The Soul & Shorelines of South Korea
South Korea is a place where ancient history and futuristic innovation live side by side, and this one-week adventure through Seoul and Busan gives you a taste of both worlds. Whether it was wandering the neon-lit streets of Seoul at night or feeling the ocean breeze on the beaches of Busan, this trip was packed with culture, food, and unforgettable moments. We squeezed a lot into 7 days, from street food markets and towering palaces to seaside temples and bustling fish markets. If you’re looking for a trip that mixes city vibes with coastal charm, this itinerary hits the sweet spot.
This was the first leg of a 2.5-week trip through Korea and Japan. A 1.5-week in Japan itinerary is coming soon—stay tuned!
Table of Contents
Itinerary
Here’s a breakdown of the routes and destinations from our 7-day South Korea adventure, with detailed tips and highlights to help you map out your own journey—Days 1–4 in Seoul, and Days 4–7 in Busan. We flew domestic on Jeju Air to Busan for $53 per person.
Seoul tends to stay busy late into the night, while Busan has a more laid-back, beach-town feel.
We stayed in Myeongdong while in Seoul—highly recommended for first-time visitors. It’s a lively, central area with plenty to do, and getting around by public transportation is super easy.
Evening in Myeongdong
Arrived lated. We were exhausted and hungry. Locals recommended at spot across the street for mukchang (beef large abomasum) and gopchang (small intestines), and it was our favorite place for BBQ the entire stay in Seoul.
- Dinner: Segwang Grilled Beef Entrails Euljiro Branch – 세광양대창 을지로3가점 (gopchang + makchang) 세광양대창 을지로3가점110-2 Eulji-ro, Euljiro 3(sam)-ga, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea
Morning
- Roam the streets of Ikseon-dong) and get Jayeondo Salt Bread & orange juice right next door.
- Scroll through the Ikseon-dong Hanok Village
- Cheongsudang Bakery (Instagram)
Afternoon
- Visit the Gyeongbokgung Palace
- Lunch: ANAM
- Explore Bukchon Village
Evening
- Dinner: Myeongdong Night Market for street food
- Show: Myeongdong NANTA
Morning
- Explore: Gwangjang Market
Afternoon
- Lunch: Myeongdong Kyoja (Michelin)
- Yeouido Hangang Park (Ramen along the Han River)
- Explore Hongdae Shopping Street
Evening
- Dinner at Art Monster for Korean Craft Beer
Arrived in Busan PUS Airport around 3:20 PM. Stayed in Seomyeon region.
From the PUS Airport, take the Airport Railway to Seomyeon.
Spending the rest of the day exploring Seomyeon.
- Dinner: Matchandeul Wang Sogeumgui, Seomyeon – High recommend this spot for KBBQ. Know for their pork belly. I dream about this place. Gets busy and will likely be a wait. The building itself is beautiful and plenty to see around the area as you’re waiting.
Exploring the coast.
- Haeundae Beach
- Haeundae Traditional Market – Great for street street food.
- Dongbaekseom – Nice walk along the coast with beautiful views.
- Dinner: Mipo-jib Gwangalli – Can’t sleep on this spot for marinated crab!
Morning
- Jagalchi Fish Market
- Gamcheon Culture Village
This was our last day in South Korea, but we gave ourselves some time to grab lunch before heading to the airport 2:00pm to Osaka, Japan
Things to Know
Pocket WIFI – Instead of getting an eSim, I reserved a pocket wifi for $17 USD from Trazy.com. You can connect multiple devices to it, and it worked just about anywhere we went. Pick-up and drop-off at the airport is easy. Its rechargeable, so be sure you charge it each night, or carry a portable charger incase it needs more juice.
Navigation – Download KakaoMap or Naver Map. We personally thought KakaoMap was more user friendly. Google Maps doesn’t work well in South Korea because of national security regulations that restrict Google from providing real-time or precise directions because its servers are located outside of South Korea. However, I’ve found that Google maps was great for looking up restaurants and reviews, so you’ll see them linked throughout this itinerary.
T-Money Card – Before leaving the airport, get a T-Money Card. It will make subway and bus rides a breeze.
Transportation – Public transportation is great. The KTX train makes traveling between Seoul and Busan fast (about 2.5 hours).
- If you’re planning to stay in Myeongdong, take bus 6015 to Myeongdong Station (Use your T-Money Card)
Budget
Overall, South Korea can be pretty budget-friendly—especially if you rely on public transit and dive into the street food scene. The totals here reflect costs for two travelers across the entire week.
Flight to Busan about $50
•Meals: Street food snacks start at $1–$3 USD; casual meals ~$7–$12 USD
•Activities: Many temples and cultural sites are free or under $5 USD
Please note airfare is one way for two people. We threw from LAX to Seoul, Seoul to Busan, Busan to Japan)
| Categories | Spend |
|---|---|
| International Airfare (Rountrip-US to Seoul) | $1,132.40 |
| Domestic Airfare (One Way-Seoul to Busan) | $106.00 |
| Lodging | $518.93 |
| Transportation | $195.49 |
| Pocket Wifi | $17.50 |
| Total | $1,538.57 |
Lodging
Food & Drinks
- Fresh seafood at the fish markets. You pick and they prep on the spot.
- Bingsu – Korean shaved ice. Sulbing is probably the most popular spot for bingsu.
- Korean Fried Chicken – I’m a strong believer that Korean’s make the best fried chicken in the world. There are so many options out there, and many of Korea’s most popular spots are now in the US. Pelicana and BHC Chicken are some of our favorites.
Activities
- Shopping at Olive Young – One stop shop for all beauty products.
- National Parks
Conclusion
