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Latest update: 11 February 2026
Busan is South Korea’s second city, but it feels totally different from Seoul. Hipper and more relaxed are the best words to describe the difference, and with beaches, mountains, street art, and an endless fish market. In this blog, I’m taking you through the best sights and activities in Busan.
Is Busan worth it?
Busan has 3.5 million inhabitants, making it South Korea’s second-largest city. The harbor plays a huge role in the city—it’s one of Asia’s largest container ports. But despite its size, Busan feels very different from Seoul. A bit more relaxed, just slightly less overwhelming.
The location makes Busan special. On one side, you have the sea with miles of beach; on the other, the mountains. Neighborhoods are built on steep hillsides, offering spectacular views. And if you love fish, Busan is the place to be.
With my Dutch pronunciation, I say something like Boo-san. Just like it’s spelled, right? Nope: the South Koreans say Poo-sahn. When I want to buy a bus ticket, my pronunciation leads to quite a bit of confusion. Oops.
What to do in Busan?
Busan is a really big city, so don’t get the illusion that you can see the whole city in two days. Sometimes you’re on the metro or bus for an hour and a half to get somewhere, and then you’re still in the city.
You might also consider getting the Visit Busan Pass. With this, you can visit various attractions in Busan for free or at a discount: from Busan Tower to Sky Capsule, and even rent traditional hanbok clothing. So do the math to see if it’s a good deal with your plans! You can buy it here (and check the reviews for inspiration from other travelers).
Either way, some highlights shouldn’t be missing on your Busan to-do list. So let’s get to the Busan tips!
Highlight! Gamcheon Culture Village
Gamcheon Culture Village is probably Busan’s most popular attraction. And rightfully so. Brightly colored houses against a hillside, street art on every corner, and plenty of souvenir shops and coffee cafés.
But… It’s also touristy. Very touristy. So we’re actually lucky with the bad weather because it’s quieter. But normally, there’s a line for every photo moment here, especially at the K-Pop boy band BTS one and the Little Prince statue.
In the 1950s, Korean War refugees built their houses against the steep hillside here. For decades, it was a poor neighborhood, until the government decided to turn it into an art project in 2009 (called Dreaming of Machu Picchu in Busan). All the houses were painted in bright colors, artists made murals, and that’s how Gamcheon became the colorful art village it is now. I’m curious what the residents who first lived here in peace think of it now…
How to get there: take metro line 1 to Toseong-dong (exit 8) and catch minibus 2 or 2-2 there. It takes you up in ten minutes. Or you can walk, which is a bit of a climb, but we took our chances.
Jagalchi fish market: overwhelming amounts of fish
I thought I was used to markets in South Korea by now, but Jagalchi is next level. This is South Korea’s largest fish market. Stalls full of live fish, octopuses trying to climb out of their tanks, sea anemones, squid, things I don’t even know what they are.
It’s not even nine in the morning yet, and people are already eating fish soup and fish pancakes. Things I would really save for dinner, but okay.
We mainly walk around to feast our eyes. The colors, the smells, so many stimuli! Haha.
If you want to eat here, you can sit down directly at one of the stalls or choose fresh fish at the stalls downstairs in the fish hall and have it prepared in one of the restaurants on the first floor. Unfortunately, we didn’t get around to it.
Busan Tower: pricey but fun
Busan Tower is in a small park in the center and is 120 meters (394 feet) tall. We go up for views over the city and harbor. It’s pretty pricey by South Korean standards (12,000 Won in 2025, about $8), but that’s actually true for most observation platforms in Korea.
What makes Busan Tower fun are the extra photo moments they’ve created. Neon lights, fluorescent paintings. And then there’s a really weird scene where you can sit at a table with a bear and fake Korean food. A bit random.
In the building, you’ll also find other things. There’s a souvenir shop, a café, and even a VR/AR experience if you’re into that. So it’s more than just an observation tower.
