6 days to discover South Korea (for the first time)

For a first time on Korean soil, the day begins naturally in the capital Seoul. We'll be immersed in history as we visit the 5 palaces, including Changdeokgung, Gyeongbokgung and Deoksugong.

Gyeongbokgung Palace is a historical nugget. You only have to visit its Hyangwonjeong pavilion (a little hidden), built on an artificial island, to appreciate its beauty. Many visitors miss it because you have to walk a bit in the garden to find it... but it's well worth a photo stop, especially in autumn when the surrounding foliage turns bright red and yellow. Other highlights of the palace include the entrances to the two pavilions: Geunjeongjeon and Gyeonghoeru.

From the side gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, it's just a 10-minute walk to the village of Bukchon Hanok. At the time, almost all of Seoul was made up of these traditional one-storey dwellings. It's a great place to walk around and take photos.

Lunch break: one of the recommended lunch spots nearby is the Michelin-starred Keunkiwajip (62 Bukchon-ro 5 Gil, open every day except Monday). It serves marinated raw crab.

After lunch, head for Changdeokgung, the largest of Seoul's five palaces. The highlight here is the sublime secret garden - another very popular spot during the autumn season. The tour ends with a trip to the Jeongdong Observatory (free, 9am to 9pm on weekdays, until 6pm at weekends) for a great view of the traditional and modern buildings.

The first evening is all about shopping. Shops are open relatively late, especially at weekends. The Myeongdong and Dongdaemun markets (open until after midnight) offer a range of toiletries and clothing brands.

The second day starts in the popular Gangnam district, where the high end of the market can be seen on every building. This "Korean Beverly Hills" is full of luxury boutiques, plastic surgery clinics and well-to-do people. A popular café to visit in this area is Café Dior (464 Apgujeong-ro, open 11am-8pm daily). The street is particularly attractive in autumn when the ginkgo trees near the pavements turn yellow.

For shopping, head to the Galleria, a luxury shopping centre in Gangnam. In the basement, there's a food court offering charcuterie, kimchi soup, bibimbap and seafood stews.

Next stop: the Starfield Library (open daily from 10am to 10pm) in the Starfield Coex shopping centre. The place is famous for its huge tower-shaped shelves. There are over 50,000 books and magazines on display.

Housed in a dilapidated industrial building, Café Onion (open daily 8am-10pm, 10am Saturday and Sunday) attracts visitors from all over the world for its Instagrammable aesthetic and delicious pastries.

Late afternoon is the perfect time to visit Seoul's Namsan Tower. Located in a wooded area in the middle of the city, it's a great place to enjoy a view over the rooftops of Seoul. In spring and autumn, the perched viewpoint allows you to appreciate the colourful foliage around Namsan. Entrance to the tower costs 16,000 won (around €11).

The third day is devoted to exploring Nami Island, or Namiseom in Korean, which lies 63 km from Seoul in the middle of the Han River. There are several walkways, the Dodamsambong garden and outdoor exhibitions. You can get there by your own means of transport or choose the direct shuttle option.

Another option for this third day is to venture into Seoul's other districts. Here's an overview of the districts that are well worth a visit:

• Buam-dong - Still relatively unexplored by foreign visitors, this district is rapidly gaining ground for its art and design centres and independent cafes interspersed with natural spaces. Highlights: Changuimun (the city's original gateway), cafés and the Whanki and Seoul museums. Nearest metro station: Jahamun-gogae
• Seochon was the home of the nobility during the Joseon dynasty. There are plenty of clothes shops and the Sejong village specialises in street food, but the real gem is the Suseong-dong valley, perfect for nature walks. Nearest metro station: Gyeongbokgung
• Itaewon - A district very much centred on history, as this is where American soldiers used to spend their free time. Today it is home to many international restaurants, cafés and boutiques.

The fourth day brings a change of scenery and a change of city. We take the early train to Busan (tickets available here) - South Korea's second largest city. Depending on the train, the journey takes around 2h30 to 3h.

Many of Busan's main tourist attractions are located not far from its railway station. A few blocks to the south is a 40-step staircase down a 450-metre street lined with statues and photos. The area has recently been renovated and is meant to reflect life in Korea in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the afternoon, we head to the village of Gamcheon. Some call it the Santorini of Korea. But in reality, it shares more similarities with the blue city of Jodhpur, as many of the houses are painted in similar shades of light blue. There are shops and murals scattered around the village, as well as cafés and museums. There is also a popular hilltop panorama for wedding shoots and panoramic photos of the village.

The fifth day is a little more sporty, with a hike to discover the Seokbulsa temple located around Geumjeongsan, a mountain range. Entrance to the temple is free and visitors come for the Buddhas carved into the rocks.

After a morning hike, it's time to cool off off the coast. Busan's favourite attraction is near its soothing beaches, such as Haeundae Beach.

After a break at the beach, the Busan Sea Life aquarium or the Busan cinema with its metal exterior and wave-shaped roof are two interesting attractions to round off the day.

Another place to visit: the Yonggungsa temple. Although Korea has no shortage of temples, what sets this place apart is its picturesque seaside location. The temple is literally perched on a rock overlooking the coast, making it one of Busan's most photogenic spots. To get here, take the metro to Haeundae station, then the 181 bus.

The last day of this itinerary is dedicated to discovering Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city has a plethora of historic sites that can easily take a full day to visit:

• Bulguksa Temple is considered to be one of Korea's most important temples and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This masterpiece of Buddhist art features a Dabotap pagoda inside the temple.

• The Seokguram cave is probably the closest thing to an archaeological site straight out of an Indiana Jones film. Visitors enter a cave to face a giant stone sculpture of the Buddha. Of all the places in Gyeongju, the Seokgruam cave is probably the most impressive. It's a shame that photography is not allowed inside.

• The Cheomseongdae Observatory is an ancient astronomical observatory built during the Silla period in the 7th century.

• Tumuli Park is an area filled with mounds representing the tombs of the ancient kings of the Silla period. This is how Korean royalty was buried at the time.

• The Anapji pond is particularly photogenic at night when the buildings are lit up.