From traveller-now

Busan (부산, 釜山, [1]), formerly romanized as Pusan, is a city located in the south-eastern province of South Gyeongsang, South Korea.

Understand

With over 3.6 million people, Busan is South Korea's second largest city and the country's largest seaport (a few years back, the government made the official English-language spelling "Busan" rather than the outdated "Pusan" as the former sounds more like the native pronunciation). Although the city does have some historical cultural sites to see--such as Geumjeong Fortress--these sites pale in comparison to other attractions Busan is known for, including beaches, hot springs, and nature reserves in addition to the city's international film festival held each fall. The locals have also made strides in hoping to secure a possible 2020 Summer Olympics bid. For those who might be intimidated by Seoul's size or perhaps wanting a more laid back, somewhat natural scene, Busan's culture is entrenched with coastal culture and might also be a good choice for families or those on a tighter budget as prices a bit cheaper than in the capital city. Resting at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula as South Korea's most vital port, this gives the city an international flair, with sailors from around the world trooping through and, these days, more than a few tourists (mostly from Japan, China and Russia).

Orientation

Busan sits roughly 450 km southeast of the South Korean capital, Seoul, and about 150 km northwest of some of Japan's main islands.

Nampodong to the south is Busan's shopping and entertainment downtown, while central Seomyeon at the intersection of subway lines 1 and 2 is where the office buildings are. Seomyeon also has an active night life with lots of street food. Between them are Busan's train station and its international ferry terminals. The beaches of Gwangalli, Haeundae and Songjeong lie to the east, the ruins of mountain fortress Geumjeong guard the north, and Gimhae Airport occupies the last compass point in the west.

Get in

By plane

Busan's Gimhae Airport [2] (IATA: PUS) fields flights around the country and some international flights as well, mostly to Japan and China but also to Manila, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. The airport is quite old and very small for a city of Busan's size, though an international terminal has been constructed next to the domestic terminal. You are not allowed to take pictures of the airport (both from the plane and outside) because it also serves as an air force base.

Airport limousine buses connect to various points in the city for a flat ₩6000. The trip takes 30-40 min (in good traffic) and there are departures on all lines every 20-30 min. City buses leave for downtown quite regularly. They are even cheaper, around ₩1000. Be sure to visit the information desk at the international arrival terminal if your Korean is not very good. It is one of the few places that has English-speaking assistance.

A taxi to the city center will set you back about ₩15000 (daytime) including tolls.

By train

Space-age Busan Station looks like a UFO that has accidentally landed in the somewhat grubby stretch between the bright lights of Nampodong and Seomyeon. Still, it's easy enough to get in or away with Subway Line 1, and there are lots of cheap motels and eating places in the vicinity (although sadly if you're looking for Korean food, Busan Station may not be the best option).

Gupo Station is also in Busan. It's a 1-min walk from the Gupo stop on Subway Line 3. It's much smaller than Busan Station and usually uncrowded. A ticket from Gupo to Seoul is a thousand won cheaper than a ticket from Busan Station to Seoul. Gupo Station is ideal if you are coming or going from a place far away from Busan Station, such as Hwamyeongdong.

KTX [3] trains connect Seoul to Busan via Daegu and Daejeon in about 150 min (₩55,500). Tickets can be purchased at the counter but automated English-language machines are available to make purchases with too. Passengers tend to be extremely quiet so it's best to avoid making excess noise if possible. Snacks can be purchased on the trains using the vending machines or from an attendant. Other trains, such as Saemaeul and Mugunghwa, connect Busan with other major cities as well. They're cheaper but slower than KTX. Head to the First Class car for a free-of-charge water vending machine.

By car

1. Gyeongbu Highway: connecting Busan with Seoul via Daejeon and Daegu.
2. Gumi Highway: alternative highway to Daegu.
3. Namhae Highway: connecting to Gwangju via Jinju and Sacheon.

By bus

Almost all cities and counties in South Korea have an express bus to Busan. There are two major bus stations:

• Dongbu Intercity Bus Terminal (동부시외버스터미널), Nopodong Station (Line 1). For points north and east (eg. Daegu, Gyeongju, Seoul, Ulsan).
• Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal (서부시외버스터미널), Sasang Station (Line 2). For points west (e.g., Jinju, Masan).

