Korea's Second City

Getting There: KTX from Seoul

Busan is Korea's second largest city and the most popular long-distance day trip from Seoul — made possible by the high-speed rail network that connects the two cities in under 2 hours 30 minutes.

The KTX departs from Seoul Station and Yongsan Station, arriving at Busan Station in approximately 2 hours 30 minutes. The standard-class fare from Seoul is 54,400 won each way after KTX fares were cut on 1 September 2026 (it was 59,800 won). The same day SRT was merged into KTX, so trains from Suseo Station in southern Seoul are now sold as KTX too.

Trains run frequently throughout the day — roughly every 20 to 30 minutes during peak hours. Last return trains from Busan depart after 9 PM, giving you a full working day in the city without needing to rush back early.

Book on Korail's English website or the Korail+ app, which now sells Suseo trains as well. Foreign cards are sometimes rejected, so see our KTX booking guide for backups. Weekend trains sell out quickly, so book early for Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons.

Busan Station is on subway Line 1, making it easy to get anywhere in the city without a separate transfer. The station has coin lockers if you want to leave luggage before exploring.

Getting Around Busan

Busan's subway is efficient and covers the main visitor areas. Line 1 and Line 2 handle most of what a day visitor needs.

Line 1 (orange line) is the backbone of the network for visitors. From Busan Station it runs through Nampo-dong (the stop for Gukje Market, BIFF Square, and Jagalchi Market) and continues south. A T-money card works on all subway lines — tap in and out at every gate. With a transport card the fare is 1,600 won for trips up to 10 km and 1,800 won beyond (Busan Transportation Corporation).

Line 2 (green line) is the route to Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach, both major destinations on the east side of the city. The ride from downtown Busan to Haeundae takes about 40 minutes by subway.

Taxis are metered and inexpensive by most standards. The Kakao T app works reliably in Busan and shows estimated fares before you book. Use taxis for Gamcheon Cultural Village, which has limited subway access — the nearest station is Toseong on Line 1, followed by a 15-minute uphill walk or short taxi ride.

Naver Maps gives accurate transit directions in English. Enter your destination in the search bar and tap 대중교통 (public transit) for step-by-step subway and bus directions with platform numbers and transfer instructions.

Where to Go: Busan's Highlights

Busan's main areas are spread across the city. Each has a distinct character — choose based on how much ground you want to cover.

Gamcheon Cultural Village (감천문화마을) is a hillside neighborhood of brightly painted houses built into a steep slope above the city. Originally a refugee settlement after the Korean War, it was transformed by a community art project and is now Busan's most photographed neighborhood. The alleys are narrow and the terrain is hilly — wear comfortable shoes. Visit before 11 AM or after 3 PM to avoid the largest tour groups.

Haeundae Beach (해운대) is Korea's most visited beach and Busan's most internationally recognizable landmark. The sand is wide and clean, backed by a row of high-rise hotels and the Dongbaekseom island walking path. It is crowded in summer but worth a walk year-round — the waterfront promenade extends in both directions from the main beach.

Gwangalli Beach (광안리) is Busan's second-largest beach and the more local alternative to Haeundae. The Gwangan Bridge — a double-deck suspension bridge — frames the view across the water and is lit up at night. The beach strip has independent cafes, restaurants, and bars. It is livelier in the evening than during the day.

Jagalchi Market (자갈치시장) is Korea's largest seafood market, located near Nampo-dong. The ground floor sells live seafood — crabs, clams, sea cucumbers, hairtail fish. The floors above have restaurants where you can eat what you buy, prepared on the spot. It is busy and functional; the atmosphere is entirely local.

Gukje Market (국제시장) and BIFF Square sit adjacent to each other in Nampo-dong. Gukje is a sprawling covered market selling clothing, textiles, tools, and food. BIFF Square (named after the Busan International Film Festival) has a famous hotteok strip — vendors fry sweet pancakes filled with seeds, sugar, and cinnamon. The square has stars embedded in the pavement featuring Korean film directors and actors.

What to Eat in Busan

Busan has its own food identity, separate from Seoul. Several dishes are native to the city and taste noticeably different here than anywhere else in Korea.

Dwaeji gukbap (돼지국밥) is Busan's most iconic dish — a pork bone broth soup served with rice, green onions, and fermented shrimp paste (새우젓) on the side. The broth is milky white and deeply savory. Locals eat it for breakfast, but it is served all day. The Seomyeon area has the highest concentration of dedicated gukbap restaurants. Expect to pay 10,000 to 12,000 won per bowl.

Milmyeon (밀면) is a Busan specialty that does not exist in this form anywhere else in Korea. Wheat noodles are served cold in a chilled beef broth, topped with cucumber, hard-boiled egg, and a dollop of gochujang paste. It was created by refugees after the Korean War who adapted naengmyeon using locally available wheat flour. Light, refreshing, and very cheap — around 8,000 won.

Jagalchi hoe (회) — raw fish at Jagalchi Market — is a Busan institution. The fish is local East Sea catch, served the same day it was unloaded. Choose your fish from the ground floor tanks, pay the live seafood price, and take it to one of the second-floor restaurants to have it sliced and plated. Prices depend on the catch; haejangguk (해장국) soup is usually included.

Ssiat hotteok (씨앗호떡) is the BIFF Square version of the classic Korean street pancake — filled with sunflower seeds, peanuts, and brown sugar syrup rather than the standard honey filling. The seeds add a nutty crunch that makes it distinctive. Vendors on BIFF Square fry them in front of you; expect a short queue on weekends.

Sample Itineraries

Two routes — one focused on the coast and seafood, one on culture and markets. Both assume a 9 AM arrival at Busan Station and a 7 PM return train.

Plan A — Beach and Seafood: Take Line 2 directly from Busan Station to Haeundae. Walk the beach and the Dongbaekseom path in the morning before it gets hot. Head back toward downtown on Line 2, getting off at Gwangalli for lunch at a beachfront restaurant. In the afternoon, take a taxi or bus to Jagalchi Market for the seafood floor and a meal upstairs. End the day with ssiat hotteok at BIFF Square before heading back to Busan Station for your train.

Plan B — Culture and Markets: Start with Gamcheon Cultural Village in the morning when the alleyways are quiet — take Line 1 to Toseong and walk up or take a short taxi ride. Spend two hours exploring the painted houses and murals. Then take a taxi or bus to Gukje Market for lunch and browsing. Spend the afternoon in Nampo-dong — BIFF Square street food, the outdoor market stalls, and the waterfront. For dinner before your train, try dwaeji gukbap in Seomyeon — take Line 1 from Nampo-dong to Seomyeon Station.

For either plan, arriving on an early KTX (departing Seoul by 7:30 AM) gives you an extra hour in Busan and makes the day significantly more relaxed. Check train times the night before and book your return ticket in advance — popular evening trains sell out on weekends.