A Very Efficient Korea Itinerary for 7 Days

Okay guys, I’ve done a few itinerary guides now, but I haven’t done the most classic one of them all — a Korea itinerary for 7 days or one week.

Just know, this isn’t my favorite length of time because it’s so fast. Minimum, I recommend spending 2 weeks in Korea and for the most complete trip, I recommend my one month itinerary. Of course, the absolute best length of time is teaching here for at least a year or more ;).

However, I’ve realized that a lot of people I know in real life usually schedule out exactly one week in Korea, and, of course, most people I know don’t get more than a week or two for vacation at a time. So, with that in mind, I thought I’d outline the perfect Korea itinerary for 7 days, including flying in and flying out! It’s a little hectic, and you won’t get to see everything, but you will get a nice taste of the country and see some of the big landmarks.

For more in-depth planning: Read these 50 South Korea travel tips as well as this trip planner guide for the random logistics!

A Very Efficient Korea Itinerary for 7 Days

Fly Into: Incheon International Airport

Your best bet is to get into Seoul early in the morning so you don’t lose a day just for travel. It’s probably going to be a struggle, but fight against the jet lag!

Incheon is the main international airport for Seoul and the rest of Korea. It’s honestly one of the best airports I’ve ever flown into or out of, and very tourist-friendly. They even have arrows on the ground to point you to the subway!

Transport: Get into the city via the subway or a shuttle bus. If you need to, book a private transfer ahead of time. Taxis are the most expensive option!

Day 1: Historic Seoul

Stay Overnight: Seoul. To be near the sightseeing stops, look around Insadong. Here are some quick options:

• SeoulStory Hanok $$ – Great option to try a hanok stay. Right between Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung.
• Four Seasons $$$ – Ultimate in luxury; right by Gwanghwamun Square.
• Grid Inn Hotel $ – Walking distance to Gwangjang Market and near Jongno-3ga Station, Exit 15. Great mid-range option; stayed here my last visit.
• Mini Hotel Insa $ – Super cute budget stay in Insadong.

Your first day in Seoul is going to be dedicated to everything historic! Much of the historic architecture you can find in the city, including its five grand palaces, are from the Joseon era. Spanning from 1392 to 1897, it was Korea’s last real royal dynasty and has played a huge part in establishing the country’s identity and modern culture.

Also, on a simpler note, it’s left some really beautiful buildings and landmarks.

Check-in & Eat Something

Drop your bags off at your hotel and then head to any restaurants nearby to grab something to eat and down a coffee. If you’re on the go, you can just pop into Paris Baguette, Tours Le Jours, or any of the Korean bakery chains to get a quick sandwich and coffee. No, it’s not the most delicious first meal, but it’ll do in a pinch. I honestly wouldn’t judge you if you just grabbed Starbucks – they reliably have milk alternatives and are still the only place I’ve found in Korea with good iced chai lattes.

Now… get reading for a lot of sightseeing in one go!

Stop 1: Gyeongbokgung

• Get There: Depending on where you’re staying you can either walk over or get a subway. The closest stops are Gyeongbokgung Station, Exit 5 or Gwanghwamun Station, Exit 2.

Gyeongbokgung opens at 9:00 AM year-round, so by the time you get into Seoul, drop your bags off, and eat something, it should be open. This is the main palace of Korea and also the largest. First built in 1395, it’s undergone a ton of renovation (thanks, Imperial Japan), and is just incredible.

Give yourself at least 2 hours – the palace grounds are huge. I’m pretty sure I spent 3 hours wandering around. If you also visit the National Palace Museum and National Folk Museum as well, it’ll be even longer. While you can do a tour (this one starts at 9:00 am), you can also pick up a map and do a self-guided tour as well.

I also recommend trying to time your visit with a changing of the guards at 10:00 AM; it’s a pretty cool sight to see.

Feeling extra? Rent a hanbok and do a whole photoshoot! Don’t worry, if there’s one country where selfies and photoshoots are encouraged, it’s Korea. Before selfie was even a word, there was selca.

