I took my parents to South Korea! Originally, we were supposed to only stay in Busan but plans changed and we spent the second half of the trip in Seoul. I was so glad I could take my dad to the places I took my mom back in 2022! He enjoyed Busan so much and was a bit shocked there were so many places to see and so many restaurants to try 🥹.
I also linked my old itineraries below so you can build your own 💚. I didn’t make a new post for the places I revisited but I updated some posts. You’ll see old posts being linked below!
Don’t forget to click the links attached per area to find out the step-by-step “how to go” guidelines of each place.
Day 1
- Fly to and arrive in Busan : Travel requirements from Philippines to Korea (as of Nov 7)
- Bus to Ibis Budget Haeundae Hotel : Busan: Where to stay (Ibis budget Ambassador Busan Haeundae)
- Check-in : Busan: Where to stay (Ibis budget Ambassador Busan Haeundae)
- Walked around at Haeundae Beach and got some BBQ Chicken
like for real
Day 2
- Lunch at Gijang Crab Market : Gijang Crab Market (기장 대게시장) – (How to go, what to expect, and what we ordered)
- Coffee (and much-needed nap) at Coralani – always have the best nap here : Coralani Cafe (How to go, what to expect)
- Seomyeon area : Exploring Seomyeon area (How to go, what to expect, where to eat)
- Dinner at Lee Jae Mo Pizza (이재모피자) : Exploring Seomyeon area (How to go, what to expect, where to eat)
- Train back to the hotel
we decided to order another pizza since we were a bit hungry and the small size was actually small for us three
this was good , it was a bit spicy but just the right amount!
Day 3
- Sunrise chasing at Haeundae Beach (old photoblog but the hotel was less than 5 minutes away) : Haeundae Beach Photo Blog: Best place to see the sunrise (5 min walk from our hostel)
- Busan x The Sky : Busan x The Sky – highest Starbucks can be found here! (How to go, what to expect)
- Sky Capsule (FINALLY) : Busan Sky Capsule / Beach Train – NCT Chenle Jisung went here! (How to go, what to expect)
- Lunch at Hajinene Grilled Clam Restaurant (하진이네) : Hajinene Grilled Clam Restaurant (하진이네) (How to go, what to expect)
- Cafe Rooftop : Cafe Rooftop – Cafe by the beach (How to go and what to expect)
- BIFF Square : BIFF square + Gwangbokro Fashion Street (How to go, what to expect)
- Yongdusan Park : Yongdusan Park (How to go, what to expect)
- Dinner at 1986숯불구이 광복점 : Yongdusan Park (How to go, what to expect)
- Bus home
originally sat here
Day 4
- Brunch at Aether Cafe : Aether Cafe (카페 에테르) located at Huinnyeoul Culture Village (How to go, what to expect)
- Bus back to the hotel because we had to work
- Dinner at Ichiryu (이치류) : Ichiryu (Busan branch) – grilled lamb restaurant with a Michelin star! (How to go, What to expect)
- Walk back home
I was so happy and it was so healing for me to have brunch here
I kept on going up and down because I kept on ordering
and coffee of course!
place was pretty packed after a few hours
Day 5
- Sunrise chasing at Haeundae Beach (old photoblog but the hotel was less than 5 minutes away) : Haeundae Beach Photo Blog: Best place to see the sunrise (5 min walk from our hostel)
- Lunch at Seoyeonok (소연옥) : Seoyeonok (소연옥) – near Seomyeon area (How to go, What to expect)
- Gwangalli Beach : Gwangandaegyo / Gwangalli Beach – NCT Johnny, Ten, Jaehyun, Taeil, Chenle Jisung went here! (What to expect and a good KBBQ restaurant near the beach!)
- Millac the Market : Gwangandaegyo / Gwangalli Beach – NCT Johnny, Ten, Jaehyun, Taeil, Chenle Jisung went here! (What to expect and a good KBBQ restaurant near the beach!)
