How to Busan: Where to Stay

This will be in a few parts due to there being so much to do and see in Busan. Enjoy!

Where to Stay
How To Busan Map
~ Yeongdo Island 영도구
~ Nampo-dong and Gwangbok-dong 남포동 & 광복동
~ Temple Stay at Beomeosa Temple 범어사
~ Seomyeon 서면
~ Gwangan-dong 광안동
~ Haeundae 해운대
~ Haedong Yonggungsa 해동 용궁사
~ Ananti Cove 아난티 코브
What to Do

Where to Stay

1. What do I want to see and do in Busan?
2. How long do I plan on staying in Busan?

Based on these answers, you should be able to narrow it down.

Firstly, if you plan on:

• Visiting places that are all in the same area (ex. Haeundae and Gwangalli) then you should stay close to those rather than book a place centrally located near attractions you don’t intend on visiting.
• On doing a lot of shopping, stay closer to Centum City (Shinsegae Department Store) or Seomyeon, some of the best shopping areas.
• If you are planning on going out most nights, then I would recommend either Seomyeon, Gwangalli Beach, or the Kyungsung University Area.
• If you want to visit mostly attractions, temples, and other important locations, then I would pick an area that is centrally located and has convenient transport. Want a mix of everything? Then Seomyeon or Gwangalli Beach would be a decent choice here.

And secondly, if you intend on spending:

• Only 1 or 2 nights here then you may choose to stay in an area of which you can do a mixture of everything as this eliminates you having to catch transport to another area to enjoy your days/nights.
• 4 or 5 nights here, you may be OK with staying in an area that is a little further out from the city like Haeundae Beach as you won’t be rushed to see everything in a short amount of time.

How To Busan Map

To make it easier for you to choose where to stay in Busan, I have a map you can filter from types of sites (temples, food areas, shopping areas, historic and cultural sites, etc.) and color-coded for districts.

Here are some of the best places to stay in no particular order:

Yeongdo Island 영도구
for the best views & quintessential Busan experience.

• For: Photographers (the views are EPIC); Maritime enthusiasts; those who like to be close to the action but not in it; those who like local/non-touristy neighborhoods
• Famous sights on Yeongdo Island
  • Samjin Amook Main Store: Headquarters of Korea’s oldest fish cake brand started in 1993. 
  • Taejongdae (태정대) Resort Park: Busan’s most famous coastal park famous for rocky coasts such as wave-breaking grounds, sea cliffs, and coastal caves.
  • Korea National Maritime Museum 국립해양박물관: Built to reflect the maritime history of the nation.

Yeongdo (literally “Yeong Island”) is one of the largest islands in Busan and lies just south of the city center and Busan Port. Staying right on the port offers a quintessentially Busan experience. There are almost always docked boats, the neighborhood is very local, and there is a nightly barbeque seafood market right on the harbor that not many tourists go to.

If you want a change of scenery, you just have to do walk across Yeongdo Bridge, which connects Yeongdo island to the mainland, to reach some of the city’s biggest attractions and street food markets in Nampo-dong and Gwangbok-dong (including Gukje Market, Jagalchi Fish Market, Nampo-dong Cultural and Fashion Street, BIFF Square, and more.)

This area is convenient access to major sights and transportation, but at night you can retreat across the bridge to Yeongdo in a very quiet and local neighborhood right on the port.

The views from Yeongdo looking toward Busan are phenomenally one-of-a-kind. There is nowhere else where you can combine the famed sights of the ginormous Jagalchi Fish Market, skyscraping Busan Tower, and the mountains of central and northern Busan, all in the same view.

Nampo-dong & Gwangbok-dong 남포동 & 광복동
for many sights, the best local food, & affordable shopping. 