KEEP IN MIND: Gyeongbokgung is closed on Tuesdays. If your itinerary starts on a Tuesday, swap Day 6 and 1. (This will also mean Changdeokgung is open since it’s closed on Mondays, which would be your Day 7).

Stop 2: Bukchon Hanok Village

• Get There: On foot

From Gyeongbokgung, walk over to to Bukchon Hanok Village. This is an example of traditional housing in Korea and just a charming area to walk around. I love popping into the shops and boutiques and just doing a little people watching. Stop into Green Mile Coffee to grab a drink and check out the views from their roof.

Also if you see signs for the observatory, go and pay! It’s run cute ajumma who owns the house, and she was so sweet both times I went. Most people are cheap and only want to see the main pathway in Bukchon, so it’s never been overly crowded in the observatory, and on a clear day you’ll get a view straight to Namsan Tower like above.

Also – stop into the Granhand shop! It has the best essential oils and fragrances; I pick up the same scent each time.

Stop 3: Insadong for Lunch

• Get there: On foot

If you’re hungry, this is a good time to stop for lunch. Go over to Insadong to find a restaurant and try some Korean food. I haven’t eaten too much around here, but I do have Imun Seolnongtang on my list as it’s the oldest restaurant in Korea. For vegetarians, try Oh Sae Gyae Hyang.

Stop 4: Changdeokgung

• Get there: On foot

Once you’re fueled up, time for palace #2! Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Really two palaces in a day?” But I promise, Changdeokgung is worth it. The palace grounds are cool but the real jewel is the palace’s “secret garden,” also called Huwon.

Here’s the kicker, though, you need a tour to see Huwon, aka the secret garden. If you want an English tour, aim for either 2:30 PM or 3:30 PM (available March – November) and book ahead or you run the risk of it selling out, especially around fall foliage season.

Check their website for all the info. It’s kind of complicated but not really. And give yourself time to get to Huwon’s entrance from the main gate.

Stop 5: Deoksugung from above

• Get There: From Changdeokgung, the easiest way is via bus. Get Bus 172 from the Changdeokgung,Seoul Donhwamun, Korean Traditional Music Hall Stop (창덕궁.서울돈화문국악당 정류장) and get off at Seosomun Stop (서소문 정류장)

By the time you finish, it should be close to golden hour. You’re going to see your 3rd palace but this time from a different angle! From Jeongdong Observatory, there’s a great aerial view of Deoksugung and Seoul City Hall. It’s really more of a cafe, and you’ll be joined by plenty of other observers, but it’s so worth it for the views, especially in autumn.

Stop 6: Dinner at Gwangjang Market (광장시장)

• Get There: Walk 6min to City Hall Station (시청역) and use Line 2. Get off at Euljiro-4ga Station (을지로4가). Then walk about 10 mins to the market entrance.

For your final stop of the day, get some dinner at Gwangjang Market. I finally visited on my last trip, and I actually really loved it! it’s bustling and fun but the food is actually quite good, and you’ll get to try a bunch of different dishes in one go.

If the name sounds familiar, it’s been featured on Netflix’s “Street Food” and the stands featured are still there with signs to let you know who they are.

Once you’re full, head back to your hotel, and collapse in exhaustion because this itinerary is not slowin’ down!

Day 2: Through Jeollabuk Province

Get breakfast and checkout fairly early, then head over to Seoul Station or Yongsan Station to get the KTX down south. I say KTX and not the other trains because it’s much faster, and at least for this stretch, it’s better to cut your travel time down by an hour.

If you leave from Seoul Station, aim to get the KTX that leaves at 9:46 am. If you leave from Yongsan, you can aim for 8:40 am, 9:55 am, or, at worst, 10:55 am. Check here for exact times, in case they change a bit. You can also book your tickets here too.

Stop 1: Jeonju

First stop is in Jeonju, the capital of the Jeollabuk province. The city was also the capital of the Hubaekje Kingdom (892-936) and the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty (Korea’s most definitive era).