By boat

Befitting Busan's status as a major port, there are regular international ferry services to Osaka and Shimonoseki, and especially Kyushu island. Kanpu Ferry's [4] daily overnight runs to Shimonoseki are the cheapest, but JR Kyushu's Beetle [5] hydrofoils to Fukuoka run five times a day and take just under 3 hr. There are also domestic ferries to Jeju which take about 11 hr and run daily.

Get around

By Bus

Bus fares are ₩1000, and transfers are not free. (Unless you buy a Hanaro card, see below in the Subway section.) So-called limousine buses are a bit more, ₩1400 or so. Recently, Busan has been added to the public transit section of Google Maps, so you can easily click the "From here" and "To here" buttons and get accurate info on bus routes in (mostly) English.

By subway

The three lines of the Busan Subway [6] --Red (1), Green (2) and Brown (3)-- connect with the bus terminals and nearly all sights of interest together. Rides are ₩1100 or ₩1300 depending on distance (hang onto your ticket until you exit), and both signage and announcements are in English so finding your way is easy. Travelers who've visted Seoul will likely be happily surprised to find automatic ticket machines available to make purchases from--and these are much easier to use than those in the capital. Also, the cars tend to be a bit cleaner and less crowded than Seoul's. One-day ticket costs ₩3500.

If you are staying for a bit, consider buying a Hanaro card (하나로카드). The physical card itself costs ₩2000, and then you can put money on the card using kiosks in almost every subway station. You can also buy "cell phone jewelry" which has the exact same RFID as the Hanaro card, and can be used the same way. Prices for these vary, and the come in innumerable designs.

Using the Hanaro card will save you some money. A bus is ₩1000 with cash, but ₩950 when you use the Hanaro card. Further, if you "scan out" from a subway and "scan in" to a bus within 15 minutes or so, the bus fare is only ₩250, again, deducted from the Hanaro card.

Note that T-money cards and some other subway cards for other cities also work for the Busan subway.

By taxi

There are plenty of taxis prowling the streets of Busan. Regular taxi flag drop is ₩2200 for the first two kilometers, then the meter starts ticking at ₩100 for each 143 m or every 34 seconds if the taxi is going under 15 kph. Deluxe "mobeom" taxis (black and red) charge ₩4500 for the first 3 km and then ₩200 for each 160 m or 38 seconds. Fares increase 20% between midnight and 4AM.

Especially at Busan Port, some unscrupulous taxis may attempt to charge much higher fixed fares, as much as ₩20000. Insist on the meter, and take a different taxi if your driver refuses to use it.

On foot

Busan as a whole is far too large to walk around, but some districts like Haeundae Beach, Dongbaek Island, and Yongdusan Park can be comfortably covered on foot.

See

• Beomeo-sa Temple, subway Beomeosa. One of Korea's Great 5 Temples, this large temple complex is located up in the mountains, seemingly much further away from the big city than the few kilometers it is. Founded in 678, the buildings have been destroyed and rebuilt many times, but they're still atmospheric. Watch out though, as the temple gets packed with worshippers, hikers (see Do) and tourists on weekends. To get there, take exit 5 from the station, make a U-turn, turn left and take bus 90 from the station a few hundred meters up (₩900, 20 min, every 15 min). Entry ₩1000.

• Yonggungsa. This Buddhist temple complex is situated on top of a large rock along the ocean. To get there, take bus 181.

• 40 Steps (40 Gyedan), subway Jungang-dong. A few streets of a grubby district have been 'restored' to their condition in the post-Korean War 1960s, with wooden lamppost and bronze figures illustrating scenes of hardscrabble street life.

• Yongdusan Park, subway Nampodong (take the hillside escalator up). This pleasant little park is home to Busan's one true tourist trap, the creaky 118 m Busan Tower (₩3000). There are some decent views even without going up the tower, and you can buy some corn to feed the resident population of ravenous pigeons.

• Busan Museum of Modern Art (aka Busan Municipal Art Museum) (Line 2, Art Museum stn) has 2 full floors (one exhibit on the basement level) of modern art. You can probably feel pretty good about spending 2-3 hours here and feel like you've seen it all. A few minutes walk from Busan Youth Hostel Arpina. ₩7000. Closes at 8PM.

