Home to K-pop, Korean BBQ, and kimchi, Korea’s really got it all. If modern cities, historic palaces, traditional markets, K-pop culture, and scenic mountains and coastal views are your thing, I can guarantee that you’ll love Korea just as much as I did. Oh – you can’t forget about all that delicious street food (crispy fried chicken, spicy tteokbokki, and sweet ssiat hotteok – yum!). Delish!

After visiting Japan a few times (which we’re utterly obsessed with; go if you haven’t been), we were longing for a new East Asian country to visit. Something with incredible food, a fascinating ancient culture, bustling modern cities, and of course cherry blossoms – and that’s exactly how we decided on South Korea! And boy oh boy were we surprised – in all the best ways. 

Even after all this time in the travel industry, I don’t have many friends who’ve visited Korea. Everyone talks about Japan, Thailand, Singapore, and Bali (all amazing and well worthy of a dream vacation), but South Korea’s kinda forgotten about – at least to most Americans. And when we visited we certainly felt it – there were hardly any American or European tourists!

Psst – when people talk about visiting Korea, they’re talking about South Korea, wink wink.

With that being said, he’s my complete Korea itinerary — with everything you need to plan your 7 days in Korea! Let’s get to it!

Week in South Korea Itinerary Logistics 

This Korea itinerary starts in Seoul, then makes its way down to Busan via high-speed KTX train. It’s thankfully not as complicated as many of my other itineraries around the world, yet we still saw and did (and ate!) oh so much.

Where is Korea and How to Get There

For starters, South Korea is the southern part of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. It’s bordered to the north by North Korea (divided by the 38th parallel), separated from China to the west by the Yellow Sea, and from Japan to the east by the Sea of Japan (also known as the East Sea).

The country is over 38,750 square miles, which is slightly larger than Portugal (one of my favorites) and a bit smaller than the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. And it’s got a whopping population of 51 million people (with Seoul being one of the most densely populated cities in the world — greater than both NYC and LA)!

There’s tons of mountains in Korea (primarily in the east and north), with lots of rolling plains and river valleys in the western and southern regions. Plus SO MANY miles of coastline, bays, capes, and over 3,000 islands, including Jeju Island (its largest). Seoul has the Han River, while the Nakdong River passes through Busan and Daegu.

How to Get to Korea

Most international flights arrive in South Korea at Incheon International Airport (ICN). If this is your first time in Korea, you’ll definitely wanna explore Seoul for a few days, so this works out quite perfectly!

For reference, we flew direct from San Francisco (SFO) to Incheon, which took about 12 hours or so (thankfully I slept a bit on the flight). From the US, there’s also nonstop flights to Seoul from cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and Atlanta. 

There’s also Gimpo International Airport (GMP), which is way closer to the city center, but handles mostly domestic flights (think Busan, Jeju, etc) and some international routes from nearby countries (like Japan, Taiwan, China, etc).

Once you make it to Incheon International Airport, you can either take public transit (either the AREX Express Train or AREX All-Stop Train depending on where in Seoul you’re staying), or the Airport Limousine Bus (which is a bus…not a limo unfortunately, haha). 

You don’t need to book either in advance, and both run quite frequently. I don’t recommend taking a taxi/ride share from Incheon as it’ll cost you a pretty penny (and you’ll undoubtedly get stuck in massive traffic).

When to Plan your Korea Itinerary

South Korea experiences a temperate climate with four distinct seasons (unlike here in California where we kinda have perpetual spring, haha). It’s a year-round destination with tons of things to see and do no matter the weather, but of course there’s a better time to go than others. 

In general, spring and fall are the best times to visit South Korea, as the weather is mild and comfortable. Plus, if you can catch the cherry blossoms in late March/early April you’re in for a real treat – they’re just gorgeous! 

Fall is dry, with clear skies and plenty of fall foliage from mid-October to late-November. Don’t miss Nami Island, Seoraksan National Park, or the palaces in Seoul – they’ve got gorgeous colors!

For reference, we visited Korea the very end of March to the beginning of April, and had mostly decent weather (with a few showers) and saw thousands and thousands of cherry trees in the city – we got so, so lucky and managed to visit during peak bloom. Definitely consider a day trip to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival if you’re visiting then too!

Honestly? I wouldn’t recommend a visit in summer – it’s sweltering and so, so hot and humid. Temps often exceed 30°C (86°F) and sometimes even 35C (95F). Plus, it’s monsoon season from late June to early August. 

Despite this, it’s super crowded (kids are off from school in Korea and Korean companies close). Plan to enjoy the beaches in Busan, explore Jeju Island, and cool off at water parks and riverside parks like Han River Park in Seoul. 

Winter is chilly in South Korea, with snow (particularly in the northern and mountainous regions), freezing temps (coldest months being January and February), and lots of Christmas cheer. It’s a great time to ski/snowboard, visit the ice festivals, explore Seoul’s winter illuminations, and relax in a jjimjilbang (Korean bathhouse).

Is a week in Korea enough?

Nope! There’s no way to see all that Korea has to offer in just 7 days. BUT if that’s all the time you’ve got, it’s still well worth the trip! We only had 7 days in Korea, and were able to see and do (and eat!) so much! It’s all about planning wisely and making the most of your stay. 

While this South Korea itinerary solely focuses on Seoul and Busan, if you’ve got more time I’d consider adding in Jeju, Gyeongju, and the DMZ (as a day trip from Seoul).

Honestly, don’t cram in too many destinations though – you’ll want at least 4 or 5 days in Seoul if you’ve never been (the city is HUGE with tons and tons to do)!

What about Jeju Island?

With just a week in Korea, you won’t have time to visit Seoul, Busan, and Jeju Island. It’ll be way too jam packed and I promise you’ll be miserable. Some people think even packing Seoul and Busan into 7 days is silly, as there’s SO much to do in Seoul itself. If you really wanna visit Jeju (some people love it!), skip Busan and head to Jeju instead. 

We skipped Jeju Island on this trip (and chose Busan instead) because we simply didn’t know if Jeju was worth all the hassle (flights, international drivers permit, car rental, etc). And in all honesty Busan seemed more exciting to us (have you seen photos of those super cute sky capsules?). Plus, Busan has that coastal vibe anyway, so I thought doing both was unnecessary. I do want to visit Jeju next time, though! 

Health and Safety in Korea

South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world (like Iceland, Japan, Singapore, and Norway), and violent crime is exceptionally rare. Public transport (including buses and subways) is very safe (with CCTV everywhere) and well-maintained. Taxis are also safe, with drivers typically being honest and professional. With all that being said, we didn’t have any concerns during our week in Korea!

There is something I wanna touch upon though… 

Proximity to North Korea: Yes, Seoul isn’t terribly far from the North Korean border, only about 30 miles from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the buffer zone that separates North and South Korea. Meaning it’s within range of North Korean artillery and missiles – BUT there’s tons of military presence in and around Seoul to help deter any potential aggression from the North. 

Please don’t let this stop you from visiting Seoul and South Korea in general (the DMZ is a popular tourist destination afterall!). We felt exceptionally safe, but I won’t lie and say that seeing shelters and safety equipment (even in our hotel rooms) was a little off putting — definitely reminded me exactly where I was. 

Food in Korea: Let’s face it – half the reason we decided to spend a week in Korea was to EAT! Plan to stuff your face and then wash it all down with some soju, haha. And unlike Southeast Asia, tap water is generally safe to drink (although many people still prefer bottled water). Food hygiene standards are very high, so eat all the street food you’d like!

Be careful eating hotteok tho — the honey is so, so hot! I totally burned my tongue more than once, whoops (well worth it).

Here’s the basics of Korean food:

• Kimchi (fermented vegetables, usually cabbage)
• Bulgogi (marinated grilled beef)
• Bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables, meat, and egg)
• Tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes)
• Samgyeopsal (grilled pork belly)
• Jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce)
• Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew)
• Hotteok (sweet Korean pancakes)
• Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with vegetables)
• Hoddeok (sweet syrup-filled pancakes)
• Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles)
• Pajeon (savory green onion pancake)
• Dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried chicken)
• Bingsu (shaved ice dessert)
• Soondae (Korean blood sausage)
• Mandu (Korean dumplings)
• Chimaek (fried chicken and beer combo)
• Gimbap (rice and various fillings rolled in seaweed)

Visas in South Korea

You may need a visa to visit Korea. When we visited (in April 2024), visas were not needed until December 31, 2024 for specific nationalities. So therefore we didn’t get a visa and were able to stay for up to 90 days with just our passport. 

But some nationalities need to apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) before traveling. It’s an online process that usually takes a few minutes. Check in advance what you need of course as things constantly change (here’s info for US citizens)!

How to Get Around Korea

For this 7 day South Korea itinerary, we used a few different modes of transport – particularly public transit (trains, buses, subway), rideshares/taxis, and walking! 

We used the KTX (Korea Train Express) to get between Seoul and Busan (the high-speed train), and subways and buses to get between different neighborhoods within the cities. Public transit is super clean and actually runs on time – what a concept! We felt super safe, even late at night.

Always keep your T-money Card handy – a rechargeable card used for the subway, bus, taxis, and even some convenience stores! 

Note that if you’ve decided to include Jeju Island into your week in Korea, you’ll need to take a quick domestic flight (it’s an island after all!). Check out Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and several budget carriers like Jeju Air and T’way Air.

VERY IMPORTANT: Download important apps in advance. Google Maps hardly works in Korea (and only features public transit directions which are not super accurate anyways…), so you’ll need another way to navigate. 

We primarily used Naver Maps, but I’ve heard great things about Kakao Maps as well. Download the apps and play around with them beforehand (they can be a little confusing to use at first).

I’d also get Kakao Taxi too, a Korean ride sharing app that’s a good alternative to Uber. But we actually used regular Uber our entire time in Korea and it worked completely fine… despite others saying it didn’t work for them.

South Korea Itinerary FAQs

Currency and Exchange Rates in Korea

The local currency in Korea is the South Korean Won (KRW). At the time of writing (August 2024), the won is equivalent to ~ 0.00073 USD (or 1 USD = ~ 1350 KRW). It’s a pretty challenging currency to convert in your head, so no shame in using a currency converter!

Note that tipping is not customary in South Korea, so you can spend that few extra won on street snacks and shopping!

Cash vs card in Korea: South Korea is one of the most cashless societies in the world (true story!). Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis, restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, and even street markets in some cases. 

BUT I highly recommend carrying some cash as well, as not all street vendors take cards and you’ll need cash to top up your T-money card.

How to Get the Best Exchange Rate: I always take out cash at an ATM upon arrival in the new country I’m visiting, and never ever through an exchange desk or beforehand in my home country. ATMs provide the best exchange rate, always. 

If you want to avoid those pesky ATM fees every time you take out cash, simply look into a no-fee debit card, such as through Charles Schwab (which I have and love).

Language in Korea

Korean is the official language of Korea. And it’s a hard one, haha.

While I always recommend knowing some basic phrases when visiting a new country, I’m guilty of learning zero Korean before I went. I tried, but to be fair, Korean is a really hard language to learn and Duolingo confused me with all the symbols (don’t use Duolingo if you don’t already know the symbols). 

Instead, learn these common words/phrases phonetically instead:

• Hello / Hi: 안녕하세요 (Annyeonghaseyo)
• Thank you: 감사합니다 (Gamsahamnida)
• Yes: 네 (Ne)
• No: 아니요 (Aniyo)
• Please: 제발 (Jebal)
• Excuse me / I’m sorry: 죄송합니다 (Joesonghamnida)
• How much is this?: 이거 얼마에요? (Igeo eolmaeyo?)
• Where is the bathroom?: 화장실 어디에요? (Hwajangsil eodieyo?)
• I don’t understand: 이해하지 못해요 (Ihaehaji mothaeyo)
• Help!: 도와주세요 (Dowajuseyo)
• Check, please: 계산서 주세요 (Gyesanseo juseyo)
• Goodbye (if you are leaving): 안녕히 계세요 (Annyeonghi gyeseyo)
• Goodbye (if you are staying): 안녕히 가세요 (Annyeonghi gaseyo)
• Delicious: 맛있어요 (Mashisseoyo)
• Do you speak English?: 영어 하세요? (Yeongeo haseyo?)

Thankfully, many individuals in tourism (at hotels, restaurants, shops, etc) speak some degree of English, and many younger locals speak some level of English as well. We were so thankful that most signs on public transit and in major tourist areas are in both Korean and English – phew!

However, don’t expect everyone to speak English, as some taxi/Uber drivers, local residents, and market/street food vendors only spoke Korean. So, make an effort; the locals will totally appreciate it! There were definitely situations in which the language barrier was more-than difficult, and we had to rely on translation apps.

Other Observations and FAQs about Korea

Will I enjoy Korea if I’m not into K-pop or K-dramas? 100%. To be quite honest, I can probably only sing along to one BTS song (and have never seen a K-drama in my life), and still thoroughly enjoyed our week in Korea. Yes, there’s plenty to do for the K-fan, but it’s not necessary for a fun visit to the country.

Things just make sense in Korea. Directions actually get you where you need to go, signs are super clear and not confusing, there’s ramps for luggage on (some) steps, hot water and microwaves for takeaway ramen in convenience stores, and people line up like civil human beings.

Locals love their little dogs. Something that surprised us SO much (considering a law was just put in place in 2024 re: banning dog meat). Every single dog we saw was dressed up with some clothing on and plenty were in strollers, haha (including puffer jackets and dresses), and there’s tons of stores dedicated to dog clothes and toys.

There’s TONS of shopping in Korea. You may wanna consider bringing an empty suitcase, haha. A few important things to note: Korea uses Asian sizing (understandably, this is Asia, haha) so you may need to get a larger size than you’re used to. Some places ask you to wear a face covering (so you don’t get the clothes dirty with makeup). Some clothes are one size fits all. Some stores show one piece per item on the floor, and you’ll get a fresh item when you buy. Don’t forget to get your tax refund receipt back so you can get money back at the airport!

And now, what you’ve been waiting for, a complete 7 days in South Korea itinerary!

The Best One Week in Korea Itinerary 

A few notes about this South Korea itinerary: 

• This Korea itinerary assumes you have a full 7 days in Korea. Meaning if your flight arrives mid-day or late at night, you’ll want an extra day in order to see and do all the things on this itinerary.

• It’s very GO GO GO and busy. I tend to travel quite fast. If you’d prefer a more relaxed type of trip, I recommend staying in Seoul the entire week and skipping Busan entirely. Trust me, there’s tons to do in the capital city – and you could even tack on a day trip or two (popular one’s being the DMZ, Nami Island, Mt. Seorak National Park, and Suwon).

• If you’re visiting during cherry blossom season, I HIGHLY recommend you tack on an extra day to this Korea itinerary (or cut out a few things in Busan) for the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. The amount of cherry trees over there is insane, and I still get teary eyed thinking about how gorgeous that day was!

Korea Itinerary Day 1: Neighborhoods of Seoul

Where to Stay in Seoul

Most tourists stay in either Hongdae or Myeongdong (as there’s tons of shopping and restaurants in both). 

If you’re looking for vibrant nightlife and artistic vibes (think buzzy night clubs, bars, and late-night shenanigans), base yourself in Hongdae. It’s a bit further away from the rest of the city, so stay somewhere near the subway (for easy access to transit). 

We stayed at the gorgeous RYSE Autograph Collection in Hongdae, and the service was impeccable, the room was so stylish, and there was even a Blue Bottle in the lobby!  I also got recommendations for Mercure Ambassador Seoul and Amanti Hotel Seoul.

If you wanna stay right in the heart of the city, stay in Myeongdong! It’s pretty central to most neighborhoods you’ll wanna visit, so it’s a lot easier to get around to see the major attractions. 

We actually stayed at MOXY Seoul Myeongdong on our first official night in Korea after landing in the country, but didn’t stay long since we took the KTX the next morning for 3 days in Busan and to see the cherry blossoms in Jinhae. 

Also check out L7 Myeongdong, Metro Hotel Myeongdong, and Hotel 28 Myeongdong.

On your first day of your South Korea itinerary, I suggest visiting a few popular neighborhoods. 

Read Next: A Super Crazy Detailed 5 Day Seoul Itinerary

Stop 1: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village

Up first – Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, a charming area with traditional Korean houses (hanoks) that’ve been lovingly restored into cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and guesthouses. It’s a great introduction to Seoul, and Korea in general, as you get to see that unique blend of old and new straight away… and there’s SO much good food, haha.

Who else wakes up STARVING after a long flight?! Wander the narrow alleys, take lots of photos, and visit a few cafes – what the area’s really known for.

We got there nice and early before the crowds came, but expect to wait on some lines no matter what. A few popular cafes:

• Mil Toast: known for their fresh and fluffy steam bread, strawberry milk, and french toast
• Cheese Industry: pastries centered around cheese, like “Berry Nuts Brie” and “Maple Burrata”
• Jayeondo Salt Bread: some of the fluffiest, softest, butteriest, most flavorful salt bread I’ve ever had – don’t miss the fresh squeezed OJ (its legendary) 
• Cheong su dang Café: meticulously crafted desserts in what feels like a Japanese-inspired greenhouse
• Nakwon Station Cafe: known for their train track running through a cafe and conveyor belt of cakes

And between all that eating?! There’s trendy shops and artisan workshops to peruse – it really is a hotspot for handmade crafts and hip vintage items (which I found so unexpected and fun).

Stop 2: Insadong

Not far from Ikseon-dong Hanok Village is Insadong, the next stop on this 7 day Korea itinerary (you can even walk there). This neighborhood is known for its rich cultural heritage and artistic ambiance, with lots of art galleries, traditional wooden teahouses, antique shops, and street performances. Don’t miss watching the candy vendors on the street!

A few things not to miss here in Insadong:

• Insadong Shopping Street: A busy street lined with vendors and boutiques offering everything from calligraphy materials and ceramics to hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and folk crafts. Great for some window shopping!

• Starbucks Insadong: Why am I telling you to go to Starbucks?! Well, it’s actually the only Starbucks in the WORLD whose sign isn’t in English. Kinda cool, right? Especially for someone like my husband who can’t go an hour without some caffeine, haha.

• Sip a cup of traditional Korean tea: There’s plenty of traditional tea houses along Insadong Shopping Street, so we did just that! We opted for “Traditional Teahouse Insadong”, but there’s also Namusae Tea House, Shin Tea House, Dalsaeneun Dalman, and plenty more, haha. 

• Jogyesa Temple: This is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Seoul, and we were lucky enough to catch some of the colorful decorations and lanterns for Buddha’s birthday (kinda like we saw at Yonggungsa Temple in Busan!). I would have loved to visit during the Lotus Lantern Festival – photos look insane!

• Ssamziegil Mall: A unique shopping complex with a spiral-shaped walkway lined with shops selling handmade crafts, accessories, and artworks. We wandered through for a few minutes but left once we got hungry, haha.

Stop 3: Myeongdong

After a busy afternoon, it’s time for Myeongdong – a lively neighborhood home to the popular Namsan Cable Car, delicious street food, and all the skincare shops you can imagine (don’t miss a visit to Olive Young!). 

We loved wandering around, stuffing our faces with lots of street food, having dinner at Myeongdong Kyoja (a super cheap michelin star meal), customizing some Nike clothing, and even getting a caricature of us (super popular over here). 

There’s also the Nanta Cooking Show if you’re looking for something silly (don’t worry, it’s a non-verbal comedy show so no worries if your Korean isn’t perfect… or non-existent, haha). If there’s clear skies, consider taking the cable car and N Seoul Tower up Namsan Mountain!

The #1 thing to do in Myeongdong – the Night Market! Myeongdong is famous for its street food scene, and lemme just say – you won’t be going hungry here! Around 3-4pm, the famous night market opens – trust me, you’ll smell it before you see it, haha. 

We tried a whole slew of things, including tteokbokki, egg bread (sounds odd but just try it), cheese bbq, hotteok, a fire marshmallow, coconut shrimps, and I can never say no to a mochi! Honestly, there’s so, so much food here – it’s overwhelming. 

Week in Korea Day 2: Traditional Seoul

Day 2 is all about traditional Korea! And if you’d rather learn from the expertise of a local guide, there’s a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village for just that (hanboks optional)!

Stop 1: Gyeongbokgung Palace

First stop of the day – Gyeongbokgung Palace! Built in 1395 (yes, over 600 years ago), it was the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. We loved roaming around the palace, admiring all the ornate details, and of course taking loads of pictures!

Don’t miss the Changing of the Royal Guard (Sumunjang) ceremony, which is completely free and takes place at the Gwanghwamun Gate (south entrance of the palace grounds) at 10am and 2pm everyday except Tuesdays.

Consider dressing up in a traditional Hanbok before visiting the palace and/or Bukchon Hanok Village! It’s a great way to immerse yourself into the culture, and Koreans actually support it, as it’s part of promoting their history. Plus, entry to palaces is free if you’re wearing hanbok. 

There’s plenty of rental shops near Gyeongbokgung Palace – you pick out your skirt and jacket, get your hair done with accessories, and totally feel like you’re transported back to the Joseon period or on an old set of a K-drama, haha.

Stop 2: Bukchon Hanok Village

Historic and charming, Bukchon Hanok Village is a traditional village with hundreds of hanok (Korean houses) that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. There’s narrow cobblestoned streets with traditional architecture, quaint tea houses, and artisan shops. It’s on everyone’s Seoul itinerary, so it’ll undoubtedly be crowded. You can easily spend half the day walking around here.

Please oh please respect the residents. Bukchon Hanok Village wasn’t built for tourists, so remember to keep your voices down and think twice before going onto private property.

We spent some time relaxing and sipping strawberry milk lattes from Green Mile Coffee – head up to their rooftop for views of the hanok roofs. Also, Granhand Perfume is really popular, and it all smelled so good, haha.

Psst – on your way from Gyeongbokgung Palace to Bukchon Hanok Village stop by Nuldam Space Cafe to write a letter to your future self. Such a fun concept and we can’t wait to get ours next year!

Stop 3: Dongdaemun Design Plaza

The iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, or simply DDP for short, is super fashion-forward and futuristic. It’s a whole complex full of modern architecture (designed by world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid), shopping, and ever-changing museum exhibits.

The space was honestly a bit confusing to me, as there’s so many floors and so many different exhibits on each one (who knows what I missed, haha). The outdoor exhibits and fun statues change all the time so you never know what you’re gonna see! Expect plenty of cherry blossoms here in the spring.

Stop 4: Gwangjang Market tour 

If you’re like me and get super intimidated by large markets (with tons and tons of stalls), sign up for a market tour! You’ll try things you never even heard of (like wiggly octopus legs that are still moving…yup), and get recs from a local guide. 

We ate bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), tried so much kimchi and tteokbokki, took photos with Cho Yonsoon (the famous Netflix knife-cut noodle lady), and even learned some Korean drinking games which we then played for god knows how long, haha.

The one thing you can’t leave without: the twisted donut from Chapssal Kkwabaegi (Glutinous Rice Twist). Run, don’t walk. They’re basically the OG of Korean pastries — imagine if a mochi donut and a churro had a baby, and that’s what you’ve got. 

Psst – if you have time before the market tour, consider stopping by Cheonggyecheon Stream, a long stream that eventually flows into the Han River. It’s a modern urban renewal project in the heart of Seoul, and a great way to get outta the hustle and bustle for a bit. And absolutely beautiful at sunset. 

South Korea Itinerary Day 3: Modern Seoul

Stop 1: Gangnam

Remember that song “Gangnam Style”?! How could you not? It’s practically a global sensation! Sung by South Korean artist PSY, it made the neighborhood super well-known (despite not many people actually knowing Gangnam is a place in Korea, haha)! 

But Gangnam is actually super upscale and trendy, famous for its high-end fashion boutiques, luxury brands, ritzy cocktail bars, and tons of plastic surgery clinics (K-beauty anyone?!). 

It’s known as the Beverley Hills of Seoul, and where the rich and famous live and play. Yes, status matters over here! We spent one morning experiencing the luxurious side of Seoul, and enjoyed it way more than we thought.

A few things not to miss in Gangnam:

• COEX Mall and Starfield Library: This is the epic library with the epic architecture, and yes, you need to come early if you wanna take photos/videos on the escalators. There’s also tons of shops, a movie theater, and even an aquarium.

• Gangnam Style statue: A huge set of golden fists celebrating the global success of PSY’s hit song “Gangnam Style”! And it’s so, so fun (yes, we were those nerdy fans singing along to the 24/7 music playing and dancing, haha). You’ll find this right outside COEX Mall.

• K-Star Road: A street with large, colorful bear statues called “GangnamDol” representing various K-pop idols and groups like BTS, EXO, and Girls’ Generation. Even though we’re not big into K-pop, it was fun to see the different bears – they’re all uniquely designed.

• Nudake Cafe: Actually located within Gentle Monster, this cafe’s got a striking interior and an even more creative menu (I swear, everything looks like it comes straight out of a sci-fi movie). We chose a black sesame latte and black croissant – the latte was perfect but the croissant was kinda meh.  

Stop 2: Seoul Forest Park

Time for some greenery and nature! Hop on the subway over the river to Seoul Forest Park, one of the largest parks in all of Seoul. The park is way larger than I thought it’d be, so we obviously didn’t walk the whole thing, but you can see deer and butterflies if you’re willing to walk!

We saw tons of cherry blossoms in the spring (when we visited!), and it’s easily one of the prettiest places to admire them in Seoul! 

Stop 3: Seongsu Shopping

After a stroll in Seoul Forest Park, head over to Seongsu, dubbed the “Brooklyn of Seoul” for its industrial chic aesthetic. It’s a trendy neighborhood known for its hipster vibe, awesome shopping (lots of concept stores), and stylish cafes. There’s typically lots of pop-up shops and markets around here, so you never really know what you’ll find!

Whatever you do, don’t miss the famous Dior shop – you can’t go inside without a reservation (you can make one at the door and come back if it’s busy), but the outside is just as worthy (designed by the French architect Christian de Portzamparc). You’ll see lots of photoshoots over here, haha. 

I also checked out emis (I got a baseball hat here!), Point of View stationary store, Osoi, Ader error (wow, just wow!), and Rain Report Croissant. Honestly, just stroll around and you’ll find tons of cool Korean brands/shops to pop into.

Stop 4: Jamsil for Baseball Game 

If you’re a fan of sports (or just chicken and beer, haha), grab tickets to a baseball game! We got lucky and the season was just starting when we spent our week in Korea (the season runs late March to late August).

Jamsil is the largest baseball stadium in South Korea, home to both the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears (part of the KBO League). And fans are super lively and fun – they sing a lot and there’s tons of cheering, even K-pop dancers! 

If you’re visiting later in the season and wanna ensure good seats (plus learn from a local), consider booking a full baseball experience – includes beer and dinner, too! 

FYI: If you’re not interested in attending a Korean baseball game (honestly, it was super fun though) or the season has already ended, you can head over to Banpo Hangang Park to see the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, or nearby Seorae Island.

7 Days in Korea Day 4: Day in Hongdae

Stop 1: Hongdae

Hongdae is vibrant and eclectic, known for its indie music scene, street art, and crazy nightlife. It’s sometimes compared to Japan’s Harajuku, and I can kinda see why – they’re both youthful, trendy, and creative. But honestly, very different vibes (Harajuku’s way more avant-garde).

You can totally spend the whole day in Hongdae (after breakfast at Egg Drop or Isaac Toast of course), and that’s exactly what I recommend doing! Besides strolling Picasso Street, Hongik University Street, and Hongdae Walking Street, there’s a whole slew of things to do. 

Expect tons of shopping (don’t miss Fresh Plush if you’ve got a dog back home), the super quirky Ramyun Library, Gyeongui Line Forest Park, and all the cute cafes (namely Thanks Nature Cafe, with live sheep I might add, Sanrio Lovers Club, Cafe Teteum, Colline – where I had the best strawberry bingsu, 943 King’s Cross, and Stylenanda Pink Pool Cafe).

Most things you can just decide the moment of, but there’s two you’ll need to book in advance: skincare treatments and a perfume making class!

You deserve some pampering (or at least one step closer to that ever-elusive glass skin look), and thankfully Hongdae’s got a bunch of skin care clinics! Korea is world-renowned for their cutting-edge skincare technology and innovation, and treatments are WAYYYY cheaper than in the States (plus, a tourist tax refund at the airport – save your receipts). 

Think microneedling, botox, aqua peels, pico toning laser, etc – always consult with the esthetician; they’ll give you options on what is best for your skin and such. We went to Lienjang Clinic in Hongdae (super foreigner-friendly with lots of expertise) for some basic treatments, and lemme tell you – I’ve never taken a face numbing cream selfie before, haha.

Ever wanted to make your own perfume? You can do just that with a class at Greedy Scent. We smelled dozens of fragrances, and picked out the exact combo for our top, middle, and base scents. And of course I walked away with my very own signature scent! Make sure to sign up in advance as slots get taken quickly, and there’s only a few per class.

Stop 2: Ramen by Han River 

After all that shopping, walking, and skin care pampering, take the subway over the river to Yeouido Hangang Park for a relaxing break by the Han River. This is where everyone comes to hang out and have picnics or ramen at 7-11 (yes, it’s a thing here). 

You choose your ramen, then cook it at the machine outside – super convenient and cheap, haha! There’s even picnic blankets and small tables for rent; they sure know how to picnic.

But don’t stay out too late tonight – we’re off to Busan early the next morning!

Day 5 in Korea: KTX to Busan

Welcome to Busan, South Korea’s dazzling seaside gem where city meets sea and where we spent an unforgettable 3 days. 

Think colorful hillside villages full of murals and art installations. Bustling seafood markets with the freshest catches of the day. Historic temples surrounded by peaceful mountain landscapes and the turquoise sea. Vibrant nightlife in trendy districts full of energy. Beaches, yacht marinas, and more! That’s Busan in a nutshell!

Read Next: The Perfect 3 Days in Busan

How to get to Busan

From Seoul, Busan is ~325 kilometers (200 miles) away. Thankfully, there’s two quick and efficient ways to get between the two – either a short flight or via the KTX high-speed train. Given how easy it is, I highly recommend taking the train.

The high-speed train network in Korea is called the Korea Train Express, or KTX for short. It connects Busan to major cities throughout South Korea, and it’s super simple and convenient. From Seoul, you’ll depart from Seoul Station and arrive at Busan Station in about 2 ½ to 3 hours.

And this is exactly how we got to Busan! We found the trains really comfortable, super safe (since there’s so much CCTV everywhere, even on public transport), and were able to use the free wifi. For reference, we took a 7:30am KTX train from Seoul and arrived in Busan around 10:30am, meaning we had most of the day to explore. 

Psst – once you make it to Busan Station, I recommend storing your luggage in a coin locker so you’re able to freely explore the area without all your bags! 

Important note: I HIGHLY recommend buying your KTX tickets in advance – the train gets filled up when it’s busy (like in cherry blossom season when we visited). 

Definitely consider purchasing KTX tickets via Klook (which is exactly what we did). There’s a deal for a group of 2-5 people for ~$90 per person for unlimited train travel for 2 days in a 10 day period. Note that it’s only for tourists, and slightly discounted than buying a regular ticket.

Head to this very comprehensive Busan post for more details on the KTX train.

Where to Stay in Busan

Wanna be centrally located? Stay in Nampo-dong, known for its vibrant markets, historical sites, and plenty of seafood restaurants. Check out Nampo Hound Hotel Premier, Aventree Hotel Busan, and Hotel Foret Premier Nampo.

But for a different pace of life, stay by the beach in Busan (the coastal charm is what makes the city so attractive). Haeundae Beach (known for its sky capsules and Blueline Park) and Gwangalli Beach (with its famous Gwangan Bridge) are both popular spots with tourists. 

We chose to stay at the Park Hyatt Busan in Haeundae – a luxury hotel with fantastic views of the harbor. Other Haeundae properties that were recommended to me were the Signiel Busan, The Westin Chosun Busan, Hanwha Resort Haeundae, and Ananti at Busan Cove.

Popular hotels in Gwangalli include Hotel Aqua Palace, H Avenue Hotel, and Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington.

Stop 1: BIFF Square

After the early morning train ride, you’re probably hungry (we sure were!). So it’s the perfect excuse to head off to BIFF Square for some street food stalls! It’s named after the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and is a hub of cinematic culture and entertainment.

Over here you’ll find a variety of local Korean snacks, so don’t be shy. Indulge in a seed hotteok (piping hot Korean sweet pancakes stuffed with seeds) at Seunggi Ssiat Hotteok (made famous for being on “One Night and Two Days”, a Korean reality show). Look for the stall with the longest queue and you found it, haha.

Tip: Make sure to have some Korean won on hand – many street vendors prefer cash. You can also check out Gwangbok-ro Fashion Street nearby as well.

Stop 2: Jagalchi Market

Up next – one of the most famous and largest seafood markets in all of South Korea, Jagalchi Market! It represents the heart of Busan’s fishing industry, and there’s a STAGGERING variety of fresh and live seafood (tons of fish, shellfish, octopus, squid, crabs, etc). And when I tell you it’s bustling, it really is. So much catch of the day both on display and in the tanks inside.

Try some hoe (raw fish) with kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste) if you’re still hungry after all the food at BIFF Square. We were stuffed so we just wandered around the market instead.

And get this – the market dates back to the Korean War era, around the 1950s! It’s since become a landmark in Busan, understandably so!

Stop 3: Busan City Views at Lotte Observatory

Time for some city views! We walked over to the Lotte Department Store Observatory, which is actually a free viewpoint from the roof on the 13th floor! From here you can see the scenic coastline, the bustling city center, and the picturesque mountains.

Psst – there’s a few Lotte’s in Busan – make sure you go to the right one! You’ll be looking for the Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch.

After exploring the area near(ish) Busan Station for a bit, I recommend heading to your hotel and checking in. Don’t forget to grab your luggage outta the coin lockers of course!

Stop 4: Gwangalli Beach

Up Next – Gwangalli Beach, an urban beach area with tons of character and even more good food. I recommend heading to the sandy beach a bit before sunset, and then staying afterwards to see the area transform into night.

A major highlight of Gwangalli Beach – the iconic Gwangandaegyo Bridge (aka Gwangan Bridge). It’s the largest double-layer bridge in Korea, and even has the world’s largest set of LED lights and sound equipment. Take some pics with the bridge and coastal skyline, and stay around to watch the bridge’s light show (occurring daily at 8pm and 10pm, with an additional show at 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays). This was a complete surprise to us, and it was honestly really impressive. 

We had a super simple dinner of ramen on the beach (from a nearby 7-11 – it’s super common here), but there’s tons of cute cafes and dinner spots if you want something a bit fancier. The exhaustion was really starting to set in so we were more than happy with some quick instant ramen, haha.

And if it’s Saturday, you’ll get to watch the drone light show (although I wouldn’t necessarily rearrange your whole itinerary for this). While we were absolutely mesmerized watching the hundreds of drones lighting up the night sky (and wow oh wow that choreography is impressive), the show was only about 10 minutes or so and wish it had been longer! 

Stop 5: The Bay 101

If you’re still up for one last activity of the night, head over to The Bay 101 for fantastic views of the city. Think panoramic views of Haeundae Beach, the ocean, and the skyline, including the iconic Marine City skyscrapers. 

We were pretty exhausted by now, so stopped by very briefly. And it was so much busier than I thought! Everyone was out and about taking pics of the twinkly lights and massive skyscrapers. 

Since we were staying in Haeundae at the Park Hyatt Busan, we simply walked back to our hotel afterwards. Note that if you’re not staying in Haeundae like we were, I’d recommend tacking on The Bay 101 to the end of Day 6 instead (as you can practically walk from the market).

7 Days in Korea Day 6: Highlights of Busan

Get ready, because today’s a FULL day of sightseeing. If you’re arriving in Busan the morning of Day 5 and leaving in the late afternoon/night on Day 7, today’s your only full day – may as well make the absolute most of it!

Because of this, I highly recommend you book yourself on a tour. Tourist attractions are pretty spread out in Busan, and you don’t wanna spend half your day figuring out transportation or relying on expensive taxis.

Plus, if you’re having difficulties buying a ticket for the ever-so-popular Sky Capsule (like us – we found it near impossible), just make it easy and book a guided tour of Busan that includes it! That’s exactly what we did, and this is the EXACT tour we went on – the day was super well planned and we saw SO much more on the tour than we would have if we were navigating the city ourselves.

Stop 1: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

One of my favorite stops in all of Busan – the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (translating to “Korean Dragon Palace Temple” in English)! It’s one of the few Buddhist temples in Korea located along the coastline, which makes it oh so super popular (most Korean temples are located in the mountains). 

Haedong Yonggungsa is set against a dramatic backdrop of rocky cliffs and the blue sea — I loved the picturesque views and all the nature! And of course the sound of the waves, but you could hardly hear them over all the crowds, haha.

The temple was originally built in 1376 during the Goryeo Dynasty, so it’s been around for quite a while. And get this – it’s still an active place of worship, even after all these years. 

Note that you need to descend 108 steps to reach the temple complex — it is located on a coastal cliff afterall! But I promise the exercise is well worth it – we spent about an hour or so at the temple and could’ve stayed longer (although we were ready to leave since the crowds were so horrible). 

Stop 2: Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory

Next is a quick stop at Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, a modern skywalk with a transparent glass floor and gorgeous views of the East Sea, the rocky coastline, and the picturesque Cheongsapo Fishing Village. 

The observatory is located near one end of Haeundae Blueline Park (where the ever-so-popular sky capsules are located), so a perfect pit stop for more views! 

Stop 3: Seafood BBQ Lunch in Cheongsapo

We then walked over to Cheongsapo for a seafood bbq lunch — and what a feast we had!

Cheongsapo is a fishing village famous for its seafood and charming coastal views, so of course that’s what was on the menu. Think shrimp, octopus, clams, scallops, abalone, and plenty of types of fish. I heard that some restaurants even have tanks with live seafood!

