Andong, Gyeongju & Busan heartland · 9 nights

Day 1: Arrive in Seoul

Seoul

• Insadong & Ssamziegil craft streets · 2 h. Traditional tea houses hide in the side lanes; Jogyesa temple is a five-minute walk.
• N Seoul Tower & Namsan cable car · 2 h. Cable car queues are long at weekend sunsets; the walk up from Myeongdong takes about 30 minutes.

Local tip: Traditional tea houses hide in the side lanes; Jogyesa temple is a five-minute walk.

Open day 1 route in Google Maps

Day 2: Explore Seoul

Seoul

• Gyeongbokgung Palace & changing of the guard · 2.5 h. Closed Tuesdays. Guard ceremonies at 10am and 2pm at Gwanghwamun; entry is free if you wear hanbok. The National Folk Museum inside is free.
• Bukchon Hanok Village walk · 1.5 h. Residential lanes: visitors are restricted to roughly 10am–5pm in the core area, with fines outside those hours. Keep voices down and don't photograph into homes.
• Gwangjang Market food tour · 1.5 h. Try bindaetteok (mung bean pancake) and mayak gimbap; check posted prices before ordering. Bindaetteok suits vegetarians if fried without meat.

Local tip: Closed Tuesdays. Guard ceremonies at 10am and 2pm at Gwanghwamun; entry is free if you wear hanbok. The National Folk Museum inside is free.

Open day 2 route in Google Maps

Day 3: Explore Seoul

Seoul

• Changdeokgung Palace & Secret Garden tour · 2.5 h. Closed Mondays. The Secret Garden (Huwon) is by timed guided tour only; English slots sell out, so book online ahead or queue at opening.
• Cheonggyecheon stream walk · 1 h. Starts at Cheonggye Plaza near Gwanghwamun; lantern displays in November.
• COEX Starfield Library & Bongeunsa temple · 2 h. Free; the library is inside COEX Mall. Bongeunsa is across the road and quieter in the morning.

Local tip: Closed Mondays. The Secret Garden (Huwon) is by timed guided tour only; English slots sell out, so book online ahead or queue at opening.

Open day 3 route in Google Maps

Day 4: Seoul → Andong

Andong · Seoul to Andong, KTX-Eum Cheongnyangni–Andong ~2h

• Hahoe Folk Village · 3 h. UNESCO-listed and still lived in; a shuttle runs from the ticket office to the village. Buses from town are infrequent — check return times.
• Buyongdae cliff viewpoint · 1.5 h. Looks down over Hahoe's river bend; reached by a short drive or a seasonal river crossing.

Local tip: UNESCO-listed and still lived in; a shuttle runs from the ticket office to the village. Buses from town are infrequent — check return times.

Open day 4 route in Google Maps

Day 5: Explore Andong

Andong

• Hahoe mask dance performance · 1 h. Free shows near the village, usually afternoons from spring to autumn (more often at weekends); check the schedule.
• Byeongsan Seowon Confucian academy · 1.5 h. UNESCO-listed; the open pavilion faces cliffs across the river. A dirt road connects it to Hahoe.
• Woryeonggyo wooden bridge at night · 1 h. Korea's longest wooden footbridge, lit after dark.
• Dosan Seowon · 1.5 h. Academy founded by the scholar Toegye, on the KRW 1,000 note.

Local tip: Free shows near the village, usually afternoons from spring to autumn (more often at weekends); check the schedule.

Open day 5 route in Google Maps

Day 6: Andong → Gyeongju

Gyeongju · Andong to Gyeongju, Intercity bus ~1.5–2h

• Bulguksa temple · 2 h. UNESCO-listed and free to enter; buses 10 and 11 from town take about 40 min. Arrive early on weekends.
• Seokguram Grotto · 1.5 h. Bus 12 from Bulguksa, then a 10-minute walk; the Buddha is behind glass and photos are not allowed inside.
• Woljeonggyo Bridge at night · 1 h. Rebuilt covered bridge, lit after dark; walk from Gyochon village.

Local tip: UNESCO-listed and free to enter; buses 10 and 11 from town take about 40 min. Arrive early on weekends.

Open day 6 route in Google Maps

Day 7: Explore Gyeongju

Gyeongju

• Daereungwon royal tombs & Cheonmachong · 1.5 h. You can enter Cheonmachong, an excavated tomb; the magnolia between the mounds draws photo queues in spring.
• Donggung Palace & Wolji Pond at night · 1.5 h. Arrive around dusk for the reflections; open until about 10pm.
• Cheomseongdae observatory & Gyochon village · 1.5 h. Flower fields around Cheomseongdae change by season; Gyochon hanok village is a short walk.

Local tip: You can enter Cheonmachong, an excavated tomb; the magnolia between the mounds draws photo queues in spring.

Open day 7 route in Google Maps

Day 8: Gyeongju → Busan

Busan · Gyeongju to Busan, KTX Busan–Singyeongju ~30 min, or intercity bus ~1h

• Gamcheon Culture Village · 2 h. Take a bus or taxi up from Toseong Station and walk down; the stamp map from the information centre guides you round. Residents live here — keep quiet.
• Haeundae Beach & Dongbaekseom walk · 2.5 h. Swimming season is roughly June–August with lifeguards; the Dongbaekseom coastal path loops past the APEC House.

Local tip: Take a bus or taxi up from Toseong Station and walk down; the stamp map from the information centre guides you round. Residents live here — keep quiet.

Open day 8 route in Google Maps

Day 9: Explore Busan

Busan

• Haedong Yonggungsa seaside temple · 2 h. Crowded by 10am; go early or late afternoon. About 40 min by bus or taxi from Haeundae.
• Jagalchi fish market · 1.5 h. Choose seafood downstairs and have it prepared upstairs for a table fee; prices are by weight, so agree before cutting.
• Gwangalli Beach & Gwangan Bridge night view · 2 h. The bridge is lit every night; drone light shows run on many Saturday evenings.

Local tip: Crowded by 10am; go early or late afternoon. About 40 min by bus or taxi from Haeundae.

Open day 9 route in Google Maps

Day 10: Depart from Busan

Busan

• Huinnyeoul Culture Village coastal walk · 1.5 h. Cliffside lanes on Yeongdo; walk the coastal tunnel path and pair with Taejongdae.

Local tip: Cliffside lanes on Yeongdo; walk the coastal tunnel path and pair with Taejongdae.

Keep a buffer before your flight; check-out is usually noon.

Open day 10 route in Google Maps