If you come to South Korea, its second largest city Busan must be on your list. Whether you like art, history, beaches or hiking, you will find plenty to do in this coastal city. Here is a list of my top things to do in Busan to help you plan your trip!

Gamcheon Culture Village

I will start with the obvious one. Half a day spent walking the bright streets and taking photos with unique art is a must. You will find a lot of colour almost everywhere in Busan, but especially in this former refugee village. And you don’t even have to be an art junkie to enjoy its many artworks.

I have already written about the Gamcheon Culture Village so you can find many colourful photos and useful tips in this post.

Songdo Beach

This beach gets busy in the summer but that’s not the only time you can visit! You can take a stroll on the skywalk or enjoy the views from the rooftop of the cable car station all year round. Personally, I don’t think the cable car is worth it, it only goes across the bay – use the coastal walk instead! It’s a much more enjoyable way to see the beach and its surroundings and it’s not too busy.

Gwangalli Beach

As you can probably guess, Busan has a number of beaches. The Gwangalli Beach is a great place to see the Gwangandaegyo Bridge (Diamond Bridge) in all its beauty. Besides, you know, the usual beach activities… I even found a proper gelato shop there!

Jagalchi Market

Busan lives on fish and is home to Korea’s largest seafood market. In the famous Jagalchi Market building you can choose your raw fish on the 1st floor (ground floor), then eat it in one of the restaurants on the 2nd floor. I personally didn’t eat there as it seemed too complicated to order without speaking Korean (and I think it can get pricey!) but if you are a seafood lover, you should try 😉

Don’t forget to also browse all the neighbouring markets – I have never seen so much seafood in my life!

Yeongdo Bridge Opening

If you are heading to the Jagalchi Market, plan your visit so that you can also see the daily opening of the Yeongdo Bridge at 2pm. To tell you the truth, I have seen better when it comes to opening bridges (looking at you, Tower Bridge) but it’s still nice to see if you are in the area. It’s also fun to observe the Korean crowds gathering to watch this event.

Busan Tower

Busan is a city of many magnificent views and which one can be better than the 360° view from its central tower? It costs 8,000 KW to enter the observatory.

Hiking

Of course, there are also many views you can enjoy for free. You just have to work for them a little. Busan is a hilly city, just pick a hill and climb it! I was constantly amazed by all the different views you find here. Hills, sea, harbours and beaches combined with all the colourful houses… Busan has the most incredible skylines you can find.

Busan Modern History Museum

For all the history and museum fans, there is a Modern History Museum in town where you can learn more about Busan and (obviously) its history. It’s quite interesting and not very big. For example, did you know that Korea used to be colonised by Japan for a long time? One of the things I learnt there.

 

The BIFF Square

Are you a movie fan? Busan hosts the International Film Festival every year (Damn it, why didn’t I come here in October?!) and if you walk around the BIFF Square, you will find some handprints of famous filmmakers on the ground. OK, they are mainly Asian… but I spotted Willem Dafoe’s handprints! Either way, the area around BIFF Square is great for trying some Korean street food. (You can also try the Kkangtong night market nearby.)

And if you are really into film, you can also visit the actual venue of the Busan International Film Festival (Busan Cinema Center). It’s a bit more outside of the city centre but the building is quite special as it holds the Guinness World Record for the longest cantilever roof.

Korean Temples

Take the time to explore Korean temples while you are in Busan. They are different to the Chinese and Japanese ones and you might be surprised how colourful they are!

The most popular temple and the ultimate attraction in Busan is the Haedong Yonggung Temple built on a cliff. I actually skipped it (Do I suck as a travel blogger?) but I went to the Beomeosa Temple instead. There is a nice forest walk leading up to the temple and despite it being a significant temple, it’s not very busy – I only saw Korean visitors (they love to hike).

I hope this blog post helps you with your Busan itinerary! If you have already been to Busan, what would you add to the list? 😉

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