I have no idea the name of the place, but if you take the same tour we did, you’ll most likely end up here as well.

To be honest, it was kinda pricey, but the seafood was super fresh (and locally-sourced) and the portions were pretty decent! Plus plenty of banchan (side dishes), like kimchi, pickled vegetables, and salads.

Stop 4: Haeundae Blueline Park and Sky Capsule

Finally – it’s time to ride the sky capsules! 

Yes, these are the super cute little colorful capsules you see all over social media; right here in Busan! Over here in Haeundae Blueline Park you’ve got a few options — riding the sky capsule, the Haeundae Beach train, or simply walking along the railway coastal trail. But of course it’s the retro-looking sky capsules we’re after!

To be honest, the ride was a little underwhelming, but still fun. I didn’t realize just how slow it goes (about 4km/hr), but I guess that’s a good thing so you can really take in the views. The whole route, from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo Station (or reverse like we did), takes about 30 minutes.

PS — I’d opt for a one-way ticket; there’s no need to ride the sky capsule round trip in my opinion. 

Stop 5: Huinnyeoul Coastal Village 

Next up – Huinnyeoul Coastal Village (or Huinnyeoul Munhwa Maul in Korean). Told you this was a long day! Located on Yeongdo Island, this charming coastal village is way less popular than Gamcheon Culture Village, so thankfully wasn’t busy at all. 

There’s two main roads here – the coastal promenade (which is right next to the sea) and the road higher up where you’ll find all the shops, cozy cafes, and colorful murals (where we stayed). If you’re up for it, you can walk down the rainbow steps to see the popular Huinnyeoul Coast Tunnel – we were already utterly exhausted so decided to opt out, haha. Next time for us!

Stop 6: Gamcheon Cultural Village 

One of the most popular things to do in Busan, and the last official stop on the tour!

If you’ve done any research on Busan at all, you’ve most definitely come across those panoramic views with colorful houses on the hill – that’s Gamcheon Cultural Village! 

It’s situated on a hillside, so expect lots of hills and steps, but also colorful alleys, murals, and art installations. And of course it’s colorful houses – definitely view them from above (our favorite viewpoint was from Coffee It House, but there’s also Cafe Wooin and the Haneul Maru Observation Deck).

Remember – people still live in these homes (many elderly), so please be a respectful and quiet tourist. 

Stop 7: Snacks at Haeundae Market

If you’re staying in Haeundae like we were, hit up the Haeundae Market after dinner for some street snacks! I wouldn’t go crazy out of your way for this, but any night that ends with a hot honey hotteok in hand is a good night, haha.

Korea Itinerary Day 7: Busan

After a crazy busy few days, today is thankfully more relaxed. We decided to Uber around a bit, and found prices to be more than reasonable (you can totally use public transit, but we were feeling lazy, haha).

Stop 1: Haeundae Beach

Start off the morning with a stroll along the most famous beach in all of Busan! With its gentle waves and soft, golden sand, this place gets beyond packed in the summer months, but was relatively quiet in April when we visited.

Wander down Gunam-ro (the main road of Haeundae Beach), go shopping at Olive Young, Daiso, and Artbox, and head up BUSAN X the SKY (Korea’s 2nd tallest building with a sky observatory on the 100th floor), with the highest starbucks in the world! 

Stop 2: Coralani for breakfast/brunch

Next up – a cafe with total Bali vibes in Busan (ohhh how I miss Bali oh so much)! We took a quick Uber/taxi from Haeundae to Coralani, a massive cafe right on the coast with the most spectacular views. The pastries are kinda expensive, but what do you expect – look at those views (too bad we got hit with lots of clouds)!

There’s a few levels of seating – we headed upstairs to the roof and hung out on the beanbags for a bit and just relaxed.

Stop 3: Songdo Bay Cable Car or Taejongdae Resort Park 

Songdo Bay Cable Car

More nature and sea views! The Songdo Bay Cable Car (also called Songdo Marine Cable Car and Busan Air Cruise – I was confused, haha), travels across the water to Songdo Sky Park where you’ll find a nature walk, cafe, and street food-style vendors.

You can choose from a cable car with a regular opaque or glass bottom, but I read reviews saying the glass bottom wasn’t worth the extra money so I’d opt for a regular (and save that cash for a few extra bowls of tteokbokki). 

Taejongdae Resort Park 

Nope, it’s not a resort or an amusement park! Taejongdae is simply a scenic nature park on the coast with cliffs, forest trails, and an observatory with panoramic views of the sea.

In order to get around the park, you’ll need to buy a ticket for the Taejongdae Danubi Train (or walk/hike, but the area’s huge). We stopped at popular areas like the Tejongsa Buddhist Temple and Yeongdo Lighthouse.

Afterwards, we stopped by a cafe called Thrill on the Mug at the Taejongdae Ocean Flying Theme Park (where you can zip-line across the ocean if you’d like). We simply got some drinks and snacks, and enjoyed the views. 

Stop 4: Stairs of Wishes (Somang Stairs)

What is it exactly? A short monorail heading up the steep steps, built by the community! It’s free, but built for the residents there, so always give priority to them of course. There was an elderly local man helping tourists and residents – he was so, so sweet and insisted on taking some cute photos for us. One of those quirky attractions you’d only find in Korea, haha.

I loved all the colorful mosaics on the stairs and all the murals. Plus, there were tons of cherry trees in bloom right over here which I loved of course.

Stop 5: KTX Train Back to Seoul

If you’re flying home from Seoul (tomorrow!), take the high-speed KTX train back to the city tonight. Psst – I never recommend relying on public transit the day of your flight for long distances; you never know what can and will happen!

And that’s a wrap on this 7 day South Korea itinerary! Are you planning a week in South Korea anytime soon?!

The post One Week in Korea Itinerary: 7 Days in South Korea (Seoul and Busan) appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

We spent a little over a week in Korea, and most of that was spent in Seoul!

Imagine wearing traditional Korean dress and strolling Gyeongbokgung Palace. Sipping tea at a traditional teahouse and then shopping in trendy districts like Myeongdong and Hongdae. Getting all the beauty treatments you want (for way less!). Admiring the neon lights after a few rounds of Cass or shots of soju. Cruising the Han River with picturesque views of Seoul’s skyline and bridges.

Oh, and you can’t forget about all that delicious street food (crispy fried chicken, spicy tteokbokki, and sweet ssiat hotteok – yum!). 

The perfect 5 day Seoul itinerary coming right up!

Home to K-pop, Korean BBQ, and kimchi, Seoul is a complete city of contrast. It’s modern yet traditional, urban yet full of greenery. The city is filled with high-tech innovations, ancient palaces amongst gleaming skyscrapers, and controlled chaos in its vibrant markets. It’s the capital and largest city of South Korea after all — and it’s bustling. Whoever said NYC never sleeps has never been to Korea, haha. 

After visiting Japan a few times, we were longing for a new East Asian country to visit. Something with incredible food, a fascinating ancient culture, bustling modern cities, and of course cherry blossoms – and that’s exactly how we decided on South Korea! And boy oh boy were we surprised – in all the best ways. 

Even after all this time in the travel industry, I don’t have many friends who’ve visited Korea. Everyone talks about Japan and Southeast Asia (all utterly amazing and well worthy of a dream vacation), but South Korea’s kinda forgotten about – at least to most Americans. And when we visited we certainly felt it – there were hardly any American or European tourists!

With that being said, he’s my complete Seoul itinerary — with everything you need to plan your first 5 days in Seoul! Let’s get to it!

5 Days in Seoul At-A-Glance

• Day 1: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, Insadong, and Myeongdong
• Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village
• Day 3: Gangnam, Sinsa-dong, Seongsu, Baseball Game 
• Day 4: Hongdae and Ramen by Han River 
• Day 5: DDP, Cheonggyecheon Stream walk, Gwangjang Market 

When I first started planning my Seoul itinerary I was wildly overwhelmed. The city is HUGE with tons of different neighborhoods and about a million and three things to do. But I can now confidently say the sheer size of the city doesn’t scare me anymore, and I’d love to go back! 

5 Days in Seoul Itinerary Logistics

Where is Seoul and How to get There

Seoul is the largest city in South Korea (and it’s capital!), lying in the center of East Asia. It’s located on the Han River (Hangang) in the northwestern part of the country, and surrounded by several mountain peaks. With Bukhansan to the north and Gwanaksan to the south, and Namsan centrally located within the city itself (home to the iconic N Seoul Tower).

And get this – Seoul is within a 3 hour flight from over 40 cities with populations of one million + people. So you can say it’s pretty well-connected to this part of the world.

And in terms of South Korea geography, Seoul is about 200 miles northwest of Busan, a short flight away from Jeju Island, and not far from Suwon, Incheon, and Daejeon.

Yes, Seoul isn’t terribly far from the North Korean border, only about 30 miles from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the buffer zone that separates North and South Korea. Meaning it’s within range of North Korean artillery and missiles – BUT there’s tons of military presence in and around Seoul to help deter any potential aggression from the North. 

Please don’t let this stop you from visiting Seoul (the DMZ is a popular tourist destination afterall!). We felt exceptionally safe, but I won’t lie and say that seeing shelters and safety equipment (even in our hotel rooms) was a little off putting — definitely reminded me exactly where I was. 

Flying to Seoul

Most international visitors arrive in South Korea via Seoul, at Incheon International Airport (ICN), the primary international airport of the city. It’s one of the busiest and best-connected airports in the world, meaning tons of nonstop flights from various cities. 

For reference, we flew direct from San Francisco (SFO) to Incheon, which took about 12 hours or so (thankfully I slept a bit on the flight). From the US, there’s also nonstop flights to Seoul from cities like Los Angeles, Seattle, New York, and Atlanta. 

There’s also Gimpo International Airport (GMP), which is way closer to the city center, but handles mostly domestic flights (think Busan, Jeju, etc) and some international routes from nearby countries (like Japan, Taiwan, China, etc).

Getting from the Airport to the city 

Airport Railroad Express (AREX)

Since Incheon is about 30 miles west of central Seoul, you’ll of course need a way to get to the city! I highly recommend taking the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) to your hotel in Seoul. There’s two options depending on where in the city you’re looking to go:

• AREX Express Train: The non-stop express train takes you directly from the airport to Seoul Station in ~45 minutes for just about 9,500 KRW (~7USD). If you’re not staying in Hongdae, you’ll most likely need to transfer to a subway at Seoul Station to get to your hotel.

• AREX All-Stop Train: This train stops at several stations along the way to Seoul Station, including Gimpo Airport, Digital Media City, and Hongik University. It takes about an hour or so to reach Seoul Station, and costs only 4,150 KRW (under $3USD!). Note that if you’re staying in Hongdae like we were, you’ll wanna make sure you get on the AREX All-Stop Train and get off at Hongik University. If you take the Express Train you’ll head directly all the way to Seoul Station and need to back track to Hongdae.

Of course you can also take a taxi/ride share to your hotel in Seoul, but it’ll be far more expensive and most likely take even longer due to the inevitable traffic.

If you’re flying into Gimpo International Airport (GMP), you can also take the AREX All-Stop Train into Seoul, or hop on Subway Line 5 or Line 9 (depending where exactly you wanna go).

Airport Limousine Bus

If you’d rather skip the subway right after your long flight, there’s also the Airport Limousine Bus. The bus (…not a limo unfortunately, haha) travels from Incheon International Airport straight to specific neighborhoods in Seoul (including Myeongdong, Gangnam, Hongdae, Itaewon, and Dongdaemun). 

And no need to book in advance – the bus comes every 15-30 minutes or so, and you can buy a ticket (~$10-15 USD) right at the bus stop.

Taking the KTX Train to Seoul

Already in the country?! You can certainly take the high-speed KTX train to Seoul! The Korea Train eXpress (KTX) is South Korea’s high-speed rail system, and it’s a fast and efficient way to travel between major cities. I highly recommend booking your ticket in advance as they DO sell out, especially in cherry blossom season when we visited.

Definitely consider purchasing KTX tickets via Klook (which is exactly what we did). There’s a deal for a group of 2-5 people for ~$90 per person for unlimited train travel for 2 days in a 10 day period. Note that it’s only for tourists, and slightly discounted than buying a regular ticket.

Plus, you can’t buy tickets on the Korail website with a foreign credit card (in our experience at least), and we found the Korail App to be super clunky and hardly worked.

After spending 3 days in Busan, we actually took the KTX train back to Seoul and it was easier than ever! We arrived in Seoul Station in about 2 ½ hours, and found the trains really comfortable, super safe (since there’s so much CCTV everywhere, even on public transport), and were able to use the free wifi. 

Whatever you do, DO NOT use Rail Ninja to purchase your KTX tickets (it’s crazy more expensive and a complete rip off – they jack up those prices SO much). 

Psst – there’s KTX trains in other cities as well, like Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Jeonju.

How to Get Around During Your 5 Days in Seoul 

Public Transportation (Subways and Buses)

Lucky for us, Seoul boasts an extensive and efficient transportation system (on par with that of Tokyo and way better than New York City – where I took the subway to work each and every day for years, haha). Public transit is super clean, actually runs on time, and feels super safe, even at night – what concept!

You’ll wanna pick up a T-money card on your first day in Seoul – these are reloadable transportation cards used for public transit throughout Seoul (and other parts of South Korea too). With all the subways we took during our 5 days in Seoul, this made it so much easier than always needing to buy single-journey tickets or carry exact change.

Find them at convenience stores around the city such as CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Ministop, plus the airport and subway stations. Some have cute characters on them, which I loved of course, haha. Note that you’ll need cash when putting money on your T-money card, which makes no sense since the buses and subways are cashless now! Ironic, no?

Seoul Metropolitan Subway: The Seoul subway system is one of the largest and most efficient in the world. The WORLD! There’s 23 lines covering the area, extending to nearby Incheon and the Gyeonggi Province. You’ll probably use Line 1, 2 (the circle line), and 4 the most as they connect many of the popular neighborhoods and tourist sites. 

We took the subway more times than we can count during our 5 days in Seoul, and managed to get around quite easily. There’s tons of signs and announcements in English – BUT expect that you’ll get on the wrong train (or off at the wrong stop) at least once or twice during your trip. The public transit system is huge so just consider it part of the adventure, haha. The apps help tremendously (download Subway Korea, Naver Map, and/or KakaoMap in advance), but hey, it’s a new-to-you city and a large one at that!

Buses: A comprehensive bus network complements the subway system, with various types of buses: blue (trunk), green (branch), yellow (circulation), and red (express). We mostly used subways (and lots of walking) to get around, so I don’t have much experience with the bus system for ya unfortunately.

Driving in Seoul

Unless you’re a super experienced city driver and don’t mind sitting in tons of traffic, forgo the car. I’m serious – parking can be a challenge (plus expensive), there’s tons of congestion and slow-moving traffic, and one-way streets, overpasses, and underpasses make it tricky for the first time Seoul driver. Plus, the city’s got extensive CCTV cameras – meaning it’s easy to get a ticket (and hard to get out of).

I really don’t think a car is necessary if you’re following this Seoul itinerary, as everything is easily accessible by local transport, walking, or guided tour.

Honestly, just take the subway – you’ll get there faster and skip the headaches. Yes, there’s taxis, but they’ll just get stuck in traffic too, haha.

Walking in Seoul

While you’ll need to use public transit to get from neighborhood to neighborhood, Seoul is actually pretty walkable! We walked a TON during our 5 days in Seoul, and I highly recommend you bring your comfiest sneakers (10+ mile days were not uncommon for us at all!).

Also, there’s a TON of stairs in Seoul… like, a lot. Just be prepared for this, and take things slow if needed.

Note that while Google Maps will not give you actual walking directions, you can still follow the little blue dot (which I typically do on trips). 

When to Plan your Seoul Itinerary 

South Korea experiences a temperate climate with four distinct seasons (unlike here in California where we kinda have perpetual spring, haha). It’s a year-round destination with tons of things to see and do no matter the weather, but of course there’s a better time to go than others. In general, spring and fall are the best times to visit Seoul, as the weather is mild and comfortable.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is mild and pleasant (with temps ranging from low 40s to high 60s), with gorgeous cherry blossoms blooming in April (my favorite!). 

You’ll definitely wanna make sure to book accommodation early if your main goal is to visit during cherry blossom season – it’s peak tourist time! And take a few sweaters – the weather seemed to change all the time, haha.

During spring months, there’s Seoul Fashion Week, Seoul Lotus Lantern Festival (to honor Buddha’s birthday, with lantern parades and cultural performances), and of course cherry blossom festivals around the city.

For reference, we visited Seoul from the very end of March to the beginning of April, and had mostly decent weather (with a few showers) and saw thousands and thousands of cherry trees in the city – we got so, so lucky and managed to visit during peak bloom. Definitely consider a day trip to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival if you’re visiting then too!

Summer (June to August)

Seoul in summer is a sweltering one – temps often exceed 30°C (86°F) and sometimes even 35C (95F). Plan to wear lots of lightweight, breathable clothing, slather on that sunscreen (multiple times a day), drink tons of water (no, soju doesn’t count, haha), and take plenty of breaks in the AC – no one wants heat exhaustion to creep in.

Honestly, I’d skip a visit to Seoul in summer – it’s hot, humid, and often rainy (especially during the monsoon season from late June to early August). Plus, it’s super crowded (kids are off from school in Korea and Korean companies close). 

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn is a gorgeous time to visit Seoul, as it’s typically pretty cool (15°C/59°F to 5°C/41°F) and dry, with clear skies and plenty of fall foliage in mid-October to late-November. Definitely check out Namsan, Bukhansan National Park, and the palaces to see the autumn colors. 

Of course, expect higher than average crowds, so book your hotel, KTX trains, and other activities in advance, especially if you’re visiting during the Seoul Lantern Festival or Chuseok, Korea’s autumn harvest festival.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is chilly in South Korea, and Seoul is no exception! Think chilly temps of -5°C to 5°C (23°F to 41°F), with temperatures sometimes dipping below -5°C (14°F) at night. And yes, snowfall is pretty common, although typically on the lighter side. You’ll definitely need your warm coats, fleece-lined beanies, and thermal clothing!

Looking to ski and/or snowboard? Head over to Vivaldi Park and Alpensia Resort – nearby ski resorts! There’s also the Seoul Christmas Festival and the Seoul Lantern Festival at Cheonggyecheon Stream.

Where to Stay in Seoul 

When we were booking our Seoul itinerary, we had the hardest time deciding where to stay. There’s just SO many neighborhoods, and they’re all so different! Most tourists stay in either Hongdae or Myeongdong (as there’s tons of shopping and restaurants in both), but other neighborhoods are popular too.

Psst – There’s plenty of gorgeous AirBnbs in Seoul. BUT if you don’t speak Korean, I highly recommend staying at a hotel instead of airbnb. Hotel staff all typically speak English, and are readily available to answer questions, make restaurant reservations, and help with public transportation. You just won’t get the same amount of support staying at an airbnb or apartment. 

Hongdae

Hongdae is super popular with tourists (us included!). It’s super close to Hongik University, meaning there’s lots of students and has a youthful vibe. It’s a trendy neighborhood with tons of great cafes, perfect for those who thrive on vibrant nightlife and artistic vibes (think buzzy night clubs, bars, and late-night shenanigans). 

The nightlife was a bit much for us to be honest, and honestly had no clue just how wild and crazy it gets over there (we went for a short walk for some KFC – Korean Fried Chicken — around 1am one night and wow, oh wow was it bumpin’).

Note that Hongdae is so much more convenient for airport access than Myeongdong since it’s directly on the subway line linking Incheon Airport to Seoul Station. But it’s a little further away from the main tourist attractions in town – nothing that a ride on the subway can’t fix!

We stayed at the gorgeous RYSE Autograph Collection, and the service was impeccable, the room was so stylish, and there was even a Blue Bottle in the lobby! Plus, it’s down the block from some of the best fried chicken we’ve ever had (still dreaming about Kyochon!) and Nike Hongdae, which my husband frequented far too many times, lol. 

I also got recommendations for Mercure Ambassador Seoul and Amanti Hotel Seoul.

Myeongdong

If you wanna stay right in the heart of the city, stay in Myeongdong! It’s pretty central to most neighborhoods you’ll wanna visit, so it is a lot easier to get around to see the major attractions. 

Myeongdong is perfect for first-time visitors seeking convenience, there’s tons of shopping, AND there’s a night market here every evening with tons of street food. Some say Myeongdong is gimmicky and only caters to foreign visitors, but it’s in a great location with two super convenient subway lines.

We actually stayed at MOXY Seoul Myeongdong on our first official night in Korea after landing in the country, but didn’t stay long since we took the KTX the next morning for 3 days in Busan and to see the cherry blossoms in Jinhae.

Also check out L7 Myeongdong, Metro Hotel Myeongdong, and Hotel 28 Myeongdong.

Looking back, I kinda wish we stayed in Myeongdong during our 5 days in Seoul since it’s way more central (and convenient) than Hongdae. I had heard Myeongdong was super touristy, but hey, we’re tourists – no reason to pretend otherwise! 

Insadong 

Friends we met up with in Seoul were staying in Insadong (crazy how that timing worked out!), and absolutely loved it! 

Insadong is the cultural and traditional heart of Seoul, with its historic charm and traditional tea houses. And you can even stay in a hanok (traditional Korean house). Accessible via Anguk Station, it’s close to major attractions like Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village. 

Our friends enjoyed their stay at MOXY Insadong, but I’ve also heard good things about Tong Tong Petit Hotel and Sunbee Hotel Insadong.

Itaewon

Itaewon’s another central location (between Myeongdong and the Han River), and known for its multicultural atmosphere, diverse food scene, and crazy nightlife. 

It was actually once a shady red-light district, but has since been cleaned up and there’s now tons of good international restaurants over here. Itaewon’s one of the neighborhoods we didn’t make it to during our 5 days in Seoul, so we’ll need to check it out next time!

Check out Mondrian Seoul Itaewon and Imperial Palace.

Gangnam

Gangnam is modern and upscale, known for its high-end shopping (with the COEX Mall, tons of luxury boutiques, and flagship stores), fine dining, and cosmetic beauty clinics — yes, plastic surgery is huge over here. It’s a major business and financial hub, although it has some quirky bits thrown in like the Gangnam Style statue and K-star Road.

Would I choose to stay in Gangnam? Honestly, probably not, as it’s pretty far from most tourist attractions (it’s south of the river) and caters more to the luxury business traveler or those looking to get a lot of facial work done. If that’s you, check out AC Hotel by Marriott, Dormy Inn, and Josun Palace Gangnam Seoul.

Definitely visit the area for a few hours though – of course included in this 5 day Seoul itinerary!

Are 5 Days in Seoul Enough?

I certainly think so, but the more time the better! Honestly, you could spend weeks or months in Seoul and still find new things to do each and every day. 

All in all, I was pretty satisfied with our 5 days in Seoul. Friends had told us to allocate an entire week there, but we were able to cross off plenty of city highlights on our slightly shorter Seoul itinerary – just gotta plan well, wink, wink! Of course there’s things we missed, but that just gives us an excuse to head back in the future.

With 5 days in Seoul, you can visit iconic landmarks like Gyeongbokgung Palace, N Seoul Tower, and Bukchon Hanok Village, explore vibrant neighborhoods like Myeongdong and Hongdae, indulge in delicious Korean cuisine (and all the street food your little heart desires), and even get a facial or two and do some massive skincare shopping.

Other Important Tips and FAQs for Your Seoul Itinerary

Download important apps in advance: Google Maps doesn’t get regularly updated in South Korea (and only features public transit directions which are not super accurate anyways…), so you’ll need another way to navigate. We primarily used Naver Maps, but I’ve heard great things about Kakao Maps as well. Download the apps and play around with them beforehand (they can be a little confusing to use at first).

Consider adding pins to your map (just like you can in Google Maps) to make it super easy once you’re in Korea (since some tourist sites/restaurants have slightly different names in Naver vs. Google Maps)

I’d also get Kakao Taxi too, a Korean ride sharing app that’s a good alternative to Uber. But we actually used regular Uber our entire time in Korea and it worked completely fine… despite others saying it didn’t work for them.

Plan your Seoul itinerary in advance: This is not the place to completely wing it. There is SO much to see and do in Seoul (and tons of tons of neighborhoods to visit), meaning if you wanna ensure you see and do a lot, you’ll wanna have a plan before arriving. 

This is where I come in – I spent HOURS perfecting my Seoul itinerary, and you’ve just gotta follow it!

Don’t skip leg day before visiting Korea: I’m serious. My legs got a huge workout each and every day – I can’t even begin to tell you how many flights of stairs we walked up during our 5 days in Seoul. Definitely wear comfy shoes, stay hydrated, and take it slow if you need.

Seoul vs. Busan: There’s really no comparison – they’re completely different. You could spend years in Seoul and still never see everything (it’s the capital and the largest city in South Korea with over 10 million people after all). Always fast-paced and bustling, with a 24-hour lifestyle. 

Busan is Korea’s second-largest city with about 3.5 million people (so still pretty big!). It’s known for its beautiful beaches and coastal scenery – way more relaxed compared to Seoul, with a laid-back coastal vibe. If you have the time, visit both (but never skip Seoul on a trip to Korea!).

You may need a visa to visit Korea: When we visited (in April 2024), visas were not needed until December 31, 2024 for specific nationalities. So therefore we didn’t get a visa and were able to stay for up to 90 days with just our passport. 

But some nationalities need to apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) before traveling. It’s an online process that usually takes a few minutes. Check in advance what you need of course as things constantly change (here’s info for US citizens)!

There are Olive Young stores practically EVERYWHERE. I didn’t realize this before spending 5 days in Seoul – don’t feel like you need to buy everything all at once the first time you spot a store. I promise you, there’s TONS of them in the city, with the Myeongdong location always being the most crowded (so just skip it and go to a different one, haha). 

Wait — what’s Olive Young?! Only the most amazing skincare store in all of Korea! Practically the holy grail.

Photo Booths are everywhere too – they’re a huge part of Korean culture and we had so much fun taking pictures! Some even send you digital flipbooks of your prints. By far our favorite souvenirs from our 5 days in Seoul! 

You may not be able to make restaurant reservations: You typically need a Korean phone number to do so, but you can always have your hotel concierge make a reservation for you. But honestly, we made zero reservations and still had the most delicious food everywhere we went. I wouldn’t stress about this too much unless there’s a specific restaurant you REALLY want to eat at. 

Pack light: I can’t stress this enough. There’s lots of walking and a ton of stairs so leave that huge suitcase at home and bring carry on only (or bring a larger suitcase with space for all the stuff you’ll undoubtedly buy, haha). Just make sure you can lug it around the subways!

Carry both card and cash (Korean Won). Cards are accepted most places, but some vendors don’t take cards while others don’t take cash. Just always have both on you. You’ll undoubtedly need cash for street food vendors and of course loading money on a T-money card.

Do they speak English in Seoul? Before visiting Korea we were extremely intimidated by the language – and rightfully so! Thankfully we were able to get by as plenty of locals in the tourism industry speak English really well (it’s honestly quite impressive), and signs are mostly in both Korean and English. 

Others didn’t seem (too) frustrated with our lack of Korean – we relied heavily on translation apps and hand gestures, haha. Some restaurants had English menus, but some didn’t, so there were times we weren’t entirely sure what we ordered, lol. 

Finally — what you probably came here for, my Seoul itinerary!

My 5 Day Seoul Itinerary 

Quick notes about this Seoul itinerary 

• This 5 day Seoul itinerary hits the ground running. Face it – Seoul is beyond HUGE and there’s way too much to do no matter how long you visit for. If you’re looking for a chill first day, consider swapping Day 1 and Day 5. We typically lose momentum as the trip progresses so like getting a lot done at the beginning to ensure we don’t miss out on any of our must-sees, but everyone’s different!

• This Seoul itinerary assumes you have 5 full days in the city. Meaning you’ve arrived the day/night before, and are ready to start exploring the next morning.

• There’s a lot of neighborhood hopping. Some neighborhoods you can easily walk between, while others you’ll need to hop on the subway for. You can totally rearrange this itinerary, but I grouped together neighborhoods and attractions by their proximity.

• Most palaces, museums, and some shops are closed on Mondays. You’ll wanna rearrange your Seoul itinerary with this in mind (or just attempt to avoid visiting the city on a Monday if you can).

Note: If you’re pressed for time, you can easily combine Days 2 and 5 – just know it’ll be a busy, busy day!

Day 1: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, Insadong, and Myeongdong 

Stop 1: Ikseon-dong Hanok Village 

한국에 오신 것을 환영합니다, or, welcome to Korea! After a good night’s rest, it’s time to get this Seoul itinerary started (hopefully you didn’t indulge in too much soju last night after your flight, haha).

I recommend spending the first morning of your 5 days in Seoul in Ikseon-dong Hanok Village, a charming area where traditional Korean houses (hanoks) have been lovingly restored into cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and guesthouses. 

It’s a great introduction to Seoul, and Korea in general, as you get to see that unique blend of old and new straight away… and there’s SO much good food, haha. Who else wakes up STARVING after a long flight?!

We got there nice and early before the crowds came, but expect to wait on some lines no matter what. We unfortunately realize just how popular Mil Toast is and my sweet, sweet patient husband waited in line for us for almost an hour while I wandered the narrow alleys taking photos… thanks honey! <3 

A few popular cafes in the area:

• Mil Toast: Come for their steam bread speciality (super fresh and fluffy), stay for the strawberry milk and french toast. Honestly, I’m not sure if this place is worth an hour+ wait, so line up a bit before they open. The place is tiny and people really take their time here.

• Cheese Industry: We were too full to get anything, but I’m going for the Berry Nuts Brie and Maple Burrata next time. And yes, most of the pastries are centered around cheese!

• Jayeondo Salt Bread: Some of the fluffiest, softest, butteriest, flavorful salt bread I’ve ever had. Don’t miss the fresh squeezed OJ – it’s super sweet and delicious!

• Soha Salt Pond: Another cute cafe with a rustic interior with salt breads in tons of flavors (caramel, milk cream, corn, truffle, etc). 

• Cheong su dang Café: Everyone comes here for the leafy green ambiance and meticulously crafted desserts, and I have to say, we really felt like we were sitting in a greenhouse! We shared the marron glace montblanc and it was beyond huge, yet kinda a bit too sweet.

• Nakwon Station Cafe: When have you seen a train track running through a cafe?! Or a conveyor belt of cakes?! This was the main appeal for me although we didn’t have room to try anything. Kinda wish I tried their popular iced maple cream latte though!

And between all that eating?! There’s trendy shops and artisan workshops to peruse – it really is a hotspot for handmade crafts and hip vintage items (which I found so unexpected).

Stop 2: Insadong

Not far from Ikseon-dong Hanok Village is Insadong, the next stop on Day 1 of this Seoul itinerary. Close enough that you can actually walk there! 

This neighborhood is known for its rich cultural heritage and artistic ambiance, with lots of art galleries, traditional wooden teahouses, antique shops, and street performances. 

A few things not to miss here in Insadong:

• Insadong Shopping Street: A busy street lined with vendors and boutiques offering everything from calligraphy materials and ceramics to hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and folk crafts. Great for some window shopping!

• Starbucks Insadong: Why am I telling you to go to Starbucks?! Well, it’s actually the only Starbucks in the WORLD whose sign isn’t in English. Kinda cool, right? Especially for someone like my husband who can’t go an hour without some caffeine, haha.

• Candy Vendors: We stopped to watch the candy vendors on the street make the famous Korean King’s Candy, also known as “kkultarae” or “dragon’s beard candy”. It was kinda fascinating watching honey and malt being transformed into thousands of fine strands, then filling them with nuts and chocolate. 

• Sip a cup of traditional Korean tea: There’s plenty of traditional tea houses along Insadong Shopping Street, so we did just that! We opted for “Traditional Teahouse Insadong” – ask to sit outside in their traditional garden if you can’t get a seat in one of their private traditional tea rooms. We sat and sipped some Korean tea for a whole long while – it was so nice to relax for a bit. There’s also Namusae Tea House, Shin Tea House, Dalsaeneun Dalman, and plenty more, haha. 

• Jogyesa Temple: This is one of the most important Buddhist temples in Seoul, and we were lucky enough to catch some of the colorful decorations and lanterns for Buddha’s birthday (kinda like we saw at Yonggungsa Temple in Busan!). I would have loved to visit during the Lotus Lantern Festival – photos look insane!

• Ssamziegil Mall: A unique shopping complex with a spiral-shaped walkway lined with shops selling handmade crafts, accessories, and artworks. We wandered through for a few minutes but left once we got hungry, haha.

Stop 3: Myeongdong 

After a busy afternoon, it’s time for Myeongdong – a lively neighborhood home to the popular Namsan Cable Car, delicious street food, and all the skincare shops you can imagine. 

Note: While you can certainly visit Myeongdong any time of day, I highly recommend waiting until late afternoon/night. This is when it really gets lively – so much great energy here (although yes, you’ll need to battle the crowds).

The #1 thing to do in Myeongdong – the Night Market! Myeongdong is famous for its street food scene, and lemme just say – you won’t be going hungry here! Around 3-4pm, the famous night market opens – trust me, you’ll smell it before you see it, haha. 

We tried a whole slew of things, including tteokbokki, egg bread (sounds odd but just try it), cheese bbq, hotteok, a fire marshmallow, shrimp, and I can never say no to a mochi! Honestly, there’s so, so much food here – it’s overwhelming. 

You can fill up on street food for dinner, or save some room and go to an actual restaurant. But hey, this is your Seoul itinerary – so you do you! 

We did a mix of both – had an early-ish “dinner” at Myeongdong Kyoja (more on that later), then ate our weight in street food afterwards, haha. I don’t regret one bite. We also got a caricature done of us over here which is especially popular!

Some other fun activities in Myeongdong:

• Namsan Cable Car: If the sky’s clear, consider taking the cable car up Namsan Mountain! It’s only a 3-minute ride, but you get stunning views of the Seoul cityscape and of course the lush greenery of the mountain. Plus, you can also head up N Seoul Tower at the top for even more views. Since it was pretty cloudy we decided to skip this, although I heard it’s pretty cool to see at night. 

• Customize Nike Clothing: I swear, this was my husband’s favorite thing to do in Seoul, haha. I cannot even begin to tell you how giddy he was customizing sweatshirts and sneakers. It’s typically pretty busy at this location (and sometimes tickets are all sold out), but thankfully there’s other locations (Hongdae and Gangnam). 

• Myeongdong NANTA Cooking Show: This isn’t your typical boring cooking show – I’ve heard it’s absolutely INSANE (with tons of crowd interaction and crazy tricks). And don’t worry, it’s a non-verbal comedy show so no worries if your Korean isn’t perfect, haha. We missed this, and I’m still kinda sad about it! Read reviews and buy your tickets here (it’s popular and does sell out!).

• Skincare shopping: Koreans take their skincare extremely seriously, meaning there’s lots and lots to choose from. Here in Myeongdong you’ll find the Olive Young Flagship Store, as well as other Korean brands like Etude House, Holika Holika, Nature Republic, Innisfree, and Laneige. If you’re not careful, you’ll wind up filling an entire suitcase full of stuff! I did my research ahead of time and only bought what I really wanted to try, haha.

• Dinner at Myeongdong Kyoja (Main Restaurant): One of the cheapest Michelin star meals you’ll ever have! And there’s only four things on the menu – we tried the mandu (dumplings) and kalguksu (noodle soup). Super casual and super fast (even if there’s a long line; they’re very efficient here), so no reason not to go!

Day 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village

Day 2 is all about traditional Korea! And if you’d rather learn with the expertise of a local guide, there’s a guided tour of Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village for that (hanboks optional)!

Stop 1: Dress in Traditional Hanbok

Wake up – it’s time to play dress up! Wearing a traditional hanbok was easily one of my favorite things I did during my 5 days in Seoul. It’s just so fun to prance around wearing something that’s not yours all while feeling like you’re transported back to the Joseon period or on an old set of a K-drama, haha.

What’s a hanbok anyways? Hanbok translates to “Korean clothing”, but it typically refers to the traditional clothing from the Joseon period. Women wear a jeogori (jacket) and chima (skirt), while men wear a jeogori (jacket) and baji (pants). I got to choose my color and pattern, along with a small bag and hair accessories.

My husband decided the hanbok wasn’t for him, but I saw plenty of men wearing them – and their couple photos were so cute! Too bad my husband isn’t into dressing up like I am.

And what do Koreans think about this? They support it, as it’s part of promoting their history. Plus, wearing a hanbok gives you free entry to the palaces in the city!

You can typically rent by the hour, but I loved having my hanbok for most of the day. This meant I was able to wear it at both Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Hanok Village, and wasn’t worried about needing to return it at a specific time (more time for pictures!) 

I honestly don’t remember the exact shop I rented my hanbok from, but there’s a whole bunch right off the subway near Gyeongbokgung Palace (hard to miss). 

FYI – while you can technically rent shoes, I’d recommend wearing your own. Hanbok shoes are not very comfortable, and with all the walking we’re about to do, you’ll regret it fast.

Stop 2: Gyeongbokgung Palace

Once you’ve got your hanbok on, wander on over to Gyeongbokgung Palace (entrance is free if you’re wearing hanbok). Built in 1395 (yes, over 600 years ago), it was the main royal palace of the Joseon Dynasty. 

There’s actually Five Grand Palaces, but I recommend visiting Gyeongbokgung, the main royal palace and the largest and most beautiful of the 5. Don’t miss the Changing of the Royal Guard (Sumunjang) ceremony, which is completely free and takes place at the Gwanghwamun Gate (south entrance of the palace grounds) at 10am and 2pm everyday except Tuesdays.

For reference, we took all our photos at the palace between 9-10am, and then watched the 10am ceremony. The palace was starting to get crazy crowded once we left, so I recommend getting to the palace no later than 9am if you’re looking for some peace.