• For: Foodies (especially seafood and street food lovers), those who like to be RIGHT in the action, market enthusiasts, shopaholics
• Famous sights in Nampo-dong and Gwangbok-dong
  • Jagalchi Fish Market 자갈치시장: Korea’s largest seafood market and where the Jagalchi Cultural Tourism Festival is held every October.
  • Gukje Market 국제시장: One of Korea’s largest markets. Following the Korean War, refugees who fled to Busan set up stalls to make a living, and this was the beginning of the Gukje Market (국제 meaning “international”).
  • Tin Can Alley: (a large food market beside Gukje Market)
  • Gwangbokdong Cultural and Fashion Street 광복로문화패션거리: Captures the heart of fashion, art, culture, and shopping in Busan.
  • Yongdusan Park & Busan Tower 부산 타워: Symbol of Busan standing proudly at 69 meters above sea level at a height of 120 meters. 
  • Lotte Mall Gwangbokdong 롯데백화점 (부산본점): First seaside department store in Korea with amazing views from the roof and the world’s largest musical water fountain.
  • Gamcheon Culture Village 감천문화마을: “Machu Pichu of Busan,” formed by houses built in staircase-fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain, vibrantly decorated with murals and sculptures created by the residents. 
  • Songdo Beach 송도해수욕장 and cable car: Korea’s first official beach opened in 1913, a popular escape for the area’s city dwellers because of its graceful coastlines, named “Songdo” (meaning “Pine Island”) referencing its bordering groves of pine trees.

This area boasts a high concentration of sites while only being 2 stops away from the KTX at Busan Station. These two neighborhoods are a food lover’s paradise. From noodles served by Korean grandmas sitting on the street on Gwangbokdong Food Street, famous Busan treats like 씨앗호떡 (ssiat hotteok) in BIFF square, market treats of Gukje Market, and more seafood than you could eat in a lifetime at Jagalchi Fish Market. At the iconic traditional markets, you can find everything you need from cheap eats to clothes to home goods.

The enormously popular Gamcheon Culture Village and Songdo Beach, with its cable car and Sky Cloud Trails and Red Bridge ocean walkways, are well within reach.

It may be a little difficult if you’re trying to see a few other key sights, notably Beomeosa Temple, Gwangalli Beach in Gwangan, Haeundae Beach, and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple that are at the complete opposite end of the city, so traveling there might be a trek.

Temple Stay at Beomeosa Temple 번어사
for a unique cultural experience.

• For: Culture/Temple lovers; Vegetarians/Vegans; those who are looking for a deeper experience of Buddhist culture; those who love quiet, natural surroundings
• Famous Sights around Beomeosa
  • Beomeosa Temple: 11 Buddhist hermitages in the surrounding mountains
  • Mount Geumjeong 금정산: features various walking trails and historical attractions with gentle slopes and unique rock formations.
  • Geumjeongsanseong Fortress 금정산성: Once the largest fortress in Korea presumed to have been built during the Three Kingdoms Eraokbulksa
  • Seokbulsa Temple 석불사:  one of the more secluded, less known temples in Busan with giant, detailed engravings of people in the sides of the mountains.

South Korea is blessed with an amazing, nation-wide temple stay program. There are over 100 temples in the country offering temple stays, about 30 of which offer English programs.

Doing a temple stay is not so much a “relaxing” experience like a meditation or yoga retreat. It’s more of an educational experience, in which you will learn a lot about Korean Buddhist culture, interact and speak for hours with monks, and gain first-hand experience of what it would be like to be a monk in Korea. Activities include a temple tour, meditation, prostrations, vegan meals in silence, tea, chatting with monks, and waking up at 5:00 a.m.

How to book a temple stay at Beomeosa: Beomeosa temple stays are only offered on Saturday nights, and only some weekends are available. During temple events (including the weekends around the Buddha’s Birthday, a major national holiday in South Korea), there may be no temple stay program available.

Seomyeon 서면
for convenience to explore all areas of Busan.

