Things To Do
in Busan
Busan, South Korea's second-largest city, is renowned for its stunning coastline and vibrant maritime culture. Nestled on the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula, it boasts beautiful beaches like Haeundae and Gwangalli, attracting visitors from around the world. The city's heavily trafficked port is a hub for trade, while its bustling Jagalchi Fish Market showcases the country's rich seafood culture.
Additionally, Busan hosts several cultural events, including the renowned Busan International Film Festival, highlighting its status as a dynamic and evolving urban center.
- "안녕하세요 (annyeonghaseyo)" - Hello
- "고맙습니다 (gomapseumnida)" - Thank you
- "실례합니다 (sillyehamnida)" - Excuse me
- "죄송합니다 (joesonghamnida)" - I'm sorry
- "얼마예요? (eolmayeyo?)" - How much is it?
Prices
- 🏠 Accommodation (per night): $30 - $150
- 🍽️ Meal at a Restaurant: $7 - $30
- ☕ Coffee: $2 - $5
- 🚌 Public transport ticket (single journey): $1 - $2
- 🛒 Grocery shopping (per week): $30 - $100
- 🏋️♂️ Gym Membership: $40 - $100
Day Trips
Spend a day exploring around
Start your day at Haeundae Beach, enjoying a refreshing walk along the shore. Grab a cup of coffee at a nearby café as you soak in the ocean views.
Visit the Busan Aquarium to marvel at marine life, including sharks and sea turtles. Have lunch at a seaside restaurant, trying some local seafood dishes.
Take a leisurely stroll on the beach as the sun sets over the horizon. Enjoy dinner at a beachside BBQ restaurant while listening to the waves.
Begin your day with a visit to the Beomeosa Temple, a serene site with beautiful architecture. Explore the temple grounds and enjoy the tranquility of the mountains.
Head to the Gamcheon Culture Village to wander through colorful alleyways and unique art installations. Have some lunch in one of the local cafes featuring traditional Korean meals.
Conclude your day with a visit to the Busan Museum, where you can learn more about the city's history. Enjoy a quiet dinner in the nearby area, reflecting on your day's adventures.
Strengths and Weaknesses
- Beautiful beaches such as Haeundae and Gwangalli.
- Rich cultural heritage, including temples and traditional markets.
- Vibrant seafood scene, known for fresh dishes like sashimi and grilled octopus.
- Mild climate, making it enjoyable year-round.
- Home to the Busan International Film Festival, attracting global attention.
- Great public transportation system, including a reliable subway and buses.
- Crowded during peak tourist seasons.
- Air pollution can be an issue, particularly in urban areas.
- High cost of living compared to other Korean cities.
- Limited English-speaking services may pose challenges for non-Korean speakers.
- Typhoon season can disrupt travel and outdoor activities.
- Public beaches can become quite crowded, especially in summer.
Best Activities in Busan
Outdoor fun you shouldn't miss!
Enjoy scenic views and lush nature while hiking one of Busan's highest mountains. The trails cater to various difficulty levels.
Explore the beautiful Beomeosa Temple, a serene spot for meditation and appreciation of traditional Korean architecture surrounded by nature.
Relax at Busan's most famous beach, Haeundae, where you can sunbathe, swim, or enjoy beachside cafes and restaurants.
Famous for its stunning views of the Gwangan Bridge, Gwangalli Beach is perfect for a picnic, water sports, and evening strolls.
An outdoor activity combined with an interactive experience, the aquarium showcases a variety of marine life and offers hands-on exhibits.
Rent a bike and ride across the iconic Gwangan Bridge for breathtaking views of the city skyline and ocean.
Visit this urban park for a relaxed walk, enjoy the greenery, and take in the views from the Busan Tower located within the park.
Experience the underwater beauty of Busan's coastline with scuba diving excursions around the Oryukdo Islands.
A great spot for fishing enthusiasts, Dongbaek Park offers tranquil spots to fish as you enjoy the scenic coastal views.