Stop 3: Tongin Traditional Market for snacks/lunch

Not far from the palace is Tongin Traditional Market, a great place to stop for an early lunch – mainly since it’s cheap, casual, and fast. It’s not huge by any means, but there’s plenty here so you’ll definitely find something to eat (like oil tteokbokki, chicken skewers, kimbap, etc).

What’s unique about this market is that you can buy coins for 10,000 won, then spend the coins at different spots in the market to try different foods.

Psst – you can also stop in Dae-o Bookstore, which is apparently the oldest bookstore in Seoul with tons of history (lots of old books and clutter from the old Hanok house). It’s really cozy and a cute spot for pics, but note that you’re required to buy a drink in order to enter. Big K-stars have been here, like RM from BTS and IU, which made this spot pretty popular.

Stop 4: Nuldam Space Cafe 

The drinks here are nice, but the real draw is writing a letter to your future self. What a fun concept! I kept seeing this cafe all over IG, so figured I needed to go, haha. When in Korea, am I right?!

You buy and write out a card, choose the wax color, and seal up the envelope. We chose to have our letter sent to us early next year, so we’ll see if it makes it!

Stop 5: Bukchon Hanok Village

Historic and charming, Bukchon Hanok Village is a traditional village with hundreds of hanok (Korean houses) that date back to the Joseon Dynasty. There’s narrow cobblestoned streets with traditional architecture, quaint tea houses, and artisan shops. It’s on everyone’s Seoul itinerary, so will undoubtedly be crowded. You can easily spend half the day walking around here.

Please oh please respect the residents. Bukchon Hanok Village wasn’t built for tourists, so remember to keep your voices down and think twice before going onto private property.

Psst – if you want photos without any other tourists on the main street, you’ll need to come exceptionally early. I honestly couldn’t be bothered (and visited here midday), and I think what I got is pretty damn good! There’s tons of narrow alleys to wander through, so that definitely helps.

We spent some time relaxing and sipping strawberry milk lattes from Green Mile Coffee – head up to their rooftop for views of the hanok roofs. Granhand Perfume is really popular, and it all smelled so good, haha (there’s also soaps, creams, sachets, and more if you’re not looking for perfume).

Note that TikTok famous Cafe Onion isn’t far from here, but after all the sweets the previous day in Ikseon-dong, we were cafe’d out, haha.

Also, if you manage to get a ticket for Changdeokgung Secret Garden, go there and tell me how it is, haha. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful gardens (especially in autumn), but clearly I didn’t plan far enough in advance so sadly missed out.

Stop 6: Korean BBQ for dinner

If you haven’t had Korean BBQ yet, tonight’s the night! There’s honestly places all over the city, so I recommend heading back to the neighborhood you’re staying and finding a spot there. 

A few places I either tried or have saved on my map:

• Wangbijib Myeongdong Main Store (Myeongdong)
• Hwanggeum Mokjang (Myeongdong)
• Myeongdong Korean BBQ Beef Mongbeulli (Myeongdong)
• Hongdae Korean BBQ All You Can Eat Pig Company (Hongdae)
• Saemaul Restaurant (Hongdae)
• 88 Rotary House (Hongdae)
• JD BBQ (Itaewon)

We learned the proper way to eat Korean BBQ – by making a wrap (ssam). Take a price of lettuce, add a piece of meat, some rice, and some banchan and/or sauce, then wrap it up and eat it in one bite! Ridiculously delicious. 

Day 3: Gangnam, Sinsa-dong, Seongsu, Baseball Game 

Stop 1: Gangnam

Remember that song “Gangnam Style”?! How could you not? It’s practically a global sensation! Sung by South Korean artist PSY, it made the neighborhood super well-known (despite not many people actually knowing Gangnam is a place in Korea, haha)! 

But Gangnam is actually super upscale and trendy, famous for its high-end fashion boutiques, luxury brands, ritzy cocktail bars, and tons of plastic surgery clinics (K-beauty anyone?!). 

It’s known as the Beverley Hills of Seoul, and where the rich and famous live and play. Yes, status matters over here! We spent one morning experiencing the luxurious side of Seoul, and enjoyed it way more than we thought.

A few things not to miss in Gangnam:

• Stroll along Garosu-gil: a tree-lined street famous for its trendy boutiques, chic cafes, and vibrant art galleries – great for people watching! We loved playing dress up and trying on the most avant-garde sunglasses at Gentle Monster (if you’ve got your eyes set on any, they’re much cheaper here in Korea).

• COEX Mall and Starfield Library: This is the epic library with the epic architecture, and yes, you need to come early if you wanna take photos/videos on the escalators. There’s also tons of shops, a movie theater, and even an aquarium.

• Gangnam Style statue: A huge set of golden fists celebrating the global success of PSY’s hit song “Gangnam Style”! And it’s so, so fun (yes, we were those nerdy fans singing along to the 24/7 music playing and dancing, haha). You’ll find this right outside COEX Mall.

• K-Star Road: A street with large, colorful bear statues called “GangnamDol” representing various K-pop idols and groups like BTS, EXO, and Girls’ Generation. Even though we’re not big into K-pop, it was fun to see the different bears – they’re all uniquely designed.

• Nudake Cafe: Actually located within Gentle Monster, this cafe’s got a striking interior and an even more creative menu (I swear, everything looks like it comes straight out of a sci-fi movie). We chose a black sesame latte and black croissant – the latte was perfect but the croissant was kinda meh.  

Stop 2: Seoul Forest Park 

Time for some greenery and nature! Hop on the subway over the river to Seoul Forest Park, one of the largest parks in all of Seoul. The park is way larger than I thought it’d be, so we obviously didn’t walk the whole thing, but you can see deer and butterflies if you’re willing to walk!

We saw tons of cherry blossoms in the spring (when we visited!), and is easily one of the prettiest places to admire them in Seoul! Expect lots of photoshoots, lol. You’ll find plenty of walking paths and picnic spaces – we saw so many friends having lunch under the cherry trees.

Not sure I’d recommend visiting in the dead of winter though as the trees will be bare…

Stop 3: Seongsu Shopping 

After a stroll in Seoul Forest Park, head over to Seongsu, dubbed the “Brooklyn of Seoul” for its industrial chic aesthetic. It’s a trendy neighborhood known for its hipster vibe, awesome shopping (lots of concept stores), and stylish cafes. There’s typically lots of pop-up shops and markets around here, so you never really know what you’ll find!

Whatever you do, don’t miss the famous Dior shop – you can’t go inside without a reservation (you can make one at the door and come back if it’s busy), but the outside is just as worthy (designed by the French architect Christian de Portzamparc). You’ll see lots of photoshoots over here too, haha. 

I also checked out emis (I got a baseball hat here!), Point of View stationary store, Osoi, Ader error (wow, just wow!), and Rain Report Croissant. Honestly, just stroll around and you’ll find tons of cool Korean brands/shops to pop into.

Stop 4: Jamsil for Baseball Game

If you’re a fan of sports (or just chicken and beer, haha), grab tickets to a baseball game! We got lucky and the season was just starting when we spent our 5 days in Seoul (the season runs late March to late August).

Jamsil is the largest baseball stadium in South Korea, home to both the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears (part of the KBO League). And fans are super lively and fun – they sing a lot and there’s tons of cheering, even K-pop dancers! 

Something different about games in Korea – you can bring your own food/drink in, so peruse the vendors outside the stadium as well (and pick up your beer at the convenience store right outside the stadium – it’s cheaper, haha).

Psst – we bought tickets at the stadium on the day of, and only paid about ~$40 for two (which we found very affordable compared to here in the states). Take a jacket because it got superrrrr cold.

If you’re visiting later in the season and wanna ensure good seats (plus learn from a local), consider booking a full baseball experience – includes beer and dinner, too! 

FYI: If you’re not interested in attending a Korean baseball game (honestly, it was super fun though) or the season already ended, you can head over to Banpo Hangang Park to see the Banpo Bridge Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, or nearby Seorae Island.

Day 4: Hongdae and the Han River 

Stop 1: Day in Hongdae

Hongdae is vibrant and eclectic, known for its indie music scene, street art, and crazy nightlife. It’s sometimes compared to Japan’s Harajuku, and I can kinda see why – they’re both youthful, trendy, and creative. But honestly, very different vibes (Harajuku’s way more avant-garde).

Due to the late nights over here, Hongdae doesn’t really wake up until around 10am or so, which we found out the hard way, haha. Most shops and cafes don’t open until 11am or later, meaning there’s no real reason to rush to Hongdae if you’re not staying here. After breakfast we went back to our hotel for a quick rest, haha.

You can totally spend the whole day in Hongdae, and that’s exactly what I recommend doing! Besides strolling Picasso Street, Hongik University Street, and Hongdae Walking Street, there’s a whole slew of things to do. Most things you can just decide the moment of, but there’s two you’ll need to book in advance:

Skin Care Treatments: You deserve some pampering (or at least one step closer to that ever-elusive glass skin look), and thankfully Hongdae’s got a bunch of skin care clinics! Korea is world-renowned for their cutting-edge skincare technology and innovation, and treatments are WAYYYY cheaper than in the States (plus, a tourist tax refund at the airport – save your receipts). 

Think microneedling, botox, aqua peels, pico toning laser, etc – always consult with the esthetician; they’ll give you options on what is best for your skin and such. We went to Lienjang Clinic in Hongdae (super foreigner-friendly with lots of expertise) for some basic treatments, and lemme tell you – I’ve never taken a face numbing cream selfie before, haha.

Psst – I recommend doing skin care treatments towards the very end of your trip (last day or second to last day) since your face will likely be red and a bit splotchy from all the work, and you’ll wanna keep it outta the sun as much as possible. 

Perfume Making Class at Greedy Scent: Ever wanted to make your own perfume? I felt like I was doing a real science experiment, and it was all so entertaining and crafty. We smelled dozens of fragrances, and picked out the exact combo for our top, middle, and base scents. And of course I walked away with my very own signature scent! 

You’ll need to sign up in advance – I discovered this perfume-making class literally the day before and got SO lucky that there was one space left the entire week – the exact day and time I needed it! The girl sitting next to me signed up months prior, so if this is high on your Seoul itinerary, book it ASAP. Check out their IG for reservations.

Here’s some of my other favorites in Hongdae:

• Breakfast at Egg Drop or Isaac Toast: Both spots are known for their inexpensive gourmet egg sandwiches, and there’s usually a line to prove it. Since we were staying in Hongdae we ended up trying both (on different mornings obviously), and I much preferred Isaac Toast (I wasn’t a fan of the super sweet sauce in my Egg Drop sandwich). But both were very tasty!

• Gyeongui Line Forest Park: A small-ish linear park built along a former railway line, with some art installations and cozy cafes nearby. Worth a short stroll! Lots of trees and shade, and you’ll probably see lots of cute pups! Absolutely beautiful in the fall with lots of foliage.

• Custom Nike clothing: Again, just like in Myeongdong, there’s a Nike store here that does DIY t-shirts and sweatshirts. And for whatever reason, it seems to be way less crowded than the other locations. My husband popped in a bunch of times and was able to personalize his Nike clothing on the spot. Maybe we just got lucky, but hey, definitely not complaining! There’s also a Jordan store here, one of 5 in the world.

• Shopping: I could’ve spent HOURS shopping in Hongdae – so many independent boutiques and vintage stores, plus a good amount of Korean brands. I loved browsing Gentle Monster (yes, again), Covernat, Palles, ADER error, Stylenanda, Object, Kakao Friends, Common Unique, and all the other stores I popped into that weren’t saved on my map – there’s tons there. FYI – clothing is in Asian sizing so you may need to get a larger size then you’re used to.

• FRESH PLUSH: Yes, this over-the-top pet store deserves its own bullet point, haha. I mean, it’s an entire “grocery store” full of pet toys. Admittedly, the toys are ridiculously overpriced (about $20+ for one), but thankfully extremely good quality (my dogs been playing with them for months and so far, so good). 

• Ramyun Library: A super-quirky shop that has a whole wall of endless types of instant ramen. It’s a quick stop but nothing like we have at home, haha.

• Cute cafes: Seoul is known for its themed and instagrammable cafes, and Hongdae is no exception. We didn’t make it to all of them (time wasn’t on our side plus, how many cafes can you really go to in just a few days?), but I have a whole long list for the future, haha. There’s Thanks Nature Cafe (with live sheep), Sanrio Lovers Club, Cafe Teteum, Colline (I had the best strawberry bingsu here), 943 King’s Cross (Harry Potter themed), Stylenanda Pink Pool Cafe, and tons more.

Stop 2: 7-11 Ramen by Han River 

After all that shopping, walking, and skin care pampering, take the subway over the river to Yeouido Hangang Park for a relaxing break by the Han River. This is where everyone comes to hang out and have picnics or ramen at 7-11 (yes, it’s a thing here). 

You choose your ramen, then cook it at the machine outside – super convenient and cheap, haha! There’s even picnic blankets and small tables for rent; they sure know how to picnic.

I had no idea how popular this spot is for sunset, and pretty sure there was a cherry blossom festival going on (just speculation though!). 

Psst: there’s another 7-11 about a 5 minute walk from the one on the river if the line is insane – which it was when we visited so I quickly made a bee-line for the other. Or there’s fried chicken and sometimes street vendors.

Stop 3: Nightlife in Hongdae

Koreans really know how to have a good time, and Hongdae is the epicenter of Seoul’s vibrant nightlife. It’s a little too crazy for us (I don’t remember the last time one of my nights started past 10pm, haha), but perfect if you’re up for some clubbing. There’s hip-hop and EDM clubs to indie music bars and everything in between.

If you’re staying nearby and not a clubber, I still recommend going for a late-night walk! You’ll find lots of really talented buskers on the street, some street food, and overall good vibes! 

Day 5: DDP, Cheonggyecheon Stream walk, Gwangjang Market tour

It’s the last day of our 5 days in Seoul, and I imagine you’re absolutely beat at this point (we sure were, especially after spending 3 days in Busan!). Thankfully today’s a much less hectic day, so you can either rest up a bit or venture back to areas where you missed something.

Stop 1: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)

The iconic Dongdaemun Design Plaza, or simply DDP for short, is super fashion-forward and futuristic. It’s a whole complex full of modern architecture (designed by world-renowned architect, Zaha Hadid), shopping, and ever-changing museum exhibits.

The space was honestly a bit confusing to me, as there’s so many floors and so many different exhibits on each one (who knows what I missed, haha). The outdoor exhibits and fun statues change all the time so you never know what you’re gonna see!

Expect plenty of cherry blossoms here in the spring. I spent far too long playing with some cute pups I met outside on the grass, haha. 

Stop 2: Seoul City Wall Trail at Naksan Park and Ihwa Mural Village

The Seoul City Wall, also known as Hanyangdoseong, was built in 1396 during the Joseon Dynasty to protect the city from invaders. The wall stretches for 18.6 kilometers and encircles the old city of Seoul. Don’t feel like you need to hike the entire thing – Naksan is a popular section, with panoramic views of Seoul and its skyline.

You can also check out Ihwa Mural Village located right along the Naksan Park section of the Seoul City Wall Trail. It’s a neighborhood that was revitalized and transformed through art with plenty of colorful murals and sculptures. 

Unfortunately, I heard most of the murals in Ihwa Mural Village have been painted over or no longer exist, so check recent reviews before heading over.

Stop 3: Cheonggyecheon Stream walk

Feel like a local and head over to Cheonggyecheon Stream, a long stream that eventually flows into the Han River (where we had a picnic the night before). It’s a modern urban renewal project in the heart of Seoul, and a great way to get outta the hustle and bustle for a bit.

Lots of people come to chill out as the sun is setting. The walk typically starts at Cheonggye Plaza (near Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul City Hall), and is a whopping 11km (6.8 miles) long – but you certainly don’t need to walk the entire length of it.

There’s man-made waterfalls, plenty of bridges (22 actually, including the Narae Bridge and Gwanggyo Bridge), and a whole slew of art installations.

Stop 4: Gwangjang Market Tour 

If you’re like me and get super intimidated by large markets (with tons and tons of stalls), sign up for a market tour! You’ll try things you never even heard of (like wiggly octopus legs that are still moving…yup), and get recs from a local guide. 

We ate bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), tried so much kimchi and tteokbokki, took photos with Cho Yonsoon (the famous Netflix knife-cut noodle lady), and even learned some Korean drinking games which we then played for god knows how long, haha.

The one thing you can’t leave without: the twisted donut from Chapssal Kkwabaegi (Glutinous Rice Twist). Run, don’t walk. They’re basically the OG of Korean pastries — imagine if a mochi donut and a churro had a baby, and that’s what you’ve got. 

Soft and fluffy on the inside, with a sweet sugar coating on the outside. I could’ve eaten 20 (if I wasn’t already too full already). The line’s always hella long (for a reason!), but if you’re on a tour you probably won’t need to wait (shhh).

I kinda wish we did the market tour on one of our first days in Korea since we had already eaten most of what we got, haha. But it was still super fun regardless. And yes, I’m still dreaming about that twisted donut, even months later, lol.

OR, you can simply join a night tour and knock out all these spots and a few others in a few hours! That’s honestly what I wish we did since you get the expertise of a local. This one even includes Gwangjang Market as well.

Hope that helps you plan the best 5 day Seoul itinerary! Are you headed to South Korea in the near future?! Please have a few honey hottecks and egg breads for me!

The post A Spectacular Seoul Itinerary: 5 Days in Seoul, South Korea appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Welcome to Busan, South Korea’s dazzling seaside gem where city meets sea and where we spent an unforgettable 3 days. Think colorful hillside villages full of murals and art installations. Bustling seafood markets with the freshest catches of the day. Historic temples surrounded by peaceful mountain landscapes and the turquoise sea. Vibrant nightlife in trendy districts full of energy. Beaches, yacht marinas, and more! That’s Busan in a nutshell!

As South Korea’s second-largest city (with a population of a whopping 3.4 million), Busan is a vibrant port city with tons of cultural sites (like a sacred temple by the sea), and stunning coastal views. It boasts Asia’s largest department store (yes, really!) and the largest fish market in all of Korea. Plus, there’s all the tteokbokki, kimbap, and hotteok you could want (true story — I could eat Korean BBQ all day long). And fun fact: Busan even served as the temporary capital during the Korean War.

During our week in South Korea, we spent 3 days in Busan, and loved how dynamic and welcoming it was. I honestly wasn’t sure how much we’d like Busan, as I mostly hear things about Seoul and Jeju Island, but it was the perfect introduction to the country. 

So let’s get to it – the best 3 day Busan itinerary coming right up! But first, some important logistics and FAQs!

3 Days in Busan At-A-Glance

• Day 1: arrive, Jagalchi Market, BIFF Square, Nampo-dong Food Alley, Lotte Observatory, Gwangalli Beach
• Day 2: Main highlights of Busan (Yonggungsa Temple, Haeundae Blueline Park and Sky Capsule, Gamcheon Cultural Village)
• Day 3: Haeundae Beach, Coralani Cafe, Songdo Bay Cable Car, Taejongdae Resort Park, Stairs of Wishes, depart

First of all, is Busan worth visiting? 

Absolutely. Busan is home to some of Korea’s most beautiful beaches, tons of scenic coastal trails, historic temples, colorful, artistic villages, super fresh seafood, and all the street food you could want.  

To be completely honest, I had never heard of Busan before booking our trip to Korea. It’s still kinda under the radar (at least for Americans) compared to Seoul, and I’m really glad we chose to spend 3 days in Busan and explore.

Some people claim Busan is super boring and there’s not much going on. Compared to Seoul I can understand where they’re coming from – BUT that’s like comparing Seoul and Busan to Lisbon and Porto or San Francisco and San Diego. They’ve all got their worth, there’s just different things to do. 

3 Days in Busan Itinerary Logistics

Where is Busan and How to Get There

Busan is located on the southeastern coast of the South Korean peninsula, and is part of the South Gyeongsang Province. It sits along the Korea Strait, which connects the East China Sea to the Sea of Japan.

And there’s so much natural beauty here! The city is surrounded by gorgeous mountains, including Geumjeongsan and Jangsan, so you can only imagine the scenic views and hiking opportunities. There’s also islands off the coast, like Oryukdo and Yeongdo, which have tons of scenic beauty and authentic fishing communities.

• From Seoul: ~325 kilometers (200 miles), approximately a 2.5 to 3-hour journey by KTX high-speed train
• From Daegu: ~120 kilometers (75 miles), about an hour by train
• From Ulsan: ~70 kilometers (43 miles), roughly a 30-minute train ride
• From Jeju: 1 hour plane ride or 10-12 hour ferry ride (ack!)
• From Gyeongju: ~80 kilometers (50 miles); KTX (Korea Train eXpress) high-speed train from Busan to Singyeongju Station (Gyeongju) takes about 30 minutes

Flying to Busan

Yes, you can fly directly to Busan! I didn’t even realize that until we started researching for our trip (the more you know!). Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport (airport code PUS), which provides domestic flights (think Seoul, Jeju, and Jeonju) and some international ones as well (like major cities in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia). 

If you’re coming from further away you’ll need to fly to Seoul first, which is what we did. From there, you can either take a short flight to Busan, or take the train.

Since the KTX is oh so easy (and doesn’t even take that long – 2 ½ hours), if you’re coming from Seoul I think it just makes sense to take the train. But if you’re coming from Jeju Island, you’ll need to fly, haha.

Taking the KTX Train to Busan

The high-speed train network in Korea is called the Korea Train Express, or KTX for short. It connects Busan to major cities throughout South Korea, and it’s super simple and convenient. From Seoul, you’ll depart from Seoul Station and arrive at Busan Station in about 2 ½ to 3 hours. 

This is exactly how we got to Busan! We found the trains really comfortable, super safe (since there’s so much CCTV everywhere, even on public transport), and were able to use the free wifi. 

Psst – there’s KTX trains in other cities as well, like Daegu, Daejeon, and Gwangju.

I HIGHLY recommend buying your KTX tickets in advance – the train gets filled up when it’s busy (like in cherry blossom season when we visited). Definitely consider purchasing KTX tickets via Klook (which is exactly what we did). There’s a deal for a group of 2-5 people for ~$90 per person for unlimited train travel for 2 days in a 10 day period. Note that it’s only for tourists, and slightly discounted than buying a regular ticket.

Plus, you can’t buy tickets on the Korail website with a foreign credit card (in our experience), and we found the Korail App to be super clunky and hardly worked.

FYI – you can’t reserve actual seats on Klook (although seat reservation fees are included); you can do it a month ahead of time on the official Korail website. We found it a teeny bit confusing to pick our seats. For some reason, the website wouldn’t work on our home internet, so we had to use our cell connection tethered to our computer. Once we figured that out it wasn’t terrible, haha. 

Also, know that each passport holder can only have 1 Korea Rail Pass, meaning you can’t buy on both Klook and another website. 

Whatever you do, DO NOT use Rail Ninja (it’s crazy more expensive and a complete rip off – they jack up those prices SO much). 

Express Intercity Bus to Busan

Looking for a super cost-effective option? There’s always the Intercity Bus! It takes longer than the KTX train (around 4-5 hours), but it’s less expensive. Buses are modern, air-conditioned coaches with comfy seating and bathrooms onboard.

From Seoul, buses depart from both Seoul Express Bus Terminal (also known as Gangnam Express Bus Terminal) and Dong Seoul Bus Terminal and arrive at Busan Central Bus Terminal (which you can then take the metro to downtown Busan).

Tip: Make sure you take an express bus (direct service to/from Busan) – standard buses are a tad cheaper, but they make multiple stops meaning it takes way longer.

Driving to Busan

If you’re comfortable with international driving, you can easily drive to Busan. It’s accessible by road via major highways and expressways, and there’s mostly bilingual road signs. 

From Seoul, you’ll wanna take the Gyeongbu Expressway (Highway 1), which connects the capital city to Busan through a scenic drive through the Korean countryside. Plan for a 4-5 hour drive, depending on traffic of course.

Ferry to Busan

If you’re coming from Jeju Island or Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan, the ferry to Busan is an option! Most journeys are quite long, so unless you’ve got a good reason for taking the ferry (tons and tons of luggage, an intense fear of flying, taking a pet, etc), I’d rather fly, haha.

• From Jeju Island: ~10 to 12 hours
• From Fukuoka: ~3 to 4 hours
• From Osaka: ~13 to 16 hours

How to Get Around During Your 3 Days in Busan

Public Transportation (Subway and Bus)

Like elsewhere in Korea, the public transit in Busan is top notch. Trains and buses come on time, navigating the stations is super easy, and you can use a reloadable T-money card. You can get almost anywhere in Busan via subway or bus. 

Plus, it’s super cheap within city limits (typically never more than 1,600 KRW/~$2 a ride), impossibly clean, perfectly safe, and highly efficient. And trains actually come on time – what a concept!

Use KakaoMap and/or Naver Map to navigate the subway and bus systems – the apps give super specific directions, even indicating which exit to use! We found that most signs and announcements were provided in English as well as Korean, which we greatly appreciated.

• The Busan Metro consists of just four subway lines (compared to 23 in Seoul!), which connect popular tourist destinations, shopping districts, and business centers. 
• City buses are found in virtually every corner of the city. 

Rideshare

Before visiting Korea (and spending 3 days in Busan), I had heard that Uber didn’t work in the country. Well, that’s totally outdated info, because we were connected to our first Uber driver within minutes of opening the same exact app we use at home, haha. 

I’ll admit we used Uber more times than we’d like to admit, haha. BUT in our defense, our hotel was a 15-20 minute walk from the nearest bus stop, and we were feeling lazy/tired (hey, it took a long time to get to Korea and we were on vacation after all!). Plus, rideshares are super economical in South Korea, and felt fares were more than reasonable (way less than by us in San Francisco).

Note that Kakao T is the main taxi app used throughout South Korea (download it in advance). You can pay with cash, usually a T-money card, and sometimes (just sometimes!) a foreign credit card. We opted for Uber since it accepted our credit card that was already preinstalled in the app, and there’d be no language barriers getting us to our destination.

Driving in Busan

If you’re just visiting Busan for 3 days, I honestly don’t think you’ll want a car. Public transit is so good, and because of windy mountain roads and confusing access roads, driving in Busan can be kinda confusing for visitors. Plus, parking, navigating, and traffic is all kinds of annoying over here. Just take public transit – you’ll be way happier.

When to Plan Your 3 Day Busan Itinerary (Weather and Crowds)

South Korea experiences all four seasons (unlike here in California where we kinda have perpetual spring, haha). But Busan has the mildest weather in the country (after Jeju Island), making it bearable year round. In general, spring and fall are the best times to visit Busan, as the weather is mild and comfortable. 

Spring (mid-March to mid-June)

Spring in Busan is just lovely – the temps are rising (yet still remain comfortable), there’s very little rainfall, and the flowers are blooming (including the delicate cherry blossoms from late March to early April).

However, the weather can be pretty unpredictable, with fluctuating temps (always carry a light sweater), periods of yellow dust, and strong spring winds.

If you’re visiting during cherry blossom season, definitely add on an extra day to this Busan itinerary for the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival, only about an hour away or so. It was one of the most gorgeous days of my life!

For reference, we visited Busan (and Korea in general) in late March to early April – coinciding with cherry blossom season! We got extremely lucky and experienced peak bloom in all the destinations we went to during our ~7 days in Korea (Seoul, Busan, and Jinhae).

Summer (late June to early September)

Hot and disgustingly humid, with the rainy monsoon season starting at the end of June and lasting until August. Safe to say I wouldn’t choose a visit to Busan (or Korea in general) during sticky summer. Average summer temps are around 24℃, although temps climb in August to around 32°C, so it’s a great time to head to the beach (if it’s not raining of course). 

Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach are super vibrant. Since it’s peak tourist season, expect higher accommodation prices and more crowds.

Fall (early September to November)

Fall in Busan is another glorious few months, with clear skies, comfortable temps, and cool, crisp air. Many say it’s the best time to visit Busan! Temps range between 17℃ and 22℃, although by November it gets pretty chilly.

And there’s beautiful fall foliage around the city – especially at Beomeosa Temple, Geumjeongsan Mountain, and Taejongdae.

Plus, two of the most popular festivals are held every year in October – the Busan International Fireworks Festival and Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. I think I’ll plan my next Busan itinerary for October!

Winter (December to early March)

Winter is chilly in South Korea, and Busan is no exception! Think chilly temps of 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F), with temperatures sometimes dipping below freezing in December and January (the coldest months in Busan). It’s typically windy, cold, and dry in the winter season, so don’t expect to be hanging at the beach, haha.

It’s way quieter this time of year, although still quite busy at Christmas with The Busan Christmas Tree Festival in December and New Year’s sunrise events at Haeundae Beach. 

Where to Stay in Busan

Haeundae

Haeundae is famous for its beautiful beach, vibrant nightlife (we really enjoyed the Night Market and stopped by a few times), and tons of restaurants. It’s a super popular area to stay, with lots going on and lots of tourist attractions (namely the sky capsules and Blueline Park).

If you’re looking for a luxury hotel, I HIGHLY recommend the Park Hyatt Busan. It’s where we stayed and absolutely adored the chic space. I mean, the views from our room were absolutely phenomenal – we were able to see the entire harbor. 

Other properties that were recommended to me were the Signiel Busan, The Westin Chosun Busan, Hanwha Resort Haeundae, and Ananti at Busan Cove.

PS: Looking on a map (Naver Map!), you’ll see that Haeundae is kinda far removed from most of the other major attractions in Busan. While we thoroughly enjoyed our hotel (Park Hyatt Busan was an absolute dream), I think I’d prefer to stay closer to public transit next time (either in a different area or a different hotel in Haeundae, actually on the beach).

Seomyeon

Seomyeon is super centrally located, so a great area to stay if you want easy access to other parts of the city. The neighborhood is great for excellent shopping, eating out (lots of street food and traditional Korean restaurants), and nightlife (bars, pubs, and karaoke). 

It’s kinda like Hongdae in Seoul, and totally one of the busiest and most vibrant districts in Busan. Check out The Lotte Hotel Busan, Space and Mood, and the Sangsang Stay Busan.

Gwangalli

Another beach area to the west of Haeundae, but this one’s got the Gwangan Bridge (which is just stunning when illuminated at night). Stay here for waterfront dining, a lively atmosphere, and of course the sand. Don’t miss the drone show here every Saturday night!

Popular hotels include Hotel Aqua Palace, H Avenue Hotel, and Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington.

Nampo-dong

Stay here if you’re looking for a culturally rich experience in Busan – there’s vibrant markets, historical sites, and plenty of seafood restaurants. 

It’s famous for BIFF Square, the Jagalchi Fish Market, and Yongdusan Park (where you’ll find Busan Diamond Tower). It’s pretty centrally located and close to Busan Station, meaning it’s easy to get around to different parts of the city.

Check out Nampo Hound Hotel Premier, Aventree Hotel Busan, and Hotel Foret Premier Nampo.

Are 3 Days in Busan enough?

100%. And most people may argue that 3 days in Busan is actually too many, haha. You can probably get by with 2 days in Busan, but we much preferred slowing down a bit and really savoring our first few days in Korea. 

With 3 days in Busan you can wander the colorful Gamcheon Cultural Village, indulge in some seafood bbq, tour the seaside Yonggungsa Temple, ride a cute sky capsule, and have your fair share of street food from the markets.

What about a day trip to Busan?

Possible but not advised, haha. 

A sweet couple we met on our Busan tour had actually taken the high-speed train down from Seoul that very morning… and they looked utterly exhausted. So while it’s certainly possible, I highly recommend at least spending a night or two in Busan. They also did a day trip to Jeju Island from Seoul (yes, a day trip – flying to and from Jeju the very same day), which is all kinds of impressive and questionable at the same time, haha.

If you’re dead set on taking a day trip to Busan (from Seoul or elsewhere), I HIGHLY recommend booking a guided tour of Busan so you ensure you see a lot of the main highlights! Since the main tourist sites are pretty spread out, taking a tour really is the easiest way to fit a lot into your one day Busan itinerary.

Here’s the exact Busan guided tour we did on Day 2 of our Busan itinerary. It makes 5 stops, including the very popular Gamcheon Village and Haeundae Blueline Park!

Other Important Tips and FAQs for your Busan Itinerary

• Download important apps in advance: Google Maps doesn’t get regularly updated in South Korea (and only features public transit directions which are not super accurate anyways…), so you’ll need another way to navigate. We primarily used Naver Maps, but I’ve heard great things about Kakao Maps as well. I’d also get Kakao Taxi too, a Korean ride sharing app that’s a good alternative to Uber. But we actually used regular Uber our entire time in Korea and it worked completely fine… despite others saying it didn’t work for them. 

• Is English spoken in Busan? Yes and no. We found that English is not as widely spoken as in Seoul, but we were still able to get by during our 3 days in Busan. Staff at hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions spoke some degree of English, and most tourist areas have signs and information in both Korean and English. Plus English announcements on the Busan Metro system, but in our experience, not the bus. I recommend learning a few basic Korean phrases and using translation apps – no shame at all, we had to do this so much (and we were still confused half the time, haha).
  • hello: 안녕하세요, annyeonghaseyo
  • thank you: 감사합니다, gamsahamnida
  • how much is this?: 이거 얼마예요?, igeo eolmayeyo? 

• Plan your Busan itinerary in advance: This is not the place to completely wing it. Top sights and activities are spread out, so definitely have a rough plan before arriving in Busan. Or do as we did and book a full day guided tour of Busan to ensure you don’t miss anything!

• Don’t expect tropical beaches: Yes, Busan is directly on the coast. But if you’ve been to Hawaii, Thailand, Greece, French Polynesia, or anywhere else with amazing turquoise waters, just know you won’t find that here in Busan. There’s no colorful beach umbrellas, fresh coconuts or tiki drinks, or palm trees swaying in the wind (you’ll need to head elsewhere for that). Plus, depending on when you visit, it may not even be beach weather. The beaches are pretty to look at, but no one really goes in the water unless you’re visiting in the sweltering summer, haha.

• Don’t skip leg day before visiting Korea: My legs got a huge workout – I can’t even begin to tell you how many flights of stairs we walked up each and every day. Definitely wear comfy shoes, stay hydrated, and take it slow if you need.

• Seoul vs. Busan: There’s really no comparison – they’re completely different. You could spend years in Seoul and still never see everything (it’s the capital and the largest city in South Korea with over 10 million people after all). Always fast-paced and bustling, with a 24-hour lifestyle. Busan is Korea’s second-largest city with about 3.5 million people (so still pretty big!). It’s known for its beautiful beaches and coastal scenery – way more relaxed compared to Seoul, with a laid-back coastal vibe. If you have the time, visit both (but never skip Seoul on a trip to Korea!).

Best 3 Days in Busan Itinerary 

Quick notes about this Busan itinerary

• We arrived in Busan around 10:30am on Day 1 after taking the high-speed train from Seoul. Meaning, you could totally do the same and still see everything we did! We then departed Busan around 7:45pm on Day 3.

• If you’re visiting during cherry blossom season (exact dates vary every year but typically late March to early April), consider adding an extra day to your Busan itinerary and head to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. It was all kinds of amazing and I still get teary eyed thinking about all the gorgeous blooms we saw.

• The drone show in Gwangalli Beach only occurs on Saturday evenings. Keep this in mind when planning your Busan itinerary if it’s something you really wanna see (while cool, not worth changing a pre-planned itinerary for in my opinion though).

• If you’re having difficulty buying a ticket for the Blueline Sky Capsule, just book a tour that includes it. I tried for hours and hours (and almost ripped my hair out), but it deemed impossible without a Korean credit card.

• My 3 day Busan itinerary assumes you’re taking a tour (this tour specifically) – if you’re able to book the sky capsule yourself or don’t necessarily care much about it, consider switching some of the activities around to make more sense location wise. I’d keep Day 1 the same, but do Gamcheon Cultural Village, Songdo Bay Cable Car, Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Taejongdae Resort Park (if time), and Gwangalli Beach on Day 2. Day 3 would then include Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Haeundae Beach, Haeundae Blueline Park Sky Capsule, and Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk.

Busan Itinerary Day 1 

If you’re not already in Busan, plan to take the high-speed train to Busan in the early AM. For reference, we took the KTX bullet train (operated by Korail) from Seoul Station at ~7:30am, and arrived at Busan Station around 10:30. The trains leave EXACTLY on time, so be sure to get there early!

Psst – once you make it to Busan Station, I recommend storing your luggage in a coin locker so you’re able to freely explore the area without all your bags! There’s plenty of lockers at the station, but they do fill up so aim to claim yours right away. And remember exactly where you left your bag – we had a hard time finding the location at first, whoops! Once your luggage is stored, hop on the subway – it’s time to explore Nampo-dong, the central area of Busan.

Stop 1: BIFF Square / Nampodong Food Alley

After the early morning train ride, you’re probably hungry (we sure were!). So it’s the perfect excuse to head off to BIFF Square for some street food stalls! It’s named after the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), and is a hub of cinematic culture and entertainment.

Think handprints and signatures of famous actors and filmmakers (kinda like the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles), street performances and film screenings, and lots of shops.

But what we really came for was the food, haha. Over here you’ll find a variety of local Korean snacks, so don’t be shy. Try your first seed hotteok (piping hot Korean sweet pancakes stuffed with seeds) at Seunggi Ssiat Hotteok (made famous for being on “One Night and Two Days”, a Korean reality show). Look for the stall with the longest queue and you found it, haha.

A few other Korean street foods to try: 

• Kimbap: rice rolls wrapped in seaweed with a variety of fillings
• Tteokbokki: spicy stir-fried rice cakes
• Odeng (Eomuk): Skewered fish cakes served in a warm broth
• Grilled Seafood: squid and octopus grilled to perfection
• Japchae: Stir-fried glass noodles made from sweet potato starch
• Sundae: Korean-style blood sausage
• Mandu: Korean dumplings

Tip: Make sure to have some Korean won on hand – many street vendors prefer cash. You can also check out Gwangbok-ro Fashion Street nearby as well.

