What to do in Busan? 11 experiences not to be missed

What to do in Busan, South Korea? Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city and not to be missed while visiting South Korea. 

The pleasant beaches, the numerous festivals, and the growing economy have attracted many new inhabitants. 

The city already counts 3.5 million residents and many more tall and shiny skyscrapers are appearing along the coastline to accommodate the influx of residents. 

Busan has tonnes to offer. It’s nestled in the mountains and bordered by some of South Korea’s best beaches on the other side.

Busan is also a paradise for lovers of fresh seafood.

In this Busan travel blog post, we share how to get to Busan from Seoul, what to do in Busan and where to stay in Busan. So keep reading.

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How to get to Busan from Seoul

Busan is well connected to the rest of Korea by train, bus, and flight.

By Flight

Busan International Airport is called ‘Gimhae’.  The airport offers multiple daily flights to Seoul (both Incheon and Gimpo airport) and Jeju.

There are several flights per hour between Seoul and Busan. Flights are offered by Korean Air, Air Busan, and Jeju Air.  The flight time is approximately 1 hour.

Because of the heavy competition, it will sometimes be cheaper to fly than to travel by KTX.

If you want to score cheap flights to Busan we advise you to have a look at Momondo and Skyscanner.  

By Train

There is a direct KTX service between Busan, Seoul, and Gyeongju.

The KTX train is the fastest option, it takes 45 minutes to reach Gyeongju from Seoul and about 3 hours to reach Busan. 

The KTX trains depart in Seoul in KTX Seoul Station or KTX Yongsan Station. 

Korail, Korea’s state-owned operator, runs the KTX train but also offers slower and cheaper alternatives to Seoul.  These would be the ITX and the Mugunghwa trains.

Supreme Railways is a private high-speed operator offering train services between Seoul and Busan. Tickets tend to be slightly cheaper than those for the KTX. 

The journey takes 2,5 hours. 

Read also: The perfect Seoul itinerary for first-time visitors and things to do in Seoul in 4 days.  Here you will find a Seoul 4 day itinerary. If you are looking for the best area to stay in Seoul, click here. 

The trains depart from Suseo station in the Gangnam district of Seoul.

Korail offers various train passes to foreign visitors.

You can choose passes for 3 or 5 consecutive days or you can opt for the more flexible select passes.

With the select passes, you can select either two or four days within a 10-window period. 

The passes offer unlimited train travel on all trains operated by Korail, including the high-speed KTX trains.

The passes are not always a good deal so make sure to compare the prices of the individual segments with the price of the pass before you buy a pass.

A return ticket for the KTX between Seoul and Busan is cheaper than the cheapest Korail pass option.

By Bus

Various bus operators run express buses all throughout South Korea. Hourly 3 different buses run between Seoul and Busan.  Every hour and a half a bus leaves for Gyeongju.

It’s very convenient to check the bus schedule on the website of Kobus.  The website shows the departure time and comfort level of each bus.  In the next step, you can reserve your tickets and seats on the bus.

By car

It’s very convenient to do a self-drive in South Korea.  All road signs are bilingual and we used the Naver maps app to get around. 

The app is perfectly bilingual.  It should take approximately 4,5 hours to get from Seoul to Busan by car.

We shared our experience with driving in South Korea along with tips about the toll roads and the local GPS apps here.

 

Travel insurance

Did you already think about travel insurance?  Accidents happen when you least expect them. Drawing up a travel insurance policy that covers theft, damage and all kinds of medical expenses may seem expensive at first but it can potentially save you a significant sum, significantly more than the small insurance fee. 

The good news is that it’s never too late to get cover with World Nomads, you can even get their travel insurance online while you’re traveling.

How many days in Busan

2 days should be enough for sightseeing in Busan and to visit Busan’s main attractions but if you want to see everything you would need to stay 4 or 5 days.

Read also: 7 days in Korea, the perfect Korea itinerary for first-timers. 

Organized Tours in Busan

Here we share the best tours in Busan.

Perfect if you are short on time or you don’t want to spend time on plotting out your own itinerary.

Busan Full day city tour

This full-day city tour brings you along a lot of Busan’s main attractions such as Taejongdae, the amazing 365-meter long Songdo skywalk, the colorful Gamcheong village, and the Haedong Yonggungsa temple.

The English or Chinese speaking guide will give you lots of insight information about the history and culture of Korea and the places you visit. 

