Busan Travel Guide

Busan is South Korea’s second city and its largest port, occupying a stretch of rugged coastline in the southeast of the country where steep mountain ridges drop to long sandy beaches and a busy commercial harbour. Around 3.4 million people live here, and the city has a distinct personality from Seoul — more relaxed, more maritime, more focused on seafood and open-air life.

The city is compact enough to cover its main areas in two to three days but rewards longer stays with good hiking, excellent neighbourhood exploration, and a food culture built around the sea.

Getting to Busan

From Seoul: The KTX high-speed train is the standard option. Seoul Station to Busan Station takes about 2 hours 15 minutes; SRT from Suseo Station is slightly cheaper and takes a similar time to Busan’s Suseo-connected Gijang station, though most travellers prefer the central station-to-station KTX route. Book tickets through Korail or an agency for popular travel dates — trains fill up on weekends and public holidays.

By air: Gimhae International Airport (PUS) serves Busan with domestic and international flights. The airport is about 20 minutes from central Busan by bus or metro.

By bus: Express buses from Seoul’s Express Bus Terminal to Busan take around 4–5 hours and cost less than the KTX.

Neighbourhoods and Highlights

Haeundae Beach — the most famous stretch of sand in South Korea, backed by high-rise hotels and a promenade of restaurants and cafés. The beach is around 1.5 km long and extremely crowded from late June through August. The surrounding district has a good independent dining and drinking scene that operates year-round.

Gamcheon Culture Village — a hillside neighbourhood of densely stacked, brightly painted houses in the Saha district west of the city centre. Originally built as homes for refugees during the Korean War, it was revitalised as an arts district from 2009 onwards. Murals, small galleries, and café terraces occupy the narrow alleys. Crowded on weekends.

Jagalchi Fish Market — the largest seafood market in South Korea, running along the waterfront near Nampo Port. A covered building holds stalls selling live seafood; restaurants on the upper floors prepare purchases on the spot. Best visited in the morning or evening when stalls are active.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple — a Buddhist temple built on coastal cliffs north of Haeundae, with shrines and stone lanterns descending toward the sea. Unlike most Korean temples, which are positioned in mountains, this one sits right at water level and is particularly atmospheric at sunrise. It is around 30 minutes by bus from Haeundae.

Beomeosa Temple — a larger mountain temple in the hills of Geumjeongsan, dating to 678 CE. Less visited than Haedong but considered more significant historically. Accessible from Beomeosa metro station; a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride from the station entrance.

BIFF Square — the centre of the Nampodong entertainment district and site of the annual Busan International Film Festival. Hand and foot prints from Korean film industry figures line the square. The surrounding streets have cheap street food including ssiat hotteok (seed-filled sweet pancakes) which originated here.

Where to Stay

Haeundae is the main hotel district — convenient for the beach and with strong transport connections. Seomyeon (the commercial centre of Busan) is well-positioned for transport and has a dense concentration of budget and mid-range accommodation. Staying near Busan Station is practical for day trips by train.

Food and Drink

Busan’s food identity is built around seafood more than any other South Korean city. Milmyeon (wheat noodles in cold beef broth) originated here and is considered a Busan speciality alongside dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup), which is available from early morning at old-school restaurants near Seomyeon.

Gukje Market near Nampodong is a traditional market with a substantial street food section — good for assembling a meal from multiple stalls. The Centum City and Marine City districts have a more contemporary restaurant scene aimed at Busan’s affluent professional population.

For tours and day trips around Busan, see tours in Busan.

Busan Guides

Detailed guides to help you plan your time in the city:

• Things to Do in Busan — Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Village, Haedong Temple, and Jagalchi Market with entry fees
• Where to Stay in Busan — Haeundae, Seomyeon, Nampo-dong, and Gwangalli compared with price ranges
• Best Hotels in Busan — Signiel, Paradise Hotel, Ibis Styles, and budget options across all districts
• Busan Food Guide — milmyeon, dwaeji gukbap, raw fish at Jagalchi, and ssiat hotteok at BIFF Square