Stop 2: Jagalchi Market

Up next – one of the most famous and largest seafood markets in South Korea, Jagalchi Market! It represents the heart of Busan’s fishing industry, and there’s a STAGGERING variety of fresh and live seafood (tons of fish, shellfish, octopus, squid, crabs, etc). And when I tell you it’s bustling, it really is. So much catch of the day both on display and in the tanks inside.

And the market is huge with multiple levels – the first floor is dedicated to fresh seafood, while the second floor has some dining areas so you can try a few things (lots of sashimi-style or grilled seafood)! I honestly had no idea what half the seafood was, but I did see some abalone, sea urchins, seaweed, and scallops! 

Try some hoe (raw fish) with kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste). If you’re really adventurous, some live octopus (yes, it’s still moving) – we had this during our market tour in Seoul a few days later and it still kinda freaks me out, haha.

And get this – the market dates back to the Korean War era, around the 1950s! It’s since become a landmark in Busan, understandably so!

A little side note: I highly recommend reading the book “The Island of Sea Woman” by Lisa See which takes place on nearby Jeju Island. It documents the lives of the fierce female divers, known as haenyeo (해녀), famous for their traditional free-diving skills to harvest seafood which have been passed down through generations. Easily one of the best books I read in 2024 – and I read a lot (over 35 books a year typically)!

Stop 3: Busan City Views

Time for some city views! And depending on how far you feel like walking, you can either visit one or both of these options. Since it was a cloudy day, we opted for the free version of the view, but I kinda wish we went to the tower… ahh, it’s too late for me now!

Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park 

Yongdusan Park is one of the most famous parks in Busan, sitting on one of the three famous mountains in the city. Inside the park you’ll find statues and monuments, a beautifully maintained clock made of flowers (kinda similar to the one I saw in Melbourne), and Busan Tower of course! Head up for 360-degree views of Busan, including the bustling harbor, Jagalchi Market, and the surrounding mountains. 

After looking at pictures it all seems kinda cheesy (besides the view), but hey, when in Korea!

It’s sometimes referred to as the Busan Diamond Tower, so just know they’re the same thing. While it’s not free, it’s not super expensive either, around 12,000 won (~$10USD).

Lotte Department Store Observatory

Instead of heading to the park, we walked over to the Lotte Department Store Observatory, which is actually a free view from the roof on the 13th floor! From here you can see the scenic coastline, the bustling city center, and the picturesque mountains. Our guide on Day 2 said he actually prefers the department store observatory better, and we really enjoyed it. There’s space to wander around and even a cafe up here.

Psst – there’s a few Lotte’s in Busan – make sure you go to the right one! You’ll be looking for the Lotte Department Store Gwangbok Branch.

Stop 4: Check into your Hotel

At this point in the day, I recommend grabbing your bags from the train station (can’t forget about those!), and heading to your hotel. Get situated (maybe relax a bit if you’re fighting jet lag), and have a bite to eat nearby if you’re hungry. We checked into the Park Hyatt Haeundae, and wow, just wow! That view!

Note: If you’re staying in Haeundae like we were, you can take the subway to Haeundae Station (50 minutes with 1 transfer), a direct bus (45 minutes), or by taxi/rideshare (40 minutes depending on traffic).

Stop 5: Dinner and Drone Show in Gwangalli Beach 

Up Next – Gwangalli Beach, an urban beach area with tons of character and even more good food. I recommend heading to the sandy beach a bit before sunset, and then staying afterwards to see the area transform into night.

A major highlight of Gwangalli Beach – the iconic Gwangandaegyo Bridge (aka Gwangan Bridge). It’s the largest double-layer bridge in Korea, and even has the world’s largest set of LED lights and sound equipment. Take some pics with the bridge and coastal skyline, and stay around to watch the bridge’s light show (occurring daily at 8pm and 10pm, with an additional show at 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays). This was a complete surprise to us, and it was honestly really impressive. 

We had a super simple dinner of ramen on the beach (from a nearby 7-11 – it’s super common here), but there’s tons of cute cafes and dinner spots if you want something a bit fancier. The exhaustion was really starting to set in so we were more than happy with some quick instant ramen, haha.

And if it’s Saturday, you’ll get to watch the drone light show (although I wouldn’t necessarily rearrange your whole itinerary for this). While we were absolutely mesmerized watching the hundreds of drones lighting up the night sky (and wow oh wow that choreography is impressive), the show was only about 10 minutes or so and wish it had been longer! 

Note that the drone show only takes place on Saturday, with times varying by season:

• Summer (March to September): At 20:00 and 22:00 
• Winter (October to February): At 19:00 and 21:00

Stop 6: The Bay 101 

If you’re still up for one last activity of the night, head over to The Bay 101 for fantastic views of the city. Think panoramic views of Haeundae Beach, the ocean, and the skyline, including the iconic Marine City skyscrapers. But what is it exactly? A chic waterfront complex with a yacht club, trendy shops, and a few bars and restaurants (most close around 10pm, just FYI). But most people just come for the views, haha.

We were pretty exhausted by now, so stopped by very briefly. And it was so much busier than I thought! Everyone was out and about taking pics of the twinkly lights and massive skyscrapers. 

Since we were staying in Haeundae at the Park Hyatt Busan, we simply walked back to our hotel afterwards. Note that if you’re not staying in Haeundae like we were, I’d recommend tacking on The Bay 101 to the end of Day 2 instead (as you can practically walk from the market).

Day 2 in Busan

Get ready, because today’s a FULL day of sightseeing. If you’re arriving in Busan the morning of Day 1 and leaving in the late afternoon/night on Day 3, today’s your only full day – may as well make the absolute most of it!

Because of this, I highly recommend you book yourself on a tour. Tourist attractions are pretty spread out in Busan, and you don’t wanna spend half your day figuring out transportation or relying on expensive taxis.

Plus, if you’re having difficulties buying a ticket for the ever-so-popular Sky Capsule (like us – we found it near impossible), just make it easy and book a guided tour of Busan that includes it! That’s exactly what we did, and this is the EXACT tour we went on – the day was super well planned and we saw SO much more on the tour than we would have if we were navigating the city ourselves.

This tour’s another similar option, but it doesn’t include Haedong Yonggungsa Temple – which is a must-see in my opinion. 

Definitely wear comfy shoes today – there’s a lot of walking and a fair amount of stairs. And get lots of rest the night before (yes, this means forgoing some soju, haha); it’s gonna be a busy, busy day.

Stop 1: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

The first stop of the day was one of the favorites in all of Busan – the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (translating to “Korean Dragon Palace Temple” in English)! It’s one of the few Buddhist temples in Korea located along the coastline, which makes it oh so super popular (most Korean temples are located in the mountains). 

Haedong Yonggungsa is set against a dramatic backdrop of rocky cliffs and the blue sea — I loved the picturesque views and all the nature! And of course the sound of the waves, but you could hardly hear them over all the crowds, haha.

The colors and details of the temple really blew me away though. So, so intricate with tons of classic elements like tiled roofs, vibrant decorative patterns (I loved all the floral motifs, geometric shapes, and mythical creatures), stone pagodas and statues, dragon sculptures and marine-themed decorations, and allll the primary colors.

The temple was originally built in 1376 during the Goryeo Dynasty, so it’s been around for quite a while. And get this – it’s still an active place of worship, even after all these years. 

We were so lucky that the temple was already decorated with colorful paper lanterns for Buddha’s birthday (typically in April or May, depending on the year).

Note that you need to descend 108 steps to reach the temple complex — it is located on a coastal cliff afterall! But I promise the exercise is well worth it – we spent about an hour or so at the temple and could’ve stayed longer (although we were ready to leave since the crowds were so horrible). 

Yes, it was unbelievably crowded, but so, so worth it. Easily one of my favorite things we did during our 3 days in Busan! If at all possible, I’d plan your visit to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple on a weekday — the temple gets exceptionally crowded on the weekend (which is of course when we were there, haha). 

Stop 2: Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory

Next was a quick stop at Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, a modern skywalk with a transparent glass floor and gorgeous views of the East Sea, the rocky coastline, and the picturesque Cheongsapo Fishing Village. 

Note that you’ll need to put on silly booties/foot covers to protect the glass walkway and minimize any scratches. It kinda feels like you’re walking on water … kind of, haha.

The observatory is located near one end of Haeundae Blueline Park (where the ever-so-popular sky capsules are located), so a perfect pit stop for more views! 

Stop 3: Seafood BBQ Lunch in Cheongsapo

We then walked over to Cheongsapo for a seafood bbq lunch — and what a feast we had!

Cheongsapo is a fishing village famous for its seafood and charming coastal views, so of course that’s what was on the menu. Think shrimp, octopus, clams, scallops, abalone, and plenty of types of fish. I heard that some restaurants even have tanks with live seafood!

This is where we really struggled with the language – the staff didn’t speak much English (if any at all), and communicating even with translation apps was difficult! Thankfully we had our tour guide with us, as I think we’d still be sitting there confused, haha.

Once we finally figured out what the heck was going on (a common theme for us in Korea, haha), we even grilled the seafood ourselves at our table (with lots of help from the staff). I have no idea the name of the place, but if you take the same tour we did, you’ll most likely end up here as well.

To be honest, it was kinda pricey, but the seafood was super fresh (and locally-sourced) and the portions were pretty decent! Plus plenty of banchan (side dishes), like kimchi, pickled vegetables, and salads.

Stop 4: Haeundae Blueline Park and Sky Capsule

Finally – it’s time to ride the sky capsules! 

Yes, these are the super cute little colorful capsules you see all over social media; right here in Busan! Over here in Haeundae Blueline Park you’ve got a few options — riding the sky capsule, the Haeundae Beach train, or simply walking along the railway coastal trail. But of course it’s the retro-looking sky capsules we’re after!

Note: this is by far one of the most popular things to do in Busan (thanks to social media, haha), so you’ll 100% wanna buy tickets in advance. If not, you run the risk of showing up and all the tickets are sold out for the day (as they were on the day we visited). 

Book on the official Blueline Park website here.

Online reservations open up on Tuesday 2 weeks before. There were tickets available when I checked 2 weeks prior to my intended visiting date, but payment was all kinds of stressful and I couldn’t purchase a ticket. 

If this happens to you, you can pay a little extra and book on Get Your Guide (a booking platform I use for tours and tickets around the world). Or, you can simply take the Busan day tour like we did (honestly, it made the whole day stress-free).

To be honest, the ride was a little underwhelming, but still fun. I didn’t realize just how slow it goes (about 4km/hr), but I guess that’s a good thing so you can really take in the views. The whole route, from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo Station (or reverse like we did), takes about 30 minutes.

PS — I’d opt for a one-way ticket; there’s no need to ride the sky capsule round trip in my opinion. 

If we were able to book ourselves, I would have liked to go at sunset, but alas, I’m just glad the tour included tickets. We did come back one night when we were in the area to see them right as the sun was setting — I randomly found Montoon Road with the best views of the sky capsules and I was giddy beyond belief. 

Stop 5: Huinnyeoul Coastal Village

Next up – Huinnyeoul Coastal Village (or Huinnyeoul Munhwa Maul in Korean). Told you this was a long day! Located on Yeongdo Island, this charming coastal village is way less popular than Gamcheon Culture Village, so thankfully wasn’t busy at all. 

And entirely different as it sits on the coast and is filled with white and blue houses – it’s even referred to as “Korea’s Santorini” for its beautiful scenery (although I can assure you it looks NOTHING like the actual Santorini in Greece – sorry!).

There’s two main roads here – the coastal promenade (which is right next to the sea) and the road higher up where you’ll find all the shops, cozy cafes, and colorful murals (where we stayed). If you’re up for it, you can walk down the rainbow steps to see the popular Huinnyeoul Coast Tunnel – we were already utterly exhausted so decided to opt out, haha. Next time for us!

What’s interesting about Huinnyeoul Coastal Village is that these were the homes that originally housed refugees of the Korean War. They’ve since been transformed into souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes.

It was unfortunately super overcast and cloudy, but I suspect the views would be even better with some sun. We still had fun taking pics, wandering the pathways, and peeking into the shops. 

Stop 6: Gamcheon Cultural Village 

One of the most popular things to do in Busan, and the last official stop on the tour!

If you’ve done any research on Busan at all, you’ve most definitely come across those panoramic views with colorful houses on the hill – that’s Gamcheon Cultural Village! 

Gamcheon Cultural Village kinda reminds me a bit of Guanajuato, Mexico and Comuna 13 in Medellin, Colombia (two places I haven’t written about yet, whoops!). 

And just like Huinnyeoul Coastal Village is known as “Korea’s Santorini”, Gamcheon Cultural Village is nicknamed the “Machu Picchu of Busan”, although I honestly don’t see the resemblance. Seems like Koreans like to compare their cities/towns with major hot spots around the world, haha.

It’s situated on a hillside, so expect lots of hills and steps, but also colorful alleys, murals, and art installations. And of course it’s colorful houses – definitely view them from above (our favorite viewpoint was from Coffee It House, but there’s also Cafe Wooin and the Haneul Maru Observation Deck).

Remember – people still live in these homes (many elderly), so please be a respectful and quiet tourist. 

If you really wanna make the most of your visit, pick up an interactive map at the Tourist Information Center. We kinda just wandered around aimlessly (whoops!), so looking back I really wish we grabbed a map so we actually had points of interest to see. 

I will say I wish we had a bit more time at Gamcheon Cultural Village on our tour as I felt it was a bit short, but I guess we could’ve stayed and found our way back ourselves if we really, really wanted. 

Stop 7: Korean BBQ in Seomyeon

Finally – it’s time for some Korean BBQ! 

We had our first Korean BBQ of the trip at Matchandeul Wang Sogeum Gui in Seomyeon (one of the busiest and most vibrant districts in Busan). And lemme tell ya, it didn’t disappoint. Expect a short wait – this place is popular for a reason. So much pork belly and don’t miss the stone rice! Don’t worry, the staff helps you grill your meat if you’d like.

We learned the proper way to eat Korean BBQ – by making a wrap (ssam). Take a price of lettuce, add a piece of meat, some rice, and some banchan and/or sauce, then wrap it up and eat it in one bite! Ridiculously delicious. 

You can also check out Seomyeon Market if you’re not planning to stop by Haeundae Market afterwards. We accidentally stumbled upon it (before dinner, haha) and couldn’t say no to some mini mochi donuts. There’s also lots of noraebang (karaoke rooms) here if that’s your thing (one thing we missed and I’m still kinda bummed about it).

Stop 8: Snacks at Haeundae Market

If you’re staying in Haeundae like we were, hit up the Haeundae Market after dinner for some street snacks! I wouldn’t go crazy out of your way for this, but any night that ends with a hot honey hotteok in hand is a good night, haha.

Psst – bring some Korean Won as most of the vendors prefer it to credit cards.

Note that we Ubered from Seomyeon to the market and then walked back to our hotel in Haeundae.

Busan Itinerary Day 3  

After a crazy busy Day 2 of this Busan itinerary, today is thankfully more relaxed. We decided to Uber around a bit, and found prices to be more than reasonable (you can totally use public transit, but we were feeling lazy, haha).

Stop 1: Haeundae Beach

Start off the morning with a stroll along the most famous beach in all of Busan! With its gentle waves and soft, golden sand, this place gets beyond packed in the summer months, but was relatively quiet in April when we visited.

We wandered down Gunam-ro, the main road of Haeundae Beach (starting from Haeundae Station to Haeundae Square). Here you’ll find a large pedestrian walkway with great restaurants, cafes, shops (like Olive Young – of course, lol, Daiso, Artbox, etc), and plenty of convenience stores.

Walk a little further on the beach pathway and you’ll come across BUSAN X the SKY (Korea’s 2nd tallest building with a sky observatory on the 100th floor), with the highest starbucks in the world! We decided to skip this but looking back I kinda wish we went up!

Stop 2: Coralani for breakfast/brunch

Next up – a cafe with total Bali vibes in Busan (ohhh how I miss Bali oh so much)! We took a quick Uber/taxi from our hotel in Haeundae to Coralani, a massive cafe right on the coast with the most spectacular views. The pastries are kinda expensive, but what do you expect – look at those views (too bad we got hit with lots of clouds)!

The cafe is huge, but fills up quickly, so get here on the early side. We actually arrived right as they were opening and were some of the first ones here! There’s a few levels of seating – we headed upstairs to the roof and hung out on the beanbags for a bit and just relaxed.

Note that children aren’t allowed on the upper levels (due to safety I presume), but they’re allowed on the ground floor.

Stop 3: Songdo Bay Cable Car or Taejongdae Resort Park 

Songdo Bay Cable Car

More nature and sea views! The Songdo Bay Cable Car (also called Songdo Marine Cable Car and Busan Air Cruise – I was confused, haha), travels across the water to Songdo Sky Park where you’ll find a nature walk, cafe, and street food-style vendors.

You can choose from a cable car with a regular opaque or glass bottom, but I read reviews saying the glass bottom wasn’t worth the extra money so I’d opt for a regular (and save that cash for a few extra bowls of tteokbokki). 

Unfortunately the cable car was closed for maintenance on the day we wanted to visit (bummed is an understatement) – so we opted for the Taejongdae Resort Park out of necessity, haha.

Taejongdae Resort Park 

Nope, it’s not a resort or an amusement park! Taejongdae is simply a scenic nature park on the coast with cliffs, forest trails, and an observatory with panoramic views of the sea.

In order to get around the park, you’ll need to buy a ticket for the Taejongdae Danubi Train (or walk/hike, but the area’s huge). We stopped at popular areas like the Tejongsa Buddhist Temple and Yeongdo Lighthouse.

To be completely honest, the weather wasn’t great this day and we were bummed the cable car was closed. If you need to cut something out of your Busan itinerary, I’d make it the Taejongdae Resort Park. Everyone says it’s beautiful, but we honestly didn’t find it all that exciting and saw better views elsewhere. Just my opinion though!

You could check out the Oryukdo Skywalk instead if you’d like, but we figured it’d be super similar to Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory where we went the day before.

Afterwards, we stopped by a cafe called Thrill on the Mug at the Taejongdae Ocean Flying Theme Park (where you can zip-line across the ocean if you’d like). We simply got some drinks and snacks, and enjoyed the views. It’s not terribly far from the Resort Park, so figured we’d walk there — big mistake! It’s up a huge hill, so I recommend grabbing a cheap Uber/taxi instead, haha.

Stop 4: Stairs of Wishes (Somang Stairs) and Dakbatgol Mural Village

I had started seeing this all over IG, and it looked so, so sweet. It’s honestly not a must-do, but we weren’t too far so figured why not?!

What is it exactly? A short monorail heading up the steep steps, built by the community! It’s free, but built for the residents there, so always give priority to them of course. There was an elderly local man helping tourists and residents – he was so, so sweet and insisted on taking some cute photos for us. One of those quirky attractions you’d only find in Korea, haha.

I loved all the colorful mosaics on the stairs and all the murals. Plus, there were tons of cherry trees in bloom right over here which I loved of course.

Stop 5: Lotte Department Store, Centum City, and SPA LAND

If you have some extra time (or decided to skip out on something on this Busan itinerary), you may have time for SPA LAND (or shopping at Lotte)! 

It’s only one of the largest and most luxurious spa complexes in South Korea, so perfect if you’re craving some relaxation time. There’s thermal pools, saunas, massage services, relaxation rooms, fitness facilities, foot baths, body scrubs, and even a food court and cafes.

Stop 6: High speed train to Seoul 

Phew – our Busan itinerary is over! We took the KTX high speed train back to Seoul this night around 7:45pm, and arrived at Seoul Station around 10:30pm! You could totally spend another night, but we felt 3 days in Busan was more than enough.

Important Note: Give yourself more than enough time to get to Busan Station. Coming from Haeundae we had an unbearable amount of traffic and legit almost missed our train (we were those people running through the station, haha). 

If I had to do it again, I’d put all our stuff in a coin locker after Coralani Cafe so we wouldn’t have to head all the way back to our hotel in Haeundae at the end of the day just to grab our bags. Huge mistake on our part. 

Hope this helps you plan out the best possible 3 day Busan itinerary! Are you headed to South Korea soon?! Have a few honey hotteok for me!

The post The Best Busan Itinerary: 3 Days in Busan, South Korea appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Imagine delicate pink petals fluttering in the breeze. Strolling along Yeojwacheon Stream with cherry blossom ice cream in hand. Pink and white blossoms stretching as far as the eye can see at Gyeonghwa Station. Taking in that sweet, sweet aroma of the romantic cherry blossom trees. You’ll find all this at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival; it really is the best place in Korea to see cherry blossoms!

For a few days every spring, Jinhae turns into a pink paradise. It’s a huge bucket list check for those of us semi-obsessed with cherry blossoms (like myself!), and nearly every street, park, and public space in Jinhae is adorned with blossoms. 

Cherry blossom season in Korea is a dream (and kinda feels like you’re living in your own K-Pop fantasy world!).

When everyone flocked to Japan this spring to see cherry blossoms (I swear, all I saw on IG was Tokyo and Kyoto posts), we decided to head to Korea instead. And wow did we get lucky – we ended up being in Korea for peak cherry blossom season (while the blooms were delayed a few weeks in Japan due to a colder-than-average spring over there, totally ruining so many people’s Japan plans).

I’ve always been obsessed with flowers (just ask my husband, haha). So when we decided to spend a week in Korea and realized we’d be there for cherry blossom season, it wasn’t even a question – we’d be spending a day at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival!

I mean, Jinhae’s home to over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees (did you read that right? – 350 THOUSAND). It’d be a crime to be oh so close and not make the short trek over!

To be quite honest, I had never heard of the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival before booking my flights to Korea. We weren’t even sure if we should allocate a full day of our South Korea itinerary to the festival as our visit was pretty short — only a week!

With mixed reviews on the festival (some stating the crowds really lessened the experience, that the food stalls were overpriced, and there’s enough cherry blossoms in the city), was it necessary? I REALLY wanted to see what the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival was all about, so we went!

And after attending the festival myself, I can confidently say I’m thrilled we visited! Sure, there’s plenty of cherry blossom trees in both Seoul and Busan (we got lucky and were there for peak bloom in both cities), but there’s honestly nothing like standing amongst thousands and thousands of soft petals, watching them slowly fall to the ground.

2024 Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Dates: March 23nd – April 1st

Important Info about the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

What is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival?

First of all, what is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival anyways?! It’s exactly as it sounds – an entire 10-day cherry blossom festival dedicated to the delicate (and super gorgeous) blooms! It’s a famous annual event held late March to early April in Jinhae (South Korea), and one of the largest cherry blossom festivals in the world (sure beats the one we have in San Francisco, haha). 

Trust me, there’s a reason it sees millions of visitors each year.

Besides the main event (being all the cherry blossoms of course), there’s also military parades, cultural activities and performances, cute food stalls (cherry blossom ice cream anyone?!), and sometimes even fireworks!

Why is Jinhae so famous for cherry blossoms?

Glad you asked – a bunch of reasons actually! 

For starters, the insane number of cherry trees of course! Jinhae is blessed with over 350,000 cherry trees, making it one of the most densely populated cherry blossom areas in not only South Korea, but the world! And all these cherry trees are surely loved by many, haha. The climate over here is super conducive to cherry blossoms, with mild spring temps and enough rain for the trees to bloom.

There’s also a great deal of historical significance celebrating cherry blossoms in Jinhae, dating back decades. The area was originally planted with cherry trees to honor Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a naval hero who played a crucial role in Korean history. Over time, these trees have matured and grown into the expansive and beautiful blossom displays we’re lucky to see today.

And lastly – sheer accessibility and city infrastructure. Since Jinhae’s well-connected by public transit (and not terribly far from Busan, South Korea’s second largest city), it’s pretty easy for tourists to visit. If it’s difficult to get to, no one’s gonna go (well, not as many people, haha). Plus, Jinhae has a decent tourism infrastructure, making it able to handle the overwhelming influx of visitors during the festival.

Predicting Cherry Blossoms in Jinhae

Hate to break it to ya, but cherry blossoms are just about the most fickle plant on the planet, haha. While we can certainly *predict* when they’ll bloom (typically reaching peak bloom in early April), exact dates change from year to year. Which is why it’s SO hard to plan a successful trip for the cherry blossoms alone. 

Come a few days too early, and all you’ll see are flower buds or super small cherry blossoms. Come too late, and they’ll all be gone! 

Once they do bloom,  “full/peak bloom” stage only lasts for about a week! And this can all be cut short after heavy rains and/or wind! Entirely up to Mother Nature! Told ya – super fickle and unpredictable. But that’s what makes it all that much more special when you do catch peak bloom.  

Thankfully, there’s a few ways to predict dates (although never certain). Climate and weather conditions are the biggest factors, including temperature, sunlight, and rainfall. Warmer temperatures accelerate the blooming process, while colder temperatures delay it. 

So, if there’s a colder-than-normal spring, the cherry blossoms will bloom later than average. Meteorological experts analyze historical weather data, long-term climate patterns, historical data on cherry blossom bloom dates, and current weather forecasts to predict the optimal bloom period. A lot goes into this — all for some flowers!

Always be on the lookout for cherry blossom forecasts (usually announced several weeks in advance) on social media, forums, etc, and make sure you’re looking at the correct city! 

Cherry blossoms reach peak bloom at different times of the month depending where in the country they are. Generally, the southern cities (Jeju Island, Busan, Jinhae) reach peak bloom earlier than areas in the north (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeongju, etc), so plan your trip accordingly if you’re visiting multiple cities.

Is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival worth it?

After personally visiting and seeing all the festivities for myself, I say a resounding yes! BUT – of course there’s a but, haha, I wouldn’t plan my entire trip to Korea around the festival. 

Why? Because cherry blossom bloom dates are exceptionally hard to accurately predict for a multitude of reasons (like I mentioned above), and it’d suck to miss them by only a few days (which happens to so many people unfortunately). We got super, super lucky that it just so happened to be peak bloom our entire week in Korea – in Jinhae, Busan, and then Seoul (which I’m so, so grateful for; love when the timing just works out!).

And remember — if you’re hoping to have a peaceful day around the cherry blossoms (and looking for serene photos without any photobombers), you’ll be wildly disappointed. Safe to say you won’t be alone, no matter when you visit, as the festival is beyond popular – expect huge crowds and long lines everywhere in Jinhae during festival dates. 

Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival Logistics

Where is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival?

The Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is held in Jinhae, a district in Changwon City, in the South Gyeongsang Province of South Korea. It’s situated on the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, near the city of Busan, where we did our guided day trip from. Although it’s pretty far from Seoul (about 250 miles away), plenty of people still visit for only a day (but expect to spend more time traveling than actually enjoying the festival, haha).

Here’s some distances from other popular places in Korea:

• Busan: ~40 kilometers (25 miles) – the closest big city to Jinhae
• Gyeongju: ~200 kilometers (124 miles)
• Daejeon: ~240 kilometers (149 miles)
• Seoul: ~400 kilometers (250 miles)
• Incheon: ~430 kilometers (267 miles)
• Jeju Island: You’d need to fly to Busan and travel from there!

Note that the festival events and main cherry blossom viewing spots are spread out throughout Jinhae. Which makes sense since the cherry blossom trees are all over! Here’s the main scenic spots (we went to the first two on our tour!):

• Yeojwacheon Stream: This is where you’ll find the picturesque cherry blossom tunnel, easily one of the most photographed locations during the festival. The blossoms create a delicate canopy over the stream, and I heard the area is beautifully illuminated at night.

• Gyeonghwa Station: This old train station is surrounded by thousands of cherry trees, making it one of the most iconic spots to visit during the cherry blossom festival. It’s famous for its “Cherry Blossom Road,” with rows of cherry blossom trees lining both sides of the railway tracks – think epic photos!

• Anmingogae Hill: Hike up the hill for panoramic views of Jinhae blanketed in cherry blossoms.

• Jehwangsan Park: Another iconic spot with sweeping views of Jinhae and of course plenty and plenty of cherry blossom trees!

How to get to Jinhae

Guided Bus Tour to Jinhae

The easiest option by far is to obviously book an all-day guided bus tour! This is the option we chose, as we weren’t super confident taking public transit and were definitely not renting a car for a day (just seemed silly and more trouble than it’d be worth, plus traffic and parking problems).

Don’t feel like navigating the trains and/or buses super early in the morning? I feel you, friend (that’s my worst nightmare). 

Thankfully, there’s guided bus tours for all of us who just want to be picked up and brought directly to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival (and then transported between the different major spots in Jinhae itself). Super, super convenient, and ensures you reach Jinhae before the masses do since you’re on the tour bus’ schedule (and good tours leave early).

Bus tours leave from both Busan and Seoul, and make scheduled stops at both the stream and train station (the two most popular places at the festival). I’d 1000% book the tour again, as it was quite effortless on our part and we honestly didn’t need to worry about a thing. 

Not only was our guide spectacular, but the bus was comfy, we arrived at the first cherry blossom spot before it got crazy crowded, and we didn’t feel rushed at all (plenty of time for snack stops and photo ops). Such a seamless day – I was honestly pretty impressed. And plus, it ensures you have transport back home that afternoon/night – you better believe public transit during the festival is all kinds of crazy busy.

Book the guided bus tour here (with options for pickup in both Seoul and Busan). 

Make sure to book ASAP, as the festival is only 10 days long so naturally tours get sold out fast once the dates are released.

Public Transportation to Jinhae

IMPORTANT NOTE: Google Maps does not work in South Korea. Make sure you download Naver Map or KakaoMap for real-time directions and transit schedules.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: If you’re planning to take public transportation, buy train and/or bus tickets in advance. Transportation is in huge demand during the festival, understandably so! 

From Seoul

Look on a map – Seoul is quite far from Jinhae (they’re on opposite sides of the country!). But don’t worry, there’s two options to get to Jinhae from Seoul, both by train and bus.

By Train (KTX): Take the Korail KTX train (a high-speed train very similar to bullet trains in Japan) from Seoul Station to Changwon Station, which takes just over 3 hours. Once you make it to Changwon, you can take a local bus or taxi to Jinhae, taking another 30-40 minutes or so. Definitely book your ticket from Seoul to Changwon Station ahead of time as they tend to sell out (at least a few days).

By Bus: Take an express bus from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal to Jinhae Intercity Bus Terminal (takes about 4 to 4.5 hours). Then take a short taxi or bus ride to the festival locations (Yeojwacheon Stream and Gyeonghwa Station).

To be honest, I don’t recommend taking public transit from Seoul to Jinhae unless you’re planning to spend the night in Jinhae. The day’s just gonna be way too long and sounds almost unbearable to me! But I’ve done similar things on day trips, so I get it – if you’ve only got a week in Korea you wanna fit it all in. But really though, just book the guided tour; it’ll be way less stressful and not much more expensive.

From Busan

Busan is the closest big city to Jinhae, so if you’ve got Busan on your South Korea itinerary, it makes sense to visit from there. And that’s exactly what we did! 

After spending 3 days in Busan, we hopped on a guided bus tour. Busan is WAY closer to Jinhae than Seoul, so you thankfully don’t have to wake up as early, haha.

By Express Bus: Direct buses are available from Sasang/Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal directly to Jinhae, taking about an hour or so. You’ll then need to take a taxi or local bus to the festival sites once you reach Jinhae Intercity Bus Terminal.

In past years, buses departed from Sasang bus station every 30 minutes taking visitors directly to the festival, so fingers crossed that’s still an option when you visit! 

By Train: Take a Mugunghwa or ITX-Saemaeul train from Busan Station to Changwon Station (takes about 40 minutes to an hour or so). Once at Changwon Station, you’ll need to take a local bus or taxi to Jinhae, which takes about 30 minutes.

Driving to Jinhae

If you really want max control and flexibility over your day, consider renting a car! Super easy coming from Busan, as the drive is only an hour and a half or so.

To be frank, if you’re visiting from Seoul as a day trip, just forget about driving yourself. Driving ~10 hours round trip in one day (half after a busy day at the festival) just isn’t safe. Plan to book a guided bus tour instead. 

Remember, if you’re driving to Jinhae, you’ll need to worry about parking. Thankfully, there’s designated parking areas available for visitors, especially during the cherry blossom festival. Definitely arrive early (especially on weekends) in order to avoid major congestion – I can’t stress this enough (MILLIONS of people visit the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival over the course of 10 days – kinda wild!).

When does the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival take place?

Whenever peak bloom is predicted! This typically means late March to early April, but exact dates vary slightly every year since it really depends on the cherry blossom forecast. There’s not gonna be a festival before/after the blooms of course! 

To provide some context, here’s some past dates of the festival:

• 2024: March 23 – April 1
• 2023: March 25 – April 3
• 2020-2022: canceled
• 2019: March 29 – April 7
• 2018: March 30 – April 8
• 2017: April 1 – 10

As you can tell from the above dates, it seems as if the festival is starting earlier and earlier every year. While this is no indication for next year, keep this in mind when planning your week in Korea!

Our guide said that not many cherry blossoms were in bloom even on the first day of the festival, and the visitors he took were pretty disappointed (I get it – I’d be super sad if I traveled all that way!). It’s hard to predict Mother Nature after all, and these trees are fickle! 

With that being said, if you’re able to, I’d plan my visit to Jinhae towards the middle of the festival, which hopefully ensures more flowers are in bloom. Of course there’s no way to predict exact peak bloom when you book your tour, but may as well give yourself the best chance! If I remember correctly, we went on the 7th day of the festival, and blooms were at about 80-90% peak.

BUT keep an eye out on the weather. Cherry blossom season only continues until the first significant spring rainfall. Why? Because spring storms can sometimes knock the petals off the trees. If rain is forecasted on or just before peak bloom, consider visiting earlier. Told you it’s hard to plan correctly!

What is the best time of day to visit the festival? 

Unsurprisingly, the festival sees its largest crowds smack in the middle of the day. Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid this. 

But what’s unique about the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival is that there’s a whole nighttime component! The cherry blossoms are illuminated in various colors along Yeojwacheon Stream, and this is a popular time to visit as well (understandably so). Oh so magical!

If you’re on a guided tour you typically need to choose between a day time visit and an evening visit. We opted for the daytime visit as I really wanted to take in the scenic beauty in their natural state, and I felt it’d be easier to capture the delicate details of the blossoms in natural lighting.

How to Get Around Jinhae

Since the main cherry blossom festival spots are kinda spread out, you won’t be able to walk between them quickly. For example, the two main spots (the stream and the train station) are about 3km apart! Meaning you’ll need another way to get between the two, unless you’re up for a very long walk of course.

If you booked a guided day tour (from either Busan or Seoul), you don’t have to worry about transit within Jinhae since the tour takes care of that for you. 

DIYing it? Thankfully, the festival organizers provide special shuttle buses that connect major attractions like Yeojwacheon Stream, Gyeonghwa Station, and Jehwangsan Park. But of course, while super convenient, these get insanely full, so always have a back up plan (taxi or local bus –  have your destination written in Korean to show the driver).

Main Spots at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival

Jinhae is COVERED in cherry blossoms (really, they’re everywhere), but there’s a few special spots that are particularly dense (and where you MUST visit). 

Gyeonghwa Station

If you’ve done any research on cherry blossoms in Korea, you’ve undoubtedly seen photos of Gyeonghwa Station. It’s one of the most iconic and picturesque spots during the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival afterall! And although it’s no longer an active train station (discontinued since 2006), it’s super popular due to its stunning cherry blossom displays.

The station is famous for its “cherry blossom tunnel,” where rows of cherry trees line the railway tracks – we had so much fun walking the tracks and taking pictures (while dodging the crowds, haha).

Note that the train is purely decorative, and other stations nearby have replaced it. Although Gyeonghwa Station once served as the primary train station for the region, it has since been decommissioned, and the train there is now permanently on display.

Expect crowds, and then more crowds, and then a few more, haha. We were lucky that we got here relatively early (around 9:30am or so), and it wasn’t beyond packed with people (just yet). Remember, a lot of people take a day trip from Seoul, so unless they leave at 5am or so, they’re not getting there in the early AM.

Yeojwacheon Stream

This was probably my favorite area of the entire cherry blossom festival. I mean, the stream is completely lined with cherry trees (on both sides), creating a canopy of cherry blossoms overhead! There’s art installations both above the stream and down below (think heart-shaped arches and flower-decorated structures, meaning tons of fun photo ops), and it was so fun to see the different decorations. Definitely another must-visit location during the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Similar to many tourist attractions in Korea, this particular spot gained huge popularity thanks to a K-drama (what else is new?!). It was prominently featured in MBC’s 2002 TV series “Romance,” where the two main characters first met on a bridge over this exact river.

Note that the stream is the most crowded towards the beginning, but as we walked further and further it cleared out a bit. 

If you’re visiting the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival at night, this is the place to be. The stream is illuminated at night – just imagine your evening stroll over here!

Anmingogae Hill and Jehwangsan Park

These are two other spots with great panoramic views of the city (blanketed in cherry blossoms of course), but not as popular as the station and stream. Most tours don’t stop over here, and since we followed the itinerary set out by our guided tour, we didn’t either! 

Is there food at the festival?

Most definitely! There’s a good variety of local street food and plenty of different cherry-blossom-themed snacks to try, which are always my favorite! I love a good theme. 

Think Korean staples like gimbap, tteokbokki, and strawberries (oh so sweet and juicy), and more seasonal snacks like cherry blossom ice cream, strawberry milk (my new favorite), tanghulu (sugar coated fruit – not my favorite, haha), cherry blossom waffles, and even cotton candy!

We definitely didn’t go hungry, although we primarily just ate snacks all day, haha (which I’m never mad about, and what we recently did in Universal Studios Hollywood).

It’s important to always carry some cash on hand, as not all street vendors accept credit cards. Definitely keep some Korean won on you so you can try all the things!

