20 Things To Do In Busan

A port city in South Korea, Busan is a well-known destination within the country, the second largest city and a popular getaway for South Koreans looking to spend some time by the ocean. Busan is a modern city with lovely beaches and plenty of things to do for all ages and interests. Set in the mountains it’s a wonderful city to be active and outdoors. Check out these 20 things to do in Busan while planning your trip to South Korea.

Busan, South Korea

20 Things To Do In Busan

1- Marvel at the Colourful Gamcheon Culture Village

One of the most iconic attractions in Busan is the Gamcheon Culture Village, which is a charming hillside village with vibrantly coloured houses.

The houses are stacked on top of each other and super close together.

This village is believed to have catered to refugees during the Korean War.

One of the best places to appreciate the view is from the Avant Garde Café.

While you are in the village itself exploring the narrow streets you can dive into cute coffee shops and try and spot street art.

The Gamcheon Culture Village is at 203 Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan: Gamcheon Village and Haeundae Blueline Park Tour

2- Ride the Haeundae Blueline

Haeundae Blueline Park is a skyline park with a super fun sky capsule ride on a track that provides visitors with beautiful views of Busan.

You can see the coastline as well as the city and sometimes on a very clear day you can even see Japan.

It’s a great idea to do a one-way ride from Cheongsapo station and then get off closer to town at the Mipo city station.

Sometimes the queues at Mipo station can be quite long so it’s best to avoid getting on there.

Haeundae Blueline Park (Cheongsapo Station) is at 116 Cheongsapo-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

3- Wander Around Huinnyeoul Culture Village

Head to Huinnyeoul Culture Village and you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Greece.

The chalk white buildings and their accompanying blue rooftops really do feel Greek.

Keep an eye out for the painted blue stairs, which is a great place to take photographs.

This is a cool neighborhood with boutiques, cafes, art shops and street art.

From the village you can also enjoy wonderful views of the city and bay.

Be sure to carefully look down every alley just in case you see something cute and creative.

Huinnyeoul Culture Village is at 1043 Yeongseon-dong 4(sa)-ga, Yeongdo-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan: Full-Day City Tour

4- Appreciate Culture at Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is a truly beautiful Buddhist temple in Gijang-gun in the northeast of the city.

This temple feels unique as it’s built on the coast right by the sea.

The temple is decorated in a variety of colours and there’s a characterful arched bridge that leads you to the front of the temple.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is at 86 Yonggung-gil, Gijang-gun, Busan.

Recommended tour: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple + Camellias Island

5- Feel the Ocean Beneath Your Feet At Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory

The Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory is a 72.5 meter long (237 ft) and 20-meter high (65 ft) observation pier that is shaped like a blue dragon.

You will find the observatory at one end of Cheongsapo fishing village.

There’s a section of glass floor on the observatory deck so that you can see the ocean beneath your feet.

To walk on the observatory visitors are provided with slipper shoes so they don’t scratch the glass.

The Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory is at 산3-9 Jung-dong, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan Private Tour Customized Exclusively for Your Group

6- Walk At Taejongdae Park

Taejongdae Park is a wonderful place to enjoy a walk through dense evergreen forested pathways while admiring the ocean.

Taejongdae Park is at the south end of Yeongdo.

It is named after King Taejong Muyeol of Silla who once practiced archery overlooking the ocean.

The resort park is home to walkways, an observatory, an amusement park, a lighthouse and you can even take a cruise boat from within the park.

This is a wonderful oceanside forest park for walking around and enjoying time outside.

Taejongdae Park is at 24 Jeonmang-ro, Yeongdo-gu, Busan.

7- Unwind At Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach is a 1.5km (0.9mi) beach in Haeundae District with a backdrop of Busan’s skyscrapers.

If you visit Haeundae Beach in summer, be sure to expect a hoard of people as it’s the city’s most popular beach.

People love the beach because its calm waters make for a wonderful swimming spot for the whole family.

There are also a variety of festivals and cultural events held at the beach throughout the year.

Haeundae Beach is at 264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

8- Connect With Nature Along the Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Coastal Walk

If you are searching for a place to go walking in Busan, be sure to head down to the Igidae Coastal Trail and the Oryukdo Skywalk.

