Busan

Beaches, Markets and Culture

Busan is South Korea’s second largest city and a major port on the southeastern coast. It features wide sandy beaches, modern skyscrapers and historic temples that show its mix of old traditions and new developments. The city has many markets where you can find fresh seafood and local snacks like bibimbap or hotteok. Busan is also known for hosting international film festivals each year, drawing visitors from around the world. Its subway system makes getting around easy, connecting neighborhoods with parks, shopping areas and cultural sites.

Add to list Map view

City in South Korea

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 8.9

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	9
Accessibility:	8
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely understood in tourist areas, with signs, menus, and public transport information often available in English. However, it can be limited in smaller, local spots.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

* We earn a commission from some links on this page.

Busan Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

‘Your personal’ scores:
This reflects how well a place matches your personal preferences. You can adjust the importances of travel topics or other personal requirements categories in your account settings.

‘Suited for’ badges:
These give you a quick overview of how well a destination suits specific types of travellers, to help you find the places that match your lifestyle, preferences or travel situation.

Read how our scores work

Great for beaches and coastal city life. Relax on sandy shores, visit seafood markets, hike seaside temples and enjoy vibrant nightlife.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Sea

Local cuisine

Street food

Luxury shopping

Large cities

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

💻 9

Digital Nomads

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

South Korea – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type C , Type F Type C: Type F: Read about power adapters
Currency:	South Korean Won (KRW) £1 ≈ ₩1,766
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in South Korea. Credit cards are commonly used in most establishments, including smaller businesses. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not customary in South Korea. However, small tips are appreciated in hotels and for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed in South Korea, though drinking in public spaces like parks and streets may attract attention. Alcohol is also served in many convenience stores.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, but designated smoking areas are available in some outdoor locations.

Seollal (January/February)	Celebrated in January or February with family gatherings
Chuseok (September/October)	Celebrated in September or October

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 112 (Police), 119 (Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Kakao T, T Map Taxi
Other:	South Korea offers a blend of traditional culture and modern technology, with historical sites, vibrant cities, and stunning landscapes.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Busan, South Korea

☀️

Jan

☀️

Feb

🌤️

Mar

☀️

Apr

☀️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌤️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☀️

Oct

☀️

Nov

☀️

Dec

High season:	April - May, Aug., Oct. - Nov.
Shoulder season:	March, June - July, Sep.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches officially open for swimming from early July to late August

Rainy season late June to late July, typhoon risk mainly August to September

Busan International Film Festival, early October

Don't miss

🏖️ Relax on Haeundae Beach and watch the coastal sunset
🎨 Visit the colorful Gamcheon Culture Village and its hillside murals
🛕 Hike to the Beomeosa Temple nestled in the mountain forest
🐟 Sample fresh seafood at Jagalchi Fish Market by the port
🚆 Take the Haeundae Sky Capsule along the scenic seaside route
🌇 Enjoy panoramic views from Busan Tower in Yongdusan Park

You've been here?

Why travel to Busan?

Busan offers a unique mix of city and sea, with stunning beaches, traditional temples and one of the largest seafood markets in the world. It's a great spot for both relaxation and adventure, with vibrant nightlife and delicious street food. Whether you're lounging on Haeundae Beach or exploring the colorful alleys of Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan has something for everyone.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Busan Cinema Center
2 Taejongdae Resort Park
3 범어사 등나무 군락
4 Haeundae Beach
5 bus 1001 to Jagalchi fish market
6 Haedong Yonggung temple
7 Diamond Tower
8 Gamcheon Culture Village

🎡Places for activities

1 Busan Sea Life Aquarium
2 Spa Land
3 Oryukdo Skywalk
4 Busan Air Cruise

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 tiny park space with 3 benches
2 Igidae Coastal Walk Entrance
3 Oryukdo Islets
4 Princess Cordelia pet from plastic Island

🛍️Shopping

1 Lotte Department Store
2 Gukje Market
3 BIFF Square
4 Busan Premium Outlets
5 Kkangtong night market
6 Bujeon market

🎈Events

Busan International Film Festival
Busan Fireworks Festival
Haeundae Sand Festival
One Asia Festival
Busan Sea Festival
Christmas Tree Festival
Nakdong Riverside Cherry Blossom Festival
Korea Dance Festival
Busan International Comedy Festival
Gwangalli Eobang Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Try local specialties like milmyeon and dwaeji gukbap at public markets.
Visit Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches for night views and seafood stalls nearby.
Ride the Songdo Cable Car for coastal skyline, then explore coastal trails nearby.
Check on the Busan Free Port Festival schedule to catch maritime parades and fireworks.

How to travel to Busan

Gimhae International Airport (PUS) is the main gateway to Busan with flights from major Asian cities. The KTX train from Seoul to Busan is fast and convenient, taking around 2.5-3 hours. Ferries connect Busan to Japan, including Fukuoka.

Access summary

From Gimhae Airport (PUS): Light rail or taxi, usually 20–45 minutes.
From Seoul: High-speed KTX trains to Busan, about 2.5–3 hours.
From Fukuoka (Japan): International ferries Hakata–Busan, sailing roughly 6 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Busan

Busan offers a range of accommodations, from budget hostels to luxury hotels. Haeundae is great for beach access, Seomyeon for nightlife and Nampo-dong for shopping and local culture.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Ramada Encore by Wyndham Busan Haeundae

9.0

Shilla Stay Busan Haeundae

ASTI Hotel Busan Station

Ramada Encore by Wyndham Busan Station

9.1

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Busan

Busan is well-connected with buses, subways and taxis. The subway system is easy to navigate with English signage. Popular bus routes include 1001 and 1003 for coastal areas. The Busan City Tour Bus is also a convenient option for sightseeing.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-51 %

Daily expenses in Busan are around 51% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-8 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to KRW) is 8% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£45	£94	£267
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£23	£56	£150
🍝 Food per day	£19	£33	£101
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£16

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£12
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£4.40
🍟 Fast food combo	£4
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.90
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.40

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.75
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£9.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.85

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£7.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£17
🤧 Cold medication	£3.20
💇 Basic haircut	£6

Safety information overview

General safety

Busan is generally safe for tourists, with low crime rates. Still, stay aware of your surroundings in busy markets and nightlife districts to avoid petty theft.

Health & Medical

Healthcare is of high quality with several international clinics. Tap water is safe to drink, but bottled water is widely available if preferred.

Accessibility

Busan is quite accessible, with elevators and ramps in major tourist spots and public transport. Some older areas may have limited accessibility.

Tap water

Tap water in Busan is safe to drink. Public water fountains are not common, so carrying a reusable bottle is recommended.