About Busan
Busan, officially Busan Metropolitan City, is the second most populous city in South Korea, after Seoul; it has a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being South Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world. The surrounding "Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region" is South Korea's largest industrial area. The large volumes of port traffic and urban population in excess of 1 million makes Busan a Large-Port metropolis using the Southampton System of Port-City classification. As of 2025, Busan Port is the primary port in Korea and the world's sixth-largest container port.
Places to visit in Busan
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Haeundae Beach
Beach · 5 mi from centreSouth Korea's best-known beach, a wide stretch of sand backed by high-rise hotels. Walk the nearby Dongbaekseom island trail for coastal views and a lighthouse.
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Gamcheon Culture Village
Neighborhood · 7 mi from centreA hillside village of brightly painted houses, murals, and art installations. Pick up a stamp map at the information center and follow the trail of art spots.
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Haedong Yonggungsa
Religious · 8 mi from centreA Buddhist temple built on rocks right at the edge of the sea, unlike most mountain temples. Arrive early in the morning for the calmest atmosphere and best light.
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Jagalchi Market
Market · 6 mi from centreThe largest fish market in South Korea, with tanks of live seafood that you can pick and have cooked upstairs. Go in the morning when the market is busiest.
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Beomeosa
Religious · 7 mi from centreA major Buddhist temple on the slopes of Geumjeongsan mountain, with old wooden halls and forest trails. Consider staying overnight in a temple stay program.
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Gwangalli Beach
Beach · 3 mi from centreA city beach facing the Gwangan Bridge, which lights up in changing colors at night. Visit in the evening and grab dinner at one of the seafood restaurants.
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Taejongdae
Nature · 9 mi from centreA rocky park with sea cliffs, forests, and a lighthouse on Yeongdo Island. Take the small tourist train around the loop and walk down to the lighthouse.
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Busan Tower
Viewpoint · 6 mi from centreAn observation tower in Yongdusan Park with views over the port and city. Combine a visit with the nearby Gukje Market and BIFF Square street food.
Things to do in Busan by type
15 tours, tickets and experiences across 4 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.
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Shows, sports and special events 5 experiences Andong Hahoe Village and Andong Folk Museum - Full-Day Private Tour -
Day Trips & Excursions 4 experiences Busan’s Golden Hour: Haeundae Sky Capsule & Bay 101 Skyline Lights - Full-Day Tour -
Art & culture 3 experiences Busan City - Full-Day Private Tour -
Tickets & Attraction Passes 2 experiences Haeundae LCT Tower X The Sky - Ticket
- Over 6 hours 2
- Up to 1 hour 1
- Couples 8
- Youth 8
- Families 8
- Senior 8
- Private 7
Top experiences in Busan
Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 15 available.
Busan City A Course - Full-Day Private Tour
From $457 per adult
Gyeongju - Full-Day Private Tour
From $545 per adult
Junam Wetland and Haeinsa Temple - Private Tour
From $580 per adult
Korean History UNESCO World Heritage - Private Tour
From $2,018 per adult
Busan’s Golden Hour: Haeundae Sky Capsule & Bay 101 Skyline Lights - Full-Day Tour
From $82 per adult
Busan City B Course - Full-Day Private Tour
From $457 per adult
Andong Hahoe Village and Andong Folk Museum - Full-Day Private Tour
From $580 per adult
Night View of Busan - Private Tour
From $273 per adult
Busan City - Full-Day Private Tour
From $457 per adult
Discover Busan: Cheongsapo Sky Walk, Blue Line Train and Beach Train - Private Tour
From $837 per adult
Explore the famous Three Kingdoms: Busan to Gyeongju - Private Tour
From $837 per adult
Busan Sailing Odyssey: Iconic Views of Gwangalli Bridge and Haeundae
From $22 per adult
Where to stay in Busan
Popular hotels in Busan, out of 457 properties you can book.
Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Busan
From $132 per night
Lotte Hotel Busan
From $163 per night
Avani Central Busan
From $108 per night
Signiel Busan
From $391 per night
Paradise Hotel Busan
From $285 per night
SUNSET HOTEL
From $131 per night
Arban Hotel
From $91 per night
Central Seven Hotel by Kwon Busan Seomyeon
From $69 per night
Best Western Haeundae Hotel
From $157 per night
Ramada Encore by Wyndham Busan Station
From $113 per night
Stanford Inn Busan
From $70 per night
ASTI Hotel Busan Station
From $109 per night
Best time to visit Busan
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Busan is May to June, when average daytime highs are around 72–81°F and rain falls on about 10 days a month.
Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.
Busan weather forecast
- Wed 21 Oct 69° 53° 76%
- Thu 22 Oct 63° 47° 0%
- Fri 23 Oct 70° 55° 54%
- Sat 24 Oct 66° 58° 76%
- Sun 25 Oct 73° 61° 82%
- Mon 26 Oct 70° 63° 90%
Know before you go
- Currency
- South Korean won (KRW)1 US dollar ≈ ₩1,331
- Language
- Korean
- Calling code
- +82
- Driving
- On the right
- Time zone
- Asia/SeoulUTC+9
- Capital
- Seoul
Upcoming public holidays in South Korea
- Christmas Day크리스마스
- New Year's Day새해
- Lunar New Year설날
- Lunar New Year설날
- Lunar New Year설날
- Independence Movement Day3·1절
Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.
Getting to Busan
These are the airports closest to central Busan. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.
- PUS Gimhae International Airport8 mi (12 km) from the city centre
Getting around Busan
You can buy Cashbee card.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link] at subway stations and convenience stores. Other cards like T-money, and Railplus are also accepted in the city. Some convenience stores also allow you to recharge a card, although not all card types are accepted,
By metro or light rail
The four lines of the Busan Metro ( 1 2 3 4 ) can connect you to most places of interest in Busan. Other rides include Donghae and BGL (Busan-Gimhae Light Rail).
By train
There are dedicated KORAIL train stations around the city of Busan however the locations are not great and frequency of trains is low. It is almost always preferable to take the metro or bus. For example, you could take a train from Busan station to Haeundae station, however it would be more convenient to take the metro.
By taxi
There are plenty of taxis prowling the streets of Busan. The flag drop is ₩4,800 for the first 2 km, then the meter starts ticking at ₩100 for each 132 m, or every 33 seconds if the taxi is going under 15 km/h. Deluxe "mobeom" taxis (colored black and red) charge beyond ₩7,000 for the first 3 km and then ₩200 for each 160 m or 38 seconds. Fares increase by 20% between midnight and 04:00.
Busan travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Busan?
Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Busan is May to June, when average daytime highs are around 72–81°F and rain falls on about 10 days a month.
What is the weather like in Busan?
August is usually the warmest month in Busan, with average highs of 89°F (32°C). January is the coolest, with average lows of 26°F (-3°C). The wettest month is typically October, with about 209 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Busan?
Gimhae International Airport (PUS) is the closest airport, about 8 miles (12 km) from the centre of Busan.
What currency is used in Busan?
Busan uses the South Korean won (KRW). At the latest exchange rate, 1 US dollar ≈ ₩1,331.
What time zone is Busan in?
Busan uses the Asia/Seoul time zone (currently UTC+9). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.
How do I get around Busan?
You can buy Cashbee card.mw-parser-output .error-deadlink{color:red;background:yellow;display:none;white-space:nowrap}[dead link] at subway stations and convenience stores. Other cards like T-money, and Railplus are also accepted in the city.
What are the best places to visit in Busan?
Top sights in Busan include Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village, Haedong Yonggungsa and Jagalchi Market. South Korea's best-known beach, a wide stretch of sand backed by high-rise hotels. Walk the nearby Dongbaekseom island trail for coastal views and a lighthouse.
What are the top things to do in Busan?
Popular experiences you can book in Busan include Busan City A Course - Full-Day Private Tour, Gyeongju - Full-Day Private Tour and Junam Wetland and Haeinsa Temple - Private Tour. Destina Holidays offers 15 tours and activities here.
What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Busan?
The most popular types of experiences in Busan are shows, sports and special events (5), day trips & excursions (4), art & culture (3) and tickets & attraction passes (2). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.
Where should I stay in Busan?
Popular areas for hotels in Busan include Busan and Haeundae Beach. Well-reviewed options include Solaria Nishitetsu Hotel Busan and Lotte Hotel Busan .
How many hotels can I book in Busan?
Destina Holidays currently lists 457 properties in and around Busan, from budget stays to luxury hotels. Search your dates to see live prices and availability.
