13 days and 12 nights Spring Itinerary in South Korea (8 days in Seoul + 4 days in Busan +1 day in Jinhae)

I took my parents to South Korea for almost 2 weeks to celebrate my mom’s birthday. I already booked our airplane tickets and planned our trip (except the day trip to Jinhae) before I got the news that the cherry blossoms will be at full bloom in all of the places that we (originally) will go to – Seoul, Busan.

I went to Korea for 9 days last year, check out my 2018 itinerary.

This was not the first time my parents went to South Korea – they have been to Seoul already more than once so we decided to skip on the “usual” touristy places and the theme parks.

The first itinerary that I planned was Seoul – Busan – Seoul but after I soon added Jinhae to the itinerary since it was a highly recommended place to see cherry blossom trees.

Just like before, our main transportation in Seoul is subways while we rode the bus in Busan.

Summary of our stay –
Day 1 – 3 : Seoul
Day 4 – 8 : Busan (day trip to Jinhae during day 7)
Day 9 – 13 : Seoul

Now for a more detailed itinerary!
(Click the links attached per area to find out the step by step “how to go” guidelines of each place)

Day 1 (Seoul)

Arrive in Seoul
Check in at Hotel the Designers Cheongnyangi : Seoul: Where to stay (Hotel The Designers Cheongnyangni)

we were so happy with the restroom!

Day 2 (Seoul)

Late lunch at Yoojung Sikdang : Yoojung Sikdang – BTS’ favorite resturant during pre debut! (How to go and what to expect)
Coffee at Common Ground : Common Ground (How to go)
Dinner at James Cheese Back Ribs, Myeongdong : Myeongdong (How to go, What to shop, Where to eat: Street food, James Cheese Back Ribs, Yoogane, Sulbing, BBQ Chicken )

last photos

WE ORDERED MANY CHEESE! NOT IN PHOTO – FRIED RICE! ALSO A MUST TRY!! IT WAS TO DIE FOR

Day 3 (Seoul)

Lunch at Golden Pig/ Geumdwaeji Sikdang (금돼지식당) : Golden Pig / Geumdwaeji Sikdang(금돼지식당) – BTS’ Jungkook and Jimin’s favorite 2018 resturant and is on Seoul’s Michelin Guide (How to go, their autographs and what to expect)
Ehwa Women’s University : Ewha Women’s University (How to go and what to expect)
Dinner at Chicken Baengi, Hongdae : Chicken Baengi (치킨뱅이) – Hongdae Branch (How to go and what to expect)
Early sleep because we were headed to Busan the following day.

PT 2

around campus

my dad also ordered beer to make it

Day 4 (Busan)

Train from Seoul to Busan : Riding the KTX Train from Seoul to Busan and Vice Versa (Where to go, what to expect plus how to book a ticket through KTX website)
Canvas Hostel (and leave luggages) : Busan: Where to stay (Canvas Hostel) *booked again with a different room (How to go, what to expect and a Korean BBQ place that serves Iberico pork)
Samnak Eco-Park : Samnak Eco-Park (삼락생태공원) Photo Blog: Perfect place to experiencing cherry blossoms at full bloom in Busan (How to go and what to expect)
Canvas Hostel (to check in) : Busan: Where to stay (Canvas Hostel) *booked again with a different room (How to go, what to expect and a Korean BBQ place that serves Iberico pork)
Gwangandaegyo/Gwangalli Beach : Gwangandaegyo/Gwangalli Beach (What to expect and a good KBBQ restaurant near the beach!)
Dinner at 꽃보다소 : Gwangandaegyo/Gwangalli Beach (What to expect and a good KBBQ restaurant near the beach!)
Walked a bit around Gwangandaegyo/Gwangalli Beach

super huge room

ordered another wang galbi because it was good!

Day 5 (Busan)

Oryukdo Skywalk : 2 Days and 1 Night in Busan: Where to stay (Canvas Hostel), Where to go (Oryukdo Skywalk, Gamcheon Culture Village, Haeundae Beach, Samnak Eco-Park, BIFF Square, Kakao Friends Store) and Where to eat (Mr. Sushi, 임씨네 돼지갈비랑 밀면, APeach Cafe)
Lunch around Oryukdo Skywalk
Gamcheon Village : Exploring Gamcheon Village Photo Blog (+How to go)
Dinner at 051 우리동네 : Busan: Where to stay (Canvas Hostel) *booked again with a different room (How to go, what to expect and a Korean BBQ place that serves Iberico pork)

Day 6 (Busan)

YUM

FOR ROUGHLY $3 EACH

ADDED FISH ROE SO THAT IT WOULD BE MORE DELICIOUS

and it WAS THE BOMB

BIFF square is like Busan’s version of Seoul’s Myeongdong

Day 7 (Jinhae)

Day trip to Jinhae : Day trip to Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival from Busan: Photo blog (How to go, and what to expect)
Dinner at the food court area of Lotte Department Store, Busan (if you will join Klook’s day trip to Jinhae, the station where they will drop you off is across Lotte Department Store, Busan): must try restaurant in the food court of Lotte Department Store – JJ’s Lobster Bar