South Korea itinerary in 15 days | Detailed itinerary

Route summary through South Korea in 15 days

Let's start with a Brief summary of the route through South Korea in 15 days, this is the itinerary that we would do if we had two weeks to travel around the country. Before starting the trip it can also be very useful to read our Tips for traveling to South Korea.

• Day 1: Arrival in South Korea and first day in Seoul
• Day 2: Seoul Royal Palace and sunset view
• Day 3: Seoul Market and Palaces
• Day 4: Suwon tour and flight to Jeju
• Day 5, 6 and 7: Touring Jeju Island
• Day 8, 9 and 10: Discover Busan
• Daytime 11 and 12 Gyengju
• Day 13: Jeonju, back to Seoul
• Day 14: Visiting the border with North Korea (DMZ)
• Day 15: Last day in Seoul and back home

What to know before your trip to South Korea

Before starting with the two-week itinerary through South Korea, we leave you with some articles that we have written with Tips and preparations which will surely be very useful to you.

• 📲 How to get internet in South Korea
• (I.e. Best travel insurance for South Korea
• 🧳 What to bring to South Korea, Complete checklist
• ✈️ Tips for traveling to South Korea (How to get around, what is the best portal to find hotels and activities, social norms…)

ᐈᐈ You may be interested in reading… Best travel cards abroad and not pay commissions (Updated 2026) ✅

South Korea in 15 days | Day by day route

Day 1 – Arrival in Seoul

The gateway to South Korea is the Incheon Airport, located one hour from the center of Seoul. Once you have left your luggage at your accommodation It's time to start discovering Seoul, a vibrant city with an endless offer of leisure, restaurants, shops and places to visit. We are going to mention the main places to visit so as not to make it too heavy, if you want to know more details read our article with the 30 best places to see in Seoul.

Recommended hotel in Seoul: Hotel Lemong

⚠️ Important: All public transport in the country can be paid for with a single card called T-Money that you can get at any convenience store, we have a guide on the public transportation in seoul with more useful details.

After a long trip, from which you will surely arrive in the afternoon, and being your first hours in a new country, we always recommend start with something calm. On this first day we recommend you visit:

• Ikseon-dong neighborhood: A popular area of ​​hanoks (traditional houses) converted into businesses of all kinds. You will be amazed by the atmosphere of its streets and the variety of restaurants and cute cafes.
• Cheese Industry or Soha Salt Pond cafes: Whichever coffee shop you choose, you'll be right. Both have delicious coffees and mouth-watering desserts. We fell in love with the fluffy cheesecake. Here are some other 7 cute cafes in Seoul.
• Jogyesa Temple: A very quiet Buddhist site in a bustling neighbourhood. Full of colourful lanterns and where you will see 3 golden Buddha statues.
• Hangane Bulgogi Jumak Restaurant: Perfect restaurant to try the bulgogi, a typical beef dish.

Or once night falls you can visit the nearby neighborhood Myengdong, is the paradise of street food, neon lights and makeup shops, The most vibrant and touristy area in Seoul!

Day 2 – The Jewels of Seoul

We started the first full day of the itinerary through South Korea by visiting the Bukchon Hanok Village, a neighborhood with traditional houses and good views of the city. Then take a walk down to one of the most beautiful places in Seoul, Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace. This is the largest palace in the country and an essential stop on this second day. You can't miss the changing of the guard In which dozens of actors participate every day, it takes place every day at 10 am at the main gate.

When mealtime approaches Visit the local market Gwangjang Market, is the most popular food market in the city since it was featured in a Netflix show called Street Food: Asia. In this market You can try all kinds of typical Korean dishes, even some not suitable for all palates such as the sannakji, which is basically live octopus.

We try the pajeon, tteokbokki and the gimbap (our favorite), although the most famous dish at the market is the knife-cut noodles featured on Netflix.

In the afternoon a perfect plan to end the day is Climb up to Namsan Mountain to watch the sunset and enjoy wonderful views of Seoul. 

You can go up by cable car, by bus or by a path on foot that is not too hard thanks to the views. At the top of the Namsan Mountain There is the N Seoul Tower, a huge antenna that has a large glass platform with 360-degree views of the entire city. Although the views from the entire area are already spectacular, it is not necessary to go up.