Haeundae Beach: city beach with skyline
Haeundae Beach is THE beach of Busan. It’s a sandy beach about 1.2 miles (2 km) long with a modern skyline behind it. In summer, it’s packed with restaurants, water sports, and festivals. On the main street next to it (Gunam-ro), you’ll also find plenty of shops and restaurants.
We’re there on an autumn day, but there are still lots of people taking a walk. We have lunch at Working Holiday, a sort of Australian-inspired brunch café on the fifth floor with views of the beach. In case you’re thinking: why is nobody taking my order? You order here via a machine, typical of Korea.
On the beach, there’s also an observation tower: Busan x The Sky. I decide to skip this one because I’ve already been to Busan Tower, and the weather is quite gray. If you do want to admire the view, you can buy a ticket here.
Busan Sky Capsule: sold out!
If you walk along Haeundae Beach, you end up at Haeundae Blueline Park, at the Sky Capsule. That seemed pretty nice to do. They’re colorful little trains that ride along the coast. But when we want to buy a ticket, virtually all the time slots are already sold out, unless we want to wait three or four hours. In other words, if this is what you want to do: book in advance! You can do that via Klook, for example.
Luckily, there’s still an alternative: the walking track. We walk the path that’s right underneath it. And we like to convince ourselves that it’s better than the Sky Capsule because you have viewpoints where you can take your time for views over the sea. And it’s free.
Google Maps location (Mipo station)
Cheongsapo: lighthouses and tea
At the end of the Sky Capsule or (mandatory) coastal walk, you arrive at Cheongsapo Twin Lighthouses. These are the two iconic lighthouses of the small fishing village of Cheongsapo—one red and one white lighthouse facing each other. They also call them the “man and woman lighthouses” or “couple lighthouse.” The red lighthouse resembles the rising sun, the white one breaking waves.
And nearby is the Cheongsapo Hanok Lounge, where we drink tea. Herbal tea with flavoring in a traditional hanok house. It has three seating areas: a relaxed front area, an antique interior, and a quiet courtyard in the back. Serene atmosphere, perfect place to recharge after the coastal walk.
Google Maps location Cheongsapo Twin Lighthouses
Google Maps location Cheongsapo Hanok Lounge
Huinnyeoul Culture Village: the Santorini of Korea?!
They call Huinnyeoul Culture Village the Santorini of Korea. Well, I’ve never been to Santorini, but I have higher expectations of that! There are a few white-and-blue houses on a slope by the coast, but otherwise I don’t see any similarity to Greece.
What it DOES have: a beautiful walk along the coast with lots of coffee cafés and nice views. Just like Gamcheon Culture Village, it’s a creative piece of Busan with street art and cute boutiques. We’re there early in the morning, and then it’s wonderfully quiet too.
Jeoryeong Coastal Walk: unfortunately closed
That coastal walk at Huinnyeoul Culture Village is the Jeoryeong Coastal Walk. We had planned a 1.8-mile (3 km) coastal walk, but when we arrive at the starting point there’s a sign: closed until early 2026 for restoration. Bummer. So we take the higher path along the village instead. At the end, we can walk a bit down along the coast.
Beomeosa temple
An important 7th-century Buddhist temple, located on Mount Geumjeongsan. The architecture is beautiful with traditional building styles and colorful details. You walk through four symbolic gates before reaching the main temple.
You can visit Beomeosa during the day for a private visit or tour, but there’s also something special: you can do a temple stay there. Then you actually sleep in the temple complex, join the prayer services, and learn to meditate from the monks. It’s quite an experience. I wrote an extensive article about it, where I tell you what it’s like to live as a monk for 24 hours during a temple stay in South Korea.
Getting to Beomeosa Temple is also quite a journey by public transport. Take metro line 1 (orange line) to Busan East station. At exit 5 or 7, take bus 90 toward Beomeosa (15-20 minutes). When you get off at “Sangma village / Beomeosa Museum”, you’ll find all kinds of simple restaurants here. The specialty here is green onion pancake—delicious!