• Chungryeolsa (Shrine) (Line 1, Myeongnyun-dong Stn) Take a bus no. 29/29-1/89/129 and walk 5 min. ₩200 adults, ₩100 children.

• UN Memorial Cemetery (Line 2, Kyungsung Univ. & Fukyong Nat'l Univ. Stn). Take bus from in front of Memorial Park after subway exit.

• Nakdong River Estuary Migratory Bird Sanctuary (Line 1, Hadan Stn)

Do

• Busan Aquarium, Heaundae Beach (Line 1-Haeundae station), ☎ +82 051-740-1700, [7]. The largest aquarium in Korea. Great facility with excellent displays. There is also a 3D ride that is worth checking out. ₩17,000.  
• Check out the Fish Market. There'll be lots of great fishes and other seafood there, and you'll have to opportunity to eat squid that is still wrinkling when you eat it! It is on a walking distance from the Lotte Department store.

Beaches and hot springs

Busan is above all famous for its seven beaches and three hot springs.

• Haeundae Beach (해운대), near subway/KNR Haeundae. One of the most popular summer destinations in South Korea. Haeundae attracts tourists from all around the country, and gets overcrowded in late July and early August. There are numerous hotels nearby. The Busan Aquarium--South Korea's largest at 13,000 sq m--is beside the beach (₩17,000 for adults). Besides the beach, there are some excellent restaurants, both Korean and non, in the area, and a wide variety of shops, although many are hidden away. Explore the streets behind the beachfront boulevard. Many showings and events for the Pusan International Film Festival (Pusan, not Busan) are in this area which typically runs the first 10 days in Oct. Haeundae Tourist Info. Center is a good place to get a lot of info. about the area. If you're interested in sailing [8], Haeundae has the biggest leisure marina in Korea located about 10 min from the beach walking in the direction of Chosun Beach Hotel.

• Songjeong Beach(송정해수욕장) This smaller beach is accessible from Line 2 at Haeundae Station via bus (Exit 7 take bus 100, 100-1, 139 or 142 to Songjeong Station)or Jangsan Station via a short cab ride. This beach is also connected to KORAIL at Songjeong Station (not to be confused with Songjeong-ri Station), although this station is very close, it is not visible from the beach or most of the surrounding areas.
  

  

  At night, Songjeong Beach serves as a date-spot and hangout. Drinking on the beach is legal and fireworks are tolerated.
  Songjeong is a sandy cove-beach that is about 1.2 km long. This is a free beach but renting the umbrellas which are already crowded on the sand can run as much as ₩10,000. Songjeong Beach is open during the warmest months. It closes for swimming very early during the day (between 4 and 6 p.m.). There is an absurd amount of motels within as easy walk of the beach. Towels, sandals, ATMs and fireworks are between the motel blocks and beach. Beer, soju and food vendors are at the edge of the beach. Korean, foreign and seafood restaurants are abundant. Swimming in street clothes is perfectly normal for men and women here.

• Hur Shim Chung Spa (허심청 Heoshimcheong), subway Oncheonjang (exit 1, cross the street and make a beeline for Hotel Nong Shim; it's connected by a walkway), [9]. This massive hot spring complex claims to be the largest in Asia: Noboribetsu might disagree, but it certainly is huge, with hot, tepid, cold and strawberry milk-filled baths, saunas, pools, and an outdoor section. On the 3rd floor is a large jjimjilbang resting area, containing (among other things) a restaurant, a beauty salon, an oxygen room, and three 'igloos' heated to 81°C, 51°C and 0°C. You'll get a key when you come in, use it to open your shoe and clothes lockers and pay for any purchases inside. Men's and women's spas are segregated but the resting area is shared, so pick up a robe before you head downstairs. There's also some signage in English to guide you around. Entry to the spa is ₩7,900, plus ₩1,000 for the jjimjilbang on Sunday/holidays only. You can stay as long as you want, but it gets quite crowded and noisy on weekends.

