Thinking about visiting Busan? This guide brings you the best things to do, eat, and see in South Korea’s vibrant coastal city.
WELCOME TO SOUTH KOREA’S COASTAL CITY, BUSAN
If Seoul is South Korea’s fast-paced heart, then Busan is its laid-back soul. Nestled between mountains and the sea, Busan blends golden beaches with bustling seafood markets, ancient temples, and colorful traditional villages. Four days here is the perfect amount of time to soak up the best spots that makes Busan unforgettable. This 4-day Busan itinerary will guide you through the city’s best beaches, historic temples, vibrant markets, and delicious eats, while leaving space for relaxation. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for another taste of coastal Korea, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here.
EXPLORING BUSAN IN SOUTH KOREA
Day 1 – Coastal Vibes in Busan
By the time your train sweeps into Busan Station, the city feels different from Seoul. The mountains are closer, the sea breeze sharper, the rhythm slower. South Korea’s second city isn’t just an escape from the capital though, it’s a destination with personality in its own right. Start your day off walking along the boardwalk at Haeundae Beach, where soft golden sands meet chic cafés. Grab lunch at one of the many eateries alongside the beach or explore the Haeundae markets for street food and souvenir shops. This area is perfect for relaxing into your first day in Busan. Wander along the pine-fringed path of Dongbaekseom Island as you take in the coastal views. , perfect for photos of the skyline. As the evening draws in head to Gwangalli Beach, famous for its gentle waves and the breathtaking Gwangan Bridge, which lights up the night in a dazzling display. It’s the perfect place to catch the sunset before the lights come on. Busan is the perfect coastal escape and it makes sense to celebrate that with a full day of beach-hopping.
Day 2 – Temples in Busan
Busan is home to serene temples and cultural sites. Start your morning off at Songjeong Beach where you can grab a coffee at one of the beachside cafes. Take it to go and sit on the beach watching the surfers catch the morning waves. We actually chose to stay at a hotel here for our stay as it has a much more relaxed vibe than the surrounding areas. Take the coastal walking trail towards Haedong Younggungsa Tempe, perched dramatically on a rocky shoreline overlooking the East Sea. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple offers one of Busan’s most unforgettable cultural experiences. Unlike many temples nestled deep within Korea’s mountains, this seaside sanctuary blends spiritual serenity with breathtaking sea views. Wind down stone stairways framed by lanterns and statues, arriving at the temple complex where you can explore the ornate pagodas and golden Buddha statues. Walking there from Songjeong Beach isn’t necessary, but it adds a certain charm as you follow the sea towards the temple. Grab a bite to eat from the market outside the temple, where you can taste test all the fun street food on offer. In the evening, head back into the bustling city to discover Busan’s bustling nightlife hub. Seomyeon is the perfect area for the evening. There’s heaps of places to try Korean BBQ before you stroll the neon-lit streets filled with karaoke, bars and busy pubs.
Day 3 – Art, Colour & Ocean Views
Perched on the hills overlooking the glittering port of Busan, Gamcheon Culture Village feels like another world entirely. The journey there winds through narrow streets before revealing a bundle of brightly coloured houses stacked like building blocks on top of each other. Originally formed in the aftermath of the Korean War, the village became home to refugees who built modest houses along the steep hillside. There is a lovely blend of artistic energy and local charm here, painted murals and fascinating sculptures around every corner that have been designed in the last few years. We recommend grabbing a stamp map from the visitor centre and embarking on a playful treasure hunt to see the best parts of the village. Each marked spot reveals these murals, interesting installations and glimpses into the quiet corners of every day life here. Among the most iconic sights was the famous small boy statue gazing out over Busan, a symbol of the village’s gentle charm and resilience. Stop for lunch in the village and try some Korean food. We tucked into freshly rolled savoury gimbap and spicy-sweet tteokbokki, another Korean classic. There’s also heaps of coffee shops here too,where you can sit with a cup of something warm and enjoy the views of the colourful village. Once a humble hillside settlement, Gamcheon has reinvented itself as one of South Korea’s most evocative cultural enclaves, inviting travelers to slow down, get a little lost, and see Busan from a more playful perspective. You can easily spend the best part of a day here and it’s best seen by wandering slowly through the colourful maze of alleyways and hidden corners. In the evening, head back into Busan and catch yourself a drone light show on Gwangalli beach. The beach falls into an anticipatory hush as hundreds of drones lifted into the sky, rising like a constellation coming into focus. One by one, they arranged themselves into glowing shapes and stories above the water. Reflected in the sea and framed by the softly lit shoreline, the show felt both futuristic and poetic. The show is an unmistakably Busan experience, where technology, art, and the water meet in wonder. After you’ve watched the show, head to one of the many bars that line the beach, we recommend trying out some of the karaoke bars like the locals love!
