Ultimate 14-Day South Korea Itinerary #1 – The Big Three: Explore Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island!
This 14-Day South Korea Itinerary will take you to the three most popular places in South Korea among tourists: Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island. Hence its name, the big three😉.
You will have time to explore each one in-depth and if you would like, do day trips as well. Exploring the stunning island of Jeju will take up quite a big chunk of your trip!
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Ultimate 2-week South Korea Itinerary: Explore Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island
This itinerary post is part of a series! The goal is to show you a number of different 14-day South Korea itineraries so you may find the one that aligns most with your interests and preferences! Currently you are reading Itinerary #1 of this multiple part series.
So, who is the Seoul, Busan and Jeju itinerary for?
- This itinerary is perfect if this is your first time in South Korea and you wish to explore three of the countries’ most popular spots!
- Explore the bustling city of Seoul, road-trip the stunning Jeju Island & relax in the beautiful seaside city of Busan!
- We would recommend having a mid-range budget. Why? Travelling Jeju is slightly more expensive than travelling mainland South Korea. It can be done on a lower budget, however it will be more enjoyable on a mid-range budget.
- You will get the most out of your trip if you are renting a car on Jeju. Which is really not that scary, but more on that later.
This all sounds good to you? Then let’s get into the itinerary!
What You Should Know about travelling South Korea
Before we get into the itinerary itself, there are a few things we quickly want to mention about travel in South Korea.
How to get to South Korea – Flying to Seoul Incheon Airport
South Korea is located on a peninsula. However, since it is blocked by North Korea to the north, South Korea can essentially be considered an island in terms of possible ways to get there. You will have to either fly to South Korea or take a ferry.
While South Korea has a number of airports, by far the most prominent one in terms of international travel is Seoul Incheon Airport. Which means that it is highly likely you will be flying in and out of Seoul for your South Korea trip.
Therefore, all our South Korea itineraries tend to have Seoul as their starting and end point!
How to get around South Korea
Once in South Korea, there are a number of ways to get around. For this particular South Korea itinerary, which takes you to Seoul, Busan and Jeju Island, you will be using the following modes of transportation:
- 🚄 Train Travel. The railway system can get you to quite a number of places within South Korea. Especially the KTX, South Korea’s high speed train is an efficient way to travel longer distances.
- ✈️ Domestic Flights. For a country the size of South Korea, you would be surprised just how many domestic flights there are. Since you will be going to Jeju Island, flying is by far the most efficient way to get there.
- 🚗 Car Rental. We highly recommend renting a car on Jeju Island. While Jeju also has a decent bus system, taking the bus will limit you quite a bit, both in spontaneity and places you can reach.
Throughout the course of this post, we tell you the best way to get to each place mentioned in this itinerary and direct you to the appropriate resources for navigating South Korea. That way, nothing stands in between you and a smooth trip!
South Korea Travel Essentials for Itinerary #1
📱 Naver Map. The best app for navigating public transport and getting directions in South Korea! We wouldn't want to travel South Korea without it. Especially, since Google Maps is unreliable in South Korea.
💳 T-Money Card. Get a T-Money Card to pay for public transport. You can ask the cashier at any convenience store to buy one.
🈯 Google Translate. Very helpful app for translating signs and menus that are written only in Korean. Happens more often than you would think, even in the big cities!
🚗 International Driver's License. Without one you won't be able to rent a car on Jeju! Therefore it is essential that you get one before coming on this trip!
🔌 Power Plug Adapter. In South Korea you will find the power plug type C or F, which is the same one as in Continental Europe. If your home country has a different one, bring an adapter!
Currently planning your trip to South Korea? Check out our South Korea Travel Resources:
Itinerary #1: The Big Three: Seoul, Busan & Jeju Island
Down below you will find a quick overview over this 14-day South Korea Itinerary, followed by a more in-depth description of each location and more information on the logistics of travelling around South Korea!
🗺️ Itinerary Overview + Map
- Day 1: Arrival
- Day 2 – 4: Explore Seoul
- Day 5: Daytrip to DMZ, Nami Island or Bukhansan NP
- Day 6 – 10: Explore Jeju Island
- Day 11 – 13: Explore Busan
- Day 14: Take the KTX to Seoul + Departure
Day 1 – 4: Arrival + Explore Seoul
Your first few days in South Korea will be spent exploring the bustling city of Seoul. South Korea’s capital has much to offer. One could easily spend a week in Seoul and still not manage to cover it all. However, 3 – 4 full days within the city are a decent amount of time to cover the main sights and get a good feel of what Seoul is like!
🌟 Seoul Highlights
🥡 Myeongdong Night Market. Huge night market in Myeongdong area! Perfect to stroll around at night and try delicious street food!
🏯 Gyeongbokgung Palace. Probably the most famous palace in Seoul, maybe even all of South Korea. It is huge and a MUST-SEE spot if this is your first time in Seoul.
