When planning a trip to South Korea, you must include the Southern city of Busan in your South Korea itinerary! Why? Because Busan is a coastal city with stunning beaches and walking trails but it’s also a big city with skyscrapers offering lots of options for shopping, street food and street art!
I spent 3 days in Busan which was the perfect amount of time to see the top things to do in Busan, so here in this Korea travel blog and Busan travel guide are my recommended things to do in Busan, Busan day tours, where to stay in Busan and how to get around Busan to help you see the best of this city!
Things To Do in Busan
1. Gamcheon Culture Village
Out of all of the places to visit in Busan and things to do in Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village is number 1! If you have seen photos of a hillside full of colourful buildings in Korea, this is the Busan Cultural Village!
Gamcheon was once one of the poorest areas of Busan but in 2009 the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism started to revive this area and artists were hired to paint and install artwork with the help of the residents.
Now, Gamcheon Culture Village is one of the main Busan attractions and is a must-visit to see amazing street art, eat delicious street food, take lots of photos and see a quirky side to Korea!
Have a read of my full post here for details on how to get to Gamcheon Culture Village, opening times and things to do in Gamcheon Culture Village.
2. Haeundae Beach
There are lots of beaches in Busan to visit but I recommend Haeundae Beach as the best beach to visit in Busan! It’s a beautiful white sand beach where you can take a walk on the sand or along the boardwalk. Even if you visit Busan in winter or there are grey skies, I still recommend adding Haeundae Beach to your list of things to do in Busan because it can be enjoyed in all weather.
In addition to this, there are lots of cafes, shops and street food markets close to the beach meaning you can spend a few relaxing hours here. I loved seeing Haeundae Beach on a Sunday morning when lots of locals were out enjoying the beach and sunshine.
If you happen to be in South Korea in May or June, look out for the Haeundae Sand Festival which is held annually to see some pretty impressive sand sculptures!
- Here are more of my must-read South Korea posts to help plan your trip:
- How To Visit Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan.
- 16 Cheap and Free Things To Do in Seoul!
- How To See The Best of Jeju Island WITHOUT Hiring a Car!
- 10 Day South Korea Itinerary For Seoul, Busan & Jeju Island!
3. Dongbaek Park
Busan is great for walking and hiking. For a gentle but scenic coastal walk, head to the end of Haeundae Beach into Dongbaek Park.
3. Taejongdae Resort Park
Taejongdae Resort Park is another one of the places to go in Busan for hiking. You can do a 2-hour loop of the park whilst enjoying scenic coastal views and you’ll get to see some Buddhist Temples too.
If you are visiting South Korea on a budget, visiting parks in Busan like this are great things to do in Busan.
4. Busan Tower
Not too far from Taejongdae Resort Park is Busan Tower which offers visitors access to its observatory deck at 118m high! It provides stunning 360 views of the city including the ocean and inland Busan! Book tickets in advance here on Klook for a great price!
If you are visiting Busan for a few days and think you will visit more things to do in Busan like the Trickeye 3D Museum, Running Man Park, and Poopoo Land, I recommend purchasing this 72-hour attraction pass for Busan which includes the Busan Tower.
SOUTH KOREA SIM CARD
Stay connected in South Korea by ordering a sim card in advance! Order it, choose the airport you’ll be flying into and pick it up when you land! Buy it here! Korea 4G LTE Unlimited Data and Optional Voice Call SIM Card
If you’re phone is locked and not unlocked which I know happens to many people in the USA, you’ll need a portable wifi pocket rental which you can order and pick up at Incheon Airport. Buy it here!
GETTING ROUND SOUTH KOREA
The public transport in South Korean cities is really great, so safe and easy to use. You’ll need a T-Money card that you add credit to and can use on all the buses and metros all over South Korea.
The best thing is to get this SIM CARD AND T-MONEY CARD BUNDLE from Incheon Airport when you land, then you can be connected and be on your way on the metro straight away! Buy it here!
DMZ TOUR
There are so many great tours to do in South Korea, but a DMZ tour when in Seoul is a must do! You can’t go to South Korea and not get a glimpse into North Korea!
This is the exact tour I did which I really enjoyed and it’s the highest rated on Get Your Guide. Here’s my full DMZ tour review if you want to read this first!
5. Jagalchi Fish Market
Jagalchi Fish Market is the biggest fish market in South Korea, world-famous and one of the top Busan tourist attractions!
If you are a keen foodie, and an adventurous foodie, you need to add the Busan Fish Market to your things to do in Busan because it is truly an experience! You will be able to try and taste foods that you have never heard of and will probably never see again!
6. BIFF Square
BIFF Square gets its name from the Busan International Film Festival. It’s an area within the city and one of the Busan points of interest for shopping and street food! For the best shopping and food head to Gukje Market and Nampodong Street near BIFF Square.
When planning out your things to do in Busan, I recommend visiting BIFF square on the same day that you visit Gamchon Culture Village as they’re close by.