Be aware that the tour involves lots of walking.

 

Highly recommended tour for first-time visitors or if you are short on time in Busan.

 

Busan Half Day City Tour 

This city tour offered by Klook takes you to less by the subway accessible places such as the Oryukdo Skywalk and the Haedong Yonggungsa temple in half a day. 

English and Mandarine speaking guides. 

 

Busan Instagram tour

Busan is well known for its instagrammable places. 

Your guide will show you the best photo stops and share tips and tricks on how to take the best pictures.

This tour is for you if you dream of making amazing pictures that will make your friends and relatives jealous. 

Things to do in Busan

Here we list the best things to do in Busan.

1. Visit the Jagalchi Fish Market

One of Busan’s tourist spots is the Jagalchi Fish Market. Busan is Korea’s largest harbor so naturally, the city also has a huge seafood market.

The Jagalchi Market offers all sorts of live and dried seafood including whale meat.

The place is bursting at the seams and vendors are no longer only selling their products in the fish market building but also in all the side streets.

You can have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants in the market and enjoy the freshest seafood.

If you love cooking, you can also book the Jagalchi Fish Market with a guided tour package that includes a cooking class

 

How to get there:

Take the subway to Jagalchi Station (Metro Line 1).  Take exit number 10 and make a turn to the right at the next intersection.  When you reach the shoreline the fish market is on your left.

2. Relax in Yongdusan Park and see Busan from above from the Busan Tower

Yongdusan Park is located on a mountain, close to the shoreline, the Jagalchi Fish Market, and the Lotte Department Store.

The 120-meter high Busan Tower is located inside the park, on top of the mountain and it’s an absolute must-see when you are visiting Busan.

The park is popular with both tourists and locals for the views on the city and the ocean.

Couples in love also find their way to this romantic place, certainly at sunset. The many love locks give the fences a colorful and cheerful look.

How to get there:

Take Exit 7 of Nampo station (Metro Line 1) and walk along Gwangbok-ro until on your right you see the escalator that leads up to the park.

Several flights of escalators take you up the mountain to the park.

3. Enjoy the breathtaking views from Haedong Yonggungsa

This photogenic temple is generally known as the Water temple for its location along the coastline.

The temple awards its visitors with breathtaking views over the East Sea and Songjeong beach.

“Be careful whom you make memories with. Those things can last a lifetime.”

The unique location of this Buddhist temple, most temples are situated in the mountains, makes it very popular. It’s one of Busan’s tourist spots.

It can get really busy during the weekends so we recommend visiting the temple on a weekday if you can.

Some cherry blossom trees will make the place even more charming in April.

 

How to get there :

Take the subway to Haeundae Station (Metro Line 2).  Make your way to exit 7, right in front of exit 7 is a bus stop.  Wait at this bus stop for bus 181. The bus trip should take approximately another hour. You leave the bus at the Yonggungsa Temple (용궁사) stop. Signage will lead you from the bus stop to the entrance of the temple.

It takes some time to reach Haedong Yonggungsa and Oryukdo Skywalk by public transport. 

If you’re short on time you could opt to combine both on a half-day guided tour.

4. Go hiking in Taejongdae Resort Park

Taejongdae Resort Park is a peninsula a little outside Busan. The peninsula forms the southernmost point of the Yeongdo-gu island and attracts visitors for the magnificent rocky cliffs.

If you like hiking it’s a place where you should absolutely go when you are in Busan.

 

Except for hiking among the pine trees along the coastline, visitors can also visit the lighthouse and enjoy a 40-minute boat trip that offers spectacular views on the park.

 

 

How to get there:

Taejongdae can only be reached by bus.  Bus lines 8, 30, 66, 88, 88-A and 101 all head to Taejongdae.  Taejongdae is the bus terminus for all these lines so you don’t have to worry about where to get off.

We would suggest taking metro line 1 (orange line) to Nampo-dong station.  Take exit 6 and walk straight until you reach a bus stop for buses 8, 30, 88 and 88-A (The bus stop is opposite the Lotte Department Store). The bus journey to the park is around 40 minutes.

5. Get a tan at Haeundae & Gwangalli Beach

Busan is home to 2 famous beaches, Haeundae and Gwangalli.

Both beaches have their fair share of fans.

