Busan Travel & Vacation Guide

This spectacular urban Buddhist temple (the head temple of the Jogye Order) is a highlight on any Busan itinerary. A pleasant uphill hike through quiet nature will take you to temple grounds, with beautiful ornate pavilions, Buddhist statues and worshippers, which include both temporary visitors and monks who reside here permanently. Temple grounds tend to get busy during holidays and weekends. You can either make a few hours' trip or – for full cultural immersion – book an overnight stay that includes an introduction to monastic life, complete with joining a formal dinner and pre-dawn chanting. Stays must booked in advance via the website, and there are several different programmes available. If you opt for the full experience, do mind that the (silent!) wake-up hour is at 5am.

Explore the wood walkways traversing Dongbaekseom Park and take in the spectacular views of the coastline from several viewing platforms along the way. It's a very pleasant, scenic walk in the shade of pine trees that lends itself well to photos; you'll see Busan's own mermaid statue looking out longingly to the sea soon upon entering. Busan's most popular public beach, Haeundae, is right next to the park. It gets rather busy during the summers (in August especially so); bring your own sun umbrella if you plan to stay longer.

2009 saw Gamcheon turn from an area of budget housing for refugees of the Korean War into a premier tourist attraction, all thanks to a collective effort by local students and artists, who transformed the neighbourhood with colourful wall painting and street art. Today Gamcheon even has a tourist office of its own: stop by on your way in to pick up a detailed map of the village's attractions; collect a stamp at each and you'll receive a small prize from the tourist office on submission. There is a small museum telling the neighbourhood's story, and a number of shops, cafes and street food stalls. When wandering the maze of Gamcheon's streets, please respect the privacy of family homes.

Igidae Coastal Walk makes for a wonderful hike along the shore of the Sea of Japan. The path itself is of moderate difficulty, with some parts featuring pedestrian bridges and others running directly through natural terrain. The entire path is about 4km long and should take about 2 hours to complete in its entirety, but there are access points along the way which you can use to cut through to a nearby bus stop. The trail can be done both north to south and vice versa, although heading north is reportedly easier and comes with an added bonus of finishing the hike at the scenic Oryukdo Skywalk, standing on a see-through platform and looking down onto the rocky shore.

This legendary market will blow the mind of anyone who happens to have even a passing interest in seafood. The sheer variety of sea creatures sold here must be seen to be believed: apart from Korean favourites like crab and eel, there are the myriad types of fish and shellfish (try the 'kalguksu' noodles with clams, or 'bajirak'), plus essentially anything that can be extracted from the deep waters washing over Busan. Take a stroll around to gawk at the market's curiosities, such as the sea worm ('gaebul'), whose visual similarity to the male reproductive organ has earned it the apt nickname of 'penis fish'. Then, select the seafood that tickles your fancy and have it be cooked right then and there by one of the shops inside the market, many of which have a seating area in the second floor. Get all your seafood from a single vendor if you can, then proceed upstairs to be served your selection accompanied by sauces and side dishes (a few the latter can even be served on the house if you're in luck). Mind that a cooking charge applies, and the price on side dishes is listed per person. Given the upsurge in tourist numbers, prices at Jagalchi have reportedly gone up in recent years, leaving it for travellers who aren't exactly on a budget. Do not despair: most of what you'll see at the market is also served at nearly any seafood restaurant in town, and at a lower charge in some cases.

Jjimjilbang culture holds firmly in Korea, with the Busan area alone boasting around 450 spa centres (the largest number compared to any other region). It's important to note that the absolute majority of spas require that guests of both genders remove all of their clothing prior to accessing any of the baths or hot springs (this includes swimwear). Heosimcheong Spa is the largest of kind in Asia (and extremely reasonably priced), but there are other options for a slightly more refined experience that's still very affordable (the luxurious Spa Land Centum City, to name one). Some spas (such as Hill Spa, for example) remain open 24/7; these are sometimes used as a place to spend the night in lieu of a hotel room. For a lighter version of the experience, visit a "foot-only" spa, where anyone can sit down and soak their feet in hot thermal water for a few minutes. Dongnae Spa Outdoor Foot Bath is one address to experience this.

Taking its name from the Busan International Film Festival, BIFF is certainly at its liveliest during this esteemed annual event, but remains a happening place throughout the rest of the year. It's best known for the street food stalls dotting the area and the 400+ metre-long street itself, with a plethora of Korean specialities cooked up by the skilled vendors (look for Gwangbokdong Food Street for the biggest selection). Our top pick among those would have to be the ubiquitous 'hotteok' pancakes stuffed with a sweet mix of crushed seeds and brown sugar. Nampo-dong is the greater area around the street itself, packed with a dizzying array of restaurants, shops, cafes, movie theatres, and more. Evening is the best time to come.

This recently renovated cable car route stretches out across the sea for longer than 1.5km, and features cabins with and without see-through flooring. If you're the daring type, opt for the former and be rewarded with incredible views of the water below.

Galmegi Brewing is a local craft beer brewery with several locations across Busan. Ordering a sampler flight of 4 distinct beers is usually the best way to go. Select them from a menu that includes everything from mild IPAs and lagers to stouts and other darker beers with fruity or vanilla notes. They serve a limited food menu of pizza and snacks. The chain is quite popular with expats.

A popular craft brewery with a couple dozen varieties of beer on tap; order by flight or individual glass. The roomy interior follows an industrial theme and can feel somewhat empty outside of peak evening hours, so plan your visit for somewhere around 9pm. There is a decent food menu at Gorilla Brewing Co to help absorb all of that hoppy goodness.