The Igidae Trail hugs the coastal rocks and you almost feel like you are floating above the ocean.

This specific trail is 4.7 km (2.9 mi) and stretches from Dongsaengmal to Oryukdo Quay.

When you reach Oryukdo Quay you can visit the skywalk which is a section of cliff that is 35 metres high (114 ft).

On the cliff there is a horseshoe shaped glass walkway where you can “walk over the sky”.

The Oryukdo Skywalk is at 137 Oryukdo-ro, Nam-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan: Day Trip with Gamcheon Culture Village and Sky Walk

9- Ride the Songdo Marine Cable Car

Another of the best things to do in Busan is ride the Songdo Marine Cable Car.

This 1.62km (1 mi) cable car travels from Songdo Bay Station in Songmin Park to Songdo Sky Park in Amnam Park.

The ride takes around 15 to 20 minutes and allows visitors to enjoy lovely views of the ocean, greenery, the city, Songdo Beach, and Yeongdodaegyo Bridge.

If you’re a little fearful of heights be warned that the cabins have transparent floors so you can see the ocean below!

The Songdo Marine Cable Car is at 171 Songdohaebyeon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan: Coastal Wonders & Cultural Gems Tour with Sky Capsule

10- Enjoy the Lantern Festival at Samgwangsa Temple

Another wonderful temple to visit in Busan is Samgwangsa, which is a Buddhist temple on the banks of Baegyangsan Mountain in the heart of downtown Busan.

While there you can explore and appreciate the many different structures like the Daeungbojeon Hall, Bell Pavilion and Daebotap Tower.

In the Daebotap Tower there are Buddhist relics that have been brought from Myanmar, Tibet, and India.

If you are travelling to South Korea in April/ May time, be sure to check the exact dates of the Samgwangsa Lantern Festival.

This is known as the biggest lantern festival in South Korea and it’s mightily impressive.

The temple is adorned with 50,000 lanterns and more than one million people will visit the festival each year.

Everywhere you look there are colorful lanterns it really is quite a sight to behold.

Samgwangsa Temple is at 77 Choeupcheon-ro 43beon-gil, Busanjin District, Busan.

11- Indulge at Jagalchi Seafood Market

As Busan is an ocean city, you can’t go wrong trying some of the local seafood.

Jagalchi Seafood Market is the largest seafood market in South Korea! Even if you are not looking to buy anything, just looking around this vast market is an experience.

If you find your mouth watering over the idea of some delectable seafood however, you can take it to the second floor of the market to be prepared at one of the restaurants.

There is also an amazing seafood buffet restaurant on the 5th floor.

Jagalchi Seafood Market is at 52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu, Busan.

Recommended tour: Busan: Jagalchi Sunset Cruise & Night Market Tour

12- Discover Hidden Gems of Dakbatgol Mural Village

By now you will have noticed that Busan is filled with its fair share of charming villages.

Dakbatgol Mural Village is another one in Seo District in southwest-central Busan.

Compared to the other villages Gamcheon and Huinnyeoul, Dakbatgol is less well known therefore there are often fewer people.

This village is brimming with countless picture spots.

The walls are painted vibrant colours, there are art installations, murals and more.

It is one of those places where you can spend way more time than you anticipated just searching for the next mural or hidden gem.

Dakbatgol Mural Village is at 동 Mangyang-ro 170beon-gil, 동대신2 Seo-gu, Busan.

13- Sip Coffee On Jeonpo Café Street

After all that exploring you may want to stop for a coffee and a great place to find one is Jeonpo Café Street.

The only issue with this place is you might have too many choices.

Jeonpo Café Street is lined with hipster coffee shops and arty joints.

In 2017 this place even made its way onto The New York Times’ 52 World Destinations of the Year in 2017.

Since then it’s attracted crowds of visitors and coffee lovers.

One of the best things about Jeonpo Café Street is that there are hidden alleys where you will discover even more coffee shops, restaurants and shops selling sweet treats.

Jeonpo Café Street is at 92 Dongcheon-ro, Busanjin District, Busan.

14- Learn at the Busan National Science Museum

If you are travelling to South Korea and Busan with children, then consider paying a visit to the Busan National Science Museum.