Day 3 – Markets and Palaces of Seoul

Yesterday you visited the most famous food market in the city, today you could go to visit the largest market in Seoul and some nearby stops, these are the ones we would definitely include:

• Namdaemun market: This market is very popular and always full of people. You can imagine that our favorite stops are the food ones, so we recommend visiting it with a hotteok hot in the hand, which is a Korean sweet filled with cinnamon, sugarcar and peanut.
• Changgyeonggung Palace: A must-see in Korea in 15 days, this Joseon Dynasty palace stands out for its beautiful garden areas and a large greenhouse with all kinds of flowers and bonsais. There is even a secret Garden that only royalty could visit.
• Palace of Deoksugung: It is the only palace that can be visited at night and its lighting gives it a special touch. There is also a changing of the guard at the main entrance.

To end the day, visit Hongdae, the university district par excellence, one best places to see in seoul. Its streets are full of atmosphere with music and live shows, there are also many bars, fried chicken restaurants and Korean barbecues. Not to mention Koreans' passion for photo booths, each one more original and special than the last. We think it is the funniest reminder of a 15-day trip through Korea. If you like nightlife, this neighborhood is your place, there are many clubs and cocktail bars.

Do not miss! ▶ 10 Restaurants where to eat in seoul

Day 4: Excursion to Suwon

Just an hour by subway from central Seoul is Suwon, a city famous for its striking Hwaseong Fortress, declared a World Heritage Site. Touring this city takes you back to Korea's imperial past. You can walk on the walls to tour the ancient fortress passing by imposing gates and watchtowers. Some parts of the fortress, such as the Seojangdae command post, are on top of a hill so you will have views of the rest of the wall and the entire city.

Next to the fortress is the old Hwaseong Haenggung Palace, a royal residence of the Joseon Dynasty that was very important in times of war. At the main entrance of the Palace every day at 11am they make a martial arts exhibition very cool. ▷ Read much more about everything you can learn in our guide on What to see in Suwon.

In the afternoon, return to Seoul to go to Gimpo Domestic Airport to catch a flight to Jeju Island.

Day 5 – Jeju, the volcanic island to see in South Korea in 15 days

Jeju Island is very famous thanks to being one of the 7 natural wonders of the worldWe recommend you dedicatecar3 days within your 15-day South Korea itinerary.

Although you could tour almost the entire city using its public bus system The best option is to rent a car so as not to depend on timetables, travel at your own pace and stop at all the places you want. We also recommend changing accommodation every day because the island is relatively large and it is better to advance a little each day than to always have to return to the same place.

The first day on the island you can start in the southern area:

• Jeju Olle Trail 10: It is a beautiful part of a network of trails that runs through the island.
• Yongmeori and Sanbang Mountain: paths that surround the coast passing by cliffs and volcanic formations.
• Cheonjeyeon Waterfall: A series of three-tiered waterfalls surrounded by jungle vegetation.
• Jusangjeolli Cliffs: A short trail through cliffs of volcanic rock columns.

Recommended hotel in South Jeju: Minitel Soul

Day 6 - Craters from Jeju

Continue exploring Jeju, this time spending the second day on the island exploring the eastern part of the island. This area is full of volcanic formations.

• Seonsan Crater Ilchulbong: It is also known as the Peak of Dawn because it is a typical place to climb to see the sunrise.
• Manjanggul Cave: Lava tunnel of more than 13km declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, there is 1 km open to the public that you can walk through
• Sangumburi Crater: Crater of a volcano surrounded by green fields.
• Seongeup traditional village: Small town where you can still see traditional Jeju houses.
• lookout of Seopjikoji:Here is a very curious house on some impressive cliffs.

Recommended accommodation in East Jeju: Hotel HueStay-KeumHo

Day 7 – Last day in Jeju of this 15-day South Korea itinerary

We are approaching the halfway point of this 15-day route through South Korea and it is time to make the last visits to Jeju Island before returning to the Korean Peninsula:

• Haenyeo Museum: The story of Jeju Sea Women, local residents with amazing diving skills, is told.
• Hamdeok Beach.
• Gimnyeong beach, a very wild beach.
• Woljeongri Beach.
• Samyan Beach, one of the most famous for its black sand.

Recommended accommodation near the airport: Elin Hotel

Late in the day or in the morning of the 8th, take a flight, this time to Busan.