📷 Bukchon Hanok Village. Famous Hanok Village in Seoul. Since it's also a residential area, you have to be quiet while exploring. Great spot for taking pictures though and lovely cafés in the area as well!
🔭 N Seoul Tower. Hands down the best views in the city! Even if you decide not to go up the N Seoul Tower itself, we highly recommend coming here at sunset! You'll get the most awesome views over the city even from the base of the tower!
💃 Gangnam Area. A modern district in Seoul that became rather famous due to the song 'Gangnam Style' by PSY. The latter even got a statue! In this quarter you will also find the Insta-famous Starfield Library.
🛍️ Hongdae Shopping Street. Popular Shopping Street among young South Koreans. There are regularly street performances of new K-Pop artists and in general a really fun area to explore.
Where to stay in Seoul
This is your first time ever in Seoul and during this visit you want to focus mostly on sightseeing? Then we can highly recommend to stay near Insadong!
Why stay in Insadong? The latter is a quarter in Seoul, located close to
- some of Seoul’s MUST SEE attractions (e.g. Gyeongbokgung and Changdeokgung Palace),
- lovely walking streets (e.g. Insadong Culture Street, Ikseon-dong Hanok Village), and
- connections to public transport are great!
Find Your Hotel near Insadong in Seoul*
Day 5: Daytrip to DMZ, Nami Island or Bukhansan NP
Seoul is a great base for day trips and on your fifth day in Seoul, it is time to escape the city for a little bit!
🪖 Option 1: Book a tour to the DMZ
DMZ stands short for Demilitarised Zone and designates the border barrier between North and South Korea. A trip to the DMZ is among the most popular day trips from Seoul and a MUST for everyone interested in learning more about the Korean War and its consequences.
If a day trip to the DMZ is something you want to do, know that you need to book a tour. Individual visits to the DMZ are not permitted. Also, you need to book a tour in advance. Typically, tours are either half-day or full-day depending on their itinerary.
Book your Tour to the DMZ in Advance!*
🍂 Option 2: Explore Nami Island
Nami Island is quite a popular day trip spot among South Koreans. The latter is a half-moon shaped island in the middle of a river and most well known for its beautiful tree alley and photo spots. Part of its popularity also comes from features in various K-Drama.
If you decide to come here, do know that it is quite a touristy spot and depending on when you visit, it might be packed. Personally, we have not visited Nami Island yet, since our last South Korea trip was in May/June and apparently Nami Island is most stunning in autumn. So we wanted to keep it for a future trip!
How to get to Nami Island from Seoul
- Take the ITX-Cheongchun from Yongsan Station in Seoul until you reach Gapyeong Station. From here a quick bus ride will take you to the ferry to get to Nami Island. Travel time: between 1h30 – 2h.
- Or, book a tour to visit Nami Island. Typically a tour will also include a visit to the Garden of Morning Calm.
Book a Tour to Nami Island!*
⛰️ Option 3: Go Hiking in Bukhansan National Park
If you would like to be a little more active, then we can definitely recommend to go for a hike in Bukhansan National Park! The latter is located just north of Seoul and is therefore a great way to escape the city without having to travel very far.
Bukhansan National Park is famous for its hikes that wind through stunning mountains and rock formations while at the same time providing awesome views over Seoul!
How to get to Bukhansan National Park
There are several entrances to Bukhansan NP. Which one is best will depend on the hike you choose. You can access Bukhansan NP via local bus or even subway, again, depending on the hike you choose😉.
Tip: Use Naver Map to give you the best public transport connection to get to where you want to go!
Day 6 – 10: Explore Jeju Island
On day 6, it is time to say goodbye to Seoul and make your way to one of the new seven natural wonders of the world: the stunning Jeju Island! You will be spending 5 days exploring Jeju Island, which is the perfect amount of time to road trip the island and see all the highlights Jeju has to offer!
Not sure how to spend the most perfect 5 days on Jeju Island? No problem, check out our
How to get to Jeju Island from Seoul
The most efficient way to get to Jeju Island is by taking a domestic flight. There are actually multiple flights per hour going between Seoul and Jeju Island every day so you should not be short on options. If you don’t believe us, head to Flightradar24 and check the departures at Seoul Gimpo airport to see the extend😆.
There are three things you should be aware of when booking your flight from Seoul to Jeju Island:
- Flights to Jeju leave from Gimpo Airport not Seoul Incheon Airport! Which is actually more convenient, since Gimpo Airport is way closer to Seoul and therefore easy to access via the subway system.
- Don’t book a 6 a.m. flight! Why? Seoul’s subway system only starts running at 5:30 a.m. which makes it a hassle to reach Gimpo Airport for an early flight. Ideally book a flight between 8 – 9 a.m. to make the most of your day!
- Book a one-way flight. You will be travelling onward to Busan from Jeju, not back to Seoul!
