Beaches, Markets and Korea's Own Santorini
Busan blends vibrant coastal energy with mountain temples, colourful neighbourhoods, fresh seafood markets and beautiful beaches
Busan is South Korea's answer to a city that works equally well as a beach holiday and a cultural one – in the best possible way. It's where the fishing boats still come in each morning at Jagalchi Market, just a short taxi ride from a hillside village painted in pastel colours and a stretch of golden sand that fills up every summer.
We love how much contrast the city manages to hold. Haeundae Beach has been drawing crowds since it officially opened to the public in 1965, and today welcomes over ten million visitors a season, while a few kilometres away, Gamcheon Culture Village couldn't feel more different – a maze of pastel-painted homes and quiet alleyways that has earned it the nickname 'Korea's Santorini'.
For food, Jagalchi Market is unmissable. It remains one of the best places in the country to see the day's catch sold fresh straight from the boats, and wandering the stalls is as much a part of the Busan experience as any museum or monument.
Culturally, Gamcheon Culture Village tells one of the city's most interesting stories. It began life in 1955, when around 800 refugee families settled on the hillside above the port following the Korean War, and it wasn't until 2009 that an arts renovation project transformed those same pastel homes into the galleries, murals and alleyways visitors wander today.
And when you want to slow down, Taejongdae Resort Park at the tip of Yeongdo Island delivers exactly that. A 4km trail winds past rocky coastline, pebble beaches and forest, past the 35-metre Yeongdo Lighthouse – built in 1906 and the oldest in Busan – with a little Danubi train on hand if you'd rather not walk the whole loop.
Getting there and around is easy too. The KTX connects Seoul to Busan in as little as two hours and eight minutes, and once you're here, the city's metro (four lines and 114 stations) links most of the places worth seeing, even if the airport itself needs a short transfer to reach.
Get in touch with our South Korea team today to start planning your perfect Busan itinerary.
Busan Trip Inspiration
Best places to stay in Busan
Top places to visit in South Korea
Types of South Korea vacations
Speak to a South Korea expert today
and start planning your tailor-made vacation
Sophie
South Korea Expert