South Korea is a vibrant country where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge modernity. If you have 8 FULL days to explore South Korea, this itinerary will take you from the scenic coastal city of Busan to the bustling streets of Seoul. If you have less days, we’d recommend sticking to just Seoul – believe me, there’s plenty to do, see, and eat!
Let’s dive into a perfect blend of culture, history, and delicious food for your South Korean adventure! Over the course of 8 full days, we explored everything from KBBQ to K-Pop and from Skincare treatments to Colour Analyses.
Here’s a breakdown of our exact route, including what we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss), where we stayed, and how much we spent for each city. At the end, we’ll share the total cost for the country.
Since we used the same IC card for public transportation in both Busan and Seoul, and we loaded it up only once at the beginning, we’ve included the total transportation cost in our overall expenses at the end, rather than breaking it down by city.
OVERVIEW (CITY BREAKDOWN; Detailed itineraries for each city are linked below)
Days 1-3: Busan
Days 4-8: Seoul
Days 1-3: Busan
Busan is a vibrant coastal city in South Korea known for its stunning beaches, rich culture, delicious cuisine, and bustling markets.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We explored Taejongdae Resort Park, Gamcheon Culture Village, and enjoyed nightlife in Gwaebeop-dong before visiting the beautiful Haedong Yonggungsa Temple and relaxing at Haeundae Beach the subsequent day. We highly recommend that you don’t miss the drone light show at Gwangalli Beach and street food at Bupyeong Kkangtong Market.
– Where we stayed: Prima Hotels (right now, it costs $62 CAD/night). It came with breakfast and FREE self-serve instant noodles until 11:00 PM!
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $84 + Activities $8 + Food $128 + Souvenirs (Stickers and Skincare Products) $54 = $274 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Busan blog.
Days 4-8: Seoul
Seoul is the ultimate destination for beauty, culture, and food lovers.
– What we did (and what we highly recommend you don’t miss): We stayed in and explored the trendy Hongdae district, where I had a colour and fit analysis done (turns out I’m a summer mute!) and admired the architecture at Ewha Womans University. We soaked in the contrasting vibes of Seongsu and Gangnam (hipster vs. business), got lost wandering the palaces in Dongdaemun and Central Seoul, and indulged in street food and skincare at Myeongdong until the late hours of the night.
– Where we stayed: At a small Airbnb nearby Hongdae (we do not make any commission off of recommending this place)! To us, Hongdae felt like a younger, more local Myeongdong. It had all the happenings of Myeongdong but will less tourists! On the plus side, this Airbnb was located right above a Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant (double win!)
– Total spent (Approximate CAD, 2 people): Accommodations $557 + Activities $8 + Food $336 + Shopping (Skincare Products) $282 + Colour Analysis $270 + Skin Treatment (Celina) and Hair Cut (Ryan) $166 = $1,649 total.
More details including Pro Tips in our Seoul blog.
How to Travel from Busan to Seoul
To travel from Busan to Seoul, South Korea, you have several transportation options depending on your budget, time, and preferences:
1. KTX (Korea Train Express) – High-Speed Train
– Duration: About 2.5–3 hours
– Price: Approximately 59,800 KRW (around $60 CAD) for economy class, one way.
– Details: The KTX is the fastest and most convenient option, with trains departing from Busan Station and arriving at Seoul Station. It offers a comfortable ride with free Wi-Fi, power outlets, and food service available on board. Tickets can be purchased at the station, through the Korail website, or via apps like KTX Mobile.
2. SRT (Super Rapid Train)
– Duration: Around 2.5–3 hours
– Price: Around 52,000 KRW (about $52 CAD) for economy class, one way.
– Details: The SRT departs from Suseo Station in southern Seoul instead of Seoul Station, but it’s slightly cheaper than the KTX. It’s a great option if you’re staying in southern parts of Seoul.
3. Express Bus
– Duration: 4–5 hours
– Price: 23,000–43,000 KRW ($23–$43 CAD) depending on the type of bus (standard vs. premium).
– Details: Buses depart from Busan Central Bus Terminal and arrive at Seoul Express Bus Terminal. Premium buses offer more legroom and recline further, while standard buses are more affordable but less comfortable for long rides. This is a great option if you’re looking to save money.
4. Airplane
– Duration: 1-hour flight (plus travel time to/from airports)
– Price: 60,000–110,000 KRW ($60–$110 CAD), depending on the airline and how early you book.
– Details: Flights from Gimhae International Airport (Busan) to Gimpo International Airport (Seoul) are quick, but when factoring in travel time to/from airports and security procedures, flying may take about as long as the KTX. Airlines like Korean Air and Asiana operate these routes, and budget airlines such as Jeju Air and Air Busan offer more affordable options.
We flew into Busan and then into and out of Seoul (to Osaka, Japan), only because there was a really great deal when we redeemed our Aeroplan points.
In general, if we were not using Aeroplan points, we like using skyscanner.ca to find the cheapest flights because it compares several companies. Once we find a flight, we can click it to see which company sells the cheapest ticket. Usually, it’s trip.com. We like booking with Trip because they offer loyalty incentives. Over the past 12 months, we’ve made more than 8 bookings with them, and we’ve reached Diamond Tier status, which gives us extra discounts and two passes for free VIP lounge access at the airport.
5. Driving or Renting a Car
– Duration: Around 4–5 hours (depending on traffic)
– Price: Gas costs approximately 50,000–70,000 KRW ($37–$52 USD), and rental fees can range from 80,000–130,000 KRW ($60–$100 USD) per day.
– Details: Renting a car offers the most flexibility if you plan to stop along the way. However, parking in Seoul can be expensive and difficult to find, and navigating traffic might be challenging for first-time visitors.
Thus, the KTX is often the best balance of speed and convenience for most travellers.
Helping You See the Best of South Korea 🇰🇷
If you’ve got at least 8 full days in South Korea, hitting up both Seoul and Busan is a no-brainer. We actually stayed a total of 11 nights in South Korea, but we've created this 8 day itinerary for you so that you're optimizing your vacation time, especially if your schedule is tighter. If you've only got 5-6 days, just stick to Seoul—it’s got more than enough to keep you busy (and well-fed!). Trust me, you’ll still leave with a full belly, sore feet, and way too many selfies.
Overall Expenses for South Korea (CAD, 2 people):
- "Glow-Up" Expenses (Colour and Fit Analysis, LJ Microneedling and Laser Treatment, Ryan's Hair Cut): $642
- SIM Cards (Airalo [You can use our referral code “CELINA4205” to save $4.50 CAD OFF your first purchase]): $64
- Accommodations (we actually stayed a total of 11 nights) : $642
- Activities: $16
- Food (we never cooked for ourselves): $493
- Transportation (Public transportation with IC card, 1 taxi ride): $156
- Souvenirs/Essentials (skin care, stickers, clothes, toothpaste, floss, etc): $352
Total Cost: $2307 (approximately $105 per person per day)
Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below!
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