Traveling to South Korea but on a budget? Busan, Korea's second city, is slightly cheaper than Seoul. If that's not enough, here's a list of free things to do in Busan!
Busan, South Korea is a coastal city where you can find traditional life, stunning natural beauty, and urban vistas. There's a lot to offer visitors, free or otherwise! (If you're only in Busan for a day or two, you need to be more discerning with what you do: these are the things to do in Busan that I DON'T recommend to friends and family!
If you're in Busan in April, click for a list of the month's festivals!
Free Activities
Gamcheon Cultural Village
Address: 부산광역시 사하구 감내2로 203 (감천동) | 203, Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, Busan
This colourful, rejuvenated war refugee village is an Instagrammer's delight and has great views all the way to the waters. There's no entrance fee, and you can easily spend a few hours exploring the (free to see) artworks and murals. Click through for a complete review of Gamcheon Village. (Of course, if you want to enter a cafe or buy a Korean souvenir, there would be a charge!)
Note: if you want an easier way to visit Gamcheon, there are of course tours that will take you to Gamcheon Cultural Village (for a price!) I'm actually not averse to paying for such a tour- especially if travelling with serniors- as I found getting to Gamcheon by bus a little confusing. (There were several other tourists looking lost, so I wasn't the only one.) It's more straightforward to get there by subway.
Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Another rejuvenated war refugee settlement, this culture village is slightly off the beaten track. Like Gamcheon, there's no entrance fee.
It's not as famous but still very much worth including on your Busan itinerary.
It's located by the sea with shops, cafes, and mural art. You can enjoy a (free) walk along the waters.
A popular attraction nearby is the Huinnyeoul Coastal Tunnel. This cave tunnel has wall art and photo ops.
Jeoryeong Coastal Walk
Offers peaceful walks along the water, ideal for sunset views.
Songdo Beach
Opened in 1913, this peaceful beach is great for a sunny day or to watch the sunset. At night, you'll often enjoy a free fireworks show, thanks to youngsters and couples who set off fireworks and sparklers.
For a full list of Songdo Beach restaurants and things to do, click here.
Cloud Trails
You can also take a stroll along the cloud trails walkway, and walk to nearby Turtle Island.
Songdo Bay Station
While the cable car ride requires a ticket, the nearby skywalk viewing deck is free and offers beautiful sea views.
Bosu Dong Book Street
An alley filled with bookstores, created during the Korean War as a place for the population to access books. A must visit for booklovers!
Millak Waterside Park (민락수변공원)
Located between Haeundae and Gwangalli Beach, Millak Waterside Park offers great views and a place to relax (especially at night.) If you're in Korea in the fall, don't forget to visit for the Busan Fireworks Festival.
When the tide is high, you can sit on the platform and dip your feet in the water! A great way to cool off in Busan in summer.
Gwangalli Beach
Another of Busan's famous beaches, Gwangalli is known for its view of the Gwangan Bridge, which is especially beautiful at night with colorful lights and fireworks.
Jagalchi Market
Korea's most famous market for fresh fish and seafood, with a variety of stalls and food options. Ordering the seafood is not cheap- fresh seafood is one of the best things to eat in Busan, in my opinion- but exploring and taking photos is free!
It closes on some Tuesdays/ Wednesdays so check with your hotel concierge before you head down.
Tip: Some tourists have experienced unpleasantness here due to miscommunication over the pricing so always double-check before you order/ eat. Note that Korean can sometimes leave out the 3 zeros in 1000 Won. (Eg. 1000 Won is sometimes written as just 1)
Tip: head up to the restaurant floor to see a (free) view of the waters!
Haeundae Beach
Korea's most famous beach, Haeundae Beach is famous for its night-time beach activities, summertime concerts/events, and festivals such as the Sand Festival in May. (Click through for a full review of Haeundae Beach and whether it's worth visiting.)
Haeundae Green Railway
Thanks to TikTok, Busan's Sky Capsule is insta-famous. It's a beautiful way to watch the sunset but sadly not free. Instead, why not walk the Green Railway- you'll see the same beautiful waters as the passengers in the Sky Capsule/ Beach Train, just from a lower viewpoint.
Still one of my favorite Busan attractions!