• Gwangalli Beach (광안리 Gwangalli), near subway Geumnyeonsan (exit 1). Best experienced at night when the massive Gwangan Grand Bridge behind it is illuminated. Overall, similar to Haeundae but smaller and less upscale. Nevertheless, some interesting restaurants, bars and shops in the area. Also, you should try visiting one of the the tall, newly built hotels on the beach. They have really nice Sauna and Jjim Jil Bangs overlooking the bridge. ₩8000.

Tourist Attractions

• Busan City Tour All-day ticket available for double-decker tour buses. Popular pick-up from Busan Station. Kids ₩5000, adults ₩10000.

• Taejongdae (Busan Monument #28) The park was named for King Taejong Muyul (654-661) of the Silla Dynasty who practiced archery here after unifying the Three Kingdoms. During the Joseon period, King Taejong (1400-1418) is reputed to have visited here for recreation and pleasure. The magistrate of Dongnae also came here during a major drought to offer prayers for rain. Taejongdae is one of the famous tourist attractions in Busan, with its white lighthouse overlooking the green sea. Many people enjoy eating fresh raw fish on the rocky shore, taking a boat around the Olyuk ('five or six') Islands, and seeing the famous 'Suicide Rock.' When the weather is nice, Daema Island can be seen in the distance, 56 km away. The scene from the observation deck is beautiful and the white lighthouse together with the green sea looks very exotic. The walk from the entrance to the lighthouse is quite long. However, a shuttle bus runs from the shops. lifeinkorea.com

• Yongdusan Park - Busan Tower This is a park located at the heart of Busan. If you go up the Busan Tower, you will get to see an awesome, if not, the best panorama of the entire city.

• Indoor skiing. In Mt. Hwangryung you can enjoy skiing any time, any season. This facility has recently closed, due to lack of demand. It's not known if it will open again in the future.

Fitness

Chicago Fitness Club [10] is a great place to train. It has a wide range of cardio equipment, free weights (dumbells upto 100lbs) and machines as well as golf practice facilities. It is located on the 5th floor of the Milligore Shopping Center in Seomyeon.

Hiking

The mountains around Busan have some good hiking trails. Probably the most popular route is from the South Gate (Nammun) of Geumjeong Fortress, reachable by cable car from Oncheongjang, through the North Gate (Bukmun) and down to Beomeosa Temple, a distance of 8.8 km (3-4 hr).

Learn

Work

Positions teaching English are available in Busan. See the main South Korea article for details.

Buy

• Ja-galchi Fish Market (Line 2, Jagalchi stn) If you're in Busan, then you must visit Jagalchi Fish Market, which the city is famous for. This market displays freshly caught fish and various other sea creatures that are still alive. Better yet you can visit restaurants on the 2nd floor of the main multi-storied fishing complex and eat fish you've picked out from the first floor.

• Can market (Ggangtong market) is an old market near Jagalchi Market in Nampo dong. People can’t easily notice there since it is located in a deep corner. There is nothing this market doesn’t serve. Since Busan has a big harbor, many foreigners have visited, so that it was quite early when citizens of Busan began to accept exotic culture and products. Ggangtong Market is a kind of evidence of that history. At the end of the Ggangtong market, there is a narrow street which reminds of the period from 1960-70. That is the Book Street of Bosudong, which contains many secondhand books.

• Gukje Market, Gwangbok-dong Market, and Nampo-dong Market Three major shopping districts connected to each other. Very much similar to Seoul's Namdaemun Market and MyeongDong shopping district. Various shops geared towards young and old people with many brand name stores and underground stores. You will be able to bargain with the people who are selling on the streets or underground.

• Shinsegae, newly built in Centum City. Sporting i's Guiness World Book of Records stamp of apporval as the biggest department store in the world.

• Lotte Department Store, subway Seomyeon. An over-the-top temple to consumerism (check out the fountains and statues at the basement entrance), this is Busan's second largest department store. It is the place to pick up some ₩500,000 ginseng or perhaps a Spam gift set for the folks back home. The basement has good food court/delicatessen/supermarket section.

• Choryang Foreigner Shopping Area, opposite Busan station. This is a strange duck indeed, namely a combined China-and-Russiatown with ornate Chinese gates and Russian shops selling pickles and vodka. The overall feeling is distinctly downmarket, and if you want to take the name literally there are ladies of many nationalities enticing sailors and other customers in the doorways; you may get more than you bargained for though, as the area is notorious for ripoffs and even the occasional robbery at night.

