This complete guide shares the absolute best things to do in Busan, so you can have a perfect trip to South Korea’s second largest city!
Known for a thriving art scene, sandy beaches, and the colorful village of Gamcheon, Busan is a popular place to visit in Korea. Its location along the country’s southern coast means that some of the best Busan attractions mean spending time at the beach and hiking along the ocean. But the ocean isn’t Busan’s only draw! Many also come to teach English and partake in the vibrant night life that’s a little more low-key compared to Seoul.
No matter if you’re coming for a short visit or arriving to teach English in Korea, there are so many incredible things to do in Busan for everyone! Check out this ultimate list plus some recommendations for where to stay in Busan.
↠ Read More: 20 Travel Tips for South Korea
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
The Best Time to Visit Busan
South Korea has four distinct seasons, which means that you’ll have a vastly different experience depending on when you visit. In general, I’d say that the summer is the best time to visit so you can properly enjoy the beach and ocean.
But fall and spring in Korea are also magical times to visit thanks to the pretty cherry blossoms that come into bloom in March and April, as well as the colorful fall leaves in October. Winter is pretty chilly, but the city is decorated in Christmas lights that are pretty to see!
How to Get to Busan from Seoul
Busan is a fantastic weekend or even day trip from Seoul and easily accessible from Korea’s largest city. The best way to get to Busan from Seoul or really any major Korean city will be via train. As one of Korea’s main destinations, it is a very well connected city. From Seoul, the KTX or fast train takes about 3 hours and costs about 55,000 won ($46). Grab your ticket online at the Lets Korail website or in person at the train station.
It’s also possible to buy a train ticket from Seoul to Busan, which is generally much cheaper but take a bit longer. Bus tickets cost about 26,000 won and the ride takes about 4 hours. You can look up bus tickets in Korean on the Kobus website or purchase in person at the terminal.
↠ Read More: Everything You Need to Know to Travel to Korea
18 Incredible Things to do in Busan
1. Stroll through the colorful streets of the Insta-famous Gamcheon Culture Village.
The Gamcheon Culture Village is Busan’s most colorful and artistic neighborhood and one of the most instagrammable spots in Korea. Built into the mountainside, the winding and twisting alleyways are fun to explore and get lost in. No trip to Busan is complete without popping in to visit this lovely part of the city.
2. Soak up some sunshine on beautiful Haeundae Beach.
Busan is famous for its coastal location and people flock to Haeundae Beach to enjoy the beautiful ocean. The Haeundae area has plenty to do and enjoy such as cute shops, delicious restaurants, the Busan Aquarium, coastal walks and of course the beach.
3. Treat yourself to fabulous shopping, restaurants + nightlife in Seomyeon.
Busan’s central downtown area, Seomyeon is a great place to enjoy fabulous Korean shopping and popping nightlife. There are countless beautiful restaurants and the hippest bars in the city are in Seomyeon. You can easily spend a full day or two wandering around and cafe hopping in Seomyeon.
4. Stroll through the traditional Jalgalchi Fish Market.
Of course being located on the sea, Busan is home to the freshest and most traditional Korean seafood. Stop by the famous Jalgalchi Fish Market to see the vendors selling their catch of the day. You can enjoy the fresh seafood yourself at any one of the restaurant stalls at the market.
5. Visit Nampo Neighborhood for street food + shopping.
The Nampo area is another main hopping area of Busan with great food options and high-end and discount shopping. Every year the famous Busan Film Festival is hosted in this area and there are usually countless carts open serving the best Korean street food.
6. Climb to the top of Lotte Department Store for free city views.
I’m not one to usually recommend a department store as a point of interest when visiting a new place, but the Lotte in Nampo offers stunning free views of the city from their observation decks on the roof. And while you’re there, you may as well get lost in a classic Korean department store – they’re so fancy!
7. Take in the city skyline from atop the iconic Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park.
Another place to catch great views of the city is from the top of Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park. This 120m/394 feet tall tower is an iconic part of Busan’s skyline and should be at the top of your to do list. It’s open year round and costs 8,000 won to enter.
8. Walk along the Igidae Coastal Walk to the Oryukdo Skywalk.
Another pretty coastal walk to enjoy, Igidae is a great way to escape the city. On one end of the trail visitors can relax and check out the epic city views before heading away from the city to the Oryukdo Skywalk. The entire walk is about 4 km and takes about 2 hours.
9. Learn how to surf at Songjeong Beach.
That’s right, you can learn how to surf and hit some waves in South Korea! Visit Songjeong Beach and take your pick at any one of the surf schools along the beach. You can pay to rent all the gear for a fairly reasonable price – usually about 30,000 won / $27 USD and if you’d like a lesson, you can pay extra.
10. Check out the historic wonder that is Seokbulsa, Busan’s Stone Temple.
Seokbulsa Stone Temple is a unique temple up into the mountains with stone carvings in the rock faces. If you’re looking to escape into nature and experience a unique Korean Buddhist temple, Seokbulsa is a cool site to check out!
11. Marvel at Busan’s most popular attraction, Haedong Yonggungsa the Water Temple
Haedong Yonggungsa is the most well-known temple in Busan and for good reason. This stunning and expansive temple lies right on the coast and overlooks the sea. It’s usually quite busy so be sure to arrive in the morning to beat the crowds.
