대한민국 제 1 의 관문 인 동시 동북아 최대 의 세계 적 인 항구 도시 부산 The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Busan in South Korea Nick KembelApril 3 , 2021 JIPEN / shutterstock . comGUIDES & TIPS • SOUTH KOREA Disclosure : We may earn commission for purchases made through links in this article . As South Korea ’ s second largest city , Busan is often overshadowed by Seoul . However , Busan is without a doubt my favorite city in South Korea . This large , spread out port metropolis seems to have it all . From one - of - a - kind temples and death - defying coastal walkways , to the country ’ s largest markets and most popular beaches . Below I ’ ve prepared a comprehensive Busan guide , including how to get to Busan , how to get around Busan , where to stay in Busan , what to eat in Busan , and the best things to do in Busan . The info and photos you ’ ll find below come from three trips I ’ ve made to Busan in the last 10 years . For even more ideas , feel free to check out my 50 favorite things to do in Busan . Getting to Busan Many international flights fly directly to Busan ’ s Gimhae International Airport ( PUS ) . If you ’ re flying from a nearby Asian country , you may find that there are some incredibly cheap flights to Busan . Last time I went , I paid less than $ 200 return from Taipei ! Take a look at Skyscanner to compare flights from your destination . If you ’ re coming from Seoul , the capital of South Korea , the fastest and most convenient way to get to Busan is to take the KTX , Korea ’ s high - speed rail . A one - way ticket costs around 60 , 000 won ( 50 USD ) and the journey takes 2 . 5 - 3 hours . Seats on the KTX can be reserved up to one month in advance , but you can always buy a standing ticket , even at the last minute . If you plan to also return to Seoul by KTX , getting a rail pass will work out to be cheaper . Surprisingly , domestic flights from Seoul ’ s Gimpo airport to Busan are often even cheaper than the KTX , but you have to factor in the time and money getting to and from the airports . Slower train options include the ITX ( 4 . 5 hours , 45 , 000 won ) and Mugunghwa train ( 5 . 5 hours , 28 , 000 won ) . All trains can be booked online or at the ticket booth in any train station . There are also several buses each hour from Seoul ’ s Gyeongbu station to Busan , these take about four hours , depending on traffic , and range from 23 , 000 – 45 , 000 won . Note that many buses arrive and depart Busan from Central Bus Station at Nopo subway station , which is actually located in the far north of the city . Do not confuse Nopo with Nampo , the popular tourist area with many popular attractions in southern Busan . Bus tickets can be purchased from the ticket windows at Gyeongbu station in Seoul or Central Bus Station in Busan right up to the last minute , depending on seat availability . If you ’ re planning to travel at a busy time , it ’ s best to get a ticket a few days in advance . Getting Around Busan Busan ’ s excellent subway system is the lifeline of the city . Given that Busan is extremely spread out , with many neighborhoods and top attractions lying in opposite ends of the city , often separated by mountains , rivers , and even bays , you will definitely be relying a lot on the subway to get around . Click map to enlarge . Image courtesy of Manse 5 at ko . wikipedia [ CC BY - SA 3 . 0 ] The Busan subway consists of four main lines . Line 1 ( the orange line ) runs from north to south , connecting the Central Bus Station in the north to Busan Train Station and Nampo neighborhood in the south . Line 2 ( the green line ) runs west to east , connecting the airport ( via the new Busan Gimhae Light Rail line ) in the west , to the popular beach districts of Gwangan and Haeundae in the east . Seomyeon , Busan ’ s central business district , is where the two lines connect in the middle , and is Busan ’ s most fashionable district and the best place to party or go shopping . It is less likely that you will use Line 3 ( brown ) and Line 4 ( blue ) as a traveler . Some popular Busan attractions cannot be accessed by subway , which is where buses come in . Some attractions which you need to ride the bus to reach include Gamcheon Culture Village , Songdo Beach & Cable Car , Oryukdo Skywalk , and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple ( see below for more info on all those ) . For the subway and buses , the most convenient way to pay is by swiping an IC card . There are numerous IC cards available , including Cashbee , Hanaro , T - Money , and Korea Tour Card , which you can purchase from convenience stores or from inside subway stations . When taking a bus , board at the front and swipe your card . Get off from the back door . You do not need to swipe again on exit . If you are transferring to the subway or another bus , you get a discount ( subway ) or free ride ( bus ) within 30 minutes of . To activate this deal , you ’ ll need to swipe your card again as you ’ re getting off the first bus . Taxis are also plentiful and cheap in Busan . The starting fare is 3300 won ( USD 2 . 