Eat

An affordable and popular Busan treat is dong-nae pajeon (동래파전), a seafood and green onion pancake.
Being located in the seaside, Busan is well-known for fresh fish and sashimi. If you love fish, you definitely should try one of the local seafood restaurants.
Food and eating out in general is quite affordable and the city offers you a variety of tastes.

Budget

• Gimbap Cheongook (김밥천국), a block to the north of Busan station (orange-yellow-white sign). Serves up gimbap from W1000 and all sorts of noodles for ₩2500-4000. No English menu or sign, but if you can say it they'll make it, and it's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• welly&, Busan station 3F. This food court serves all the usual Korean favorites, with plastic food and English menus making ordering a snap. Meals from ₩5000.

• Seoul Kakkduggi, Nampo-dong. Specializes in beef soups and kakkduggi side dish. Meals around ₩6000.

• Amby's, Texas St (Russia Town). European, N. American, Russian, and S.E. Asian dishes; try the borscht stew. Popular with sailors and their lady companions, the best time to go is after midnight. A small shop offering a limited selection of dust-covered western goods is located in the front.  

• Eva's near Kyeongseong University (경성대) turns into a bar, but they serve excellent Western food, and American-style breakfast until the afternoon. Open air bar. Thursday is lady’s bottomless drinks for ₩15000. In-Jung runs the bar and is a great hostess.

Mid-range

• Hello Thai, good Thai restaurant located near Haeunda Beach, on an alleyway across from Aqua Beach Hotel or down the alley (away from the beach) from Miami 88. Prices range from ₩9000 for simple meals to ₩60000 won for set menus.

• Namaste, Haeundae (Subway Station no 203. Exit 3. Walk down the main street towards the beach. Take 5th Right (first diagonal street). Just before BMW dealership, restaurant is on the right, basement level.). Solid Indian fare in a stylish environment. Starters 3,000 - 6,000 won; Main Courses 12,000 - 20,000 Won. (35.160054,129.160646) 

• Shabana Indian Restaurant, 56-1 3rd Flr Deyon-dong Namgu (Subway Station no 212 Kyungsung University and From the Century 21 building across from Kyungsung University, either take a left at Pizza Hut, and then your first left, walk to the end of the block it is on the 3rd floor across from the Seven Eleven. Or walking from Vinyl to the subway, it is the second street on your right, across from Buy the Way), ☎ 051-621-4821, [11]. 11AM-10AM. Authentic Indian restaurant.Owned by Indian. US$10-20.  

Splurge

Busan is famous for raw fish (회 'Hway'), which the Koreans eat in the same style as bulgogi, namely topped with kimchi and gochujang and wrapped in a lettuce leaf. One of the best places to sample this is the Millak Town Raw Fish Center, a large brown building at the northern end of Gwangalli Beach. The first floor is the actual fish market and the floors above are packed with nothing but restaurants serving it up. This can get expensive, so order a set or specify your budget to avoid surprises.

• Four Season Raw Fish (Sakyeocheol Hoetjip), Millak Raw Fish Center 2F. The owner, Mr. Jun, speaks English, and ordering here is easy: it's either set A, B or C at ₩30/40/50000 per head. Even Set A is huge, while C will feed a family of North Koreans for a year. Be warned: this is as real as it gets and dishes will include still-moving octopus tentacles and other stuff most Westerners would not readily categorize as "food".

• Ventanas Grill Steak and Seafood, Novotel Ambassador, Haeundae, tel. +82 051-743 1234. Steak, fresh seafood, premier wine. Sephia style interior design, cozy atmosphere, and ocean view.

Drink

Busan has thousands if not tens of thousands of drinking places scattered throughout the city. Popular spots include Nampodong and the area around Pusan National University. Drinking spots popular with the foreign community include:

Kyungsung University area: Currently this area has the most selections in terms of density and sheer numbers of drinking establishments of any area in Busan.

