Things to Do in Busan: Beaches, Temples & More

Busan’s combination of beaches, Buddhist temples on coastal cliffs, colourful hillside neighbourhoods, and a seafood market culture gives it a very different character from Seoul. Here is a guide to the best things to do in Busan, including entry fees and transport details current as of 2026.

Haeundae Beach

Haeundae is South Korea’s most famous beach — 1.5 km of sand backed by a promenade of restaurants, cafés, and high-rise hotels. The beach is calm and swimmable, with lifeguard supervision from late June through August. Outside summer it remains popular for walking, and the surrounding district has a good food and bar scene year-round.

Entry to the beach is free. In high summer (July and August), Haeundae becomes genuinely crowded — if you want a less congested beach experience, visit Gwangalli or Songjeong instead. The Haeundae area has good metro access (Haeundae station, line 2).

The Marine City district immediately behind Haeundae has a concentration of contemporary restaurants and rooftop bars with views toward the Gwangan Bridge.

Gamcheon Culture Village

Gamcheon is Busan’s most visually distinctive neighbourhood — a steep hillside in the Saha district where densely packed houses were painted in bright colours as part of an arts revitalisation project from 2009. Narrow alleys run between walls covered in murals, and small galleries, cafés, and craft shops occupy ground-floor spaces.

Entry to the village is free. A simple map (KRW 2,000 as of 2026, available at the village information centre) shows the key murals and viewpoints. The walk through the full circuit takes about 60–90 minutes depending on pace.

The neighbourhood is steep. Wear comfortable shoes. It is best visited on weekdays or early on weekends to avoid the peak tourist crowds that gather around the main viewpoint from midday.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Haedong Yonggungsa is a Buddhist temple built directly on coastal cliffs north of Haeundae, with stone staircases descending to a position just above the waterline. The combination of rocky coastline, sea spray, and temple architecture makes this one of the most atmospheric Buddhist sites in South Korea.

Entry is free. The temple is particularly striking at sunrise — the main shrine faces east, and early morning light across the sea is genuinely impressive. Arriving by 07:00 means you will have much of it to yourself before tour groups arrive later in the morning.

From Haeundae metro station, buses 100 and 181 run to Haedong Yonggungsa in approximately 30 minutes.

Jagalchi Fish Market

Jagalchi is the largest seafood market in South Korea, running along the waterfront near Nampo Port in central Busan. The covered building holds rows of stalls selling live fish, crab, sea urchin, octopus, shellfish, and various other sea creatures in tanks. Restaurants on the upper floors prepare purchases on the spot — buyers select from the stalls below, then take their choice upstairs to be prepared as sashimi, steamed, or grilled.

The market operates daily from approximately 05:00 to 22:00. Early morning sees the highest activity and the best selection. A full sashimi meal for two, including preparation, typically costs KRW 30,000–60,000 as of 2026 depending on selection.

The closest metro station is Jagalchi (line 1). The market is best combined with a walk through Gukje Market and BIFF Square in the same Nampodong district.

Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge

Gwangalli Beach is smaller and quieter than Haeundae, set in the Suyeong district east of central Busan. The main draw is the view of the Gwangan Bridge (also known as Diamond Bridge) — a suspension bridge lit at night with colour-changing LED illumination.

Entry is free. The beach promenade has independent cafés and bars at lower prices than the Haeundae strip. At night, the bridge illumination reflects across the water and provides the backdrop for most iconic Busan night photographs.

From Gwangalli metro station (line 2), the beach is a 5-minute walk.

Busan Tower (Yongdusan Park)

Busan Tower stands 120 metres high on Yongdusan hill in the Nampodong district, offering views across the harbour and Nampo Port. The observation deck at the top provides a good vantage point for understanding Busan’s geography — the way the city wraps around mountains and harbours.

Entry costs approximately KRW 12,000 as of 2026 for the observation deck. Opening hours are generally 10:00 to 22:00. The surrounding Yongdusan Park is a pleasant public garden with statuary and walking paths, free to enter.

Nampo metro station (line 1) is the nearest stop.

UN Memorial Cemetery

The only UN military cemetery still in operation in the world, Busan’s UN Memorial Cemetery holds the graves of 2,300 soldiers from 11 countries who died during the Korean War (1950–1953). The grounds are meticulously maintained and the memorial area is sober and respectful.

Entry is free. Opening hours are 09:00 to 17:00 daily. The site is a 10-minute walk from Daeyeon metro station (line 2).

The adjacent War Memorial Museum (a separate institution near Seomyeon) covers the broader history of the Korean War with English labelling throughout.

Taejongdae Cliff Park

Taejongdae is a nature park on a rocky headland at the southern tip of Yeongdo Island, with cliffs dropping into the sea and views toward Japan on clear days. The park has walking trails through coastal forest, lighthouse viewpoints, and rocky shoreline.

Entry to the park is free. The Danubi tourist train (a small trackless trolley) loops around the main park circuit and costs approximately KRW 3,000 per person as of 2026, running from 09:00 to 18:00. The full walking circuit takes about 90 minutes at a comfortable pace.

From Nampo metro station, take bus 8 or 30 to Taejongdae, a journey of about 35 minutes.

Beomeosa Temple

Beomeosa is a large mountain temple in the forested hills of Geumjeongsan, dating to 678 CE during the Silla dynasty period. Unlike the more dramatic coastal setting of Haedong Yonggungsa, Beomeosa has a traditional mountain temple atmosphere — paths through old-growth forest, multiple halls, and a working monastic community.

Entry costs approximately KRW 1,000–2,000 as of 2026. From Beomeosa metro station (line 1), the main temple entrance is a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride uphill. The surrounding Geumjeongsan mountain has well-marked hiking trails continuing above the temple.

---

For where to stay once you have planned your days, see our Busan where to stay guide. For tours, tickets, and day trips from Busan, see tours in South Korea.

Full transport, arrival, and neighbourhood details are in the Busan travel guide.