We flew with Jeju Air from Seoul to Jeju, however there are numerous airlines to choose from, both budget and non-budget airlines!
Check Your Flight Options from Seoul to Jeju Island*
How to get around Jeju Island
By far the best way to get around Jeju Island is by renting a car! Driving on Jeju Island is truthfully not that hard. However there are a few things you should be aware of when renting a car on Jeju Island as a foreigner.
As a Tip: Don’t leave booking your rental car to the last minute! Rental Cars on Jeju are not that cheap as is. And, booking in advance increases your chance of finding a better deal!
Your first time driving in South Korea? Check out
🌟 Jeju Island Road Trip Highlights
🍵 Osulloc Tea Museum. Find out how South Korea's Nr. 1 Tea Brand produces their tea. Stroll around and take pictures inside the stunning tea fields.
⛰️ Sanbang Mountain. A stunning rock formation near Sagye Beach! Visit Sanbanggulsa Cave Temple at the foot of Sanbang Mountain.
📷 Jeongbang Waterfall. A 23 metres tall waterfall located right next to the sea.
🏖️ Hyeopjae Beach. One of the most stunning beaches on Jeju Island! Beautiful white sand, blue water and great views of Biyangdo Island in the background.
⛰️ Seongsan Ilchulbong. A volcanic rock formation also known as 'Sunrise Peak'. Hike up for amazing views. At the foot of Seongsan Ilchulbong you can watch a performance of the famous Haenyeo, female divers that make their living by diving for things like sea weed and mollusks!
🥡 Dongmun Traditional Market. Huge covered market in Jeju City. There is a street food night market every night starting 7 p.m.!
Find out how you can visit all mentioned Jeju Island highlights and so much more in our Ultimate 5-Day Jeju Island Road Trip Itinerary!
Day 11 – 13: Explore Busan
After spending 5 blissful days exploring Jeju Island, you will be travelling to South Korea’s second largest city today! Busan is quite different from Seoul in terms of general vibe. Busan is a seaside city and personally we found this city to be quite a bit more relaxed when compared to the huge and bustling Seoul!
Not sure what to see and do in Busan? Check out
How to get to Busan from Jeju Island
While there is a ferry that runs between Jeju and Busan, it is way faster and likely also cheaper to fly from Jeju to Busan. We flew with AirBusan, which operates the most frequently on this route. However, there are a number of other airlines, mostly budget airlines, as well.
Check Your Flight Options from Jeju Island to Busan*
🌟 Busan Highlights
🎨 Gamcheon Cultural Village. A really popular mural village in Busan. The latter is filled with colourful house fronts and stunning mural art.
🥡 Picnic on Haeundae Beach. Head to Haeundae Traditional Market to grab some street food and do a picnic on the beach! Sunset is the best time to come!
🍃 Igidae Coastal Walk. Honestly, you won't find better views anywhere in all of Busan. Either you do the whole 4.7km hike alongside the most stunning coastal stretch or you simply walk the first few hundred metres for the views.
🏮 Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Also known as South Korea’s most beautiful temple. And we can definitely see why, it is a stunning coastal temple!
Find out how to visit all the mentioned Busan highlights and so much more (including favourite restaurant recommendations) in our Ultimate 3-4 Day Busan Itinerary!
Where to stay in Busan
Since Busan is a coastal city, it is stretched quite far alongside the coastline. This makes travelling from one end of the city to the other quite a time consuming endeavour sometimes. Therefore choosing the right neighbourhood to stay in, based on your interests and preferences, can absolutely make or break your trip.
If sightseeing is your first priority, then we usually recommend staying in Nampo-dong. The latter is a good starting point to get to quite a number of sights and close to street food and restaurants as well.
Find a Hotel in Nampo-dong, Busan*
However, it is not the fanciest area in Busan and not located right on a beach either. If the latter are a MUST for you Gwangalli or Haeundae may be more up your alley! Down below you can find a guide on the best areas to stay in Busan based on different preferences!
Not sure what area is best to stay in Busan? Check out
Day 14: Take the KTX back to Seoul
Just like that, we already reached the last day of this 14-Day South Korea itinerary! Today you will make your way back to Seoul, from where you will likely catch your flight back home.
And what better way to travel from Busan to Seoul than taking South Korea’s high-speed train: the KTX? It only takes a little over two hours to travel comfortably from one city to the other. The KTX is by far the most efficient way to travel between Seoul and Busan in our opinion!
Final Thoughts on the Seoul, Busan and Jeju Itinerary
South Korea has much to offer. And, deciding what to see and do can be quite a daunting task. If this is your first time in South Korea, limiting your itinerary to exploring Seoul, Busan and Jeju is definitely not a bad choice!
You get to focus on exploring three of the most popular travel destinations in South Korea. Since Seoul, Busan and Jeju are so distinct, you will experience very different but equally as fascinating facets of South Korea on this trip.
Happy Travels!
