Walled by lavish mountains on one side and the breezy sea on the other, and with an urban sprawl all over the city, Busan in South Korea emits an interesting aura of a "homely" city.
The "summer capital" of Korea is where you’ll find the country’s largest beach, longest river and most beautiful natural landscapes.
It is also host for the world famous Busan International Film Festival. With inviting smiles from its warm residents and pleasant weather all year long, it is not surprising that this second largest city in South Korea is a top holiday spot for locals and tourists alike.
Top 10 Must Do’s 
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
As far as Buddhist temples go, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple stands out from its contemporaries. Perched on a rocky coastline, the beautiful architecture is a rare find right by the seaside.
The main deity here is the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, who resides in the sea and it is believed that saying her name over and over again while you are here will result in good fortune.
Nurimaru APEC House
Built for the APEC Conference in 2005, this Nurimaru APEC House is truly an architecture delight and a symbol of Busan. The concept was inspired by the ‘pavilion’, a traditional Korean summer house and complementing the scenic atmosphere are stunning views of Haeundae Beach and the Gwangandaegyo Bridge from afar.
The house is located in the picturesque Dongbaekseom Island.
Jagalchi Fish Market
Welcome to Jagalchi Fish Market, the largest seafood market in Korea – the local equivalent of Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market. Thousands of stalls with tonnes of fish that come and go every day, making it one of the most exciting places to be in Busan.
Have your seafood cleaned and cooked on the spot, or have it prepared raw to be consumed as sashimi. Yums!
Haeundae Beach
Korea’s most famous Haeundae beach is where the excitement is for some jet skiing, surfing and fun frolicking in the sun!
The fun doesn’t stop there! Get even closer to the rich marine kingdom in Korea’s largest aquarium, located right by the beach itself, boasting an impressive 80-meter underwater tunnel and a larger-than-life simulator!
Busan Tower
If you didn’t get to catch Seoul’s N Seoul Tower, the Busan Tower is a popular tourist attraction as well! Located in the pleasant Yongdusan Park, the 118-meter tall tower offers a spectacular panoramic view of the entire city.
Seal your love with the padlock-adorned fences around the tower, or feed the resident pigeons with corn. You can take the hillside escalator up to the tower.
Haeundae Beach
A favourite pastime among the locals during the summer is to get the whole family together and flock over to the warm waters of Haeundae Beach to jetski, surf and frolic the day away!
Dongnae Pajeon
Traditional food has never tasted as good as Dongnae Pajeon (Busan pancake). This recipe is over 100 years old, consisting of leek, oysters, shrimps, beef, egg, rice, glutinous rice, kelp, anchovy, mussels, clams and 10 different kinds of seasoning!
Beomeosa Temple
Behold the magnificent sight of one of the country’s greats, the Beomeosa Temple (Temple of the Nirvana Fish) which has been around for more than 1,300 years.
Visitors with zen meditation in mind may seek enlightenment here.
Busan Port Boat Tour
Chill out with Busan Port Boat Tour as you catch the hustle of the busy harbour that plays an important part to the city’s livelihood.
Hurshimchung Spa
South Korean’s milky white skin that we all admire is the product of hard work and care done by spas, such as Hurshimchung Spa where their hot springs and strawberry milk-baths will leave your skin baby smooth.
Quick Facts about Busan
Transportation to and from Airport| Type | Duration | Fare |
|---|---|---|
| Bus | All day | Starts from 6,000 Won |
| Taxi | All day | Starts from 20,000 Won |
| Train (Busan Light Rail) | Every 15 minutes | Starts from 3,700 Won |
Quick Facts| Currency | South Korean Won (KRW) |
| Electricity | 220V AC 60Hz  |
| Language | Korean |
| Time zone | GMT +9 hours |
| Telephone code | +82 2 |
| Religion | Buddhism and Christianity |
WeatherDEC – FEB
Winter, -3°C to -6°C
Pack your winter coats, as it’ll be icy cold out!
MAR – MAY
Spring, 9°C to 18°C
Blue skies all around but bring a light jacket for sightseeing. Best time to visit as it’s during the Cherry Blossom Festival
JUN – AUG
Summer, 22°C to 26°C
Temperatures begin to rise during summer so make sure you bring sunscreen. Dirnk plenty of water.
SEP – OCT
Autumn, 18°C to 25°C
Great time to view gorgeous falling leaves and sightseeing.
Need a visa to visit South Korea?
Check out Korea Visa & Passports official website.
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