Essential Korea: Seoul & Busan

Explore Seoul’s majestic palaces, traditional hanok villages and lively markets brimming with colour and energy.
Gain insight into Korea’s divided past on a guided visit to the Demilitarised Zone.
Travel south to Busan, where mountains and sea frame a city rich in culture and flavour.
Wander the vibrant lanes of Gamcheon Culture Village and the bustling Jagalchi Fish Market.
Step back in time in Gyeongju, exploring ancient temples, royal tombs and relics of the Silla kingdom.

Days

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,261 Reviews

55 Years of Expertise in Tailor-Made Travel

ExcellentBased on 5,261 Reviews

Trip Features

Family Friendly

Fun, safe adventures to delight travellers of all ages.

Iconic Landmarks

Features renowned sites that capture the essence of each destination.

Family Friendly

Fun, safe adventures to delight travellers of all ages.

Iconic Landmarks

Features renowned sites that capture the essence of each destination.

Trip Itinerary

At a Glance

DAY

Arrive in Seoul

DAY

Private Full Day Highlights of Seoul Tour

DAY

Full Day DMZ Tour & Evening Night Market Tour

DAY

Day at Leisure in Seoul

DAY

Seoul to Busan

DAY

Private Full Day Busan City Tour with Songdo Cable Car Ride

DAY

Full Day Gyeongju Discovery Tour

DAY

Depart from Busan

Travel Itinerary

Trip Starts

Trip Stop

Trip Ends

Detailed Itinerary

DAY

Arrive in Seoul

Transfer

Seoul Incheon International Airport to Seoul - City Centre

Your Accommodation

Crown Park Hotel Myeongdong

Located in the heart of Seoul's vibrant Myeongdong district, Crown Park Hotel Myeongdong offers a convenient base for exploring popular shopping streets, cultural attractions, and nearby palaces. The hotel features an on-site restaurant serving a variety of local and international dishes, along with comfortable lounge areas where guests can relax after a day of sightseeing. Its central city setting also provides easy access to public transportation, making it an excellent choice for both leisure and business travelers.

Duration

4 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Show on Map

DAY

Private Full Day Highlights of Seoul Tour

Day Tour

Private Full Day Classic Seoul Tour

Today, explore the city like a local using public transport. Begin with a visit to Gwanghwamun Plaza, encountering the statues of King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-Sin. Continue through Gwanghwamun gate to visit Gyeongbokgung (Gyongbok) Palace, the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. Originally built in 1395, it was expanded in 1867 to become the largest, and arguably most beautiful of Seoul’s five palaces, with 330 buildings in total. Witness the ceremonial changing of the guard which takes place at 10:00 at Gwanghwamun Gate. While at the palace, there is an option to visit The National Folk Museum. Located within the palace grounds, the museum contains interesting exhibits about the history of Korean people and their culture. From there, take a short walk to Bukchon Hanok. This village dates back to the Joseon period and features traditional Korean houses, called hanok, many of which are still inhabited today. Spend time exploring the area, getting a closer look at the unusual architecture and learning about traditional village life. Next stop is Changdeokgung Palace, another palace from the Joseon dynasty. In addition to being one of the best preserved palaces, this UNESCO site is known for its Secret Garden where man-made structures were built in harmony with the natural surroundings. Conclude this city tour at another must see area in Seoul, Insadong. Located in the heart of Seoul, this neighbourhood is steeped in tradition and boasts a plethora of art galleries, antique shops, craft stores, and traditional teahouses. It's the perfect place to be immersed in Korean culture and explore traditional arts and crafts.

DAY

Full Day DMZ Tour & Evening Night Market Tour

Day Tour

Shared Half Day DMZ Excursion from Seoul

Meet your guide for a tour to the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). This border barrier between South and North Korea is steeped in history and intrigue. Spend time exploring the various sites and exhibitions at the DMZ including Freedom Bridge, 3rd Infiltration Tunnel, Imjingak Park, the DMZ Museum and the Dora Observatory. Return to Seoul, where you will be dropped at City Hall. Your guide can provide instructions or directions on how to return to your hotel.

Day Tour

Shared Seoul Night Market Food Tour

Meet at the designated time for an evening filled with food, culture, and fun. Wander through Gwangjang night market, soaking in its vibrant energy and storied past. Then, head to curated local spots to savor authentic Korean cuisine and beverages. A variety of Korean dishes will be tasted, such as teokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and Korean pancakes. The dishes sampled will depend on seasonal ingredients and availability. Cap off the night with a lively Korean drinking game for a memorable and entertaining experience.

DAY

Day at Leisure in Seoul

Enjoy the day as you wish. If you would like to arrange an activity, excursion, or other experience, please contact your Goway Destination Specialist.

