Busan

Travel Guide

Dongpirang Village featuring general coastal views, a house and a bay or harbor
Busan featuring landscape views, a bridge and night scenes
Chungnyeolsa showing wildflowers, a park and heritage elements
Gwangalli Beach showing a coastal town, a sandy beach and general coastal views
Busan which includes outdoor eating and night scenes as well as a small group of people
Unwind on long beaches, relax in a multistory spa and explore the breathtaking coastal forests of Korea’s most popular summer destination.

Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city, but unlike the massive metropolis of Seoul, Busan is a resort town. Travel here for expansive beaches, forested parks and easy access to the islands and dramatic coastline of Hallyeohaesang National Park.

Come to Busan during the summer to experience the beaches at their best, the views at their clearest and industrious South Koreans at their most relaxed. The long Haeundae Beach is the most famous in the country on hot summer days it is lined with record-breaking numbers of colorful umbrellas and masses of people. If you prefer a little more space, head west to Gwangalli Beach, which is generally less crowded and offers great views of the Gwangan Bridge, the longest in South Korea.

Discover Busan’s world-class shopping at the 14-story Shinsegae Centum City, the largest department store in the world. After exploring the many stores, boutiques and cafés, practice your golf swing at the indoor driving range, then lace up your skates for a few laps on the ice rink. 

Seafood lovers should head to Jagalchi Market, Busan’s massive fish market. Occupying a wide stretch of dock and several stories of a huge warehouse, Jagalchi is the largest seafood market in South Korea.

Busan has recently become a global center for cosmetic surgery and medical tourism. Exfoliate your pores or treat yourself to a full facelift at one of the 160 clinics on Seomyeon Medical Street in central Busan. Or, reserve a spot at the Shinsegae Centum City Spaland to spend an evening relaxing in one of the 22 spas and 13 saunas.

Just a ferry or bus ride away is Tongyeong, a bustling port town situated on an island to the southwest of Busan. From Tongyeong, ride the Hallyeo Waterway Observation Cable Car for stunning views back to the mainland. After enjoying the views, wander through the charming streets of Dongpirang Village, which was destined for demolition until villagers transformed the streets into an outdoor art gallery. 

Busan has a metro system, but most destinations are best reached by bus, car or ferry.

Where to stay in Busan

Haeundae which includes general coastal views, a sunset and a coastal town

Haeundae

4.5/5(300 area reviews)

Famous for its stunning beach, Haeundae also boasts the scenic Dalmaji Hill and Dongbaek Island. Enjoy shopping malls and movie theaters near Haeundae Station, with easy access via Busan Subway Line 2.

Haeundae
Busan Citizens Park featuring heritage elements, a garden and wildflowers

Seomyeon

Consider a visit to Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in Seomyeon. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at Buam Station or Gaya Station.

Seomyeon
Jagalchi Fish Market showing food and markets

Nampo-dong

Shopping and seafood restaurants are highlights of Nampo-dong. Make a stop by Nampodong Street or Jagalchi Fish Market while you're visiting, and jump aboard the metro at Jangalchi Station to get around town.

Nampo-dong
Jung District which includes a city, a river or creek and a bridge

Jung-gu

4.5/5(66 area reviews)

Travelers choose Jung-gu for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Jungang Station or Nampo Station and check out top sights like Busan Tower.

Jung-gu
Yeongdo which includes boating, a bay or harbor and general coastal views

Yeongdo

4.5/5(14 area reviews)

Located on Yeong Island, Yeongdo District boasts the Korea Maritime and Ocean University and the National Maritime Museum of Korea, offering a unique experience for travelers.

Yeongdo
Busanjin which includes wildflowers and a lake or waterhole

Busanjin

4.5/5(97 area reviews)

You might enjoy the shopping while in Busanjin. Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch is a notable sight, and you can get around town at Buam Station or Seomyeon Station to see more of the city.

