South Korea Travel Guide: 5 Days Seoul & Busan Itinerary
South Korea is one of my dream destinations. Everyone I know is obsessed with Seoul and South Korea. Some are into cosmetics and food. Many are hooked on music and k-dramas.
This travel guide includes our six days itinerary in Seoul and Busan. I hope this can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit.
South Korea Itinerary 5 Days
- Busan(Days 1-2)
- Seoul (Days 2-5)
VISA APPLICATION: You may need a visa and other travel documents to visit South Korea depending on your passport. If you’re a Philippine passport holder living in Manila, then check out our guide on How to apply for a Korean Visa?
To start the trip, we need a sim card with unlimited data. We needed it for communication but most especially because we needed google maps for directions. We purchased through KLOOK.
Where to stay in Seoul?
Seoul is the capital of South Korea (Republic of Korea) and its biggest city. This is where we booked our accommodations through AGODA to get the best possible discount. The accommodations we found are near an MTR station.
BUSAN: We stayed at Yeonje-gu, Busan, South Korea – Geonhee guesthouse.
SEOUL: 46 Samil-daero 32-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-340, South Korea
I also recommend hotels in Myeong-dong because this area is pretty much where you can find anything you like and it’s easy to go around Seoul from here. The area is very accessible.
How to get around Seoul?
Almost all international flights land at Incheon International Airport. There are several ways to get to downtown Seoul from Incheon.
AIRPORT EXPRESS (AREX): This is the fastest way to get to the city from the airport. It runs like clockwork and it’ll get you to Seoul Station in exactly 43 minutes. The trains are comfortable with free wifi onboard. You can purchase tickets at the gate (KRW 9,500) but you can get a discount if you get them in advance through Klook.
TRAIN OR MTR: This is the second-fastest way to get into Seoul from Incheon. It’ll get you to Seoul Station in about 58 minutes and costs around half the price of the AREX. Trains run from 5:23 AM to 11:40 PM. This is the train we usually take. We bought T-Money Card for 3,000 won each in 7-Eleven inside Incheon Airport. We loaded it for 50,000 won.
BUS: A one-way bus ticket costs KRW 5,000-15,000 and takes longer than the subway (around 80 minutes), so I suggest taking it only if you’re arriving at Incheon during off hours. Late-night airport buses to Seoul Station run from 12MN-4:40 AM, while buses to Gangnam Express Bus Terminal operate from 11:40 PM-4:20 AM. Detailed inquiries on bus routes and bus stops can be made at the Airport Information Desk on the 1st floor. You can pay through cash or T-Money Card.
TAXI: Going by taxi is convenient but also expensive. A taxi will get you into the city in about an hour and will cost you anywhere between KRW 65,000-90,000. You can ask the Aiport Information Desk for the taxi bay area.
PRIVATE TRANSFER: This is the best and most convenient option but also more expensive. We are using private transfer if we arrived at Incheon Aiport past 12 midnight and before 6 AM. We booked through Klook 72 hours before our arrival. The driver contacted us on the day of our flight to inform us where he will be waiting and the car’s plate number.
EXPENSES(per pax):
Round-trip Plane Ticket via Cebu Pacific – Php 5,637
Travel Tax – Php 1, 620
T- Money – Php 142 (3,000 won)
T-Money Load – Php 2,216 (50,000 won)
Busan Accommodation – Php 862.94 for 2 Nights
Seoul Accomodation – Php 2340 for 4 Nights
Klook (Vivaldi Ski Resort – Nami Island and Petite France) – Php 2,100
Hanbook Rental – Php 445 (10,000 won)
N Seoul Roud-trip Cable Car – Php 346 (7,800 won)
Airport Express – Php 350 (7,900 won)
Prices might change by the time you visit Korea but what I suggest is that, pay for your accommodation and tours months before your travel so that you’ll only think of other expenses/pocket money once you’re there. Klook.com
SOUTH KOREA ITINERARY:
DAY 0: MANILA AIRPORT – INCHEON AIRPORT
We arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 hours before our flight. The first thing we did was pay PHP 1620 Travel Tax. After that we check-in to Cebu Pacific Airline. Our departure time was supposed to be at 7 PM, but we were able to take off past 8 PM.
DAY 1: BUSAN
We arrived in Incheon at around 1 AM the next day. We found it cheaper if we will book a private transfer through Klook rather than hailing a taxi. So we did. We just divide the total amount among ourselves. From Incheon Airport, we asked the driver to bring us to Seoul Main Station.
When we arrived at Seoul Main Station it was already 3:30 AM. We purchased the earliest KTX trip which is 5 AM. While we waited, we had an early breakfast first at one of the stores inside the station.
For more details please read here: 2D1N in BUSAN: 2 Days Itinerary, Accommodation, and Expenses
DAY 2: BUSAN TO SEOUL
On day two, we continued exploring Busan in the morning, and in the afternoon, we head back to Seoul. Upon arriving in Seoul, we took our dinner at Insadong. Which is a 10 minutes walk from our accommodation.
