Trip answers

10 days in Korea: a Seoul and Busan plan, day by day

Naalto · Updated

Spend five nights in Seoul and four in Busan, and use day 6 to ride the KTX between them. The train takes 120 to 150 minutes1, so the travel day still leaves you an evening on the beach. The plan below follows Naalto's sample days for the stops.

Plan your trip in one lineSeoul 3 day planBusan 3 day plan

The 10-day plan

Seoul and Busan in 10 days: where you sleep, what you do, what it costs
DayWherePlanSourced cost
Day 1SeoulFrom Incheon Airport, the AREX train runs to Seoul Station2. Then Gwanghwamun, Tongin Market, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village, Jongmyo Shrine, dinner at Sanchon in Insa-dong.Gyeongbokgung ₩3,0003; Jongmyo ₩1,0004
Day 2SeoulNational Museum of Korea, lunch at Pyeongyangjip, Namsan Seoul Tower, Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, Dongdaemun Design Plaza, dinner at Woo Lae Oak.Seoul Tower observatory ₩29,0005
Day 3SeoulChangdeokgung, Insa-dong, Cheonggyecheon, Deoksugung, dinner at Myeongdong Kyoja.Changdeokgung ₩3,0006; Deoksugung ₩1,0007
Day 4Seoul, day tripPick one: a DMZ tour, which you cannot visit without booking a tour company8, or Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress, about an hour from Seoul on subway line 19.Subway base fare ₩1,550 with a card10
Day 5SeoulA loose day: Hongdae and Sinchon in the evening for nightlife11.Cheap meals about ₩2,000 to 9,00012
Day 6Seoul to BusanMorning KTX from Seoul Station, 120 to 150 minutes1. Evening in Gwangalli: dinner at Bishoku Gwangan, then Gwangalli Beach.KTX 120 to 150 minutes1
Day 7BusanTaejongdae Resort Park, National Maritime Museum, lunch at Cheonghae Susan, Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Busan Air Cruise, Jagalchi Market.Busan day ticket ₩5,00013
Day 8BusanGamcheon Culture Village, Gaemijip Main, Busan Tower, Yongdusan Park, Halmae Gaya Milmyeon, Bupyeong Kkangtong Market.The ₩5,000 day ticket13
Day 9Gyeongju, day tripGyeongju is arguably Korea's cultural capital and just over an hour from Busan by bus or direct train14. Start at Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site15, then see Cheomseongdae Observatory16 and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond17.Bus or train fare: check at the station
Day 10Busan, departureHaeundae Beach and Nurimaru APEC House in the morning, then fly home from Gimhae Airport18 or ride the KTX back to Seoul.KTX back to Seoul 120 to 150 minutes1

Where to stay

In Seoul, Jongno is better located for sightseeing and is within walking distance of Dongdaemun Market19. Hongdae and Sinchon are Seoul's most active nightlife districts11. Wikivoyage lists Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong and Jongno as traditional hot spots for foreign independent travelers20. Our call: Jongno for a first trip, because the first days are palaces and old streets. In Busan, the eastern district of Haeundae is the most accessible area for foreigners21 and a good base to start exploring the city22. It has the main beaches and the most luxurious hotels23. Gwangalli Beach and the Gwangan Bridge are in Suyeong24, and Nampodong is the shopping and entertainment downtown25. Budget options are available in Haeundae, Central Busan and Suyeong26.

Getting around

Seoul: the subway base fare is ₩1,550 with a transportation card and ₩1,650 for a single-journey ticket10. The most basic T-money card costs ₩5,00027. The subway does not run late at night, but night buses serve major routes28. Busan: the four-line metro reaches most places of interest, and a one-day ticket for lines 1 to 4 costs ₩5,00013. Check the fare for single rides at the station gate. Between the cities: tickets can be bought at the counter, and automated English-language machines are available29. Reservations are mandatory and included in the price on every KTX service, so trains sell out and the Seoul-Busan line can be full on weekends30. The SRT is about 15% cheaper than the KTX, but it ends at Suseo Station in the southwest of Seoul while the KTX goes to central Seoul Station31. A ticket from Gupo Station to Seoul is ₩1,000 cheaper than one from Busan Station32.