The museum follows the aim of promoting the wonderment of science to visitors and it does this through a variety of exhibitions.

There are exhibits on spaceships, energy development, vehicles and more.

From the second floor to the first-floor adults can take the stairs but the kids will meet you downstairs because they’ll be taking the giant slide.

From the moment you walk through the doors there’s something for children to do and discover.

From dancing robots to walking on the moon, aviation simulators and more, there’s so much to discover at the science museum.

The Busan National Science Museum is at 59, Dongbusangwangwang 6-ro, Gijang-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan 46081.

15- Relax at Gwangalli Beach

If it’s time for a bit of relaxation and cooling off, then head on down to Gwangalli Beach.

This 1.4 km (0.86 mi) long beach is well known for its fine sand and coastal cafes and restaurants.

Visit during the day to enjoy a paddle in the water and a spot of sunbathing on the beach or check it out in the evening when the lights of Gwangandaegyo Bridge are glistening.

Gwangalli Beach is at 219, Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan.

16- Oggle at the Gwangalli Drone Show

At Gwangalli Beach every Saturday there is an epic drone show that is the first and largest permanent drone show in South Korea.

Recently the number of permanent performances has increased so there’s more chance of you catching the show on your trip to Busan.

People flock to the beach where the city lights are reflecting in the water and they gaze into the sky.

From Disney castles to lucky pots of money these drones create some fascinating landmarks, shapes and messages in the sky.

Gwangalli Beach is at 219, Gwanganhaebyeon-ro, Suyeong-gu, Busan.

17- Have Fun at Lotte World Adventure Theme Park

Lotte World Adventure is open between 10am to 9pm for 11 hours of fun for the whole family (but especially the kids).

Opening in 2022 this was the first theme park in Busan and it’s larger than the Lotte World in Seoul.

There are six zones at the park: Wonder Woods, Royal Garden Zone, Joyful Meadows, Underland, River Village of Tinker Falls and Rainbow Springs.

Some of the biggest and best rides at the park include the “Giant Digger” which has a 1km (0.6mi) track, 360 degree loops and reaches speeds of 105km/hr (65 mi/h).

There’s also the “Giant Splash ” which is Korea’s first water-coaster with a drop of 44.6m (146ft).

There are also a plethora of family friendly rides and activites for young children who don’t reach the height requirements for the bigger rides.

Lotte World Adventure Theme Park is at Busan, Gijang-gun, 동부산관광로 42.

18- Cruise at Gwangalli Bay

If you like being out on the water, then be sure to investigate taking a boat tour around Gwangalli Bay.

There are a myriad of boat tour companies that offer day and evening boat trips.

How about heading out to sea on a yacht.

You can enjoy a daytime yacht experience to see views of Busan, the coast, and the bridge.

Take the sunset yacht tour for a sunset view from the sea.

Or how about a night yacht tour to see night views of the shimmering Gwangalli Bridge and Bay 101.

If you take the evening yacht tour on Saturday, you can also see the Busan drone show.

Cruises leave from The Bay 101 Yact Tour Ticket Office, 52 Dongbaek-ro, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

19- Walk Along the Songdo Cloud Trail

There are plenty of walking trails in Busan, but Songdo Cloud Trail is perhaps one of the most unique.

This winding walkway is located on the eastern side of Songdo Beach.

From the walkway you can enjoy wonderful views of the lighthouse, ocean, and the cable car line above.

This 365m (1197 ft) long skywalk has sections of glass floor so you can watch the waves below.

The trail also connects you to Geobukseom Island (also known as Turtle Island).

When you reach the island, you can try and spot the small statues.

It is a lovely place to walk, take photos of the coast and relish in the refreshing sea breeze.

The Songdo Cloud Trail is at 129-4 암남동 Seo-gu, Busan.

20- Gaze at Busan from the Busan X the Sky

Busan X the Sky is an observation deck located in the Haeundae LCT Landmark Tower.

This building stands at 411.6 meters (1350 ft) and is the largest observatory in the country.

What’s fantastic about an observation deck in Busan is you can admire the ocean views and the cityscape.

The observation deck is open from 10am to 9pm so you can take in the views during the day or even for sunset.

Busan X the Sky is at 30 Dalmaji-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan.

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