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple: just too far
This is Busan’s most famous temple, spectacularly located on the coast. Many temples in South Korea are in the mountains, but this one is right by the sea among the rocks. Everyone says it’s beautiful, especially at sunrise. I skipped it because the travel time was really quite long. But I wanted to mention it for you anyway, because it is a highlight of Busan.
Coffee and food in Busan
I ate so much in Busan that I wrote a separate article for you (restaurant tips Busan), but I’ll give you a few quick tips here anyway:
- Coffee Bubu – Hip coffee shop with seating on pallets upstairs. The flat whites are so good that we come back two days in a row. They also have earl grey and matcha cake. I like the first one best.
- Cuv Share – For breakfast. Shakshuka (they call it “eggs in hell” here) and French toast. Small place in a side street, but so delicious.
- Napoli brick oven – We’re craving Western food at some point and end up at this pizza place. The pizza dough is made on the spot, and the glass of wine is generously filled.
- Momos Yeongdo Roastery – A hip coffee concept that looks like an Apple Store. It’s already busy at 9 AM on Sunday morning, and there’s even a film crew. It all feels very over-the-top, but interesting for people-watching.
Hotel tip: Urbanstay Boutique Nampo BIFF
We’re staying at Urbanstay Boutique Nampo BIFF in the Nampo neighborhood. This is the center of Busan with the fish market, Busan Tower, and BIFF Plaza around the corner. The neighborhood is lively with lots of shops, restaurants, and street food stalls. In the evening, it’s busy but cozy. And from here, you can easily catch a bus or the metro to other parts of Busan.
During this South Korea trip, I stayed at an Urbanstay several times, and it worked out well overall. You notice that it’s really designed for volume: accommodating as many travelers as possible as quickly as possible. Virtually everything is automated, and the rooms are cleverly designed, usually with a small kitchen and a washing machine. In theory, very nice, but if there’s no drying rack, your whole hotel room quickly looks like a laundromat. I can definitely recommend Urbanstay, but it is a bit impersonal.
Book via Booking or Trip (the latter is usually cheaper).
Practical info for Busan
How to get there? Busan is easily accessible from many parts of South Korea. Book train tickets via Korail, and for intercity buses, use this website.
Transport in Busan The metro and buses are fine. The city is large and sprawling, so you really need public transport. We use the T-money card that also works in Seoul. Download the Naver app, because Google Maps doesn’t work that well in South Korea.
FAQs about Busan
Absolutely! Busan has a really nice vibe. It’s more relaxed, less touristy, and, if you love fish and the beach, it’s perfect. And even with the rain, the sold-out Sky Capsule, and the closed coastal walk, we had a great time.
Yes, especially for the Sky Capsule. That’s often sold out. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple can also be busy on weekends. So definitely book if you want to do something specific.
3 days is ideal. In 2 days, you see the main things, with 3 days, you can also relax more on the beach, visit lesser-known sights, or take a day trip.
More South Korea inspiration
Useful links for your South Korea trip
- Accommodation. Always handy is Booking.com, but compare prices. Trip is often much cheaper in South Korea. Rather stay in a hostel? Try HostelWorld.
- Activities. You can book the best tours and activities with GetYourGuide, Klook and Viator. You can book ‘free’ walking tours at Freetour and cool food tours at Secret Food Tours.
- Attractions and museums. For 5% off museums and attractions, use discount code KIMOPREIS22 at Tiqets.
- Car rental. Compare your options at Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com.
- Flights. Compare all your options! Be sure to check Expedia, Kiwi and Trip.
- Guide books. I love the practical guides by Lonely Planet, for sale at Amazon.
- Package deals. Rather go on a catered trip? Check out your options at Expedia and CheapOair for example.
- SIM card. Beware of unexpectedly high phone and internet costs. Buy a local SIM card when you arrive, or arrange one online via Airalo. Use the code THISIS8469 for a discount.
- Train and bus. Buy your train tickets directly on the Korail site and intercity buses also directly via this site. Some trips can also be booked on
Klook or via12Go . For local transport in the city, you use a T-Money card.
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