Busan in 2 Days: Itinerary

Busan in 2 Days: an itinerary to see the best things to do in Korea's second-largest city, as well as what you can skip, based on my 10 trips to Korea.

Busan, a vibrant coastal city in South Korea is the country's second-largest city, right after Seoul, and definitely worth visiting at least once! (I've been several times.)

The city's bustling port, beautiful beaches, remnants of the Korean War, and rejuvenated shanty towns such as Gamcheon Culture Village showcase a unique blend of past and present. However, it's a huge sprawling metropolis that can be difficult to navigate (and take a lot of time to get from one attraction to another.)

I've arrange the top things to do in Busan in a logistically-logical order below i.e. I've grouped them by proximity. (Some itineraries can waste so much time traveling from one place to the other, then backtracking again!)

To make the most of your 2 days in Busan, scroll on below! (If you are only in Busan for 1 day, here's a good one day itinerary for you. For those with more time, here's a 3 day Busan itinerary.)

If you're on a budget, click here for a list of free things to do in Busan.

Morning: Gamcheon Culture Village

Start the day at Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan's top attraction on TripAdvisor, and one of my favorite things to see in Busan. (This way you get to avoid the crowds too.)

This place is often referred to as the Machu Picchu or Santorini of Busan. It's not hard to see why!

Nestled on a steep mountainside- it's a great place to work off calories- the vibrant houses are a remarkable contrast to the city's urban landscape. Everywhere you turn, you'll see some sort of art: sculptures or bright murals. Which makes it even more amazing that the area used to be a Korean refugee shanty town before it was revitalised!

You also get an amazing view all the way to the waters from some of the viewpoints.

Some people find it too touristy but the original residents actually still live in the village. It is true that if you enter from the main entrance, you'll be met with a cacophony of shops and cafes, which do feel a bit kitschy. But persevere and you'll see its charm!

Note: if you want to eat Korean food in the village, there's a  Seolleongtan restaurant (Ox bone soup.)

You can get here by taking the metro to Toseong station. From there, you will need to change to a bus. If you have the budget, or aren't an adventurous traveller, I recommend taking a taxi, as the bus is a little confusing.

Afternoon: Jagalchi Fish Market

Make your way to Jagalchi Fish Market when you're finished at Gamcheon Culture Village. Whilst it may seem more logical to start your day at the seafood market:

1. Gamcheon closes early
2. In terms of traveling time, Jagalchi is closer to Nampo, so it doesn't make sense to go from Jagalchi to Gamcheon and then trace your steps back to Nampo again.

The ground floor is full of live seafood stalls- seafood is one of the must-eat foods in Busan since it's a coastal city. You will see super fresh octopuses- I saw one so energetic it was banging its head against its small tank every few seconds!

You can also buy dried Korea seafood on the upper floors to bring home if you want to cook Korean food. Or order the seafood from the stalls, have it set to the "restaurants" upstairs, and enjoy Busan's freshest seafood. (Note there are 2 charges: 1 for the seafood, 1 for cooking.)

Tip: wear closed shoes to avoid wet feet!

Evening: Biff Square/ Nampo OR Seomyeon/ Jeonpo

In the evening, it's time for some shopping and relaxation.

You have the choice of 2 places in central Busan:

• BIFF Square and Nampo
• OR Seomyeon Underground Shopping Centre and Jeonpo Cafe Street (my preference)

Personally, I found BIFF Square quite boring and the atmosphere at Nampo quite lacking. (Perhaps the tourist crowds had not returned when I visited in 2023- although Seomyeon Underground was PACKED.) However, I'll let you decide for yourself.

BIFF Square/ Nampo

BIFF stands for Busan International Film Festival, by the way. When it's not the film festival, it's just a regular downtown area.

Here you'll find some street food, including Busan's famous ssiatt hotteok (a sweet pancake stuffed with nuts, but not as tasty at the regular hotter in my opinion.)

At Nampo, you'll find shops (above ground)- both Korean and International brands.

You're also close to Gukje Market, is a good place to pick up Korean souvenirs, such as traditional Korean clothing (hanbok), food, and local handicrafts.

Seomyeon/ Jeonpo

Seomyeon is a bit different- the shops are all underground! (Underground malls are a big part of Korean life.) It's mostly Korean fashion and Korean skincare for the young and trendy, but you can also find ahjumma fashion closely (Bujeon Mall, connected to Seomyeon Underground Shopping Centre.)

For those who want better quality goods, Seomyeon Underground is also linked to Lotte Department Stall and Lotte Duty Free Shop! (There is also a foodcourt and supermarket inside where you can stock up on Korean snacks. The food court is popular- it has korean and international cuisines- but I found it not as good as regular Korean street food, to be honest. There is only one eatery in Seomyeon Underground, besides Lotte Food Court, but there are more restaurants above ground, outside Lotte.)

