Before You Go
Getting from Seoul to Busan
High-speed train vs. rental car — your first decision shapes everything
Your choice of transport sets the tone for the entire trip. The train is faster, cheaper, and stress-free in the city. A rental car unlocks hard-to-reach spots — but weekend parking in central Busan is a genuine headache.
Remember, in Busan, the motto is: No Passport No Party!
KTX / SRT (High-Speed Train)
Seoul Station → Busan Station in ~2 hrs 30 min. KTX economy ₩59,800 / SRT from Suseo ₩52,600 one-way. Navigate Busan by subway + taxi once you arrive.
Rental Car
~4.5 hrs on the Gyeongbu Expressway. Shines for places with no subway access (e.g. Haedong Yonggungsa). Weekend city parking is a real challenge — be prepared.
SRT departs from Suseo Station — better if you’re staying in Gangnam, and about 10% cheaper than KTX. Book 1 month ahead for up to 30–50% off via the Korail app (Let’s Korail) or the SRT app. Both apps support English.
Rental Car Guide for Foreign Visitors
Driving in Korea without an IDP is treated as unlicensed driving — even if you hold a perfectly valid license from your home country. You must obtain your IDP before leaving home.
Always carry all three while driving: IDP + Home country license + Passport
Requirements: Age 21 or older · Valid within 1 year of entry to Korea · IDP valid for 1 year from issue date
How to Get Your IDP Before the Trip
Socar requires a Korean phone number, Korean payment method, and a Korean driver’s license. Greencar does not accept international driving permits at all.
For short-term foreign visitors, these services are usually not practical.
Socar requires a Korean phone number, a Korean payment method, and a Korean driver’s license to register. GreenCar does not accept international licenses at all. Neither app has a usable English interface for tourists. Don’t waste time trying.
Use These Instead
English website available. Accepts international driving permits. Pickup locations at Busan Station and Haeundae Station. Book online using an international credit card.
Hertz partnership makes pre-booking seamless from abroad. English customer support available. Pickup at airport or city locations.
Fully English interface. Book Korean rental cars before your trip from home. Easy price comparison across brands. No Korean language required at any step — this is the simplest option for foreign visitors.
Step-by-Step: How to Book
- 1 Go to lottrentacar.com or open Klook and search “Busan car rental”
- 2 Select pickup location: Busan Station or Haeundae Station branch — both are convenient starting points
- 3 Choose your car type and rental dates. Economy cars (Avante class) start from ~₩50,000–80,000/day including insurance
- 4 Enter your IDP number and home country license details during the booking form
- 5 At pickup, bring your IDP + home country license + passport. Staff will verify all three documents
- 6 Add full CDW insurance during booking — strongly recommended. Typically ₩10,000–20,000/day extra
Most Korean rental cars are gasoline automatics — confirm when booking. Weekend parking in central Busan (Haeundae, Gwangalli, Nampodong) is extremely limited. For a city-heavy itinerary, subway + taxi will save you more time and money than a car.
1. Haeundae vs. Gwangalli
Haeundae by day, Gwangalli by night — the local formula
These two beaches define Busan’s identity, but they serve completely different purposes. Visit Haeundae during the day for scale, energy, and things to do. Head to Gwangalli after dark for atmosphere, local vibes, and one of the most underrated night views in Korea.
Haeundae Beach
Korea’s largest urban beach. Walk Dongbaek Island trail (~40 min) to Nurimaru APEC House. Explore Haeridangil café alley. Blueline Park Skycapsule offers the best coastal scenery — pre-book online 1–2 weeks ahead on weekends.
Gwangalli Beach
Smaller and quieter than Haeundae — locals prefer it. The Gwangandaegyo Bridge night view is breathtaking. Every Saturday: the M Drone Light Show. Beach bars and pojangmacha (street food tents) line the shore.
The best food near Haeundae isn’t on the beachfront strip — it’s hidden inside the Haeridangil alleys one block back. Walk Dongbaek Island’s coastal trail to Nurimaru APEC House (free entry) for a panoramic view most tourists skip. Blueline Park Skycapsule sells out fast on weekends — book online before you leave home.
Nurimaru APEC House is free to enter and worth the walk — the building sits on a peninsula with sea views on all sides. Blueline Park runs a retro train and glass-capsule ride along the old coastal railway from Mipo to Songjeong — one of the most scenic rides in Busan. Weekend slots sell out fast: pre-book at bluelinepark.com.
2. Gwangalli M Drone Light Show
Free every Saturday night — do not miss this if you’re in town
Korea’s first and largest permanent drone show. Every Saturday, 1,000 drones take off above Gwangalli Beach and paint the sky for about 12 minutes — with Gwangandaegyo Bridge as the backdrop. It’s free, requires no ticket, and you can watch from anywhere along the beach.
Best spot: the beach deck in front of Suyeong Community Culture Center — arrive at least 30 minutes early. Once the show ends, the crowd floods out all at once. Pro move: start walking toward the subway before the drones land. Saturday 7:30 PM yacht tour from Suyeongman Marina = watching from the water right in front of the bridge.
