South Korea
Palaces at noon, barbecue at midnight.
- Best time
- April to June, and September to November
- Good for
- Food lovers, design and pop culture, first-time visitors
- Language
- Korean
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)
Why go
The Short Version of South Korea
South Korea moves at thrilling speed, then surprises you with stillness: a mountain temple, a pavilion on a pond, or a quiet morning on a volcanic island.
Fast KTX trains make it easy to link Seoul with the ancient capital of Gyeongju and the coast at Busan, while a short flight takes you on to Jeju. We pace it so you can linger over the food as well.
Plan a Trip to South Korea
Highlights
Where We'd Start
- 01
Seoul
Joseon-era palaces, hanok lanes in Bukchon, and neighbourhoods that stay busy late into the night.
- 02
Gyeongju
The ancient Silla capital, known for royal tombs and the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple.
- 03
Busan
A coastal city of beaches, seafood markets, hillside villages and temples.
- 04
Jeju
A volcanic island of lava tubes, coastal trails and the Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone.
On the ground
Moments Worth Building a Day Around
- An evening of Korean barbecue in Seoul
- A night in a traditional hanok
- Sunrise at Seongsan Ilchulbong
- Browsing Busan's Jagalchi fish market
Start from here
A Signature Journey in South Korea
How does planning a trip with you work?
Send us a short brief through the trip planner or by email. We reply with questions, then a first draft itinerary. You mark it up, we refine it, and only once it feels right do we talk about confirming anything.
Are the journeys on this site fixed?
No. Each signature journey is a starting point showing a route we think works. Days, hotels, pace and stops can all change. You can also ask for a place that isn't listed here.
Why don't you show prices?
The cost of a trip depends on your dates, party size, hotel level and how you want to move around, so a headline price would rarely match what you actually pay. You receive an itemised quote for your own trip before you commit to anything.
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