- Ddubuk’s Cafe : Gwangandaegyo / Gwangalli Beach – NCT Johnny, Ten, Jaehyun, Taeil, Chenle Jisung went here! (What to expect and a good KBBQ restaurant near the beach!)
- Walk around Gwangalli more
- Bus to Haeundae area
- Dinner at 불막열삼 (across Ichiryu but the food was not that good, didn’t write about it because I would not recommend it)
- Walk home
spent the afternoon here while waiting for the sunset ❤️
Day 6
- Sunrise chasing at Haeundae Beach (old photoblog but the hotel was less than 5 minutes away) : Haeundae Beach Photo Blog: Best place to see the sunrise (5 min walk from our hostel)
- KTX to Seoul (the blog post was years ago but the process is still the same) : Riding the KTX Train from Seoul to Busan and Vice Versa (Where to go, what to expect, how to book a ticket through KTX website, plus book your seat in advance!)
- Check-in at Hotel Park Dongdaemun I : Seoul: Where to stay (Hotel Park Dongdaemun I)
- Train to The Hyundai Seoul : The Hyundai Seoul – NCT Taeil went here! (How to go, what to expect)
- Dinner at their food court : The Hyundai Seoul – NCT Taeil went here! (How to go, what to expect)
- Train back home
Day 7
- Did some personal errands
- Myeongdong (parents wanted to buy some things!) : Myeongdong (How to go, What to shop, and Where to eat: Street food, James Cheese Back Ribs, Yoogane, Sulbing, BBQ Chicken )
- Lunch at Myeongdong Pizza : Myeongdong (How to go, What to shop, and Where to eat: Street food, James Cheese Back Ribs, Yoogane, Sulbing, BBQ Chicken )
- Myeongdong (parents wanted to buy some things!) : Myeongdong (How to go, What to shop, and Where to eat: Street food, James Cheese Back Ribs, Yoogane, Sulbing, BBQ Chicken )
- Took a cab and had dinner at 행복추풍령 칼삼겹살 : 행복추풍령 칼삼겹살 – One of THE BEST Samgyeopsal, NCT / WayV ate here!! (How to go, what to expect)
- Took an Uber back home (my parents were a bit tired and we were carrying a lot of things)
Day 8
- NCT 127 The Unity – Neo City : Seoul D-DAY – didn’t make another blog post for this one since I want to keep it a bit private BUT I made a thread of things that I wanted to share on Twitter (or X) if anyone would like to see : concert day thread!!
- Dinner at Golden Pig (금돼지식당) : Golden Pig / Geumdwaeji Sikdang(금돼지식당) – NCT 127, BTS JIMIN AND JUNGKOOK, G-Dragon, Aespa went here, and is on Seoul’s Michelin Guide (How to go, their autographs, and what to expect)
Day 9
- Lunch at Doce Mexican : DOCE Mexican 도쎄멕시칸 (How to go, what to expect)
- Kwangya : SM Kwangya (How to go, what to expect)
- Seoul Forest : Seoul Forest Photo Blog: Good escape from city buildings – NCT 127 A Precious Moment X Kichwork Photo Location! (How to go and what to expect)
- Tried to go to Cafe Seasony but it was closed on a Monday (😩)
- Got coffee at Avant Bakery instead : SM Kwangya (How to go, what to expect)
- Went back to the hotel
- Bus to the airport
- Quick dinner at Shake Shack (it’s open for 24 hours now)
- Fly back home
Most used apps are still the same as my earlier trip!
I honestly still have A LOT of places on my list that I haven’t been to 🥹!! There’s so much to see in South Korea.
Get discounts on Agoda and Klook!
Watch my South Korea travel film here!
💚, R
Read about my other Seoul and Busan adventures.
Build your own itinerary from the previous one I did in South Korea ❣️ :
Seoul + Busan – 10 days
Seoul + Busan 13 days
Busan only 8 days
Seoul only 7 days
Seoul only 8 days