You may not have heard of South Korea's second largest city (pop. over 3.5 million), but Busan (about two hours 45 minutes by sleek train from Seoul) on the Korea Strait in the country´s southeast happens to be a cool metropolis where you can enjoy a mix of exciting and laid back. Big-city attractions and amenities sit alongside historic landmarks, museums, and other cultural offerings, and greats beaches/ecotourism nearby. When you arrive, take a daylong bus tour to get yourself oriented, then go back and check out these highlights.
Yonggungsa Temple On Busan's northeast side, its name means "dragon palace," this Buddhist temple is located on the sea, unlike other Korean temples, mostly found at the top of mountains. Its interior beauty makes it especially popular with visitors.
Busan Aquarium One of South Korea’s top aquariums boasts around 35,000 species of fish, reptiles, amphibians, and submarine corals/flora. It also has an outdoor park.
Jagalchi Fish Market The largest seafood market on the Korean Peninsula offers plenty of colourful photo ops - as well as cooked meals at eat-in food stalls.
Haeundae Beach Open June through August, Korea's most famous beach is 1.5 kilometres long, full of amenities and facilities, can get crowded in summer especially on weekends, and is located near the aquarium.
Geumjeong Fortress Atop Geumjeongsan Mountain, the ruins of Korea's largest mountain fortress and its surrounding area provide great hiking opportunities and sweeping views.
Seokbulsa Temple Also on Geumjeongsan, reachable by cable car, it was built in 1930 and is famous for its 20 impressive rock carvings, including images of Buddha.
Elsewhere Near Busan
Along the coast near the city you'll find lots of beach areas including casual tent bars, cafés, fish markets, as well as activities like boating, jetskiing, and banana boats. For nature lovers, places like Dongbaek Island and the Nakdong River estuary are well worth a visit.
Where to Eat
Mokja Golmok A kind of "restaurant row" for street food, there are actually two of these streets here - one in Seomyeon and another in Changseon-dong near the Jagalchi Market. You'll find both street vendors and sit-down eateries joints and street vendors who serve every kind of Korean food, right from flat cakes and noodles to dumplings.
Yong Ggum Busan's hippest eatery of the moment, serving authentic Korean food.
Cine de Chef One of Busan's finest dining spots serves gourmet European fare.
Songjeong Beach Most of Busan's restaurants and cafés are to be found out here, with a wide range of Korean and international offerings.
Climate and Best Time to Visit
The climate here is subtropical, with hot, humid, often rainy weather in summer (June-September) and mild winters (December-March; snow is rare). Winter is best for birdwatching in the nature area, but in general, spring (April-May) autumn (September-November) are the most pleasant seasons to visit, with cool average temperatures. Also, in mid-October the city comes especially alive for the annual international film festival.
Check out our best customized Busan Tripplans to get the most out of your visit to this dynamic South Korean city!
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