Things to do · Busan · South Korea
18 best things to do in Busan
18 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bl00dnFl4mes, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Busan are Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village and Haedong Yonggungsa. Of the 18 picks below, 11 are free, 2 work on a rainy day and 7 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Haeundae Beach
- Free sights
- 11
- Good on a rainy day
- Spa Land Centum City
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haeundae Beach | Haeundae | Half a day | Free |
| Gamcheon Culture Village | Saha-gu | 2 hours | Free |
| Haedong Yonggungsa | Gijang and Osiria | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Jagalchi Fish Market | Nampo-dong and Jagalchi | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge | Gwangalli | 2 hours | Free |
| Taejongdae | Yeongdo | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Beomeosa Temple | Geumjeong-gu | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Haeundae Blueline Park | Haeundae | 2 hours | Mid-priced |
| Dongbaek Island | Haeundae | 1 hour | Free |
| Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower | Nampo-dong and Jagalchi | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Gukje Market and BIFF Square | Nampo-dong and Jagalchi | 1.5 hours | Free |
| Songdo Beach and Busan Air Cruise | Songdo | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Coastal Walk | Nam-gu | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Huinnyeoul Culture Village | Yeongdo | 1–1.5 hours | Free |
| Spa Land Centum City | Haeundae | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Sea Life Busan Aquarium | Haeundae | 1.5–2 hours | Mid-priced |
| UN Memorial Cemetery | Nam-gu | 1 hour | Free |
| Lotte World Adventure Busan | Gijang and Osiria | Full day | Expensive |
The 18 best things to do
Beach · Haeundae
1.Haeundae Beach
Korea's best-known city beach is a 1.5-km crescent of sand backed by hotels and skyscrapers. In summer it fills with parasols and swimmers; in other seasons locals walk the promenade, and the beach hosts a sand festival in spring and a polar bear swim in winter.
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
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. A trail map leads through stairways and lookouts, including the much-photographed Little Prince statue.
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
Unusually for a Korean temple, Haedong Yonggungsa sits on rocks above the sea rather than in the mountains. Founded in 1376 and rebuilt in the 20th century, it is reached by a stairway lined with stone lanterns, and its golden Buddha statues face the waves.
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
Market · Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
4.Jagalchi Fish Market
Korea's largest seafood market spreads along the old port, with stalls of live fish, octopus, crabs and shellfish run largely by local women, known as Jagalchi ajummas. In the main building, you buy seafood on the ground floor and restaurants upstairs prepare it for a fee.
Agree the price per kilo and the preparation charge before you buy, and ask for a mix of raw fish and a spicy fish stew.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Food
- Photo spot
Beach · Gwangalli
5.Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge
A 1.4-km beach facing the 7.4-km Gwangan Bridge, which is lit up in changing colours every night. The waterfront is lined with cafés and bars, and drone light shows over the bay are a regular weekend draw.
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
6.Taejongdae
A wooded headland at the southern tip of Yeongdo island, ringed by sea cliffs, a lighthouse and an observatory looking towards Japan's Tsushima on clear days. The Danubi road train loops the park, and paths lead down to the rocky shore.
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
7.Beomeosa Temple
Founded in 678, Beomeosa is one of Korea's major Seon Buddhist temples, set on the slopes of Geumjeongsan above the city. Its gates, halls and bell pavilion sit among old trees, and trails continue up to the Geumjeong Mountain Fortress walls.
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
Experience · Haeundae
8.Haeundae Blueline Park
A disused coastal railway between Mipo and Songjeong has been turned into a seaside park with two rides: a slow Beach Train along the old line and small pod-shaped Sky Capsules on an elevated track above it, passing Cheongsapo and its lighthouses.
Ride the Sky Capsule one way and walk or take the Beach Train back along the coastal path.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Sky Capsule slots sell out at weekends and in summer; book online in advance.
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Photo spot
Park · Haeundae
1.Dongbaek Island
A small wooded headland at the western end of Haeundae Beach, with a coastal walking path, the Nurimaru APEC House built for the 2005 APEC summit, and views over Gwangan Bridge and Marine City.
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
Viewpoint · Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
2.Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower
A hilltop park reached by outdoor escalators from Gwangbok-ro shopping street, with a statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a flower clock and the 120-metre Busan Tower, whose observation deck overlooks the harbour and Yeongdo Bridge.
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
Market · Nampo-dong and Jagalchi
3.Gukje Market and BIFF Square
Gukje Market began as a trading place for refugees and goods after 1945 and the Korean War, and its alleys still sell everything from clothes to kitchenware. Next door, BIFF Square, named after the film festival, has handprints of film stars and stalls selling seed-filled hotteok.
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
Beach · Songdo
4.Songdo Beach and Busan Air Cruise
Korea's first public beach, opened in 1913, is a calmer alternative to Haeundae. The Busan Air Cruise cable car crosses the bay to Amnam Park, some cabins with glass floors, and the Songdo Skywalk curves out over the water.
Ride the cable car in the late afternoon and walk the Songdo Cloud Trail at sunset.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Couples
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Nam-gu
5.Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Coastal Walk
A U-shaped glass walkway projects from the cliffs at Seungdumal facing the Oryukdo islets. From here, the Igidae Coastal Walk follows the cliffs for about 4.7 km towards Gwangalli, with suspension bridges and views of Gwangan Bridge.
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
6.Huinnyeoul Culture Village
A cliff-edge village of white-painted houses on Yeongdo, settled by refugees during the Korean War. Narrow lanes with small cafés look over a bay of anchored ships, and a coastal path with a tunnel runs below the houses.
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
Experience · Haeundae
7.Spa Land Centum City
A large jjimjilbang bathhouse inside the Shinsegae Centum City department store, using natural hot-spring water, with separate bathing floors and themed sauna rooms shared in provided clothing.
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
8.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. It is a quick escape from rain or heat right by the sand.
Check feeding times at the entrance and plan your route to catch the shark or penguin feeds.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
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Historic site · Nam-gu
9.UN Memorial Cemetery
The only United Nations cemetery in the world holds the graves of more than 2,000 soldiers from 11 countries who died in the Korean War. Its lawns, memorial wall and flag-lined paths are calm and moving.
Visit the small memorial hall first for background, and dress respectfully.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Off the beaten path
Theme park · Gijang and Osiria
10.Lotte World Adventure Busan
Opened in 2022 in Osiria, this outdoor theme park has fairy-tale themed zones, roller coasters and a large castle, with gentler rides for younger children.
Combine it with Haedong Yonggungsa nearby, visiting the temple early before the park opens.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Active
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Gamcheon Culture Village |
| History | Haedong Yonggungsa, Beomeosa Temple and UN Memorial Cemetery |
| Views | Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa, Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge and Taejongdae |
| Outdoors and nature | Haeundae Beach, Taejongdae, Beomeosa Temple and Dongbaek Island |
| Food and markets | Jagalchi Fish Market and Gukje Market and BIFF Square |
| After dark | Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge and Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower |
| With children | Haeundae Beach, Taejongdae, Haeundae Blueline Park and Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower |
| On a rainy day | Spa Land Centum City and Sea Life Busan Aquarium |
What to book ahead
- Haeundae Blueline Park: Sky Capsule slots sell out at weekends and in summer; book online in advance.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Busan?
Haeundae Beach. Korea's best-known city beach is a 1.5-km crescent of sand backed by hotels and skyscrapers.
+What can you do for free in Busan?
Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa, Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge and Taejongdae. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Busan when it rains?
Head indoors to Spa Land Centum City and Sea Life Busan Aquarium.
+What is there to do in Busan at night?
Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Bridge and Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower are best after dark.