Haeundae tends to be slightly more popular with the tourists and locals tend to flock more to Gwangalli.

Both beaches are packed from June to August but even in September, the ocean water is still warm enough for swimming and windsurfing.

At the Western end of Haeundae beach is Dongbaekseom Island.

The name is misleading as the place used to be an island but is now connected to the mainland.

The island has a small park with many camelia (Dongbaek in Korean) and pine trees

From the top of the Dongbaekseom island, you will have fantastic nocturnal views on the 7,4 km long Gwangandaegyo Bridge, better known as the Diamond bridge.

Also on the island, and open to visitors, is the APEC house where the 2005 APEC Summit was held. It’s absolutely not to be missed when you are doing a sightseeing trip in Busan.

Take an evening stroll along Dalmaji-gil Road, which is also called Busan’s Montmartre. 

The multitude of bars and restaurants that line Gwangalli beach are the best place for evening food and drinks and to admire the views on the beautifully illuminated Diamond bridge.

How to get to Haeundae beach:

The closest metro station to Haeundae beach is Haeundae Station.  This is a stop on line 2, the green line. Exit the train station at exit 3 or 5 and walk down Gunam-ro until you reach the beach.

How to get to Gwangali beach:

The closest metro station to Gwangalli beach is Gwangan Station.  This is a stop on line 2, the green line.

Exit the train station at exit 3 or 5 and walk down Gwangan-ro until you reach the beach.

6. Go diving with sharks at the Sea Life Busan Aquarium

The SEA Life Busan Aquarium is a nice place to go with kids.

The aquarium is mainly situated in a 3-story building underground and uses some state-of-the-art technology.

The highlights are the 2 ocean tunnels that bring you up close to the sharks and sea turtles.

For an extra fee, the aquarium offers various other experiences like a shark dive or 4D underwater ride.

How to get there: 

The closest metro station is Haeundae Station.  This is a stop on line 2, the green line. Exit the train station at exit 3 or 5 and walk down Gunam-ro until you reach the beach.  Busan Sea Life Aquarium is just across the street on your right.

7. Take colorful pictures at the Gamcheon Cultural village

Historically Gamcheon Cultural Village started as a shanty town built by Korean war refugees but by painting their houses in lovely pastel hues the residents ensured that their village over the years became nicknamed Korea’s Santorini.

The little village started to draw tourists about 3 years ago.

The houses seem to be stacked against the hillslope in an unorderly way and it’s easy to get lost in the labyrinth of small alleys.

It’s also fun to wander through these cozy alleys as many are richly decorated.

For the best panoramic views on this colorful village, you should make your way up towards the library in the old hot spring building.

Visitors can get a paid guide map at the visitor center that shows the major sights.

 

How to get there: 

Take subway line 1 (the orange line) to Toseong station. Continue on the local bus to Gamcheon Elementary School Bus.  (the stop will be announced in English).  You can take bus Saha-1-1, Seogu 2 or Seogu 2-2.

8. See Busan from above with the Busan Air Cruise – Songdo Cable Car

The cable car starts in Song nim park and takes you to the observatory station at Amnam Park.

Since 1996 Amnam park is open to visitors who can fish, enjoy the views from the observatory and hike the many walking paths.

Along the way, the cable cars offer views of the harbor and the shoreline.

A third of the cars are equipped with a glass floor, to ride these you have to pay extra for the “crystal cruise”.

How to get there:

Take subway line 1 (the orange line) to Jagalchi station and take exit 2. Walk down Chungmu-daero for about 50 meters until you see a bus stop where you take bus 7, 26, 71 or 96 to Songdo beach.  From here it’s about 15 minutes on foot to the cable car.

9. Walk over water on the Oryukdo Skywalk bridge

Another place to visit in Busan is the Oryukdo Skywalk.

This skywalk is a 15-meter long glass bridge that gives you the ability to walk over the water.

You will see the waves crash on the rocks of the 35-meter-high coastal cliffs beneath you.

The skywalk itself is rather small and can get very crowded.

 

How to get there:

Take the metro to Busan Station (line 1/orange), exit 10.  From Busan station, you continue your journey on bus 27 for about 30-40 minutes.  The bus stop is called Oryukdo SK back gate. It takes some time to reach Haedong Yonggungsa and Oryukdo Skywalk by public transport.  If you’re short on time you could opt to combine both on a half-day guided tour.