Other FAQs About the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival 

• What to take to the festival? A camera (of course!), a light jacket (for the cooler days), and an umbrella or raincoat in case of rain (weather in early April can be unpredictable). Plus sunscreen, always sunscreen (plus the ones in Korea are far superior than sunscreens back in the states) – pick up a few at Olive Young! And take some allergy meds beforehand if you suffer from seasonal allergies (there’s a massive amount of flowers here after all!).

• What to wear to the festival? Something comfy and festive! I wore a light pink maxi dress, and convinced my husband to wear a pink button down, haha. Plan to wear comfortable walking shoes as well – it’s a long day! I was super impressed by how stylish and put together Koreans are, and I could tell their pictures looked incredible.

• Is the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival touristy? 1000%, haha. People flock from all over the country (and the world!) to admire the cherry blossoms in Jinhae. We were surprised that we mostly saw Asian tourists, and hardly any Americans/Europeans, which was actually pretty refreshing to see.

• Can I do a day trip to Jinhae? You certainly can! BUT I’d *highly* recommend joining a guided bus tour, especially if you’re coming from Seoul (yes, they exist!). Travel time by train or bus is around 4 to 5 hours one way, so you would spend most of your day on transportation. 

• Can I visit the Yeojwacheon Stream and/or Gyeonghwa Station before or after the festival? Sure, of course! You can visit them anytime of year, although you’ll only see cherry blossoms during cherry blossom season! And obviously the blooms are what makes these two spots oh so popular.

• How to avoid the crowds? Sorry to break it to ya, but you can’t, haha. Since the festival is only for a few days (coinciding with cherry blossom season), everyone flocks to Jinhae for peak bloom. BUT this doesn’t mean you can’t visit a few days before and after the festival and not see blooms – it definitely won’t be peak bloom and there’s no guarantee any cherry blossoms will be there, but still worth a shot if you’re nearby (I definitely wouldn’t travel very far though). 

• How much does it cost to visit the festival? Entrance is absolutely free, although you’ll of course need to account for transportation to Jinhae (whether that be DIY or with a guided tour) and food and snacks at the festival. 

• Should I stay overnight in Jinhae? You totally could if you wanna visit over multiple days, but I personally found one day at the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival more than enough. I mean, there’s honestly not much to do there besides admire the blooms, take pictures of the blooms, stroll the town, and eat! If you are planning on staying overnight, make sure to book your hotel WAY in advance as the number of people visiting Jinhae is insane!

• Is the Jinhae Gunhangje Festival and Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival the same thing? Yup, the official name of the cherry blossom festival is actually Jinhae Naval Base Festival (Gunhangje), since Jinhae is where the Korean Navy base is.

• What’s so special about cherry blossoms anyways? I think they’re just super pretty (look at how delicate they are), and the fact that they’re in peak bloom for less than 2 weeks out of the entire year makes them super special to see. Plus, in Korea, cherry blossoms symbolize beauty and purity, and in K-pop culture, they’re often associated with love.

• Where else to see cherry blossoms in Korea? All over! We saw so many cherry blossoms in Seoul and Busan, and I would’ve loved to visit other parts of the country but all we had was a week in Korea!

• Is it worth it to visit Jinhae outside of cherry blossom season? Hmm… I’d have to say no. Jinhae is a smaller district in the larger Changwon City, and there’s not a ton to do here for tourists (although there are some pretty hikes and views). It’s pretty quiet with a few charming areas, but there’s far more interesting places to visit in Korea if you don’t have tons of time.

• What other cherry blossom festivals are in South Korea? Can’t make it all the way to Jinhae? There’s others – Yeouido Cherry Blossom Festival (Seoul), the Seokchon Lake Cherry Blossom Festival (Seoul), the Gyeongju Cherry Blossom Festival and Marathon (Busan), and the Cherry Blossom Festival on Jeju Island.

So there ya have it! Everything you need to know about visiting the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival in South Korea! Have you thought about visiting before?!

The post Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival in Korea: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Phuket is a Thai island located in the Andaman Sea. It’s known for its beautiful beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and lively nightlife. And if you’re visiting Thailand, you need to include all these activities on your Phuket itinerary.

Many people think of Phuket as a haven for partying, and it is! But it’s way more than that. This stunning destination offers plenty of activities and attractions for visitors to enjoy year round. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation or an action-packed adventure, Phuket has something to offer everyone. Promise!

Tip: Phuket is pronounced ‘Poo-ket’ – try to say it phonetically and you might end up in a spot of trouble!

→ Read Next: The Perfect Two Week Thailand Itinerary (All My Favorite Spots)

Logistics for your Phuket Itinerary

Where is Phuket & How To Get There

Phuket is the largest Thai island off the southwest coast of the country. Thailand itself has over 1400 islands and Phuket consists of the main island as well as another 32 smaller islands off the coast, which makes it the perfect location for some Thai island hopping!

To get to this tropical paradise, you can fly directly into Phuket International Airport (HKT) from around 45 cities all over the world, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, London and Zurich. Yes, depending on where you’re coming from it’ll probably take quite a while, but I promise once you step foot onto the island it’ll be more than worth it.

Psst: I always recommend checking flights into Bangkok as well, as you may find much cheaper options and then can make the short flight to Phuket.

If you’re already in the country and exploring other areas, the easiest way to get to Phuket is by bus. There are a few buses that go directly from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) to Phuket every day, with a journey time of between 11-13 hours. 

Although the quickest way to get to Phuket is to fly from one of Thailand’s many airports (I cannot even think about sitting on a bus for over 10 hours, ack!). But if you do choose to travel by bus, make sure you choose an air-conditioned bus — you’ll thank me later!

Best Time to Visit Phuket

Pack your sunnies and a hat, as Phuket is hot all year round! The island does have two distinct seasons, explained below:

• November – April: The best time to visit Phuket is during the dry season, lasting from November to April. This is the ideal time for snorkeling and scuba diving as the water is calm and clear. However, it’s also the time when the beaches are super crowded, and hotels are the most expensive.

• May – October: The monsoon season in Phuket runs from May to October. While the rain can get quite heavy at times and it’s not the best time of year for water activities, it does mean that there are fewer tourists on the beaches and you can find amazing deals on flights and hotels. 

Festivals: If weather isn’t your main motivator and you’d rather be in Phuket during one of their epic festivals, you’ve got a few options. Actually, more than a few – plenty! Here’s some of the most popular festivals in Phuket:

• Chinese New Year: The date of this festival changes every year but it’s typically in late January to early February. Phuket goes big for Chinese New Year to celebrate the wide Chinese community there. Storefronts are decorated with lanterns and red banners and dancers take to the colorful streets in preparation of the dragon processions.

• Phuket Old Town Festival: This festival takes place at the same time as Chinese New Year, so if you’re in Phuket during that time, you get a bonus! The streets around the old town are closed off to cars and turned into walking streets where you’ll see parades, dancing, street food vendors and live music. 

• Wat Chalong Fair: Looking for yet another bonus of visiting Phuket during Chinese New Year? You guessed it! Every year during Chinese New Year, the Wat Chalong Fair is held at the largest temple in Phuket over the course of 7 days. It’s a wonder of street food, market stalls, stage shows, and amusement rides.

• Songkran: This is essentially a giant water fight festival which sees adults and children alike take to the streets with water guns, water balloons and buckets of water. It takes place in April each year. Prepare to get soaked!

• Loy Krathong: Otherwise known as the lantern festival, Loy Krathong takes place on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (usually early November). It’s believed that on this night, a floating basket containing offerings to the gods is let loose, bringing good fortune. You’ll see thousands of lanterns floating down rivers, canals and lakes, with stalls selling or teaching you how to make your own. 

• Kathu Festival: This street culture festival takes place in July and is a more modern kind of Phuket festival. It’s about celebrating traditions and passing them onto generations to come. You can expect to enjoy parades, martial arts, a heck of a lot of street food, and fascinating exhibitions. 

• Patong Carnival: The Patong Carnival is held every year at the beginning of November to mark the beginning of the high season when the weather starts to pick up. Patong Beach Road is transformed into a giant international food court where you can fill up on all sorts of worldwide dishes, street food, and carnival specialties. There’s also live music, shows, and activities held during these three days. 

On the other hand, if festivals aren’t your jam, plan your Phuket itinerary for another time. I’d look at your travel dates to make sure they don’t overlap with any major festivals. Festivals are huge deals in Phuket, so just remember it’ll most likely be pretty crowded. Stay away if you’re looking for a quiet holiday!

How to get around Phuket

Thankfully, getting around Phuket is easy! There are plenty of ways to get around depending on how much you want to spend and whether you prefer public transport or going it alone. And if you’re following this Phuket itinerary, half of the time you’ll be exploring by boat anyways!

Motorbike rental: If you’re feeling adventurous, renting a motorbike or scooter is the best way to explore the island at your own pace. Don’t forget to bring your international driving license if you plan to do this. You’ll also want to be careful as the drivers in Phuket are notoriously road-rageous! However, if you don’t feel confident to drive yourself, you can also hire a motorbike driver who will take you where you want to go for pretty cheap!

Taxis: There’s no shortage of taxis in Phuket – just make sure you’ve agreed on a price before getting into the car. If you’re looking for something different, I’d recommend taking a tuk-tuk. It’s quite an experience (I’ll leave it to you to decide whether it’s a terrifying experience or an exciting one!).

Grab: Grab is pretty much the Uber of Asia. This is my preferred method of transport in the evenings. Be sure to download the app before you arrive and you’ll be good to go. Rates are typically pretty competitive and there’ll be no language barrier when telling your driver where to go. 

Public transport: Phuket has a public bus service, but it’s not the most reliable and I never really managed to suss it out properly so I wouldn’t recommend it. And plus, if you only have 3 days in Phuket, you wanna make sure you’re not wasting any of your precious time on the bus.

What to Pack for Your Phuket Itinerary

It’s warm, it’s humid – you’re going to be sweaty. Just accept it, haha. You don’t want to pack too many clothes, but you also wanna make sure you’re prepared for anything and everything.

Lightweight clothing is a must. Shorts, cotton t-shirts, and light summer dresses are what most people wear around the island. Oh, and light comfortable shoes for walking. If you’re visiting during monsoon season be sure to have a light waterproof jacket with you, because well, it’s the rainy season.

Your day bag for tours and sightseeing should include sunscreen, a water bottle, bug spray and sunglasses. Did I mention sunscreen?! Particularly if you’re out on a boat all day – that boat sun is sneaky! You’ll also want to include a cover up for temples in your day bag. 

Where to Stay in Phuket

Let’s talk about accommodations – where should you stay in Phuket? Well, this really depends on one major factor. What kind of traveler are you? 

There are two sides to Phuket accommodation:

• the “backpacking, beach partying, only need a couple of hours’ sleep” side
• and the “I need a bit of R&R and a good night’s sleep” upmarket side (that’s obviously not to say that there aren’t plenty of mid-range hotels in Phuket)

Luckily for the budget conscious, you get a lot more bang for your buck in Phuket. There’s a big scene for backpackers all over the island. 

If you’re looking to party it up and don’t need much sleep, I’d recommend staying anywhere along Patong Beach Road. There are bars nearby and you’ll be just a few steps from the beach. A few recommendations:

• Luxury: Rosewood Phuket (this is if you have no qualms about spending a fortune)
• Mid Range: The Andaman Beach Hotel (just a few steps from the beach)
• Budget: Art Patong Residence (budget, but you still get an outdoor pool)

For a more relaxed stay away from the crowds, I recommend staying in Nai Yang (which is where I stayed). There are some great boutique resorts in Nai Yang that offer a beachfront location and all the amenities you’ll need like a pool, restaurant, wi-fi, etc.

• Luxury: The Slate (on the beach and three pools to choose from)
• Mid Range: Naiyang Park Resort (just two minutes walk from the beach but you’ll feel like you’re in a rainforest with the lush green surroundings)
• Budget: Check In Hostel (more than you could expect in a hostel, plus minutes from the beach)

For something completely different, stay in a luxury tree house at the Keemala Resort Phuket for a night! 

Where to Eat in Phuket 

Food is a definite highlight on any Phuket itinerary — there are countless restaurants, street stalls and cafes serving up tasty treats all over the island.

You’ve got your beachfront seafood shacks, your hot pot places in the middle of the night markets, your local Thai food stalls where you can eat for next to nothing. Bring your stretchy pants — you’ll never go hungry here. 

Here’s my two favorite spots to eat in Phuket (don’t miss them!):

• Breakfast: Head to Chao Leh Kitchen on Patong Beach for breakfast. It’s got western favorites as well as Phuket gems. Eggs Benedict are my usual go to breakfast but their Khao Phad was delicious too.

• Lunch or dinner time: Tunk-Ka Cafe on Khao Rang Hill is a great spot with lovely food. You can see all of Phuket town from this hillside gem. 

You can’t visit Phuket without trying the street food. There are heaps of food stalls in the middle of Phuket night markets where you can get anything from dim sum (my favorite!) to tom yum kung (a spicy shrimp soup) and of course Pad Thai. 

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to eat your own food, try a Thai cooking class where you’ll go to the market to pick out your fresh ingredients, learn how to cook a local meal, and get to enjoy it right after!

Additional Important Information about Phuket

• Language: In Phuket, like other parts of Thailand, the language spoken is Thai. However, many Thai people also know some English so it’s fairly easy to communicate. Especially if you’re venturing to the touristy parts of town. I always recommend learning a few simple phrases in the local language out of respect for the locals.

• Currency: The Thai baht is the accepted currency of Phuket. You’ll need this mostly for market stalls, tips, and street food. For hotels, restaurants, and tours you can typically use your credit card. 

• Temple Etiquette: When visiting temples on your Phuket itinerary, be respectful. Don’t take selfies with your back to Buddha, always take your shoes off before entering a temple, and cover your shoulders and knees also.

• Drinking water: Tap water isn’t safe to drink, so always have your own bottle you can fill up from your hotel before heading out for the day.

• Safety: Phuket is definitely safe for tourists and even solo travelers. As always, have your wits about you at all times to be on the safe side. 

Is 3 days in Phuket Enough?

I know what you’re thinking. With 32 islands and all there is to see and do, how can 3 days in Phuket be enough time for everything? I promise, this Phuket itinerary will have you exploring numerous islands and all the best things to do on the main island itself.

While it may be a relatively short stay and you could indeed spend so much time there exploring every nook and cranny, if you’re looking to explore the island and really get a feel for what it’s like, 3 days is definitely enough time. 

If you’re coming from afar, I definitely recommend adding Phuket onto a much longer Thailand itinerary. Don’t miss out on the city of Bangkok, caring for elephants and exploring temples in Chiang Mai, and living out your beach bliss on Koh Phi Phi and Krabi!

Now that all the important pre-itinerary information has been covered, it’s time to get into the perfect guide for spending 3 days in Phuket!

3 Days in Phuket: The Ultimate Phuket Itinerary

Phuket Itinerary Day 1 – Island Hopping around Phi Phi Islands

First stop on any Phuket itinerary — The Phi Phi Islands! This island chain is made up of 6 islands, which make it the perfect destination for island hopping in Thailand. While it’s possible to get to all these stops on your own, I recommend booking with a reputable tour guide to take you out for the day. It’s quite complicated and time consuming figuring out the logistics of getting around Phi Phi yourself. Just opt for a day tour, they make everything that much more simpler.

A tour like this full day Phi Phi islands tour from Phuket brings you to all the stops listed below! And it’s such a good value!

Most tour guides will pick you up from your hotel in the morning and drop you back in the evening. You’ll definitely want to give yourself the entire day for exploring Phi Phi and likely won’t be back to your hotel until around 6pm. 

The islands are about 45km from Phuket so you’ll take a one hour speedboat from Phuket Marina to our first stop. 

If you’re wearing a hat on the boat, be sure that it fits…..that’s all I’ll say on the matter (ahem)!

Stop 1 – Bamboo Island

First stop on our Phi Phi island hopping tour is Bamboo Island, also known as Koh Mai Phai, for swimming and snorkeling. It looks just like one of those paradise islands you see in the movies — no joke! Just look at all the white sand!

It’s called Bamboo Island because – you guessed it – it’s covered in bamboo trees. But that’s not all. There are plenty of other types of trees on the island. In fact, while the outer part of the island is white sandy beach, the inner part is just greenery. 

Just 50 meters off the beach is a coral reef perfect for snorkeling and exploring underwater life in some of the clearest waters I’ve ever seen. If you’re not too interested in snorkeling, take a dip in the water and relax on the beach instead. 

Stop 2 – Monkey Island

Next stop is Monkey Island where you’ll continue your snorkeling adventure through more incredible coral reefs. Snorkeling here gives you the feeling that you’re in an aquarium. It’s the strangest experience, but amazing. 

The island is set on a backdrop of steep limestone cliffs, which are home to the monkeys on the island. When you see the monkeys, be sure to remember that they’re wild animals and not friendly pets. Keep your distance and hold onto your belongings — they’re sneaky little creatures! They’re known to steal hats and even open up backpacks, so watch your stuff carefully!

Stop 3 – Phi Phi Don

If you’re starting to feel peckish after all that swimming and snorkeling this morning, head over to Phi Phi Don, the largest of the Phi Phi islands, for lunch. Phi Phi Don has a great selection of places to eat, whether you’re looking for traditional Thai cuisine or international. 

I recommend Oasis Bar & Restaurant on the north of the island. It’s a quirky little place but the food is great and there’s a good variety too. Don’t forget the mango sticky rice for dessert! My absolute favorite!

Stop 4 – Viking Cave

After lunch, take a boat to Viking Cave, known locally as Tham Paya Nak. It’s one of the most famous natural sites on Koh Phi Phi Leh set under a limestone cliff on the northeast of the island. 

Viking Cave got its name because of paintings found on the walls of the cave representing various types of boats, including what looks like a Scandinavian Drakkar, a Viking ship. It’s thought that the paintings were made by sailors taking shelter in the cave during a storm.

The cave isn’t open to the public because of the local activity of harvesting swiftlet birds’ nests. But it’s still interesting to take a boat around the cave and spot the unique rock formation as well as the bamboo scaffolding set up for the locals to collect the birds’ nests. 

Stop 5 – Pileh Lagoon

Your next stop is where the Instagram gold is! Pileh Lagoon is a secluded lagoon with crystal clear waters, surrounded by giant limestone cliffs and white powdery sand. You absolutely have to swim in the natural pool. It was one of my favorite parts of the day. If you’re with a local tour, this will likely be your last stop for swimming so make the most of it! 

Stop 6 – Maya Bay

Last stop before heading back to Phuket is Maya Bay, made famous for being the location used in the filming of The Beach. It’s somewhere you might not have even noticed because it’s almost completely sheltered by cliffs, but once you get in, it’s incredibly beautiful.

The bad news: you probably won’t get to stop to explore here. It’s become so popular because of its fame and beauty, that a lot of the tours won’t stop at Maya Bay for more than a few minutes, just to take pictures. Of course, if you’re visiting on your own I recommend coming here either early in the morning or after 5 in the evening. 

The boat ride back to Phuket takes about an hour and if you’re anything like me you’ll be tired and a little dehydrated (we’re not used to this weather!) so take the time to relax and enjoy the ride. 

Stop 7 – Night Market

After freshening up at your hotel, head out to one of Phuket’s famous night markets. There are a few to choose from, but I recommend Chillva Night Market in Phuket Town. It’s got tons of food stalls serving up cheap delicious Thai food.

The market has a really fun boho vibe to it. The storefronts are upcycled shipping containers and there’s just about everything you might want to bring back as a souvenir. You’ll find clothes, accessories, art work and of course the usual fun novelty souvenirs.

You can absolutely bargain for cheaper prices but the prices are already really good and I felt bad bargaining too much as I didn’t want anyone out of pocket — I know I’m an amateur!

3 Days in Phuket: Day 2 – James Bond Island & Muslim Fishing Village

You’re off out onto the water again today, but this time you’ll be cruising around the Phang Nga Bay. What’s it known for?! Where the James Bond Island scenes in The Man with the Golden Gun were filmed! While yesterday’s islands were more about the beaches and relaxing, today’s itinerary is a little more adventurous. 

I joined a local tour, just as I did with the island hopping on day 1, and if you don’t have much time in Phuket I recommend doing the same so you can get the most out of the islands. I opted for a later start tour because….well, I like to sleep in. Oh and unbeknownst to me it meant dodging the earlier crowds so that was a bonus!

→ Psst: Tours sell out (as this is one of the more popular things to do on any Phuket itinerary). Book yours ahead of time. This full day James Bond Island Day Trip from Phuket is the perfect one!

Phang Nga Bay lies between Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket and is protected as part of the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The more scenic way to tour around Phang Nga Bay is by longtail boat. 

Stop 1: Koh Panyee Floating Village

First stop on today’s itinerary is Koh Panyee Floating Village. This is like nothing I had ever seen before. 

It started out with three families who were looking for the best fishing spot. They found this area and created their own ‘island’. Over the years, their village grew into a community of more than 400 people who now call Koh Panyee home. 

Like any other village, it has a school, restaurants, a hospital and markets. It even has a mosque as the villagers are predominantly Muslim. 

The kids have built their own football pitch and are quite skilled at it – even if it means having to jump into the water every few minutes after the ball goes out of bounds. 

After exploring the village, stop at one of the many seafood restaurants on this floating village. They know how to make good seafood! You might want to pick up a few souvenirs here too. They’ll accept dollars here if you don’t have Thai Baht but just be sure to have small denominations. 

Stop 2: Kayaking Koh Phanak

Next up is kayaking through the caves of Koh Phanak. You’ll come across incredible limestone rock formations, including impressive stalagmites and stalactites — I can never remember which are which, but there were both! 

The locals will take you through on inflatable kayaks as it can be difficult to maneuver through them yourself. I was a bit miffed as I kind of wanted to kayak by myself but after seeing the skill required by the guides, I quickly changed my mind.

Stop 3: Koh Hong

Koh Hong is another island with incredible caves and lagoons to explore. Hong in Thai means room and it makes sense when you’re canoeing through the caves. Some of the areas are so small, just like little rooms, and the guides have to let out some air in the canoe just to get through the smaller areas. 

At times, it’s pitch dark and only the light from flashlights guide you through. If you are one to get claustrophobic, this may not be the best activity for you but it is a really fun adventure if you don’t mind small spaces. 

Stop 4: James Bond Island

Last on our Phang Nga Bay tour is James Bond Island, known locally as Khao Phing Kan, just in time for sunset. One of the most distinct features of James Bond Island is the tall vertical island standing out from the bay. 

As we approached the island, we were told of a legend about this strange vertical structure. It is said that many years ago, there was a fisherman who everyday would catch lots and lots of fish. One day he went out and caught nothing, other than an old nail. The fisherman got so mad that he broke the nail in half and threw it back in the water. This vertical island is said to have grown from that nail! 

Swim, relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset before heading back on the boat to Phuket and you’ll be dropped off at your hotel later that evening. 

3 Days in Phuket: Day 3 – Big Buddhas and Cabaret

Morning: Karon Viewpoint & Kata Beach

It’s our last day on our Phuket itinerary, so let’s make it a good one! Ok, so you’re either going to love me or hate me for this, but this morning you’re getting up incredibly early to watch the sunrise from Karon Viewpoint. Don’t worry, I’m not going to have you hiking this early (although it’s only an hour’s walk from Karon Beach) — you can easily get a taxi or rent a motorbike to get up to the viewpoint. 

Once there, you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous panoramic views of Karon, Kata, and Kata Noi beaches and all will be forgiven! The viewpoint is one of the famous views of Phuket, which is why I recommend going up early in the morning to beat the crowds. And who doesn’t love a panoramic island sunrise?

After you’ve gotten all the photos you can possibly take, make your way down to Kata beach for some breakfast, chilling on the beach and having fun in the water. Kata beach is often referred to as the most beautiful beach in Phuket. It’s literally got something for everyone. 

Want a massage? Get one on Kata beach. Want to go surfing? Kata beach is the surfing capital of Phuket. Want to learn the art of Muay? You guessed it, there’s a place that will teach you Thai boxing on Kata beach. 

If surfing is a bit too ambitious for you (as it was for me), Kata beach is great for snorkeling, diving, paddleboarding (unless you can’t seem to stay upright, like me) and kayaking (more my level). 

Early afternoon: Big Buddha & Wat Chalong

Unless you’ve been keeping your eyes closed the entire time you’ve been in Phuket, you’ll have seen the Big Buddha out your window at some point or another. And this afternoon you get to go see it for yourself. 

The Big Buddha is a 45 meter (yep, it’s huge!) white marble statue built on a patch of virgin rainforest on top of Nakkerd Hill between Chalong and Kata. From the base of the statue, you’ll get incredible views over Phuket Town, Chalong, Kata and Karon. If you’re feeling adventurous, there is a 2.5km trail leading up the hill. If not, you can drive or take a motorbike or scooter. 

It’s an active temple and you can go inside, but remember to bring a cover up to make sure you’re appropriately dressed before going in. You’ll need to take your shoes off before entering too. 

Yes, the Big Buddha is full of tourists at most times of the day, given that it’s one of Phuket’s most visited landmarks. But if you can get over that, it really is something spectacular to see. Whatever you do, don’t leave this off your Phuket itinerary — you’ll regret it, promise!

Next up is Wat Chalong, also known as Wat Chaitararam, Phuket’s most famous Buddhist temple. It’s said a lot of miracles have occurred in the temple and inside the Poh Jao Wat area there are two statues of elderly men, one of whom is Ta Khee-Lek — a man who went on to win numerous lotteries after his visit. Needless to say, I bought a lottery ticket after my visit! 

Inside the Grand Pagoda, you’ll find a tiny splinter of bone from Buddha. The walls and ceilings are beautifully decorated with images and pictures that depict the life of the Buddha.

Late afternoon: Phuket Old Town

Time for a stroll around Phuket Old Town later this afternoon. This area of Phuket is the very definition of atmospheric. The streets are lined with colorful cafes, shrines and temples. 

You’ve got a few choices on how to spend your afternoon, depending on how much time you have:

Thai Hua Museum: If you want to learn a bit about Phuket’s history and the Chinese influence on the island, head to the Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road. The building itself is a beautiful Sino-Portuguese building and looks more like an old mansion than a museum. There are a dozen exhibition rooms within the museum space and a quaint courtyard. 

Shrines and Temples: You’ll come across a bunch of shrines and temples on your stroll around Phuket Old Town. Some of my favorites were Jui Tui Shrine, a colorful Chinese temple dating back to the 1900s, and Sang Tham Shrine, otherwise known as the Shrine of the Serene Light.

Pab Khean Thai Art Gallery & Frame: If you’re into art, stop by this art gallery (also an art school) and discover beautiful acrylic and oil paintings or even take an art class yourself. 

Vanich Walking Street: This is a small corridor connecting Phang Nga Road and Thalang Road. The corridor has stalls set up selling clothes, food crafts and street art. It’s very cool! 

Image 23 – Soi Romanee – photo by Jamie Monk, FlickrCC

Soi Romanee: An Instagram favorite spot, Soi Romanee is a street lined with colorful buildings. While the Thai word ‘rommani’ means beautiful (and you’ll see why when you get to this street), the street used to be knownas the red light district in Phuket and now Soi Romanee roughly translates to ‘naughty with the ladies’! Don’t forget to look up and spot many colorful Chinese shrines. 

Phang Nga Road: I never knew I was such a lover of street art until I came to Phuket and walked around the island taking hundreds of photos of street art. Topping my list is Phang Nga Road in Phuket Old Town where you’ll find beautiful murals covering the walls and buildings. If you like photography, don’t leave this off your Phuket itinerary!

Evening: Simon Cabaret Show

You can’t spend 3 days in Phuket without a trip to one of the local shows. Phuket Simon Cabaret is one of the most glamorous cabaret shows not only in Phuket, but in all of Thailand! This glitzy extravaganza combines live music, dance and comedy routines from a group of transgender performers.

The costumes, the choreography, the music — it’s all spectacularly done (to be fair, I’m a theater nerd and these things really excite me!). 

Think the Moulin Rouge, meets the Rockettes, meets Ru Paul’s Drag Race. It’s fantastic! After the show, hang around and get some pictures with the stars of the show. 

Night: Bangla Road 

If you’re up for continuing the party, then Bangla Road in Patong Beach is the place to be. And if it’s cheap beer you’re after, then you’re definitely in the right place!

Bangla road is shut down to cars after sunset and transforms into a huge outdoor party street with lights, loud music, bars and nightclubs. It is THE place to be for Phuket nightlife. It’s a great atmosphere, full of locals and tourists alike. You can dance the night away with the occasional beer…or eight.

If your Phuket itinerary happens to take place during a full moon, I highly recommend giving Bangla Road a miss tonight (or add it to day 1 or day 2 of your Phuket itinerary) and head to a full moon party on Paradise Beach instead. It’s not every day you get to party under a full moon on a paradise island so if you get the chance, do it!

I hope this Phuket itinerary has you excited for your trip! What are you most looking forward to visiting during your 3 days in Phuket?

Vourneen from Snap Happy Spoonie is a travel & adventure junkie and a chronic illness warrior (aka a Spoonie!). She shares tips on how to travel when you have a chronic illness, as well as epic destination guides. You can follow her adventures through her blog or on social media:

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The post 3 Days in Phuket: The Ultimate Phuket Itinerary Guide appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

After visiting Bali last summer, we fell head over heels with the island. There’s just something special about Bali – and honestly, it’s hard to describe it. Maybe it’s the island’s lush, green jungle, impressive infinity pools, and trendy beach clubs and cafes, or possibly even the exotic fruit blended into instagrammable smoothie bowls. But one thing’s for sure – we’ll definitely be heading back to Indonesia sooner than later.

We might even love it more than Thailand. And Hawaii. And maybe, just maybe, Japan (if that’s even possible).

I’ll put up with Bali’s horrendous traffic and possible minor gastro issues if that means I get to check everything off this super-comprehensive Bali bucket list. 

To make planning easier, I’ve organized this Bali bucket list by area. But do note that just because something doesn’t look too far on the map, doesn’t’ mean it’s a 5-10 minute drive. Unfortunately, Bali only has a few main roads, meaning you’ll probably have to backtrack a lot/go roundabout ways to get places. At least that was my experience!

I recommend hiring a private guide/driver to take you around in order to cross things off your Bali bucket list. Especially if you aren’t experienced with riding a scooter.

I’ve also got other information on Indonesia which you might find helpful!

• 10 Days in Bali: The ULTIMATE Itinerary
• 3 Days in Ubud: The Perfect Jungle Itinerary
• The Complete Guide to Komodo National Park
• How to Have the Best Few Days in Gili Air

So pack up your bathing suits, start looking for flights to Indonesia, and use this massive Bali bucket list to find the ultimate paradise.

The Ultimate Bali Bucket List

Ubud and Surrounding

1. Hold on tight and feel the breeze in your hair on the iconic Bali Swing Ubud with views of the lush rice fields and Balinese jungles below, made super popular by Instagram (add this photo op to your Bali bucket list) ✓

2. Check out the ancient elephant cave (from the 9th century!) and stone carvings of Hindu Gods at Goa Gajah Temple. Walk to the waterfall here, too!

3. Catch some light rays inside a cavern at Tukad Cepung Waterfall after getting a great workout walking down the rocky steps (best around 9am to see the sun beams)

4. Sip a fresh fruit juice smoothie or an iced chai latte (and maybe some food if you’re hungry) at Habitat Cafe Ubud, a modern Pan-Asian restaurant a few minutes from the Monkey Forest ✓

5. Be amazed by Kanto Lampo Waterfall, a seasonal waterfall cascading down a steep rock face (be careful if you take photos on the slippery rocks!)

6. Get your ohm on at sunrise at either the Ubud Yoga Centre, Yoga Barn, or Ubud Yoga House, two scenic studios with yoga classes and mindful meditation

7. Feed the monkeys and watch the little babies run around the grounds at the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (although don’t get too close; they’re still wild animals!) ✓

8. Get pampered with a full-body massage, an exfoliating body scrub, and/or a herbal aromatic facial at Zen Bali Spa for a fraction of the price you’d pay anywhere else. There’s also floral, spice, and milk baths!

9. Have an eclectic dinner at Hujan Locale, known for their innovative, modern Indonesian food – all in a trendy space! (my favorite restaurant on this Bali bucket list) ✓

10. Try some Luwak coffee (made out of partially digested coffee cherries and defecated by civets) and a complimentary sampler of aromatic teas at Ceking Sari Luwak Coffee (perfect on any coffee lovers Bali bucket list) ✓

11. Take the steps down and cool off at Tegenungan Waterfall, a thunderous waterfall in a lush jungle setting

12. Soak in a flower bath filled with pink petals after getting a body scrub and Balinese massage at Karsa Spa, surrounded by stunning gardens

13. Go for a short trek along the lush rice paddies at the Tegalalang Rice Terrace, and be sure to admire the views along the way (one of the most iconic Bali bucket list items) ✓

14. Go for a meal or spend at the night in a treehouse at luxury eco-resort Bambu Indah, made entirely of bamboo

15. Get the best Indonesian BBQ of your life at Warung Pondok Madu (don’t miss the BBQ ribs and some banana pineapple juice)

16. Relax in a flower bath at Maya Ubud while drinking herbal tea and mini fruits with views of the rainforest ✓

17. Dine in an abandoned 737 plane at Keramas Aero Park, one of the most unique places to eat in Ubud 

18. Go for a swim and grab some drinks at the swim-up bar (Ubud’s first!) at the Folk Pool & Gardens 

19. Order an instagrammable smoothie bowl in a pineapple at Acai Queen (don’t miss the photo ops in the cafe) ✓

20. Indulge in a coconut-based dessert (or two, or three!) at Tukies Coconut Shop (there’s coconut ice cream with coconut shavings and coconut sugar – served in a coconut!) 

21. Go veggie for the day and order some inventive vegetarian fare (like Puspa’s pumpkin cakes) at the cash-only spot Puspa’s Warung 

22. Shop for the instagram-famous Bali bags, cotton sarongs, bamboo straws, and crochet tops at the Ubud Traditional Art Market ✓

23. Savor all 19 courses of the tasting menu at Restaurant Locavore and pair them with cocktails (or head to Locavore To-Go if there’s no space) ✓

24. Wander along the palms on the path at the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunset with views of the sweeping hilltops (one of the most romantic things on this Bali bucket list) ✓

25. Brunch it up with some famous lava stone pizza at Milk & Madu Ubud, an airy and bright Aussie cafe near Ubud Palace 

26. End the night with relaxing foot massages for $5.50USD per HOUR at Kristina Ubud Spa (a must on ANY Bali bucket list) ✓

27. Go for a romantic  Japanese/Latin fusion meal at The Sayan House, and get some pre-dinner cocktails at sunset overlooking the lush valley below ✓

28. Watch an iconic Balinese dance performance at Ubud Palace; the costumes, dancing, and music are sensational

29. Walk the pathway leading to the Saraswati Lotus Temple, and check out the ornate architectural details and scenic lotus pond ✓

30. Sit near the koi pond and order some breakfast and a Bali berry tea at Clear Cafe

31. Feast on BBQ spare ribs at super-popular Naughty Nuri’s Ubud (the meat is so tender it falls off the bone!)

Canggu 

32. Watch the sunset at beachfront La Laguna Bali, a beach bar with a trendy Moroccan vibe (don’t miss the Sunday Gypsy Market)

33. Have a blast in the infinity pool (with swim-up bar) at Finn’s Beach Club, or hang around the airy bamboo club house, on the parasol-shaded daybeds, or beanbags on the sand

34. Party at the beer garden with a few Bintangs at Old Mans, with great happy hour specials and live music (get there early to get a seat for sunset)

35. Eat smoothie bowl breakfasts with rice field views at Milu by Nook (or order an Ultimate Burger with a charcoal bun for lunch/dinner – it’s the most popular dish!) 

36. Share a table at Satu-Satu Coffee Company and sip some cold brew while indulging in a Lady Gaga smoothie bowl

37. Take photos with all the wall art you can find along Batu Bolong Street, Canggu’s ultimate shopping street ✓

38. Walk on the black sand at remote Pasut Beach – it’s covered with tons of palm trees!

39. Shop ‘til you drop at The Love Anchor Weekend Bazaar, where you’ll find bamboo bowls, reusable straws, local art, and much more at this market (a must-do item on any shoppers Bali bucket list) ✓

40. Watch the sunset and listen to the waves at Tanah Lot during low tide, a traditional Balinese temple located on a small, rocky island!

41. Pimp your cone with a stroopwafel at Mad Pops Bali, a funky ice cream joint with the most delicious flavors ✓

42. Rent a board and learn to surf at Batu Bolong Beach, or just enjoy a cold coconut while listening to live music on the beach 

43. Check out The Organic Sunday Market, a small weekly market with local fruits and veggies, baked goods, organic coffees and chocolates, and fresh juices

44. Book a table at industrial-chic Fishbone Local for creative seafood dishes and house cocktails ✓

45. Listen to some chill music, enjoy some happy hour drinks, and watch the sunset and surfers at Echo Beach Club

46. Chow down on an insane number of satay sticks at Sate Babi Street Food – known to have the best satay in all of Bali

47. Ride the waves at Canggu Beach, or just sunbathe and then take in the sunset views

48. Grab a quick bowl of energy at Nalu Bowls, and make sure to try the peanut butter bowl if you’re looking for some nutty flavors

49. Spoil yourself with a smoothie and all-day breakfast at the super airy and super Aussie The Loft Canggu

50. Start your day with a coffee from Hungry Bird Coffee Roaster, easily the best coffee shop in town

51. Enjoy something eclectic at the trendy and open-air market and eatery, Beach Garden Organic Kitchen 

52. Hang out on the grass and order some creative cocktails at The Lawn, with direct views (and access) to the Canggu beaches ✓

53. Join the gym junkies at MOTION Cafe, and refuel with some heart-shaped pancakes, sweet potato waffles, and some blueberry cashew cheesecake 

Seminyak 

54. Go snap happy and take dozens of trick illusionist photos at the Dream Museum Zone (DMZ)

55. Order one of each at at KYND Community, a cute cafe basically made for instagram with its bubblegum walls (be sure to check out the ice cream shop next door) ✓

56. Relax under multi-colored umbrellas and bean bags in the sand with a bintang in hand at Double Six Beach

57. Spend the afternoon at KUDETA, with world-class dining, designer cocktails, and one of the best sunsets, plus international DJ’s on select nights (still on my Bali bucket list)

58. Fall asleep during a relaxing Balinese massage at Spring Spa (another location in Canggu)

59. Try one of each (especially the raspberry party floss pancakes) at Sea Circus, a creative taco joint with an interesting bathroom design (a Bali bucket list item for any foodie!)

