Busan
Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Located on the southern coast of South Korea, you can find beachy vibes, tons of delicious seafood, island escapes within just an hour, mountains to the north, and plenty of fun. This is one of the easiest destinations to get to as there are multiple transportation options and plenty of infrastructure to make travel easy for even the novice traveler in Korea. You’ll want to go multiple times to see everything!
Top Travel Experiences In Busan
- Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
- Haeundae Beach
- Songdo Cable Car
- Oryukdo Skywalk
- Spa Land Centum City
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Jagalchi Fish Market
- Taejongdae Park
- Busan Sky Capsule
Travel Tips For Busan
- Great Year-Round: Most people think of Busan as a summer destination and peak travel period is between May and September, but it’s actually great year-round. Busan is also one of the few places in Korea that has flowers that bloom in the winter.
- Excellent Subway System: Don’t be surprised by how long Busan is. It follows the coast so it can be quite a distance from one end to the other. Don’t be afraid to hop on the subway to get around. Travelers usually use Line 1 and Line 2 mainly.
- You Might Need To Take The Bus: While the subway system in Busan is great, some major attractions will require another mode of transportation. Gamcheon Culture Village, Songdo Beach & Cable Car, Oryukdo Skywalk, and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple all require a taxi or bus.
- Transportation Card: If you’ve already got a T-Money card from your travels in Seoul, then you’ll be able to use it in Busan too.
- Popular Areas To Stay: Tourists generally stay in the centrally located Seomyeon area or beachy areas at Haeundae and Gwangan’s Gwangalli Beach. Don’t overlook Songdo though, it’s a great area to stay too!
Best Tours In Busan
Busan East Coast Cultural Day Tour
Explore Taejongdae, one of Busan’s most popular tourist attractions then go to Gamcheon Culture Village known for its colorful houses. Brave the glass bottom of the Songdo Skywalk. Drop by Haedong Yonggungsa Temple built on top of the cliffs.
Busan Night Tour
Enjoy a three-hour tour of Busan’s popular night light spots from the beaches to the bridges. Be amazed by the Gwangan Suspension Bridge lit up at night and sink your feet into the sand. Busan at night can be magical if you know where to go and what to see. Don’t miss the fun.
Busan Yacht Tour
Get out on Busan’s water to see the city’s most famous landmarks and attractions such as Gwangalli Beach, Gwangan Bridge, Haeundae Bridge, and Dongbaekseom Island. It’s a convenient and luxurious way to see the city on the southern coast of Korea.
Jagalchi Fish Market Tour
This is a gourmet walking tour with a professional Korean chef. Visit Jagalchi Seafood Market, the largest fish market in Korea and the heart of Busan, and the over 100-year-old traditional Bupyeong Food Market, and learn about Korean food ingredients and local food culture in Busan.
Sky Capsule, Taejongdae & More
There are three courses to choose from to see some of the major highlights of Busan like the rocky cliffside of Taejongdae, the colorful Gamcheon Village, the Songdo Skywalk, and the seaside Buddhist temple. Or take a ride on the Sky Capsule and visit the Huinnyeoul seaside village.
Busan’s Top 5 Tour
This is a one-day tour that allows tourists to conveniently visit the BEST TOP5 destinations including Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Oryukdo Skywalk, Taejongdae, Gamcheon Culture Village, and The Bay 101. This is a tour where you can enjoy the beautiful ocean and mountains of Busan all in one day. It’s a full day so be prepared.
Plan a Trip to Busan
How To Get To Busan
By Plane
Catching a flight from Seoul to Busan is really easy and often not only faster, but also cheaper. It’s definitely something worth looking into. Jeju Air, Busan Air, Korean Air, Easy Jet, Jin Air, and T’Way have flights throughout the day from Gimpo Airport (the closer airport to Seoul) to Busan International Airport (which is in actually in Gimhae, Korea just outside of Busan). Flights from Gimpo to Busan tend to be cheaper than Incheon to Busan so keep that in mind when booking.
Check Skyscanner.com to find the cheapest option. We’ve flown on all of these carriers and they’ve been great. The flight takes just over an hour and is easy and comfortable. Flights can range between W30,000 and W90,000 depending on the time of the year and holiday.
By Train
The train is a go to option for a lot of travelers that are on the east side or central Seoul. There are three kinds of trains which differ in how many stops they make and the speed. Get the KTX which picks up at Seoul Station or Yongsan Station which is the fastest, and also most expensive. Traveling at 305 kilometers an hour means it’ll get you there in just under three hours. If you’ll be traveling by train, definitely look into getting the Korea Rail Pass (KR Pass) which will end up giving you a discount on trips if you’re traveling to Busan and back or making multiple stops. The pass is the most cost effective way to travel for foreigners.
By Bus
If you’re going to head to Busan, bus is really the last resort. It takes either 4 hours (express option) or 6 hours (standard option) so it’s the whole day if you ride. While it is certainly the cheapest option, it’s just long. If you do want to go by bus, you can get one from Seoul Express Bus Terminal, or Dong Seoul Terminal. The express bus costs W25,000 and the standard a bit less.
By Car
If you want to enjoy the trip and make some stop off, maybe at the coolest rest stop in the country, then why not drive? It’s easy to rent a car and once you get out of Seoul, the roads are not congested and it’s easy to navigate. We’ve rented from Avis here in Seoul and it was easy and efficient. If you’re a Klook user, then they also help with rentals in Korea as well. Don’t underestimate the fun of a road trip just make sure to remember your International Driver’s License.