7 days in Korea: Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan
A week is enough to see the three places most first-time visitors want: the capital, the ancient Silla capital at Gyeongju, and Busan on the coast. The KTX makes it simple: Seoul to Gyeongju is about two hours, Gyeongju to Busan half an hour, and you can fly home from Busan or be back in Seoul in under three hours.
The shape of the week
- Days 1–3, Seoul. Palaces, markets, neighbourhoods. Arrange the days around the palace closing days.
- Day 4, a day out of Seoul. The DMZ, Suwon or Nami Island.
- Days 5–6, Gyeongju, with one night there: tombs, temples and the lit pond.
- Day 7, Busan. Old town and coast, then fly out from Gimhae or take the KTX back to Seoul.
Day by day
| Day 1 | Arrive, get connected and settle in. An evening in Myeongdong or Hongdae. See Incheon Airport to Seoul and where to stay. |
|---|---|
| Days 2–3 | The palaces, Bukchon, Insadong and the markets, then the river and a night view. The 3 days in Seoul route is built for this and handles the Monday and Tuesday closures. |
| Day 4 | A day trip: the DMZ for history, Suwon for the fortress, or Nami Island in autumn. The day trips guide has twelve to choose from. |
| Day 5 | Morning KTX to Gyeongju, about two hours from Seoul Station. The tombs, Cheomseongdae and Hwangnidan-gil on foot, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit up after dark. |
| Day 6 | Bulguksa and Seokguram in the morning, then the train to Busan in the afternoon. See 2 days in Gyeongju. |
| Day 7 | Gamcheon, Jagalchi and the coast at Haeundae or Gwangalli; see 2 days in Busan. Add a night here if you can. |
Variations
- Autumn: swap Day 4 for Seoraksan or Nami Island at the peak of the colour. See the autumn foliage guide.
- Winter: replace Day 4 with a ski day. See skiing in Korea.
- K-pop trip: build the Seoul days around the show and check the venue guide for where to stay.
- Food and hanok: swap Gyeongju for Jeonju, under two hours from Seoul.
- Ten days: add Jeju by a one-hour flight. See 3 days in Jeju.
Practical notes
- Book KTX seats on the Korail app a few days ahead; weekend and holiday trains sell out.
- Gyeongju’s KTX station is outside the town centre. Allow 20–30 minutes by bus or taxi.
- Check the festival calendar for your dates in the Trip Planner. A lantern festival or fireworks night can be the highlight of the week.
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