Busan, South Korea travel guide

Itineraries

Pale pink, blue and cream homes step up the wooded hillside of Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan. — Narrow lanes run between terraced homes in Gamcheon Culture Village, a hillside neighborhood in Busan.

Busan in 2 daysGamcheon Culture Village, BIFF Square, Gukje Market, Jagalchi Fish Market, Haedong Yonggungsa, Blueline Park, Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach2 days, South KoreaBalanced pace

Where to stay

Nampo-dong for markets and the old port near Busan Station, Haeundae for the beach and east coast, Seomyeon for a central base.

The areas: Nampo-dong, Haeundae, Seomyeon.

Where to stay in Busan: areas and advice Hotels in Busan

Places to see

All things to do in South Korea

FoodBIFF Square street foodThe Nampo-dong square of the Busan film festival, lined with street stalls selling ssiat hotteok and fish cakes.Entry: Pay as you go

MarketBupyeong Kkangtong MarketA traditional market in Nampo-dong that is busy by day and adds a night market of food stalls.Entry: Pay as you go

FoodBusan Chinatown, ChoryangA small Chinatown across from Busan Station, with Chinese restaurants, dumpling shops and bakeries.Entry: Pay as you go

MuseumBusan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, AnnexA former museum building with books and materials about the modern history of Busan.Entry: Free reading space; normally closed Mondays

TransportBusan StationBusan's main KTX station, opposite Chinatown and a short subway ride from Nampo-dong.Entry: Train tickets extra

NatureDongbaekseom IslandA wooded headland at the end of Haeundae Beach, circled by a coastal path and the APEC House.Entry: Free to visit

NeighborhoodGamcheon Culture VillageA hillside neighborhood of brightly painted houses, stairways and art installations above the harbor.Entry: Free to visit

TransportGimhae International AirportBusan's airport, west of the city, with international flights across Asia.Entry: Flights only

MarketGukje MarketA sprawling market of covered alleys that grew up around the port after the Korean War.Entry: Pay as you go; check Sunday shop closures

BeachGwangalli BeachA city beach facing the Gwangan Bridge, which is lit up after dark.Entry: Free to visit

TempleHaedong Yonggungsa TempleA Buddhist temple built on rocks right at the edge of the sea on Busan's east coast.Entry: Free to visit

BeachHaeundae BeachBusan's best-known city beach, a long curve of sand backed by hotels and towers.Entry: Free to visit

TransportHaeundae Blueline Park, CheongsapoSmall sky capsules on an old coastal rail line between Cheongsapo and Mipo, above the sea.Entry: Book a time slot

MarketHaeundae Traditional MarketA short market street near Haeundae Beach with fish cake shops, soups and grilled seafood.Entry: Pay as you go

NeighborhoodHuinnyeoul Culture VillageA cliffside village of small houses and cafes on Yeongdo, above a coastal walking path.Entry: Free to visit

MarketJagalchi Fish MarketKorea's best-known seafood market, where you pick fish downstairs and have it prepared upstairs.Entry: Pay as you go; closed first and third Tuesdays, check other dates

FoodMillak Hoe CenterA raw-fish market center with upstairs restaurants serving seafood and views toward Gwangalli Beach.Entry: Pay as you go

BeachSongdo BeachBusan's first public beach, with a seaside skywalk and a cable car over the bay.Entry: Beach free; cable car tickets sold at the station

NatureTaejongdaeA forested headland at the tip of Yeongdo with sea cliffs, a lighthouse and coastal walks.Entry: Park free; Danubi train ₩[fee]

ViewpointYongdusan Park and Busan TowerA hilltop park above Nampo-dong, reached by escalators, with Busan Tower looking over the port.Entry: Park free; tower ₩[fee]