• Ghetto, Probably the cheapest drinks in Busan. ₩1000 shots of your preferred liquor. The music is loud and sometimes obnoxious, but this place always draws a dancing crowd.
• Vinyl Underground, A good place to meet Korean girls and act like a total douche bag. Sometimes cover. Has become more clubby lately, as opposed to pubby. [12]
• Foxy, Plays hip-hop, caters more to the college crowd. Sometimes there are live performances of locals. Cover varies nightly, can be as high as ₩15000. You will want a private room to escape the crowd, prepare to pay for that as well.
• Ol'55, A usually quiet western style bar with a free to use billiards table and dart board. Sometimes live music. [13]
• Club Realize, Metal/Punk/Rock club in Kyungsung, around the corner from exit 1. (directions-walk straight out of exit one for a few meters and take the first right, walk to the end of that block and take the next right at the long tea bar. its 2 bars over on the right, above bar king king on the 5th floor) Usually open on fridays and saturdays and sometimes throughout the week (although it has been available for rental during the week/sundays). Its the ONLY place to see regular metal, punk and rock in Busan. A modest amount of beer and booze at the bar is complemented by a selection of in house cocktails. Good place to go and let it all out, scream shout and get wasted and not care how you look. They have a facebook page, search for club realize.
• Kino-Eye, Darts and a big bar, occasionally there's dancing. Look for the creepy rabbit with the red eye. Party starts after 1am or so. Movies shown nightly.
• 302, Small, but there's (pretty good) live jazz on the weekends.
• Thursday Party Much akin to the other Thursday Parties in town, one of the most popular places for Koreans and Westerners to intermingle. If you've been to one, you've been to them all.

In Haeundae:

• Wolfhound Irish Pub & Restaurant, Haeundae (Walk out exit 5 from Haeundae Stn for about 300 meters and its on your right on the second floor just inside the fifth alley.), ☎ 051-746-7913, [14]. 4pm weekdays 11am weekends. A recently opened proper pub serving proper draft beers and western food at reasonable prices. Great place for a mid week dinner and pint or to party on the weekends. Check out the reviews of the place online. from 4900.  
• Elune In the basement of Paradise Hotel. This is the newest club in Busan and by far the most worthy of being considered a club. Elune is sizeable, attracts international DJs, and has a good sound and light system. Expect to pay a cover.
• MURPII, Novotel Ambassador Busan, entirely renovated, the trendiest night entertainment on Haeundae Beach [15]
• U2 Bar, across from the Novotel Ambassador Busan.
• Starface Bar, Dalmaji Hill. Pool table and cool Americans aplenty.
• Maktum, A bit of a flashy dance club that brings in Foreign DJs http://maktum.co.kr/.
• Boracay In between Haeundae and the Apec Center. In the basement of a hotel. This is a Korean style booking club. It's expensive and offers the potential to meet Korean women, which are customers not employees.
• Thursday Party Much akin to the other Thursday Parties in town, one of the most popular places for Koreans and Westerners to intermingle.

PNU:

• Crossroads, A chilled out sit-down bar with an excellent music selection
• Moe's, A funkier atmosphere, sometimes live music
• Soultrane, A dancey, loud place.
• The Basement, An ultra smokey bar with pool tables and plenty of expats and food.
• Camel Bar, Miniature billiards and rarely a second customer in the place.

In Gwangalli:

• Hollywood Star, Pool table and darts available. Talk to Jun, he's friendly and knowledgeable and speaks great English. Usually has sexy girls working there.
• Fuzzy Navel, A lot of fun in summer but dead in winter. Beware of the Long Island Ice Tea, famous for its blackout-inducing potential.
• Beach Bikini
• Thursday Party, Gwangalli classic. On a good night the foosball table area becomes a dancefloor and in summer the party spills onto the beach.

Seomyeon also has a lot to offer:

• O'Briens Irish Bar and Restaurant, an excellent 'dive' bar in Busan. A variety of Beers, Live Sports, & sometimes Live Music together with Good Western food available til late. [16] Very relaxed atmosphere. Slammin' burgers and Western chow. Live Music on occasion. Just past Seomyeon on the #2 subway line, Gaya station exit #2.
• Foxy's, Formerly Hollywood Star. There are two floors, three bars, and a balcony.
• Cowboy Bar, There's a cheesy wild west theme going on, but it has a good selection of drinks.
• Miller Time, Order pitchers of Miller Genuine Draft and eat some HOF style snacks.
• Thursday Party Much akin to the other Thursday Parties in town, one of the most popular places for Koreans and Westerners to intermingle.
• Rock 'n' Roll Bar . ₩3000 cocktails, ₩6000 for high-end drinks. Occasional live music and a laid back atmosphere. E-dart board and Pool Table. Across the street from the Lotte Hotel (look for the large sign with Kurt Cobain down the small street perpendicular to Lotte).</drink>

Sleep

Budget

All sorts of love motels can be found throughout the city, for instance near Sasang and Western Cross-Country Bus Termninal. Some are noted as some of the best bargains in all of Busan. Most will cost you ₩30,000-50,000/night.