You’re now in foodie country because, in my not so humble opinion, Korean food is leaps and bounds better here than anywhere else! It’s the country’s main agricultural center, and I was thoroughly spoiled getting to live in first Jeollabuk and then Jeollanam for three years. It’s to the point that I really don’t like eating Korean food in Seoul because it’s not as good, and all my friends and students agree.

ANYWAY, the two big things you want here are eat bibimbap and explore Jeonju’s Hanok Village. Store your luggage at the train station and then grab a taxi to the Hanok Village, which is where you can grab a lunch of bibimbap. I personally liked the bibimbap at Jongno Hwegwan 종로회관.

Walk off lunch by wandering around the village! It’s such a cute area, and I actually like it better than Bukchon because it’s more enclosed. The best view is if you climb up the small mountain nearby and look over the hanoks.

Stop 2: Namwon

You don’t have to do this if you’re exhausted, but I love Namwon, and it has the best food in the whole country (again, not so humble opinion), so I always recommend stopping here.

Grab a taxi back to Jeonju’s train station and then catch any of the trains down to Namwon. It’s fine to take the slower, cheaper trains now because the time difference isn’t that big!

You should get in around golden hour, so head over to Gwanghallu to see Namwon’s biggest attraction and learn about Chunhyangga, which is Korea’s Romeo + Juliet but much happier and more focused on the female lead, Chunhyang.

For dinner, you have a few options, and you really can’t go wrong with any of them:

• Go to 25시 (25-shi) for my favorite dish EVER — 뼈다귀탕 (bbyeo-da-gwi-tang). I honestly still think about how much I love this dish. If 25시 is too crowded, walk along that street as there are other restaurants that serve it too.
• Head across the river to get naengmyun at 봉가면옥 (bong-ga-myeon-ok). It’s seriously the BEST naengmyun I’ve ever had, and I dream about that broth even now.
• If you didn’t get BBQ in Seoul, go across the river for all you can eat BBQ at 미가 (mi-ga).

Evening

If you stay overnight in Namwon, I know of a few options. The Kensington Hotel is the main one and they opened up a fancy hanok stay before I left, but I don’t know anyone who’s stayed there. Namwon also has a hanok stay area, and Mua Guesthouse is run by a lovely couple who’s friends with some of my friends.

Or you can push on and get the train to Suncheon. Again, any train is fine because they all take under an hour. If you stay the night in Suncheon, then stay in the same area as the train station or bus terminal.

Day 3: Boseong & Suncheon Bay

Exhausted yet? Haha I told you this was fast! Obviously, if you’re dying by now, take it easier, but if you’re still energized, today’s another double down day.

If you stayed overnight in Namwon, you can do two things:

• Get the train to Suncheon super early to drop your things off at your accommodation and then head to Boseong from Suncheon’s bus terminal.
• Go straight to Boseong by bus – first you’ll have to go to Gwangju bus terminal and then transfer from there

Both will take about 2 hours (Namwon – Suncheon –  Boseong or Namwon – Gwangju – Boseong), but one of them means you’ll have your luggage with you.

Stop 1: Boseong Green Tea Fields

Time for Boseong’s famous green tea fields! They’re about an hour from Suncheon, and one of the most beautiful places in Korea. If you go at the right time, you can get the bus to the tea fields or just take a taxi.

You can read my guide on visiting here. It should take you a few hours to visit the area. Just a warning, if you wind up wanting to up to see the sea from the fields, it’s a steep hike! Get lunch at the restaurant right near the entrance and try the green tea pajeon!

Stop 2: Suncheon Bay

After lunch, head back to Suncheon. From the bus terminal, get a local bus over to Suncheon Bay. This is another small hike, just warning you! Ideally, you’ll get to the top right around golden hour, so you can enjoy the bay at its prettiest!