80 ) . Note that regular taxis come in many colors ( usually gray , white , or orange ) , but beware that the black ones with a yellow sign on top are “ deluxe ” ones which cost more , with no major difference besides being slightly nicer inside . TamasV / shutterstock . com Where to Stay in Busan With its high concentration of popular sights , including proximity to Gamcheon Culture Village , Nampo is the best place to stay in Busan . It ’ s also the best place to be if you are a foodie . Boutique Hotel YTT Nampo and Aventree Hotel Busan are some of the highest rated hotels in this area . You may also want to consider Yeongdo Island , which is just across the bridge from Nampo . That ’ s where I stayed and some hotels , like the Value Hotel Busan and Lavalse Hotel , offer an incredible view of Nampo and the rest of Busan . The only downside of the above is that they are quite a ways from some of Busan ’ s other famous sites , like Beomeosa , Haedong Yonggungsa , and Haeundae beach . For sheer convenience Seomyeon , the commercial center of the city , is at the intersection of the two main subway lines and is closer to the airport . Lion Hotel is a great option in his neighborhood . Beach lovers may choose to stay at Gwangalli or Haeundae Beach , but these neighborhoods are a little far removed from the city ’ s other attractions . If don ’ t mind traveling a little further in exchange for being directly on the beach , consider staying at Best Western Haeundae Hotel or Canvas Hostel . For more accommodation options in Busan check out Booking . com . They continuously offer the best rates and their custom service is on point . What to Eat in Busan As a port city , it ’ s no surprise that Busan is famous for its seafood . People in Busan really , really like their seafood , and you can find it everywhere . A good place to start is Jagalchi Fish Market and the streets surrounding . Gamji Beach , near Taejongdae Resort Park , and Cheongsapo Harbor , near Haeundae Beach , are two spots where you can dine on seafood while looking out at the sea . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com Another local seafood obsession is eomuk , or fish cakes . These come in various shapes , sizes , and flavors ( my favorites were chili pepper flavor and the cheese - stuffed ones ) , and can be seen everywhere served on sticks soaked in a delicious broth . Just walk up to the stall , help yourself , then pay when you ’ re done ! Samjin Eomuk , a famous chain serving eomuk to go , is a local institution , and the Samjin Eomuk Headquarters and Eomuk Museum on Yeongdo Island can ’ t be missed . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com Busan is also famous for its street food . Besides the usual street - side snacks you can find across the country , one to - die - for Busan - only specialty is ssiat hotteok , deep - fried pancakes stuffed with seeds , nuts , brown sugar syrup , and cinnamon . The best place to try them is BIFF Square . Another local specialty I personally loved was milmyeon , or flour noodles , which in summer are served in an icy cold and incredibly flavorful broth . Best Things to Do in BusanBusan offers plenty of things to do and see , but below are some of the best places to visit in Busan , so make sure to add them to your Busan itinerary . Recommendation : See the best of Busan on a full - day sightseeing tour with a driver and guide . Attractions include Taejongdae , Gamcheon Culture Village , and more . You can book the tour here . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 1 . Jagalchi Fish Market Jagalchi is South Korea ’ s largest fish market and one of Busan ’ s most popular attractions . Be prepared to spot sea creatures you didn ’ t know existed ! Many visitors stroll through the ground floor of the seven - story structure and explore the seafood markets in the surrounding streets . If you want to sample the seafood , choose what you ’ d like and take it up to the second floor to be prepared in one of the many restaurants , or simply order from one of the restaurants ’ menus . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 2 . Nampo - dong ( Nampo Neighborhood ) Besides Jagalchi Market , the Nampo and neighboring Gwangbok neighborhoods contain several more of the city ’ s most famous sites . Near Jagalchi Fish Market , BIFF Square ( Busan International Film Festival Square ) is Busan ’ s version of Hollywood ’ s Walk of Fame , but with awesome street food . Continuing past BIFF Square , head to Gwangbokdong Food Street , where elderly Korean women serve tasty , cheap noodles to customers sitting on low chairs in the middle of the narrow lane . The food street leads into Gukje Market , the largest traditional market in South Korea . Don ’ t miss neighboring Tin Can Alley , another very large market next to Gukje that is focused entirely on food . Last but not least , head to Yongdusan Park and ascend Busan Tower for awesome 360 - degree views of Busan . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 3 . Taejongdae Resort Park South of Nampo lies Yeongdo Island , connected to the mainland by a bascule bridge which can lift to let large ships into Busan Port . At the southern tip of Yeongdo Island , facing the South Sea , Taejongdae Resort Park is one of the most popular places in Busan to take in coastal views . A small train on wheels carries visitors on a loop road to two coastal lookout points offering awe - inspiring views and a lighthouse . A third stop provides access to a serene forest temple . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 4 . Gamcheon Culture Village Gamcheon has skyrocketed to fame in recent years and is one of the most photographed places in Busan . The old neighborhood built for Korean War refugees has been converted into a super colorful art - focused community . Looking down over the rainbow - colored houses and getting lost in the narrow , art - filled lanes of Gamcheon Village is a Busan experience you simply cannot miss . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 5 . Songdo Beach and Cable Car The most central of Busan ’ s seven main beaches , Songdo is just a short bus or taxi ride from Nampo . Besides the beach itself , which is good for swimming , Songdo is famously the site of the first cable car in Korea , which was built in 1964 , closed in 1988 , and reopened in 2017 . Songdo also has a popular skywalk over the sea called Songdo Cloud Trails near the cable car station . At the other end of the beach there ’ s a lesser - known red coastal walkway which leads to Amnam Park at the tip of the peninsula , which is the same place where the cable car terminates . icosha / shutterstock . com 6 . Oryukdo Skywalk If you still want more sea views after visiting Songdo Cloud Trails , head over to Oryukodo Skywalk , a higher ( and more terrifying ) walkway over the sea . This see - through walkway is relatively short , but offers epic views of the Oryukdo Islands , right at the point where the South Sea meets the East Sea . Nick Kembel / nickkembel . com 7 . Gwangalli Beach True beach lovers can ’ t miss Gwangalli and Haeundae beaches . Gwangalli is closer to the city center so it ’ s slightly more convenient to reach . Between the two , Gwangalli is also a little more laid back , with a relaxed city - by - the - sea vibe . Come here for a casual early evening stroll , a cold beer at one of the many pubs lining the beachside avenue , or to set off fireworks from the beach at night , which are sold from local convenience stores . Perhaps the best part of Gwangalli Beach is the awesome view of Gwangan Bridge , one of Korea ’ s longest , which runs across the sea in front of the beach . JIPEN / shutterstock . com 8 . Haeundae Beach Haeundae is South Korea ’ s most popular beach . In summer it is packed with beach umbrellas , though visitors flock to it throughout the entire year . Haeundae is decidedly more fashionable than Gwangalli , and Haeundae neighborhood contains a high concentration of luxury resorts , hip cafés , art galleries , spas , a popular aquarium , and the Haeundae Food Market . Don ’ t miss The Bay 101 , an upscale yacht club with epic city views across the water , especially at night . Entry to enjoy the view is free ! CJ Nattanai / shutterstock . com 9 . Haedong Yonggungsa Temple This ancient temple by the sea has grown to become one of Busan ’ s most popular attractions in recent years , despite its somewhat remote location . In a country where most Buddhist temples are in the mountains , Haedong Yonggungsa , the “ Dragon Palace Temple , ” is totally unique , and iconic of Busan . The temple can be overrun with crowds , so try to visit in the early morning , or even better , go for sunrise . Isarint Sangmanee / shutterstock . com 10 . Beomeosa Temple While Haedong Yonggungsa may be more popular nowadays , true temple enthusiasts can ’ t miss Beomeosa , Busan ’ s most important temple . The temple is beautifully situated on the slopes of Mt . Geumjeong , the highest in Busan , and dates back to 678 AD . Beomeosa is the only temple in Busan offering a temple stay program , which takes place on Saturday nights only . You can book a spot online two months in advance . This was personally my favorite experience in Busan ! chanchai duangdoosan / shutterstock . com Bonus : Gyeongju Gyeongju , the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla , has the most well - preserved and beautiful UNESCO Heritage Sites in South Korea , and is often referred to as “ the museum without walls ” . It ’ s only an hour ’ s drive or bus ride north of Busan , making it the perfect day trip for those interested in Korean history and culture . Buses to Gyeongju leave about every 15 minutes from the Central Bus Station , but to get the most out of this day trip , I highly recommend you book a tour with an expert guide . Now that you ’ ve gone through this detailed Busan travel guide , you should be sufficiently prepared for your trip to Busan . It ’ s time to book your flight and find out why Busan is my favorite city in South Korea !