Busan, South Korea’s second-largest city, is a vibrant coastal city with stunning beaches, busy markets, and a rich cultural heritage. Busan is a blend of modern skyscrapers and historic temples, creating a unique charm that completely captivated me. Whether you’re exploring the lively streets of Nampo-dong, relaxing on the beautiful Haeundae Beach, or exploring colourful villages, Busan is the perfect mix of urban excitement and natural beauty. Busan is a must-visit destination for everyone in South Korea. Even if you’re only staying in the country for a few days and thinking of only going to Seoul, I strongly recommend you spend a few days in Busan too. To be honest, I wish I spent more than 3 days in this stunning city!
Getting to Busan
To save time on our trip, we headed straight to Busan after landing at Incheon Airport. We took the AREX Express Train, which cost KRW 11,000 (£6) and got us to Seoul Station in just 40 minutes. There’s also an All Stop Train that runs more frequently, but it takes 60 minutes and costs only KRW 4,500 (£2.50). Since the tickets were quite affordable, we chose the Express Train to cut down on travel time.
From Seoul Station, we hopped on the KTX train to Busan, which was a bit pricey at £60, but in just two and a half hours, we arrived in the beautiful coastal city of Busan!
You can also fly from Seoul to Busan, but keep in mind that flights depart from Gimpo Airport, not Incheon International Airport, where you’ll most likely land. To transfer between the two airports, you can take the AREX All Stop Train.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Busan—and South Korea in general—is quite affordable, making it easy to find a great place on a budget. We booked an Airbnb with stunning views right above Gwangalli Beach, famous for its drone light shows every Saturday (though we sadly missed them).
I won’t share the direct link here, but if you’re interested in staying there, feel free to reach out via email, my contact form, or Instagram, and I’ll be happy to send it to you! Since Busan is quite spread out, there’s no single “best” area to stay in, so we chose a spot with amazing views to make the most of our trip.
Vegan-friendly food
As a vegetarian who mostly eats vegan, I won’t lie—finding food options in Busan was a bit tricky. The city is famous for its seafood, so fully plant-based meals weren’t always easy to come by. But it wasn’t impossible.
On our first evening, we ate at a traditional Korean restaurant by Gwangalli Beach, where I ordered Bibimbap that was supposed to be meat-free. However, it came with fish cake strips, which I had to remove, which is not ideal. After that, I decided it would be easier to stick to fully vegan restaurants for the rest of the trip.
The next evening, we dined at Vegenarang, an amazing vegan spot recommended by a friend. It was a bit pricey but absolutely worth it! The views were lovely, and the food was incredible. I had fried mushrooms as a starter, which I highly recommend—honestly, one of the best things I’ve ever eaten! For the main course, I went for the mushroom and rice dish (can you tell I love mushrooms?). Overall, it was a fantastic experience with super friendly staff.
My friend also gave Soban Vegan a 10/10 rating, but unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to try it. If you’re visiting Busan and looking for vegan options, it’s definitely worth adding to your list! And if you do, let me know how it was.
The perfect 2-day Busan itinerary
Day 1: Busan Day Tour Experience
One of the must-do experiences on our Busan itinerary was the Sky Capsule—though it’s a bit more expensive than other activities in South Korea. With tickets starting at KRW 40,000 (£22) one way, we wanted to make the most of our time and budget, so we opted for a full-day tour—and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of our entire trip!
We met our tour guide, Jiwon, at Haeundae Station, and she was hands down the kindest and most enthusiastic guide I’ve ever had. Having lived in Busan her whole life, she shared fascinating insights about the city’s history and culture. If you want an authentic experience and even the chance to meet other travellers, I highly recommend booking this tour.
Busan Sky Capsule 🚋✨
Our first stop was the Busan Sky Capsule, and it was absolutely adorable! The weather was perfect, making the stunning coastal views even more breathtaking. The capsules even have a DIY mini speaker inside, so you can play your own music for the ride, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk 🌊
Next, we walked along the Cheongsapo Daritdol Skywalk, which offered beautiful views of the coastline. While it was scenic, it wasn’t the highlight of the day for me. I’d only recommend visiting if you’re already doing the Sky Capsule or as part of a tour—otherwise, there are better things to do in Busan!