• Busan[Pusan] Chan Guesthouse, Chan GuestHosue , Middle of Haeundae Market Busan Korea., ☎ +82 10 2844 0295 (surbahar@naver.com), [17]. Busan Chan Guesthouse Located in the Haeundae Local Market near the Beach area, So You Can Enjoy Korean Local Culture. Oriental & India style Interior. Free Breakfast& Internet. Helpful Staff. Best Hostel in Busan Male/Female Dorm ₩30,000.  

• Actor & Tourist Guest-house, (Choose exit (2) when exiting the Namcheon subway station, go up the stairs and walk for 25 meters, the Guesthouse will be on the left. There will be a small yellow sign (in the shape of a fish) pointing to a courtyard which is the entrance to the Guesthouse. Go to the 4th floor to check-in.), ☎ +82 70-7528-9069 (ohjaka@gmail.com), [18]. Owned by Mr Lee, a friendly and well-traveled backpacker. Amenities include: free Internet, free tea, a spacious kitchen, travel books, photo albums, western toilets, two clean showers and one bath. There is also a very large balcony with tables and chairs that overlook the city. It's only Ten minutes walk to Gwangalli beach and a few minutes further by subway to a host of other popular destinations. ₩15000.  

• Busan Youth Hostel Arpina, [19]

• Blue Backpackers, [20]

• Indy House, [21] Dormbeds start at 20,000 WON per night. This is the best place to stay in Busan. Owned by Indy and he is such a nice guy. He will help you with everything and it's also fun to hang out with him. 150 m away from "Kyungsung University & Pukyong National University" subway station. There are tons of restaurant, cafes, coffee shops, supermarkets, bars within walking distance. Well equipped with small pool table, free Internet, free movies and free laundry. Booking & Contact No. Phone (+82) 070-8615-6442 , mobile (+82) 010-8910-6442, email=hakee2@nate.com

• Kumran Hotel (Gumran) (금란), Telephone: 0518038800. ₩25000 or ₩30000/double per night. Seomyeon Station Exit 9 (5 min walk from the station). Once you take the Station Exit 9, you will face the Family Mart and a dumpling(Mandoo), Gumran Hotel is in the alley to the right of Family Mart, an not the same alley Family Mart is on. Located near the Younggwan Library (영관 도서관), ask someone, they'll know. It is about 100 m into the alley. Free parking.

• Motel Elysee, Yongdusan Park, Nampo-dong, ☎ +82-11-264-8048, [22]. excellent central location in Nampo-dong, two subway stops (line 1) from the train station and a few minutes from Yongdusan Park. Spacious rooms are spotless, rooms have everything for a very enjoyable stay: TV, fridge, water cooler/heater, a/c, fan, dvd and free movies, and many little surprising details. Owner is very helpful and speaks very good English. iamsonsh@gmail.com. ₩40000-₩50000.  

• Vesta Sauna. 15-min walk from Haeundae beach, travelers can stay for 7,900 WON a night. This is a jjimjilbang and sleeping is on a large communal floor with only a limited supply of mats and pillows. The entrance fee includes access to good saunas and baths, a variety of hot rooms and a small PC room. Facilities are mostly mediocre, but the view over Haeundae beach from the sleeping floor and baths is stunning.

• Zen Backpackers, 1530 Neospot, Seomyeon, ☎ +82 051-806-1530 (june@zenbackpackers.com), [23]. checkin: 10AM~2AM; checkout: 11 AM. Relatively well-located in the Seomyeon area, but by far the best part about this place is June, the dude who runs it. Not only is he totally chilled out, but he gives fantastic travel advice along with free fortune telling. He also cleans the place every morning, which is an anomaly for hostel-owners. Spotless, spacious, and just plain awesome. ₩22000 dorm/₩30000 twin, private).  