From there, head back to the area with your accommodation. There are a few places to eat in Suncheon, and the closest is a Korean-Chinese restaurant near the bus terminal.

If you want, though, venture over to Jorye-dong and find 순천양꼬치 (Suncheon Lamb Restaurant). It’s SO good. I used to live less than a 5-minute walk from it, and I was a bit addicted. Get the eggplant dish too. Most of the expats in Suncheon love this place, so they have a whole English menu with photos and are used to foreigners. For more on Suncheon, see my full guide

Stay Overnight

Stay the night in Suncheon.

Day 4: Busan

Get up early and head to the bus terminal to grab a bus over to Busan! The earliest one leaves around 7:00 am and takes around 3 hours to get to Busan Seobu Sasang Terminal. If you didn’t grab breakfast before you left, there are a ton of restaurants in this terminal, so you can always get something to eat here.

Now I recommend staying the night in Haeundae (hotel options below). This is on Line 2 and kind of all the way at the other end of the subway line. You could go over and drop your things off at your hotel, but if you want to maximize your time, do this instead:

Take the subway from Sasang Station to Seomyeon Station. You can leave your things in a locker there, and then you’ll want to switch over to Line 1.

While there’s a lot to do in Busan, I say head right over to Gamcheon Culture Village (Toseong Station, Line 1). It’s pictured above and one of my favorite places in all of Korea. The colorful houses and cute, artsy vibe make for a fun few hours of walking around. Plus it’s seaside, so when you get to the top, you’ll get a beautiful view out to the ocean.

Once you’ve seen Gamcheon, head back two stops over the subway (Nampo Station, Line 1) and walk around the markets and alleyways. Get lunch here! Ddeokbbeokki and pajeon are especially delicious if you’re getting elbowed by the shopping crowds haha. You could also go over to the famous Jalgachi Fish Market and eat there.

(Alternatively – you can do this tour which goes around Gamcheon and Jalgachi. They meet at Jalgachi Station which is right in between Toseong and Nampo. If you have time, you can still walk around Nampo’s alleys after)

For sunset, head back to Haeundae or go all the way over to the seaside temple. If you’re here in hot weather, enjoy the beach at Haeundae or Gwanghalli!

Stay Overnight

Stay the night in Haeundae Beach. There are quite a few options:

• Signiel Busan – luxury option (a little farther)
• Park Hyatt Busan – another popular luxury option in opposite direction
• Hound Garden & Terrace Hotel – nice room decor, close to beach
• MAMA Guesthouse – cute budget pick

Day 5: Gyeongju

Day trip from Busan! So, you could DIY this and go yourself, but everything was super spread out when I visited. It was way more spread out than we were ready for, and the local bus system wasn’t the most reliable. We essentially spent a ton of money renting a taxi for the day to drive us around. It’s been a few years, so maybe they updated the buses by now!

Gyeongju is such a cool city to visit because it has everything from the Silla Dynasty. Silla pre-dates the Joseon era (which is what you see represented all over Seoul and Jeonju) and lasted from 57 BC – 935 AD. Back then it was part of the Three Kingdoms of Korea with Goguryeo and Baekje. It’s kind of crazy how many landmarks you can still see today.

The most efficient way to visit Gyeongju is booking this day tour from Busan. It’ll pick you up from a few different places in Busan and take you to Daereungwon, Hwangridan-gil, Bulguksa, Gyochon Village, and Donggung before bringing you back.

Stay Overnight

Stay the night again in Haeundae. If you want, go out and experience the nightlife in the area! I’d offer suggestions but… I have none. I usually go to Busan for day trips and when I have stayed over, I only went out once to a random bar.

Day 6: Back to Seoul

Okay for today, I have two options and then two sub options if that makes ANY sense.

Option 1: Busan & Seoul

Experience one of the biggest jimjilbangs in Korea. Of all my jimjilbang experiences in Korea, SPA Land Centum City is by far the fanciest. (Get discount tickets here). Basically – you’ll split up by gender into various baths (prepared to get naked). Enjoy soaking in all sorts of tubs before showering off, donning your jimjilbang set (seen above) and enjoying the mixed gender area. Besides the common area and food options, this also has various rooms to decompress and get zen.

