Busan - Our 3 Day Itinerary.

Busan was our last stop in South Korea but it was by no means any less exciting or interesting! It had a more toned down atmosphere compared to Seoul and a lot of fish markets. Check below where we spent our time!

There are a couple of key places to stay in Busan:

- Seomyeon (Central Busan with good transport connections)

- Haeundae (North Busan with beach and nightlife)

- Nampo (South Busan with shopping, fish markets and near to Gangeon Culture Village)

- Gwangan (Central Busan near the beach)

We stayed in Seomyeon for our first two nights followed by two nights in Nampo so that we could cover ground and have somewhere close by to stay as we were travelling light! These two spots were perfect for us, but if your staying longer it's worth staying around Haeundae if you have the time and money.

Day 1 - Arrival in Seoymeon.

We arrived from Jeju Island around mid-day at Busan airport, and getting the metro from the airport was very simple, it takes you straight to Seoymeon. This is also the case for the trains from Seoul as Seoymeon.

1. Centum City and Shinsegae Department Store:

Take the subway over to Centum City, a large shopping and entertainment complex. Explore the massive Shinsegae Department Store, which is one of the largest department stores in the world. In here you can also find Spaland!

2. Spaland Shinsegae.

If you're interested in relaxation, consider visiting Spaland Shinsegae, a luxurious spa located within the department store. It's a great way to unwind and rejuvenate, also a good chance to try out a Korean spa (whilst this one is more commercial) it's still nice to try and experience.

Enjoy lunch at one of the diverse restaurants in Centum City. The area offers a wide range of culinary options, from traditional Korean cuisine to international dishes.

3. Busan Citizen Park.

Heading back down to Seoymeon, stop by at the Busan Citizen park. The park was redeveloped from a former Imperial Japanese Army base and United States Army camp. The park spans 133 acres and has five themed attractions: Memory, Culture, Pleasure, Nature, and Participation. It features nearly one million trees, has a history museum, ponds, fountains, a maze, children’s play equipment, running tracks, and cafes!

4. Dinner in Seoymeon.

We then returned to Seomyeon for our first night in Busan. Explore the vibrant streets and choose a restaurant for dinner. Seomyeon is known for its lively atmosphere and diverse dining options. We opted for korean fried chicken coated in soy (a classic Korean dish before drinking).

5. Seomyeon Nightlife.

If you still have energy, experience the nightlife in Seomyeon. The place transforms at night, where there are plenty of bars, clubs, and entertainment options to choose from. Enjoy the lively atmosphere!

Day 2 - Seoymeon and Haeundae.

Our second day was a lot busier, which took us to some of the city's most captivating spots - Haeundae, Sky X Busan and the Blue Line Park. We'll go into the highlights below!

1. Breakfast.

We kicked off the day with a search for some breakfast back in Seomyeon.

As we strolled through the streets, we noticed that many of the independent coffee shops and bakeries open a little later in the morning (11am onwards!). So this time we stopped in a korean coffee chain called Atwosome place, that welcomed early birds like us.

2. Haeundae.

With our caffeine levels satisfied, we hopped on a short metro ride to the popular Haeundae district. Navigating the metro is super easy in Busan, as there are only 3 subway lines to chose from. Stepping out from Haeundae station, we found ourselves in a lively street lined with shops and restaurants.

We wandered towards to the coastline, but couldn't help stopping at a traditional street market, nestled on the left hand side of the main street. There was an array of dried, fresh and cooked foods on display. We picked up some fired tempura and a hotteok (a delightful honey pancake).

Just over five minutes walk from the market, we were led to the stunning Haeundae beach, one of the cleanest beaches we've seen considering its part of a city. There was ample seating along the edge of the beach, with views of the sea and southern Busan.

3. Kakao Friends Exhibition - Random!

As we made our way from Haeundae beach, we stumbled upon the Kakao Friends Exhibition, some whimsical fun! The exhibition had an array of figurines, a charming cafe and a secret bar! Which had interactive lighting, playing mesmerising patterns with the drinks and food bought instore.

4. Sky X Busan.

Our next stop on our journey was Sky X Busan, the tallest building in the city and home to the highest Starbucks in the world!