60. Order trendy Mexican eats and cocktails (like dragon fruit margaritas and coconut pina coladas) at Motel Mexicola, a super instagrammable and colorful space that turns into quite a party at night 

61. Watch the sun go down amongst hundreds of colorful umbrellas and smoke some hookah La Plancha Bali

62. Buy some Bali beachwear at the Bali Boat Shed, housed in super-cute instagrammable huts 

63. Choose your adventure at Seminyak Beach; there’s loungers, horseback riding, bats, and a vibrant nightlife scene 

64. Swim around at Potato Head Beach Club’s seaside pool – a great place to spend your day and one of Bali’s most popular beach clubs

65. Spend the morning devouring breakfast at Coffee Cartel, a boutique coffee house with awesome latte art and refined bites ✓

66. Sip a fresh coconut and pink cinnamon tea at Balibola and order some over-the-top plates (the presentation is super impressive)

67. Buy some beans and/or cozy up with a coffee at Expat. Roasters, a speciality coffee brew bar that’s known for their amazing flat whites and single origin

68. Have some Nasi Campur for lunch in the middle of a rice field at Nook 

East Bali 

69. Wake up early and take that iconic photo at Pura Lempuyang Temple with Mount Agung in the background (don’t forget to explore the grounds and six other temples, too) ✓

70. Climb the 6 hours to Mount Agung before sunrise for the most spectacular view from the summit, an active volcano and the island’s highest peak (a must-do Bali bucket list item for advanced hikers)

71. End the day with a Bintang and watch the sunset along the cliff’s edge at Sunset Point

72. Marvel at the turquoise waters of the small and tranquil Bias Tugel Beach, only reachable by short trek

73. Watch the sunrise over Mount Agung and the rice fields at Bukit Cinta, a viewpoint on the side of the road heading to Lempuyang (a Bali bucket list item for any early riser!) ✓

74. Sip a creative cocktail with sweeping views at The Monkey Bar at Bella Vista, and maybe even take a dip in the stunning infinity pool afterwards

75. Snorkel at Jemeluk Bay’s underwater temple, the most popular snorkeling spot in East Bali, or head to Lipah and/or Selang Beach with hopes of spotting sea turtles and black tip reef sharks

76. Take in the sunrise from the summit of Mount Batur after a rewarding trek up, and then have some eggs cooked from the volcanic steam!

77. Say hi to the koi fish at Taman Tirta Gangga, and pick up some food before the entrance to feed them ✓

78. Sunbathe at Blue Lagoon Beach, then put on your snorkel and head under water

79. Study for your PADI license in Amed, one of the cheapest places in the world to get your certificate 

80. Throw on your oxygen tank and go scuba diving and explore ancient remains of shipwrecks, an underwater pyramid, a submarine mailbox, and tons of marine life off the coast of Amed  

81. Bathe in the holy water at Pura Tirta Empul, or just watch the locals do their thing ✓

82. Admire the architecture and beauty of Balai Gili, a former water palace built in 1909 with gardens and pools! Don’t miss the Taman Ujung Museum nearby!

83. Wander around Besakih Temple, a large, holy site with over 23 temples, some with impressive soaring spires

84. Soak in the cool waters of the Tibumana Waterfall pool, and smell the tropical flowers on your trek down ✓

North Bali 

85. Get a day pass for Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa and eat lunch around the famous infinity pool in the clouds (something that’s been on my Bali bucket list forever but I haven’t been able to just yet)

86. Watch the sunrise at Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, then take a rowboat out on Beratan Lake surrounding it 

87. Make the short trek down to Leke Leke Waterfall then stand on the rocks feeling the water mist in your face ✓

88. Stand on line for that iconic photo with the Bali Handara Gate (and believe it or not, it’s actually the entrance to a golf club!)

89. Head down then go swimming at Banyumala Twin Waterfall, a split waterfall plunging over rocks into a jungle pool

90. Get sprayed by the GitGit Waterfall chain and feel like Tarzan by rope jumping into the pools 

91. Up your IG game at Hidden Hills Wanagiri, filled the swinging nests and swings and other (mildly cheesy) photo ops over the lush Balinese forest

92. Swim in the natural pools of Aling-Aling Waterfall, with cliff jumping and sliding (one of the most adventurous Bali bucket list items on this list!)

93. Bathe in the sulphuric waters of Air Panas Banjar, a hot springs complex surrounded by tropical gardens 

94. Stand under three waterfalls at once at the Fiji Waterfall, the only triple waterfall in all of Bali

Jimbaran and Uluwatu 

95. Eat under string lights at Opai Bali, one of the most romantic dinner spots on this Bali bucket list!

96. Sip some cocktails and enjoy some appetizers while watching the sunset at the Rock Bar at the AYANA Resort and Spa ✓

97. Feel the waves at Balangan Beach and then ride your scooter to the Balangan Beach View to see the white-sand beach from above

98. Whip out your camera and take photos with the unique rock formations at Bingin Beach, then watch all the surfers do their thing

99. Dance the night away and eat pizza with a view at Single Fin Bali (a Bali bucket list item for any partier!)

100. Brave the crowds and explore Uluwatu Temple at sunset (make sure you stay for the traditional kecak fire dance to listen to the men’s chanting – it’s wild!) ✓

101. Stand on the limestone and explore the cave at Suluban Beach; just watch out for the monkeys!

102. Spend the afternoon partying 100 meters above the Indian Ocean at OMNIA Dayclub Bali, a swanky club perched atop a cliff

103. Take the funicular down to the beach and laze the day away under an umbrella at Sundays Beach Club (+ stay for the sunset bonfires!)

104. Jump off a cliff and go paragliding over Melasti Beach (adventure lovers – add this to your Bali bucket list!)

105. Hang out at Kubu Beach, the private beach area of the swanky AYANA Resort (make sure to take a photo on the swings!) ✓

106. Check out one of the last remaining “secret beaches” before it’s not a secret anymore at Nyang Nyang Beach (it’s a bit of a trek down which is also why it’s not so popular)

Nusa Islands

107. Crawl through a 2-meter long tunnel to get to the Giri Putri Cave Temple, a Hindu temple located inside a cave

108. Make your way down the 460 steps to reach a series of cascading spring falls, known as Peguyangan Waterfall

109. Take that iconic photo above Kelingking Beach (T-Rex!), made famous by Instagram, then make the treacherous trek down to the beach (a must-do Bali bucket list item for ANYONE visiting Nusa Penida!)

110. Float in a natural infinity pool at Angel’s Billabong, with emerald green hues and turquoise crystalline waters

111. Watch the waves crash onto the rocks and soar into the air at Smoke Beach

112. Jump into the hidden natural pools at Tembeling Beach

113. Stare face to face with a giant Manta Ray at aptly named Manta Bay (forever on my Bali bucket list)

114. Admire the fuzzy green hills known as Bukit Teletubbies (if you’re visiting during rainy season, add this to your Bali bucket list) 

115. Be blown away by the beauty as you walk down to Atuh Beach, a rustic isolated cove right under a cliff, with interesting rock formations

116. Ride the thrilling zipline over the cliffs with Abyss Zipline at Island Cove Resort (formerly Ceningan Island Resort)

117. Get a tan at Jungutbatu Beach, Mushroom Bay, and/or Crystal Bay Beach, the most popular beaches in the trio of tropical islands 

118. Throw on your fins and snorkel to meet the underwater Buddha at Temple Point in Crystal Bay 

119. Check out the arched tunnel in the cliffs at Broken Beach

120. Join the crowds and watch the waves crash over the rocky coves at Devil’s Tear – you might even spot a rainbow!

121. Stay in a treehouse above Atuh Beach at Rumah Pohon “Tree House”, just beware of instagrammers taking “the” photo on the ladder steps

122. Ride an underwater scooter and float over sea beds without needing any SCUBA experience near Ceningan Island

123. Get your blood racing and dive off a high cliff top into the ocean at Mahana Point Cliff Jump (a must on any daredevils Bali bucket list)

124. Be amazed by Seganing Waterfall, where the water flows directly from a cliff into the sea

Bali Bucket List Hotels 

This wouldn’t be a complete Bali bucket list without a section on all the utterly amazing out-of-this-world resorts and unique accommodations.

From rooms in the jungle made entirely out of bamboo, infinity pools overlooking the Indian Ocean, and private plunge pools with butlers, you could really spend a whole 10 days in Bali without even leaving your resort.

Here are a bunch of absolutely unbelievable hotels I found while I was planning my trip and researching for this Bali bucket list. Now I have about 15 more spots I wanna stay in next time – hotel hop, anyone?!

125. Spend the entire day in your posh Balinese villa, but make sure to indulge in the cascading pool at the Hanging Gardens of Bali — made famous on IG (Ubud)

126. Wake up to rainforest views from your 4-poster bed, then have breakfast overlooking the insane infinity pool and splash around in your private plunge pool at the Komaneka at Tanggayuda (Ubud) ✓

127. Spend a night in a rustic treehouse completely made out of bamboo with rainforest views at Bambu Indah (Ubud) 

128. Check into the Munduk Moding Plantation Nature Resort & Spa, a coffee plantation with an infinity pool in the clouds (Munduk)

129. Kiss your sweetie in the middle of a rice field in an eco-cottage or bamboo villa at Hideout Bali. Pure jungle magic — just make sure you’re not afraid of the bugs! (East Bali)

130. Stay next to a black sand beach in a chic villa at luxury resort Soori Bali, complete with private pools and posh amenties (Canggu)

131. Look out your window overlooking the pool and ocean at Six Senses Uluwatu, a high-end resort with 3 restaurants and 3 pools! Don’t miss the Sunday Lobster Bruch! (Uluwatu)

132. Get private beach access (with a super instagrammable swing) and guaranteed entrance to the rock bar for sunset at the super swanky AYANA Resort and Spa (Jimbaran) ✓

133. Have dinner in a bird’s nest and get a spa treatment in the middle of a mango tree at Kupu Kupu Barong Villas & Tree Spa. Pure luxury in the middle of the jungle! (Ubud)

134. Climb the steps to your tree house at Rumah Pohon Tree House, just watch out for all the influencers taking that famous photo on ladder steps. I’ve heard one night is enough. (Nusa Penida)

135. Say hello to your sophisticated upscale villa with plush interiors and private pool at The Edge Bali Villas, then visit the spa in the shallow pool for a massage. Don’t miss the 360 pool! (Uluwatu)

136. Swing on your own private swing overlooking the Balinese rain forest, and enjoy your open-air villa at Zen Hideaway (Ubud)

137. Feel like a baller at The Elysian Villas Resort, with private plunge pools, pool-side dining, and complementary massages (Seminyak) ✓

138. Swim in the beachfront infinity pool and then relax in your balcony bathtub at The Legian Bali, a cool beach resort with trendy vibes (Seminyak)

139. Laze the day away in your giant hammock with direct views of the rice fields in the Pyramid Villa or Bamboo Villa at Camaya Bali (East Bali)

Psst: If you’re planning a trip to cross things off your Bali bucket list, you might like these too:

• 10 Days in Bali: The ULTIMATE Itinerary
• 3 Days in Ubud: The Perfect Jungle Itinerary
• The Complete Guide to Komodo National Park
• How to Have the Best Few Days in Gili Air

Hope this helps you plan an epic trip to the islands! What’s still on your Bali bucket list and what are some of your favorite things to do in Bali?!

The post The Ultimate Bali Bucket List: 125+ Epic Things to Do in Bali appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

You might think Taipei has everything you could possibly want – there’s food (think pineapple cake and xiao long bao, yum), culture, and plenty of scenic views (don’t miss a hike up Elephant Mountain), but there’s actually a lot more outside the capital city of Taiwan. Although Taipei is a great starting point and makes a fantastic base for your trip when visiting Taiwan, you’d be missing out on a whole lot of the country if you spend your entire time here!

Fortunately, there are a number of amazing day trips from Taipei, and being only a couple hours outside of the city, you’d be silly not to check them out. From eating your way through the best Taiwanese street food in Keelung to surfing on a black sand beach in Yilan (you heard me right!), to discovering some of the best hikes in Yangmingshan and exploring the history and culture of Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan, there’s a lot to offer and something for everyone on these Taipei day trips.

You might even feel like you’ve been transported to another country entirely after putting some of these trips on your itinerary. The hardest part will be deciding which ones to take if you’re short on time! The good news is, you really can’t go wrong with any of these, and I can personally vouch that all of them are worth a visit.

Psst: this is a guest post by Melissa over at Wit and Folly! She’s actually lived in Taiwan (and took plenty of day trips from Taipei over the course of her stay), so is waaaay more qualified to write this post than I am! And lucky us – she’s just as wordy as I always seem to be, so there’s tons of valuable info in here for us (I’ll surely be using her tips next time I visit the country!).

And now, without further ado – the very best day trips from Taipei, best explored on your own or on a guided tour if you prefer to let someone else cover logistics and transportation (more details below).

Before we get into the specific Taipei day trips, it’s important to note that many of these day trips from Taipei can be arranged via private driver! This takes away the hassle of figuring out the possible stresses of the day, and lets you fully enjoy the experience instead. On this private charter, you can decide on 5 scenic spots near Taipei to visit – transportation and logistics taken care of! 

Best Day Trips from Taipei (as suggested by a local):

1. BEITOU HOT SPRINGS

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 8 miles / 13km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT: 40 minutes
• How to get there: Take the Red MRT Line from any station in Taipei and ride to Beitou Station. Transfer at Beitou Station for the Pink MRT Line one stop and get off at Xinbeitou Station. Follow signs for Beitou Hot Springs. Or just sign up for this tour and get whisked away to the hot springs in no time.
• Activities you can’t miss: Soaking in one of the many hot springs available here, checking out Thermal Valley, and learning more about the Taiwanese hot spring culture with a visit to Beitou Hot Springs Museum

Did you know that one of the quintessential pastimes of Taiwanese locals is spending the afternoon soaking in hot springs? I always make it a point to head straight to Beitou after landing in Taipei to relax and unwind after the long plane journey, and I highly recommend it to you as well!

Beitou Hot Springs can be conveniently visited by taking the red line on the MRT to Beitou Station, and then transferring one stop to XinBeitou Station on the pink line. Although only less than an hour from Taipei Main Station, the Beitou Hot Springs area will feel as if you’ve stumbled upon a quaint, mountainous resort town that’s entirely secluded from the rest of the city. Besides spending a day soaking in the hot springs, there’s actually a lot of other great attractions here too.

One of the most famous attractions and landmark sights in Beitou Hot Springs is the Thermal Valley (also known as Hell Valley). As its name suggests, this volcanic crater is filled with boiling hot, sulfuric hot spring water that smells a bit like rotten eggs. And fun fact – back in the day, locals would actually come here to boil eggs to eat for breakfast! Although that’s no longer allowed due to safety reasons, it’s still a cool place to see and learn more about the hot spring culture in the area.

Another great stop to learn more about the history of the hot springs is at the Beitou Hot Springs Museum. The museum, which is free to visit, was actually the first original public hot spring bath in Beitou. It’s quite fascinating to walk through the museum and imagine what it might have been like to bathe in the hot springs here back in the day!

When you visit Beitou Hot Springs, you might be overwhelmed by the number of hot spring bath choices available, which range from the super cheap public baths that all the locals love, to the luxurious 5 star resorts when you really want to treat yo’self. For more details on the different types of hot springs available and in depth information on visiting Beitou Hot Springs in general, then check out the article here for more information on things to do in Beitou and the best hot springs to visit!

2. TAMSUI

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 13 miles / 21 km
• Travel time using Taipei MRT: About 40 minutes
• How to get there: Take the Red MRT Line from any station in Taipei and ride it all the way to the end – depart at Tamsui stop
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Head to Fort San Domingo, take a ferry ride across the Tamsui River, & watch the sunset while snacking on seafood at Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf by Lovers Bridge. Later, stuff your belly and try to win yourself a stuffed Pikachu at the Tamsui Night Market.
• Special Foods to Try: To experience Tamsui like a true local, try Ah Gei (fried tofu stuffed with green bean noodles), fish balls, and iron eggs.

What’s better than a night market full of delicious food, fun carnival games, and the chance to eat a bowl of fishball soup while watching a beautiful sunset? There’s really nothing that tops it (and trust me when I say fish ball soup is way better than it sounds)!

Tamsui is one of the most popular and easiest day trips you can make from the center of Taipei. All you have to do to get to this relaxing riverside city is to hop on the Red MRT Line from any location in the city and ride it until the end. It’s about a 40 minute ride from Taipei Main Station and just under an hour if you start your trip from Taipei 101.

Begin your trip with a little bit of history at Fort San Domingo. The original fort was built by the Spanish in 1628 when they occupied Northern Taiwan, but the red stone fort that you see now was actually built by the Dutch in 1744 after they won a war against the Spanish.

Next up, take a short ferry ride (round trip ferry ride is only TWD 45 or about $1.50 USD) across Tamsui River to Bali Old Street, where you can explore the local shops and have some appetizers before the real feasting begins at night! You can also rent a bike and take a leisurely ride along the many bike paths on this side of the river.

Right before dusk, head back to Tamsui Fisherman’s Wharf to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets you can find around Taipei before ending your day at the epic Tamsui Night Market! Try your hand at some of the carnival games while snacking on some local cuisine. Even if it doesn’t look the most appetizing, you really have to try the fish ball soup and Ah Gei (fried tofu stuffed with green bean noodles) at the night market. My boyfriend’s family in Taiwan swears by this stuff, and it’s what Tamsui is known for!

3. JIUFEN (JIOUFEN)

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 24 miles / 38km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT: 1.5 hours
• How to get there: Take the MRT Blue line to Zhongxiao Fuxing Station Exit 1, then take bus 1062 to Jiufen Old Street Station. This guided tour of Jiufen and the northeastern coast is the pefect day.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Seeing all the lanterns light up Jiufen Old Street and getting tea at the famous A-Mei Teahouse.
• Special Foods to Try: EVERYTHING. But seriously, Jiufen is known for its distinct Taiwanese snacks, so try as much as your stomach can handle! My favorites are the Coffee Nougat Cookies, A-zhu Peanut Ice Cream Rolls, and Taro Ball Soup!

One of the most popular day trips from Taipei will take you back into a nostalgic past of narrow little alleyways lined with stalls and old traditional teahouses. If you’re a fan of Miyazaki films like me, or you just love trying new and delicious foods (NOM), then you’ll understand what makes Jiufen such a popular destination to visit.

Jiufen used to be a prosperous gold mining town set in the Northeast mountains of Taiwan, and its maze of tiny alleyways packed with teahouses and glowing red lanterns literally transports you into Miyazaki’s world of Spirited Away. (Although Mr.Miyazaki himself has denied that his movie was inspired by the town of Jiufen… the red lantern-lined streets and old multi-story teahouse, especially at night, look eerily similar to the ghost village of Spirited Away! You’ll have to see for yourself when you get to Jiufen, of course, but I think the similarities are way more than coincidence).

It can get quite crowded during the day (like, imagine standing elbow to elbow with many strangers on the narrow streets), but come back out at night, and you’ll really feel like you’re caught between the line of realism and fantasy. Most of the stores and food stalls close at 7pm, so that’s when the tour buses and tourists head back. While strolling through the narrow lanes after dusk, I could almost imagine No Name peeking behind one of the corners.

Although Jiufen is quite a small town, it’s one of those places where you could end up spending hours just wandering around and exploring every little alleway. The number of food stalls is astounding, and as Jiufen is known for some of the best and most unique Taiwanese snacks, come with an empty stomach and an open mind! 

I’d also recommend getting afternoon tea at one of the many teahouses. A-Mei Teahouse, a picturesque multi-story building that looks like it came straight out of Spirited Away, is undeniably the most popular spot. With a prime location just off the main Jiufen Old Street and perched atop a hill, it offers beautiful sweeping views of the mountains and ocean along the horizon. If you’d rather drink your tea in peace without the crowds though, there are many other options around. But if you just have to live out your Spirited Away dream (no judgment here, I totally did), then I’d recommend booking in advance via A-Mei Teahouse Fast Track.

Other good options on your Jiufen day trip include learning more about Jiufen’s history as an old mining town with a visit to the Jiufen Gold Ore Museum, or if you’re more into nature, then take a hike up Keelung Mountain for stunning panoramic views of the city below.

4. KEELUNG NIGHT MARKET

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 16 miles / 26km 
• Travel time by bus: about 50 minutes 
• How to get there: the easiest way is by the Kuo-Kuang Coach bus from Taipei Main Station and is TWD 55 ($1.80 USD) one way. Once you’re at Taipei Main Station, take exit 3 and follow the signs for Taipei Bus Station.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: the Keelung Night Market
• Special Foods to Try: My favorites here are the stewed pork knuckle with shrimp chowder and the pao-pao ice!

Not far from Jiufen is the port city of Keelung, known for the Keelung Miaokou Night market. This night market is considered by many Taiwanese to be the best one on the entire island, and for a society that is obsessed with night markets, that definitely means something!

The Keelung Night Market is so famous and highly regarded because of the care that each vendor takes with preparing their food. Most of them have worked at the same stall for many generations which allows them to perfect their recipes over and over again. Just think about it like eating a home cooked meal from Grandma!

The best part is that like any night market in Taiwan, the food here is incredibly cheap, so you can try as many dishes as you want! Some of the most popular dishes include:

• Stall #5: Crab thick soup with a side of sticky rice
• Stall #6: Rice noodle soup with seafood side dishes
• Stall #8: Stir fried swordfish rice
• Stall #22: Stewed pork knuckle with shrimp chowder
• Stall #41: Chenji pao-pao ice

(Here is the full list in case you want to look at the other places too)

Even though the night market is the main attraction, there are still a lot of things to do in the area. If you make an entire day out of your visit,  it’s also worth checking out Keelung Zhenbin Fishing Port for its colorful buildings and the scenic oceanside Chaojing Park.

Many people like to visit Keelung Night Market for dinner after exploring Jiufen. Since transportation is a little trickier, especially with how busy Jiufen can get, I recommend joining a tour.

5. SHIFEN and PINGXI

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 22 miles / 35km
• Travel time by bus: 1.5 hours
• How to get there by train: Take the 4154 towards Su Ao and transfer at Badu Station for the 4710 towards Jingtong. Get off at Shifen Station. From Shifen Station to Pingxi Station, take the same 4710 towards Jingtong and alight at Pingxi Station.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Shifen Waterfall – one of the most scenic waterfalls in Taiwan, and lighting up paper lanterns in Pingxi to release into the sky
• Special Foods to Try: LiouGe BBQ Stuffed Wings

Like Jiufen, Shifen is another small mining town and a great day trip from Taipei with old world charm and the added bonus of a beautiful waterfall only 20 minutes away by foot. The railway line from the train you take actually runs right through Shifen Old Street with little shops on both sides of the tracks, giving the town an even more enclosed and intimate feel.

It’s quite an interesting feeling being able to run across the tracks right in the middle of town. You’ll find numerous stalls selling souvenirs, crafts, and of course, food. If you’re feeling hungry, definitely try LiouGe’s BBQ Stuffed Wings, which are tender, deboned chicken wings stuffed with rice, and slathered with a delicious homemade bbq sauce. (I’m salivating right now just thinking of them!)

Once you’ve explored enough of Shifen Old Street, head over to Shifen Waterfall, which is a  20 minute walk from the train station. With the lush foliage all around, the cascading falls are truly a picturesque sight to behold. There are also several viewing platforms all around the falls for you to capture plenty of stunning photos.

You’ll also notice that there are many shops selling sky lanterns in Shifen with people writing personal messages on the lanterns’ sides and taking them to the tracks to release them into the sky. Although you can light and release lanterns here in Shifen, I recommend getting back on the train and stopping at Pingxi just 10 minutes away, where it’s often less crowded to set your sky lantern into the air.

If you’re lucky enough to be here around Chinese New Year, then you’ll be in for a real treat when massive crowds of people gather together in Pingxi to release their lanterns simultaneously in celebration of the new year. This Sky Lantern Festival is truly a magical sight to behold, with thousands of lanterns lighting up the night sky, all inscribed with personal messages and prayers in hopes that their wishes will reach the heavens. What better way to end your evening?

6. SANDIAOLING WATERFALL TRAIL

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 25 miles / 40 km
• Travel time by train: about 1 hour 
• How to get there: the easiest way is to take the local train from Taipei Main Station to Suao (Yilan County) and get off at Sandiaoling Station. Once you are at Taipei Main Station, follow the signs to TRA ticketing to buy local train tickets. The staff are all very friendly so you can just tell them where you want to go. Keep in mind there is 1 train that leaves every hour.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: bird watching for the Formosan Blue Magpie and the views of Motian and Pipa-Dong Falls from up close.

This is my favorite day trip hike to go on, and I try to do it every time I’m in Taipei. Just a short train ride from Taipei, you will be transported to a sleepy town with a lush tree canopy, little to no tourists, and a chance to see the beautiful Formosan Blue Magpie (the bird of Taiwan) flying gracefully. You’ll also see three beautiful waterfalls on the hike, making it well worth the effort! 

The hike itself is a combination of stairs, hiking trails, and a couple of steep climbing sections (don’t worry, there are ropes on the side to hold onto!). Most people should be able to complete it without any difficulty, and if you are afraid of heights or don’t want to keep climbing up, you can always turn around. It can get pretty muddy, though, so make sure to wear a good quality pair of hiking shoes or at least shoes you don’t care about.

The three waterfalls you will see on the hike are Hegu Falls, Motian Falls, and Pipa-Dong Falls. If it’s hot out and you want to cool off, you can actually get very close to Motian and Pipa-Dong Falls. Just be careful, though! The first time that I went here with my friends, one of them accidently slipped on a rock and fell into the water! It was November, so he was pretty cold the rest of the trip.

Shifen and Pingxi are just a few train stops away, so you can stop by before heading back to Taipei if you have time.

7. HOUTONG CAT VILLAGE

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 24 miles / 39km
• Travel Time Using Taipei MRT: about 50 minutes
• How to get there: Take the Yilan line all the way down to Houtong. A one way ticket is 50 TWD ($1.70 USD), and there’s usually a train every half hour during the day, with the last train back to Taipei at 9pm.
• Activities you can’t miss: Seeing how many cats you can spot throughout the village!

Full Disclosure: I love cats. If it wasn’t for meeting Tom, I’d probably have grown up to be one of those crazy cat lady types. If you also have an affinity for cats and are happy just being surrounded by them, then a day trip to Houtong Cat Village would be purrfect for you.

This former coal mining village is located in the hills of northern Taiwan alongside the Keelung River. The village was all but abandoned back in the 90’s when the mining pit closed, but one lady in 2008 helped revive it when she started posting photos of the villagers looking after stray cats. Her photos caught the attention of visitors, volunteers who came to help, and the addition of more cats; two years later, the former mining town was able to completely transform itself into a total cat village.

Once you step off the train at Houtong, you’ll immediately know you’ve made it to the right place. Walk across the black covered “cat bridge”, and you’ll be welcomed by cats of all colors, shapes and sizes, some spread out lazily on the sidewalks, others napping on rooftops or loafing atop cottage balconies. It’d be good to mention that these cats are strays and therefore still wild animals, but they’ve become so used to all the human attention and food by the villagers that most don’t even bat an eye when you approach them.

After you’ve had your fair share of selfies with your new feline friends, you can head over to one of the many cat-themed cafes for a bite to eat. Make sure to stop by one of the souvenir shops to take home some cat-inspired gifts back as well. They have everything under the sun, ranging from cat mugs to cat socks, and even cat-shaped pineapple cakes!

8. TAINAN

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 191 miles / 308km
• Travel Time using HSR (high speed rail) Train: 1 hr 45 mins
• How to get there: The easiest and quickest way is via HSR train from Taipei Main Station. It’s 1350 TWD (or $45 USD) for a one way ticket.
• Activities you can’t miss: The hauntingly beautiful Angping Treehouse, the historical significance of Angping Fort (Fort Zeelandia), food on Angping Old Street (Yangping Street), and explore one of the creative parks (Blueprint Cultural & Creative Park and Ten Drum Rende Creative Park)
• Special Foods to Try: As the unofficial food capital of Taiwan and “the city of Snacks”, there are so many authentic dishes to try, from Danzai Mian (minced meat noodles), Milkfish Soup, Guancai Bun (Coffin Bread), Rouzao Fan (minced pork over rice), Mua Gui (glutinous rice cake with pork), and of course, an original bubble tea.

As the oldest and 5th largest city in Taiwan, Tainan might just be one of Taiwan’s best hidden gems. Taking the high speed rail from Taipei makes the journey to Tainan just under two hours, and the city’s attractions are all relatively close to each other, making it an easy and fantastic day trip from Taipei.

The first thing you’ll notice about Tainan is that it has a slower-paced and more laid back vibe compared to Taipei, and its charming old-school streets offer a glimpse into a city steeped with rich history. Tainan holds a lot of historical significance too, having been Taiwan’s capital for 200 years under the Koxinga and Qing Dynasty rule. 

Start your day with a visit to Angping Treehouse, one of the most popular attractions in Tainan, and for good reason. You’ll feel as if you’ve been transported into a fairytale world totally separate from the rest of the city. What once was an old abandoned warehouse has now been completely overtaken by a huge Banyan Tree, with its roots criss crossing and completely covering the floors, walls and roof of the building. It’s pretty amazing to wander through this literal treehouse, and I was completely awe-struck by the sheer size and power that nature can command.

Near Angping Treehouse is Angping Fort, formerly known as Fort Zeelandia. If you’re interested in the past history of the Dutch colonisation of Taiwan, then definitely check out the remnants of the fortress and museum to learn more about the important historical events and Dutch influence during their occupation in the 1600s. After that, head over to Angping Old Street to grab an original bubble tea in the city that started the worldwide craze, as well as try other authentic Taiwanese snacks that originated from here.

If you’re overwhelmed by the number of food options, I suggest starting with Guancai Ban (Coffin Bread- sorta like an Asian version of chicken pot pie), Oyster Pancake, and Rouzao Fan (an addictive yet simple dish of minced pork over rice). Then if you’re feeling a little more bold, go for the Fish Head Soup and Mua Gui (a gelatinized rice cake with pickled veggies and and pork, drizzled with sweet chili sauce and thick soy sauce on top)!

Other notable activities in Tainan include the Ten Drum Rende Creative Park where a traditional Taiko Drumming Show is the star of the show, and the Tainan Flower Market – not actually a market that sells flowers, but one of Taiwan’s biggest and most famous night markets. It’s only open three days a week (Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday), but if you’re able to plan your day trip when it’s open, it’s definitely something you don’t want to miss!

9. YILAN

• Distance from Taipei Bus Station: 88 miles / 55 km
• Travel time by bus: About 1.5 hours
• How to get there: The easiest way is by coach bus from Taipei Bus Station to Yilan Station. From Taipei Main Station, take exit 1 for Taipei Bus Station. Round trip ticket costs 280 TWD or a little under $10 USD.
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Surfing or sunbathing at Wai’ao black sand beach and taking a tour of the world-famous Kavalan Whiskey distillery.
• Special Foods to Try: Since it’s an oceanside town, the seafood here is delicious. It’s also known for its scallion bao which is a bun filled scallion and pork bits. Yum!

Sometimes, all you want to do is chill on a beach and eat some amazing seafood away from annoying tourists and the hustle and bustle of the city. For that, Yilan is the perfect oasis and retreat for a little day trip getaway.

Yilan City is an oceanside town on the eastern coast of Taiwan, known for its relaxed surf vibe, delicious seafood, and world-famous Kavalan Whiskey that comes from this area. Since Yilan is a little harder to get to and navigate once in the city (at least compared to other day trip options around Taipei), it’s more off the beaten path and means you’ll see less tourists around.

Yilan has a variety of activities you can choose from. If you want a more relaxing day trip, head to Wai’ao black sand beach to get your tan on or do some surfing. By the beach, you will also find a huge selection of low-key, hipster coffee shops to relax in after your beach session,and cozy restaurants serving up amazing sashimi and seafood.

If you want a more cultural experience, head over to the modern architecture of the Lanyang Museum where you can learn about the history of the Yilan area and what makes the topography of the area so special. Afterwards, make a stop at the National Center for Performing Arts before tapping into your inner whiskey aficionado at Kavalan distillery where they produce the award-winning Kavalan Whiskey. 

Since it’s harder to get around Yilan, the best way to see everything that Yilan has to offer is to hire a driver from Taipei like this one.

10. YANGMINGSHAN NATIONAL PARK

• Distance from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station: 7.45 miles / 12 km
• Travel time by bus: About 1 hour 15 minutes because of the mountain roads
• How to get there: the easiest way is to take bus #260 from Taipei Main Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station or bus #S8 from Shipai Train Station to Yangmingshan Visitor Center
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Hike to the top of Mount Qixing and walk right next to a dormant volcano at Xiaoyoukeng

Yangmingshan National Park is one of the most popular destinations in all of Taiwan for tourists and local residents alike, and it’s easy to see why. There is a huge selection of lush hiking paths to explore, unique sites to see, (like dormant volcano Xiaoyoukeng where you can see smoking sulphur vents), and it’s not that far away from the city.

There are also seasonal festivals you can go to like the cherry blossom festival in spring and calla lily festival in early summer, so make sure to check the event calendar before you go!

The National Park is a lower elevation mountain range with the tallest point just over 3,500 feet. In the park, aside from the dormant volcano, you can also see mountain lakes, open grasslands, waterfalls, and so much more! After an adventure-filled day, you can also find a good selection of delicious local restaurants who use ingredients grown directly from the mountain, too.

There is a saying in Taiwan that the cabbage grown in the mountains tastes sweeter than cabbage grown anywhere else. This may or may not be true, but what it shows is the respect Taiwanese have for the mountains. So if you have a chance, definitely give the cabbage here a try!

The one downside of the park is public transportation. Since there is so much to do and each destination is located pretty far from each other, the easiest way to see as much as possible is to hire a private car like this one.

You may also want to think about joining a group tour to ensure you don’t miss out on any of your desired spots. A few recommended tours:

• Yangmingshan National Park Hiking Day Tour: If hiking through stunning volcanic landscapes and learning about the fascinating geothermal features of Taipei’s Tatum Volcanoes sounds like your perfect day, this tour will be right up your alley.
• Sunrise Excursion to Yangmingshan National Park: Don’t mind waking up at the crack of dawn? You’ll have the best view of the sunrise in Yangmingshan National Park! The tour also includes a visit to the natural sulfur scene, a wander in the Qingtiangang, and sampling the local breakfast!
• Yangmingshan National Park & Hot-Spring Tour: Kill two birds with one stone! Visit Yangmingshan National Park and enjoy a hot-spring treatment. Enjoy tranquil lakes and beautiful grass fields on this relaxing half-day trip. 

If you want to save some money, you can definitely explore the mountain using public transportation as well. Just take the bus from Taipei Main Station, Beitou Train Station, or Jiantan Station to Yangmingshan Bus Station and start your journey from there. Here is my favorite itinerary if it’s your first time visiting:

• Yangmingshan Visitors Center and Mount Qixing – a good place to get familiar with the park and you can hike up Mount Qixing, the highest point in the park.
• Xiaoyoukeng – where you can see sulfur vents and hike around a dormant volcano.
• Qingtiangang – an open grassland where you can see cows grazing.
• Lengshuikeng – end the trip with a cold water hot spring bath for your feet.

Bonus #11. SUN MOON LAKE

• Distance from Taipei Main Station: 157 miles / 253km
• Travel time using HSR and bus: 50 minutes on HSR, then 1.5 – 2 hours on bus
• How to get there via public transportation: Take the HSR train from Taipei Station to Taichung Station. From there, transfer to Nantou Bus for Sun Moon Lake (or look for the sign to Sun Moon Lake bus station)
• Activities You Can’t Miss: Taking a bike ride along Xiangshan Bikeway for stunning views of the lake, hopping on a cruise around Sun Moon Lake, and visiting the food and shopping stalls at Ita Thao village. If you’re able to stay overnight, then wake up for a beautiful sunrise over the lake, visit the Wenwu Temple, hike up to Ci’en Pagoda, and experience the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway.
• Special Foods to Try: Tea eggs at Xuanguang Pier and “President Fish” at Ita Thao Wharf

If crystal blue waters and an escape into nature is something you dream about, then a visit to Taiwan’s largest lake, Sun Moon Lake, is a must! Although I’d recommend staying at least one night in Sun Moon Lake, (the sunrises here on a clear day are magical and totally worth the early morning wake-up call), I know that an overnight stay is not always possible. In that case, if you’re short on time, it’s still definitely worth a day trip from Taipei, and tops my list as one of my favorite places to visit in Taiwan!

The easiest way to do a day trip to Sun Moon Lake is probably by joining a tour, like this one. That way, you won’t have to worry about transportation and can maximize your time at Sun Moon Lake. If you want more freedom over your activities though, then the most convenient way to get to Sun Moon Lake is by taking the HSR train from Taipei Station to Taichung Station, and then transferring to the Nantou Bus. As this is a popular trip, there will definitely be signs at Taichung for the correct bus to take to Sun Moon Lake.