Read here: How to go to Busan from Seoul and vice versa?
DAY 3: SEOUL TOUR
It was an exciting and fun third day. We explore Seoul. Here are the places we visited.
GOBLIN WALL – If you’re watching Goblin, this place is familiar to you.
Read Here: [Filming Location] Goblin: Deoksugung Stone-Wall Road
GWANGHWAMUNN SQUARE is a public area located in the heart of central Seoul that features museums, statues, restaurants, and beautiful surrounding views.
Getting Here
Option 1
Take Subway Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station (Exit 2).
Option 2
Take Subway Line 1 to Jonggak Station (Exit 1).
Continue for 450 meters to reach the square on the right.
Option 3
Take Subway Line 3 to Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 6).
Continue 260 meters to reach the square on the right.
HANBUK RENTAL at Gyeongbokgung Palace – Read here: Korean Princess for a Day – How to Rent Hanbok in Seoul?
GYEONGBOKGUNG PALACE and GWANGHWAMUN GATE are located at the northern end of Gwanghamun square. Gyeongbokgung was the primary palace and one of just two (the other being Deoksugung) where you can watch the changing of the Royal Guard. Equally impressive is Changdeokgung which is a UNESCO Heritage Site and home to the Huwon or “Secret Garden”.
THE NATIONAL FOLK MUSEUM is actually inside Gyeongbokgung Palace. It presents historical artifacts that were used in the daily lives of Korean people in the past. Through the displays, visitors can learn about domestic and agricultural lifestyles, as well as Korea’s cultural beliefs.
BUKCHON HANOK VILLAGE took us on a scenic and serene adventure in the heart of Seoul. It’s so fascinating to see the traditional houses positioned downhill. It is the home to more than 900 traditional houses that can be dated 600 years ago.
To get to Bukchon Hanok Village, you need to head to Seoul Subway Line 3 and then go to Anguk Station. From there, proceed to Exit 2 and walk for around 11 minutes to arrive at the village.
DONGDAEMUN PLAZA is certainly the best market in terms of shopping for all kinds of products. But more than that, this cultural hub is very sophisticated, which means it can be a perfect backdrop for your photos. This is also a great spot to just stroll around and relax at night.
Take the Subway Line 2/4/5 to Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and head to Exit 1.
HAN RIVER – Just so you know, there are many ways to reach the Han River. We accessed the river by walking about 20 minutes from Hapjeong Station which is accessible from Lines 2 and 6.
DAY 4: VIVALDI SKI RESORT – NAMI ISLAND – PETITE FRANCE – MYEONGDONG
VIVALDI SKI RESORT is the largest ski resort in the country. This is the first snow experience of my life, so this trip is very memorable for me. We even ride their 8-seater gondola that has a very nice view. This ski resort is far from Seoul so we booked thrrough KLOOK together with Namil Villa.
BOOK NOW → Nami Island and Vivaldi Park Ski World Tour 
NAMI ISLAND is a small island located at the center of the North Han River. It is one of South Korea’s most loved destinations as the scenery changes drastically each season. This is also where they film the K-drama Winter Sonata.
BOOK NOW → Nami Island and Vivaldi Park Ski World Tour 
PETITE FRANCE is a cluster of pastel-colored buildings built into the side of a hill. It’s meant to be a recreation of a French rural village inspired by the novella The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. I remember this place from one of the episodes in Running Man.😂
To get here, take the subway or ITX-Cheongchun train to Gapyeong Station. From there, you can catch the Gapyeong Tour Bus to Petite France.
DAY 5: K-POP TOUR – N SEOUL TOWER
BIG HIT ENTERTAINMENT – My sister is a huge fan of BTS. Her only request for this South Korea trip is to visit Big Hit.
Read here: How to go to Big Hit Entertainment Building
K-STAR ROAD
Read Here: GangnamDol Art Dolls designed based on K-Pop Star
MYEONGDONG – This is where we tried different kinds of street foods. Take the Subway Line 4 to Myeongdong Station. After that, you go out of Exit 6 by stairs or Exit 7 via the escalator. Both exits give you access to Myeongdong main shopping street directly.
NAMSAN SEOUL TOWER – If you will visit the tower from Myeongdong you can follow the direction from this blog post of mine to take you to the cable car station going to Namsan Tower.
BOOK NOW → N Seoul Tower Ticket Observatory + Cable Car 
Basic Phrases For Your Trip to Korea
Hello // An-nyeong-ha-se-yo. (안녕하세요.)
Thank you // Gam-saahm-ni-da. (감사합니다.)
How much is it? // Eegaw eol-ma-yeh-yo? (이거 얼마예요?)
Do you speak English? // Yeong-aw jal-hae-yo? (영어 잘해요?)
I don’t speak any Korean. // Han-guk-aw jal-moat-hae-yo. (한국어 잘못해요.)
One of these, please. // Ee-gaw ha-na ju-say-yo. (이거 하나 주세요.)
It’s to-go/takeout. // Po-jahng ee-eh-yo or Tae-ee-kow-shi-yay-oh. (포장 이예요.)
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