Busan Travel Guide | Best Things to Do in Busan

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Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea. If you’re looking for a beach experience, Busan is a great summer destination.

Here is our guide on what to do and eat in this beautiful coastal city!

Best Things to Do in Busan

Blueline Park Sky Capsule

Take a relaxing coastal ride in these adorable sky capsules! If you’re going solo, you’ll have to pay for 2 pax (40,000 KRW).

We recommend starting in Cheongsapo Station and ending in Mipo during Sunset. If you’re traveling solo, try finding a friend to ride a capsule with you; otherwise, you’ll have to pay the fee for 2 pax. Alternatively, you can take the train which is only 8,000 KRW, and enjoy coastal views.

Take the Haeundae Blueline Park Sky Capsule—a super cute, scenic experience in which you travel along the coast in charming retro-style cars and stunning sea views.

Book sky capsule tickets here.

@alexgoesglobal I’m in love with these tiny sky capsules in Busan. 🥹🇰🇷 It’s the perfect way to catch a Busan sunset. 🌅 40,000 KRW per 2pax minimum. Max 4 pax per capsule. Recommend taking the sky capsule from the Cheongsapo station and ending in Mipo during sunset. The views are phenomenal! Must queue up and buy the day of online or in person on Bluelinepark.com You can also walk along the Blueline park and head into the cafes to see views of the passing capsules and train. 🚂🚊 #southkoreatravel #busan #skycapsule #sunsetvibes ♬ original sound – Alex Goes Global

Cheongsapo Skywalk

Along the Blueline Park trail, you’ll be able to access Cheongsapo Skywalk. It’s a bridge with amazing ocean views and a glass bottom. It’s definitely worth visiting.

Visit a Busan Temple

There are two temples you should check out:

Haedong Younggungsa Temple
Beomosa Temple

Visit a Busan Beach

Haeundae Beach
Gwangganli Beach – Fireworks festival
Dadaepo Beach
Songjeong Beach

Check Out Spa Land at Centum City

Recharge and relax at Spa Land at Centum City. They offer therapy rooms, same sex fully nude bathing areas, and food and drink (purchased separately). Expect to spend 2-3 hours here.

It’s also next to the largest department store in the world, Shinsegae Centum City, established in 2009. So if you love shopping it’s worth a look.

Ride the Songdo Cable Car

The Songdo Cable Car is a great option to see Busan from above.

There are two points:

Songdo Bay Station at Songnim Park (near Songdo Beach / Songdo Cloud Trails):
부산 서구 송도해변로 171 | 171, Songdohaebyeon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan
Songdo Sky Park at Amnam Park: 부산 서구 암남공원로 181 | 181 Amnamgongwon-ro, Seo-gu, Busan

Tickets can be purchased at either point. The glass-bottom cable cars allow for amazing views.

See the Busan Tower

See Busan from Above at Busan X

Visit a Cultural Village

Gamcheon – Safest favela in the world! Free to explore and easy to access by bus.
Hocheon
Huinnyeoul
Kangkanghee
Lee Jung-Seob Street

@alexgoesglobal Safest favela in the world! 🤯🇰🇷🫰🏽🌈 I’ll always recommend Busan! #gamcheonculturevillage #southkoreatravel #busantravel #favela ♬ original sound – Alex Goes Global

Visit a Busan Market

Gukje Market (국제시장), also known as Nampo Dong International Market.
Haeundae Traditional Market – Smaller but very close to the beach. Best Haemul Kalguksu is found here at 31cm.
Jagalchi Market
Bupyeong Kkangtong Market (부평깡통시장) – Famous nightmarket for street snacks, freshly-made fish cakes, and traditional Busan food.
Millakhoe Town Live Fish Market
Seo-Myeon – The downtown district of Busan. Also known as Dwaeji Gukbap (pork rice soup) street.