• For: Urbanophiles (i.e. you love big, modern city centers); night clubbers/night owls; designer brand shopaholics; those looking for the overall most convenient location
• Famous sights in Seomyeon
  • Lotte Department Store 롯데백화점 (부산본점): Nearby, there are various forms of entertainment, such as Lotte Cinema, a food alley and wide selection of restaurants, district full of luxury brands, and huge underground shopping mall.
  • Busan Citizen’s Park 부산시민공원: Established under the five themes of Memory, Culture, Pleasure, Nature, and Participation.
  • Seomyeon 1st Street/Art Street 서면1번가: The most popular street in Busan, known for its many delicious cafes, bars, and restaurants; wide array of entertainment facilities such as movie theaters, performance halls, and game facilities; and many festivals and performances.
  • Samgwangsa Temple 삼광사: Second temple of the Cheontae Order in Korean Buddhism.

Seomyeon as the central commercial district of Busan is perhaps the most convenient place to stay. It is the most central location with easy access to the rest of the city and a hip neighborhood with plenty of shopping options, restaurants, and bars for young travelers. It is upscale, energetic, and a great place to visit to take pictures of all the neon signs at night.

Seomyeon station connects subway Line 1 and Line 2, meaning you can ride the subway to the following places without changing trains: Nampo-dong, Jagalchi, PNU (Busan University Area), Kyungsung University Area, Gwangalli Beach, Shinsegae Department Store, Haeundae Beach, and Dongnae. You’d be about equally distant from all the major sights at the different edges of the city, and Seomyeon is the closest neighborhood to the airport and the shortest ride by public transportation.

Seomyeon is arguably the busiest area at night as it contains a large number of restaurants, cafes, shopping (above and underground), and bars. As Seomyeon is located on subway Line 1, those arriving via KTX or bus through Busan Station only have to travel 6 stops on the subway before arriving at Seomyeon Station. 

Gwangan-dong 광안동
for a rural, laid-back beach vibe.

• For: Beach lovers; those who have more time in the city; those who want a laid-back seaside vibe
• Famous sights in Gwangan-dong
  • Gwangalli Beach 광안리해수욕장: One of the top 3 beaches in Busan, famous for its pristine waters, fine sand, and amazing views of Gwangan Bridge. 
  • Gwangan Beach Land: Amusement park
  • Views of Gwangandaegyo Bridge (Diamond Bridge) 산 광안대교: Longest bi-level bridge over the ocean in Korea, stretching 7.4 km and equipped with thousands of LED lights for a beautiful lighting exhibition at night that changes with the seasons.
  • Gwangan Fireworks Festival 부산 불꽃축제: Every Autumn (October/November), the festival draws crowds of over 1 million visitors each year. 

Gwangalli Beach is probably the second most popular. It has more of a low-key city-by-the-sea vibe, with dozens of very inviting restaurants and pubs lining the seaside avenue, tall apartments and hotels facing the coast, and even a small, aging amusement park at one end. There are also many non-locals, dog walking, and access to the rentable Lime scooters.

Probably the best and most distinctive aspect of Gwangalli is the jaw-dropping view of Gwangan Bridge (also known as Diamond Bridge). At 7.4 kilometers, Gwangan Bridge is the second-longest bridge in Korea and the longest bi-level bridge over the ocean. The bridge runs parallel to the beach, and is quite an incredible sight any time of day, but especially when it is lit up with LED lights at night.

Gwangalli is also famous for a fireworks festival in autumn, but people like to set off fireworks from the beach year-round, and you can buy them from the convenience stores along the beach.

At night the bridge is lit up, it is convenient to buy seafood in Gwangalli and have a tent prepare and serve it to you.

Note that besides the slightly long subway ride from other parts of Busan, it’s a bit of a walk from the subway to the beach. Geumnyeongsan station is a shorter walk (5-10 minutes) and closer to the southern end of the beach, while from Gwangan station, a 10-15 minute walk will bring you to the northern end of the beach.

Both Shinsegae Department Store and Kyungsung University Area are only 3 stops away which is super convenient and Seomyeon is a little closer. Since there are many coffee shops to keep you satisfied, you can easily get a coffee and take in the glowing bridge at night. If you want to eat Korean food, there are more than enough restaurants to feed your cravings. 

Haeundae 해운대
for the most famous beach & food, drinks, & hotels with an ocean view.

