The Ultimate 4 Days in Busan Travel Guide

Wait for it kids—the best itinerary for 4 days in Busan has now arrived! Busan is a coastal city and the second largest city in Korea. It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea. Busan is a great place for a vacation.

If you’re planning a Busan trip, then you’ve come to the right place. This is a DIY Busan itinerary with your trip planned for you. Heck, I even have a map so you can skip the navigating part and not get lost. 

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Before You Visit (4 Days in Busan Itinerary) 

In this section, I’m going to break down what to pack, what to be aware of, apps you need for Korea, how to get a sim card. You’ll have everything you need for Busan in four days.

World Nomads Travel Insurance 

Sadly, COVID-19 is here to stay and now a daily part of life. I recommend booking World Nomads Travel Insurance. With the World Nomads Travel Insurance, you can expect: 

1. Trip Cancelation – This benefit helps you recover non-refundable, pre-paid trip costs when you have to cancel your trip for a covered reason, including for an unexpected sickness that keeps you from traveling.
2. Emergency Medical – The only thing worse than catching COVID-19 is getting infected away from home. If you get sick with COVID-19 or another illness, you can get diagnostic tests to confirm your case and other emergency medical benefits.
3. Medical Evacuation – If you’re in an inadequate medical facility, our plans have benefits that can arrange a transfer to a hospital capable of treating your medical needs.
4. Trip Interuption – During your travels, you might have to return home early. With trip interruption, you could get reimbursed for a one-way, economy-class ticket home and any pre-paid, unused portions of your trip if you need to change your plans for a covered reason.
5. Trip Delay – Even when there isn’t a pandemic, traveling can have its bumps and hiccups. If your travels are delayed at least six hours by a covered event, you can be covered. 

What To Pack For Korea 

I highly recommend packing as light as possible so that way when you buy all of your favorite Korean products, there will be room in your suitcase. My favorite travel suitcase brand is Béis. I’m obsessed with their weekender bag, carryon, and checked luggage. Use my code for $15 off your first order and 150 points toward your new account.

I also have an ultimate guide for what to pack to Korea in every season. 

Travel Essentials For Korea 

• Korea travel adapter – Korea uses 220V plugs. You will need a travel adapter. If you forget to pack one you can easily find some at Daiso for 5,000 won.
• Unlocked phone – This is especially useful so that way you can switch out your sim card and put Korea’s sim cards in. Book a simcard before you visit Korea and pick it up at Incheon Airport.
• USB power strip – This is great for charging multiple electronics at once. It also helps you save space in your bag.
• Air Filter Mask – The air pollution in Korea is bad, and on its worst days can be on par with China. You can buy them at any pharmacy, but now they start at 3,000 won and up because of the shortages.
• World Nomads Travel Insurance – Give yourself the peace of mind. Many travel insurance companies have flexible COVID-19 cancelation plans just in case something happens.
• Toothpaste – Korean toothpaste sucks. I don’t like it and it doesn’t leave my mouth feeling clean. Bring your own from home.
• Important documents – Bring copies of any important medical documents and a copy of your passport. Leave one copy on your fridge just in case.
• Your passport – This should be a given, but please don’t forget it.
• Credit Cards/Debit Cards – There are ATMs all over Korea and most places accept credit cards.
• Medication – TSA allows you to bring essential medication in your carryon.

Busan in 4 Days Sim Card

South Korea has insanely fast internet fast and free Wifi everywhere. I do recommend you get a sim card so you can connect to Wifi in the subway. There are 3 major carriers in South Korea⁠—KT, SK Telecom, and LG U+. You can easily book a physical South Korea sim card here. Your options range from 1 day to 30 days. You will get unlimited data with this purchase and you can add on a phone number and minutes to call if you need that as well.

Get An E-Sim Card for South Korea

One of the coolest things I discovered in my travels is the beauty of an E-Sim card. Why is it so great? You don’t have to pick up an actual physical sim card. It gets downloaded directly to your phone and is activated immediately. This works best if your phone is unlocked. You can purchase an E-sim card for Korea here.

Frequently Asked Questions About Busan

1. What is Busan known for?

The city of Busan is known for many of South Korea’s most stunning beaches and delicious seafood. It is also famous for the Busan International Film Festival.