What it costs

Fixed costs from the sources: a Seoul subway ride starts at ₩1,550 with a card10 and a Busan day ticket is ₩5,00013. Admissions in the sample days: Gyeongbokgung is ₩3,0003, Jongmyo ₩1,0004, Changdeokgung ₩3,0006, Deoksugung ₩1,0007 and the Namsan Seoul Tower observatory ₩29,0005. Cheap meals at 24-hour restaurants in Seoul run about ₩2,000 to 9,00012. Busan admissions and hotel rates change by season, so check each stop's own page and your booking site before you go.

Questions

Is 10 days enough for Seoul and Busan?

Yes: five nights in Seoul, one travel day and four nights in Busan fit in 10 days, with the 120 to 150 minute KTX ride on day 61.

How do I get from Seoul to Busan?

Take the KTX from Seoul Station. It takes 120 to 150 minutes1, and reservations are mandatory30.

Should I add Gyeongju?

Day 9 is built for it: Gyeongju is just over an hour from Busan by bus or direct train14.

Where should I stay in Seoul and Busan?

Jongno in Seoul for sightseeing19, and Haeundae in Busan as an accessible base21.

Sources

  1. The KTX from Seoul to Busan takes 120–150 minutes. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  2. The Airport Railroad Express connects Incheon International Airport with Seoul Station. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  3. Gyeongbokgung admission is 3,000 won for adults. Visit Seoul: Gyeongbokgung (Korean page), checked November 3, 2026.
  4. Jongmyo admission is 1,000 won. Visit Seoul: Jongmyo (Korean page), checked November 3, 2026.
  5. The Namsan Seoul Tower observatory costs 29,000 won for adults. Visit Seoul: Namsan Seoul Tower (Korean page), checked November 3, 2026.
  6. Changdeokgung admission is 3,000 won for adults. Visit Seoul: Changdeokgung (Korean page), checked November 3, 2026.
  7. Deoksugung admission is 1,000 won for adult foreigners. Visit Seoul: Deoksugung (Korean page), checked November 3, 2026.
  8. The DMZ cannot be visited without booking with a tour company. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  9. Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress is reached by subway line 1 in about one hour. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  10. The Seoul subway base fare is ₩1,550 with a transportation card and ₩1,650 for a single-journey ticket. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  11. Hongdae and Sinchon are Seoul's most active nightlife districts. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  12. Prices at Seoul's cheap all-day restaurants vary from about ₩2,000-9,000. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  13. The Busan metro has four lines and a one-day ticket for lines 1 to 4 costs ₩5,000. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  14. Gyeongju is arguably Korea's cultural capital, just over an hour from Busan by bus or direct train. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  15. Gyeongju is home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple. Wikivoyage: Gyeongju, checked November 3, 2026.
  16. Cheomseongdae Observatory is in Gyeongju. Wikivoyage: Gyeongju, checked November 3, 2026.
  17. Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond are in Gyeongju. Wikivoyage: Gyeongju, checked November 3, 2026.
  18. Gimhae Airport offers flights to many international destinations. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  19. Jongno is better located for sightseeing and within walking distance to Dongdaemun Market. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  20. Hongdae, Itaewon, Myeongdong and Jongno are traditional hot spots for foreign independent travelers. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  21. The eastern district of Haeundae is the most accessible area for foreigners. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  22. Many of Busan's attractions are in Haeundae, which makes it a good base to start exploring the city. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  23. Haeundae is the upmarket residential and tourist area with the main beaches and the most luxurious hotels. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  24. Suyeong is famous for Gwangalli Beach and the Gwangan Bridge. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  25. Nampodong is Busan's shopping and entertainment downtown. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  26. Many budget options are available in Haeundae, Central Busan and Suyeong. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  27. The most basic T-money card costs ₩5,000. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  28. The Seoul subway does not operate late at night but there are night bus services on major trunk routes. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  29. Tickets can be bought at the counter and automated English-language machines are available. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.
  30. On every KTX service reservations are mandatory and included in the price, so trains sell out. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  31. The SRT is about 15% cheaper than the KTX but the KTX goes to central Seoul Station; Suseo is the SRT terminus. Wikivoyage: Seoul, checked November 3, 2026.
  32. A ticket from Gupo Station to Seoul is ₩1,000 cheaper than one from Busan Station. Wikivoyage: Busan, checked November 3, 2026.

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