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Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is known for its beaches, mountains, temples, and seafood. But did you know that it also serves as a great place to base yourself for some of the country’s best day trips? Its position on Korea’s southeast coast makes it the perfect gateway to many of the peninsula’s southern wonders that aren’t easily accessible from Seoul. In fact, taking a day trip is one of the best things to do in Busan if you have a few days to spend there. From beautiful ocean views and hikes to unique regional dishes and cultural experiences, this guide to the best day trips from Busan will help you choose your perfect escape from the city.
Day trips from Busan: 1-2 hours away
For history & culture: Gyeongju
If you can only take one of these day trips from Busan, this should be it. When someone asks me where my favorite place in Korea is after living here for 3 years, I don’t hesitate to say Gyeongju. It’s often referred to as a “museum without walls” and the entire city is UNESCO-designated because of its large number of historical sites and cultural art, including temples, tombs, and palaces. When you aren’t exploring its rich history and culture, you can eat, shop, and relax in traditional Korean Hanok buildings. I highly recommend spending 2 days here, but if you can only squeeze in a day trip, it’s still worth it. Only 30 minutes by train, this is one of the closest day trips from Busan, so there’s no excuse to miss it!
How to get there: Take a 30-minute train from Busan Station to Gyeongju Station or a 50-minute bus from Busan Central Bus Terminal to Gyeongju Intercity Bus Terminal. For ease and efficiency, consider joining this guided tour that conveniently takes you around the major sites with a local tour guide.
For the top 9 things to do in Gyeongju and a full 1 to 2 day itinerary, check out my Gyeongju travel guide.
For ocean views and unique landmarks: Pohang
Famous for its walkable roller coaster sculpture, Pohang is a port city not far from Busan. Although it’s not on many visitors’ radars, it skyrocketed in popularity after the successful K-drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha was filmed there in 2021. For beautiful ocean views, head to Igari Observatory or take a coffee break at Arrangement Cafe. Don’t miss the famous Space Walk sculpture and the Homigot Hand statue, the most famous landmarks in Pohang.
How to get there: Take a 1.5-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Pohang Terminal, or take a 1-hour train from Busan Station to Dongdaegu Station and transfer to a 1-hour bus from Dongdaegu Terminal to Pohang Terminal. You can also join this guided tour to the tourist hot spots for maximum ease and convenience.
For hiking and ocean views: Tongyeong
Composed of over 570 mountainous islands, Tongyeong is the perfect destination for hikers or anyone who appreciates scenic ocean views. It serves as the gateway to the Hallyeohaesang National Marine Park islands, where jagged peaks and sweeping coastal views make for some of the best hikes in the country. If you’re not hiking, you can take in the great views at the Hallyeosudo Cable Car or while racing down the Skyline Luge. You can also bike the Coastal Scenic Path, feast on fresh seafood at Jungan Live Fish Market, and see famous Turtle Ships at Gangguan Harbour.
How to get there: Take a 1.5-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Tongyeong Bus Terminal. Tongyeong is hard to explore efficiently via public transportation, so I recommend a guided tour from Busan like this to cover as much ground as possible in one day.
For ocean views and botanical gardens: Geoje
Only an hour southwest of Busan, Geoje is Korea’s second-largest island with stunning coastal cliffs, beautiful K-drama filming locations, and a spectacular botanical garden. A trip to Geoje usually involves island hopping to its smaller neighboring islands. The most notable are Oedo for the Oedo Botania botanical garden and Haegeumgang for the Windy Hill windmill and Lion Rock.
How to get there: Take a 1-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Gohyeon Bus Terminal. Geoje is hard to explore efficiently via public transportation, so I recommend a guided tour from Busan like this to cover as much ground as possible in one day.
Day trips from Busan: 2-3+ hours away
For history & culture: Andong
Andong is considered the “Capital of Korean Traditional Culture” because of its Hahoe Folk Village, which was founded in the 14th century during the Joseon Dynasty. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it’s considered one of the two most representative historic clan villages in Korea. Andong is also referred to as the “Capital of Korean Spiritual Culture” due to its long history of Confucianism. There are many Confucian academies, temples, and historic sites. Don’t forget to try jjimdak while you’re there, a popular braised chicken dish that originated in Andong.
How to get there: Take a 2-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Andong Bus Terminal, or take a 40-minute train from Busan Station to Dongdaegu Station and transfer to a 1.5-hour bus from Dongdaegu Terminal to Andong Bus Terminal.
For the top things to do in Andong, check out this Andong travel guide, including the 5 sites you must see on your day trip.
For culture: Jeonju
Jeonju is known for its Hanok Village, an area of traditional houses, food stalls, and craft shops. With over 700 Hanok houses, it’s a great place to stroll around and learn about Korean history and culture. You can have tea in a traditional tea house and try Jeonju’s signature bibimbap. Make sure to also visit Gyeonggijeon Shrine and Omodae Viewpoint, which are within walking distance of the Hanok Village. For a coffee break, visit Jeonmang (전망), a cafe with sweeping views over the village.
How to get there: Take a 3-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Jeonju Intercity Bus Terminal, or take a 2-hour train from Busan Station to Osong Station and transfer to a 1-hour train from Osong Station to Jeonju Station.