It’s only 3 stops from Haeundae at Centum City Station (Line 2), so you can leave your things at your hotel or bring them with and put them in lockers at Centum City.

Once you’ve fully relaxed, grab some lunch, and then head back to Seoul! The most efficient way to do this is to grab the KTX as it takes under 3 hours. You could also fly, which’ll take an hour, but the KTX is easier much easier. There are so many trains that go between Busan and Seoul, so you don’t really have to worry about getting a specific one. Again, check Korail for times.

In Seoul, you’ll want to check into Hongdae this time. This is because Hongdae Station is right on the airport line, so it’ll be easy to get to Incheon from here. Plus, Hongdae is a fun, trendy neighborhood since it has three big universities nearby. I wrote a post on my favorite Hongdae hotels, but here are a few I particularly love:

• RYSE – the ultimate chic hotel to stay in Hongdae – don’t miss the “secret” bar. I stayed here on my last visit and loved it.
• TwoTwo House – has that fun, hipster decor
• L7 Hongdae – nice, clean design with a pool!

By the time you get to Seoul, transfer over to Hongdae, and check in to your hotel, it’ll be close to dinner time. I would say get dinner and just walk around to experience Hongdae night life. It’s such a fun vibe – even if you’re over 30 like I am now and seeing all the college students out and about makes you feel ancient!

Off the top of my head, I don’t have any specific restaurants to recommend but you’re in a great spot for just about every type of dish under the sun. (I once went here for buffalo mac and cheese lol). Ask your hotel for recommendations based on what you’re craving!

Option 2A: Fun Things to See in Seoul

Another big thing to do is to head over to Namsan Tower and go up (get ticket here for the observatory). It’s a cool area and you get a ton of views of Seoul from above.

Stop over in Dongdaemun if you want to do some shopping and see Dongdaemun Design Plaza. Eat lunch in this area.

Now, time for a little relaxing! If you didn’t go to Spaland in Busan, go to Siloam Sauna off Seoul Station. It’s so nice here.

Sightseeing Option 2B: A DMZ Tour

If seeing the DMZ is on the top of your list, then I’d suggest booking a day tour for that instead. They typically take the full day, so you won’t have room for much else! However, it’s a pretty interesting, ongoing part of history, and it’s the only way of “visiting” North Korea that I recommend for now.

Evening

Like before, grab dinner in Hongdae.

Day 7: Sightseeing & Souvenir Shopping

There are honestly so many ways to enjoy your last day in Seoul before heading to the airport. It really depends on how much time you have. At the very least I’d hit up one or two of Seoul’s trendiest cafes and checkout Olive Young (specifically in Hongdae) for an absolute mecca of smaller K-beauty brands!

Conclusion

And there you have it! The absolute PERFECT itinerary for 7 days in Korea. There are three big things I cut out — Jeju, any sort of real hiking, and Gangwon-do.

With Jeju, I feel you need a slower mindset to really enjoy it, so I don’t want to rush you through in a day or two, especially as it involves flying. With hiking, you’re going to basically be hiking a bit when you visit Boseong, Suncheon Bay, and Gamcheon. And, as for Gangwon-do, I don’t have a ton of experience in the area as it was so far from where I lived, so the main things I know to do involve hiking.

Of course, depending on the seasons, you can always mix and match your trip. After all, this whole itinerary is going to look different if you’re chasing cherry blossoms or fall foliage! Check these seasonal guides if you want to change it up:

• Autumn in Korea
• Winter in Korea
• Spring in Korea (and cherry blossom guide)
• Summer in Korea

Want to stay longer? Check out my two week itinerary (with four different options) or my ultimate one month itinerary.

FAQ for this Korea Itinerary

And there you have it! Anything you’d want to add to this Korea itinerary for 7 days?

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