5 Best Things Not to Miss on a Short Visit to Busan, South Korea

Busan is one of my favorite cities in South Korea - with incredible cuisine, beautiful coastal views and beaches, and cute stores around every corner - there's really no limit to the amount of fun things you can explore in Busan. However, if you're short on time or just stopping by on a quick visit, there's some things you won't want to miss! In this list, I've put together my 5 favorite things to do in Busan to help make your next visit a bit easier to plan! If you're not sure where to start in Busan, I highly encourage you to check out my 48 Hours in Busan Itinerary here!

Looking for a place to stay? I stayed at Stanford Hotel Busan and loved it's proximity to BIFF Square and the subway station!

My Essential Korea Travel Resources :
​There are a lot of travel companies out there, but some are better than others. After traveling to South Korea over a dozen times, these are my favorite websites and resources to help plan an incredible trip.

For flights, I recommend using WayAway or Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to South Korea.

Car rentals, although not common in Korea, are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to have a copy of your international driver's permit with you!

I always use AGODA for hotels. They have an easy-to-use platform and tend to focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

To keep cell phone service, I always use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, Klook specializes on tours in Asia, otherwise Viator also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use when visiting a new country.

Lastly, my essential packing list when traveling.

Preparing for a Short Visit to Busan

Busan is located on the southern coast of South Korea, and faces the Japanese city of Fukuoka. If you're visiting on a short trip, then chances are you might be coming in from Seoul. This can be done in two ways, either by plane, or by train (where you can experience the "real" Train to Busan). Lucky for you, Busan is very easy to get around as well. They have a very easy local subway system, as well as many taxis and public buses.

If you're only in Busan for a few days, then I also recommend trying "Black Pork." It might not sound too appetizing, but it is one of the most famous meals from the neighboring Jeju Island. This pork comes from black pigs found there, and is considered some of the best meat for Korean BBQ! If you're looking at hotels, you also have the option to get a "traditional" room or a "western" room. A traditional room will have a thin mattress on the floor - the traditional way Koreans sleep - whereas a "western" room will have an American/European style bed.

My favorite tours in Busan :
​- Busan Air Cruise
​- Gamcheon Cultural Village

5 Best Things to Do in Busan

1. Busan Air Cruise
​Located at Songdo Bay Station this is hands down one of the best ways to get an incredible view of the city, there's actually two options for the Busan Air Cruise. The first one has regular flooring in the cable cars, and the second one, called the "Crystal Cruise" has see-through flooring! I opted for the cheaper version, but I've heard the glass flooring really puts the already incredible views over the top! Once you arrive to the top of the Songdo Sky Park across the bay, there's actually quite a bit to explore. With time capsules, random sculptures (think dinosaurs and Frankenstein) and many photo opportunities, the best views can be found on the Observatory Platform. If you're feeling extra adventurous, from here you can hike down to the Oryukdo Skywalk for some even more incredible views of the coastline in Busan - however it's important to note that last entry into the Skywalk is around 5:50 pm. My best recommendation is to take the Busan Air Cruise about 2-3 hours before sunset, this way you can enjoy the ride there and explore for a bit before catching the gorgeous sunset colors on the way back! (Estimated Time : 3-5 Hours)

2. BIFF Sqaure
​BIFF Square, also known as the the Busan International Film Festival square was hands down my favorite place during our time in Busan. I'll be honest, I think my husband and I visited 3 times during the 2 days we spent in Busan - it might have helped that our hotel was right across the street. The entire square is filled with local Korean street foods, making it an excellent spot to taste test the local cuisine. I recommend going in the afternoon or later in the day, this way more stalls will be set up and you can try more foods. If you have no idea where to start with Korean street food, check out my video below for some ideas! Plus, if you've seen Squid Game then you know about Dalgona - a candy made from melted sugar. Typically, if you can get the shape in the center out without cracking or breaking it, you'll get another free dalgona candy! Nowadays, most stalls will have small prizes instead. ​(Estimated Time : 2-4 Hours)

3. Gamcheon Cultural Village
Another popular spot to visit in Busan is the Gamcheon Cultural Village, and for good reason. We made our stop here pretty early in the day and were glad we did, by the time we were leaving in the afternoon there were multiple large groups of visitors making their way through the village. Our favorite place in the entire village was the Flipbook Photo Studio - you can see more in our video below but for a small fee you can create your own customized flipbook! The shop has all the props, signs, and inspiration you need to create your own and the entire process only takes about 15 minutes. It instantly became one of our favorite souvenirs of our entire world trip! One thing to note - it is very popular for people who visit the Cultural Village to dress up in traditional hanboks when exploring the area, so don't be surprised if you see locals (or tourists alike) sporting a more traditional look! ​(Estimated Time : 3-5 Hours)

4. Jagalchi Market
The Jagalchi Market is a giant, local seafood and fish market. When you visit, it'll be easy to get lost inside, especially during peak hours, which is why we recommend taking a walking tour. The atmosphere can be smelly, crowded, and overwhelming if you've never experienced anything like it. That being said, if you're feeling hungry, try purchasing some fresh caught seafood and have it cooked right on the spot for a delicious meal! If you want to visit the market and see the most action, you'll have to get up super early and make it there around 5 am! ​(Estimated Time : 2-4 Hours)

5. Enjoy the Beach
​As one of the largest, truly coastal cities in South Korea - Busan has some incredible beaches. If you're looking to spend some of time in Busan kicking back and relaxing, then you have a few options. Gwangalli Beach has just under a one mile stretch of white sand beaches, with lots of trendy boutique stores, cafes, and restaurants nearby. Haeundae Beach is the most famous in Busan, and is as equally as busy. Similar to Gwangalli Beach, Haeundae is also surrounded by high rise buildings and many restaurants. Songdo Beach is a great place for families and is right next to the Busan Air Cruise. With a stunning Skywalk that goes over the water, there's also some platforms to play on in the water as well! When we visited, there was hardly anyone at the beach! ​(Estimated Time : As Long As You'd Like)

Watch my video from Busan!

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