@alexgoesglobal Must visit markets in Busan! 🤩🇰🇷🍢🍲 Jagalchi + Sindonga (2 seafood Markets next to each other) Gukje Bbupyeong Kkangtong Busan Book Street BIFF Street Haeundae Traditional Market Seomyeon – Known for dwaeji gukbap (pork soup) Arirang – Kinda blends in with Gukje and BIFF Gijang & Millakhoe – More seafood! Save this list for later! 📝 #busan #busantravel #koreanmarket #koreanfood #koreabyme ♬ original sound – Alex Goes Global

Check Out the Busan Museums

Bokcheon Museum
Busan Museum of Art
MoCA Busan
National Maritime Museum
ARTE MUSEUM

Take the Train to and from Busan

We took the train from Busan back to Seoul. We recommend doing both ways.

KoRail tickets can usually be purchased from one month to 20 minutes before departure. However, KTX trains can book up very quickly, especially during summer and on the weekends. You can also get tickets at the station, but that can be risky during high season or around a holiday.

AVOID BUYING FROM NINJA RAIL. They mark up prices. Buy direct from KoRail.

You’ll need to follow these steps:

On the Korail website, enter your travel details
Choose the train you want
Select your seat class (economy or first class, which has more leg room, and enter the passenger details
Pay- this is usually the tricky step
After payment, you’ll be issued an e-ticket, which you usually need to print out

Sealife Busan Aquarium

For those who love sea creatures, check out Busan’s Sealife Aquarium.

Teajongdae

Where to Eat in Busan

I personally prefer the food scene in Busan over Seoul. We also recommend downloading the Michelin Guide App to find food recommendations.

Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥) is a Pork Rice Soup from Busan. It’s a comfort food featuring rich, white pork broth, succulent pork, and is often served with a spicy red paste (tadaegi). The best area to get Dwaeji Gukbap is Seomyeon Gukbap Street. You can also try this spot.
Haemul Kalguksu (해물 칼국수) are fresh seafood knifecut noodles that you must try! My favorite spot is 31cm located within Haeundae Traditional Market. See video

@ilovebowljobs In Busan we eat all the seafood. 🍲😋🇰🇷🦪🍜 #imabowliever Haemul Kalguksu is a must try. This spot is located in the Haeundae Traditional Market and often has waiting times but they’re quick to serve. Their seafood is always fresh and you can taste it. They also have an ayce self serve ban chan bar. 🫶🏽😮‍💨 Kalguksu is knifecut noodles and Haemul is seafood. I’ll be eating here every day. Tyvm. 🤤 📍Haeundae 31cm Haemul (seafood) Kalguksu 해운대31cm해물칼국수 해운대시장점 46 Gunam-ro 41beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea #kalguksu #koreanfood #willtravelforfood #bowljobs ♬ original sound – I Love Bowl Jobs 🍜