12. See more coastal cliffs and views at Taejongdae Resort.
Because essentially all of Busan is coastline, Taejongdae is another coastal path offering an escape to the ocean. Depending on where you are staying in the city. One of the coastal walks – Taejongdae, Igidae or Amnam – will most likely suit your itinerary and location best.
13. Hike the Amnam Park Coastal Walk starting from Songdo Beach.
Perfect for budget and nature loving visitors, the Amnam Park Coastal Walk starts a short walk away from Songdo beach and winds along coastal cliffs. Follow the picturesque boardwalks and bridges to enjoy the pretty views and wonderful fresh ocean air. Before venturing away from Songdo Beach, be sure to enjoy the Songdo Skywalk. The entire walk takes a couple of hours to complete.
14. Pamper yourself to a modern bathhouse at Busan’s Spa Land.
In my opinion (I’m not sure it’s a popular one), I think everyone who visits Korea should visit a traditional Korean bathhouse and treat themselves to a nude scrub! I know for westerners the concept of being completely naked around strangers – let alone being scrubbed by one – is completely strange. BUT it is seriously amazing and you leave feeling totally refreshed, soft and like you’ve just accomplished the biggest challenge.
Spa Land is Busan’s premier Korean traditional bathhouse and is super clean and nice! Located in Shinsegae Department Store, I really recommend you consider visiting!
15. Hike around Jangsan Mountain, a trail with city views.
Busan doesn’t only boast awesome ocean views, but great hiking as well, and Jangsan is one of the best hiking trails in Busan. The mountain is easily accessible via metro and is a moderate hike that most people can enjoy. Hiking Jangsan means that you can enjoy city views, climb epic rock falls, and even come in close contact with old land mines (safely)!
Take the metro to Jangsan Station and walk about ten minutes towards Daecheon Park. The trials start from here and there are different route options to choose from.
16. Catch a baseball game and watch the Busan Lotte Giants play at Sajik Baseball Stadium.
In Korea, baseball is a very popular sport! If your visit coincides with baseball season, consider checking out a game at Sajik Baseball Stadium to see the Busan Lotte Giants live in action! Be sure to pick up your own beers and chicken before coming – outside food and beverage is allowed.
See when the Lotte Giants play and how much tickets are at their official page. Tickets aren’t usually much more than 10,000 won and you can also buy them day of at the stadium.
17. Visit the colorful Samgwangsa Temple.
This huge temple is a bit out of the city center, but is very beautiful. It’s built into the hillside and offers cool views of the city as well as large grounds to walk around. If you happen to be there during Buddha’s birthday, (usually in April or May depending on the lunar calendar) you must must must visit to enjoy the magical lantern festival at night.
18. Shop and eat at Busan’s Gukje Market, a large traditional market with tons of vendors.
Gukje or International Market, is one of Busan’s largest traditional markets. Come walk amongst the vendors selling various goods, foods and more. It’s a true taste of traditional Korean culture.
Where to Stay in Busan + The Best Busan Hotels
Haeundae Neighborhood – The Beach District
A more chill area of Busan, Haeundae is for those looking to spend their days at Haeundae beach. There are great restaurants, cafes and shopping in this area, but the night scene is a little more relaxed compared to Seomyeon or Nampo.
- Good Day May: A stylish and cute hotel that’s just 100m from the Haeundae Subway Station. They offer private rooms at a reasonable rate of about $50-$75 per night.
- Canvas Hostel: A modern hostel located about 5 minutes walking distance from Haeundae Beach that offers both private and dormitory rooms for about $20 a night.
- Baymond Hotel: A 3-star hotel with an awesome rooftop pool and great ocean/beach views that’s more pricey at about $90+ a night.
Seomyeon Neighborhood – The City Center
This is the heart and soul of Busan. While many of the main attractions to see in Busan are not in this district, Seomyeon is vibrant and busy. The best nightlife, popular restaurants and cutest cafes are in this area. It’s a good place to be stationed while traveling around the city to see the other attractions.
- Calli Hostel: A relaxed hostel ideal for those traveling on a budget with a nice balcony and privates priced around $30/night.
- Hotel J7: A bright and airy hotel in the heart of Seomyeon that’s mid-range at about $40/night.
- Lotte Hotel Busan: An upscale pick rated five stars with rooms starting around $125/night.
Nampo Neighborhood – The Old District
Nampo is one of the older districts in Busan and thus has a lot of the popular tourist attractions such as Busan Tower, Jalgalchi Fish Market, Songdo Beach/Amnam park etc. It’s a bit away from the center of Busan, but it’s also a great place to set up base for your Busan adventures.
- Hotel Forêt Premier Nampo: A three-star hotel with great reviews in the heart of Nampo, and reasonable nightly rates starting around $45.
- Busan Backpackers: While not exactly in Nampo, this hostel is a popular pick and not far to the Gamcheon Culture Village and Songdo Beach.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
Phew – you made it through my entire Busan travel guide. I hope it helps you with your Busan travel planning adventures.
Questions or comments? Share below!
Ah, I’ve been wanting to do the Amnam Park Coastal Walk! Next time in Busan, I will definitely make it my priority. Thanks for a good read (as always) x
It’s a really pretty walk! I think you’d enjoy it a lot. Thanks love!! Happy Friday 😀