Watch outdoor movie screenings during the summer months at the Busan Cinema Center, known for its architectural beauty and vibrant atmosphere.
Tours
Uncover the best of Busan with these unforgettable tours.
Places to Visit in Busan
Visit one of these nice places.
A famous beach with stunning ocean views and a lively atmosphere, perfect for capturing sunrises and sunsets.
This iconic bridge offers panoramic views of the ocean and cityscape, especially beautiful when illuminated at night.
A natural park with cliffs overlooking the sea, providing breathtaking views and great hiking trails.
Located in Yongdusan Park, this tower provides a 360-degree view of the city skyline and surrounding areas.
A colorful hillside village with artistic murals and vibrant buildings, ideal for capturing unique cultural photographs.
Known as one of the best viewpoints in Busan, Dalmaji Hill offers scenic vistas of the coastline and city.
A modern skywalk with glass panels allowing for a unique perspective of the beach and surrounding landscape.
Experience local culture and capture the vibrant atmosphere of Korea’s largest seafood market.
A bustling shopping street with street food and modern architecture, offering great photo opportunities.
A cantilevered glass walkway that extends over the sea, providing thrilling views and perfect photo ops.
Food in Busan
Busan Famous Food
Signature dishes, delicacies and famous food
A beloved street food, Ssiat Hotteok is a sweet Korean pancake filled with brown sugar, honey, nuts, and cinnamon, often sold at market stalls around Busan.
Must-Try!
A signature dish from Busan, Milmyun is a cold noodle dish served in a chilled beef broth, perfect for hot summer days. The flavor is both refreshing and satisfying.
Spicy marinated pork ribs that are grilled to perfection. Known for their rich flavor, Dwaeji Galbi can be found in many local restaurants.
Freshly sliced raw fish served with a variety of accompaniments, Hoe is best enjoyed at the beachfront seafood markets where the catch of the day is always on offer.
Unique Experiences
Get to know Busan better with these unique experiences.
Food Markets
Explore local food markets
One of Busan's largest traditional markets, Gukje Market offers a wide variety of street food options ranging from spicy rice cakes to seafood delicacies. A must-visit for food enthusiasts.
Famous as Korea's largest seafood market, Jagalchi offers fresh fish and shellfish that can be enjoyed raw or grilled right at the market.
Known for its vibrant street food scene, this market is perfect for trying Busan's famous spicy fish cakes and other traditional dishes.
Weather
How to Behave
Tips on cultural norms and respectful behavior
In Busan, as in the rest of Korea, using polite language is essential, especially with elders or in formal situations. Addressing people with appropriate titles and showing respect through your speech will help foster positive interactions.
When dining, it is customary to wait for the eldest person to start eating before you begin. Also, do not stick your chopsticks upright in your rice, as it resembles a funeral rite. Always use two hands when handing or receiving items, including food and drinks.
While Koreans can be warm and friendly, it is important to respect personal space, especially in public areas. Avoiding excessive physical contact and being mindful of others' comfort levels will ensure respectful interactions.
Hidden Gems
Discover the hidden gems of Busan with these exclusive activities.
Safety
Tipping in Busan
Ensure a smooth experience
In Busan, as in much of South Korea, tipping is not a common practice and is generally not expected in most service industries. Instead, customers often round up the bill or leave small change as a token of appreciation, but this is not mandatory. High-end restaurants or tourist-focused service sectors may see occasional tipping, but it is still relatively rare.
Payment practices in Busan are quite modern, with a prevalent use of cash along with credit and debit cards. Mobile payments through apps like KakaoPay and Naver Pay are also becoming increasingly common, especially among younger generations. In restaurants and shops, customers often pay at the counter, and receipts are typically provided without request.
Top Things To Do
Engage in these activities to dive deeper into Busan.
Best Time to Visit
And what to expect in different seasons...
