Seoul + Busan girls trip itinerary (mom + daughter) — sharing in case helpful + would love tips
Hi everyone! I've been researching and planning for months and finally feel like our itinerary is in a good place. Sharing the full breakdown below in case it's useful for anyone planning a similar trip — and would genuinely love any feedback, tips, or things we might be missing!
A bit of context: it's a mom + daughter trip, 9 days total with 5 in Seoul, 2 in Busan, then back to Seoul for a final night. Big focus on beauty treatments, good food (we're both gluten sensitive), and a mix of culture and shopping.
Day 1 — Arrival + Gentle Start
Morning: Straight from the airport to our first treatment; lymphatic drainage massage to beat the jet lag and bloat (Spa Bidan, Gangseo-gu).
Afternoon: Checking into our hotel in Hannam, gentle neighbourhood wander.
Late afternoon: Acupuncture + moxibustion + herbal injection at Yonghada Oriental Medicine Clinic.
Evening: Jogyesa Temple, then wandering Ikseon-dong and Insadong. Dinner at a traditional Korean makgeolli restaurant near the hotel.
Day 2 — Skin Clinic + Secret Garden
Morning: Benjamin Dermatology Clinic, Myeongdong — Rejuran Healer Full Face, Rejuran Eye, RE20, Mesobotox, LED. Bring your passport. Budget ~3 hrs.
Afternoon: Olive Young haul + Myeongdong street food while skin settles. Then Changdeokgung Secret Garden. Bukchon Hanok Village walk after.
Evening: Woo Mool Zip (Changsin branch).
Day 3 — Markets + Palace + Seongsu
Morning: Gwangjang Market for legendary tteokbokki and bindaetteok. Then Bugaksan hike from Gyeongbokgung followed by the palace itself.
Afternoon: Lunch at Solsot Pot Rice House in Seongsu then Seongsu for shopping.
Evening: Han River sunset picnic with GS25 snacks, then Hannam Rooftop Pocha for casual drinks and snacks.
Day 4 — Wellness + PPEUM
Morning: Cheonggyecheon Stream walk, then Golki massage in Apgujeong.
Afternoon: Lunch at Twelve Then PPEUM Gangnham Clinic for Sylfirm X and Nefertiti Lift.
Evening: Sinsajeon in Garosu-gil — honeycomb makgeolli
Day 5 — Beauty Day + Move to Myeongdong
Morning: Naksan Park City Wall Walk
Mid-morning: Lip blush at Ondo Plastic Surgery Clinic, Gangnam.
Afternoon: Personal colour analysis at a salon in Apgujeong. Then Nudake Haus Dosan for matcha. Shopping in Garosu-gil and Apgujeong after.
Evening: Korean BBQ bulgogi at Wangbijib Myeongdong, then Myeongdong Night Market.
Day 6 — Seoul → Busan
Morning: KTX to Busan. Checking into our hotel at Gwangalli Beach.
Afternoon: Millak Hwae Town for raw fish lunch — pick your fish ground floor, prepared upstairs.
Evening: Photoshoot at Gwangalli Beach at golden hour and Dinner at L'essence
Day 7 — Busan Explore
Morning: Taxi to Gijang — Osiria Coastal Walk Turtle Rock, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Lunch at Faro'd Searang in Gijang
Afternoon: Sky Capsule beach train along the coast stopping at Liberta Coffee at Cheongsapo. Then Gamcheon Culture Village and Avant Garde Cafe.
Evening: Bibijae for dinner
Day 8 — Coastal Walk + Back to Seoul
Morning: Huinnyeoul Culture Village + Jeoryeong Coastal Walk — cliff edge path and suspension bridges.
Afternoon: Salmon Brothers in Millak-dong for lunch. KTX back to Seoul, checking into our Hongdae hotel for the final night.
Evening: Farewell dinner at Gjustina in Hapjeong
Day 9 — Final Morning
Morning: Lash lift + brow lamination at Sel Love Beauty, Sinsa.
Afternoon: Lunch on Garosu-gil, Olive Young run, then taxi to Incheon together.
A few things I'd especially love input on:
- Any restaurants or cafés we absolutely shouldn't miss that aren't on here?
- Tips for the beauty clinics and treatments — anything to know before going?
- Busan — are we covering the highlights or missing something obvious?