Milmyeon (밀면) is a signature Busan dish made with flour wheat noodles in a chilled, savory meat broth, topped with cucumber, egg, meat, and spicy gochujang. Similar to naengmyeon, but with flour instead of buckwheat noodles, it’s especially refreshing in summer. Served icy cold, it often comes with vinegar and mustard. You may be handed scissors – these are used to cut the chewy noodles! Dong-gu is home to some of the oldest Milmyeon establishments. You can also try this spot.
Ssiat Hotteok is a must-try Busan specialty. This local twist on the beloved Korean sweet pancake is filled with seeds, nuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar syrup and deep-fried until crisp. It’s rich, nutty, and irresistibly sweet, and many consider it Busan’s ultimate street dessert.
Dongnae Pajeon (동래파전) is a savory scallion pancake dish named after the Dongnae district of Busan, where it originated. Crispy on the outside, this green onion pancake is filled with scallions/green onions, seafood, and other ingredients.
Eomuk fish cakes are a popular snack in Busan, known for their unique texture and flavor. Unlike what the name might suggest, these cakes come in various shapes and flavors with only a slight fish taste. Often stewed in a salty broth, they’re often served on skewers. The best spots for FRESH fish cakes is Goraesa Fishcake (고래사어묵), Samjin Amook (삼진어묵), the oldest fish cake producer in Korea, and Bupyeong Kkangtong Market (부평깡통시장).
Pojangmacha (literally “covered wagon”) are a quintessential Busan food experience. These tented street food stalls provide shelter and a cozy space to eat and drink, especially during times of bad weather. These stalls serve a variety of Korean street foods like chicken skewers, dumplings, and more. You can grab food to go or sit on simple benches inside, often enjoying dishes with generous servings of soju, a fantastic way to experience the Busan nightlife. In Busan, the best pojangmacha is beside the Lotte Department Store Main Store in Seomyeon, the city’s main bar and night clubbing district. Pojangmacha are immensely popular spots for a post-drinking snack on weekends.
Jokbal, a Korean dish made from pig’s trotters braised in soy sauce, garlic, and spices, is a savory favorite in Busan. The meat is tender and rich, and it is often served with lettuce, raw garlic, dipping sauces, and a side of soju. Busan’s version is known for its spicy variations. For an authentic experience, visit Bujeon Jokbal Street near Seomyeon, where small restaurants specialize in both classic and spicy jokbal. Stalls in Nampo-dong, near Gukje Market, are another great area to enjoy this dish, often paired with fresh seafood side dishes.
Nakgopsae 낙곱새 is a stir-fried octopus, small intestine (from the cow), and shrimp dish. Its name is an amalgamation of the 3 Korean names: nakji (octopus), gopchang (beef small intestines), and saeu (shrimp). The dish is popular because of the contrast in the different textures of the 3 ingredients, as well as its sweet-and-spicy sauce. It was mentioned in the Korean drama, Dr. Slump! (When Haneul’s Uncle met his ex-girlfriend: apparently, they used to eat it on their dates!)
Tteokbokki is Korea’s iconic spicy rice cake dish and a beloved street food available across Korea. Made with chewy rice cakes simmered in a gochujang sauce, it’s often served with fish cakes, boiled eggs, scallions, and sometimes ramen or cheese. Busan’s version leans spicier and richer. Known for using thick garetteok (cylinder-shaped rice cakes) in a thicker, less spicy sauce. For an authentic taste, head to Gwangbokdong Food Street in Nampo-dong, where street vendors serve piping-hot tteokbokki alongside other snacks. Another local favorite is Pungcheon Tteokbokki near Pusan National University, known for generous portions and intense heat.
Bok Guk soup is a delicacy in Busan, where fresh seafood is central to the local cuisine. Made from blowfish (bok), this mild soup is famous for its clean flavor and supposed hangover-curing properties. The broth is typically infused with garlic, radish, bean sprouts, and chili. Since blowfish can be toxic if not prepared properly, only licensed chefs are allowed to cook it. For a true taste of this delicacy, visit Jeonbokjuk Alley near Jagalchi Market or head to Choryang-dong.
Bingsu is a popular Korean shaved ice dessert, perfect for cooling down during Busan’s hot summers. It’s made with finely shaved ice and topped with ingredients like sweet red beans, fresh fruit, condensed milk, mochi, rice cake, and sometimes ice cream or cereal. Bingsu is best enjoyed by the coast. In places like Haeundae Beach or Gwangalli Beach, trendy cafes offer creative takes like mango bingsu or injeolmi (roasted soybean) bingsu.

Busan is a premier coastal culinary destination famous for fresh seafood, including raw fish (hwe) and spicy stew, at Jagalchi Market. Essential local specialties include dwaeji gukbap (rich pork soup), milmyeon (cold wheat noodles), and Busan-style tteokbokki. Don’t miss chimaek (chicken and beer) and grilled eel.

Fresh Seafood & Raw Fish (Hwe): Visit Jagalchi Market to select live seafood like king crab, octopus, or abalone for immediate preparation.

Grilled Eel (Jangeo-gui): A specialty coastal dish, particularly in areas like Jagalchi Market or Cheongsapo.
Nakji-bokkeum (Stir-fried Octopus): Spicy and savory seafood often served in bustling markets.

Hagfish 꼼장어 (or Penis fish)

Raw Octopus 산낙지 at 전주횟집

Marinated Duck 오리불고기 at 가야공원

Octopus, Intestine & Shrimp Stew 낙곱새 at 원조 조방낙지

Ginseng Chicken Soup 삼계탕 at 배종관동래삼계탕

Marinated Braised Ribs with Cheese 치즈등갈비 at 등짝

Raw Fish 회 at 민락 수변공원

Sliced Pork 족발 at 원조부산족발

Beef Tripe Hot Pot 곱창전골 at 부평양곱창

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