Where To Stay In Busan: A Complete Guide To The Hot Spots
Busan is one of my favorite cities. Actually, if I could choose where to live in Korea, I’d probably choose Busan. Not only is my husband from Busan, but it’s got beaches to the south, mountains to the north, and plenty to do in between.
Anyway, if you’re taking a trip to Busan, then you should really think about where to stay in Busan because unlike Seoul that has a central point and radiates out, Busan is sort of long and follows the coast instead. If you want to see things on the west end of Busan, you don’t want to be in the east because it can be a long ride to get there. Want to get back and forth and all around? Then make sure to stay in the central area. Here’s a breakdown of the best places to stay in Busan and what you can see nearby too.
Here’s what you’ll find in this post:
- Some Quick Tips
- Getting Around Busan
- Where Should I Stay In Busan?
- Busan Neighborhood Quick Guide
- Gwangalli
- Nampo
- Seo-gu
- Haeundae
- New Haeundae
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Some Quick Tips
- Busan is the second largest city in Korea and is located on the southeastern coast of the country. On the subway, it can take a solid hour or more to get from end to end so it matters where you’re staying.
- The things you need to see in Busan are, unfortunately, located at extreme ends of the city so you’ll want to plan your trip to Busan wisely.
- You can get to Busan quickly and easily on the KTX train but if you’re looking to stay on the western end of Busan, you can also fly there too. Look into all of your options. If you’ll be traveling quite a bit, look into getting the Korea Rail Pass to save money.
Getting Around Busan
Rent A Car: Renting does not have to be a hassle. If you don’t want to go directly with a local shop, check out Klook which offers a great deal on rental cars and works really well for tourists. It’s fast and efficient and you’ll land and be on the road in no time.
Busan Subway: If you plan to travel by subway while you’re in Busan, which you should because it’ll really get you all over the place, make sure you have your T-Money card and get it topped up.
Busan City Tour Bus: If you don’t live in Busan but want to get to all of the major sites, definitely look into getting a Busan City Tour Bus Day Pass. You can see so many of the major tourist sites all in one go.
Where Should I Stay In Busan?
There are a lot of choices when it comes to places to stay in Busan, but I want to keep it fairly simple and straight-forward, so I’ve divided Busan into the popular areas to stay and will point out the best, most unique, and budget friendly places to stay along with the nearby things to see and do. Where you choose to stay in Busan will have a huge effect on what experiences you’ll be able to have especially if you’ll be traveling via subway or bus.
Busan Neighborhood Quick Guide
- Gwangalli: A beautiful neighborhood at the center of the city with a beautiful beachside area. This is a great area to stay for families with plenty to do within walking distance.
- Nampo: One of the most popular neighborhoods for people to stay. It’s busy, bustling, and located in central Busan and home to Jagalchi Fish Market and BIFF Square. You’ll enjoy shopping here.
- Seo-gu: If you’re headed to Busan with your family, Seomyeon is a great area to stay with plenty to see and do. It’s also a great district for you if it’s your first-time to Busan.
- Haeundae: Located on the eastern end of the Busan, Haeundae is the center of the action though not the center of the city. Haeundae has the most popular beach in the city. This is the most fashionable hot spot area to stay.
- New Haeundae: On the very eastern end of Busan, this newer area isn’t really recommended for first time visitors because it’s quite out of the way, but if you want a completely different view of Busan, this would be it.
Gwangalli
Gwangalli is my favorite beachside area to stay on in Busan. I tend to like it better than the busy Haeundae beachside. There are restaurants and cafes that line the boardwalk. It can be a bit out of the way if you’re trying to see a lot of the main attractions though so keep that in mind. It’s a great area to stay in with kids though.
Top things to see in the area:
- Gwangalli Beach (광안리해수욕장)
- Oryukdo Sky Walk
- Igidae Urban Nature Park (이기대 도시자연공원)
Where To Stay In Gwangalli
Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington
This 3.5 star property is the best hotel in Gwangalli. Located on the beach, the hotel is spacious, clean and has friendly staff. The best option near all of the beachside fun. You’ll be very comfortable here.
Find out more about this hotel on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
H Avenue Gwangalli Beach
Stay at this beautiful beachfront property with sea views. Wake up to the waves lapping in and plenty of places nearby to eat and get coffee throughout the day. You’ll love this stay from morning into the night as you watch the bridge over the water light up.
Book a stay at H Avenue Gwangalli Beach on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Gray 193 Hotel
Great views, comfortable rooms, and free continental breakfast. The rooms here are soundproof too which is important in Korea where you can often hear your neighbors for some reason. Get some good sleep and wake up to beautiful views.
You can book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Gwangan Hound Hotel
Be near the beach, bars, coffee shops, and close to the subway station. The hotel also has a fantastic rooftop terrace overlooking the beach. There is a shared lounge to get breakfast on the first floor as well and if you’ve got a bit of business to take care of, guests can use the business center on site freely.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Nampo
The Nampo area is a popular area in central Busan for tourists to stay with shopping and plenty to see and do. This is not only near some of the top sites to see, but it’s a vibrant area. It’s a great area for people that want to stay busy.
Top things to see in the area:
- Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치시장)
- Taejongdae Seaside Cliffs (태종대유원지)
- Huinnyeoul Culture Village (희여울문화마을)
Where To Stay In Nampo
LaValse Hotel
This 29 floor modern structure is in Busan Harbor, the largest port in Korea. The area is pretty local, but it’s near a lot of the hot touristy spots that you’d want to see. It’s a great spot to be near enough to the action, but allows you to get away a bit too if you want.