2. Is Busan worth visiting?

Is this even a question? ABSO-FUCKIN-LUTELY. Everyone who visits (myself included) has fallen in love with this city by the sea. Busan has a beautiful coastline, unique attractions, great department store shopping, and street food. Busan is a clean and has chill vibes.

3. How long should I spend in Busan? 

I recommend spending 4 days and 3 nights in Busan. There is so much to see and Busan is rich in culture, history, things to do, and food.

4. Is Busan better than Seoul? 

Each city has a different vibe. Seoul is honestly the city that never sleeps. (Okay I take this back, they sleep from 6am-10am). If you like nightlife, the hustle and bustle, and new cafes or attractions to check out, then Seoul is definitely for you.

Busan has more of a laid back vibe and not as uptight as Seoul. There is plenty to do in terms of culture, fun, and historical sites. They also have an assortment of regional food you must try.

5. Is Busan expensive?

Plan on spending to spend around 61,000KRW or $50 per day on your holiday in Korea’s second-largest city. On average, you’ll spend about 20,000KRW or $16 on meals for one day and 7,000KRW or $5.30 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Busan for two travelers is 59,00KRW or $49. A one week trip to Busan will cost about 850,000KRW or $703.

Souvenirs To Buy in Busan

What must I buy in Busan? There are a few really cool souvenirs you need to get your hands on in Busan.

• Geumjeongsanseong Fortress Makgeolli – Makgeolli is a traditional Korean drink brewed by fermenting rice. It has been made in the region for the last 500 years and is special because the rice is stamped by foot. You can even make your own makgeolli there!
• Odeng aka fish cakes – This is one of Busan’s most popular eats. Busan’s fish cakes are known for being especially delicious and you can buy a bag or two at Samjin Fish Cake Bakery.
• Traditional ceramics – The ceramics and dinnerware of this area are unique with its own traditional style and culture. You can buy some lovely pieces at the markets.
• A Book from Busan’s Book Street – If you’re a book lover (the English major in me is SCREAMING), then you will absolutely love this. After Korean independence, the area sold Japanese language books. Then in the 60s and 70s became a place to buy and sell textbooks. Now, it’s just a really trendy areas with cafes and bookstores.

How To Get To Busan

Busan by Plane

There are a few ways to get to Busan from Seoul by plane, train, and bus. The first option, and the easiest one is to book a flight from Gimpo International Airport in Seoul to Gimhae International Airport in Busan. Make sure you use domestic airlines such as Busan Airlines, Jin Air, and T’way. A round trip flight will cost you about $65 or 79,000KRW round trip.

Busan by Train

There are two main high speed railways in Seoul that will take you directly to Busan. The first is the KTX train at Seoul Station and the SRT Line which is located in southeastern Seoul.

Busan by KTX

The best way to get to Busan is by the KTX Train. It takes about 2 hours and 45 minutes to get to Busan from Seoul by KTX train. The KTX train to Busan price will depend if you’re traveling during high season, weekday, weekend, and if you want an economy or first class seat. A first class seat will cost about $70 or 83,700KRW and an economy seat will cost about $50 or 59,800KRW. These prices are for a one way ticket. You can easily book your tickets on the official KORAIL website. 

If you’re planning on traveling to Busan, a good travel hack is to book a KTX Pass. With this pass you can easily plan your travel schedule with different types of tickets—3 or 5 consecutive days or flexible 2 and 4 days. Click here to get a discount on your KTX Seoul to Busan Train Pass.

Busan by SRT 

SRT stands for Super Rapid Train and it located at Suseo Station on Orange Line 3. This gives eastern Seoul residents and Gyeonggi residents an easier way to access a rapid train to Busan. You can check out the SRT train schedule PDF here.

Book your tickets to Busan on the SRT on their official website here.

Busan by Bus

One of the best parts of Seoul is that it is so connected to the rest of the nation. A bus to Busan from Seoul will take about 4-5 hours depending on the traffic. You can easily book your express bus via the the Kobus website. It is now available in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean. There are several bus terminals in Seoul and all you have to do is select the bus terminal closest to you from the main menu to see the available bus schedule. It costs anywhere from $42 or 50,000KRW round trip.

A lot of the buses even come with premium seats, trays for eating food, storage compartments, and charging stations.