Day 8 – Touring Busan

Busan is the most famous coastal city in all of South Korea and the second most populous city in the country. Being such a large city, the main attractions are quite spread out, making it difficult to choose. Where to stay in Busan It's complicated. We usually recommend the Nampo neighborhood as it's central and well connected to the other areas.

Recommended accommodation in Nampo: K-Guesthouse

Taking advantage of your arrival in the Nampo area you can visit the main attractions in that neighborhood:

• Jagalchi Market: Seafood and fish are very important in Korea and in Busan you can find them the largest fish market in the countryIt's quite surprising because they keep most of the seafood and fish alive. Also, if your budget allows, you can ask them to cook what you just bought there. It's one of the most interesting stops on this 15-day route through South Korea.
• Market Bupyeong Kwangtong: Local market where you will find very cheap restaurants.
• Streets of Nampo: It is one of the main commercial areas of the city and in all its streets there is a lot of atmosphere and many businesses. It stands out BIFF Square where the famous Busan Film Festival is held. There are many street food stalls in the area.

Day 9 – Busan Temples and Coastal Area

We started the day by touring the Gamcheon Culture Village, a colorful neighborhood in a mountainous area of Busan. It is famous for its narrow streets, decorated houses with colorful facades and above all because it arises from being a village of Korean War refugeesThe neighborhood of very humble origins undertook this regeneration project in 2009.

Then continue to more beachy areas, since Busan is a very popular holiday destination for South Koreans, due to its long beaches and coastal profile full of spots where you can take a dip and trails to explore. Throughout the day you could visit the following places:

• Temple Buddhist Haedong Yonggungsa: It is a little far from the city center but many claim that it is the best temple to see on a 15-day tour of Korea. It has a privileged location as it faces the sea and is made up of several prayer rooms and a Buddha figure carved in stone.
• Dongbaek Park: This is a seafront park perfect for taking a walk and enjoying views of the beach.
• Haeundae Beach: Busan's most famous beach is your best chance to get a swim on this 15-day South Korea itinerary. The beach is lined with a promenade lined with skyscrapers. Visit the beach at night too, when dozens of artists put on shows on the promenade.
• Busan X the Sky Building: The tallest skyscraper in the area with an observation deck on the 100th floor.
• Sky Capsules: Small trains leave from Mipo station and take a scenic tour along the coast. The same route can also be done on foot.
• Haeundae traditional market:There are many restaurants where you can have dinner both in the market and in the streets of the area.

Busan is really a very large city with many places to visit, if you want to know more you can read What to see in Busan in 2 days.

Day 10 – Last walk around Busan and transfer to Gyeongju

Before catch a train or bus to go to the next stop on this route through South Korea in 15 days. Take advantage of the morning to visit some pending places that you have not yet been able to visit in Busan. For example, the Bosu Book Alley which is full of bookstores, there are very close two interesting markets; Bupyeong Kkangtong Market and Gukje Market.

Another good alternative is to go to the Yongdusan park where is the Busan tower.

After eating, use the efficient Korean public transport and take a train or bus to the city of Gyeongju, one of the cities with the most history in the country since it was the capital of the important Silla Dynasty. Take advantage of your first hours in the city to take a quiet walk through Anapji Palace, which stands out for its night lighting, or for The beautiful hanok street Hwangnidan-gil, ideal place to go out for dinner.

Recommended accommodation in Gyeongju: Maison Hotel

Day 11 – Gyeongju Historical Area

Gyeongju has a lot of interesting areas to visit but they are all close to each other so you can visit almost all of them in one day. If you have walked around the city the previous afternoon you will have noticed that Night lighting changes the look of the city.

For us the must-see places in Gyeongju are:

• Tumuli Park:The Archaeological Park full of royal tombs of the Silla Dynasty. The outer form of these tombs are mounds of earth covered with grass.
• Cheomseongdae Observatory: One of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world, a symbol of the advanced science of the Silla period.
• Gyeongju National Museum: Full of artifacts that tell the story of Korea. You can also see pieces of gold and jewelry that kings were buried with. It is free and well worth the visit.
• Woljeonggyo Bridge: A beautifully decorated historic wooden bridge, one of our favorite spots in the city.

Depending on how quickly you visit these places and whether you had already seen any the day before, you will have time to Visit Bulguksa Temple during the afternoon. This temple was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the most beautiful and important in the country.