• The Planet Guesthouse, Crystal Beach Officetel room 311, Haeundae, ☎ +82 70-8201-6350 (earthling-house@daum.net), [24]. checkin: 14:00~20:00; checkout: 12 PM. one min to the Haeundae beach, 5 min walk to the Haeundae station. Beautiful natural scenery. Woman only. ₩30000 dorm).  

• Pusan Hostel, 18-4 Toseong-Dong 4th street, Seo-gu (2 minute walk from Jagalchi Station exit 1), ☎ +82 10 9354 0003 or +82 70 4132 4003 (pusanhostel@gmail.com), [25]. Great hostel. Dorm ₩16,000-20,000.  

• Pobi Guesthouse, ☎ +82 11 703 7992, [26]. Great location, great view of all of Busan and Hyundae beach, good chance to meet new people, provides free breakfast and internet. Very friendly staff. 30,000-40,000 per night.  

• Marubee Guesthouse, No.801, 8F, LG harbour town, 627-1, U 1-dong, Haeundae-gu, ☎ +82 70 7807 2263 (marubee@naver.com), [27]. checkin: noon; checkout: 12:30PM. MaruB as the closest guest house to the Haeundae beach. ₩30000 shared.  

Mid-range

• Gwangjang Tourist Hotel (광장관광호텔), 1200-17, Choryang 3-dong, Dong-gu (north side of Busan Station Plaza), ☎ +82 051-464-3141. Centrally located no-frills two-star hotel. Rooms have bathrooms, air-con and TV. Singles/doubles from ₩43000/48000.  

• Sunset Business Hotel (선셋호텔), (a few minutes walking distance from Haeundae Beach), [28].  

Splurge

There are plenty of luxury hotels along Haeundae Beach. The hotels listed below all offer ocean view and city view rooms, however be prepared to pay extra for the ocean view rooms. Weekend rates are always more expensive than weekday rates, and rates go sky high during the summer peak season (varies by hotel, but roughly July to August). Rates can also go up during special events (e.g. Pusan International Film Festival).

• Novotel Busan Ambassador, [29]
• Paradise Hotel [30] This hotel has duty free shops in the basement, as well as a casino inside the hotel (although you must present identification proving you have foreign citizenship in order to enter the casino).
• Westin Chosun Beach [31]
• Haeundae Grand Hotel [32] Unlike the three hotels named above which are located on the boardwalk or on the beach itself, this one is located off the boardwalk, however still very close to the beach (about five minutes walk).

A few luxury hotels are more centrally located.

• Commodore Hotel, Jung-an-dong. Within walking distance of Nampo-dong.

• Lotte Hotel, * Seomyeon. [33] In the heart of Busan. The basement level and first floor are attached to one of the largest shopping centers in Busan. All of the staff speak very good English, and the rooms are quite large with great views of the city surrounding it. The hotel also offers a casino on the second floor, an Irish-style pub, and an expensive restaurant. The shopping center has a grocery store and a variety of restaurants at reasonable prices, and a movie theater on the top level. The shopping center itself is like any typical western-style mall, with name-brand and high-end consumer items and clothing for sale.

Contact

Emergency Numbers:
Police 112
Fire + Ambulance 119

Stay safe

Busan, like Seoul, is very safe to roam around freely at night. Be a little bit cautious when most bars close at around 3AM, as this is when drunks leave, and some (though very few) are aggressive. Do note that some bars stay open until the business dies down and in many cases this may not be until sunrise. Just stay away from them and nothing should happen. Also take care in the area around Busan station. If any place could be deemed seedy in Busan (which would be a stretch) this area could be considered so.

Cope

Get out

• Gyeongju - arguably Korea's cultural capital, just over an hour away by bus
• Jinju - a quiet city known for its fortress, 1.5 hours away by bus
• Busan is also a natural starting point for a trip to Japan. You can take the subway to the International Ferry Terminal (Line 1-Jungang-dong, go right from exit 10) where you can book tickets to Japan and China. You can also purchase a Japan Rail Pass here, the staff at the information desk speak English and can lead you to the right place.