Busan Itinerary: 6 Days In South Korea’s Beautiful Coastal City

Visiting South Korea for the first time and want to admire the beautiful coastal landscapes of the south? Travel to Busan and have a memorable time with this itinerary combining breathtaking places, culinary delights and relaxing moments.

Ready to explore South Korea’s second-largest city? Let’s get started!

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🎯 Would you like to go straight to my recommendations?

🗺️ Recommended Tours:
😋 Food Tour
👗 Hanbok rental in Gamcheon Culture Village
♨️ Spa Land Ticket
🚋 Haeundae Sky Capsule

Last-minute trip?
🎟️ Major Attractions in a Day

🛌 Budget-friendly accommodations:
Nampo:
Elephant Hostel Nampo
Haeundae:
O’guest in Haeundae

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Best time to visit Busan

First of all, I’d like to clarify that I chose 6 days because I think it’s ideal for first-time visitors to Busan. But, and probably because I’m biased when it comes to Busan (which is one of my favorite cities in South Korea), if you have a month or more to visit the country, you can definitely choose to stay more than a week as there are endless things to see and do in the city.

But, I digress, let’s get back to this Busan itinerary and when to visit.

As always, it really depends on your preferences and I won’t try to convince you to choose one season or the other. For your information, here are a few things you should know:

• spring: popular time to visit for cherry blossoms, pleasant weather and temperatures as well as festivals.
• summer: yes, it’s the rainy season (mainly between mid-June and July), but Busan doesn’t usually experience major flooding or bad weather, altough this can, of course, vary from year to year. Still, it’s a great time to visit if you want to enjoy the beaches and summer activities.
• fall: when the city is adorned in the vibrant colors of fall foliage, because the temperatures are still pleasant but also because it’s one of the best seasons for outdoor activities such as hiking.
• winter: it can be quite cold in South Korea, but Busan is generally luckier thanks to its southern location. This is the time to enjoy spa, indoor activities, cozy cafes or more adventurous activities and end-of-year festivals.

Each season offers its own unique charms, so you can’t go wrong. It all depends on your hobbies and your preference for cold or warm weather.

Visa

As South Korea has visa waiver agreements with over 100 countries, you probably won’t need a visa and can enter the country for up to 180 days, depending on your nationality.
You may, however, need to apply for a K-ETA (electronic travel authorization) before departure (~$7).

Language

The official language of South Korea is Korean. English is not widely spoken, but you can get by with basic English and the use of Papago.

Money

The South Korean won is the official currency of South Korea (₩/KRW). For information, $1≃1370 KRW.

Phone

Whether you choose a SIM/eSIM card, you can’t really do without one in the country, and if you’re wondering where to find a SIM card, you can order one before you arrive at the airport. All you have to do is pick it up at the counter on the day of your arrival. The employees are also very friendly and can help you install it on your phone.

Busan itinerary

Once again, this itinerary has been specially designed for travelers on a budget and without a car, but also for visitors who’ve never been to Busan. I’ve also included alternatives for people who aren’t interested in hiking, and prioritized an itinerary where you won’t need to rush to see 5 things in one day.

Let’s go!

Day 1: Explore Nampo and a colorful village

In my humble opinion, you can’t visit Busan and miss one of the best neighborhoods: Nampo. Why is it one of the best? Simply because it’s home to a delicious food scene, great shopping, and plenty of options for fun.

Start your day with a leisurely visit to Gukje Market aka your best chance to find and taste sumptous street food. Head first to Leegane Tteokbokki for lunch and grab a ssiat hotteok (one of Busan’s specialties) at BIFF Square for dessert before making your way to the famous Gamcheon Culture Village.

Here, rainbow houses, labyrinthine alleys, art and cute cafes await you. If you’re a little thirsty at this point, you’ll be delighted to discover the lovely Yao, a teahouse offering a unique view of the village and its surroundings.

As this day is dedicated to Nampo, which you’ll visit again later in this Busan itinerary, I recommend you try samgyeopsal or Korean barbecue (if you haven’t already) at Mokgumeong.

And if you’ve got a sweet tooth or just want to help yourself digest the barbecue, have a patbingsu (Korean dessert) at Sulbing.

If you’re not too tired yet, an evening shopping session in Gwangbok-ro Fashion Street or the nearby Lotte department store should do the trick.

Day 2: Off we go! To Haeundae

After Nampo, let’s visit another part of Busan and enjoy a day around Haeundae!

Get out early, just after breakfast, to admire the magnificent Haedong Yonggunsa temple without the crowds. Facing directly out to sea, the unique position and coastal views of this Buddhist temple make it one of the city’s most popular and beloved places to visit.

Once you’ve spent some time calming your mind to the sound of the waves crashing at the temple’s feet, you can finally make your way to Haeundae beach! Unless you’re coming in summer or just want to sunbathe on the beach, I highly recommend walking along the Haeundae Green Railway Blueline Park to admire Busan’s tranquil waters and enjoy a healing walk surrounded by nature.