We bought our tickets through Klook, saving us time, money and unnecessary hassle. As we ascended we were teleported in fully digital display elevator, once leaving on floor 99, there were breathtaking panoramic views of Busan from all sides.

There was a daring walk over the glass bridge with views straight down, which added a touch of excitement.

If you made your way up to the 100th floor you could find Starbucks, but there is also another coffee shop and fine dining restaurant, depending on your preferences.

Selfie taken from the 100th floor of Sky X Busan!

5. McDonalds - Why not?

We couldn't resist trying McDonald's in Korea, especially as we spotted on just round the corner from Sky X Busan. The bulgogi burger and mcchicken mozzarella chicken burger turned out to be surprisingly nice.

6. Blue Line Park.

Adjacent to McDonalds and Sky X Busan is the charming Blue Line Park, which has the famous colourful Busan Cable Cars.

Although we missed the chance to ride the cable car due to the need for pre-booking, the park's public walkway offered a comfortable stroll with picturesque views, along the same route as the cable carts.

We walked to the Cheongsapo Daritdol Observatory, which allowed us to gaze out at the sea from its clear floor. We walked back and managed to timed it well with the sunset, it's a lovely flat walk and the view was amazing, where you could see the whole of Busan.

Sunset on the Blue Line Park walkway facing towards Busan city.

7. Haundae.

For dinner, we made our way back to Haeundae Beach, where there are a vast selection of restaurants on the main street, catering to all cuisines. Opting for a change of pace from Korean food, we chose a highly rated Indian restaurant, called Namaste. Located underground it had an inviting ambience and amble seating, with some tasy Indian food.

8. Gwangan.

Our night ended with a visit to Gwagan Bridge, where a captivating light show takes place every hour (on the hour within the evenings). To get to Gwangan we took a short subway ride on line 2 to Gwangan Station followed by a walk to the beach. There were buskers, cafes and fireworks being set off in the distance, it had a nice atmosphere.

There was a cafe overlooking the seafront, Cafe Haute, which provided the perfect spot to relax, sip some Jeju green tangerine tea whilst gazing out onto the bridge and surrounding beach.

As the night drew to a close, we hopped on a bus back to our hotel using the T-money card, which was very convenient.

Day 3 - Heading to Nampo.

1. Jagalchi Market.

Our day began at Jagalchi Market, a bustling fish market well known in Busan for its variety of fresh seafood. Although the central market was closed, we explored the streets brimming with fresh fish stands, where you could buy or have the fish cooked for you in the stall.

There was definitely a fishy aroma in the air - a place not to be missed if you love seafood.

2. Gamcheon Culture Village.

Next, we hopped on a bus up to Gamcheon Culture Village (it's quite a steep / long walk from the fish market, definitely worth getting a bus there).

The village itself is perched high on a hilltop with stunning views. We wandered through the village, there are lots of murals and charming photo spots scattered amoungst the village. There are also lots of walking maps to help guide tourists through.

To satisfy out hunger we induldged in some hotteok and raindrop mochi balls (although style over substance) from some local food vendors.

3. DUF Coffee.

If you have time, you HAVE to visit this cafe. It is the most random and quirkiest cafe we've ever been to (not joking). You have to buy a drink, but we promise it's worth it.

There is room after room of the most bizarre items, opportunities for drawing, taking pictures or just sitting to chat in and amongst the weirdness.

4. Songdo.

After exploring Gamcheon Culture Village, we hopped on another bus towards Songdo Bay Station, which is the base of the cable car village.

The cable car ride offered us breathtaking views of the southern side of Busan, whilst transporting us to the otherside to Songdo Bay Sky Park and the Songdo Yonggung Suspension Bridge.

We wandered around and had some corndogs from the local vendors before catching the cable car back once the sun had set, getting an amazing view of Busan skyline all lit up at night.

5. A feast to remember.

As the day drew to a close, we made our way back to Nampo by hopping on another bus. We decided to indulge in a hearty meal at a local pork foot restaurant (well knuckle not foot!).

We were treated to an explosion of different flavours and we enjoyed the pork meat with an assortment of sides (one being three pork knuckles - something different to try!) Of course, it wouldn't be a right without getting some soju and beer to go with it, have to end our time in South Korea on high!