Day trips · Busan · South Korea
5 best day trips from Busan
Where to go when you want a day away from Busan, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brit in Seoul, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Busan is Gyeongju (About 30 minutes by KTX, plus a bus into town). The closest option is Tongdosa Temple, about 40 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Tongdosa Temple (40 km)
- Most popular
- Gyeongju
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gyeongju | 70 km | About 30 minutes by KTX, plus a bus into town | KTX to Singyeongju, then local bus | Culture, First-timers, Families |
| Tongdosa Temple | 40 km | About 1 hour by intercity bus | Intercity bus from Nopo terminal to Sinpyeong, then a walk | Culture, Quiet stays |
| Tongyeong | 130 km | About 2 hours by bus | Intercity bus from Busan Seobu terminal at Sasang | Food lovers, Couples, Quiet stays |
| Geoje Island | 70 km | About 1.5 hours by bus | Bus from Busan Seobu terminal via the Geoga Bridge | Couples, Families, Beach |
| Jinhae | 50 km | About 1 hour by bus | Intercity bus from Busan Seobu terminal | Couples, First-timers |
The day trips
70 km · About 30 minutes by KTX, plus a bus into town
1.Gyeongju
The former capital of the Silla kingdom has grassy royal tomb mounds at Daereungwon, the Cheomseongdae observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit up at night, and the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple and Seokguram grotto in the hills.
- Getting there
- KTX to Singyeongju, then local bus
- Best for
- Culture, First-timers, Families
40 km · About 1 hour by intercity bus
2.Tongdosa Temple
One of Korea's three Jewel Temples, Tongdosa enshrines relics of the Buddha and has no Buddha statue in its main hall. A forest path along a stream leads to the temple complex.
- Getting there
- Intercity bus from Nopo terminal to Sinpyeong, then a walk
- Best for
- Culture, Quiet stays
130 km · About 2 hours by bus
3.Tongyeong
A harbour town on the south coast with a cable car up Mireuksan for island views, the mural village of Dongpirang and a lively seafood market. Ferries run from here to the islands of Hallyeohaesang National Park.
- Getting there
- Intercity bus from Busan Seobu terminal at Sasang
- Best for
- Food lovers, Couples, Quiet stays
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70 km · About 1.5 hours by bus
4.Geoje Island
Korea's second-largest island is linked to Busan by bridges and an undersea tunnel, with pebble beaches, coastal drives and boat trips to Oedo Botania, a botanical garden island.
- Getting there
- Bus from Busan Seobu terminal via the Geoga Bridge
- Best for
- Couples, Families, Beach
50 km · About 1 hour by bus
5.Jinhae
A naval port town in Changwon that hosts Korea's largest cherry blossom festival, when Yeojwacheon stream and Gyeonghwa station are framed by thousands of trees. Outside blossom season, it is a quiet town.
- Getting there
- Intercity bus from Busan Seobu terminal
- Best for
- Couples, First-timers
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- City buses reach places the subway misses, including Gamcheon Culture Village, Taejongdae and Haedong Yonggungsa; stops are announced in English and Korean.
- KTX high-speed trains connect Busan Station with Seoul in about 2.5 hours and Gyeongju in about 30 minutes; the Donghae Line commuter trains run from Bujeon via Centum and Haeundae to Osiria and Gijang.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Busan?
Gyeongju. The former capital of the Silla kingdom has grassy royal tomb mounds at Daereungwon, the Cheomseongdae observatory, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond lit up at night, and the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple and Seokguram grotto in the hills.
+How long does it take to get from Busan to Gyeongju?
About 30 minutes by KTX, plus a bus into town — KTX to Singyeongju, then local bus, about 70 km.
+How long does it take to get from Busan to Tongdosa Temple?
About 1 hour by intercity bus — Intercity bus from Nopo terminal to Sinpyeong, then a walk, about 40 km.