busan or seoul?
Korea's two biggest cities are about 2.5 hours apart by KTX, so the real question is often which one gets more nights. Seoul is the big capital of palaces, shopping and K-culture, while Busan is more relaxed, with city beaches, seafood markets and hillside villages by the sea.
busan
Dear group chat,Beach city of Haeundae, pastel Gamcheon village, seafood markets and pork rice soup.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingBusanKR, Busan
seoul
Dear group chat,Palaces in hanbok, Myeongdong street food, K-beauty hauls and café hopping till late.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingSeoulKR, Seoul
- From KL
- busanAbout 4,540 km
- seoulAbout 4,610 km
- Best months
- busanApr–May, Sept–Nov
- seoulApr–May, Sept–Nov
- Vibe
- busanRelaxed port city between mountains and sea
- seoulHuge, fast capital of palaces and K-culture
- Food
- busanDwaeji gukbap, milmyeon, fish cakes, seafood
- seoulKorean BBQ, fried chicken, Gwangjang Market
- Sights
- busanHaeundae, Gamcheon village, a seaside temple
- seoulGyeongbokgung, Bukchon, Myeongdong, Hongdae
- Getting there
- busanAbout 6 hours direct, when flights are running
- seoulAbout 6.5 hours' direct flight to Incheon
- Halal food
- busanFewer options, so plan ahead
- seoulEasiest around Itaewon and the Central Mosque
- How long
- busan3–4 days
- seoul4–5 days
Go busan if…
- you'd rather have beaches and sea views than shopping streets
- you want to pick your seafood at Jagalchi Market
- you've done Seoul and want a different side of Korea
- you're going in October and want to catch the film festival
Go seoul if…
- it's your first trip to Korea
- shopping, cafés and K-culture are the main plan
- you want halal food to be easy to find
- you'd like more direct flights to choose from
The verdict
For a first trip, Seoul has more to do and is easier to reach. Busan makes a better second trip, or the relaxed half of a longer one. Can't decide? With a week, do both: fly into Seoul, take the KTX south and finish by the sea in Busan.