Journal · East Asia · South Korea
Seoul and Busan by KTX: how to plan a first trip to South Korea
A first trip to South Korea needs only two cities. Seoul and Busan sit at opposite ends of the country and one fast train joins them, so there are no internal flights to book. This route gives each city four nights and returns to a different part of Seoul for the last one.
Where should you stay in Seoul?
Myeongdong or neighbouring Euljiro, for the first stay. The airport railway runs from Incheon into Seoul Station, and from this part of the centre several metro lines are within walking distance, which puts the palaces, the markets and the western neighbourhoods all one ride away.
- The old centre. Gyeongbokgung Palace for the changing of the guard, then east through the tiled lanes of Bukchon Hanok Village to the tea shops of Insadong.
- Palaces and markets. Changdeokgung and its Secret Garden, which is entered on a booked tour. Gwangjang Market for mung bean pancakes and knife-cut noodles, and N Seoul Tower before sunset.
- The west. The park through Yeonnam-dong, the food stalls of Mangwon Market and the lanes around Hongdae.
How do you get from Seoul to Busan?
By KTX from Seoul Station, in under three hours. Tickets are sold on the national railway’s own website and go on sale about a month ahead; weekends and holidays fill first, so book as soon as the dates are fixed.
In Busan, stay by Haeundae Beach. The old port and the fish markets are in the south of the city and easy to reach by metro, while Haeundae has the open sea, the newer hotels and the coastal paths on the doorstep.
- The coast. The old coastal railway east of Haeundae now carries a small sightseeing train along the cliffs. From its far end a short taxi ride reaches Haedong Yonggungsa, a temple built on the rocks at the edge of the sea.
- Markets and hills. Jagalchi fish market and Gukje market in the old quarter, then a local bus up to the painted hillside houses of Gamcheon Culture Village.
- A slow day. The cliff boardwalk at Igidae, or an afternoon on Gwangalli Beach facing the bridge.
Why spend the last night in Gangnam?
It shows another Seoul, south of the river: wide avenues, the library inside the COEX mall, and Bongeunsa temple across the road. Seongsu-dong, the old factory district turned over to design shops and cafés, is close by.
It also suits a morning flight. Airport buses run from Gangnam to Incheon, but the journey is long and depends on commuter traffic, so leave early and check the first departures the night before.
What should you sort out before you land?
- Maps. Google Maps has long been limited in South Korea and is unreliable for walking and driving directions. Install Naver Map or KakaoMap, both of which work in English.
- Cash for the transit card. Cards are accepted almost everywhere for food and shopping, but topping up a T-money transit card at a station or a convenience store has generally needed cash. Withdraw a little at the airport.
- Palace closing days. Each of the Seoul palaces closes one day a week, and they do not all close on the same day. Check before fixing which palace goes on which day.
Quick answers
How many days do you need for Seoul and Busan?
About eleven days door to door from India gives nine nights: four in central Seoul, four in Busan and a last night back in Seoul before the flight.
Does Google Maps work in South Korea?
Only in part. It has long been unreliable there for walking and driving directions, so most visitors use Naver Map or KakaoMap instead.
Is it better to fly or take the train from Seoul to Busan?
The train. The KTX runs from the centre of one city to the centre of the other in under three hours, with no airport transfers at either end.
Before you book: check the whole trip at once
With two stays in Seoul and one in Busan between them, the usual slip is counting nights: a hotel that ends a day early, or a return to Seoul that does not line up with the flight.
Trips by Manr.ai puts your hotels and transport on one timeline and checks for gaps, overlaps and missing legs. Type a booking in, drop in the PDF, or paste the confirmation email. With an account and sync switched on, you can also forward confirmations to trips@manr.ai from the address you signed in with. Nothing joins your trip until you have seen it and added it.