Busan Itinerary: 2, 3, or 4 Days in Korea's Coastal Gem (2024)

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So you’re planning a trip to Busan? Lucky you! Whether you have 2, 3, or 4 days to explore, this bustling port city on South Korea’s southeastern coast offers the perfect blend of cultural sites, stunning beaches, and vibrant markets. From serene seaside temples and cultural villages to sandy shores and vibrant neighborhoods, Busan promises a unique experience worth incorporating into your Korea itinerary. With this Busan itinerary, your trip will surely be an unforgettable adventure.

Busan Itinerary: FAQs

Where should I stay for this Busan itinerary?

If your priority is a good location, I’d suggest staying in the central, bustling neighborhoods of Seomyeon or Nampo. Both neighborhoods provide convenient locations for getting around while also being exciting areas themselves. If your priority is the beach, then staying at Haeundae Beach or Gwangalli Beach will provide the best experience. However, staying at the beach will add extra transportation time to this itinerary.

For more on why to choose one of these neighborhoods, check out my guide to where to stay in Busan.

Here’s a quick overview:

Busan neighborhood	Why stay in this neighborhood?	Best mid-range hotel
Seomyeon	Shopping, nightlife, central location	Urbanstay Seomyeon
Nampo	Street food, culture, good location	Busan CONNECT Ocean Hotel
Haeundae Beach	Beach, luxury options	Mipo Oceanside Hotel
Gwangalli Beach	Beach, more affordable, nightlife	H Avenue Gwangalli Beach

How can I get around with this Busan itinerary?

Busan is well-connected by public transportation, with an extensive subway and bus system that can get you anywhere. You will need to head to a convenience store first, such as 7/11 or CU, to buy a T-Money card, which can be used to pay for both buses and the subway. You can refill these cards at a ticketing kiosk at any station. The ticketing kiosks have an English setting that makes it an easy process. Be sure to carry cash, as you can only fill up your transportation card using cash. When you ride on the bus or subway, you will swipe this card upon both entering and exiting. If you already bought a transportation card in Seoul, don’t worry. It will work in Busan, too.

Apple Maps and Google Maps do not work well in Korea. You will want to download Naver Maps and Kakao Maps for accurate directions.

Taxis are also decently cheap, which you can call through the Kakao Taxi app. If you’re short on time, taking taxis will help you cut down on travel time. Busan is huge and its attractions are spread out.

How many days do I need in Busan?

I recommend a minimum of two full days in Busan, but three to four days is ideal. In two days, you can see the top attractions, but you won’t have much time to explore in depth. If you want to explore Busan’s many beautiful beaches and interesting neighborhoods, allow for a few more days. I recommend tackling this itinerary in order as I’ve prioritized the very best sites in the early days for those with less time.

Is Busan good for solo female travelers?

Busan is a great choice for solo female travelers. Like the rest of Korea, it’s safe and welcoming for women traveling alone. As long as you practice standard safety measures, as you always should, you’ll find Busan easy and comfortable to explore independently. I’ve traveled around Korea alone for years, including Busan, and this itinerary will work well if you’re solo traveling.

Busan Itinerary: Day 1

Haedong Yonggunsa Temple

Start your first day in Busan by visiting the most beautiful temple in Korea (really, it’s been given that title!). Because of its location outside the city center, I recommend taking a taxi there to save time. You can also catch a bus.

Haedong Yonggungsa is one of Korea’s rare seaside temples. Located on the coastline where deep blue water crashes against jagged rocks, the temple itself is beautiful but the setting elevates it to another level. You’ll ascend and descend 108 stairs as you explore the temple grounds.

Haeundae Beach

Next, take a taxi or bus to the beautiful Haeundae Beach. There’s so much to do in the area, so plan on spending your afternoon here. Here are some of the best things to do in Haeundae Beach:

Relax on the beach or go for a swim: the wide sand and shallow bay make it perfect for both
Haeundae Sky Capsule: private pod running on tracks with coastal views
Busan X The Sky: very best view of Busan and the world’s highest Starbucks
Rendejavous (랑데자뷰 해운대점): cafe with an amazing view of Haeundae Beach and delicious drinks and pastries
Haeundae Traditional Market: fresh seafood galore and the best hotteok I’ve ever had at Myeongpum Hotteok (명품호떡)
Seasonal festivals: the Haeundae Sand Festival in May, the Busan Sea Festival in August, and the Haeundae Lights Festival in winter

Sunset yacht tour

After an exciting afternoon at the beach, head to Suyeongman Bay Yachting Center, between Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae Beach. Yacht tours depart every hour, but I highly recommend checking the sunset time and going then. Not only are the sunset views unbeatable, but they set off a mini personal firework show!

Get your Busan yacht tour tickets here for only $15 for daytime and $25 for nighttime!

Gwangalli Beach

The perfect place to end your first day is Gwangalli Beach. It’s famous for its view of Gwangandaegyo Bridge, especially at night when there are frequent drone shows and fireworks displays. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a Saturday, don’t miss the drone shows (January – September at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., October – December at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.) when over 300 drones create colorful scenes in the night sky. Restaurants, cafes, and bars line its fine sand shores, making it a great place to hang out and enjoy the beach views as your first day comes to a close. I suggest making a stop at Galmegi Brewing, Busan’s first craft brew pub.