DAY

Seoul to Busan

Transfer

Seoul - City Centre to Seoul Station

Rail

KTX Bullet Train - Seoul to Busan Station

One way ticket on KTX High-Speed train from Seoul station to Busan station in Economy Class.

Transfer

Busan Train Station to Busan

Your Accommodation

Ramada Encore by Wyndham Busan Haeundae

Ramada Encore Haeundae is Wyndham's global brand hotel with the world's largest hotels. Located right in front of Haeundae Station (Busan Line 2), Ramada Encore Haeundae provides the most comfortable travel experience for guests visiting both the beach and the city of Haeundae. Haeundae Beach is a 500-meter walk from the beautiful sea, and you can easily find a variety of foods that give you a taste of Busan. Located 10 minutes away from the hotel, BEXCO is also easily accessible by public transport, making it a great location for those visiting Haeundae for business.

Duration

3 Night Stay

Meal Plan

Full Breakfast

Show on Map

DAY

Private Full Day Busan City Tour with Songdo Cable Car Ride

Day Tour

Private Full Day Busan City Tour and Songdo Cable Car Ride

Start the day with a visit to The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, a significant and poignant site commemorating the Korean War. The visit is not only a way to pay respects to the fallen soldiers but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the history. The next stop is Gukje Market, initially established by refugees and traders who settled in Busan after the war, making it one of the oldest markets in the city. The market played a crucial role in helping the local economy recover during difficult times. Make a short stop-by BIFF Busan International Film Festival street, a famous Busan's landmark. Continue to Jagalchi Fish Market, South Korea's largest seafood market. It's an excellent opportunity to experience the local seafood culture. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Continue to colourful Gamcheon Cultural Village, known for the houses built in a tightly-knit fashion on the hillside, giving it the unique appearance. Originally, the area was known for having substandard living conditions and settled by refugees fleeing from the Korean War. Next, sit back and relax with a scenic cable car ride. Travel 1.62 kilometres (15-20 mins) across the ocean at a height of 86 metres, enjoying panoramic views of Songdo Beach, Yeongdodaegyo Bridge, Namhang Daegyo Bridge, Songdo Coastal Dullegil Road and rock cliffs. Hop out of the cable car and follow the signs to Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge, a bridge that connects Amnam Park to the small uninhabited island of Dongseom Island. Enjoy 360-degree views of the ocean, cliffs and surrounding islands.

DAY

Full Day Gyeongju Discovery Tour

Day Tour

Shared Full Day Gyeongju Discovery

Embark on a full-day journey through Korea’s ancient capital. Meet your guide in Busan and travel by vehicle to Gyeongju. Start your tour with a visit to the stunning Bulguksa Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its masterful stone architecture and serene ambiance. Continue to Yangdong Village, another UNESCO World Heritage Site and Korea’s largest traditional village. Nestled in a beautiful natural setting, the village offers an authentic glimpse into the traditional culture and lifestyle of the Joseon Dynasty, with well-preserved hanok houses and serene rural landscapes. Enjoy a delicious lunch nearby, taking time to absorb the spiritual ambiance and scenic surroundings. In the afternoon, delve into Gyeongju’s royal past at Daereungwon, a vast tomb complex showcasing artefacts from the Silla Dynasty. Stroll along the picturesque Hwangnidan-gil, a vibrant street filled with hanok-style buildings, artisan boutiques, and inviting cafes. Then, step into the past at Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, a beautifully restored site that once dazzled with the splendor of Silla royalty. Conclude your cultural journey at the striking Woljeonggyo Bridge, where centuries-old architecture meets tranquil scenery. Then return by vehicle to Busan.

DAY

Depart from Busan

Transfer

Busan to Busan Airport

What to Expect

Explore what moves you.

Bongeunsa Temple, Seoul

Gyeongju, South Korea

Night markets of Seoul

Know when to go.

Place

Conditions

Daily max temperatureMonthly rainfall

BusanOccasional Showers

31°C / 88°F

53mm / 2.1"

SeoulPartly Cloudy

31°C / 87°F

43mm / 1.7"

Weather data is based on monthly averages.

Popularity rating

ExcellentBased on 5,261 Reviews

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I worked with Maria S. from Goway Travel to build a tailored trip to the Azores and mainland Portugal. Maria provided excellent, responsive and patient service, never pressured me into making decisions, offered multiple options for managing pricing, answered my many questions clearly and fully, and always met the timelines she would set to get back to me. Once I was on my trip, Maria checked in several times even though there was an operator on the ground at my destination; she even resolved a minor mix-up with one of my hotels and arranged for a special surprise on my birthday. I cannot speak highly enough of Maria's professionalism, follow-through, positivity, attention to detail and responsiveness. I highly recommend Goway and Maria for your travel plans, and will definitely use this company again for my future travels. Thank you so much for making my trip to Portugal so memorable, Maria! Michele B.

