Free things to do · Busan · South Korea
11 free things to do in Busan
Busan without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 박혜민, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 4 days in Busan without paying an entry fee: Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa and Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge are all free. Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa, Taejongdae, Beomeosa, the beaches and the coastal walks are all free.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 11
- Low-cost extras
- 1
- Cost level
- Moderately priced
- Lowest hotel prices
- December–February
Free sights and experiences
Beach · Haeundae
1.Haeundae Beach
Walk west from the beach around Dongbaek Island's coastal path to the Nurimaru APEC House for views back to the skyline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- After dark
Neighbourhood · Saha-gu
2.Gamcheon Culture Village
Buy the trail map at the information centre and go early in the morning; residents still live here, so keep your voice down.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Art
- Views
Religious site · Gijang and Osiria
3.Haedong Yonggungsa
Come for sunrise, which the temple is known for, before tour groups arrive.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Views
- Photo spot
- History
Beach · Gwangalli
4.Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge
Watch the bridge lights from the sand or a rooftop café after dark, and check the city's tourism site for drone-show nights.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- After dark
- Couples
- Free
- Views
- Iconic
Nature · Yeongdo
5.Taejongdae
Ride the Danubi train out and walk the downhill sections back for the best cliff views.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
- Free
- Kids
Religious site · Geumjeong-gu
6.Beomeosa Temple
Take subway line 1 to Beomeosa station and a short bus ride up; combine with a hike to the fortress if you have time.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Active
Park · Haeundae
7.Dongbaek Island
Walk the loop at sunset, then continue to The Bay 101 waterfront for the night view of Marine City.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Views
- Couples
Market · Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
8.Gukje Market and BIFF Square
Find the food alleys inside Gukje Market for bibim dangmyeon and fish-cake snacks at low prices.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Free
Viewpoint · Nam-gu
9.Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Coastal Walk
Start at the skywalk and walk the trail towards Gwangalli so you finish at the beach for dinner.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Views
- Free
- Active
- Outdoors
- Nature
Neighbourhood · Yeongdo
10.Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Visit on a weekday; the narrow lanes get crowded at weekends and residents value quiet.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
- Views
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Historic site · Nam-gu
11.UN Memorial Cemetery
Visit the small memorial hall first for background, and dress respectfully.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Haeundae | Haeundae Beach and Dongbaek Island | Half a day + 1 hour |
| Saha-gu | Gamcheon Culture Village | 2 hours |
| Gijang and Osiria | Haedong Yonggungsa | 1–1.5 hours |
| Gwangalli | Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge | 2 hours |
| Yeongdo | Taejongdae and Huinnyeoul Culture Village | 2–3 hours + 1–1.5 hours |
| Geumjeong-gu | Beomeosa Temple | 2–3 hours |
| Nampo-dong and Jagalchi | Gukje Market and BIFF Square | 1.5 hours |
| Nam-gu | Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Coastal Walk and UN Memorial Cemetery | 2–3 hours + 1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Viewpoint · Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower
Go up at dusk, then walk down into Gwangbok-ro for dinner and BIFF Square snacks.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- After dark
- Kids
More ways to save
- Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa, Taejongdae, Beomeosa, the beaches and the coastal walks are all free.
- Lunch sets and gukbap shops are filling and inexpensive; raw fish at Jagalchi is best shared in a group.
- Hotel prices around Haeundae and Gwangalli roughly double in July and August.
- Stay in Nampo-dong or Seomyeon for lower rates and use the subway to reach the beaches.
- A T-money card gives transfer discounts between buses and the subway.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Busan expensive to visit?
Busan is moderately priced for most visitors, but 11 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Busan?
Haeundae Beach: Walk west from the beach around Dongbaek Island's coastal path to the Nurimaru APEC House for views back to the skyline.