• For: Fashionable beachgoers; lovers of luxury and hip cafes by the sea (but there are also many cheap hostels!); those who don’t mind being a way out of town for the sake of an awesome beach
• Famous Sights at Haeundae-gu
  • Haeundae Beach 해운대해수욕장: South Korea’s most famous beach
  • Sea Life Busan Aquarium: From big sharks to sea turtles, small starfish, sea horses, and elegant stingrays, Sea Life is committed to educating on and preserving marine resources for our next generation.
  • Haeundae Food Market 부산 해운대전통시장: Popular market conveniently located near Haeundae Beach
  • Dongbaekseom Island 동백공원: Now part of the mainland, many dongbaek trees and evergreens thrive there. This area features a statue and a monument of scholar and writer Choe Chi-Won, Dongbaek Park (동백공원), and a 2.5 m high statue of a mermaid near the beach.
  • The Bay 101 더베이101: Located in a culture and art complex, attracting many visitors to the area for its beautiful nightscape.
  • Dalmaji-Gil Road 해운대 달맞이길: famous for its views of the blue ocean, white sandy beach, Camellia forest, pine tree forest, and cherry blossoms when they are in season. 

Haeundae is a bit removed from most of the other famous sights, but as South Korea’s most famous beach, this sight alone may be the reason you came. Haeundae is popular year-round, but especially in summer, when beach umbrellas seem to fill the entire beach. Haeundae features the city’s highest concentration of upscale luxury hotels, many of which feature amazing hot spring spas with unbeatable ocean views while still having many excellent budget choices too.

Besides the countless bars, cafés, restaurants, museums, art galleries, and other attractions in the neighborhood, you can also access nature by walking around Dongbaek Park, which was once an island, or going to see cherry blossoms on nearby Damaji road, in the season of course.

Haeundae beach contains a large number of restaurants, cafes, small stalls, and bars to keep you entertained while you are there. It is also only 3 stops by subway to one of the largest Department Stores in the world, that being Centum City (Shinsegae). It is also only 6 stops by subway to Gwangalli Beach. Dalmaji which is essentially a famous street lined with numerous amounts of coffee shops is also located in the beach area.

A disadvantage of staying in this area is that Haeundae Beach is located towards the end of subway Line 2 in which only a few other areas are classified as “close”, being Gwangalli Beach, Shinsegae Department Store, and Kyungsung University (sort of). The other main areas require a decent subway ride or taxi ride to go and return.

Haedong Yonggungsa 해동 용궁사
for the sunrise at a stunning coastal temple

• For: those who want to catch the sunrise at Haedong Yonggungsa temple.

The incredible coastal temple Haedong Yonggungsa is quickly becoming one of the most popular sights. However, it’s quite out of the way, as you have to go on the subway to the terminal station, Jangsan, then take a bus or taxi from there. The temple is sometimes known as the “Sunrise Temple” because people flock here on New Year’s Day to welcome the first sunrise of the year. It’s also a great experience to see the magical sunrise here on any day of the year.

There is a beach just south of Haedong Yonggunsa called Songjeong Beach, and there are some accommodation choices there, but some aren’t close enough to Haedong Yonggunsa (it take about an hour to walk).

If you want to see the sunrise, you should consider how to get all the way out there early enough to catch the sunrise. If you don’t want to spend the money on a cab, the only other reasonable way that makes sense was to stay overnight nearby. Otherwise, it wouldn’t make any sense to stay way out there while touring.

If you have the time, I recommend walking over to Haedong Yonggunsa the day before in the daylight so that you’ll be able to find it in the dark before sunrise. It’s easy to find, but there are a few different ways to get there.

Ananti Cove 아난티 코브
for a private luxury resort experience.

The isolated upscale resort town along the northeastern coast offers the most exclusive, uninterrupted vacation of your dream in state-of-the-art amenities with a killer view.

Love what you see? Any questions? Comments? Anything to add? Comment below! Email me at MMatthewMZaqD@gmail.com & follow me on Instagram & Twitter at Matthewzaq!

Extra Sources: BoundForBusan Spiritual Travels