Lunch at a fishing port 🦞
For lunch, we stopped at a seafood restaurant near the skywalk (they had a veggie bibimbap), right by a charming little fishing port. The peaceful seaside setting gave me total Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha vibes!
Oryukdo Skywalk & Coastal Walk 🌿
After lunch, we had a 30-minute coach ride (aka nap time!) before arriving at Oryukdo Skywalk. The panoramic views from the observation deck were incredible, especially of the four small islands just offshore. We also took a relaxing walk along the scenic coastal path below.
Huinnyeoul Culture Village 🎨
Next up was Huinnyeoul Culture Village, which looks absolutely stunning in photos if you Google it. Unfortunately, the famous blue walking path was under renovation when we visited, so it didn’t look as vibrant as expected. However, the upper walking path was lined with cute shops and cafés, making it a pleasant stop before heading to our final destination.
Gamcheon Culture Village 🌈🏡
Our last stop—and the absolute highlight of the day—was Gamcheon Culture Village. It completely exceeded my expectations! Since locals still live here, visiting hours are limited to 9 AM – 6 PM. We arrived just before sunset, and the colours were breathtaking.
The village is filled with tourist shops, street food vendors, and souvenir stands selling everything from socks to jewellery. Many visitors queue for a photo with the Little Prince statue, but for me, the most unforgettable moment was seeing the village from above—the bird’s-eye view at sunset was absolutely magical.
Final thoughts
If you’re visiting Busan, I highly recommend doing a full-day tour like this! It was the perfect way to see multiple sights, learn a lot about the city, and make the most of our time. The Sky Capsule and Gamcheon Village were definitely the highlights of the day!
If you want to book the same tour we did, you can book either on Get your guide or Klook (Option B).
Day 2: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple & Sea Life
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
On our second day, we took a bus to Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, one of Busan’s most popular attractions. We had planned to go early to beat the crowds, but jet lag got the best of us, so we ended up leaving around mid-morning for the one-hour ride. Be prepared—this place gets packed with tourists.
Near the temple, you’ll find Lotte World Adventure Busan, a well-known theme park (Lotte World also has a famous location in Seoul), we love theme parks but didn’t have enough time to go. Instead, we wandered past a few hotteok stalls before reaching Haedong Yonggungsa Zodiac Park, which sits just above the temple. From there, it’s only a short walk to the main attraction.
The descent towards the temple offers a breathtaking view—even with the crowds. Unfortunately, during our visit, the temple was under renovation, which took away from the experience a bit. It was still an incredible place to see, but I’d definitely recommend checking for any scheduled maintenance before you go. When the weather is good and the temple isn’t covered in scaffolding, it’s easily one of the most unique and memorable spots in Busan.
Sea Life Busan Aquarium
In the afternoon, we headed to Sea Life Busan Aquarium—it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I highly recommend it! You can find discounted tickets on Klook.
The aquarium boasts a diverse range of marine life, from massive, intimidating sharks to vibrant tropical fish and other cool sea creatures. There are also extra activities to book, and we even caught a mermaid show—definitely aimed at a younger audience, but we still had a great time!
If you have some spare time or need an indoor activity for a rainy day, Sea Life Busan Aquarium is a fantastic option.
Haeundae Beach
After visiting the aquarium, we took a stroll and spent some time at Haeundae Beach. This stunning 1.5-kilometer-long white sand beach is conveniently close to the city centre. The atmosphere was vibrant yet relaxing, making it the perfect spot to unwind and soak in the seaside views.
Conclusion
Busan is absolutely worth a visit! The city is packed with culture-rich experiences, bustling streets, and stunning beaches to explore. If you’re staying for a third day, there’s still plenty more to see and do:
- Beomeosa Temple
- Busan Tower
- Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge
- Hwangryeongsan Mountain
- Songdo Cable Car
Have you ever been to Busan? If so, what were your favourite things to do or hidden gems? I’d love to hear your recommendations for must-visit places, great local food, or any unique experiences you had!
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