Travel tips · Busan · South Korea
Busan travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Brit in Seoul, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Busan is a port city with a reputation for directness and warmth, and its Gyeongsang dialect sounds brisk to other Koreans. The city's modern character was shaped by the Korean War, when it became a refuge for people from across the peninsula; markets, hillside villages and dishes such as milmyeon date from that time.
Key facts
- Language
- Korean
- Currency
- KRW
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and safe, though most locals drink filtered or bottled…
- Emergency
- 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance, 1330 tourist helpline
Things to know
- Bow slightly when greeting, and use both hands when giving or receiving money, cards or gifts.
- Take off your shoes when entering homes, temples' inner halls and floor-seated restaurants.
- Keep quiet on the subway and leave the pink seats for pregnant women and priority seats for elderly passengers.
- Do not write someone's name in red ink, and do not stick chopsticks upright in rice.
- Respect residents' privacy in Gamcheon and Huinnyeoul villages, where people still live in the houses.
- Book Haeundae Blueline Park ahead: Sky Capsule slots sell out at weekends and in summer; book online in advance.
- Gamcheon, Haedong Yonggungsa, Taejongdae, Beomeosa, the beaches and the coastal walks are all free.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and staff may refuse it. Upmarket hotels sometimes include a service charge in the bill.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Annyeonghaseyo | Hello |
| Gamsahamnida | Thank you |
| Eolmayeyo? | How much is it? |
| Igeo juseyo | This one, please |
| Gyesan-hae juseyo | The bill, please |
What to wear
Casual clothing is fine everywhere; cover shoulders and knees at temples. Bring a warm coat in winter, when sea winds make it feel colder than the thermometer suggests.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is treated and safe, though most locals drink filtered or bottled water.
- Emergency number
- 112 police, 119 fire and ambulance, 1330 tourist helpline
- Phone and internet
- Fast mobile data and free Wi-Fi are available almost everywhere, including on the subway; prepaid tourist SIMs and eSIMs are sold at Gimhae Airport.
- Time zone
- Asia/Seoul
Busan is generally safe for visitors, with low street crime. Take care with rip currents and follow lifeguard flags on beaches, especially after storms, and stay off rocky shorelines in high waves during typhoon warnings.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check South Korea's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Busan?
Tipping is not customary in restaurants, taxis or hotels, and staff may refuse it. Upmarket hotels sometimes include a service charge in the bill.
+Can you drink the tap water in Busan?
Tap water is treated and safe, though most locals drink filtered or bottled water.
+What plugs are used in Busan?
Type C and F sockets, 220 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Busan?
Korean.