Busanjin
Ananti at Busan Cove
Ananti at Busan Cove
5 out of 5
268-32, Gijanghaean-ro Gijang-eup, Busan
The price is NT$5,719 per night from Apr 17 to Apr 18
NT$5,719
NT$6,290 total
includes taxes & fees
Apr 17 - Apr 18
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Busan. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Haeundae Beach and Shinsegae Centum City are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"The stay was amazing. The only complaint I have was the room service. Ordered food and only received one order due to the second order continuing to get cancelled with no communication. When talking to the front desk to try to see what was going on, was told the kitchen was closed when the order ..."

Reviewed on 2025/3/12

Ananti at Busan Cove
Lotte Hotel Busan
Lotte Hotel Busan
5 out of 5
772, Gaya-daero, Busanjin-gu, Busan, Busan
The price is NT$3,168 per night from Mar 23 to Mar 24
NT$3,168
NT$3,833 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 23 - Mar 24
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in Busan. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and 4 restaurants. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,828 reviews)
"Hotel is nice - clean and certainly high end. Food and beverage is definitely overpriced but not surprising. Location is fine but if you are a tourist and have limited time you may want to consider staying somewhere near Haeundae Beach as I found more attractions were located near there."

Reviewed on 2025/3/14

Lotte Hotel Busan
Shilla Stay Haeundae Beach BEXCO
Shilla Stay Haeundae Beach BEXCO
4 out of 5
46, Haeun-daero 570beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
The price is NT$2,612 per night from Mar 18 to Mar 19
NT$2,612
NT$2,873 total
includes taxes & fees
Mar 18 - Mar 19
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Busan. Enjoy free parking, breakfast (surcharge), and a fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful staff and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,707 reviews)
"Nice hotel near a popular beach. Hotel is clean and well maintained."

Reviewed on 2025/3/16

Shilla Stay Haeundae Beach BEXCO
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
NEWCZ HAEUNDAE RESIDENCE
NEWCZ HAEUNDAE RESIDENCE
4 out of 5
30 Haeun-daero 570beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Stay at this 4-star residence in Busan. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach are located ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (180 reviews)
Beautiful Apt, But Only 2 Real Beds
"The apartment is beautiful, with great views and location. The only downside, which is important to note, is that saying 10 people can stay there (comfortably) is incorrect. The queens are not standard queens but instead full sized (we were told this is queen sized in Korea, but we’ve stayed at other ..."

Reviewed on 2025/2/19

NEWCZ HAEUNDAE RESIDENCE
LCT Residence Y Collection
LCT Residence Y Collection
4.5 out of 5
30 Dalmaji-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury residence in Busan. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach ...
9.6/10 Exceptional! (13 reviews)
"Beautiful and clean"

Reviewed on 2025/3/14

LCT Residence Y Collection
Urbanstay Haeundae Station
Urbanstay Haeundae Station
3.5 out of 5
620 Haeun-daero, Haeundae-gu, Busan
Stay at this 3.5-star residence in Busan. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and premium bedding. Popular attractions Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach are located ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (39 reviews)
"It was great stay"

Reviewed on 2025/2/18

Urbanstay Haeundae Station
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Busan

4.5
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
239
5 - Excellent 58%
4 - Good
144
4 - Good 35%
3 - Okay
25
3 - Okay 6%
2 - Disappointing
2
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Dennis

Best city in South Korea

5/5 - Excellent

Ness

A lot of great places to visit. A variety of food. It's a city surrounded by beautiful mountains and located right next to the ocean. There are plenty of nice beaches to visit, such as Songjung where you can surf as well.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Lots of good foods, awesome options of public transportation, easy access to everything you can imagine. The city offered a nice comfortable atmosphere for travelers to find everything they want easy.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Still my favorite city in the WORLD!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Busan offers tons of great foods in a reasonable price, super friendly people, and the area has a feel like I’m back in Seoul 20 years ago; people are still friendly and traditional markets are packed with so much foods and goods!!!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

So much culture. And the light festival was very pretty.

Cities near Busan