With ten days in Korea you can go beyond the classic Seoul-and-Busan trip: sleep in a traditional house in Jeonju, walk among royal tombs in Gyeongju, and finish on the volcanic island of Jeju. With two weeks you can add the mountains and beaches of the east coast. This plan keeps travel days short, using the fast KTX trains and a one-hour flight. Every stop links to a fuller guide.
The plan at a glance
- Days 1 to 4: Seoul, with one day trip
- Day 5: Jeonju, with a night in a hanok guesthouse
- Day 6: Gyeongju
- Days 7 and 8: Busan
- Days 9 and 10: Jeju, then fly home or back to Seoul
Before you go
- Book trains and the Jeju flight ahead, especially for weekends and holidays. See our KTX guide.
- Bring a transit card and a Korean map app; both work in every city here. See our transit card guide and Naver Map vs Google Maps.
- Travel light. Use station lockers or a luggage delivery service between hotels.
- Check the season. Spring blossoms and autumn leaves are the busiest times; see our seasons guide.
Days 1 to 4: Seoul and a day trip
Spend three days on Seoul's palaces, markets, neighbourhoods and night views, following our 3 days in Seoul plan, and use the fourth for a day trip: the DMZ, Suwon's Hwaseong Fortress or Nami Island. See day trips from Seoul. If you would rather stay in the city, our 5 days in Seoul plan has more ideas.
Day 5: Jeonju
Take the KTX south to Jeonju, which takes about one and a half to two hours. Jeonju's hanok village has hundreds of traditional tiled-roof houses, and the city is famous across Korea for its food, above all bibimbap. Walk the lanes, visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine, eat bibimbap and street snacks, and stay the night in a hanok guesthouse to see the village quiet in the evening and early morning. See our Jeonju guide.
Day 6: Gyeongju
There is no fast direct train from Jeonju to Gyeongju, so plan this as a travel day: intercity buses and train connections take around three to four hours, so check routes on Naver Map the night before. In Gyeongju, see the royal tombs, Cheomseongdae observatory and the Gyochon hanok area, then Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit up after dark. Visit Bulguksa Temple the next morning before you leave. Our one day in Gyeongju plan has the route.
Short on energy? Go back to Seoul from Jeonju and take the KTX to Gyeongju from there, or skip Jeonju and go straight from Seoul to Gyeongju.
Days 7 and 8: Busan
Busan is a short KTX ride or about an hour by bus from Gyeongju. Spend one day on the east side, with Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Haeundae Beach and a spa (see one day in Busan), and the other on the older west side, with Gamcheon Culture Village, Jagalchi fish market and the night views over Gwangalli Bridge. See our Busan guide for more.
Days 9 and 10: Jeju
Fly from Busan's Gimhae Airport to Jeju, which takes about an hour. With two days, see the east coast (Sunrise Peak and Udo Island) and the west coast (Hyeopjae Beach and the Aewol cafés), or swap one for Hallasan or the waterfalls of Seogwipo. A rental car makes this much easier. Our 3 days in Jeju plan has the details. Jeju has some international flights, but most visitors fly back to Seoul to connect.
Stretching it to two weeks
With four more days, add the east coast between Seoul and the south, or at the end of your trip:
- Gangneung (1 to 2 days): beaches, Gyeongpo Lake, Ojukheon and Korea's coffee street at Anmok Beach, about two hours from Seoul by KTX. See our Gangneung guide.
- Sokcho and Seoraksan (1 to 2 days): one of Korea's most beautiful national parks, plus a fish market and seaside cafés. See our Sokcho guide and Seoraksan guide.
- A slower Seoul: an extra day or two for neighbourhoods, a bathhouse and markets, or a second day trip.
Mistakes to avoid
- Changing hotels every night. Two nights in a place is far more relaxing than one.
- Underestimating cross-country trips. Fast trains run mainly to and from Seoul; trips across the country, such as Jeonju to Gyeongju, take longer.
- Booking Jeju without checking the weather. Flights and Udo ferries can be cancelled in strong wind; keep a little slack.
- Skipping the budget. See our Korea travel budget guide.
FAQ
Is 10 days in Korea too long?
Not at all. Ten days lets you see Seoul properly and add three or four other places at a relaxed pace.
What is the best order for a Korea trip?
Start in Seoul, where most international flights land, then go south by train and finish on Jeju or in Busan. Many visitors fly home from Busan or fly back to Seoul from Jeju.
Can I do this trip without a car?
Yes. Trains, buses and subways cover everything except Jeju, where a car is easiest but buses and taxis also work.