Spring (March to May) is one of the best times to visit Busan, as the weather is mild and the cherry blossoms bloom, creating beautiful scenery. Expect mild temperatures ranging from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F) and plenty of outdoor festivals.
Summer (June to August) in Busan can be hot and humid, with temperatures often exceeding 30°C (86°F). This season is perfect for beach lovers, with Haeundae Beach being a popular spot. Expect crowded beaches and vibrant nightlife.
Autumn (September to November) is another prime time to visit, as the weather is comfortable with temperatures between 10°C and 25°C (50°F to 77°F) and the stunning fall foliage can be seen in parks and mountains. Various cultural events and festivals take place during this season.
Winter (December to February) in Busan is relatively mild compared to other parts of Korea, with temperatures averaging between 0°C and 10°C (32°F to 50°F). Expect fewer tourists, and while it’s a quieter time, visitors can enjoy winter attractions and warm seafood dishes.
Busan at Night
Hiking in Busan
Immerse in an unforgettable hike.
A popular hiking destination in Busan, Geumjeongsan offers various trails with stunning views and historical sites, including the Geumjeong Fortress.
Known for its picturesque scenery, Jangsan Mountain features well-maintained trails and is a great spot for both hiking and enjoying nature.
This mountain provides a relatively easy hike and panoramic views of Busan, making it suitable for casual hikers and families.
Baekyangsan offers diverse hiking paths and the option to explore beautiful temple sites along the way, making it a culturally enriching experience.
A scenic coastal trail that starts at Songjeong Beach and winds up to Dalmaji Hill, providing breathtaking ocean views and a relaxed hiking experience.
Unforgettable Journeys
Delve deeper into Busan through these rare and unique activities.
Aiports
How to reach Busan by plane.
The main airport serving Busan, offering both domestic and international flights.
Located near Seoul, it is the largest airport in South Korea and a major international hub.
An airport in Gwangju, offering domestic flights with some international connections.
Located on Jeju Island, it provides international and domestic flights, popular among tourists.
An airport in Daegu, mainly serving domestic flights with limited international service.
Walkability
Demographics
Explore demographics in this area.
The majority of the population in Busan, comprising ethnic Koreans who hold South Korean citizenship.
Includes expatriates and migrants from various countries living in Busan for work, study, or other reasons.
A significant demographic group consisting of both domestic and international students attending various universities and educational institutions in Busan.
Senior citizens in Busan, which is growing due to an aging population.
Young individuals often engaged in education or starting their careers, representing a dynamic segment of the community.
The Soul of Busan
Discover the essence of Busan through these truly unique experiences.
Popular Sports
Explore popular sports in region.
Football, or soccer, is one of the most popular sports in Busan, with a strong local following and teams like Busan IPark competing in the K League.
Baseball enjoys immense popularity in Busan, home to the Lotte Giants, a professional team with a passionate fan base.
Basketball is widely played and followed in Busan, both at amateur and professional levels, with local leagues and teams attracting enthusiasts.
Volleyball, especially beach volleyball, is popular in Busan due to its coastal location, with many tournaments held on the beaches.
As a traditional Korean martial art, Taekwondo is practiced widely in Busan, with numerous dojos and schools dedicated to the sport.
Rugby has been growing in popularity in Busan, with local clubs and schools increasingly participating in national competitions.
Traffic
Accomodations
Find the best place to stay when visiting Busan.
Dietary Restrictions
Tips for restricted diets.
While traditional Korean cuisine is often meat-heavy, Busan has vegetarian options, particularly in temple cuisine and certain restaurants that offer vegetable-focused dishes.
Vegan options can be limited, but some restaurants, especially those in tourist areas, provide vegan-friendly dishes made from plant-based ingredients.
Gluten-free options are available, though you should be cautious as many traditional dishes contain soy sauce and other wheat products. Local markets offer fresh fruits, veggies, and rice-based snacks.
Cultural Immersions
Experience the heart and soul of Busan with these cultural adventures.