How To Get Around Busan 

Public transportation in Korea is awesome and you don’t have to worry about renting a car. The Busan Metro is the easiest and best way to get around the city via subway line. The T-money card or Cashbee card is accepted by trains, buses, and taxis in Busan. You can buy them at any convenience stores in Busan or you can download the T-money app with a 5,000 won top up coupon here. 

To navigate the subway stations like a pro, download the Kakao Metro App. It will sync to your location and help navigate your way around Busan.

Download the Kakao Metro App for iOS here.
Download the Kakao Metro App for Android here.

I also recommend downloading Naver Maps. Google Maps does not work well in South Korea. 

Download Naver Map App for iOS here.
Download Naver Map App for Android here.

Where To Stay in Busan 

I recommend going through Booking.com when searching for any accommodation in Asia. You’ll find a bunch of properties that will fit into a wide range of budgets.

Neighborhoods of Busan to Stay In 

If you need help with which area of Busan to stay in, this list will give you a good idea of the vibes you’ll get depending on what you like to do, your needs, and what your itinerary is.

• Yeongdo – Great if you’re looking to be close to the city and for an ocean view of the Busan Port. 
• Nampo-dong & Gwangbok-dong – This is for the foodies. Centrally located. You will be close to the largest fish market.
• Seomyeon – For the travels who love night-life, shopping, and convenience. 
• Gwangan-dong – If you just want to be a beach bum, you’ll have a great time in this area. 
• Haeundae-gu – There are lots of cafes and cheap hostels in the area. 

Luxury Hotels in Busan

• Lotte Hotel Busan – This luxury hotel is just a 5 minutes’ walk from Seomyeon Subway Station. 
• Signiel Busan – Located in Jung-dong. The hotel features 260 guest rooms with panoramic views of Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Station. 
• Park Hyatt Busan – Located in Haeundae district next to Busan Marina and only 1.2 mi from Haeundae Beach. They have luxurious accommodations with exquisite rooms and suites. Boasting its sky lobby on the 30th floor, the hotel offers free WiFi and free private parking for guests.

Mid-Range Hotels in Busan

•  La Valse Hotel – Busan China Town is 1.7 miles from Lavalse Hotel, while Busan Station is 1.9 miles from the property. It’s the best place for views of Busan Port. 
• Nampo Hound Hotel Premier – Located 1.8 miles from Songdo Beach, Nampo Hound Hotel Premier provides accommodations with a garden, private parking, a shared lounge and a terrace.
• Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington – Located on the shore of the beloved Gwangalli Beach, Kent Hotel Gwangalli by Kensington offers free WiFi throughout the property as well as an elegant on-site bar.

Budget Hotels in Busan

• No.25 Hotel Busan Seomyeon Station – Well located in the city center of Busan, No.25 Hotel Busan Seomyeon Station is within a 2-minute walk of Seomyeon Station and 2.8 miles of Busan Asiad Main Stadium.
• Brown-Dot Hotel Songdo – Brown-Dot Hotel Songdo is located on the beachfront in Busan, a few steps from Songdo Beach and 2.3 miles from Gukje Market.
• Kimchee Busan Downtown Guesthouse – Offering both private and dormitory-style rooms, Kimchee Busan Downtown Guest house is only a 2-minute walk away from Beomnaegol Subway Station (Busan Line 1). Free WiFi access and private parking are available on site. It’s the best hostel in Busan. 

What To Eat in Busan

• Kobe Gyukatsu – Japan is a super close neighbor to Busan so it makes sense they would have luxurious Japanese style food there. Try some delicious beef cutlet in a beautifully presented set.
• Milmyeon – This is a Korean dish of long and thin noodles and considered a traditional dish of Busan. The noodle is made by mixing flour powder with starches of sweet potato and potato. Meat broth is also added along with several kinds of vegetables.
• Dong-nae pajeon – This is a savory seafood pancake made with green onions and a popular Busan dish.
• Daegu Tang – This is a tasty cod fish soup with vegetables. You’ll find a bunch of restaurants that serve this to the east of Haeundae Beach.
• Bokguk – This is a soup made of pufferfish (which is poisonous.) There are many places in Busan that are licensed to prepare pufferfish.
• Ssiat Hotteok – This food is a small, sweet, and round Korean pancake. It comes stuffed with a variety of seeds, nuts, brown sugar syrup, and sometimes cinnamon.

