Things to do in Busan

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Busan travel guide

Busan which includes a bridge, a river or creek and landscape views

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Top places to visit

1. Gwangalli Beach

Gwangalli Beach is an urban beach well-known for its fine sand and clean, swimmable water. It sits in an attractive bay while looking out across the Sea of Japan to a famous bridge. Gwangalli Beach is a hive of activity from early in the morning until long into the night. Find traditional Korean barbecue restaurants, a fish market, amusement park and concert stage.

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Gwangalli Beach which includes general coastal views, a high-rise building and a beach

2. Haeundae Beach

On sunny days in July and August, Haeundae Beach is the most popular spot in Busan. Fields of colorful umbrellas line the entire 0.9-mile (1.5-kilometer) stretch. Masses of visitors float on bright yellow tubes. Regularly, more than 100,000 people come here each day during the summer. On particularly hot days, the beach has hosted up to a million sun worshipers, making it as much a place to people-watch as a place to swim.

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Haeundae Beach featuring a coastal town and a beach

3. Shinsegae Centum City

Shinsegae means “new world,” an appropriate description for this 14-floor, all-encompassing department store. Officially the largest department store in the world, Shinsegae Centum City offers the hottest brands, the finest foods and numerous entertainment and relaxation options.

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Shinsegae Centum City showing shopping and interior views

4. Songjeong Beach

Discover a relaxed coastal atmosphere at Songjeong Beach. Join the hordes of local families that come to relish in the beach’s calm water and gorgeous sand. Dabble in watersports, go fishing and be part of vibrant festivals. Songjeong Beach is the quieter and less commercial option to the nearby, developed resort of Haeundae Beach.

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Songjeong Beach showing general coastal views, kite surfing and a sandy beach

5. Songdo Beach

Join the city residents and tourists that escape the sweltering summer heat of downtown Busan at Songdo Beach. Created in 1913 and upgraded in the 2000s, Songdo Beach is Korea’s first public beach. The name Songdo means pine island and is a reference to pine forests that were once thought to flourish in the area. It presents a quieter coastal experience to Busan’s other beaches such as Gwangalli Beach and Haeundae Beach.

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Songdo Beach showing a coastal town, a bridge and a city

6. Dadaepo Beach

Dadaepo Beach is Busan’s most famous stretch of sand. Join locals at this delightful beach where the waters are shallow and gentle, there are plenty of facilities and the scenery is beautiful. There is also the rather impressive Dadaepo Sunset Fountain of Dream spectacle to enjoy too.

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Dadaepo Beach featuring outdoor art, general coastal views and a sunset

7. Jagalchi Fish Market

Whether you’re in the mood for seafood or not, a walk through the Jagalchi Market is an enjoyable sensory experience. Visiting the sprawling multistory market is like exploring an aquarium without the glass walls. Octopi splash from buckets. Escaped fish flip on the pavement. However, there’s one important difference; everything at Jagalchi Market is destined to be someone’s meal. Jagalchi Market is the largest seafood market in South Korea. It will take an afternoon to fully explore. Be sure to tour both the outdoor section along the port and the indoor section in the massive market hall.

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Jagalchi Fish Market showing markets and food

8. Gukje Market

Prepare yourself for a sensory overload at Gukje Market. This vast street market has hundreds of shops packed tightly together along a network of both covered and open-air lanes. Browse for electronics, fashion trends and sundry household goods. Enjoy the traditional flavors of Korean snacks. Gukje Market began during the Korean War of the early 1950s when refugees sold their wares as a way to make a living.

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Gukje Market featuring interior views and markets as well as a small group of people

Popular places to visit

Gwangalli Beach

4.5/5(13 reviews)

Swim in the calm water of a sheltered bay, dine at waterfront seafood bars and see uninterrupted views of Gwangan Bridge.

Haeundae Beach

4.5/5(20 reviews)

Let your cares float away while you bob on a tube just off Korea’s most famous beach, where locals and tourists come to see and be seen.

Shinsegae Centum City

4/5(10 reviews)

Pull on ice skates, practice your golf swing or slip into a spa at the world’s largest department store. You’ll find great shopping and dining too, of course.

Songjeong Beach

4.5/5(2 reviews)

Enjoy swimming, surfing and live music events during the warm summer months at this quiet beach situated on Busan’s east coast.

Songdo Beach

4.5/5(3 reviews)

Fine golden sand, lively restaurants, a sky walk and lively music festivals make this a popular beach in southern Busan.

Dadaepo Beach

Head to Busan’s most popular beach for a day of swimming, building sand castles and watching the impressive musical fountain show.

Jagalchi Fish Market

4/5(16 reviews)

Sample the fruits of the sea at this sprawling fish market, the largest in South Korea.

Gukje Market

4/5(17 reviews)

Shop for clothing, homeware and souvenirs and sample typical Korean street food at this sprawling and lively market that is popular with locals.

Paradise Casino

4/5(5 reviews)

After a day on the beach, relax with table games and slot machines at a small casino near the area’s restaurants and bars, not far from the ocean.

Areas of Busan

Haeundae

Haeundae Beach and Paradise Casino are top sights in Haeundae, and you should be sure to explore the stunning beaches. Hop aboard the metro at Haeundae Station or Jung-dong Station to see more sights in the area.

Busan Citizens Park featuring heritage elements, a garden and wild flowers

Seomyeon

Travellers choose Seomyeon for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Buam Station or Gaya Station and check out top sights like Lotte Department Store Busan Main Branch.

Jung District which includes night scenes, a river or creek and a bridge

Jung-gu

Spend some time visiting places like Gwangalli Beach while getting to know Jung-gu, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Jungang Station or Nampo Station to see more of the area.

Yeongdo

You'll enjoy the restaurants and museums in Yeongdo. You might want to make time for a stop at Taejongdae Park or Huinnyeoul Culture Village.

Gwangalli Beach showing general coastal views, a sandy beach and a coastal town

Suyeong-Gu

Noted for its beaches and bars, there's plenty to explore in Suyeong-Gu. Top attractions like Gwangalli Beach and Gwangan Grand Bridge are major draws, and you can hop on the metro at Gwangan Station or Suyeong Station to see more of the city.

Busan showing a bridge, rocky coastline and general coastal views

Nam-gu

Get to know Nam-gu and its many features like its restaurants and museums. You might want to explore sights like Oryukdo Skywalk and Igidae Park, and you can jump on the metro at Kyungsung University- Pukyong National University Station or Daeyeon Station to get around the city.

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Things to do in Busan

Visit Busan