Oh, Busan. This beautiful and vibrant city located on the coast of South Korea offers a variety of attractions and experiences for every kind of traveler. While Seoul is the biggest destination in Korea for most visitors, Busan’s laid-back vibe, seaside charm, and delicious seafood are bound to delight. There’s much to do, see, and eat, so let’s dive right in! (No pun intended.)
How long to spend in Busan?
Busan’s not exactly small, but most of the best attractions are concentrated in one or two areas. I would suggest having at least two full days in Busan, three if you can manage it. That should give you plenty of time to soak in the vibe and see all the major sights.
Where to stay in Busan?
Haeundae. This neighborhood of Busan is located directly on the beach and has an abundance of things to do, from the iconic Haeundae Beach, to street markets full of food and shopping, to parks and nightlife. Busan’s city center doesn’t have much to do and can feel quite dead, so definitely book a spot in Haeundae if at all possible.
What to Do in Busan?
Busan has a plethora of activities, and most of them you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else in Korea. With three days, you can definitely knock out most, if not all, of the items on this list.
Gamcheon Culture Village
Perhaps the most famous tourist attraction in all of Busan is Gamcheon Culture Village, sometimes called the Macchu Picchu of South Korea. This packed mountainside neighborhood is full of cafes, local houses, and shops, all painted in vibrant shades of the rainbow. You’ll have to work hard to walk up the incredibly steep and narrow staircases, and it’s easy to get lost in the maze of buildings. However, that’s part of the charm—take at least two hours to wander Gamcheon Culture Village’s streets, pop into a local cafe or two, and enjoy the street art at each and every corner.
There’s no shortage of cafes if you’re looking for one, but a few extra-cute ones that I would suggest are Bluehouse243 (a recognizable 3-story blue cafe painted with clouds) and Gamcheon Moonlight Donuts (a pink cafe with a cute model cat reaching for the window outside).
Want to experience even more unique locations in Korea? Check out my Seoul Travel Guide here.
Monorail of Hope Staircase
This hidden gem is located in the lesser-known Dakbatgol Mural Village, a quiet residential art district not far from the much more popular Gamcheon Culture Village. Among the cute statues and painted walls lies this gorgeous steep staircase covered in multicolored mosaics, with the most adorable 3-part monorail shuttling residents from top to bottom.
Please note that the monorail is free to ride, but it was designed to make climbing the extremely long flights of stairs easier for the many elderly residents of the area. If locals are trying to take the monorail to get to or from home, be polite and step aside.
This spot is definitely a hidden gem and almost ridiculously cute! When we visited, there was no one around except for the monorail attendants and we had great fun riding it up and down.
Haeundae Beach
If you followed my advice and booked a hotel in Haeundae, congratulations! You are located almost directly on the most famous beach in Busan. Haeundae Beach is a sprawling length of sand flanked on both sides by the beautiful skyline of Busan’s skyscrapers and hills, and it’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. You’ll find people here walking along the shore, playing beach volleyball, having picnics, and swimming (recommended only in the summer as it can get quite cold).
There’s not a bad time to visit, but sunset is ever-popular, especially because you can watch the city lights flicker on as the sky dims. The view from off to the side, at the Busan Aquarium dock, is also excellent.
Dine at Seafood Restaurants
Being located on the coast, Busan is unsurprisingly famous for its delicious and fresh seafood. It doesn’t get much better than being steps away from the beach! Of course, Busan also has all the typical Korean fare that you could ever want, but here are some options to try if you really want to experience authentic Busan seafood.
- Clam kalguksu: Kalguksu, or knife-cut noodles, are a popular comfort food in Korean cuisine. They are typically served in a delicious anchovy and kelp-based broth, but make sure to get the proper kalguksu with heaps of fresh clams and mussels. The meat is so fresh, sweet, and delicious, you’ll finish an entire pot.
- Ganjang Gejang: If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try raw crabs marinated in soy sauce. Gejang, or crab, is extremely famous in Busan, but it wouldn’t be truly unique if it wasn’t fresh and raw. The price ranges from around 30,000 – 50,000 won per serving.
- Lobster: There’s a famous lobster tent located on Haeundae Beach, and expect a queue. It doesn’t look fancy, but the aunties there serve up the freshest seafood, including the popular gigantic lobster. It’ll set you back about 150,000 won, but don’t worry: the staff will throw in some extra goodies (called “service”), usually some giant prawns, scallops, and other delicious sides with fried rice.