Relatively close by is Jeonpo Cafe Street 전포 카페거리, also known as Seomyeon Cafe Street, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Seomyeon. It's full of cool cafes, and was featured in the New York Times in 2017, as one of the top 52 places to visit in the world, making it a popular destination for both locals and foreign tourists.(Much better than Seomyeon Market!)

However, I'll be honest- the streets are quite unimpressive. You need to enter the cafes and shops to see its charm. (i.e. spend money.)

Early Lunch at Gorasea Fishcake

Note: some people like to go to Yongdusan Park and the Busan Tower for the view, but I personally don't find it worth paying for. You can see an equally good- and free-view from many other parts of the city, such as Lotte Department Centre.

Did you know that Korean fishcake (eomuk) originated in Busan?

So it's a must-try when you're in the area! They have SO many flavours, and so many shops dedicated to fishcake! You'll need to eat a few sticks to feel full. If you decide to eat them on the premises, there's a microwave to heat them up, and don't forget to help yourself to the free soup!

Since we're going to Haeundae Beach in the afternoon, I thought a stop at Gorasea Fishcake, next to Haeundae subway station, would make sense logistically. (If time is not an issue, I actually prefer to go to Samjin Eomuk- however, it is located in Yeongdo-gu, so too much time would be wasted traveling. If you do want to go to Samjin Eomuk, I suggest combining it with Songdo Beach (Korea's first public beach) and Taejeongdae, a beautiful nature park. I loved Taejeongdae but left it out of this itinerary because it's really far out, and you already see a lot of the coast at Haeundae etc.)

We're making it an early lunch because there's just too much to fit in near Haeundae!

Tip: you can even buy the fishcakes vacuum packed to bring home with you!

Afternoon: Haeundae Beach

After lunch, take a short walk down to Haeundae Beach, Busan's most famous beach. There is a long promenade along the sand for you to stroll. (But not much else to do, unless you visit in summer, or in the evening, where you'll find lots of buskers and street performers out and about.)

This is basically Busan's poshest stretch- you'll find tons of 5-star hotels, such as Signiel Busan, here. They all have lovely restaurants with great ocean views but some of the prices can be horrific- I paid US$50 for a bowl of shaved ice at Park Hyatt! (Korean bingsu. The waitress recommended it so I ordered it without asking for the price, because I thought, how much can shaved ice cost? Now I know...)

Note: some food items at Korean hotels can be ridiculously expensive. Now I know hotels everywhere aren't cheap, but some items are much more expensive in Korean hotels than hotels elsewhere. Such as the shaved ice I mentioned above! Similarly, at Shilla Jeju, we paid almost US$20 for a CUP of tea- not a pot!

I suggest taking a walk along the coast. Those feeling lazier can take the Beach Train or Sky Capsule. (The latter is easier to get tickets for, but the latter offers a better view. Click the link to find out more about the different options.)

Alternatively, you can have a walk along the other end of Haendae Beach, around Dongbaek Island. (Read more about it through the link.)

Afternoon: Gijang Haenyeo Village (yeonhwari hoetchon village) (기장해녀촌(연화리횟촌)

Haeundae is near Gijang Haenyeo village (yeonhwari hoetchon village) (기장해녀촌(연화리횟촌.) Haenyeo are Korea's famous women divers who dive to catch seafood without wearing diving equipment. They're more famous in Jeju but you find them in Busan too. It's a difficult skill to master so the number of haenyeos decrease every year, and I recommend going to the village whilst you can!

If you have space, buy some of their fresh catch for your afternoon tea.

Sunset: Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

After that, head to one of Korea's most stunning temples, Haedong Yonggungsa, which is located by the sea. (It's not close to the subway, so it's easier to get there by taxi.)

Perched on the rocky shores, this sacred place blends seamlessly with nature and offers the most stunning ocean views. I can spend hours here enjoying the great view!

Note: It's very popular for Koreans to watch the sunset here on New Year's Day so the temple is super packed (and noisy) then- don't expect it to be tranquil!

Evening: Gwangalli Beach OR Korean Sauna

For dinner and the rest of the evening, you can head to another beach (Gwangalli Beach), to see the light show of Gwangan Bridge. (This is one of Korea's most famous bridges.) There are lots of cute eateries in this area.

Alternatively, if you've had enough of the beach, head to Shinsegae Centum City (신세계 센텀시티)- it's the world's largest shopping complex so you'll find all the food and shops you could want here.

Best of all, it has a great Jjimjibang (Korean Sauna which involves taking of ALL your clothes, by the way), Spa Land Centum City.