Where To Eat in Busan

Gukjae Market Food Street

The most famous thing locals eat on this street are noodles. You can dig into Milmyeon (Busan’s traditional noodles) or bibimdangmyeon (glass noodles). There’s nothing like the quintessential experience of pulling up a plastic stool at a stand and digging in.

Jagalchi Fish Market

If you are a lover of seafood, then you cannot miss out on the freshest critters from this market. This is the epicenter of delicious sea creatures such as crab, octopus, abalone, multiple kinds of fish, multiple kinds of shellfish and clams, oysters, shrimp, sea urchin, sea cucumber, skate (a type of ray), rockfish, and even blowfish.

• Jagalchi Market Tour & DIY Clam Soup

Haeundae Market 

Busan Haeundae Traditional Market is a popular market because it is located near Haeundae Beach. The market offers street food, fresh vegetables, and seafood are available at low prices.

BIFF Square

It is located right outside Jagalchi Station. This is a great place to shop for souvenirs as well as have great street food. It got its name because it is the main venue for the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

Bupyeong Market

This 100 year old traditional market is just a short walk away from BIFF Square. It’s famous for its night market that opens from 7:30pm to midnight.

• Busan Food Cooking Class & Bupyeong Market Tour

4 Days in Busan Map

Day One Busan Itinerary

Gamcheon Culture Village

Many people visit the Gamcheon Cultural Village. It is the top tourist attraction in Busan for a reason. The best things about the village are the colorful homes, ecclectic cafes, and super cute boutiques selling trinkets all around. It is a residential area and there is no entrance fee to get in. Please respect the residents and keep your voice down. 

Avant Garde Cafe

Insider tip… The drinks are meh, but the views are FIRE. Stopping by this cafe is a great way to capture one of Busan’s main attractions. You will be guaranteed a great view of the Machu Picchu of Korea. 

Cafe OceanView

Cafe Oceanview is the best area to view the port city and the Songdo Cloud Trails. I recommend walking around them to get different angles of the city and different viewpoints. It’s very pretty no matter what time of day you go. It’s a new cafe in Busan so here is the Naver Map link to access it easily.

Songdo Cloud Trails

These are really beautiful walking trails along the ocean and where you can see the cable cars.

Songdo Bay Station

This is where you’re going to catch the Songdo Cable Car after a light lunch at Cafe Oceanview. I also recommend going to the Sky Harbor Observation Deck. You can book your tickets with a clear glass floor to the Busan Air Cruise here. 

Huinnyeoul Culture Village

Huinnyeoul Culture Village is a popular coastal village on the sloping hill with Jeoryeong Coastal Walk. It is centered around Haeundae Beach which is hosts many of Busan’s popular resorts, cafés, and restaurants.

Eat Dinner at Jagalchi Market

Jagalchi Market is Korea’s largest seafood selling market. You can find both live and dried fish here. There are food stalls where visitors can eat fresh raw fish right at the market. The Jagalchi Ajhumma sell mackerel, sea squirts, and whale meat on wooden boxes along the road outside of the market and along the shore.

Yongdusan Park

Just a short walk from the Jagalchi Market, you’ll also find Busan Tower. If you’re not too tired after a long day of walking the park here is beautiful. You can also get tickets to Busan Tower and enjoy the night view.

Day Two Busan Itinerary

Huinnyeoul Beach Cafe

What better way to start the day than with some Korean coffee and a great view of the Busan ocean? The cafe has a beach theme. They serve various baked goods like scones and cakes.

​Yeongdo Haneul Observation Deck

This Busan observation deck is known for its amazing view. On a clear day, visitors can see far islands including Geoje-do. You can also enjoy a panoramic view of the ocean and stroll the wooden deck to the Coastal Walking Trail.

Taejeongdae Danubi Train

The Danubi Train will take you all around the Taejeongdae area. You can spend all day there getting off at the various stops and exploring. There is a fee for riding the train and you can get your tickets at the Taejeongdae Tourist Center.

Tejongsa Buddhist Temple

During spring pastel pink and purple hydrangeas bloom really giving life to the Buddhist Temple named after King Tejongsa. It is famous for enshrining the statue of Buddha and the Bodhi Tree and donated by the Sri Lankan government in 1983.

Yeongdo Light House

An important historical landmark, the Yeongdo Lighthouse was established in December 1906 and provided a guiding beacon of light to ships around Busan Port for over 100 years. It is located in Taejongdae Park.

