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Where to Go in Korea: Seoul, Busan, Jeju and Beyond (2026)

Choose where to go in Korea: guides for Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, Jeonju, Gangneung, Sokcho and Incheon, and how the main cities connect.

This section helps you decide where to spend your days in Korea. Each city guide covers the areas, how to arrive, how to get around, and the main sights with stations, exits and closing days. Hours and prices were checked against official sources in October 2026.

Start with these three guides

  1. Seoul. Palaces, markets, shopping streets and the Han River, all on one large subway network. Most international flights land at Incheon, so most trips start here.
  2. Busan. Beaches, the fish market and hillside villages on the south-east coast. The fastest KTX from Seoul takes 2 hours 18 minutes.
  3. Jeju Island. A volcanic island with coastal drives, Seongsan Ilchulbong and Hallasan. You fly or sail in, then get around by bus or rental car.

Haeundae Beach in Busan on a cloudy day, with high-rise towers at the far end

How the main destinations connect

Route How Time (as of October 2026)
Seoul → Busan KTX from Seoul Station or Suseo 2 h 18 min fastest; most 2 h 40–50 min
Seoul → Jeju Domestic flight from Gimpo Book flights; no rail link
Busan → Jeju Domestic flight from Gimhae Book flights; no rail link

Times come from Korail's KTX timetable from 1 November 2026. Booking tips are in KTX and trains.

Start here

  1. Check whether you need a K-ETA or a visa in the entry checker.
  2. Pick your cities and the number of days. Ready-made plans are in itineraries.
  3. Choose where to stay in each city: see where to stay.
  4. Estimate costs with the budget guide.

A rocky cliff meeting dark sand and the sea at Umutgae Coastal Area on Jeju Island

Other places worth knowing

These are popular second-trip or day-trip destinations. Each has a full guide. Times and fares below are from Korail's KTX timetable (from 1 November 2026) and fare table (from 1 September 2026).

  • 경주GyeongjuGyeongju (guide). The old capital of the Silla kingdom, with royal tombs and Bulguksa Temple. KTX from Seoul Station to Gyeongju Station takes about 2 hours (fastest 1 hour 58 minutes), and costs ₩44,500 in standard class.
  • 전주JeonjuJeonju (guide). Known for its hanok village and for bibimbap. KTX from Yongsan takes about 1 hour 45 minutes (fastest 1 hour 28 minutes), from ₩31,000 in standard class.
  • 강릉GangneungGangneung (guide). An east-coast city with beaches and cafés. KTX-Eum from Seoul Station takes about 2 hours, from ₩27,600 in standard class, or about 1 hour 40 minutes from Cheongnyangni.
  • 속초SokchoSokcho and Seoraksan (guide). A port town next to Seoraksan National Park. There is no KTX; most visitors go by express bus from Seoul.
  • 인천IncheonIncheon (guide). The city around Korea's main airport, with Chinatown near Incheon Station. Seoul subway Line 1 runs there from Seoul Station for ₩2,150 by card (Korail metropolitan fare table, from 28 February 2026).
  • 수원SuwonSuwon (guide). Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Haenggung palace, reachable from Seoul by subway Line 1 or train.
  • 여수YeosuYeosu (guide). A south-coast port known for its night sea, Dolsan Bridge and a sea cable car. Most KTX trains from Yongsan to Yeosu-EXPO take 2 hours 48 minutes to 3 hours 14 minutes (Korail Jeolla-line timetable from 1 November 2026).

For mountains, read hiking in Korea's national parks: Bukhansan in Seoul, Seoraksan near Sokcho and Hallasan on Jeju, with trail hours, closures and the Hallasan reservation.

Courtyard and wooden halls of Bulguksa Temple in Gyeongju

Related guides

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