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Extremely delighted we took this trip to Bali with Goway. Ameet was fantastic. He helped me save on my flights and also guided me on the right hotel decisions. Extremely Charming and always a pleasure to chat to. We enjoyed the Komodo islands a lot thanks to our specialist who made the recommendation. Hid guidance on the places and restaurants was spot on and we and my gf enjoyed the trip so much. We will consider using Goway and Ameet for our Honeymoon as well.Garth Cutos

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Prompt, professional service when booking our trip. Excellent suggestions to add to our experience. Shalini was very accommodating and went beyond our expectations to meet all of our requests. Loved the small group tour.Oscar

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Touching base after our trip. As usual you did a great job helping plan and execute an amazing travel experience!! Everything was fantastic. Especially our hotel location. Since it's connected to the Victoria station it made getting around very easy. Thanks again for your help I'm sure we'll be booking our next trip soon...Leigh Ferris

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The trip was planned perfectly, with the support of knowledgeable and dedicated local staff during any critical point of the trip. The accommodations, transfers, transportation, guides' input and visits' setup met the highest standards and expectations.Nadia & Cristian

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We recently completed a trip to Crete, Greece - our third trip with GoWay - and I have run out of superlatives to laud their efforts. This was a self drive trip, and as has been our experience with GoWay, we were permitted to customize the standard offered itinerary to suit our personal preferences. Brooke, our agent on this trip, went the extra mile to make all the adjustments we requested, including providing for an English-speaking guide at the Phaistos archeological site. The hotels which Brooke booked on our behalf were truly excellent, and - again, per our wish - just outside of the urban chaos of Heraklion, Rethymno and Chania, but close enough to readily access the cities' benefits. Each hotel was a beachside sanctuary, and we spent several serene, idyllic days never leaving the hotel, and yet there was plenty of time for more distant and adventurous sight seeing. I cannot overstate how happy we have been with our GoWay experiences - most notably in their willingness to listen to our preferences and make those manifest in the itinerary - and this most recent trip just confirms our already positive opinion of GoWay, and we will be certain to consider them again for our next travel adventure.Frank Venuti

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Venessa Lloyd at GoWay organized a trip to Africa for us- We just returned last week. It was very well organized and included everything we requested, and more. We did two safaris - one in Tanzania and one in South Africa. They were both excellent, with first class accommodations and guides. We absolutely would recommend GoWay and Vanessa to anyone. Sandra

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Overall, the hotel and tours were amazing. We had issues with communicating with the driver. At times I was asked where, I was gone. The local company handled the situation and there were minor issues after. I would recommend a local English-speaking guide every day. My clients loved the trip. The area we stayed in had many restaurants and local markets nearby. I recommend the cooking class, flamenco dance show, wine tasting and taps tour, and the city tour. Jolynn Tizeno

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Ani M was absolutely amazing to work with! I actually chose Goway for our group trip because of her recommendations. She was the only agent who took the time to explain that we really needed to split our travels into two separate trips if we wanted to experience everything on our wish list, and I really appreciated her honesty and guidance. Throughout the planning process, Ani was incredibly helpful and answered ALL of my questions, even when I asked the same ones more than once! She was patient, knowledgeable, and always willing to help. I enjoyed working with her and her team so much that I already have another group trip planned with her, and I expect we'll be planning another one soon! The guides during our Scotland trip were wonderful as well. Ian Short was the BEST! He was professional, knowledgeable, and made sure everything ran smoothly so we could simply enjoy the experience. He even worked in sightseeing stops we didn't know we needed to see, and those little extras made the trip even better. The entire experience was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end. I'm already looking forward to our next adventure to Ireland with Goway and working with Ani and their team again!Angela Butler

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Michael was informative and answered all my questions. Flexible with package details and accommodated changes we preferred with activities. He put together a superb tour with transportation and guides that were very knowledgeable. Would book with them again on next trip to Europe.Christopher Carey

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What do the experts say?

Maria C. Spitman

Reservation Supervisor

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Try to stay at a traditional hanok accommodation (similar to a ryokan) with hanok dinner, which involves enjoying Korean cuisine, aka jeongsik (course meals) with banchan (side dishes). It's a rustic, traditional experience that all globetrotters will love.

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Maria C. Spitman

Reservation Supervisor

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Umbrellas are common; you can pick them up everywhere as well, but you'll find on sunny days as well as rainy ones that locals are using umbrellas and without one, you'll get a poke in the head now and again as you're walking on busy sidewalks.

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Maria C. Spitman

Reservation Supervisor

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Avoid July/August, as they are the rainiest months, with heavy flooding even in the cities, and temple walks become difficult. I also recommend avoiding Chuseok in September, a six-day holiday where everything is closed.

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