Note: if you want to take the (not free) Sky Capsule, you may want to check out this Gamcheon-Haeundae Sky Capsule package as it includes Sky Capsule tickets. (They're a pain to buy if you don't have a local Korean number/ card- you can read all about it in the link under the photo above.)
Dongbaekseom/Dongbaek Island (동백공원)
Not a true island but a beautiful area with camellia and pine trees behind The Westin Chosen at one end of Haeundae Beach. You can easily spend an hour or two strolling here.
There is even a badminton court! Click through for the complete list of what to do on Dongbaek Island, Busan.
Taejeongdae
This is a coastal park with lots of pine trees in Yeongdo-gu- it's like a larger and more magnificent version of Dongbaek Island, in my opinion. Entering and hiking through it is free, though there is a charge if you want to take the train.
Busan Observatory Deck, Lotte Mall
Instead of splurging at Busan Tower, enjoy the view from the (free) Observatory Deck at Lotte Mall in Jung-gu instead! The platform has several levels, one of which has a garden.You'll be able to see all the way to the harbor.
Address: 2 Jungang-daero, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Opening Hours: 10.30 am to 8.30 or 8 pm (depending on the day. Note that Lotte Mall is closed for 1-2 days a month, so check it's open before you go!)
Note: there are 2 Lotte malls in Busan, so make sure you go to the right one (the other doesn't have a viewing platform.) It's about a half-hour walk from BIFF Square.
Seniors will be happy to hear that there are benches on the decks for you to rest.
Busan Museum (부산박물관)
Not far from the UN Cemetery is Busan Museum, where you can learn more about Busan. Some of the exhibits have English descriptions and there's no charge to enter!
Keep in mind that the last entry is 1 hour before closing time, so don't get there too late!
Seniors may want to bring a foldable chair, as there are not many places to sit in the museum. There are lockers where you can drop off your stuff before walking around though!
Busan Museum of Art (부산시립미술관)
Entry is free but alas the Museum of Art was temporarily closed in December 2023 for renovations.
Explore traditional markets
Busan has its fair share of traditional markets, such as Gukje Market. Browsing and soaking in the atmosphere, and taking nice photos are all free.
Oryukdo Skywalk
A transparent U-shaped pathway giving the illusion of walking in the air, over the waters!
UN Memorial Cemetery (재한유엔기념공원 (UN기념공원))
A park and cemetery for UN soldiers who sacrificed themselves in the Korean War, you'll find citizens of 11 nations, such as the US and UK, resting here.
There were initially 11,000 people laid to rest here, before 2,300 were repatriated home.
Yongdusan Park 용두산공원
Address: 부산광역시 중구 용두산길 37-55 (광복동2가) | 37-55, Yongdusan-gil, Jung-gu, Busan
Busan Tower (ticketed) is located in this park, which is set on one of Busan's 3 mountains.
The Park also hosts many festivals, such as oseon Tongsinsa Festival Parade Reenactment.
Note that there are stairs in the park, so you can't get a wheelchair through.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Known for its beautiful landscape and being one of the few temples almost directly on the water.
Note that this coastal temple is located a bit out of the center of Busan, so it may cost you a bit more to get to (if you decide to take a taxi.)
Beomeosa Temple (범어사(부산))
Located in the mountains, on the slopes of Geumjeongsan mountain, Beomeosa is one of Korea's most famous temples. It was built in the 7th century.
The temple also offers a temple stay programme, which is not free.
BIFF Square
You can also walk around the famous Busan International Film Festival Square (but honestly it's not worth it)- the atmosphere isn't as fun as MyeongDong in Seoul or Hongdae.
Stop by if you're visiting Jagalchi (they're close to each other) but don't make a special visit.
Expert Tips from my (approx) 10 Korean Holidays
- Plan ahead: Even before you set foot in Busan, consider securing travel insurance for your South Korea trip. This can save you not just money, but also peace of mind.
- Embrace the Culture: Respect the local Korean culture (for example, preferably no revealing tops but short skirts are OK), taste the street food etc. If you are planning to fit a lot of attractions into your time in Busan, a Visit Busan Tour Pass will help you save money (if you plan well.)
- Bring Walking Shoes: There's a lot of walking to do in Korea and Busan is particularly hilly- I've worn out more than 1 pair of shoes there! (You can see how hilly it is for yourself below)
Questions about free things to do in Busan? Let me know in the comments!
Leave a Reply