32 days in South Korea Itinerary

The country's second city, Busan has often been referred to as South Korea's summer capital.

Busan Gamcheon Culture Village and Busan Museum are good opportunities to explore the local culture. You'll enjoy a bit of beach vacationing at Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach. There's still lots to do: kick back and relax at Songjeong Beach, head outdoors with Dadaepo Beach, take in the views from Busan Harbor Bridge, and make a trip to Seokbulsa Temple.

To see more things to do, photos, ratings, and other tourist information, read our Busan vacation planner.

Erbil, Iraq to Busan is an approximately 20-hour flight. The time zone difference moving from Arabian Standard Time to Korean Standard Time is 6 hours. Expect little chillier temperatures when traveling from Erbil in October; daily highs in Busan reach 26°C and lows reach 15°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 7th (Thu) to allow enough time to drive to Gyeongju.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Republic of Korea, Gyeongju combines a rich cultural heritage with mountain and coastal scenery.

Bulguksa Temple and Gyeongju Historic Area are good opportunities to explore the local culture. Go for a jaunt from Gyeongju to Pohang to see Pohang Steel Yard about 52 minutes away. Next up on the itinerary: see the interesting displays at Gyeongju National Museum, don't miss a visit to Daereungwon Tomb Complex, steep yourself in history at Royal Tomb of Queen Seondeok, and appreciate the extensive heritage of Tongiljeon.

For where to stay, other places to visit, maps, and more tourist information, use the Gyeongju trip itinerary planner.

Getting from Busan to Gyeongju by car takes about 1.5 hours. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 23°C in October, and nighttime lows around 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 10th (Sun) to allow time to travel to Changnyeong-gun.

Although many Changnyeong-gun tours revolve around its distinctive cultural legacy that dates back to the early Three Kingdoms period, there are still plenty of things to do for those pursuing great outdoors.

On the 11th (Mon), explore the ancient world of Changnyeong Shilla Jinheungwang Cheokgyeongbi, then take an in-depth tour of Changnyeong Museum, then don't miss a visit to Kanryongsa, and finally identify plant and animal life at Upo Wetland.

To find where to stay, more things to do, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Changnyeong-gun trip maker.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Gyeongju to Changnyeong-gun. Expect slightly colder evenings in Changnyeong-gun when traveling from Gyeongju in October, with lows around 14°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 11th (Mon) to allow enough time to drive to Andong.

Sitting along either side of the Nakdong River, Andong maintains an unrivalled reputation as a center for Korean folk and cultural heritage.

Start off your visit on the 12th (Tue): steep yourself in history at Andong Hahoe Folk Village, then contemplate the long history of Sinsedong Chilcheung Jeontap (Sinsedong 7 stories Brick Pagoda), then delve into the lush surroundings at Gyemyeongsan Recreation Forest, and finally see the interesting displays at Traditional Cultural Contents Museum.

For more things to do, reviews, traveler tips, and tourist information, go to the Andong trip itinerary planning tool.

You can drive from Changnyeong-gun to Andong in 1.5 hours. Other options are to do a combination of taxi and bus; or do a combination of taxi, train, and bus. Traveling from Changnyeong-gun in October, Andong is somewhat warmer at night with lows of 18°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 12th (Tue) early enough to travel to Donghae.

Kick off your visit on the 13th (Wed): enjoy the sand and surf at Chuam Beach, go for a stroll along the water at Mukho Port, and then enjoy the sand and surf at Mangsang Beach.

To see traveler tips, ratings, reviews, and other tourist information, you can read our Donghae trip maker tool.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Andong to Donghae. October in Donghae sees daily highs of 22°C and lows of 18°C at night. Cap off your sightseeing on the 13th (Wed) early enough to travel to Gangneung.

A large coastal city, Gangneung has been historically separated from much of the country because of the long, stretching mountain range that runs parallel to the sea.

You'll explore and learn at Charmsori Gramophone & Edison Science Museum and Jeongdongjin Time Museum. We've included these beaches for you: Jeongdongjin Beach and Gangmun Beach. Venture out of the city with trips to Naksan Beach (in Yangyang-gun) and Woljeongsa Temple (in Pyeongchang-gun). There's much more to do: head outdoors with Gyeongpo Beach, steep yourself in history at Gyeongpodae, and walk around Tongil Park (Unification Park).

For where to stay, ratings, more things to do, and tourist information, you can read our Gangneung tour builder app.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Donghae to Gangneung. In October in Gangneung, expect temperatures between 22°C during the day and 18°C at night. Finish your sightseeing early on the 16th (Sat) so you can drive to Seoul.

One of east Asia's major cultural and financial centers, Seoul boasts five World Heritage Sites and a huge selection of museums, temples, shrines, palaces, parks, gardens, and glass-and-steel skyscrapers.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. You'll explore and learn at National Museum of Korea and National Folk Museum of Korea. Change things up with these side-trips from Seoul: Paju (The Third Tunnel & DMZ Haemaru Village). Pack the 22nd (Fri) with family-friendly diversions at Lotte World. And it doesn't end there: wander the streets of Insadong, admire the natural beauty at Changdeokgung Palace, explore the striking landscape of Bukhansan National Park, and contemplate in the serene atmosphere at Bongeunsa Temple.

For maps, ratings, photos, and tourist information, use the Seoul vacation planner.

Traveling by car from Gangneung to Seoul takes 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In October, daytime highs in Seoul are 22°C, while nighttime lows are 21°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 23rd (Sat) to allow time to travel to Icheon.

On the 24th (Sun), try out the rides at Icheon Termeden.

To see reviews, ratings, and other tourist information, read Icheon trip tool.

The Route module can help you plan travel from Seoul to Icheon. Traveling from Seoul in October, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be a bit cooler in Icheon, with lows of 15°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Sun) so you can travel to Jeju.

The main town on the largest of Korea's islands, Jeju, has a volcanic landscape protected by UNESCO. The World Heritage-listed volcanic island includes the country's highest peak, sets of impressive lava tubes and columns, and several crater lakes.

Relax by the water at Hamdeok Beach and Gimnyeong Seonsegi Beach. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Jeju: Seogwipo (Pyoseon Haevichi Beach, Daeyoo Land, &more). There's still lots to do: look for all kinds of wild species at Sangumburi Crater, Head underground at Manjanggul Cave, get outside with Sehwa Beach, and kick back and relax at Geumneung Eutteumwon Beach.

For traveler tips, maps, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Jeju road trip planner.

Use the Route module to find suitable travel options from Icheon to Jeju. Expect a bit warmer temperatures when traveling from Icheon in October; daily highs in Jeju reach 24°C and lows reach 23°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 31st (Sun) early enough to travel back home.