Don’t forget to stop at Oldmug, in the middle, for a refreshing drink and a well-deserved break!

For the return journey, hop on the sky capsule (book your tickets in advance) to admire the path you took from above.

My advice: try to book your ticket during the golden hour for an even more enchanting experience!

Alternative: you can also go to Dongbaekseom, just off Haeundae beach, to watch the sun set over the sparkling waters and end your day at Spa Land.

Day 3: Temple and lively neighborhood

On this third day of our Busan itinerary, it’s time to visit my favorite temple in the city: Beomeosa! Nestled, this time, at the foot of a mountain, this temple and the panorama it offers are one of a kind in the city. Peaceful, beautiful and over a thousand years old, Beomeosa is the ideal place to recharge your batteries and relax.

If you’re an avid hiker, take the opportunity to tackle the breathtaking Geumjeongsan! And if you’re not, don’t worry, you can opt to visit another of Busan’s beautiful temples: Samgwangsa!

After exploring or exercising, a good dinner is a must! And what better address than Joseon Kalguksu Wa Tong Makgeolli in Seomyeon! Try their jeon (a kind of Korean pancake) and makgeolli (rice wine), you won’t be disappointed!

Then it’s up too you! You can either go out, since you’re already in Seomyeon, or go shopping!

Day 4: Coastal walk and night view of the famous Gwangandaegyo Bridge!

Let’s get the day off to a gentle start with a stroll among the colorful mosaics and pretty art installations of Dakbatgol Mural Village. Climb the Staircase of Wishes to make your wish come true, or use the free monorail (run by friendly locals) for a cute and lovely ascent!

Time to gather your strength for the road and grab lunch at Stone Street for the most delicious pizzas and pastas of the city, or at Joseon Hanwoo for a taste of the famous top-quality Korean beef.

Now that you’ve had your fill, it’s time to work up a sweat. No need to look far, just head to Igidae Coastal Walk, which is not only accessible to all levels, but is also a great stress reliever thanks to its turquoise waters gently crashing against the rocky cliffs and breathtaking scenery.

Up for a more tranquil night after a few hours walking in the nature? In that case, you’ll be happy to have dinner at Cheongdo Chicken in Gwangalli and try Korean-style fried chicken. Beware, you’ll see fried chicken differently afterwards.

To end the day on a high note, sit on the beach and admire the superb night view over Gwangandaegyo Bridge! If you’re there on a Saturday, you can even watch the drone show from the beach!

Day 5: Peaceful village and wonderful sunset spectacle

If you’ve decided to visit Busan, chances are you’ll love walking along the sea and spending time at the beach, and that’s what I’ve chosen to include in the fifth day of this itinerary.

If you don’t mind walking, you can opt for the Jeoryeong Coastal Trail and see many places in one day: the historic and colorful Huinnyeoul Culture Village, Taejongdae, Yeongdo Haenyeo village as well as the beach.

If you’re a late riser or just want to skip some of these places, you can opt for the bus and visit one or two of them, like Huinnyeoul Culture Village and Taejongdae, for example.

Once you’ve taken in the views and breathed in the salty air, you can go to the end of the line, at least the orange line, and discover the wonderful Dadaepo beach, or as I like to call it: my dream spot at sunset. Stay until the sky turns orange and take the subway back to Nampo to eat delicious intestines at Haejeon Gopchang (it’s not as disgusting as it sounds, I promise).

Day 6: Unique place and cheap shopping

Here we are, our last day on this Busan itinerary! On the agenda: a visit to a one of a kind temple in the mountains and budget-friendly shopping.

First, let’s start the day with a refreshing and quiet walk to the stunning Seokbulsa temple. Giant Buddhas carved in stone, a serene atmosphere and a unique panorama await you. Although the temple is small, and not the most easily accessible, it’s the perfect place to get away from the restlesness of the city!

And because no trip to a city would really be complete without a visit to its university district, especially in South Korea thanks to its cheap shopping, a visit to PNU and its cute, cheap and fashionable shops is a must. Enjoy some window shopping and try to stay within your budget!

For the last part of your trip to Busan, I recommend another great sunset spot, which is also a hot date spot: Hwangnyeongsan mountain! Stay for the night views over the city before trying another popular Busan dish: Dwaeji Gukbap or pork and rice soup at Suyeong Bonga Dwaeji Gukbap in Seomyeon.

Alternative: if baseball is in season, buy tickets and fried chicken to enjoy a unique and fun activity!

Useful links & Apps

Navigation and bus/subway timetable: NAVER Map

Translator: Papago

Taxi: Kakao T

And that’s a wrap for this Busan itinerary! I hope your trip to South Korea’s second-largest city will be filled with memorable moments, and that you’ll fall in love with the city too!

Want more delicious restaurants to try in Busan? Here are 20 of my favorite addresses!

Want to go further? Here’s a detailed 3-week travel itinerary including the cities of Seoul, Jeju and Busan, with my favorite places, addresses and tips for budget travelers!