Month guide · Busan · South Korea
Busan in January
What January is really like in Busan: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ahmed, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 8°C (46°F), lows of 0°C (32°F), about 4 rainy days and roughly 10 hours of daylight. Cold, dry and sunny with biting sea winds; good for walking and markets, with low hotel prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 8°C (46°F) / 0°C (32°F)
- Rainy days
- About 4
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Busan: days average 8°C (46°F) against a yearly average high of 20°C (68°F), and nights fall to about 0°C (32°F). Rain falls on roughly 4 of its 31 days. Compared with December (11°C (52°F)), January is cooler; by February highs climb to around 10°C (50°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:31
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:34
- Daylight
- About 10 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Cold, windy and sunny with little rain; quiet beaches, Christmas lights and the lowest hotel prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in July). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Haeundae Polar Bear Swim (usually in winter)
- Seollal — Lunar New Year (late January or February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Haeundae
Spa Land Centum City
Bathing areas are nude and gender-separated; shower thoroughly before entering the pools.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Aquarium · Haeundae
Sea Life Busan Aquarium
Under the promenade at Haeundae Beach, the aquarium has an underwater tunnel with sharks and rays, penguins, otters and touch pools.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Beach · Haeundae
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
Gamcheon Culture Village
Built by refugees during the Korean War, this hillside village of pastel houses was revived through an art project with murals, installations and small galleries.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Photo spot
- Art
- Views
What to pack
For highs near 8°C, lows near 0°C and 4 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Busan?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–May and September–November are better overall. Compare every month.
Busan in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Busan?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, dry and sunny with biting sea winds; good for walking and markets, with low hotel prices.
+How warm is Busan in January?
Average highs are around 8°C (46°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Busan in January?
Expect rain on about 4 days of the month, so it is usually dry.