10. Relax in Korean style in Spa Land

Spa Land is probably South Korea’s most extravagant spa and one of the largest as well. It’s an absolute must-do in Busan when you like to pamper yourself in Korean style.

As many Koreans head to the jjimjilbangs (Korean-style sauna/spa) with friends or family for some quality time they tend to get crowded pretty fast. But Spa Land is a more leisurely and classy experience.

Here one makes sure that everyone can enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in all areas. Stays in Spa Land are limited to 4 hours.

This means you probably won’t have enough time to enjoy the many theme rooms and the 22 different baths and pools that range from 26 degrees to 40 degrees Celsius.

Some of the theme rooms are designed like Roman or Finish saunas. There is also a charcoal room, a salt room, a SEV room a wave dream room and even more.

The spa is to be enjoyed naked and you will be provided with a pair of shorts and a shirt to wear in the public areas. All around the spa all instructions are posted in both Korean and English.

How to get there:

Spa Land is located on the first floor in the Shinsegae Centrum city shopping center which is directly connected to Centum City Station on Subway Line 2 (green line).

 

11. Shop till you drop

When it comes to shopping in Busan, you will never fall short of options. Here we list the best places to shop.

Visit worlds largest department store: Shinsegae centum city

The worlds largest department store is not located in Dubai or any other oil emirate, it’s right here in Busan. You will probably need more than one day to visit all the stores. Inside the complex is also an ice skating rink and a multiplex theater.

After a day of shopping, you can unwind in Spa Land.

Foreigners can make use of VIP coupon book and tax refunds are possible for a purchase of 30.000 KRW (+/-23€)

How to get there:

The shopping center is directly connected to Centum City Station on Subway Line 2 (green line).

Admire the largest indoor musical water fountain in the Lotte Department Store (Gwangbok)

This department store holds another Guinness world record.

In the aqua mall of the Lotte Department store, shoppers can admire a 10-minute spectacle of the largest indoor musical water fountain.

The fountains come alive once per hour.

 

Another hidden gem of the department store is the rooftop observation deck, called Sky Garden.

The observation deck offers great views over the whole city and is located on the 12th floor.

Location wise a visit to the department store can easily be combined with the Busan Tower and the Jagalchi Fish Market.

How to get there?

Get to Nampo-dong Station (Line 1/Orange Line), take exit 10.

Go bargain hunting in the Lotte Premium Outlet

This is Asia’s largest premium outlet mall.  The complex goes officially by the name ‘Lotte Mall Dongbusan branch’.

It contains 407 outlet stores, a shopping mall with an additional 114 shops, a Lotte Mart and a Lotte Cinema.

The outlet mall is located almost right next to the Haedong Yonggungsa Temple so you can visit both on the same day.

How to get there?

Take the metro to Nopo station, the final station of line 1(orange line). From here continue on bus 37.

You could also take the metro to Jangsan station, the final station of line 2 (green line). From here continue on 182.  As a third alternative, you could take the metro to Anpyeong station, the final station on line 4 (blue line) and continue onwards on bus 188.

Timewise the 3 routes are equal.

You could also book a guided half-day tour to Oryukdo Skywalk and the Haedong Yonggungsa temple and end the tour in the premium outlet mall.

 

Where to stay in Busan

Based on our own experience we cover the 5 most popular regions to stay in Busan. You can choose the best place to stay in Busan based on your own preferences. 

All of these regions are perfectly safe.

Haeundae

Haeundae is located slightly outside Busan.

It’s a perfect place to stay during your Busan trip if you want to enjoy the perfect sandy beach but less so if you want to discover the city. Certainly, if you need to rely on public transport.  There is a metro station nearby but it will take quite some time to reach the city center and other popular tourist locations.

Luxury Hotel

Westin Chosun

 

The Westin Chosun is located right next to the Dongbaek peninsula and the rooms facing the front have excellent ocean views.  All members of the staff are friendly and helpful.   One downside is that some rooms are in need of renovation.

 

 

Hotel Park Hyatt Busan

 

The Park Hyatt Busan is a modern hotel with excellent luxurious rooms.  You have magnificent panoramic views over the bay and the diamond bridge.  A good choice if you want to spoil yourself.

