Gamcheon Cultural Village 감천문화마을 was one of my favorite things to do in Busan- I loved the uplifting story of urban regeneration- but I must admit, with its steep streets, it's not for everyone. Scroll down to see what you need to know before you visit, and whether it's a place you'll enjoy!
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Gamcheon Cultural Village 감천문화마을, also known as the Santorini or Machu Picchu or Busan, is one of the top things to do in Busan. (However, don't expect it to be anything like Santorini or Machu Picchu- it's not really an area of natural beauty (the rainbow houses that it's famous for are man-made, after all)- the similarity is only the steepness of the areas!)
It consists of colorful houses lying on a steep slope, built along the side of a mountain- the houses actually used to be part of a shanty town, and lots of refugees settled there after the Korean war, so the paths through the village are narrow and winding.
They were gentrified by the local government working with local artists, so you'll find many bright murals and artworks as you wander through the village. Seeing how the village has been rejuvenated is such an inspiring story of hope!
Unlike many tourist attractions, there are actual Korean people still living in the village- it's not just a place for tourists! You'll see many elderly folk climbing the death-defying staircases, and there's a market in the centre of the village, where you can find shops people need for daily life (e.g. food shops etc.) Please remember to be considerate of the local residents when you visit 🙂
Note: the Village isn't very large, so you won't need tour guides to get around.
Should I Visit?
Most people love Gamcheon and its street art- it has a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor (over 3,000 reviews, at the time of writing) and 4.4 on Google (over 26,000 reviews.)
I personally enjoyed it enough to go TWICE (in spring- it's a bit too hot for all that climbing in the hot and humid Korean summer, in my opinion) but you'll see some negative reviews. (About 2% of the Tripadvisor reviews were poor/ terrible, and 11% average i.e. about 87% enjoyed it.)
If you don't enjoy walking, don't like shanty towns (albeit rejuvenated), and don't like crowds (parts of it, such as the main entrance, can be quite overrun by international visitors), you won't enjoy Gamcheon. The main entrance also feels a bit kitschy- too many tacky souvenir shops- but it gets much better if you persevere. It has cafes selling snacks and ice creams as well as restaurants, but is not the best place for Korean street food, in my opinion.
Gamcheon is free to visit. There is no entrance fee and exploring the village is one of my favorite ways to save money in Busan- but of course you'll have to pay if you decide to have a bite/ drink at one of it's cute cafes!
If you don't want to pay for the cafes- they're a bit pricier since this is a tourist attraction, after all- then it's mostly looking at colouful houses, artworks, and admiring the view. There are some free viewpoints where you can see all the way to the sea.
Gamcheon is extremely steep- if you have trouble walking, you'll struggle here, and may want to skip it or be prepared to not be able to see much. (It's not possible to push a wheelchair on some of the paths because they're too steep. There were some paths that I couldn't take, desipte not having mobility issues, as I have a fear of heights.) Even if you're fit, please remember to wear comfortable shoes with a good grip.
Getting There
Address: 203, Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, Busan 49368 South Korea
감천문화마을, 부산광역시 사하구 감내2로 203 (감천동)
There is more than one way to enter the village: you can walk upwards into the village, from a sort of abandoned carpark off the main road (where the bus from Songdo Beach stops) or you can walk downwards to the village, if you enter via the main entrance. The routes below all direct you to the main entrance. Scroll down for which is the best route for you.
Taxi
Remember to print out the Korean address in case you need to ask for directions!
One of the best ways to get to Gamcheon is by taxi as there is no subway station nearby and the bus is a bit confusing. It's not very clear where exactly to get off and, if you miss your stop, you may end up going back where you came from (down a VERY steep hill.)
A taxi ride will take about 10-15 mins from BIFF Square/ Jagalchi Market/ Jagalchi Station, 20-25 minutes from Busan Station, or 40-50 minutes from Haeundae Beach. (Give or take, depending on the traffic of course.)
If you're coming from afar, want to save some money, and don't mind a bit of a walk/ adventure, then the directions for public transportation are below.
Subway
Unfortunately, there is no subway station/ metro station right next to Gamcheon.
