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Itinerary · 7 days

Korea in 7 Days: Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan

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Korea in 7 Days: Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan

Seven days covers Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan: 3 nights in Seoul, 1 in Gyeongju and 2 in Busan, joined by two KTX rides of about 2 hours 10 minutes and 30 minutes. Book the trains on Korail up to two months ahead, and don’t start on a Monday or Tuesday, when the two main palaces close. Facts checked 15 October 2026.

Day Sleep in Main sights Getting there
1 Seoul Gyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Changdeokgung, Insadong Subway
2 Seoul Gwangjang Market, DDP, N Seoul Tower, Myeongdong Subway, Namsan bus
3 Seoul Bongeunsa, Lotte World Tower, Hongdae Subway
4 Gyeongju Tomb park, Hwangnidan-gil, Wolji Pond at night KTX Seoul → Gyeongju, about 2 h 10 min
5 Busan Bulguksa, Seokguram Bus or taxi, then KTX Gyeongju → Busan, about 30 min
6 Busan Gamcheon, Jagalchi, Gukje Market Busan Metro Line 1
7 — Haedong Yonggungsa, Haeundae, departure Fly from Gimhae, or KTX to Seoul (about 2.5 h)

The route follows one rail line south, so you never backtrack until the last day. Seoul gets three full days because it has the most to see (the Seoul in 3 days route has more detail for each day). Gyeongju, the old Silla capital, needs one night: it is the only way to see Wolji Pond lit up and still reach Bulguksa before the crowds. Busan gets two nights for its harbour, markets and beaches.

Trains: which stations and what they cost

There are two KTX rides, both from Seoul Station on the line to Busan. Most Busan-bound trains start at Seoul Station, which is also the end of the AREX railway from Incheon Airport.

Leg Board at Get off at Time
Day 4 Seoul Station Gyeongju (경주) About 2 h 10 min
Day 5 Gyeongju (경주) Busan Station About 30 min
Day 7 (if not flying from Busan) Busan Station Seoul Station About 2.5 h
  • Gyeongju’s KTX station is now called just “Gyeongju”. It was Singyeongju until 28 December 2023, and the old downtown Gyeongju Station closed in 2021. Choose 경주 in the booking search. The station is outside town, so allow extra time to get there and back.
  • Fares: Seoul to Busan costs ₩54,400 one way in standard class since Korail cut KTX fares on 1 September 2026. Korail’s search shows the exact fare for every train, including the Gyeongju legs.
  • Pass or single tickets: the 2-day KORAIL PASS costs ₩131,000 for adults. With only two or three train rides on this route, single tickets are usually cheaper.

See how to book KTX tickets for the booking steps, refund rules and why screenshots of tickets are not accepted.

What to book before you go

  1. KTX seats for days 4 and 5 (and day 7 if you return by train). Sales open at 07:00 Korea time two months before departure; Friday to Sunday trains sell out first.
  2. The Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour for day 1. Entry is by timed guided tour only, with a few English sessions a day.
  3. One night in central Gyeongju, near Hwangnidan-gil or the tomb park, so you can walk to Wolji Pond after dark.
  4. An open-jaw flight, if possible: into Incheon, home from Busan’s Gimhae Airport. It saves the half day of travel back to Seoul.
  5. A K-ETA if your passport needs one, and a T-money card for the subway and buses in Seoul and Busan.

Closing days to plan around

Place Day Closed or limited
Gyeongbokgung 1 Tuesdays
Changdeokgung 1 Mondays
Bukchon red zone 1 Tourists only 10:00–17:00
Gwangjang Market 2 General market closed Sundays (food alley open daily)
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond 4 Open daily 09:00–22:00, last entry 21:30
Gamcheon Culture Village 6 Residential alleys only 09:00–18:00
Jagalchi Market 6 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of the month

If day 1 lands on a Monday or Tuesday, swap days 1 and 2 in Seoul. If day 6 lands on a Jagalchi Tuesday, swap days 6 and 7 in Busan.

What the main sights cost

Item Adult price
Gyeongbokgung or Changdeokgung ₩3,000 each (₩6,000 integrated palace ticket covers both, plus three more sites)
Changdeokgung Secret Garden tour ₩5,000 extra
N Seoul Tower observatory ₩29,000
Seoul Sky, Lotte World Tower ₩33,000
Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond ₩3,000
Bulguksa, Seokguram, Daereungwon grounds Free
Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa Free
KTX Seoul–Busan, standard class ₩54,400 one way
Everyday meal in Seoul (kimchi stew to bibimbap, Aug 2026 average) ₩8,769–11,923

Entry fees for the whole week come to under ₩80,000 even if you go up both towers. Train fares and hotels make up most of the budget. Foreign visitors aged 18 and under or 65 and over enter the royal palaces free, and so does anyone wearing hanbok. Meal prices are from the Korean food guide.

Swaps for rain, autumn and a shorter or longer trip

  • Rain: in Seoul, swap the towers for the National Museum of Korea or the Starfield Library; in Gyeongju, the Gyeongju National Museum holds the gold crowns from the tombs.
  • Autumn (late October to mid-November): Bulguksa is one of the country’s classic maple spots, so expect crowds and go at opening time. See autumn leaves in Korea for this year’s timing.
  • Six days: drop day 3 in Seoul.
  • Eight or nine days: add a second night in Gyeongju for Namsan or Yangdong Village, or fly from Busan to Jeju for two nights. With ten days, follow the Korea in 10 days route, which adds three days on Jeju.