 

 

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Shilla Stay Haeundae

 

We stayed in the Shilla Stay Haeundae. This brand new hotel is located a few minutes walking from Haeundae Beach and within walking distance of many nice restaurants. Minimalistic but comfortable rooms. Extensive breakfast buffet. Great rooftop pool area to hang out.

We enjoyed our sunset walks along the beach and nearby Dongbaek Park.

 

 

Comfortable

Citadines Haeundae Busan

 

Citadines Haeundae Busan is a well-located hotel right above the metro and a mere 5 minutes walk from the beach.  Plenty of excellent restaurants are nearby. The hotel has well-equipped rooms with a basic kitchenette and a comfortable bed. The excellent breakfast ensures a good start into the day.

 

 

 

Gwangan

Gwangali beach is just as picture-perfect as Haeundae beach.  It offers the best views on the Diamond bridge and it’s only 8km to downtown Busan so it will be easier to visit other attractions.

Metro Line 2 is the fastest and cheapest way to reach downtown.  It takes about 10 minutes to reach the city center.

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Kent Hotel Gwangali by Kensington

 

The Kent Hotel Gwangali by Kensington is located in front of the beach and surrounded by many types of restaurants. Clean and spacious rooms. The friendly staff speaks good English. A drawback might be that the subway station is 10-15 minutes’ walk away. 

 

 

Seomyeon 

Seomyeon is located close to central Busan and the Busan railway station where trains leave for Gyeongju.  This is also where subway lines 1 and 2 meet.  These subway lines take you directly to popular tourist attractions such as Beomeosa Temple, Haeundae Beach, Jagalchi Market (including the Busan tower and Lotte Department Store) and Gwangalli Beach. This is a big advantage in a city as vast as Busan.

Luxury Hotel

Lotte Hotel Busan

 

The Lotte Hotel Busan is a very nice and elegant hotel which lies close to the Seomyson subway station. Spacious and well-kept rooms. The friendly staff speaks very well English. The hotel offers direct access to the Lotte department store and there are many other dining options nearby as well.

 

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Busan

 

The Solaria Nishitetsu hotel lies near the Lotte department store and lots of restaurants.  The hotel is a 10-minute walk to the Seomyeon subway station.  It offers comfortable and well-equipped rooms. 

 

 

Comfortable Hotel

Hotel Kyungsung

 

Hotel Kyungsung lies in a good location near the subway station and there are many restaurants and bars in the neighborhood. Clean and comfortable rooms. Friendly and forthcoming staff. Great views from the rooftop bar.  

 

 

Nampo-dong

Nampo-dong is Busan’s version of the popular Myeongdong shopping district in Seoul.  You will find everything from high-end international brands to local discount brands and just like Myeongdong the district is also a favorite amongst the locals for the rich selection of street food. If you stay in Nampo-dong you will be close to the Jagalchi Fish Market, the Lotte Department store and the Busan tower.

Premium Comfortable Hotel

Aventree Hotel Busan

 

The Aventree Hotel is located in the middle of the Nampo shopping street and close to tourist attractions such as the Jagalchi Fish Market, Busan Tower and Gukje market as well as the subway. Clean rooms with comfortable beds. The hotel staff speaks fluent English. 

 

 

Comfortable

Nampo Hound Hotel Premier

 

The Nampo Hound hotel is a brand new hotel. It lies within walking distance to the subway and the Nampo shopping street. Wonderful rooms with comfy beds and a big bathroom.

 

 

 

Kyungsung

Kyungsung, named after the local university, is a popular place to hang out at night. Students, as well as expats, frequent the neighborhood with many bars and restaurants.  Kyungsung is not particularly well located for any tourist attractions though.

Comfortable

Dae Yeon Le idea Hotel

 

The Dae Yeon Le idea Hotel lies close to the subway station. Clean rooms with a huge bath and shower. There are lots of shops and restaurants nearby.

 

 

 

Conclusion

Busan is a city not to be missed when you are making a road trip through South Korea. There is so much to see and do.  After a day full of sightseeing you can feast on the excellent fresh seafood. Busan offers more than the traditional sights. You can also shop till you drop in the impressive world record winning shopping centers and the next day you can relax on the nice sandy beaches or in extravagant Spa Land.

As Busan is so easy to reach it’s even worth considering a day trip from Seoul.

Have you ever visited Busan in South Korea? Do you have tips about other things to see in Busan?

Let us know in the comments.

Other popular activities in Busan

Klook.com

 

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