Nighttime is when this beach truly shines. It starts with a spectacular sunset, followed by an unobstructed view of the Gwangan Bridge light show (8, 9 and 10pm Fri–Sat and 8 & 10pm Sun–Thu), which is sometimes complemented with a firework display. There are street performances along the promenade and dozens of inviting eateries. Unsurprisingly, the beach tends to get quite busy after sundown and is especially popular with local youths who particularly favour the area. If you feel up to a genuine local nightlife experience, pick up some picnic food (sashimi and soju are usually the local combinations of choice) and join the crowds at Millak Waterfront Park.

A lively rooftop bar with a view of the sea, Haeundae Ogtap Rooftop sits right above the beach, beside its surrounding high-rises which light up beautifully at night. Order a beer and take it all in from the panoramic outdoor terrace. A snack and food menu is also available.

This Gwangalli Beach staple is a bar especially popular with expats for its affordable drinks, live music, great vibes, and a spectacular night view of the Gwangan Bridge. There is also a fairly long list of edible accoutrements on the menu at HQ Gwangan so the beer has something to soak into.

This buzzing waterfront development is a popular venue for an after sundown excursion, whether it be to enjoy the spectacular cityscape that unfolds from here or indulge in some expertly cooked dishes of world cuisine (try the beef noodles at Daedo). There are both high and low end dining options available, as well as a coffee shop that also sells desserts like ice cream and Korean shaved ice.

A sprawling market to shop for anything one can imagine. Haggling is often expected and may prove fruitful here at Gukje Market. The main attraction is the food street stretching across it where Korean street food specialities are represented in abundance.

Lotte is an iconic Korean department store brand with locations all across the country. This particular one is noteworthy for the spectacular views of Busan harbour from its rooftop, plus a great food court on floor 10. As with every branch, there is a vast array of goods here, from Korean cosmetics to esteemed international brands in everything from personal care to kitchenware. The on-site Lotte Mart hypermarket is a discount chain that stocks a huge variety of local, Asian and international foodstuffs, and can work surprisingly well for souvenir shopping.

Taking its name from the Busan International Film Festival, BIFF is certainly at its liveliest during this esteemed annual event, but remains a happening area throughout the rest of the year. It's best known for the street food stalls lining the 400+ metre-long stretch, where a plethora of Korean specialities are cooked up by skilled vendors. Our top pick among these would have to be the 'hotteok' pancakes stuffed with a sweet mix of crushed seeds and brown sugar. Evening is the best time to come. Nampo-dong is the greater area around the street itself, packed with a dizzying array of restaurants, shops, cafes, movie theatres, and more.

Fishcakes have a long tradition in Busan, and Samjin Amook is Busan's oldest operating fishcake factory. Its main outlet is a fishcake bakery that features an observable production line, a store where multiple varieties of fishcake are on sale at surprisingly low prices and even a museum on the top floor. There is a cafe of sorts across from the store, where your "catch" can be cooked into a full noodle dish. Fresh cakes sell out quick, so arrive early for best assortment.

This Guinness Book of Records-listed shopping complex (it's the largest one in the world as of late 2019) is a shopping paradise for those with a penchant for upper-range to luxury brands. The basement food hall is an attraction in its own right, offering up a complete selection of all and any Asian and international culinary delights imaginable. Busan's best spa complex, Spa Land is also located here, alongside other entertainment facilities like a skating rink.

The Busan International Film Festival is held annually in late September/early October and sees multiple big names from across Asia flock to South Korea's second city. Busan is exceptionally active during festival days, which results in higher volumes of tourists and higher accommodation prices. There is a distinctive change of seasons in Busan, with cold winters and warm summers. Spring is a popular time to visit (particularly because of the iconic cherry blossoms), but summer (May through August) attracts travellers the most. Due to its seaside location, Busan is also a popular summertime destination for internal tourists, who can be seen setting up sunbathing stations across Haundae Beach all through the summer.

Citizens of multiple world countries can travel to South Korea for tourism purposes visa-free, for stays from 30 to 180 days (Canada). Citizens of most countries in Africa and Asia will need to apply for a visa in advance. Please consult the official website of Korea Tourism for up-to-date details.

Gimhae International Airport serves the area of Busan with both national and international terminals. The airport is easily accessible by several means of public transport: a city bus that runs to Hauendae and a convenient metro system with several interchange stations linking different lines. Nampo, Jagalchi, and Seomyeon are all stations along line 1.

The public transportation system in Busan is extensive and convenient, comprising 4 subway lines, 1 light rail line and a network of public buses. To avoid the hassle of buying single tickets, purchase a reloadable 'Cashbee' card and top it up as needed at any convenience store. Any remaining card balance can be refunded when you're leaving the city (this does not apply to the cost of the card itself, which is roughly US$2 at the time of writing). Note that although buses can be recognised by their number, all text apart from the final destination is in Korean only, and bus drivers will often not speak English.

Grey taxis circulate around Busan and are easy to hail off the street. It's usually a good idea to have your destination written down in Korean to show to the driver. Although most taxis use meters by default, make sure one is turned on when you board a cab. Note that there is a nighttime surcharge and that certain types of cabs are considered of "deluxe" class and will charge more These are often black.

There is not much in the way of sightseeing or entertainment at the Busan port arrival point, but the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal (which is a few minutes walk away) does have a few eateries and shops; ATMs are also available. There is a free shuttle that runs from the port to the closest metro station (Choryang, line 1, right next to Busan central station), as well as one that goes all the way into the city centre (Nampo-dong), although there have been reports that the latter now charges a fare. They take around 10 and 30 minutes respectively. From here, it is easy to reach any location throughout Busan via the metro: purchase an unlimited travel card at the station if you plan to use the metro multiple times.

220V / 60Hz European-style plugs

Medical care is of a very high standard in South Korea, but do bring along any prescription medication you know you may require during the trip. There is a good chance of seeing an English-speaking doctor at Pusan National University Hospital.