Busan Itinerary: Day 2

Gamcheon Culture Village

Start your second day in Busan at another one of its highlights. Gamcheon Culture Village is made up of colorful houses scaling a coastal hillside. It’s a real community that struggled with poverty after the Korean War and was transformed into a cultural and art hub by local artists and residents. The lively main street has street food, handmade souvenir shops, cafes, murals, and stunning viewpoints. Make sure to stop in Wooin Cafe (우인카페) for delicious drinks and one of the best viewpoints in town from their rooftop.

Songdo Beach

Next up is Songdo Beach and its cable car providing panoramic views of the beach, city skyline, and rocky coastline. It’s a 20-minute ride to Songdo Sky Park, where you can walk down to the Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge for more great views. I recommend taking it one way so you can walk back along the Songdo Coastal Bolle-gil Trail to Songdo Beach. Once you’re back at Songdo Beach, you can enjoy the beach from the sand, water, or a nearby cafe.

Jagalchi Market

This is an epic lunch spot, so I hope you’ve saved room. Jagalchi Market is Korea’s largest seafood market, selling fresh fish and seafood including king crabs, octopuses, eels, oysters, and more. When you arrive, you’ll buy your still-living seafood from a stall on the lower level before heading upstairs for it to be freshly cooked however you want. Stall owners will help you with the whole process, so don’t worry about not knowing what to do. Bring cash because the stalls and restaurants don’t take cards.

Explore Nampo-dong

Walking distance from Jagalchi Market, the exciting neighborhood of Nampo-dong is the perfect place to explore for the rest of the day. It’s known for its shopping and street food, but there is so much more to do. Here are some of the best things to do in Nampo-dong:

BIFF Square: a sea of red-and-yellow street food stalls serving amazing street food, with seed hotteok (씨앗 호떡) being the signature dish
Gukje Market: huge market selling everything from designer dupes to homeware
Gwangbok-ro Fashion Street: walking street lined with clothing shops
Yongdusan Park & Busan Tower: iconic tower with great views
Lotte Department Store: free observatory on the 13th floor for panoramic views of the city and harbor

Busan Itinerary: Day 3

Taejongdae Resort Park

This morning, take a bus or taxi to Yeongdo Island to escape from the city for a bit. Taejongdae Resort Park is home to the Taejongdae Cliffed Coast, where visitors can watch waves crash against the dramatic, rocky cliffs. On a clear day, you can even see Tsushima Island in Japan from the Taejongdae Observatory! You can easily walk the park loop, but it’s a few miles. I recommend riding the “Danubi” train that stops at the three best sites: Taejongdae Observatory, Yeongdo Lighthouse, and Taejongsa Temple. It departs every 20 to 30 minutes and costs only ₩3000.

Huinnyeoul Culture Town

Just down the road on the other side of Yeongdo Island, Huinnyeoul Culture Town is a colorful coastal village on a sloping hill next to the sea. Blue and white alleys lead to unique shops, colorful murals, and cafes with sweeping ocean views. It’s been compared to Santorini because of its colors and ocean scenery. It’s a great place to fuel up at an aesthetic cafe and walk along the coast.

Explore Seomyeon-dong

Finish your day by exploring the lively neighborhood of Seomyeon-dong. It comes to life at night with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, and entertainment such as karaoke rooms and arcades. Here are some of the best things to do in Seomyeon-dong:

Busan Citizen’s Park: sprawling green space in the middle of the city with a pond, 97 species of trees, an artificial beach, and more
Jeonpo Cafe Street: the perfect place to go cafe-hopping; I highly recommend the cakes at Molle (몰레) (try the Oreo!) and the aesthetic vibe at Knockout (넉아웃)
Seomyeon Shopping Street: a great place to go shopping but also a great place to find buzzing bars and restaurants
Have fun at a photo booth, arcade, karaoke room, shooting range, or the Running Man Busan experience center

Busan Itinerary: Day 4

Take a day trip

If you have four days in Busan, it’s the perfect opportunity to venture into its exciting surrounding areas. Busan’s position on Korea’s southeast coast makes it the perfect gateway to many of the peninsula’s southern wonders, including beautiful ocean views, rewarding hikes, unique regional dishes, and cultural experiences. My top suggestions include Gyeongju for culture and history, Geoje for ocean views and botanical gardens, and Yeosu for hiking and ocean views.

For a full list of the best day trips from Busan organized by interests, check out my list of the top 10 day trips from Busan.

Busan Itinerary: Rainy Day Alternative

SpaLand

So many of Busan’s sights and activities are outside, so it can be a bummer if you’re hit with bad weather. Luckily, one of the most unique experiences you can have in Busan is perfect for a rainy day.

Located at Shinsegae Department Store Centum City, the largest shopping complex in the world, SpaLand is the ultimate Korean spa experience. Korean spas, known as “jjimjilbangs” (찜질방), are traditional bathhouses with temperature-controlled pools, rooms, and saunas. The pools are gender separated because everyone is naked! Don’t let that scare you off, though. SpaLand is the perfect activity for a rainy day or when you need to relax. It’s the very best of the best when it comes to jjimjilbangs, with 18 hot springs, 13 saunas, entertainment zones, and spa treatments. No rainy day spent at SpaLand will go to waste.

Whether you spend 2, 3, or 4 days exploring Busan, you’ll see why travelers of all interests fall in love with this charming coastal town. From its serene temples and bustling markets to its picturesque beaches and lively neighborhoods, this itinerary takes you to the diverse, unique sights that make Busan so intriguing.

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Busan itinerary: 2, 3, or 4 days in South Korea’s coastal gem

Busan Itinerary: FAQs

Where should I stay for this Busan itinerary?