Day 12 – Jeonju. The most classic city on this 15-day South Korea itinerary

We head towards what will be our last stop before returning to Seoul. The ideal way to get there is by bus from the Gyeongju bus terminal, which will take about two and a half hours.

Jeonju is the capital of Korean tradition and is very famous for its Hanok Village, that is, its neighborhood of traditional houses. Despite having seen other similar neighborhoods along your route through South Korea in 15 days, Jeonju is the best and largest in the country, so you should not miss it.

In fact it is very common stay overnight in one of them, is one of the most traditional experiences of this route through South Korea in 15 days. We stayed in the hanok guesthouse jangsoo.

Apart from walking through the streets of the Hanok district, there are other interesting places to visit in Jeonju:

• Gyeonggijeon Shrine: The only building that was not destroyed during the Japanese occupations and currently the most important in the city.
• Nambu local market: A local market with few tourists, perfect for getting a real feel for what Korean markets look like.
• Jaman Mural Village: Just like in Busan, it was a run-down neighborhood that was renovated by painting murals on its streets.
• Jeonmang Cafe: Cafe located on the top floor of the tallest building in the hanok district, the best place to get a view.
• Jeonju Hyanggyo: Enclosure with many schools of dynastic origin.

If you want to know in detail everything what to see in Jeonju Don't miss our guide, where you will also find recommended restaurants.

Recommended hotel: Hanok Guesthouse

Day 13 – Morning in Jeonju and back to Seoul

Take one last walk around Jeonju before heading out to catch a train or a bus to travel to Seoul. This will be your fifth day in the city of Seoul, which you will have already seen has a lot to offer, take advantage of reading in detail our guide to what to see in Seoul in 5 days where we talk in more detail about each place. The time has come to visit the opulent Gangnam neighborhood. The most famous places in this neighborhood are:

• Gangnam Style Sculpture: Gigantic sculpture in homage to the song that made this neighborhood world famous.
• Starfield Library: Beautiful two-story library located inside the COEX shopping center.
• K-Star Road: A street full of statues dedicated to K-pop groups, if you're a fan. Otherwise, we don't think it's worth it.
• Bongeunsa Temple: Landscaped enclosure with lanterns and a huge statue of Buddha.

After touring Gangnam you can go to the Ikseondong neighborhood as it completely changes its appearance when night falls. Or an alternative is to walk along the Han River to Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow FountainAt night there is a light show and in general a good atmosphere is created along the entire shore with people strolling or renting bicycles.

Day 14 – Excursion to the DMZ, the most famous tour of the 15-day South Korea route

Since 1950, South Korea has been in conflict with its northern neighbor and the DMZ is the border that separates these two countries. This place has become One of the most famous tourist attractions in South Korea And this 15-day route through South Korea. If you're not interested in this place, it's best to dedicatecarHe spent the day continuing to explore Seoul.

The DMZ can only be visited with a local agency. a private excursion and during the visit You will be able to see the border fence and North Korean territory through binoculars. Also You will go down to one of the tunnels that North Korea dug in an attempt to invade its southern neighbor.

About three stages back to Seoul, ideal for going to Get to know the Itaewon neighborhood, a very trendy area in the South Korean capital full of international restaurants and bars. You can also go back to Hongdae, which we liked so much that we went there for dinner a couple of nights.

Another good plan before night falls is Visit one of the most important museums in SeoulI suggest two that are open until 18pm (except on Mondays when they are closed). We visited each of them in about two hours.

El National Museum of Korea, where you will find a tour of Korea's cultural heritage from prehistoric times to contemporary times. The other is the Korean War Memorial, displays a wide collection of military artifacts, historical documents and war equipment, both in indoor and outdoor exhibits.

Day 15: Last day in South Korea and back home

In case your flight is not in the morning you will still have time to live one last experience in South Korea, one that is undoubtedly unique and we loved it, try the Korean sauna.

There are many all over Seoul, we can recommend the one in the Sparex shopping center next to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza museum. They also have a space to store luggage and then go directly to Incheon Airport.

We hope we have helped you organize your trip with this South Korea route in 15 daysTo read more about each specific place you can access all the articles we have about it. South Korea the buscar inspiration from our featured stories Instagram. Thanks for reading us!

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