Since Nantou Bus will drop you off at Shuishe Visitor Center, I’d recommend starting your day trip by renting a bike from one of the nearby shops and embarking on a cycling adventure around one of the world’s most scenic bike paths! The views are truly so stunning that I guarantee you won’t be able to help yourself but to stop and take numerous photos. You can continue along the bike path to Xiangshan Visitor Center, or even further if you’d like. If you only have a day though, I’d suggest turning back once you make it to the other visitor center so you can explore the other attractions on the lake!

You’ll notice that boats ferry between three piers – Shuishe, Xuanguang, and Ita Thao. Back at Shuishe Pier, you can start your lovely lake cruise and make a quick stop at Xuanguang Pier to try out Jin Men Ah Ma Cha Ye Dan (Famous Grandma’s Tea Braised Eggs). The legendary tea eggs are braised for hours, and the cute little grandma has been running her tea egg store for half a century!

Your last stop on the Sun Moon Lake day trip will be at Ita Thao Pier, where the aboriginal Thao people used to live. You can learn more about the history and culture of the tribe here, while also trying out some of the delicious local delicacies at the food stalls! I loved the Assam Milk Tea, but I’ve heard the famous aruzay fish (renamed to “President Fish ” due to it being a favorite dish of the late President Chiang Kai-Shek), is also a must try!

Which of these Taipei day trips will you be adding to your Taiwan itinerary?!

About the Author

Melissa Teng is a Seattle-based travel blogger and creative who is passionate about seeing as much of the world as possible while helping others do the same on her blog, Wit and Folly. Through her travel experiences, she’s realized the importance of authentic storytelling and believes that everyone has their own story to share. Through this lens, she hopes to inspire others to integrate exploring and adventure into their daily lives, to travel mindfully, and to pursue a life of bold creativity. And when she isn’t busy scheming her next trip, you can find her taking epic naps with her boyfriend’s Shih Tzu, Sushi.

The post 10+ Perfect Day Trips from Taipei appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Sapa is filled with rice field after rice field, spectacular waterfalls, small authentic villages dotting the area, local markets, and all the pho you could ever want.

It’s a popular destination for those spending 2 weeks in Vietnam, loved for its fresh air, cool climate, range after range of mountains, and outstanding scenery.

It’s also one of the best places in Vietnam for all your trekking lovers, and home to the country’s largest mountain – Mt. Fansipan. Here in Sapa you’ll find rugged scenery and rich, cultural diversity, making the area an absolute must for any nature lover.

To be honest, refining all of the area into a 3 day guide is a bit challenging, since there are just so many Sapa attractions to check off. However, many visitors opt to spend 2-3 days in Sapa after visiting Hanoi, making this quick Sapa itinerary very doable.

By following this guide, your 3 days in Sapa will be fully action-packed, so it’s best to get some rest beforehand (possibly on the night train – read below). 

Before we get into the full list of things to do in Sapa organized into a complete 3-day Sapa itinerary, here’s a pre-travel guide to the area.

How to Get to Sapa

Sapa is nestled near the northern border of Vietnam, with its closest large city being Hanoi. 

And psst – you’ll probably be flying into Hanoi during your visit, as it’s the most frequented airport. Hanoi is a large and bustling city, and lucky for you, there’s a bunch of different options (as well as tour companies) that offer transportation to Sapa. 

To cover all our bases, we’ll be highlighting the 3 main ways to get from Hanoi to Sapa: train, bus, and car.

Via Train

Since there’s no railway station in Sapa, the train will drop you off at the Lao Cai Railway Station, which is located a short 50 minute drive from Sapa. And thankfully, there’s a ton of busses and taxis constantly running taking passengers from Lao Cai (the province which Sapa belongs to) to Sapa and back. 

Most travelers prefer to take the overnight train from Hanoi to Lao Cai, taking roughly 8 hours and arriving in Lao Cai in the early morning (5:30am-6:30am). This is a great option as you’ll essentially have the full day in Sapa once you make your way there. 

Book your overnight train to Lao Cai here, the gateway to Sapa.

Via Bus

There are buses running throughout the day, driving the 6-7 hours (depending on traffic and weather) between the bustling city and the Sapa wonderland of rice terraces and waterfalls. 

One neat option we’ve found is the night bus (book here), which leaves Sapa late in the evening, between 10pm and midnight, and drives throughout the night. This bus has sleeper seats where you can lay down and sleep for the journey, however the seats aren’t exactly a king-size feather bed.

They are, however, inexpensive and get the job done! This is the route we chose on our Sapa adventure, since we were cutting costs as much as possible, and the night bus killed two birds with one stone: a trip to Sapa without having to pay for an additional night in a hotel!

Book your overnight bus to Sapa here.

Via Car

The final, and most convenient option, is to travel from Hanoi to Sapa via car. The journey takes about 4.5 hours. There are a few tour companies that will drive you directly from your hotel in Hanoi to your hotel in Sapa, however, this is the most expensive option.

If you insist on traveling by private vehicle (sans public transportation), the cheapest option is to rent a car and drive it up yourself. It’s super easy to rent a car in Hanoi. An added benefit of this option is that you’ll have freedom to drive to different areas to explore throughout Sapa, which you’ll see in a minute is a HUGE benefit!

By Tour Company

If you want everything taken care of for you, and you don’t wanna have to worry about the hassle of getting from Hanoi to Sapa yourself, book yourself with a tour company.

These tours include everything from transportation to Sapa, overnight stays, trekking, traditional meals, Sapa attractions, visiting the local people, and more. It’s basically an all-in-one adventure, and at a super reasonable price at that.

A few options below:

• 3 Night Homestay Trek with Overnight Train Transfer: Trek through the Muong Hoa Valley in the Hoang Lien Son Mountains to the hill tribe villages of the Hmong, Zay, and Red Zao peoples. Experience traditional hospitality during a 1-night homestay in Ta Van village. BOOK TOUR HERE.

• 2 Day Sapa Tour with Fansipan Peak from Hanoi: Travel by express bus from Hanoi to Sapa on a 2-day tour. Explore Cat Cat village and take a cable car up to Fansipan Peak – the Roof of Indochina. You’ll also meet a Black H’Mong family, and be able to explore the town of Sapa during your free time. BOOK TOUR HERE.

• 3 Day Medium Trek with Bus Transfer: Highlights include visiting the famous parts of Sapa, observing the daily activities of the ethnic minority people of the area, enjoying the breathtaking mountain scenery and rice terraces, and staying overnight at a homestay. BOOK TOUR HERE

• 2 Day Sapa Homestay with Bus Transfer: Highlights include exploring the Sapa Valley, admiring the traditional costumes of the ethnic peoples, trekking through the lush green rice paddies and terraces (9km), and experiencing life in the mountains by spending the night at a homestay. BOOK TOUR HERE.

Where to Stay in Sapa

Sapa is a beautiful place full of beautiful food, culture, and people. What also makes this place oh so wonderful is the chance to experience it through your accommodation! There are many unique and varied options for places to stay in Sapa, and in addition there are a WIDE range of prices that you can pay for a place to stay. I’ll highlight each below.

Sapa is not a particularly wealthy place, and therefore your currency will go a long way here. Being from America, the US Dollar is very strong in Vietnam, and you will see this as you book and pay for lodging.

Homestays

The cheapest hotels, hostels, and homestays are typically under $10 per night. Yes, you read that right, and there’s even a few for around $5 per night. In those very inexpensive accommodations, you’ll typically be getting a room in a house, or in some cases just a bunk, similar to a European hostel.

But hmm, what is a homestay exactly? Essentially, it’s when you stay in the home of a local family for a small fee. If you want an authentic experience and to learn about the culture of the place you’re visiting, I’d highly suggest checking out a homestay. There are so many homestay options available in Sapa, so you won’t have trouble finding one that suits your needs.

A few recommended homestays (all with exceptional reviews) include: 

• Eco Hills Homestay
• The Warm Sapa Homestay
• Sureless Homestay
• Thanh Ha Homestay Sapa.

Mid-Level Hotels

Stepping up price-wise from those accommodations are the next level of lodges, typically $20-$50 per night. For that price, which is what we paid for our stay at Eco Palms House, you’ll get your own private place.

In our case, that was our own private hut, however in most cases it means something similar to a hotel room. This is the sweet spot for accommodations in Sapa, as you’ll get a beautiful and comfortable stay while keeping your spending to a minimum.

Other recommended inexpensive hotels/accommodation options include: 

• The Grand Blue Hotel
• Sunny Mountain Hotel
• The Hill Station Boutique Hotel (book fast because it’s popular and there’s only a few rooms!)

Luxury Hotels in Downtown Sapa

Finally, the most expensive hotels in Sapa are in the downtown area. These hotels cost between $70-$110 per night, and when you spend that much you are treated to everything you would get at a fancy hotel elsewhere in the world.

Swimming pools, spas, fitness centers, conference rooms – you’ll have it all at your fingertips, and at a price you would not be able to get elsewhere in the world. If you want to get a taste of an expensive hotel, then Sapa is the place to do it.

Recommended luxury hotels/accommodation options in Sapa include: 

• Aira Boutique Sapa Hotel & Spa
• Silk Path Grand Resort & Spa
• Pao’s Sapa Leisure Hotel

While in Sapa, one thing we wish we would have done is to stay in one of the expensive hotels for one night, our last night.

After enjoying the Sapa Market and having dinner in one of the fine restaurants, it would have been a great experience to enjoy a luxurious room for just $75 or so for the night. Then the next morning, as we left Sapa, we would have been doing so after a great sleep in a big bed, a hot shower, and breakfast at the hotel. 

Best Time to Visit Sapa

Since you wanna make sure you cross off all of these things to do in Sapa, you’ll wanna make sure you visit at the right time of year. Sapa is a dream come true year-round; however, many people find this place absolutely brilliant when the rice paddies turn a brilliant green color.

This kinda unfortunately happens during the wet season, from May to September each year. It tends to only rain for a few hours each day, so if you plan your treks for after the rain is completed you should be able to stay relatively dry.

Therefore, the wet season is not a bad time to spend 3 days in Sapa at all, just note that July and August tend to be the rainiest (so maybe steer clear of those months). 

Coming a close second is the months of September and October. At this time of year, the rice harvest happens. You’ll be able to get a unique experience as the harvest takes place all around you, in addition to the rice fields turning a beautiful golden color.

Visiting in September or October may not get you the bright green rice fields that make Sapa pictures so stunning, but it will get you an incredible experience and some beautiful golden photos that are pretty darn special themselves.

What to Eat in Sapa

While exploring all the things to do in Sapa, and actually all of Vietnam, you would be crazy to miss out on some of the fantastic local cuisine.

For starters, the pho in Vietnam is a must-try. Coming from the USA, we don’t have much that compares to pho. It is part-noodle dish, part-soup, and it is FULLY delicious. While in Sapa, try every kind of pho you can get your hands on as all the different flavors will blow your mind. Vietnamese locals eat pho at all times of day.

To be honest, we found it a bit strange to be enjoying a bowl of pho right away in the morning. Pho felt more like a lunch or dinner menu item, however it was absolutely delicious and fueled our adventure each day!

Coming in second is something that we started each meal with: spring rolls. These are the perfect appetizer, whether served fresh or fried. We personally loved the vegetarian spring rolls, as they were made with locally grown fresh vegetables and went PERFECTLY with some yummy peanut sauce on the side.

The third thing you have to try in Sapa is a Banh Mi, which is essentially a Vietnamese sandwich. We say it is a sandwich, however that somehow diminishes how awesome these actually are. A Banh Mi consists of a baguette (traditionally baked with both rice and wheat flour), and is filled with a variety of ingredients – from meat, pickled vegetables, and chili peppers.

The Vietnamese cooking style balances sweet with spicy, and often adds many different colors to make a dish visually attractive as well as tasty. The Banh Mi is no exception, as this is a beautiful meal that makes for an excellent lunch whenever you get the chance.

Finally, we personally insist that you ask each and every waiter/waitress you have what they would recommend on the menu. 

In many cases, we did this and our server brought up a dish that we had never heard of and sure as heck would not have ordered on our own. However, these were some of the best dishes we enjoyed in Vietnam, especially in Sapa.

Whenever you are in doubt about what to do or eat, ask a local! They know best, and will almost always point you in the best possible direction.

A few additional foods to try in Sapa include:

• Cap Nach pork: a specialty of the mountainous region 
• Thang Co horse meat stew: traditional food of Hmoong people 
• Pau play day cake: made of glutinous rice and green peas
• Salmon Sour Hot Pot: and yes, Sapa’s cool enough for it!
• Tao Meo wine
• Khang Gai Dried Meat
• black forest mushrooms

Now let’s get to it – all the things to do in Sapa during your 3 days here!  

Quick Note: You could technically switch around the days in this quick guide to Sapa, but the following is a great starting point for your 3 days in Sapa!

An Ideal 3-Day Sapa Itinerary 

Sapa Itinerary Day 1: Explore the Rice Fields

First up on this Sapa itinerary – exploring the rice fields that the area is so well known for. You can’t spend 3 days in Sapa without spending ample time meandering throughout the lush, gorgeous landscapes of the rice fields on foot (I mean, that’s probably the main reason you’re visiting the area afterall!).

Therefore, that’s what we’re up to first on this Sapa itinerary! These iconic layered hills are what makes Sapa such a unique and special area, and they are worth at least a full day of exploration (aka don’t make other plans for this day). Since the roads aren’t great, visitors tend to trek on the well-maintained footpaths.

Once your belly is full and you have everything packed that you want to bring along (I highly recommend a camera, as well as a rain jacket just in case) then head out for the rice fields. Depending on the location of your hotel, you may have to drive or walk a bit to the rice terraces, or they may be right outside your door (lucky you!).

From our hotel, the Eco Palms House, we were able to walk outside our door and made our way through the many tracks and trails around the area. We stumbled upon a beautiful river, a bamboo forest, and of course got tons of amazing views of the rice fields and surrounding scenery in Sapa.

The best way to explore the rice fields is with a guide. For us, we were connected to a local guide service through our hotel. We recommend that you do the same – finding a local guide to the rice fields near where you are staying. Doing so will be both convenient for you and will promise a unique trip filled with interesting stories and local commentary.  

You can choose to book a guide ahead of time, or book once you arrive in Sapa. You’ll basically be bombarded by Hmong women offering trekking tours to their village, so there’s no shortage of options here. 

Editor’s Note: I tend to do a lot of research on tours and activities ahead of time, since I’m typically pretty rushed while traveling. If you’re the same, find some inexpensive trekking tours of Sapa here:

• 5 Hour Muong Hoa Valley Trek and Ethnic Tribes: Get back to nature and learn about rural life on a 5-hour trek through the Muong Hoa Valley. Meet local tribes and get stunning views of the most amazing rice terraces in Vietnam.

• Sapa Valley Trek with Local Village Visit: Trek through the Sa Pa valley and get stunning views of the terraced rice fields. Learn about the traditional customs of the different ethnic minority groups that live in the villages along the way.

However, if you’d rather not get a guide, you can trek the rice fields all on your own. The best trek to do on your own is in the Muong Hoa Valley, which can be easily reached from downtown Sapa.

Walk down Muong Hoa Street until you see a ticket counter, where you’ll be required to pay about $3 to enter the trek. From there, you’ll have the ability to choose any direction your heart desires, and you’ll be able to make the trip as short or as long as you wish. The Muong Hoa trek is basically one long and incredible viewpoint, with a constantly changing landscape. 

One note on hiking: In addition to customizing the length of your trek should you be going at it sans tour guide, the difficulty of the hikes can be as easy/hard as you’d like as well. Hiking vertically up and down the rice fields can be challenging,  meaning you’ll undoubtedly come across a lot of ascents and descents.

However, many trails go along the rice fields, without much elevation change, making the hiking much more tolerable if difficult isn’t in your vocabulary (no shame!). Of course, changing elevation will be harder, but it also leads to more unique views and landscapes!

After a full day of trekking through the rice fields, congratulate yourself with some rice wine or a local beer (or some tea if you need to wind down).

Sapa Itinerary Day 2: Mount Fansipan and Love Waterfall

Wake up early on Day 2 of this 3-day Sapa itinerary, as we’re headed off to Vietnam’s highest mountain – Mount Fansipan! It’s often dubbed ‘the Roof of Indochina’, since it’s not only the highest peak in Vietnam at 10k+ feet, but in the Indochinese Peninsula (including Laos and Cambodia as well).

And you betcha we’ll be heading to the top for views of swirling clouds and rice terraces below (this wouldn’t be a complete Sapa itinerary without urging you to visit Fansipan)! And out of all the things to do in Sapa, promise me you won’t miss the top of this mountain!

How to get to Fansipan: Fansipan is located about 30 minutes outside of Sapa, so if you don’t have a car, you’ll need to get a taxi. It’s typically very easy to order one through your hotel, and we were able to book for around $20 roundtrip from our hotel to Fansipan.

You can either choose to hike to the summit of Fansipan, or simply take the cable car.

Cable Car: What used to take visitors days and days of difficult trekking, now takes just about 20 minutes. It’s an easy 20 minute ride to the top from the gondola lift terminal (in Muong Hoa Valley). Cable cars hold up to 35 passengers, and run from 7:30am – 5:30pm every day. Try and get a window seat as the views are remarkable the entire way up!

It’s wise to wear comfy shoes as you’ll still need to walk up about 600 steps once you get outta the cable car in order to reach the actual top. You can opt to take the funicular rail if you don’t feel like getting a leg work out in.

Hiking: If you’re looking for a full-day adventure and wanna burn off all that pho you’ve been shoveling down, hike up to Fansipan! However, do note it’ll take about 10 hours of hiking to make it to the peak, and it is quite strenuous (and should only be attempted by those who are physically fit and up for the challenge).

You’ll want to start the hike early in the day, so it’s best to have your own car instead of relying on a taxi to get you there. Book a guided hike here – includes lunch, water, and a patient guide who knows the area and trekking spots well.

→ Book your 1 day Fansipan trekking tour here

No matter how you reach the summit, you’ll want to bring along some warm clothing, as the temperature decreases the higher you go. Consider carrying a jacket, scart, and hat. In addition, 

At the summit, there are religious statues and temples where you can explore and learn local culture and customs, while also sampling some delicious food. On top of Fansipan, you’ll be on top of the world, and you’ll literally be above the clouds (kinda like in Haleakala in Maui). It’s wild – the cloud formations change every few seconds.

When we visited Fansipan, the clouds were at a lower altitude than us, and the sky seemed to invert as we passed above the clouds. Suddenly, the clouds became the ground, and the sky was an open and beautiful blue. Therefore, don’t think that because a day is cloudy, it will be a bad day for Fansipan, it may just be the PERFECT day! Be sure to walk around the entire platform for the 360-degree views. 

After exploring Fansipan, head to Love Waterfall, which is located between Sapa and Fansipan. Be prepared for a short hike through the mountains, however, you’ll be able to get up close and personal to the waterfall after about 25 minutes. The entrance fee is 70VND, and is most definitely worth it.

If you’ve got extra time, be sure to check out Silver Waterfall, as they’re easily combinable.

Sapa Itinerary Day 3: Taking in the Culture + Sapa Market

Lastly on this Sapa itinerary, we’ll be immersing ourselves in the local Vietnamese culture, and of course enjoying the sites along the way. We explored a local village called Lao Chai (note, not Lao Cai, as in the place the train drops you off) and had the time of our lives.

We walked through town, learned about locals and their culture, and ate little snacks as we passed by cafes and restaurants.

Lao Chai was located in the heart of the rice fields, so of course we were also treated to stunning views of the rice fields, which will no doubt be one of the Sapa attractions you remember most fondly.

In addition, we found that there were TONS of animals as part of the local culture. Many of the families each had their own buffalo, multiple dogs, chickens and pigs! These animals roamed the town without fences or leashes, and everything felt completely normal and safe! 

We literally spent time walking with the local buffaloes, who were very comfortable around people, and enjoyed every minute of it. Just make sure to watch out for ‘buffalo chocolate’, as the locals called it, dotting the side of the road every now and then…(yes, we’re talking about poop).

After you spend the better part of a morning and afternoon exploring a local village and enjoying the views of rice fields, then take the rest of the day to head into the actual town of Sapa. While in Sapa, you must make time to enjoy the Sapa Market.

The vendors are selling everything from yummy snacks to awesome souvenirs, and everything in between! Feel free to barter, as this is an expected and welcome form of doing business throughout much of the country! 

Once you’ve explored all of the market, head for a fantastic dinner at one of Sapa’s fine restaurants. NHà Hàng Phố Núi Sapa, and Kingfisher Sapa are both absolutely wonderful, if you are looking for our opinion.

However, one of our favorite methods of deciding where to eat is to browse the city center and look at menus, searching for what food and ambience we would find most appealing that night. Once we’ve found something that looks great, we dive on in and typically have a lovely evening, and we are confident that you will too!

Which of these things to do in Sapa are you planning to add to your Sapa itinerary? 

This guest post was written in collaboration with Zach and Julie of Ruhls of the Road. Special thanks to Zach and Julie for sharing all their exceptionally knowledge with us!

The post Adventurous Things to do in Sapa: The Ultimate 3-Day Sapa Itinerary appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

The Gili islands are full of exquisite white sandy beaches, curious sea turtles, coconut palms, and more puka shells you’ve ever seen. It’s an absolute paradise and then some.

And being so close to Bali, you’d be crazy to miss out on these little islands during your stay in Indonesia, which is why I included it on our 10 day Bali itinerary! 

I promise you – after a few busy days in Bali, the Gili’s will feel like a breath of fresh air since you don’t have to do much to have a good ole time here. Think pool, beach, snorkeling, fresh fish, lots of cheap Bintangs, and 1 hour massages for $7 on repeat.

The Gili Islands are becoming one of Indonesia’s most popular destinations, so get here now before the masses. I mean, some even call it the “Maldives of Southeast Asia”, an area I’m dying to get to.

With the island’s laid-back, beachy vibe, inexpensive accommodations, lack of motorized traffic, and absolutely stunning sunsets, I get why they’re becoming so incredibly popular. 

This exceptional slice of paradise should be on every beach-lovers bucket list. Let’s dive right in!

Introduction to The Gili Islands

The Gilis (translated to “small islands” in the local Sasak language) are a group of 3 tiny idyllic islands located off the northwest coast of Lombok in the West Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. There are actually more small islands nearby, but most travelers refer to the Gilis as Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. 

All three islands boast white sandy beaches dotted with palm trees, plentiful coral reefs, tropical cocktails, a laid-back beachy vibe, and spectacular sunsets, so it’s hard to choose wrong.

However, although we’re talking about things to do in Gili Air in this blog post, there are some main differences that are important to highlight. This way, you can decide for yourself which island you think suits your style best. But psst – it’s super easy to take a day trip to the other islands, as they’re all relatively close by speed boat.

Gili Trawangan: Gili T (what it’s commonly called) is the largest and most developed of the three islands. It has a great food scene, complete with the Trawangan Night Market (a must-do if you’re nearby). 

And plus, it’s the westernmost Gili Island, so you can ensure the sunsets are nothing less than extraordinary.

Gili T is typically associated with loud late-night wild parties, with beach parties almost every single night, going well into the early morning. Because of this, you’ll find tons of foreign tourists looking to have a good time. If that’s not your thing, no worries (it’s not ours), you’ll probably like Gili Air or Meno better.

Gili Meno: Unlike Gili T, Gili Meno is great for honeymooners and those looking for a more private island experience. It’s the smallest and least developed of the three islands, with a handful of restaurants, a lesser number of tourists, a turtle sanctuary, and some of the best snorkeling in the area.

Plan to laze around in a hammock, read a book, and play chess with the locals. Looking to escape? Gili Meno may be just what you’re looking for.

Gili Air: We chose to stay on Gili Air, and LOVED our few days here (honestly, it was just the best, minus the cidomos, which I’ll talk about later).

Gili Air is a good balance between the other two, meaning its definitely developed but not as super touristy and rowdy as Gili T, but has more going on than the quiet Gili Meno. There are numerous restaurants to choose from, a handful of dive schools, and local boutique shops.

You’ll still find lots of locals residing on Gili Air, in traditional and authentic villages and huts, with locally produced goods and crafts for sale.

And plus, Gili Air is the closest of the three to Lombok, so supperrr easy to get to if you’re coming from the main island, only taking about 15-20 minutes (like we were since we had flown in after spending a few days in Komodo National Park).

When to Visit Gili Air (Crowds and Weather)

Being a tropical island and all, the temperatures don’t change much throughout the year. You’ll find high temps of 75 – 90 degrees F and lots of sunshine no matter what, so bring along that sunscreen! It’s hot and sticky year round (helloooo high humidity), although cloud cover does change depending on when you visit.

Do note that Gili Air (and the Gilis in general) experience two distinct seasons: wet and dry, like most of SouthEast Asia. There’s never a horrible time to visit, but I’ve provided a bit more detail about the different seasons below.

Peak Season: June – August, and December – January

The months of June – August and December – January (particularly around the holidays) are by far the busiest months of the islands, so be sure to book hotels in advance. Yes, the prices surge and it may be quite windy, but you’re basically guaranteed beautiful blue skies and sunny weather.

For reference, we visited in mid-July and couldn’t have asked for better temps – it was perfect bathing suit weather and we basically lived in our sunnies and shorts.

Shoulder Season: May and September

If I had to pinpoint the absolute best time to visit Gili Air and the islands in general, the months of May and September win by a long shot. Not only have the crowds either not shown up just yet (May) or have dissipated (September), but you’ll find more reasonable prices and still typically dry weather.

Wet season: late October – late March

If a bit of rain doesn’t scare you, a visit to the Gilis during the wet season may not be all that bad. Besides being especially quieter during this time of year (apart from Christmas and New Years of course), it hardly rains all day. You’ll typically find short bursts of rain in the afternoon, with many blue skies before and after.

With that being said, you’ll want to plan your beach time in the morning to avoid possible showers (and thunderstorms) later on in the day.

Do note that the water visibility will be slightly less than during the dry season, so just something to keep in mind if you’re planning on doing a lot of snorkeling and/or diving.

How long to stay on the Gili Islands

We stayed just two nights on Gili Air, and probably would have enjoyed a third. With that being said, we spent the majority of our time on Gili Air, and didn’t take day trips to the other islands (besides Gili Meno for a short lunch during our snorkel tour). If you really want to slow down and find the ultimate relaxation you’re craving, I’d suggest 4-5 days. 

Also – remember: if you’re planning on getting your PADI certification here, you’ll most likely need to devote 2-3 days to doing just that, plus 24 hours after your last dive before you can fly back to Bali (or wherever your travels may take you).

How to Get to Gili Air

Note that there are no airports within the Gili Islands, with the closest one being in Lombok (the island directly east of the Gilis). This just means you’ll have to arrive by boat!

Pro-Tip: most boats pull up on the beaches, but you’ll probably need to wade ashore. Probably not a good idea to wear sneakers on this journey!

Bali to Gili Air:

There are a few different boat/ferry companies to take you to the Gili Islands, but I highly encourage you to book a fast boat with Blue Water Express. They are a very reputable company, and after experiencing some pretty rough seas (I still can’t believe we went out – those swells were insane), I’m so glad we didn’t take the public boat. Yes, Blue Water Express is obviously more expensive, but so worth it to me for the 1-2 hour boat ride (plus free pickup at your hotel if I recall). 

FYI – if you’re traveling in July/August (like we were), the waters in the Lombok Strait (connecting Bali and Lombok) may be particularly bumpy (due to intense southern winds), so bring along some medicine if you’re prone to sea sickness.

Although there’s usually an early morning option, I’d opt for the later one around 11am, so you don’t need to rush for checkout (and plus, you’ll have enough time on the Gili’s if you follow this Bali itinerary, I promise). Depending on where you’re staying in Bali the night before, you can choose to depart from either South Bali (Serangan Harbor) or East Bali (Padang Bai). 

Other popular/established fast boat options from Bali include Eka Jaya Fast Boat and Scoot Fast Cruises. I’d choose one of those if tickets on Blue Water Express are sold out.

Psst – traveling during high season? Book your ferry ticket in advance as they are known to sell out for weeks.

If you’re looking to save a few bucks, you can take the public ferry (if you must). However, be prepared for a super long day. You’ll first need to take a boat from Padang Bai to Lombok, which takes about 5 hours, and then take a taxi to the port and then another ferry to the Gili Islands.

So much of a hassle, and if you’re on a tight schedule, not an option I recommend, considering total travel time is about 8 hours (compared to 2-3 hours when booking yourself on a fast boat ferry company, like above).

Lombok to Gili Air:

Follow this plan if you’ll already be exploring Lombok, as it doesn’t make much sense otherwise (i.e. if you’re coming directly from Bali). Public ferry boats to the Gilis leave from Bangsal Harbor, whereas the more expensive (albeit very popular) speed boat charters leave from Teluk NareTeluk Kade. Like the route from Bali to Gili Air, you’ll find fast boats to be more comfortable and much quicker than the public ferry.

We actually headed to the Gili’s from Komodo via Lombok, so flew into Lombok International Airport and had a private driver pick us up and drive us to Teluk Nare, where we had a charter waiting for us.

How to Get Around Gili Air

You may be surprised to hear that there are no motorized vehicles (or paved roads!) on any of three Gili Islands. And yes, I absolutely loved it! You’ll find everyone biking and walking around the islands, as well as taking horse carts from time to time (called cidomos by the locals).

And thankfully, many hotels provide bike rentals free of charge, including our hotel, The Pink Coco.  The islands are small enough to just bike and walk, but you may wanna take a cidomo to help transport your luggage.

When we first arrived by ferry to the Gili Air port, we took a horse cart to carry us and our luggage to our hotel, the Pink Coco. We learned later that day that the walk takes about 20 minutes without bags (alongside the beautiful beach), although through some sandy spots, so it wouldn’t have made for an exciting afternoon lugging our stuff there.

I was honestly pretty upset with the conditions of the horses and how they were treated. At times I saw the cart drivers use whiplashes to keep the horses in check, which was quite disturbing to say the least (and broke my heart).

Because of this, we opted to walk as much as we possibly could, only using the horses twice – to and from the port with our luggage (and even then that felt like too much). 

What to Pack 

You guessed correctly – you’ll need to pack similarly to any other tropical island getaway. Don’t forget your swimsuits, light/airy clothing (it gets hot here!), sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, and mosquito repellent/bug spray. A dry-bag’s a good idea if you’ll be doing any boating, including snorkeling and/or diving.

Women will need to wear cover ups over bathing suits, so packing a sarong or two would be particularly helpful. Ladies, bring tampons if you’ll need them, as I heard they’re pretty tough to find in town.

In addition, it’s important to note that there are no hospitals on any of the Gili Islands, so be sure to bring any medications you may think you’ll need for your trip, including a dose of antibiotics in case you get the dreaded Bali Belly (food poisoning). There are clinics and pharmacies, however supplies are limited with no options.

Gili Air Accommodation: Where to Stay

Accommodation on the Gilis in general are pretty basic, and you won’t find many luxury hotels or chain options over here. While the hotels were MUCH more developed than the beach huts we stayed in over on San Blas in Panama, they still seemed to be lacking some amenities we’d typically find in the states, although there’s tons of variety for what you’re looking for.

And thankfully, most of the accommodation options on the islands are budget-friendly, with most being under $100/night and plenty under $50.

*You’ll need to decide which island you want to base yourself on (outta 3 main ones). We chose Gili Air, and loved our decision.

For reference, there’s Gili Trawangan (commonly called Gili T), which is the largest, liveliest, and most developed island, with tons of late-night beachside parties and lots of drinking (apparently).

Gili Air, where we stayed, is a bit more low-key, but there’s still a whole slew of restaurants, bars, and relaxed nightlife (think listening to live music on the beach in some bean bag chairs while sipping some Bintangs – the local beer).

And finally there’s Gili Meno, the smallest of the islands, for those who just wanna get away from it all (it’s by far the quietest of the bunch without much nightlife).

Where we stayed: PinkCoco Gili Air

To say we fell in love with the Pink Coco is a huge understatement. There’s just something about it that we found ourselves drawn to immediately. From all the pink accents to the breakfast overlooking the beach, it was the perfect place to rest our heads while on Gili Air.

And plus – all the staff were especially helpful and accommodating (when we had a mishap with our bags). It didn’t hurt that our room was just steps from the scenic pool, which was covered in palm trees and where we spent the bulk of our time while on the islands. HIGHLY recommended, and one of my husband’s favorite hotels of all time (his words).

In high season (mid-July), I think we paid about $85 per night at the Pink Coco Gili Air, which we thought was an absolute steal considering how beautiful the pool area was.

Other places to stay on Gili Air: Captain Coconuts Gili Air (super lush), Jago Gili Air (new and modern), and Slow Villas (a chic, rustic feel). 

A few important notes on culture over here

• The Gili Islands are Muslim, so be sure to cover up once you leave the beach. No bikinis are allowed in the town area. And definitely not any topless sunbathing (highly, highly frowned upon – please, be respectful)! Plan to dress comfortably yet somewhat conservative.
• Most shops will kindly ask you to remove your shoes before entering. Please be respectful and do so.
• And just FYI, you’ll hear the Mosque calls of prayer a few times throughout the day. 

Extra Gili Air tips: 

• There are a few ATMS on the island. However, I’d still bring some cash with you. You never know when they won’t work or run out of cash to dispense (yes, it happens on occasion).
• You cannot drink the water – bottled is the way to go.
• There’s no police station (and therefore, no police officers) on the Gili’s, meaning that drugs (including but not limited to: mushrooms, marijuana, ecstasy, etc) are not hard to come by (and actually advertised on the street). Be smart!
• Power may go out on occasion (it’s a small island and they need to save electricity). Know that this is normal, and just go about your regular day.

• Wifi is not the strongest on the island, but you’ll find some cafes and restaurants have strong connections.
• Cows, chickens, and cats are everywhere. Let them be and be patient and let them cross if they’re in the road when you need to get by.
• There’s also flies everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Pack bug spray and reapply it often.
• Pack a dry bag for snorkeling. Just do it.

Things to do in Gili Air

1. Snorkel around the Gilis

No trip to the Gili’s would be complete without exploring its vast underwater world, so plan a day to go snorkeling! Gili Air actually means “water island” in Indonesian! You can either pre-book or book once you get to the island (we were spontaneous and booked the day before while walking to our hotel).

Book ahead here if you’d like to ensure a spot and not get jammed in on a beat up boat like we were (with janky masks and snorkels as well).

Most snorkel tours visit Turtle Point (for you guessed it, turtle spotting), near Gili Meno to see the underwater statues, and another spot or two with coral gardens to see a wide array of tropical fish. I saw a few turtles (my favorite) as well as tons of colorful fish.

A quick note on turtles and underwater life in general: NEVER attempt to chase/touch/pet/feed turtles, as human contact can give them diseases and make them sick. Admire these beauties, (and get your photos), but NEVER at the expense of the animal. PLEASE keep wildlife WILD. 

The area near the statues was unbelievably crowded, as there were quite a few boats there when we were. However, if you know how to free dive (dive below the water without your snorkel), you can easily escape some of the crowds on the water’s surface.

For reference, our boat left around 9:30am or so for snorkeling, stopped on Gili Meno for some lunch, and we returned back to Gili Air at our hotel around 3ish or so. It was the perfect few hours, and we were able to relax poolside before freshening up for a beachside dinner a bit later.

2. Go Diving

If you’re a diving enthusiast, you’ll absolutely LOVE the Gili’s. They’re a true divers dream come true, with all the opportunities to see impressive arrays of marine life. Think clownfish, barracuda, angelfish, triggerfish, pufferfish, and schools of damselfish over the corals.

Besides tons of colorful, tropical fish, there’s sea turtles, black and white tip reef sharks, manta and eagle rays, and the occasional whale shark. The conditions are great year round (including warm water, meaning no need for a wetsuit), there’s diving suitable for all levels, and an abundance of turtles. If that doesn’t make any diver happy, I don’t know what does. 

Popular dive sites in the Gili Islands include Shark Point (where you’ll have a good chance of spotting larger marine life, think moray eels, reef sharks, and huge green turtles), Turtle Heaven (for you guessed it – an insane amount of turtles), Simon’s Reef (with tons of barrel sponges and gorgonian fans usually with pygmy seahorses), and Deep Turbo (a favorite among many divers with its stunning coral garden).

For reference, a typical day dive will set you back roughly 540,000IDR (~$40USD), with night and other types of dives costing a tad more. If you’d like to pre-book, this option includes 2 dive sites and hotel transfers for a great price.

And even if you aren’t scuba-certified and wanna take a stab at diving, you can either try it out in the pool or do a discover scuba class (which I did in Santorini on our honeymoon years back!), which only takes ½ day. Practice in the pool is free, while a Discover scuba class is 950,000 IDR (~$70USD). Read more about Discover Scuba and sign up here.

3. Get your PADI certificate

The Gili Islands are the perfect place to get your PADI certificate, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of becoming an avid scuba diver, now’s your chance. It’s by far one of the best things to do in Gili Air, especially for all you water lovers. There’s a bunch of dive schools right in town, including Ocean 5 Dive, Manta Dive Gili Air, and Gili Air Divers. 

A “Scuba Diver” dive certificate takes two days to complete, consisting of theory, pool sessions, and 2 open water dives in the ocean (~4.5 million IDR = ~$330USD). If you want your open water course certificate (giving you full knowledge of scuba diving), it’ll take 3-4 days, depending on the dive shop, consisting of an additional few requirements (~5.5 million IDR = ~$400USD). 

And while you’re at it, why not join a reef and/or beach clean up with Ocean 5? We all gotta do our part to help the environment!

4. Shopping

Believe it or not, this tiny island has a handful of super cute beach and surf boutiques and beach front stalls.  You will definitely not find any malls or bustling markets.

However, what you will find is an eclectic mix of tropical-inspired beach wear, sarongs, bamboo hats, hand woven tops, coconut oil, casual summer dresses, handmade jewelry, and natural spa products.