Check out my Jeonju travel guide for help planning your day trip, including the top 11 things to do.
Ready to plan your Korea trip like a local?
From colorful coastal villages to ancient temples tucked in the mountains, I help travelers create custom Korea itineraries that make the most of your time in Busan and beyond. I lived in Korea for 3 years, so you can trust my local insights to help you make your dream Korea trip a reality.
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For ocean views: Yeosu
One of Korea’s most picturesque port cities, Yeosu is a great place to go island hopping. There are 317 islands off Yeosu’s coast with great walking trails and beaches. Running between Jasan Park and Dolsan Park, the Yeosu Maritime Cable Car has stunning views of the city, the port, and the ocean. From Jasan Park, you can walk the pedestrian bridge to Odongdo Island, a small, walkable island with a lighthouse and jagged cliffs. On Dolsan Island, don’t miss Hyangiram, a gorgeous seaside temple with sweeping ocean views.
How to get there: Take a 3-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Yeosu Bus Terminal, or take a 2.5-hour train from Busan Station to Suncheon Station and transfer to a 20-minute train from Suncheon Station to Yeosu Expo Station.
For nature: Suncheon
Suncheon is best known for the Suncheonman Bay Wetland, one of the world’s top five coastal wetlands. It stretches for almost 2 miles of mudflats and reed beds, where diverse wildlife species live. Look out for crabs, mudskippers, and birds. Just up the road, Suncheonman Bay National Garden was created to preserve the wetlands. It was the first national garden in Korea, with 790,000 trees of 505 types and 3.15 million flowers of 113 types.
How to get there: Take a 2.5-hour bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Suncheon Bus Terminal or a 2.5-hour train from Busan Station to Suncheon Station. To conveniently see all the major tourist sites in one day, consider joining a guided tour like this one.
For green tea fields: Boseong
Boseong is a county in South Jeolla Province famous for its green tea. It’s home to the stunning Daehan Dawon Tea Plantation, where you can wander through a sea of rolling green hills, try green tea delicacies, and learn about green tea production. It’s one of the most picturesque sights in South Korea, with CNN naming it one of the top 50 places to visit in Korea and one of the 31 beautiful sights on the planet!
How to get there: Take a bus from Busan Sasang Terminal to Boseong Terminal. There are 4 departures a day and it takes about 4 hours. There’s also a once-a-day slow train from Busan Station to Boseong Station that takes 3.5 hours.
For everything you need to know for your day trip to Boseong, check out my guide to visiting the Boseong Green Tea Fields.
Day trips from Busan: Seasonal
Spring: Jinhae
Jinhae is a small region in Southeast South Korea known for its annual Cherry Blossom Festival. It’s the most popular cherry blossom festival in Korea, making it well worth a spring day trip. There are more than 360,000 cherry blossom trees planted all over the city! The two most famous cherry blossom viewing spots are Yeojwa Stream and Gyeonghwa Station.
How to get there: Take a 45-minute bus from Busan Bus Terminal to Jinhae Bus Stop. You can also join a guided tour for ease and convenience, like this one that I personally did and really enjoyed.
For help planning your cherry blossom adventure in Jinhae, check out my complete guide to the Jinhae Cherry Blossom Festival.
These day trips from Busan will show you how diverse Korea is and why you should venture outside of its major cities. Whether you’re a fan of hiking, ocean views, nature, history, or culture, there is somewhere within a day’s reach of Busan for you.
Book Your Busan Excursions
Taking day trips from Busan is just one of the many amazing things to do in South Korea. The best activity and excursion booking platforms for South Korea are Klook and GetYourGuide. Both websites have thousands of trustworthy travel experiences with verified user reviews. I use Klook and GetYourGuide to book almost all my excursions in Asia.
Book Your Busan Accommodation
Need amazing hotels or hostels for your South Korea trip? The best booking platform for finding and reserving great hotels in Korea is Agoda. It’s owned by the same company as Booking.com but is based in Asia, making it great for finding any hotels you need. If you’re a backpacker staying in hostels, then Hostelworld is consistently the best hostel booking platform worldwide, and Korea is no exception. Book your South Korea accommodation on Agoda today:
Want help finding the best Busan accommodation for your trip? Check out my blog on where to stay in Busan to find the best option for your preferences. As a professional travel advisor and former Korea resident, I’ve vetted or personally stayed at these suggested properties.
Keep reading:
- 16 best things to do in Busan, South Korea
- Busan itinerary: 2, 3, or 4 days in South Korea’s coastal gem
- Where to stay in Busan: Top areas for every traveler
- 2 week South Korea itinerary & travel guide from a local
- South Korea Solo Travel Guide: Safety, tips, & what to expect
- South Korea packing list: A local’s guide to what to pack
- What to know before going to South Korea: 33 tips from a local
- 25 unmissable things to do in Korea in winter
- 31 unmissable things to do in spring in Korea
- 22 best things to do in summer in Korea
- Fall in Korea: The 26 best things to do
- Best things to do in Jeonju, South Korea
- Top 9 things to do in Gyeongju, South Korea & 2-day itinerary
- Vegetarian in Korea: The ultimate survival guide
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