicle. Typical routes include Haedong Yonggungsa Temple—stone steps down to waves—and Haeundae’s coastal paths.

Afternoon: Continue to Songdo Skywalk for ocean panoramas and glass-floor thrills, then stop by Bupyeong Kkangtong Night Market area for street snacks if time allows. Ask your guide for a coffee stop at a cliffside cafe overlooking the sea.

Evening: Dinner at Millak Raw Fish Center near Gwangalli: pick fresh sashimi downstairs, then carry it to a higher floor restaurant for a sea-view spread with perilla leaves, radish sprouts, and chilled beer. Alternatively, grill marinated galbi at a neighborhood spot and finish with cold makguksu buckwheat noodles.

Day 7: Spa, Noodles, and Departure

Morning: Unwind at Spa Land in Shinsegae Centum City—jjimjilbang rooms, onsen-style baths, and quiet lounges. If you prefer outdoors, take a brisk walk along Haeundae Beach or the Dalmaji Hill road for pine-framed sea views.

Afternoon: Slurp a farewell bowl of milmyeon—chewy wheat noodles in chilled beef broth with spicy sauce and sliced brisket—then depart from Busan Station (KTX back to Seoul if needed) or Gimhae Airport. Check fares on Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com.

Optional Add-Ons and Swaps

• Nature day from Seoul: Consider a scenic escape to Nami Island and the Garden of Morning Calm on the Nami Island & Garden of Morning Calm Tour if you extend a day in Seoul.

  

• History hub from Busan: With more time, take a full-day trip to Silla-era temples and royal tombs in Gyeongju.

Getting Around and Trip Logistics

• Trains: Use Trip.com Trains to check KTX schedules for Seoul–Busan (~2.5–3 hours).
• Flights: Compare domestic and international fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com.
• Transit: Grab a T-money card for subways/buses; taxis are abundant and metered. Most cafes and shops accept cards and mobile pay.

This 7-day Seoul and Busan itinerary layers royal history, street food safaris, and sea-sprayed viewpoints with fast trains and easy planning. You’ll leave with a camera roll of palaces and beaches—and a new obsession with kimchi, BBQ, and Busan’s comforting noodle soups.