Funny story (well, kinda); our bags got lost on the way to Gili Air from Komodo (the planes are tiny, it happens), and we therefore had no clothes. Off to the shops it was to buy bathing suits! I found the best stuff at Da Beach Shack, Sunkissed, and Kartini.

If you’re in need of toiletries, soft drinks, groceries, snacks, etc, head inland to Siti Store; it’s the largest grocery/convenience store in Gili Air.

5. Get Super-cheap massages on the beach

Who got hour-long foot massages 4 times in 3 days? This gal right here. Walk up and down the beach and you’ll come across numerous spas offering treatments such as back/neck massages, foot massages, mani/pedis, etc, all for ridiculously low prices. Think 100,000 IDR for 60 minutes of pure bliss (yup, that’s about ~$7USD).

We felt like we were in Thailand again and we were loving every second of it. There’s also a few more luxurious spas on the island, including Slow Spa Gili Air, which I’m dying to get to our next visit to Gili Air.

6. Listen to Late-night live music

Despite having a more laid-back party scene than Gili T, there’s still lots to do at night on Gili Air. I mean, what’s better than sipping a Bintang on a bean bag chair on the beach, while listening to live music for hours? Exactly – not much.

Throw back a few local beers, or sip on fresh coconuts and just relish in that sweet, sweet island life. A few spots known for their live music on Gili Air include: Sunset Zipp Bar, Bel Air, Cheeky Monkeys (a live DJ), Gili Lumbung, Puri Vida (reggae), Legend Bar (trance music), and Luckys (electronic). 

7. A meal (or happy hour) at Mowies Gili Air

While there are a few top foodie spots to check out while in Gili Air (more info below), you’ve gotta get yourself to Mowies. Here you’ll find lots of healthy choices (including plenty of vegan/vegetarian options), including juicy jackfruit tacos, nasi goreng, curries, tuna burgers, great smoothies, fresh juices, and cocktails.

The vibe is utterly amazing (I swear, the island is so chill), and you can watch the sunset/eat on bean bags.

8. Watch the Sunset on the West side of the Island

I swear, sunsets in Indonesia are some of the best on the planet – the entire sky lights up and everyone just stares in awe. On clear nights you’ll even see Bali’s Mount Agung off in the distance.

You’ll find a whole slew of beach bars and restaurants along the west coast for sunset. Great spots to watch include Mowies (considered to be #1 by expats), Ombak Gili Air, and Gili Lumbing.  You may even encounter fire twirlers, live bands, reggae tunes, outdoor movies, etc.

No matter where you watch, go a bit early for happy hour, snag a bean bag, and watch the fiery sun fall beneath the gentle waves. 

 If you’re a sucker for sunrises and sunsets like I am, please spend a few days in Komodo National Park before/after visiting Gili. So much magic.

9. Rent a bicycle and ride around the island

One of the best ways to see the island? Rent a bike! Since there are no motorized vehicles on the island, so many people (both locals and visitors) get around by renting bikes! I recommend a bike with fat tires as they go over the sand easier, and a basket to carry your snorkel/beach gear if you’ll be beach hopping.

It only takes about an hour to cycle around the perimeter of Gili Air, with lots of stunning views of Lombok’s Mt. Rinjani for a good portion of the ride. If you ride inland, expect to see a bunch of free-roaming cows and fields of palm trees.

Expect to pay about 70-100,000 IDR per day, ~$7USD, you can negotiate, especially if you have multiple people renting bikes and/or want to rent for a few days). Some resorts offer free bike rentals (including ours, The PinkCoCo).

10. Watch some Movies on the beach

Looking for a low-key night (or perhaps after sunset/happy hour and before lounging in front of live music)? Head to an outdoor beach cinema complete with multi-colored bean bags at either Ombak Paradise (on the west side) or Bel Air (on the east side) at 8pm on select nights (you’ll probably see flyers advertising which movies are playing).

Sounds like a good way to spend a few hours on the beach.

11. Take an Indonesian cooking class

Wish you could learn the secrets to the local cuisine? Think Mie Goreng (fried noodles with chicken), authentic peanut sauce, fried tempeh, and kelopon (a famous Indo dessert), and more. I so wish we had done this; hopefully next time!

And thankfully, there’s two cooking classes on the island to pick from: 

If you don’t mind venturing to the north, check out Hero’s class at Warung Sunny. For a super reasonable price of 250,000IDR (~$18USD), you’ll be taught local flavors by a local guy for over 2 hours in an unpretentious wooden shack.

If you’d rather stay in town, next to Oceans 5 Dive Resort, there’s Gili Cooking Classes. Depending on which class you sign up for you, you’ll make a delicious 3-6 course meal complete with famous Indonesian dishes. The classes start at 290,000IDR (~$21USD), so a great deal as well.

12. Swing over the ocean

I’m sorry, but you CANNOT come to Gili and not swing over the ocean. These swings have become an instagram sensation in recent years, and make for phenomenal photos! You’ll find a few walking along the beach, our favorite being the swing at PinkCoco (where we stayed).

Just be careful getting on, as you’ll need to wade through the water and rocky sand, and it’s harder than it looks during high tide. I fully expected there to be lines of instagrammers looking to take that perfect shot, but I was actually the first to get on!

Where (and what) to eat on Gili Air

For such a tiny island, there’s a great deal of Gili Air restaurants. Food is relatively cheap and plentiful, as are fruit juices, smoothies, coconuts, and local beers. 

For breakfast, we loved Coffee and Thyme (super cute setting) and Gili Bliss (for refreshing smoothie bowls). We had a nice breakfast at PinkCoco one morning overlooking the beach which I also loved. I heard good things about Aura Bowls and Breadelicious, but we didn’t have time to go (not enough mornings to try everything).

For lunch and dinner, we enjoyed meals at Mowie’s, and also heard that Captain Coconuts, Pachamama, Scallywags Beach Club, Chill Out Bar, Warung Mexicana, and Warung Sunny are especially tasty as well. You’ll also find a bunch of restaurants along the water serving up BBQ’d fish, caught just that day.

There’s a whole slew of local warungs both in town and around the island for super cheap meals. Be sure to try both Nasi Campur and Nasi Goreng, local dishes consisting of either rice or noodles with toppings (think noodles, eggs, chicken, tofu, veggies).

I hope this Gili Air travel blog was helpful! Are you visiting the islands soon?! Which of these things to do in Gili Air will you be adding to your must-do’s?! 

The post Things to do in Gili Air: Beachy Vibes, Fresh Cocos, and Island Life appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.

Everyone visits Komodo National Park in Indonesia to see one thing and one thing only – the dragons. And for good reason – Komodo’s the only spot in the world to meet them! But what many don’t realize is that the Komodo islands are oh so much more than these giant monitor lizards. 

In our 3 days on our Komodo island tour, we swam and snorkeled in crystal clear turquoise waters, jumped into the Flores Sea from our two-story boat, watched millions of bats fly overhead at sunset, hiked up ~1,000 steps for the most spectacular sunrise views, and wandered/relaxed around pink sand beaches. 

We watched the sunrise and sunset in the same day, woke up to luminous blue waters surrounding our boat, drank fresh fruit juice at every meal, and forever gazed at green volcanic mountains jutting out of the sea.

To say our Komodo trip was nothing short of spectacular is an understatement – heck, we kiiiinda loved Komodo even more than we loved Bali (and we fell head over heels for that place).

There’s just something to be said about waking up to gentle waves, sailing to new islands and sandbars every few hours, witnessing the most dramatic sunset, and sleeping beneath the brilliant stars on comfy bean bags come nightfall. And then doing it alllll over again the next day.

Komodo National Park’s even been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, along with already being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And this diverse location in Indonesia surely deserves all its accolades and then some! It’s downright dreamy.

However, planning a trip to the Komodo islands can be all kinds of confusing. If you follow my advice you’ll be visiting a whole slew of islands in the National Park, not just Komodo (which is the main island and the largest of them all).

After reading this lengthy guide (I know, I know, I’m beyond wordy), I hope it’s the one and only Komodo island blog post you’ll need to plan your trip. Am I missing something? Please let me know down below in the comments! I write these guides for you guys to have the best trip possible!

***Note that the Indonesian government will temporarily close Komodo Island in January 2020 to help preserve/protect the remaining dragons, with no reopening dates announced just yet. HOWEVER, don’t fret, ONLY Komodo Island will close to tourists (and thankfully not the entire National Park, there are numerous other islands).

You can still see Komodo dragons on Rinca Island (where we went), as well as visit all the other islands we visited (including Pink Beach, Padar, Kanawa, etc). We didn’t even go to Komodo Island on our Komodo tour (nope, not even once!). So yes, this means you can still take the same trip I did and see the same exact sights.

Komodo Trip Planning Logistics

Where is Komodo National Park anyways?

If you gave me a world map a few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you in the slightest bit where Komodo Island could be found. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t even know it was in Indonesia (facepalm; I can’t be the only one).

Now I can thankfully not only give the general vicinity of Komodo, but I can pin-point its exact location as well. How’s that for progress?!

If you haven’t figured this out by now (no judgements), Komodo National Park is part of the Indonesian archipelago.

It’s located between Lombok and Flores, and is a few islands east of everyone’s favorite, Bali. The park is comprised of three main islands: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca (you’ll probably visit all 3 on your Komodo tour), as well as 26 smaller, less frequented ones. 

When to Visit Komodo

Komodo essentially has two distinct seasons – the dry season and the rainy season.

This comes as no surprise, but you’ll want to visit Komodo National Park during the area’s dry season, occurring between April and December. The weather is pretty much perfect – not toooo hot, and with very little to no rain whatsoever. If you’re hoping for that lush greenery on the volcanoes, plan a visit between April and June, as you’ll find comfortable temps, cool, fresh air at night, and calm seas.

Do note that it’s technically most crowded in July and August, although we didn’t feel this much (except for our sunrise trek up Padar Island).

A visit during the rainy season (December to March, with February being the peak of monsoon season) will result in rainy, wet days, making walking paths uncomfortably muddy and difficult to trek around. Heavy rainfall, strong wind, and big waves are common, so avoid this time if that doesn’t sound your like idea of fun. 

And thankfully, no matter when you visit, you can see Komodo dragons. Do note that July and August is the height of Komodo mating season, meaning you may witness a male dragon fighting to get attention from a female. We actually saw two dragons mating, although they were doing their thang in private under a large structure, so we couldn’t really see much of the action. :p

Another dragon was guarding her eggs, although I don’t really know why they do so since they’re known to eat some of their young anyways!

How Long to Stay in Komodo

Many travelers opt to spend a few nights on a Komodo tour. We slept two nights on a liveaboard boat, and another two nights in Labuan Bajo (1 night before the Komodo island tour and one night afterwards), making our total trip 3 days (5 if you include arrival and departure days) and 4 nights.

And trust me – 3 days in Komodo is the perfect amount of time to witness the sunrise and sunset from the deck of the boat, numerous times. However, we could have stayed an extra few nights, it was that comfortable! 

With all that being said, I think spending 2 and a half days will suffice, especially if you booked yourself on a fully equipped Komodo tour package which takes you to the best spots in the National Park (like we did). We were thankful we had a ½ day to relax at our resort (the oh so beautiful Ayana Komodo) after trekking around in the hot hot sun for a few days.

And if you’re a serious diver, you’ll probably want to spend an extra day or so doing your thing, as Komodo is a haven for all kinds of underwater life. We unfortunately don’t our scuba certs, so I can’t report much on all things diving for ya.

How to Get to the Komodo Islands

Note that if the Komodo Islands are your final destination and you aren’t interested in spending a few days (or more) in Bali, you’ll first need to get yourself to Bali anyways. 

Komodo National Park is roughly an hour flight plus a 2 hour boat ride away from Bali, and although it’s kiiiinda a pain to get to, it’s 1000% worth it, and then some. Keep reading, you’ll see.

Coming from Bali → By Far The Best Option

If you’re headed to the Komodo Islands from Bali like we were, it’s easiest to hop on a quick 1 hour, 15 minute flight over. You’ll need to get yourself to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, the main gateway to Komodo National Park.

Thankfully, there’s heaps of daily, nonstop flights available from Bali (DPS) to Labuan Bajo Airport (LBJ) on Flores Island. We ended up on a flight with NAM airlines for about $100 roundtrip, but note that there are also direct flights on Wings Air and Garuda Indonesia as well. 

And trust me – that flight over to the Komodo Islands will be one of the most scenic you’ll ever experience (atolls and reefs every step of the way, especially once you get closer to the National Park). Don’t give up your window seat for just anyone — I had my eyes peeled to the glass the whole time!

Once you’re on Flores situated in Labuan Bajo, the Komodo Islands are just a quick-ish boat ride away.

For visual learners like myself: Bali airport (DPS) → flight to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) on Flores Island → taxi into town → boat to Komodo Islands

Psst: you can actually take a ferry over to Flores from Bali, but a 36 hour trip through treacherous waters doesn’t sound very appealing to me.

Coming from Lombok → Possible, but not the best choice

If you’re coming from Lombok, you’ll also find flights as well, although many make a stop in Bali (kinda silly, but that’s airlines for ya). After doing a bit of research, it looks like there’s ONE direct flight on Wings Air per day, so snatch that up if you’re able to (check LOP → LBJ).

If you really prefer not to head back to Bali and can’t catch a nonstop flight, you can also take a 24 hour bus/ferry combo (ouch), or a 4 day/4 night snorkeling boat trip (with conditions which I heard aren’t all that great). Just come from Bali if you can.

How to Get Around Komodo National Park

*Psst: There are only a handful of hotels on the Komodo Islands (which get booked up quite far in advance), and you’re only allowed to visit Komodo Island with an official guide and park ranger.

Meaning you’ll absolutely 100% NEED to book a tour (this isn’t a DIY type of trip, although there are Komodo tours for all price points). There are plenty of options for staying in Labuan Bajo, don’tchu worry.

You’ve basically got two options when it comes to touring around Komodo National Park. And no, since Komodo National Park is an archipelago (a group of islands), you cannot drive around yourself (ha!). 

Option #1. Basing yourself in the town of Labuan Bajo (the main gateway for the park) and taking day trips to the different islands of Komodo.

If you’re choosing this option I’d highly recommend finding tours ahead of time and getting yourself on those. I mean, how often are you gonna be visiting Komodo National Park? Might as well get on the exact ones you want, right?

If you’re more of a last-minute planner (I most definitely am not), you can show up in Labuan Bajo and book tours directly in the town itself once you arrive, but there’s no guarantee your preferred dates will be available. My advice? Just book tours ahead of time for some peace of mind.

Tours to check out beforehand:

• Best of Komodo Island Hopping: You’ll 100% want to do a full day Best of Komodo tour (like this one or this one), as they go to a bunch of the hot spots, including Padar Island, Pink Beach, Kanawa Island, Taka Makassar, and of course, Komodo Island. If you only have time to do one tour during your time in Komodo, make it this one.

• Sunset tour at Kalong Island: Watching the flying foxes/bats (by the millions I might add) fly overhead at sunset is just one of those “must do” things in Komodo. Don’t miss it (book here).

• Komodo Diving: And if you’re a driver, definitely check this out. The underwater life in Komodo is just teeming with excitement – it’s a known hotspot for divers!

• Cave Tour on Flores Island:  If we had extra time I would have definitely wanted to take this cave tour on Flores Island near Labuan Bajo. There’s always a next time for us, but you can check it out now! And be sure to report back and lemme know how it is!

Option #2. Finding a Komodo island tour, inclusive of meals, island hopping, snorkeling equipment, and of course, accommodation on the boat.

This is essentially a complete Komodo tour package (meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing once you get yourself to Labuan Bajo). Most of these Komodo tours are 3 days and 2 nights, but you can easily find one for 1 or 3 nights instead, depending on your interests and time availability. Komodo island tours vary in price, with the average being approximately $100 or so per day.

Psst – As you could have guessed after reading about me gushing about the boat so much, we chose the second option and absolutely loooooved it. I can’t imagine staying in Labuan Bajo and missing out on boat life! For reference, we chose a 2-day/3-night liveaboard, and felt like it was the perfect amount of time. 

And now for some not-so-fun-yet-highly-necessary stuff:

HEALTH:

Malaria pills: Unlike Bali and other parts of Indonesia, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about taking malaria pills if you’re planning a trip to the Komodo Islands, as malaria is quite common in these parts of the country. Key words: talk to your doctor (I ain’t a doc and I don’t pretend to be one).

We both chose to take malaria pills – we figure, better to be safe than sorry (and plus, I typically get eaten alive, although I only managed to get a handful of mosquito bites on our trip #notcomplaining).

Vaccinations: The CDC states that all travelers to Indonesia should be up to date on routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, chickenpox, pollo, flu shot).

In addition, it’s also wise to get the Hep A, Hep B, and typhoid vaccination as well (some of these are good for years, so if you plan to do a lot of traveling to other undeveloped countries, you’ll probably need them there – might as well get them now and keep yourself protected always). As always, talk to your doctor.

Water: Do note that you absolutely cannot drink the water in Labuan Bajo or the Komodo area in general; you’ll find that all hotels/restaurants and Komodo tours provide fresh drinking water (either bottled or from large treated water jugs).

Because of the unsafe water, Bali belly is quite common – which is just a fancy name for food poisoning. We had no problem while in Labuan Bajo or with the food on our liveaboard. You may want to ask your doctor for a prescription of Ciprofloxacin for serious travelers diarrhea in case you find yourself with any disturbing stomach issues. We always pack immodium as well, just in case.

SAFETY:

Travel insurance: Yes, you need this. I always recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip. You never know what might happen (flight delays, lost baggage, illness), and travel insurance definitely helps with all of those unfortunate unexpectancies.

I highly recommend the company SafetyWing. I’ve recently been buying coverage with SafetyWing since they cover pandemic-related costs (which most travel insurance companies do not do).

Whenever we travel, we always buy a short term plan (depending on how many days/weeks we’ll be away) before leaving for any trip! Even if you don’t end up using it, peace of mind is 100% worth it in my opinion. Find plan options and pricing here (and at only a few bucks a day, there’s no excuse not to!) I always say, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford your trip. It’s that easy.

Dragons: I can’t have a safety section and not mention the dragons. I mean, they’re called dragons for a reason.

However, fear not; visiting them on Komodo Island isn’t as scary as I initially perceived it to be – we casually strolled around (with an official park ranger of course) and saw the dragons lazing on the grounds, caring about us humans for less than .2 seconds. It was actually a bit anticlimactic to tell you the truth (yet still terrifying at the same time).

Their diet mostly consists of deer (and other large-ish mammals like the water buffalo – yup!); however, Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans, which is why it’s oh soooo very important to do EXACTLY WHAT YOUR GUIDE SAYS. With shark-like teeth and poisonous venom, a bite from a Komodo dragon can kill a person within hours.

I don’t say this to scare you (or deter you from visiting), I just want you to understand the significance of not following directions. Just stay with your guide at all times and you’ll be golden.

A Note for the Ladies: You may wanna plan your trip around your cycle/period/menstruation (whatever you wanna call it). The dragons can smell blood from miles away, and are more prone to attack. If you can’t alter your plans to fit around this time of the month, be sure to ask your guide/park ranger the best course of action.

It’s possible they may advise to skip a visit to see the dragons. This may seem silly, but it’s no joke! Komodo dragons occasionally attack humans, although this is relatively uncommon (and guides will use all precautions to keep visitors safe). I’m pretty sure one girl on our trip was on her period (I overheard her talking to our guide), and she said it was ok to come along.

While no one will be checking of course, I’d highly advise you to disclose this information to your guide just in case.

An Extra Note on the Komodo Dragons

Can’t visit Komodo National Park without hanging out with a few dragons, right?! These dinosaur-esque looking creatures are endemic to the Komodo Islands and are a very rare species, meaning you can’t see them anywhere else in the world! There are about 5,700 dragons left in the wild, and they’re all over here in this stunning part of Indonesia.

Being the largest and most lethal lizard on Earth, they can weigh as much as 300 pounds, with some growing as long as 10 feet! The dragons are not only carnivorous, but cannibalistic as well! Since the dragons are known to eat their young, not many survive, which is a prime reason for their endangeredness. 

As noted earlier, Komodo Dragons are dangerous creatures, so be sure to stay with your guide (always) and follow all their safety instructions. Below are clear instructions we were given:

• Never look a Komodo dragon directly in the eye
• Keep your head down
• Stay together with your group (at all times)
• One ranger leads the group while another is at the back end
• Walk only on the specified trail
• Never go to the bathroom alone

Where to Stay on Labuan Bajo

If you’re planning to book a liveaboard Komodo tour like we did (sleeping on the boat and all that jazz), you’ll need to sleep in Labuan Bajo the night before. You don’t really have a choice, as flights don’t arrive early enough and you definitely won’t make it there by ferry in time. Since the Komodo tours start pretttyyyy early in the morning, getting to Flores island and Labuan Bajo in particular the night beforehand is a must. Don’t wanna miss your boat!

We decided to check out two different spots on Labuan Bajo → one before our Komodo tour package started (Le Pirate), and one once the Komodo island tour was finished (Ayana Komodo).

I planned it quite strategically, staying at the less expensive option the first night (since we were planned to arrive in Labuan Bajo around sunset and were getting picked up early the next morning – meaning not much actual time to enjoy the hotel) and a much more lux spot the last night (when we knew we would have much more time to actually enjoy the amenities).

Le Pirate Labuan Bajo: That first night before the Komodo tour started we stayed at the simple Le Pirate Labuan Bajo, which turned out to be a-okay, especially considering it cost about $60 a night and had a rooftop bar and pool (we saved our pennies for the resort afterwards).

It was that first night we witnessed our first Komodo sunset – and it was absolutely surreal. SO. MUCH. COLOR. All from the roof of our little hotel. There are dorm style rooms and private rooms to choose from.

Ayana Komodo: Once the trip was over, we checked into the Ayana Komodo, and it was by far one of our favorite hotels on our entire trip to Indonesia.

Besides the stunning infinity pool overlooking the exquisite Waecicu Beach, the design was exceptional, the cuisine superior, and the service unparalleled (everyone here’s so warm and friendly). And it’s basically brand new – it first opened its doors in September of 2018. 

Again, that sunset view! I swear we witnessed more golden sunsets in Komodo and Labuan Bajo than elsewhere in the world. If you’re looking for top notch (in terms of amenities and location), check out the Ayana Komodo, as it’s the only 5 star resort in Labuan Bajo. We loooooved it, and I don’t say that lightly (plus, I’m always keepin’ it real over here so you can be sure you’ve got our honest opinions).

Just beware – if you do decide to spend a night or two at the Ayana, don’t book any of their tours – they are ridiculously overpriced (FYI).

Other accommodations options in Labuan Bajo include Bintang Flores Hotel, Plataran Komodo Beach Resort, and The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores, but in all reality, I think we chose the best two (and trust me, I did tons and tons of research, like I always do before any big bucket-list trip).

What to Bring on any Komodo Tour

Thankfully, if you book a Komodo liveaboard tour like we did, you won’t need to pack any camping gear, cookware, or other heavy nonsense. The boat provides all that and more. Do be sure to ask your specific tour operator what specifically is needed, as I’m sure all don’t provide the luxuries we had on board. However, there’s a few things you will most definitely want to bring/be aware of when packing before visiting the Komodo islands!

First of all, you’ll want to pack on the lighter side. The planes to Labuan Bajo (for Komodo) are quite small, with a lighter luggage allowance than most other flights. With that being said, you can always pay for extra baggage, which is what we had to do since my husband brought along a full-size suitcase (he’s not as swift at packing for 2 weeks in a carryon like I am).

If I remember correctly, the prices were more reasonable than other times we needed to upgrade baggage. The bigger bag was fine on the boat, but I wouldn’t suggest bringing more than one suitcase per person. Most people on our liveaboard brought backpacking backpacks.

A few recommended items: a strong mosquito repellent, high SPF reef-safe sunscreen (to protect the fishies and coral of course), medicine for seasickness (we don’t suffer from seasickness, but if it’s your first time sleeping on a small-ish boat you may want to bring some dramamine just in case – we did), bathing suits, hiking shoes/sneakers for trekking (we both brought Tevas), and high-quality camera gear (photo spots alllll around, you’ll see).

Things to do in Komodo National Park

It’s hard to get bored in Komodo. There’s stunning beaches, colorful coral reefs, and exotic wildlife every corner you turn. Below are the most popular things to do in Komodo National Park, and exactly what we did on our few days in the area! Don’t miss any of them (I’d be hard pressed if I had to eliminate one or two).

Hike up Kelor Island, take in the views, then go swimming

Kelor is kinda the perfect island – there’s hiking, crystal clear water, sandy beaches, and coral underneath the surface.

Kelor Island was our first stop on our Komodo tour, and we trekked up the hill right away! To be honest, it was much more difficult than I had initially thought (read: steep), although others were breezing right by me. And plus, I get a tad nervous (okay, I’m scared shit) when hiking down on loose gravel/sand, so I did the crab walk for the better portion of the way back (ha, ha, ha). 

BUT the views more than made up for my dirty bum. Just look! And we didn’t even make it to the very tippy top (although the rest of our group who hiked did – some stayed at the surface enjoying a bit of extra beach time)! 

If you’re gonna trek up, I highly advise you do so in proper shoes with a good grip (my husband and I wore tevas); others in our group wore sandals but they obviously had much more hiking experience than us.

You can also go snorkeling here, but our guide noted that there was much better snorkeling nearby which we’d be doing soon anyways. After the quickish hike, I searched for seashells and swam in the shallow waters near the shore.

Meet the Dragons (on Rinca Island and/or Komodo Island)

Imagine standing next to a Komodo dragon. In the wild. Yup, it’s a terrifying and utterly fascinating experience all at the same time. I was petrified (just like I was of the monkeys in Bali). But you absolutely cannot visit this group of Indonesian islands and not hang with the largest lizard in the world (fun fact)! 

Komodo Island National Park is the only spot on planet Earth where Komodo dragons call home (all 5,700 of them). And once you make it the area, you’ve got a few islands to choose from, particularly Komodo Island and Rinca Island.  Yes, it’s a little confusing, but Komodo is also the name of a specific island as well (although when many say they’re headed to Komodo Island they mean the area in general).

So which one to visit? Well, you can always visit both, but we just visited Rinca and found our experience to be satisfying enough (hey, more time for the beach, right?).

While you can easily spot dragons on both islands (with a guide, of course), there are a few main differences.

1) The amount of time it takes to get there – Komodo Island is reachable in about 4 hours from the mainland of Flores (originating from Labuan Bajo), whereas Rinca is significantly closer, taking roughly only 2 hours.

2) The number of dragons on the island (with the largest population existing on Komodo Island with roughly 1,700, with Rinca coming in as a close second with approximately 1,300).

If I had to choose just one, I’d pick Rinca.

Since Rinca is less impacted from tourism, you’re much more likely to spot the dragons in their natural habitat (a reason why Komodo Island is shutting its doors to visitors soon). The island is completely undeveloped, making it the perfect home for exotic and dangerous wildlife (hence the dragons).

On Rinca there are 3 main trekking paths to choose from; we chose the shortest trek (roughly 20-30 minutes) and saw a dozen or so of these 300ish pound monsters along with a spectacular view out to sea. And with Rinca’s extreme heat, I doubt you’ll be able to handle a much longer trek (we were dripping).

Regardless of which island you end up visiting, you’ll be walking through the bush in search of the Komodo dragons with a guide (always!) and armed only with a stick. We also saw a water buffalo lurking behind some trees, which was quite shocking to say the least! Do note that venomous snakes frequent the area, so be sure to stay on the path and always watch your step.

Snorkel with sea turtles

If there’s one thing I make sure of on any tropical trip, it’s including some time to snorkel with the sea turtles! And thankfully, not only did our Komodo tour include some great snorkelling spots, but green turtles and hawksbill turtles are quite plentiful in coral reefs in Komodo! Your guide/tour will know great spots to jump outta the boat for a good snorkel, so fingers crossed you see a few of these beauties yourself!

If you’ve never swam with a sea turtle before, you’re in for a real treat. There’s just something so majestic about these (larger-than-you-realize but) graceful creatures swimming below the surface.

And please oh please – do not attempt to chase/feed/pet/play with a sea turtle. Our touch is dangerous to their sensitive turtle shells, potentially causing disease and other harm.

Pro tip for spotting the sea turtles: While seeing animals in the wild is never guaranteed, there’s a few tricks you can use to increase your chances. First things first, you’ll wanna swim to where the edge of the reef meets the open ocean. Turtles seem to congregate over in these parts, and you’ll have a much higher chance of seeing them over here!

And just remember, turtles need to come to the surface for air every so often, so keep your eyes peeled all around you! You can see them resting on the sea bed, swimming up for a breath, and just casually hanging around. Patience!

Witness millions of bats overhead at Kalong Island

What’s more insane than watching a swarm of thousands upon thousands of the world’s largest bats fly overhead at sunset? People actually call them flying foxes they’re so big! It’s a pretty surreal experience, despite sounding extra odd (haha). 

Our guide anchored our boat some distance from the island, and we just couldn’t peel our eyes away from the sky full of bats! I mean, just look at these photos! Absolutely spectacular!

Where do the bats come from anyway (yes, I wondered about this too)? Kalong Island is covered with mangrove plantations which is where hundreds of thousands/millions of these bats live. Once dusk arrives each and every day, the bats leave their roost (where they rest during the day) and head for their feeding grounds on the mainland.

It’s really a magnificent spectacle. Be sure to book a Komodo tour package which includes this experience, it’s just like being in the pages of National Geographic.

Fun tidbit: Kalong actually means bat in the local language, which makes perfect sense all things considered!

Hike up Padar Island for Sunrise

Set your alarm clock, because we’re waking up early (as in 4am or so)! If there’s one thing you can’t miss on your Komodo tour, it’s the spectacular sunrise trekking on Padar Island. The views are by-far outta this world insane. BUT it comes at a grueling price – about 1,000 steps or so straight up the mountain!

It’s quite a steep hike, and was quite challenging to reach the top, but not impossible by any means.

I even wore sandals (with a strap on the back though, which really helped)! Just so you’re aware, the first few sets of wooden and then stone steps are safe, but then, near the top, they’re pretty crumbled and/or non-existent. You may want to grab your hiking shoes instead, which I probably should have done. Also a wise idea to come equipped with a water bottle and sunscreen!

However, WHEN you climb to the summit makes a huge difference. Since there’s little shade on the entire trek, come as early as possible (before sunrise) to not only avoid the crowd, but the intense heat. Yes, it was still blistering hot on our way down, but I can’t imagine trekking up with that scorching sun shining down on us nonstop.

I’m guessing it took us roughly 25-30 minutes to reach the top, including a few photo breaks. (Heading back down was way easier despite the heat).

Once you reach the top, you’ll get a grew view of this island dreamscape below – a full panoramic view of all of Padar. Those photos you see on IG are real – 3 turquoise bays, each with different colored sand (a rare combo of sparkling white, charcoal black, and baby pink sand beaches).  We then watched the sun rise above the horizon, making the ground a soft golden hue, before taking about a million and 5 photos.

Do note if you visit just after the rainy season (visiting between April to June), the mountains will be much more lush and green. We visited in July and the land was dry and brown, albeit beautiful, to say the least.

Relax at Pink Beach

Striking pink sands. Clear turquoise waters. Endless blue skies. Rolling green hills. I can go on and on. This idyllic spot has got to be one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been. In my life. Yeah, yeah, I already deemed San Blas and the Zapatillas worthy of that title, but after visiting Pink Beach (and Komodo in general), I think they’ve been booted of the #1 spot.

And yes, my pink-obsessed friends, Pink Beach does in fact have pink sand; why else would it be called that?! The unique color is formed by crushed shells of microscopic single-cell sea creatures (called Foraminifera – whoaaa science). When you combine these small flecks of red shell with fine white reef sand, you get a soft pink tink! And trust me, you’ll notice the rosy hue even before getting off the boat, as it’s visible from the water.

There are actually quite a few different pink sand beaches in Komodo National Park, but any experienced guide will know the best spots to take you for that fine, fine pink tinted stuff. What to do once you get there? You can either relax, swim, and play in the waters like we did, and/or go snorkeling (the reefs here are booming with sea life).

Be sure to take some photos of this natural phenomenon – it’s not everyday you find yourself digging your toes into pink sand! We definitely took our fair share…

Go swimming with Manta Rays at Manta Point

Imagine crossing paths with a giant Manta Ray; what a magical, remarkable, mind-blowing experience. And no, you don’t even need to go diving to see them as these gentle giants play right on the surface! Definitely bring along your GoPro!

→ Learn my secrets for taking underwater photos here.

Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate during our Komodo trip (it was a bit windy making the tide too rough), so fingers crossed you’ll get better conditions! Of course safety is the number one priority on any Komodo tour package (as it should be), but to say I was bummed we missed out on this is a complete understatement! Next time!

Wander/Swim around Taka Makassar

Absolute perfection. This tiny blip of white sand in the Middle of Nowhere, Indonesia will surely help live out all your beachy postcard dreams. The sand and sea of Taka Makassar is surely on par with the blues of Bora Bora (can’t believe I’m admitting that), and I kinda wished we had brought along a few Bintangs or some fresh watermelon juice to shore! 

Yes, this banana-shaped sand bar is small – you can walk from end to end in about 5 minutes or so! There’s a bunch of coral lining the sand and water, so be careful! Tons of photo ops here, so don’t forget your camera. 

Sunset at Sebayur Island

Can there ever be enough sunset hikes during a Komodo island-hopping trip? Nope! Thankfully there’s a bit of shade of here, so you hopefully won’t be heading up in the heat!

And just so there’s no confusion, there’s actually two Sebayur Islands, differentiated by their size. I’m honestly not sure which one we hit up, but it was either Sebayur Kecil (small) or Sebayur Besar (big).

Psst: we didn’t actually make it up. We didn’t even make an attempt. It was a last minute decision and we were all waaaaay too tired, so we watched the sunset from the boat, and it was perfection. My husband hiked up the next morning for sunrise and he said it only took about 5 minutes, so there ya go, shouldn’t be too hard. 

Snorkel and relax at Kanawa Island

Before we headed back to Labuan Bajo, we made a pit stop at the fairytale island of Kanawa. Being only 15km or so from Labuan Bajo in Flores, it’s a great first or last place to hit up on any Komodo island tour itinerary.

We lounged and played in the water while others snorkeled. You’ll see – the water is soooo crystal clear you can even see the fish from above water!  And if you’re lucky, you may see a few starfish in the shallow water near the jetty. There are apparently some sea urchin so be careful when walking in the water!

Our Komodo Trip

Our Komodo trip was an overdose to the senses: think crystal clear waters, giant bats flying overhead, stunning views everywhere we looked, and brightly colored corals beneath the surface.

I’ve decided to give you an overview of our entire Komodo tour package so you get an accurate representation of all you can see and do within a short time period. As noted earlier, we chose a 2 night/3 day Komodo island tour, and felt this was the perfect amount of time to explore the islands and take advantage of the boat.

Do note that we slept in Labuan Bajo the night before the tour, and the night after the tour, making our time in the area 4 nights (2 nights in hotels, 2 nights on the boat).

Here’s how our entire Komodo trip went down:

Our Komodo Island/Labuan Bajo Itinerary:

Day 1: We arrived to Labuan Bajo in late afternoon, took a quick taxi ride to town and checked into Le Pirate right before sunset. Not wanting to miss our first Flores sunset, we headed up to the rooftop bar straight away for some dinner and much-needed drinks. 

Day 2:  We got picked up by Travass Life the next morning around 9, transferred to the boat, had some welcome snacks and fresh fruit juice on board, and set sail! First activity: a hike to the top of Kelor island for our first Komodo National Park views and some relaxation time on the beach/go in water/look for shells.

Rinca island was next, for a short trekking loop to see Komodo dragons (!!!), then we anchored the boat near Kalong Island to watch the bats overhead at sunset.

Day 3: Today was a super early day, as we did the sunrise hike at Padar Island. After the trek we spent a fair bit of time at Pink Beach and Taka Makkasar, then spent the rest of the afternoon jumping off our boat and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Komodo.

Day 4: On our last full day in Komodo, we relaxed at Kanawa Beach, enjoying the bath-like waters and searching for seashells. After one last liveaboard lunch, we arrived back in Labuan Bajo around 2pm, making our way to Ayana Komodo around check-in time (3pm).

Since we were utterly exhausted from the last few days of Komodo adventures, we hung at the pool and relaxed, before witnessing one of the best sunsets of our lives.

Day 5: We woke up early to take full advantage of the stunning Ayana Komodo, before making our way back to Bali in the early afternoon. PHEW, what a few days!

The Boat and our Full Komodo Island Tour Package

After doing an insane amount of research (as I always do), we ultimately decided to book our Komodo tour package with Travass Life. The itinerary included everything on my Komodo bucket list and then some, and promised delicious sounding Indonesian hot meals, fresh fruit juices multiple times per day, and a personal photographer with a DRONE.

We were shocked that meals consisted of freshly caught fish, juicy watermelon and dragonfruit (among other exotic fruits), healthy veggies, and enough variety so we never got bored of boat food, as well as snacks throughout the day; and nope, we never went hungry.

We were lucky that the company’s spankin’ new boat was juuuuust finished right before our trip, and we got to sail on the fully-equipped Papiton (which was an absolute dream).

Our boat consisted of 12 passengers and a handful of crew members, all sharing a few rooms and 3 bathrooms. My husband and I opted for a private room with a comfy full-size bed, and I was in awe of our space on the boat. The deck area was large enough to fit all of us comfortably, with bean bag chairs and chaise lounges for relaxing during our island hopping adventures. 

Are you planning a trip to the Komodo Islands any time soon?! What are you most excited for?

The post The Complete Guide to Komodo National Park (How to Plan a Komodo Island Tour) appeared first on A Passion and A Passport.