Season guide · Busan · South Korea
Busan in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Republic of Korea, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Cold, windy and sunny with little rain; quiet beaches, Christmas lights and the lowest hotel prices. Expect highs up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 12 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 0°C (32°F) to 11°C (52°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 12
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8°C (46°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 4 | 10 h | 2/5 |
| February | 10°C (50°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 5 | 10.9 h | 2/5 |
| December | 11°C (52°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 3 | 9.8 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 10°C (50°F) against a yearly 20°C (68°F), and 12 of the year's roughly 92 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Haeundae Polar Bear Swim (usually in winter)
- January: Seollal — Lunar New Year (late January or February)
- December: Busan Christmas Tree Festival in Gwangbok-ro (usually December)
Good choices for winter
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
Day trips in winter
- Geoje Island (About 1.5 hours by bus) — 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.
- Jinhae (About 1 hour by bus) — 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.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Busan?
It is a trade-off: Cold, windy and sunny with little rain; quiet beaches, Christmas lights and the lowest hotel prices. The best months overall are April–May and September–November.
+What is the weather like in Busan in winter?
Highs of up to 11°C (52°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 12 rainy days over the season.