Must-Try Foods

Some of Busan's famous local foods that I recommend you try include:

• fresh seafood at the Jagalchi Fish Market: Make sure you check the prices first- there is a charge for the seafood and a charge for cooking, something that shocks many tourists and makes them feel "cheated." (There have been several reports of tourists feeling cheated when eating street food in Busan, so always check the price before ordering.) A few of the famous Korean seafood dishes are abalone porridge and Hoe 회 (Korean sashimi- click here to learn more about Japanese food vs Korean food.) However, both can be a bit hard to stomach for those not used to Korean food. I suggest starting with something "easy" such as Korean fishcake and braised octopus before becoming more adventurous!
• Dwaeji Gukbap (돼지국밥): this is a pork soup and rice dish invented after the Korean War- due to the poverty back then, it was made using all the unwanted ingredients of the US army i.e. the pork bones. One of the best places to eat it is Seomyeon Market- it is a popular Korean breakfast, actually, and was featured in the popular 2024 K-drama, Marry My Husband. (If you can't take spice, here some non-spicy Korean foods for you.)
• Milmyeon: this noodle dish is similar to Naeng Myeon (Korean cold noodles). There is a wet version (with soup) and a dry version (with a spicy Gochujang Sauce.)
• Eomuk (어묵): Korean fishcake originated in Busan so it's a must try food here!
• octopus and other street food, such as kimbap rice rolls - you can find this almost everywhere, from convenience stores to Bupyeong Kkangtong Market or Gukje Market

Korean must-try foods (i.e. not local to Busan but delicious):

• Haemul Pajeon: this seafood pancake is soft and crispy all at the same time!
• Chimaek: Korean fried chicken and beer!
• Kimbap: it's like savory sushi, and not expensive!

For a more complete list of what to eat in Busan (and what not to), click here.

Short Trips from Busan

For those who want to see more of Korea, here are some options for you:

• Jeju Island, a small island off the coast, offers picturesque landscapes and unique cultural experiences. With volcanic craters, lush green tea fields, and pristine beaches, this island is the perfect place to see more untouched nature. (To understand how Jeju differs from Busan, click here.) You will need to take a plane ride from Busan.
• On the other hand, Gyeongju presents a dive into Korea's rich history. The ancient capital of the Silla dynasty, this UNESCO site has many relics from the Silla dynasty, allowing visitors to walk through living history. It is easily accessible from Gyeongju and the perfect day trip.
• Seoul: Only 2 to 3 hours from Busan (depending on what type of ticket you buy), this is an easy day trip from Busan.

Shopping: Where to Go

Depending on what you want to buy, Busan has several places to shop at:

• Gukje Market: this sprawling market is the perfect place to try Korean street food, buy local souvenirs, such as fans and hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) and snacks.
• Nampo-dong: it was pretty deserted when I visited in April 2023, despite the fact that it was a weekend night. I didn't feel inspired to shop when there and some of the shops were less than honest about their sample policies. (E.g. they said they don't do tax-free shopping and thus would give more extra gifts. In the end, not a single sample was given for a purchase of 70,000 won. When I questioned it (politely), I was brushed off!)
• Seomyeon Underground Mall: this is my favorite place to get skincare and beauty products in Busan. There's more of a buzz and the shops are more generous with samples than at Nampo-dong. (In fact, it can get a bit too crowded over the weekend.)
• Lotte Department Store: if you're looking for foreign brands and designer goods,

Nightlife

Like Seoul, Busan, South Korea's vibrant coastal city, never sleeps.  

Popular areas such as Seomyeon, Haeundae, and Gwangalli come alive with neon lights, inviting clubs, and bars. (Remember to be careful if you're a single female traveling alone- many Korean guys are NOT like the male leads in Korean dramas, especially if you're a white female!)

Getting There

You can get to Busan by:

• plane (many flights go to Busan's international airport. There's even a direct flight from Singapore to Busan!)
• ferry
• high-speed KTX train (from Seoul Station, it only takes 2+ hours- 3+ hours to reach Busan station, depending on what type of ticket you buy. The more expensive ticket is faster.)

Best Time to Visit

My favourite time to be in Korea is fall or spring, if you like cherry blossoms. Both seasons have the best weather for exploring, but there's less air pollution in fall.

Getting Around: Transportation Tips

I found that getting around Busan was both an adventure and a breeze:

• metro: the subway works best for those on a budget. However, not all places have a train station- for example, there isn't one near Songdo Cloud Trails.
• buses: The steep, winding roads, and drivers can be a menace, to be honest. I was almost flung off my seat several times. Unfortunately, there are some tourist attractions, such as Gamcheon Cultural Village, that the subway does not directly serve, so you'll still need to take a bus (or taxi) to get there.
• taxis: very reasonably priced for a major city. You may want to download a taxi app to make your time in Busan easier.

Tip: carry a card with the names of the places you want to get to written in Korean, as many taxi drivers do not speak or understand English.

Any questions about how to spend 2 days in Busan? Leave a comment below!