14-day Korea itinerary: Seoul, Gangneung, Gyeongju, Busan, Jeju

Day 1 · Seoul: Palaces and hanok alleys

Start at Gyeongbokgung Palace (closed Tuesdays; the guard ceremony is at 10:00 and 14:00), then walk up through the hanok houses of Bukchon. Lunch and tea in Insadong, and an evening in the small lanes of Ikseon-dong.

Gyeongbokgung & Gwanghwamun경복궁 광화문Wide royal courtyards backed by Bugaksan mountain, with Gwanghwamun Square and broad…
Bukchon & Samcheong-dong북촌 삼청동Sloping lanes of tile-roofed hanok houses with the city skyline behind them, and quiet…
Insadong인사동One long street of traditional teahouses, calligraphy shops and craft stores, with an…
Ikseon-dong익선동Narrow alleys of low hanok houses turned into cafes, small restaurants and shops, tucked…

Where to stay: Stay around Myeongdong or Jongno for the palaces, or Hongdae for nightlife; both have direct trains from Incheon Airport.

Day 2 · Seoul: Secret Garden, markets and Namsan

Changdeokgung Palace and its Secret Garden in the morning (closed Mondays; book the garden tour). Lunch at Gwangjang Market (mung bean pancakes), street food in Myeongdong, and N Seoul Tower for the sunset.

Day 3 · Seoul: Hongdae, Yeonnam and the Han River

Cafés and vintage shops in Yeonnam-dong along the Gyeongui Line Forest Park, lunch at Mangwon Market, then the river: a picnic and convenience-store ramyeon at a Han River park. Back to Hongdae for street performers at night.

Day 4 · Seoul: Seongsu, Gangnam and the Lotte World Tower

Seongsu-dong's warehouse cafés and pop-up stores, a walk in Seoul Forest, the Starfield Library at COEX, and the view from the Lotte World Tower at dusk.

Day 5 · Seoul: Museum, Itaewon and Hannam

The National Museum of Korea in Yongsan (free, closed on some holidays), then lunch in Itaewon's international streets and boutiques and galleries in Hannam-dong.

Day 6 · Seoul: Day trip: Nami Island

The ITX train or a shuttle bus to Gapyeong, the ferry to Nami Island and its tree-lined paths, and the Garden of Morning Calm nearby.

Day 7 · Gangneung: Coffee and the sea

Travel day: Seoul to Gangneung. Trains, buses and flights

The KTX to Gangneung, coffee on Anmok Beach's café street, and Jumunjin, where the drama Goblin filmed its breakwater scene.

Where to stay: One night by the sea in Gangneung, near Anmok or Gyeongpo.

Day 8 · Gyeongju: The old royal capital

Travel day: Gangneung to Gyeongju.

Bulguksa Temple and Seokguram Grotto in the morning, the royal tombs of Daereungwon and the cafés of Hwangnidan-gil in the afternoon, and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit up after dark.

Where to stay: Stay near Hwangnidan-gil to walk to the tombs and night views; Bulguksa is a bus or taxi ride away.

Day 9 · Gyeongju: Bomun Lake and the east coast

Rent a bike around Bomun Lake, then head to the coast at Homigot, where Korea's mainland sunrise is famous, and the port of Guryongpo.

Day 10 · Busan: Haeundae and Gwangalli

Travel day: Gyeongju to Busan. Trains, buses and flights

Haeundae Beach, then the Blueline Park sky capsule along the cliffs to Cheongsapo. In the evening, Gwangalli Beach under the lit-up Gwangan Bridge.

Where to stay: Stay in Haeundae for the beach, or Seomyeon or Nampo to be central and closer to Busan Station.

Day 11 · Busan: Old Busan: Gamcheon, Jagalchi and Nampo

The painted hillside of Gamcheon Culture Village, raw fish upstairs at Jagalchi Market, ssiat hotteok in BIFF Square and Gukje Market, then the cliffs of Taejongdae on Yeongdo.

Day 12 · Busan: Temple by the sea and Seomyeon

Haedong Yonggungsa, the temple on the rocks (go early to beat the crowds), the Songdo cable car over the bay, and pork rice soup (dwaeji gukbap) in Seomyeon at night.