7. Korean Jjimjilbang Spa
For one of the Busan attractions that is a bit different, you can head a Jjimjilbang in Busan! These spas are famous in Korea and also known as Korean bathhouses. With tourists, they have become a bit of an attraction because of the nakedness, a bit like the attraction of an Onsen in Japan, and you may hear people refer to them as a naked spa!
My friend Rose from WhereGoesRose went to Spa Land in Busan for a Jjimjilbang Spa, she said people were not naked the whole time and it was very relaxing so I recommend you visit for a unique Korean experience in Busan.
8. Songdo Skywalk
Busan offers a few different skywalks and Songdo Skywalk is one of the popular things to do in Busan because it is South Korea’s longest curved sea pathway and it’s pretty cool! It takes you over the ocean shore, along some rocks and gives you a unique look at Songdo beach and the Songdo city skyline in the distance.
If you are visiting Busan in Summer, be prepared for this Busan attraction to be busy but if you want some nature and a beach, this is one of the good places in Busan to visit!
9. Beomeosa Temple Stay
Doing a temple stay in Korea is one of the popular things to do in South Korea. It involves staying in a Buddhist temple, interacting with Buddhist monks and most notably, following their routine which is pretty intense. The most popular temple stay in Busan is at Beomsosa in Busan.
Beomeosa say that their standard program features chanting services, 108 prostrations, Dado (tea ceremony), and has a strong emphasis on meditation.
You will be sure to learn new things and have unique experiences doing a stay like this. To find out more and book, have a look at their website here.
10. Busan Nightlife
Finally, in this list of things to do in Busan, South Korea is known for its nightlife and Busan is no exception! To get chatting to locals and experience some real local life be sure to head out for a few drinks when you are in Busan.
If you’re unsure of where to go to experience the nightlife in Busan or you’re alone and have no one to go out with, have a look at this pub crawl in Busan which happens every Friday and Saturday night! It will take you to 4 famous bars and clubs in a safe way and like a local!
Busan Day Tours
If you are tight on time when in Busan or you want to get a full understanding of what you are seeing from a local, I suggest booking a Busan day tour or half-day tour. Here are some options which will show you the best Busan tourist spots and top things to do in Busan:
- Busan Full Day City Tour
- Busan Private Tour with a Local
- 90 Minute Afternoon Sightseeing Tour on a Cruise
- From Busan -Day Trip to Oedo Island or Tongyeong
- Busan East Coast Cultural Day Tour
- Busan Night Tour with Songdo Cable Car, The Bay 101, Gwangalli Beach, and Yeongdo Seaside Park
How to Get Around Busan?
The best way to get around Busan is by metro and luckily the metro system in Busan is convenient and easy to use, but often buses are needed too to get you to where you need to go after getting off the metro.
I found that many of the top Busan tourist attractions are far away from each other and some are not close to a metro station which is why you’ll then need to get a bus.
This makes Busan sightseeing a little tricker so my tip in this Busan travel guide is to plan your things to do in Busan well and visit the Busan attractions that are close to each other one day and head to a different area of the city the next day.
To use the Metro and Buses in Busan it’s best to get a T Money card, you can get them at supermarkets like 7/11, in the stations or online in advance for the same price.
They save you money on travel and make it so much easier by not needing to buy single tickets. Plus, the T Money cards work in all of South Korea’s big Cities so once you’ve got it it will cover you for anywhere else you go in South Korea.
Where to Stay in Busan?
Due to Busan being a city by the beach, I thought it would be a shame not to stay by a beach and I was pleased with my decision. I stayed near Haedundae Beach and I was pleased with this location as it is accessible by metro into the city but it feels like you are away from the city and can enjoy the beach and nature element to Busan.
Hostels in Haedundae Beach
I stayed at Maya Guesthouse which I really recommend if you’re looking for one of the best hostels in Busan, it has dorm rooms and budget private rooms, it’s in a great location, clean and has with friendly staff.
Hotels in Haedundae Beach
As Haeundae is a popular area to stay in Busan there are many hotels, The Westin Hotel is more upmarket and is in a great location right on and overlooking the beach. Hotel Laon will also give you sea view rooms. JB Design Hotel offers nice rooms for a good price.
For all Hotels and Hostels around Haeundae Beach, have a look here on Booking.com which is what I use to book all of my accommodation.
To SEE Busan, have a look at my YouTube video here!
- Here are more of my must-read South Korea posts to help plan your trip:
- How To Visit Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan.
- 16 Cheap and Free Things To Do in Seoul!
- How To See The Best of Jeju Island WITHOUT Hiring a Car!
- 10 Day South Korea Itinerary For Seoul, Busan & Jeju Island!
Disclaimer – This post is in collaboration with Traverse Events and Korea Tourism Org. London as part of their #SeeKoreaNext Campaign. All thoughts, opinions and recommendations are my own from my own experience.