- Eomuk-tang/Odeng: For the more budget-minded, try this classic Korean street food. Either name refers to Korean fishcakes, often speared on skewers and served with the most warming, delicious, homey broth known to man. Many eomuk stalls offer free refills for soup with your fishcakes, so drink up! It’s my favorite thing to have on a cold day.
Haeundae Blue Line Park Sky Capsules
Blue Line Park is one of the newer attractions in Busan, but it has become explosively popular. There are two features, the Haeundae Beach Train and the Sky Capsule. The former is a lovely repurposed railway that takes you along the coast, and the latter is a collection of small, private capsules that ride on elevated rails on the same path. We opted to take the Sky Capsules because, well, they’re just adorable.
There is only one route, and it runs back and forth from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo Station and the other way around. The ride from Mipo Station to Cheongsapo Station is much more popular and often sells out, so make sure to book your tickets on the website in advance if possible. The other direction, Cheongsapo Station to Mipo Station, is much less popular and almost always has openings.
Each capsule holds up to 4 people, but they are booked per party. That means you are guaranteed to have a private capsule for your group, so do not worry about having to share with other parties.
The capsules move extremely slowly and the approximately 3km ride from station to station takes about 30 minutes. Take the time to play music, wave to other passengers, look out the window, and take in the beautiful coastline view!
Cafe Rooftop
This cafe is located in Cheongsapo, so if you are planning on taking the train or sky capsule, this makes an excellent stop while you’re on the Cheongsapo Station side. Cafe Rooftop boasts gorgeous views overlooking the sea, plus an adorable kitschy-vintage interior, delicious drinks and cakes, and a cafe dog to boot.
We loved playing with the retro camcorders around the cafe that livestream your antics on the tiny ancient TVs, plus lounging on the cushy couches. It’s a comfortable place that has just the right vibe for a playful afternoon in Busan.
Love cute cafes? You’ll definitely love my guide to the Best Aesthetic & Unique Cafes in Seoul, then!
Running Man Thematic Experience
If you’re a fan of the Korean variety show Running Man, you won’t want to miss this one. But even if you know nothing about Running Man, you’ll still enjoy the Thematic Experience! This one-hour timed exhibit features a collection of 12 minigames that you must try to complete to collect as many R points as possible. There are three levels: easy, regular, and hard—and while the games look like children’s games, they’re definitely not a walk in the park.
When the hour was up, we were out of breath, sweaty, and full of laughter. It’s the perfect place to drag your friends and get competitive!
You can buy a ticket at the venue or get an online ticket. We bought ours through Klook to get a discount. It only costs about 16,000 won or about 12 USD!
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Often described as the most beautiful temple in Korea, Yonggungsa Temple is one of the only temples in the country located on the ocean. Literally perched on the rocks directly above the crashing waves, this temple is a unique and beautiful sight that must be experienced by culture lovers in Busan. Sometimes, like when we visited in late April, there also will be hundreds of multicolored lanterns strung up all over the temple courtyard! It’s truly a sight to see.
Yonggungsa Temple is a popular tourist destination and also has no entry fee, so it gets extremely crowded on weekends. Visit on weekdays if possible, or early in the morning.
Hwangnyeongsan Mountain
One of the highest points in Busan, Hwangnyeongsan has incredible views that stretch across multiple districts. There are many hiking trails that lead to the top with great viewpoints along the way, but you can take a taxi up to the very top if you so choose. We taxied up to a popular parking lot and finished the last 15 or so minutes on foot—steep but far from unmanageable.
The views from the top are gorgeous, and there are no entry fees of any kind. It’s also a great place to take a break from the ocean and just soak in the forest vibes. There are plenty of decks and seating, so you don’t have to worry about crowds either. On the day we visited there was unfortunately no sunset to speak of, but watching the city sparkle to life at night is a magical experience.
Busan is a city that will surprise and delight you with its diverse attractions and experiences. You can explore the culture, history, nature, and cuisine of this vibrant and dynamic city in many ways. Make sure Busan is on your Korea itinerary, and don’t miss this unique seaside city—it’ll be a memorable journey!
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