Day 4 – Trendy neighbourhoods and the Blueline Park
Start your day off in Seomyeon, one of Busan’s trendiest neighbourhoods. The bustling streets here are packed with fashion boutiques, beauty stores, and quirky lifestyle shops. The area has a magnetic energy, friends gather for brunch, music spills from cafes and the whole neighbourhood has a lively, vibrant pulse. Wander through the shops offering up everything from handmade jewellery to the latest Korean fashion trends. Street stalls offer a more playful shopping experience, with colourful accessories, souvenirs, and quirky trinkets lining the sidewalks. It’s the perfect place to soak up the local culture while hunting for unique finds you won’t see anywhere else in the city. The cafe’s here are the true highlight and Korea does coffee shops so well. Whether its a minimalist coffee shop serving pour-overs or a dessert spot with towering bingsu creations, there’s a heap of options to choose from for your breakfast spot. Try and find a place with outdoor seating so you can sip your morning coffee whilst taking in the bustling atmosphere. After a good few hours exploring the busy area, transport yourself towards a more relaxing afternoon. Combining Haeundae Blueline Park train and the sky capsule is one of Busan’s most exciting attractions. It offers stunning coastal views, picture-perfect train rides, and a relaxing journey among the trees experience. Located near Haeundae Beach, this eco-friendly park is perfect attraction to add to your Busan itinerary. The blueline train offers unique attractions that showcase stunning coastal views of Busan, including Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, and Cheongsapo Lighthouse. Our recommendation to make the most of the attraction is to ride the blueline train from Cheongsapo Station instead of Mipo station, as there’s much less queuing this way. You’re also way more likely to get a ticket if you haven’t booked beforehand. We took the train from Cheongsapo, stopping first at the observatory, then at the lighthouse, before ending the journey aboard the sky capsule. With the sea and town still in view, stepping into the capsule felt like the perfect end to the adventure, ascending smoothly above the coastline with the lighthouse shrinking below and Busan opening up in a sweeping panorama, a layer of beaches, bridges and mountains before us. It was an unforgettable way to see the city from both land and sky. The pace of both the blueline train and the sky capsule is slow and deliberate, encouraging you to linger over the scenery at a peaceful pace. Of course the perfect time to take this journey is around sunset, where you can catch the light glowing over Busan. If you travel this route, you’ll end in Songjeong. We hopped off the sky capsule and explored the area into the evening. Close by you can head to some of the cafe’s that have views of the sky capsules gliding past, the perfect way to further embrace the experience. We found a little salt-bread spot that was offering up bundles of the warm, savoury snack. You can also take a walk on Songjeong beach, a much more quieter and laid-back alternative to other beaches in Busan. Opt to stay here for dinner or choose another neighbourhood to explore for your final evening in Busan.
How many days do you need in Busan?
We’ve offered up here a 4-day itinerary here as we reckon its somewhere in the middle of the average time people spend in Busan. Having said that we spent just shy of a week in the city and spread out the exploring at a much slower pace. You could come for just a couple of days and squeeze in almost everything we did, but of course that comes at the price of rushing. Like most places we visit, we loved to take our time in Busan. The city is quite spread out, but there’s an excellent metro system to connect you to all the hotspots if you do have less time.
Is Busan worth the visit on a South Korea intinerary?
Absolutely! We LOVED Busan, and it might have even been our preferred city over Seoul. It just seems more relaxed and you have the perfect balance of city life with the added bonus of the beaches. Busan is not a city to rush. It’s a place to stroll a little longer along the beaches or to linger over a second coffee in one of the many aesthetic cafes. Between its coastlines and its culture, it embodies a slower, saltier rhythm of South Korea.
When to Visit
Spring brings cherry blossoms to temple courtyards and soft breezes by the sea.
Summer is peak beach season, lively and sun-drenched and the perfect opportunity to add some subathing into your itinerary.
Autumn dresses the mountains in fiery reds and oranges, perfect for hiking around the parks
Winter is quieter, with brisk air, hot street food, and steamy spa days waiting
Getting Around Busan
Metro & Buses: The easiest and cheapest way to get around.
T-money Card: Works for all public transport.
KTX Train: Connects Seoul and Busan in just 2.5 hours.