You will need to take the subway to Toseong Station, which is on line 1. Make your way out of the station via exit 6, walk straight to the first junction, then turn right onto Kkachigogae-ro- your bus stop is about 100-200 metres ahead. From there, take bus Sakha 1/1-1 to the Gamcheon Culture Village stop. The journey will take around 10-20 minutes. Once you alight, you need to walk backwards (i.e. in the direction your bus came from), turn left, and you'll reach the main entrance of Gamcheon Village.
Note: I am not giving bus directions, as it depends on where you're coming from! (There aren't many bus routes going to Gamcheon though, so the buses can be quite crowded.)
Opening Times
The village is open every day of the year.
As people actually live there, please be respectful and keep your visit within these hours (if you visit after the "closing time", the shops and cafes will be closed anyway. It can get a little eerie and deserted after hours, to be honest!)
March to October: 09:00–18:00
November to February: 09:00–17:00
Best Route to Take
There are several ways to enter Gamcheon Village:
- downwards from the main entrance (where the Gamcheon Culture Village Tourist Information Center is located): this is the main route that most tourists take. It can feel like Gamcheon is just for tourists, since all the cafes and souvenir shops are concentrated there.
- upwards: the entrance is a bit hidden. It's behind an abandoned-looking car park, which is where the bus from Songdo Beach to Gamcheon drops you off at. I actually prefer this route, as I feel you get more surprised by the artwork, and you see more of the real village life. (However, mind you the village will feel extremely deserted at first, as you'll be passing the residential area and not see any shops/ cafes for quite a bit. Inititally I thought I had gone the wrong way!)
What To Expect
Points of Interest
- The Little Prince statue is one of the most famous attractions in the village. Honestly, I thought it was overrated. It's just a sculpture of the little prince, albeit with a great view. Pretty, yes, but not pretty enough to queue up for a photo (as you'll need to do.)
- There are so many other spots with a good view in the village, such as a traditional Korean wooden pavilion (the type you see in the K-dramas.)
- Other murals and sculptures: If you're a BTS fan, there's one of Jungkook and Jimin, who are from Busan. There's also a huge electric guitar, a shoal of fish, a Lighthouse, etc!
- There is also a small museum in the village.
- Gamcheon Market: it's a very small version of a Korean market, but I thought it was fun to have a look at, because it makes Gamcheon feel more "real" (and not like it's just built for tourists!)
- “The Stair to See Stars” or 148 Stairs is infamous because even the locals get dizzy climbing the steep stairs!
There are many cafes and shops. Most of the shops near the entrance sell mass-made Korean souvenirs.
If you walk deeper the village, you'll find some more unique pieces, such as handmade jewelry. In Gamcheon Market, I even found a Korean girl selling a book she'd written about her adventure moving to the States!
There are some narrow streets, but most are a decent width. (The paths in Huinnyeoul Culture Village are much squeezer!)
Note: some tourists like to rent traditional hanbok to wear round the village.
If you don't want the typical cafe food (the raindrop cake is very popular), walk to the middle of the village and you'll find some traditional Korean restaurants. I had a decent oxtail Korean soup there.
You can also try fish cake noodles at Gamnae Matjip- fishcakes are one of the best things to eat in Busan, since they were invented here!
Tip: when I visited, there was a promotion where you get a free postcard if you write a review of the shop in Gamcheon Market.
Tips
- Pay for the stamp tour (from the tourist office.) It's only 2000 Won, and will get you a Gamcheon culture village map, showing some hidden gems in the village. Plus, there's a small reward on finishing! (2 beautiful, free postcards)
- Check the weather before you go. I wouldn't recommend visiting on a rainy day- unless you're an experienced hiker- as the steep slopes will be difficult to maneuver.
- The best time to visit Gamcheon is early in the day, to avoid the hordes of tourists! (Also because it can get quite hot on the slopes, during the warmer months.)
- The area outside Gamcheon Village is quite residential- I walked down from the village to the bus stop. You'll see some local shops, and a few shady looking motels. Nothing that you need to include in your Busan itinerary, so just allocate time for the Village itself. (It can be anything from 1 to 4 hours, depending on whether you want to/ are fit enough to walk through the WHOLE village.)
Any questions about the Gamcheon Culture Village Project? Let me know in the comments!
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