Best 10-Day Korea Itinerary If You’ve Never Visited (2025)
South Korea is becoming one of my favorite and most-visited countries.
I’ve spent as much as a few days to three weeks at a time during each visit.
While you can spend the full 10 days in Seoul, there’s many beautiful cities to add to your 10-day Korea itinerary.
The best cities to visit in Korea will also depend on what season you’ll be visiting plus your interests, which I’ll go over in this post.
Here’s how to spend and plan your 10-day itinerary in Korea, especially for first-time visitors.
If you’re new to South Korea, make sure to read my South Korea travel guide.
Korea Checklist: have you booked these yet?
▢ Local sim card or Korea eSIM card
▢ Ride from the airport: private ride | airport bus | AREX train
▢ Buy a pre-loaded T-money card
▢ Book the most popular tours in South Korea
Best Cities to Visit in South Korea
Regardless of the season, Seoul is a must visit and likely your starting point in your 10-day Korea itinerary.
Here are other popular areas to visit by the seasons:
- Spring (cherry blossoms): Jeju Island, Jinhae
- Summer: Jeju Island, Busan
- Autumn: Seoul, Seoraksan National Park, Jeonju, Gyeongju
- Winter: Gangwon province
1. Seoul:
Visit royal palaces, explore various green spaces and parks, and enjoy eclectic shops and nightlife.
🎥 Here’s a playlist of my Seoul vlogs and all of my Seoul blog posts.
2. Busan:
Busan is the 2nd largest city in South Korea and is known for its beaches and cultural sites.
A busy but more laid-back city to add to your 10-Day Korea Itinerary.
🎥 Watch my Busan vlogs and check out all of my Busan blog posts.
3. Jeju Island:
Jeju-do is an hour flight south of Busan. Experience UNESCO sites, hiking, beaches, and waterfalls.
🎥 Watch my Jeju travel guide video with everything you need to know before you visit and all of my Jeju blog posts.
4. Gyeongju:
Gyeongju is one of my favorite cities in South Korea and is worth a visit, especially at night!
Here’s top things to do in Gyeongju.
Summary: 10-Day Korea Itinerary Breakdown
Here are two 10-day Korea itineraries that cover the main and most popular cities in South Korea, with or without flying.
Route #1: Train/Bus + Flying
- Day 1-4: Seoul
- Day 5-7: Busan
- Day 8-10: Jeju Island
- Optional: spend last day in Seoul
Route #2: Train/Bus (No Flying) + Day Trips
- Day 1-4: Seoul
- Day 5-6: Gyeongju
- Day 7-10: Busan
- Optional: spend last day in Seoul
10-Day Korea Itinerary Route #1: Train/Bus + Flying
This 10-day Korea itinerary takes you to the top 3 cities in South Korea without getting too overwhelmed.
- Seoul (4 days)
- Busan (3 days)
- Jeju Island (3 days)
4 Days in Seoul Korea Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Myeongdong Shopping Street
Tip: depending on the time zone you’re coming from, stay awake by visiting popular sites at night like Myeongdong Shopping Street, Hongdae, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and Cheonggyecheon Stream.
Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, DDP at night.
Day 3: Namsan Park, COEX Mall/Starfield Library, Hongdae at night.
Day 4: Downtown Seoul, Cheonggyecheon Stream ➡️ Train or bus to Busan, stroll beaches in Busan.
Top Seoul tours to book to save time:
🔹 Seoul royal palaces tours
🔹 Day trips from Seoul tours
🔹 Cultural experiences in Seoul
3 Days in Busan Korea Itinerary
Getting to Busan: Book a 2-hour train to Busan, or a 4-hour bus to Busan.
Day 5: Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan Observatory, Yongdusan Park, BIFF Square & Gwangalli Beach at night.
Day 6: Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Jeoryeong Coastal Walk, Songdo Bay Station, Haeundae Beach at night.
Day 7: Haeundae Beach, Haeundae Blueline Sky Capsule, Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory ➡️ Flight to Jeju Island, stroll downtown.
Top Busan Tours to Book:
🎫 Busan Tour Pass for access to 30+ Busan attractions
☀️ Busan full-day sightseeing tour
🚌 Most popular tour: Haeundae Sky Capsule, Gamcheon Culture Village
3 Days in Jeju Island Korea Itinerary
Day 8: Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff, Oedolgae Rock, Jeongbang Waterfall, Saeyeongyo Bridge, Cheonjeyeon Waterfall, beaches in Jeju.