Book your trip

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Day 1: Palaces, Bukchon and Insadong (Seoul)

  1. Gyeongbokgung PalaceBe there for the 09:00 opening. Closed on Tuesdays; adults pay ₩3,000, and the ₩6,000 integrated ticket also covers Changdeokgung.
  2. Bukchon Hanok VillageWalk east through the hanok lanes. Tourists may enter the red zone around Bukchon-ro 11-gil only from 10:00 to 17:00.
  3. Changdeokgung Palace and the Secret GardenClosed on Mondays. The Secret Garden is a timed guided tour (₩5,000 extra); English tours start at 10:30, 11:30 and 14:30, plus 15:30 from March to November.
  4. InsadongCraft shops, galleries and teahouses for the late afternoon and dinner.

Day 2: Markets, Namsan and Myeongdong (Seoul)

  1. Gwangjang MarketLunch in the food alley (open daily 09:00–23:00). The general market around it closes on Sundays.
  2. Cheonggyecheon and Dongdaemun Design PlazaFollow the stream and continue to Zaha Hadid's curving landmark and the fashion malls around it.
  3. N Seoul TowerGo up late in the afternoon to see the city by day and after dark. The observatory costs ₩29,000 for adults.
  4. MyeongdongCosmetics shops and evening street food at the foot of Namsan.

Day 3: Gangnam, Jamsil and Hongdae (Seoul)

  1. Bongeunsa Temple and Starfield LibraryA historic temple facing the COEX towers, then the tall bookshelf atrium inside the COEX mall.
  2. Lotte World Tower and Seoul SkyKorea's tallest building; Seoul Sky costs ₩33,000 for adults and opens at 10:30. Seokchon Lake is at its foot.
  3. HongdaeEnd the Seoul part of the trip with street performers, cafés and nightlife. Pack tonight: the train leaves in the morning.

Day 4: KTX to Gyeongju, tombs and Wolji Pond by night

  1. KTX from Seoul Station to Gyeongju StationAbout 2 hours 10 minutes. Book the station called Gyeongju (경주); it was named Singyeongju until December 2023. It lies on the western edge of the city, so take a city bus or taxi to your hotel.
  2. Daereungwon Tomb Complex and CheomseongdaeThe park of grassy royal mounds is free to walk; only the inside of Cheonmachong tomb charges a fee. The stone observatory stands in the fields just beyond.
  3. Hwangnidan-gilHanok cafés and bakeries beside the tomb park. A good street to stay on for this one night.
  4. Donggung Palace and Wolji PondArrive after sunset, when the pavilions are lit. Open 09:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30), adults ₩3,000.

Day 5: Bulguksa and Seokguram, then on to Busan

  1. Bulguksa TempleGo first thing, before tour groups arrive. Admission has been free since May 2023.
  2. Seokguram GrottoThe granite Buddha higher up Tohamsan, reached by bus or a mountain trail from Bulguksa. Also free.
  3. KTX from Gyeongju Station to Busan StationAbout 30 minutes. Collect your bags in town first, then allow time for the ride out to Gyeongju Station.
  4. Gwangalli BeachYour first Busan evening: dinner by the sand and Gwangan Bridge lit up after dark.

Day 6: Gamcheon, Jagalchi and old Busan

  1. Gamcheon Culture VillageVisitors may enter the residential alleys from 09:00 to 18:00 only. Entry is free.
  2. Jagalchi MarketSeafood lunch upstairs. The main building closes on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesday of the month, so swap today with day 7 if needed.
  3. Gukje Market and BIFF SquareThe covered market streets and street-food stalls next door to Jagalchi.
  4. Busan TowerA view over the harbour from Yongdusan Park to finish the day.

Day 7: Haedong Yonggungsa, Haeundae and home

  1. Haedong YonggungsaA temple on the sea rocks. It opens at 04:30 and admission is free, so go early before the crowds.
  2. Haeundae BeachWalk the beach and Dongbaekseom before you leave.
  3. Fly home or ride back to SeoulWith a flight out of Busan's Gimhae Airport, you are already in the right city. Otherwise take the KTX back to Seoul Station (about 2.5 hours, ₩54,400) and the AREX airport railway to Incheon. Allow a full half day for the transfer.

Frequently asked questions

Is 7 days enough for Korea?

Seven days is enough for Seoul, Gyeongju and Busan, the classic first-trip triangle, linked by KTX on the same rail line. It is not enough to add Jeju as well without dropping Gyeongju or a day in Seoul.

How do I get from Seoul to Gyeongju?

Take the KTX from Seoul Station to Gyeongju Station, about 2 hours 10 minutes. The station was called Singyeongju until 28 December 2023, so older guides use that name. It is on the western edge of the city; take a city bus or taxi into town.

Is the KORAIL PASS worth it for this itinerary?

Usually not. This route has two short train days, and the 2-day adult pass costs ₩131,000. A Seoul–Busan return alone is ₩108,800 in standard class. Add up the single fares shown in Korail's search before buying a KORAIL PASS.

Should I fly home from Busan instead of Seoul?

If your airline flies from Busan's Gimhae Airport, booking into Incheon and out of Busan saves the half day it takes to get back to Seoul. Otherwise take the KTX back to Seoul Station on the last morning and the AREX railway to Incheon Airport.

Which day of the week should I start?

Avoid starting on a Monday or a Tuesday: Changdeokgung closes on Mondays and Gyeongbokgung on Tuesdays. Also check that day 6 does not fall on a 1st, 3rd or 5th Tuesday, when Jagalchi Market is closed.

Can I do the route in reverse?

Yes. If you land in Busan, start there and finish in Seoul. Book Gyeongju for the middle night either way, as it is about 30 minutes from Busan and about 2 hours 10 minutes from Seoul by KTX.

Sources

Facts on this page were checked against these sources on 15 October 2026. Prices, hours and rules change — confirm with the operator before you go.