The show is cancelled in rain or strong wind — always check the official website (gwangallimdrone.co.kr) on the day. Parking near Gwangalli on Saturday evenings is nearly impossible. Take the subway — Gwangalli Station, Line 2, Exit 3.
3. Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
Korea’s only major Buddhist temple built directly on a sea cliff
Founded in 1376 during the Goryeo dynasty by the monk Naong. While most Korean Buddhist temples sit deep in mountain forests, Haedong Yonggungsa was built at the ocean’s edge — with waves crashing below the main hall and the East Sea stretching to the horizon. The contrast is unlike anything else in the country. New Year’s Day draws tens of thousands here to watch the sunrise, but at the right hour on any morning, it’s a completely different place.
Arrive between 7:00–8:00 AM. By 10 AM the narrow temple grounds get jammed with tour groups and the atmosphere disappears. In the early morning you’ll share the space with elderly locals who come to pray — quiet, unhurried, and completely authentic. On a clear morning you might catch the sun rising over the East Sea from the temple steps.
Free entry. Legend says a wish made while descending the 108 steps will come true. Seafood restaurants at the base open early if you want breakfast by the sea. Allow 1–1.5 hours total.
No subway access. Take Bus 181 from the stop in front of Haeundae Station, or grab a taxi. The bus ride along the coast is scenic.
4. Gamcheon Culture Village
An Instagram landmark — but real people still live here
During the Korean War (1950), refugees fleeing south carved homes into this steep hillside. The terraced layout was not accidental: each house was positioned so it wouldn’t block the view of the house behind it — a principle of mutual consideration baked into the architecture. In 2009, a community art project brought artists and residents together to transform the alleyways, and Gamcheon became nationally known. The colorful walls and winding paths are real, but so are the residents.
- 1 Buy the stamp tour map at the info center (₩2,000) — it turns the alley maze into a navigable game and marks the best spots
- 2 Request a free cultural guide at Info Center No. 2 — most tourists don’t know this exists. A guide changes how you see the whole village
- 3 Find the Little Prince & Fox photo spot at the top — best panoramic view of the entire village, worth every stair
- 4 Try a craft workshop in the inner alleys — ceramics, leather, hand-stamped goods. Better souvenirs than anything in the gift shops
This is not a theme park. Actual residents live in these homes. Pointing cameras into doorways, making noise in residential lanes, or treating the village as a photo set is disrespectful to people who deal with tourists every single day. Move quietly, and be a good guest.
English maps available at the entrance. Lots of stairs — wear comfortable shoes. Allow 1.5–2 hours to explore properly. Cafés near the exit have terrace views over the rooftops — a good spot to rest before heading downtown.
Day 2 · Evening
5. Gukje Market · Jagalchi · Bupyeong Night Market
Three markets within a 10-minute walk — the heartbeat of old Busan
After Japan’s colonial period ended in 1945, people flooded into this area to trade goods left behind by departing Japanese residents. By the 1950s, US military surplus and smuggled imports flowed in, and the market earned the name “Gukje” — international. Over 1,200 shops across five distinct zones: lighting alley, market alley, Arirang alley, youth alley, and an outdoor section. It once had everything a person could need from birth to death — locals still say that today.
The market entrance is fully tourist-facing. The real Gukje is deeper in — old hardware lanes, faded arcades, stalls unchanged for decades. The further from the entrance, the more interesting it gets. Bupyeong Kkangtong Market is literally one road over; Jagalchi seafood market is a 5-minute walk from there. Do all three in one loop.
What to Eat Here
Ssiat Hotteok
Gukje Market’s signature street food — crispy pan-fried pancake filled with brown sugar, honey, and nuts. If there’s a line, join it. That’s how you know.
Napjak Mandu
Busan-style flat pan-fried dumpling. Thinner and crispier than standard. Eat standing at the stall — that’s part of the experience.
Kkangtong Night Market
Pork belly gimbap, fried pork ribs, fishcake skewers, fried ice cream. Daily 7:30 PM–midnight. Most items under ₩5,000. Bring cash — many stalls don’t take cards.
Jagalchi Fresh Sashimi
Pick live seafood from tanks on floor 1, get it prepared upstairs (cooking fee extra). White fish + gochujang + perilla leaf wrap = the Busan way to eat sashimi.
The name “Kkangtong” (tin can) came from US military canned goods traded here after the Korean War. In 2013, it became Korea’s first permanent night market — sparking a nationwide trend now in every major city. Open every night, no exceptions, 7:30 PM to midnight. Stalls roll in on wheeled carts starting at 7 PM — arriving early means you watch the whole market assemble itself.
Reference
Estimated Budget — 2 Days
Per person · Accommodation not included · Train-based itinerary
If using a rental car: add ₩50,000–150,000/day for the vehicle + ~₩80,000–100,000 fuel (Seoul round trip) + ₩20,000–30,000 highway toll one way. Weekend city parking fees add up quickly too.
Two days in Busan will never feel like enough, and that is exactly why people fall in love with it.
There is always one more view, one more market, one more meal, and one more reason to stay a little longer.
I hope your trip to Busan is filled with good memories, good food, and moments that stay with you long after you leave.
Also worth reading: our guide to Seoul for first-time visitors.
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