Busan, often referred to as the Los Angeles of South Korea, is the second-largest city in the country. I kind of think of Busan as a more laidback version of Seoul. It has the same hustle and bustle of the city as Seoul does but it also has amazing beaches. Busan is also home to Korea’s only oceanside temple! These are some of the best things to do in Busan, South Korea.
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Things to Do in Busan
Gamcheon Culture Village
For more info, check out my other post: Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, South Korea.
The Gamcheon Culture Village was one of my favorite spots in Busan. There are so many unique works of art throughout the Village as well as tons of great cafes and shops. I highly recommend visiting the Village early in the morning; partly to avoid the heat (if you’re visiting in the warmer months) but mostly to avoid the crowds! I came around 7 o’clock in the morning and nearly had the whole place to myself.
Songdo Sky Park
The main attraction at Songdo Sky Park would be the cable car. It costs 15,000 KRW (about 12 USD) for a round trip ticket and the cable car takes you down to the Songdo Beach area. Songdo Sky Park also has a food court with tons of great options, a few small shops, and even a dinosaur park at the top.
Seomyeon District
Seomyeon is one of my favorite areas in all of Busan. It‘s centrally located and it has a little bit of everything! Great shopping, a huge variety of cafes and restaurants, movie theaters, street food vendors, nice hotels, and a great nightlife. It reminds me a bit of the Myeongdong District in Seoul! Everything in Seomyeon is easily walkable so it’s the perfect place to stay if you’re interested in the nightlife.
Beomeosa Temple
There just happened to be some kind of event going on when I visited this temple so it was hard to get a great picture but this place was huge. It’s not just a temple; it’s an entire village full of temples, museums, statues, and pavilions. The temple is also surrounded by gorgeous hiking trails that are covered in beautiful flowers in the spring and summer.
Busan Tower – Yongdusan Park
Busan Tower is definitely one of the most popular tourist attractions in Busan. The tower is almost 400 feet tall (120 meters) and offers some of the best views in the whole city. It’s open from 10am to 11pm so you can go to the top of the tower during the day or at night for different views over Busan.
Entry to the tower costs 8,000 KRW (about 7 USD) and tickets can be purchased at the bottom. You can also purchase ticket sets to have a meal or snack included with your ticket. There are multiple photo studios and gift shops located inside the tower where you can even purchase a few souvenirs if you’d like.
Yongdusan Park (where the tower is located) is full of great photo spots and even has a few convenience stores, cafes, and restaurants as well. You’ll also find different temples, statues, and pavilions here. Don’t forget to check out the Busan Movie Museum while you’re here, too!
Nampo District
After you visit the Busan Tower, head over to the Nampo District. Nampo is one of the best areas in Busan for great restaurants, shopping, and tons of street food. The Busan International Film Festival is held here every year making it a very popular spot for events and hanging out. Nampo is home to multiple markets, parks, and the huge Lotte Department Store.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Read also: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple in Busan, South Korea.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, often referred to as the ‘Water Temple’, is the only oceanside temple in Korea. I’d highly recommend coming first thing in the morning so you can avoid the crowds. If you come around Buddha’s birthday, you’ll get to see the temple decorated with all kinds of colorful lanterns.
Other temples in Busan:
- Seokbulsa Stone Temple
- Geumsusa Temple
- Deokseongsa Temple
- Gwangmyeongsa Temple
- Haewol Jeongsa Temple
- Bokcheonsa Temple
- Samgwangsa Temple
Amnam Park Coastal Walk
Amnam Park is located right by the Songdo Sky Park so the coastal walk is the perfect thing to do after your ride on the cable car. For the most part the walkway seemed to be pretty empty when I was there. It makes for a great afternoon walk along the coast.
Other Must-See Spots in Busan:
- Taejongdae Park
- Cheongsapo Daritol Observatory
- Jagalchi Fish Market
- Geumjeongsanseong Fortress
- Oryukdo Skywalk
- Choryang Night Market
- Shinsegae Shopping Center
- Jeonpo Cafe Street
- Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Beaches in Busan
Songdo Beach
Of all the beaches in Busan, Songdo Beach was actually my favorite. It’s a smaller beach but it had tons of activities like diving boards, paddle boats, and endless photo opportunities. It had soft, white sands and plenty of places to lounge in or out of the sun.
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach is by far the most popular beach in Busan. It’s also the most touristy. If you’re looking for beach town vibes, this is the beach for you. The Haeundae ‘Special Tourist Zone’ across from the beach is full of great restaurants, bars, and shops. You can also find tons of street food and markets here.
Gwangalli Beach
Out of the three beaches that I visited in Busan, Gwangalli was definitely my least favorite. It’s still a very nice beach, it just didn’t have the soft white sands like the other two did. Gwangalli Beach is the best place to go for views of the Gwangandaegyo Bridge as it spans parallel to the beach across the water.