Sasaenghwal Yeongdo

This is an ocean view restaurant serving a fusion of Korean and European food. Their risotto has really good reviews. Their drinks are beautiful and the atmosphere is homey and welcome. You can easily find Sasenghwal Yeongdo Restaurant on Naver here.

Cheonghak Watershed Observatory

The observatory boasts stunning vistas of Busan’s scenery. It is particularly renowned for the breathtaking night view of the Busan Port Bridge, making it a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. 

CARIN Yeongdo Place

This is a beautiful cafe overlooking the bay area and the bridge. The best time to visit is late afternoon for the golden hour and when the city starts to light up at night. It’s located on a hill top so you’ll get the guaranteed best views of the city.

Eat Dinner at Gukjae Market

This is another great seafood market. They offer all sorts of fresh seafood and non seafood options. The street food is pretty good here too.

Day Three Busan Itinerary

Oryukdo Skywalk 

Visitors of the skywalk have a beautiful view of the sea and surrounding cliffs through a glass floor. It’s constructed with 12-millimeter glass pieces coated with a bulletproof film so it’s safe to walk around on.

Namcheon-dong Street

There is a great view of Busan’s bridges from this point. It’s most famous for the entire road being covered in cherry blossoms during spring.

Casa Busano

Casa Busano is a European inspired cafe along Gwangalli Beach. It’s popular at all hours of the day, but mostly at night when the bridge lights up. They have European style coffee and pastries. 

Cheese Form Cafe

The inside of the cafe is completely yellow, and you guessed it…cheese themed. Cheese Form Cafe in Busan offers delicious soufflé and great views of Gwangalli Beach. 

Gwangalli Beach

Gwangalli Beach is one of the most pristine beaches because of the white sand. It’s one of the most photogenic spots because the backdrop of the bridge. Additionally, it’s a good place for a picnic on a nice beach.

PiV Bar

Although not a cafe, the best time to go is at night. They offer a variety of wines, whiskey, and good food. If you want to drink where the locals do, check out Piv Bar. At first glance you wouldn’t know this is a dive bar with amazing views of Busan at night. 

Day Four Busan Itinerary  

BiBiBidang Cafe

Bibibidang is a Korean hanok cafe that serves various types of traditional Korean tea, which you can enjoy while seated with a view of Cheongsapo Port. The main attraction of his cafe is the view of Haeundae Beach Train and Sky Capsule on the Green Railway. They even offer a tea class.

Haeundae Blue Line Park

This is basically a little train you take along the coastal road of the ocean. To get on the Blue Line, you would go straight to Cheongsapo Station. These little cars are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Busan. Book your Blue Line Sky Capsule Train ride here.

Cafe Rooftop 

Another one of Busan’s most stunning cafes, you absolutely cannot miss this beautiful oceanside cafe. The best part is when the bridge lights up with rainbow colors at night. Drinks start at 5,000KRW.

Port 1902

One of the best Instagram worthy cafes in Busan, Port 1902 offers amazing cafe serves drinks like ade, cocktails, and coffee. Port 1902 also offers snacks and food. The best part? They’re located right by the ocean and have a swimming pool to entertain their customers. It’s also dog friendly. They’re open pretty late so make sure to stay long enough for the pool party to get going and the neon signs to turn on. 

Holi Lounge

At this restaurant they offer pasta, steak, pizza, brunch, coffee, wine, and beer. They have a great view of the Haeundae Blue Line Capsule Train. You can easily find the Holi Lounge on Naver Maps here.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple 

Known as the sunrise temple, this beautiful place is truly a wonder to behold. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple was built in 1376 by the teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty, and was originally known as Bomun Temple.

Wave On Coffee 

This beautiful cafe is the perfect place to relax in nature with panoramic view of the Gijang’s seashore. It is 3 stories tall and the beach is right in front of the property. Wave On Coffee is the best cafe in Busan with delicious snacks, desserts, and drinks.

As always, I hope you found this 4 days 3 nights Busan itinerary helpful and now you know what to do in Busan. Busan is one of my favorite places and cities in Korea and it is absolutely worth the trek from Seoul.

This post contains affiliate links which means at no additional cost to you, I make a small commission to help keep Gina Bear’s Blog running. Thanks for your support!

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