Day 9: Seongsan Ilchulbong hike, Seopjikoji, Hamdeok Beach, Woljeongri Beach.
Day 10: Handam Coastal Walk, Aewol Cafe Street, Hyeopjae Beach ➡️ Flight out or back to Seoul.
*If you’re up to it, dedicate a half day to hike Hallasan Mountain.
➡️ Guide to hiking the easiest trail, Eoseungsaengak route.
Top Jeju Island Tours to Book:
🚌 Jeju island UNESCO site full day guided tour
🚙 Hire a private car for a flexible Jeju Island day tour
🎫 9-Hour Jeju Island highlights group tour (tickets included)
5 Days in Seoul Itinerary + Day Trips
Tip: You can also split the 5 days by starting with 3 days in Seoul, then save 2 days in Seoul at the end for some shopping.
Day 1: Arrive in Seoul, Myeongdong Shopping Street
Tip: depending on the time zone you’re coming from, stay awake by visiting popular sites at night like Myeongdong, Hongdae, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), and Cheonggyecheon Stream.
Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Insadong, Bukchon Hanok Village, DDP at night
Day 3: Namsan Park, COEX Mall/Starfield Library, Hongdae at night
Day 4: Choose a day trip: Nami Island, DMZ, Suwon, Jeonju.
Day 5: Downtown Seoul, Cheonggyecheon Stream. ➡️ Bus or train to Gyeongju, stroll downtown and Hwangnidan Street at night
2 Days in Gyeongju
Tip: Read my guide on how to get from Seoul to Gyeongju. Gyeonju’s night views are some of the best views I’ve seen in South Korea!
Highly recommend adding Gyeongju to your 10-day Korea itinerary.
Day 6: Daereungwon Royal Tomb Complex, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Gyochon Traditional Village, Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond, and Woljeonggyo Bridge at night.
Day 7: Bulguksa Temple, Bomun Tourist Complex, Gyeongju Tower, Bomun Lake and Pavilion. ➡️ Bus or train to Busan.
Top Tours in Gyeongju to book:
🚙 Top UNESCO sites in Gyeongju private tour
🚊 Gyeongju one-day guided tour from Busan
Optional: Take a 35-minute bus to the coastal city of Pohang, where popular kdramas like Hometown Cha Cha Cha were filmed. Here’s how to spend a day in Pohang.
3 days in Busan
Tip: Read my guide on how to get to Busan from Gyeongju. Express bus is the easiest.
Day 8: Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan Observatory, Yongdusan Park, BIFF Square, Gwangalli Beach at night.
Day 9: Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Jeoryeong Coastal Walk, Songdo Bay Station, Haeundae Beach at night.
Day 10: Haeundae Beach, Haeundae Blueline Sky Capsule, Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, flight out or back to Seoul.
Getting Around South Korea
▢ Besides Ulsan and Sejong, there are rapid train systems in all major metropolitan cities.
▢ For travel between cities, you can ride the KTX bullet train, as well as express buses that you can prebook on Klook.
▢ You can purchase single-journey tickets, but I recommend buying a T-money card at the airport or at most convenience stores to pay on trains, buses, and most taxis.
If you’re traveling to multiple cities during your 10-day Korea itinerary, it’s easier and cheaper to buy a KTX Pass for unlimited rides.
Final Thoughts: 10-Day South Korea Itinerary
Your time will fly by in Korea, and while you can fit lots of attractions into your 10-day South Korea itinerary, take your time and savor each moment!
To help you save time and maximize your time and stay, you can also prebook tickets and tours:
Have the best time in South Korea!
More Korea Posts
- Basic South Korea Travel Tips for First-Time Visitors
- Mini Korea Travel Planners to Easily Plan Your Trip
- The Best 5 Days Seoul Itinerary for First Timers
- Where to Stay in Seoul Based on Your Interests (from a Frequent Visitor)
- The Perfect Suwon Day Trip Itinerary (2025)
- Top Things to Do in Busan (Popular + Underrated Spots!)
- 11 Best Things to Do in Gyeongju (+Tips to Make it Worth it)
- Jeju Island Travel Guide: Best Areas to Stay, Transportation