Other Beaches to Check Out:
- Dadaepo Beach
- Songjeong Beach
Where to Eat in Busan
Life Burger
Life Burger is a small shop near Nampo with a very simple menu but definitely worth it. It kind of reminded me a bit of In-N-Out Burger only better! They had a bit of a Marilyn Monroe theme which was cute and all of the staff were super friendly and helpful.
GamaRu GangJung
GamaRu GangJung is located in the Haeundae Special Tourist Zone (the neighborhood by Haeundae Beach). The prices are super cheap and they have amazing spicy Korean fried chicken!
Jung Hang Woo Cake
Jung Hang Woo Cake (located in Seomyeon) had some of the best desserts. There were tons of unique little cakes and pastries. I highly recommend the macaroons! After you buy your desserts here, head up the road to Jeonpo Cafe Street and check out a few of the local cafes!
Street Food
Make sure you head to the Gwangbokdong Food Market for some amazing street foods in Busan! Most markets and busy streets will have quite a few vendors so they’re pretty easy to find. Korea will forever be one of my favorite countries for street food. Some of my favorites are the spicy Korean fried chicken and yaki mandu (dumplings).
Other Great Spots:
- Oven Baked Chicken
- La Mia Prima Vera Italian
- 700 Beer
- VIPs Burger (at Busan Tower)
Where to Stay in Busan
Near the Beach: Haeundae
If you want to be by the beach, stay near Haeundae. It’s one of the best beaches in Busan and it’s also the best beach town for restaurants, shopping, and bars/clubs.
Fairfield by Marriott Busan
For a room right on the beach, stay at the Fairfield by Marriott Busan. You can choose a room with a city or sea view and you’ll be located not only right by the beach but also near all of the best shopping, bars, and restaurants.
For more info or to book a room, click here.
For Nightlife, Restaurants, and Shopping: Seomyeon
Seomyeon is hands down the best part of Busan for nightlife. It also has tons of great coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping. It’s centrally located and easily walkable. In my opinion, it’s the best area to stay in Busan.
South Vandeco Hotel
I stayed at the South Vandeco Hotel for less than $30/night and it was definitely well worth it! The hotel was walking distance to tons of restaurants, shops, and even markets! Our room was extremely clean, comfortable, and the staff was great.
For more info or to book a room, click here.
Near the Markets: Nampo
Nampo is the best district to stay if you’re looking to do a lot of shopping and explore all of the local markets. Nampo is home to the Jagalchi Fish Market, Gwangbongno Fashion Street, Changseon-dong Eatery Alley, Yongdusan Park, and more.
Central Park Hotel Busan
The Central Park Hotel Busan is located right by the Lotte Department Stores and is walking distance to all of the local markets and even Busan Tower. The rooms here are affordable, clean, and offer great views of the city.
For more info or to book a room, click here.
Busan Travel Tips
- Stay in the Seomyeon area. There are great hotels in Seomyeon, it’s full of great restaurants and cafes, and it’s easy to get to all of the touristy spots from here.
- Give yourself at least four days to explore Busan. I was able to do a lot in just a weekend but I was exhausted by the time I headed home! Make sure you have enough time not only to explore but to relax and have some downtime as well.
- Pack a few light layers no matter what time of year you’re traveling. Even in the middle of summer it can get pretty chilly early in the morning and later in the evening, especially near the water.
- Try the street foods. Korea has some of the best street foods I’ve ever tried and there are tons of vendors throughout Busan.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Busan, South Korea? Share in a comment below!
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Don’t forget to check out these other South Korea posts:
- Things to Do in Seoul, South Korea
- Suwon Hwaseong Fortress: A Day Trip From Seoul
- Things You Should Know Before Traveling to South Korea
- Sweets and Snacks to Try in South Korea
- Anyang Art Park: The Perfect Day Trip From Seoul
- Things to Do in Buyeo, South Korea
So many amazing things about Korea! My grandmother was born in Seoul at the beginning of the Japanese occupation in 1914. My great grandma was a music teacher at Ewha, the largest women’s university in thread world and she held the first piano recital in their history. Much of the old culture was lost to the japanese culture, a people without warfare and peaceful coexistence. It was bound to happen with the advent of rapid song and then air transportation. I am happy to say that there has been a revival of much that was lost in their arts and craft, music and literature.
It was so interesting to come across your suggesting the bakery and you will be happy to know they have a huge YouTube channel showing their operations and the millions of sugary connections they supply to the region. Here is a link to those Macaroons. What a great factory and im glad it’s not here in Chicago because our Hostess and Little Debbie is revolting Comair to theirs so it would cause me to gain 100 lbs of I could get their goodies! Take care! Craig in Chicago.
https://youtu.be/z4uHBzDAYic