Check out this hotel on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Hotel Foret Premier Nampo
Located in the popular Nampo-dong district with plenty of cafes, restaurants, and fun to get into. This comfortable hotel is near Jagalchi subway station and in the Busan BIFF Street area. This is a great place to stay if you want to see a lot of the hot spots on the west side of the city using public transportation.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
SOYU Hotel
Great price and good location near BIFF Square, Jagalchi Market and more. The staff are friendly and the rooms are comfortable, clean, and rather spacious. If you’re looking for a budget friendly option in Busan, definitely look into this one.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Namhang Bridge Cottage
Airbnbs are getting really snazzy these days. This two bedroom stay which is on two floors is perfect for two couples or a family with older kids. Listen to the wind coming in off the ocean and enjoy the view. It’s a vacation stay that will whisk you away.
Seo-gu
The last time I visited Busan, this is where we stayed and it was fantastic. There are hotels right on Songdo beach and they’re great. Plenty of places to eat and cafes and there’s a cable car, places to walk, and more to see. Great for families and people that want a bit more space on a beach.
Top things to see in the area:
Where To Stay In Seo-gu
Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach
Enjoy a very comfortable hotel right near the beach. Enjoy an ocean view and convenient facilities. When you stay at the Fairfield, you’ll really just enjoy your stay. It has all of the amenities you’ll want and you can walk to the cable car, beach, and trek at nearby Amnam Park. This is a great place to stay for families.
If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Member, book a stay directly on Marriott.com. Or, book a stay at Fairfield by Marriott Busan Songdo Beach on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Best Western Plus Songdo
A great hotel right on the beach with views of the ocean waves. This is a great spot if you want plenty to do in one little area. Songdo features a cable car, access to the Yonggung Suspension Bridge, and more. The hotel is great for solo travelers, couples, and families that want an easy trip away. I stayed here on my first trip to the Songdo area and loved it.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Brown Dot Hotel Songdo
Similarly near the beach as the other hotels, this isn’t the only Brown Dot Hotel you’ll find on this list either. With great amenities and views of the beach, this is another great option right in the area. You can get an American breakfast daily here as well.
Book a stay Brown Dot Hotel Songdo on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Haeundae
Ideal for if you’re looking for the hot beachy vibes and luxury experiences. There are cool cafes and the most popular beach on the southern coast. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and fun, fun, fun.
What you can see in the area:
- Haeundae Blue Line Park (해운대 블루라인파크)
- Haeundae Sky Capsule (해운대스카이캡슐)
- Busan Museum of Art (부산시립미술관)
- Songjeong Beach (송정해수욕장)
- Haeundae Beach (해운대해수욕장)
- BUSAN X the SKY (부산엑스더스카이)
Where To Stay In Haeundae
Park Hyatt Busan
In the popular Haeundae district, this 5-star luxury hotel has all of the chic appeal any visitor could want. Enjoy a massage at the amazing Lumi Spa and then take a dip in the 19 meter indoor pool. Want to arrive in style, use the limousine transfer service from the train station or airport.
Want to live the high life in Busan, Check out this amazing hotel.
Westin Chosun Busan
Want to stay right on the beach? Check into this 5-star luxury hotel with all of the views and all of the sand right outside the door. Take part in the activity programs on Oryukdo Island. With multiple dining options, there is plenty to do here and to eat so you’ll never have to leave.
If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy Member, book a room directly on Marriott.com. Or, book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Eastern Amber Hotel
Just one minute from Songjeong Beach, this comfortable hotel is chic and inviting with friendly staff. Definitely check out this beautiful hotel if you’re headed to Busan soon.
Book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Hotel Hyggelig
Four minutes from the popular Haeundae Beach, this gem of a hotel has friendly staff and is well furnished spacious rooms, but the best part might just be the rooftop. Don’t miss heading up to enjoy some great views of the area with a lot of comfortable seating.
You can book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Songjeong Blue Castle
Comfortable, clean, and close to the sea. The convenient location close to the beach is great for anyone looking for sandy seaside time in a great spot. Check out a stay here if you want to explore the eastern end of Busan.
Book a stay here on Agoda.com
Frank’s Loft
This beautiful loft is modern and comfortable, a beautiful boho beachy vibe with the beach just a 5 to 10 minute walk away. This is a popular stay with beds upstairs and a comfortable lounge space downstairs. You might not want to leave.
New Haeundae
To be honest, I don’t know what this area is called now. When the area east of Haeundae was starting to be built up, everyone just called in New Haeundae so that’s still locked in my head. This area is pretty out of the way on the eastern edge of Busan. Most people will head to the area to see the popular seaside temple, but it’s not exactly the most ideal place to stay there are things to see there now.
I’d only recommend staying in this area if you’re trying to be out a bit and maybe it’s your third or fourth trip down and you want something different.
What you can see in the area:
- Haedong Yonggung Temple (해동용궁사)
- Busan National Science Museum (국립부산과학관)
- Fisheries Science Museum (수산과학관 (부산))
- Lotte World Adventure Busan (롯데월드어드벤처부산)
Where To Stay in New Haeundae
Ananti Hilton Busan
The gorgeous ocean views are more than enough to make this hotel a must stay but if you need more, the rooms are spacious and the staff incredibly helpful. Want to stay at the best hotel in the city… well outside the city really. ? This is definitely your spot.
You can book a stay here on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Brown Dot Hotel Songjung
Want an amazing view of the beach or the nearby mountains? Check out the rooms here that have a 180 degree view. It’s a beautiful stay near the beach and if you’re looking for a quieter stay away from the crowds, this is the place to check out… or check in to.
Find out more about this hotel on Booking.com or on Agoda.com
Busan is calling… when are you going?
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