Haedong Yonggungsa is a breathtaking temple located on the coast of Busan, making it one of the most unique temples in South Korea. Founded in 1376, this temple stands out from others that are typically nestled in the mountains, as it is situated right by the sea, offering a completely different atmosphere. The temple's name, which translates to "East Sea Dragon Palace Temple," is rooted in a legend that a dragon ascended from the sea to bring divine energy to the area. One of the temple's most captivating features is the harmonious blend of the temple's architecture with the stunning coastal scenery. To reach the temple, visitors must descend 108 steps, and as they do, they are greeted by a breathtaking view of the sea. Haedong Yonggungsa is especially famous as a prime spot to watch the sunrise, with many visitors arriving early in the morning to witness the spectacular scene of the sun rising over the East Sea, casting its golden light over the temple.
This place is called 'Hanok,' the most beautiful traditional Korean house in Busan. Here, you can experience both the serene beauty of the traditional Hanok garden and the elegance of its interior. The building also functions as a café, where you can enjoy special blended teas, premium rice lattes, and black sesame lattes. In addition, the soothing melodies of the traditional Korean instrument, the Gayageum, harmonize with nature, allowing you to find peace and escape the stress of the modern world as time seems to slow down.
The Samik Beach Apartments in Busan are a breathtaking sight during cherry blossom season, typically from mid-March to early April. Imagine vibrant, rainbow-colored apartment buildings beautifully contrasted with vivid pink cherry blossoms. The cherry trees bloom so profusely that they create a canopy of flowers, almost completely obscuring the sky. As you stroll through the area, you’ll be immersed in a sea of delicate pink petals, with the bright, colorful buildings providing a stunning backdrop. This picturesque scene is a must-visit for tourists, offering an unforgettable experience and countless photo opportunities. Whether you're a nature lover, photography enthusiast, or simply seeking a serene escape, the Samik Beach Apartments during cherry blossom season are sure to captivate your heart and leave you with lasting memories. (Cherry Blossom Season Visit Only / Gwangandaegyo Bridge Alternative During Non-Blooming Season)
This amazing suspension bridge is a true gem of Busan, South Korea, stretching an impressive 7.4 kilometers. Although the bridge itself is only accessible by vehicle, it offers breathtaking views as you drive across it, allowing you to enjoy and photograph both Gwangan Bridge and the beautiful surrounding coastal scenery. Every Saturday evening at 8 PM and 10 PM, a spectacular drone show takes place above Gwangalli Beach, which can be seen together with the illuminated Gwangan Bridge in the background, creating a magical nighttime atmosphere. Additionally, in October, Gwangan Bridge becomes the centerpiece of Busan’s largest fireworks festival, with breathtaking displays reflecting over the water.
This market has a fascinating history, starting after the Korean War when women who had fled the conflict began selling fish to support their families. What began as a modest endeavor has since transformed into one of Korea's most iconic fish markets, famous for its incredible variety of seafood, impressive size, and spotless cleanliness. Visitors are in for a treat as they can handpick the freshest catch and have it prepared on the spot at local restaurants, savoring delicacies like sashimi or grilled fish in the most authentic and flavorful way. Adding to the market's charm is its lively slogan in the Busan dialect: "Oiso (come), Boiso (see), Saiso (buy)." This catchy phrase invites everyone to dive into the vibrant energy of the market, where the sights, sounds, and smells create an unforgettable experience. Whether you're here to indulge in local seafood or immerse yourself in the bustling maritime culture, this market is a must-visit destination for anyone exploring Busan.
BIFF Square is one of Busan's top attractions, especially for movie lovers and tourists. It is the heart of the annual Busan International Film Festival, where films from around the world are showcased and various movie-related events take place. As you walk through the square, you'll find the handprints of famous directors and actors embedded in the pavement, giving you the feeling of walking through a movie star's hall of fame. In addition to its cinematic charm, BIFF Square is also a food lover’s paradise. The area is lined with food stalls offering some of Busan’s most famous street foods, including ssiat hotteok (seed-stuffed pancakes), tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and odeng (fish cakes). Here, you can indulge in delicious Korean snacks while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere. BIFF Square is a must-visit spot in Busan, where you can immerse yourself in both the world of cinema and the rich local food culture, making it a truly memorable experience for all visitors.
Gukje Market originated after the Korean War when refugees began selling goods to make a living, and it has since grown into one of the largest and most famous markets in Busan. Here, you can find a wide variety of items, including women's and men's clothing, electronics, household goods, cosmetics, and more. The market is especially known for its retro atmosphere, offering a mix of vintage and modern items that make it feel like time has stood still. Beyond shopping, Gukje Market offers a glimpse into Busan's rich history. The market is home to stores selling traditional Korean crafts and souvenirs, giving visitors the chance to explore local culture through the goods on display. Additionally, food stalls are scattered throughout the market, where you can sample a variety of street foods as you stroll through. Gukje Market is a vibrant space where the past and present come together, offering a great way to experience the diverse charm of Busan.
Gamcheon Culture Village is a place where the rich history of post-war refugees and vibrant modern culture come together. Originally built by those who fled to Busan during the Korean War, the village was once a collection of modest, makeshift houses on steep hillsides. Over time, it has evolved into a lively cultural destination while preserving the traces of its past. Visitors can wander through the narrow alleyways and maze-like streets, discovering the village’s unique architecture and gaining insight into the lives of its early inhabitants. The biggest charm of Gamcheon Culture Village is its visually striking beauty, with colorful houses that look like stacked LEGO blocks. Landmarks such as the "Little Prince and the Fox" statue overlooking the village, and murals of BTS members Jimin and Jungkook, are popular attractions for fans and tourists alike. Gamcheon Culture Village blends art, history, and vibrant culture, offering visitors a unique and unforgettable experience.
This experience is a cable car that traverses the sea, providing you with the most spectacular adventure among all the activities in Busan where you can admire the ocean. With its transparent floor, you'll have the opportunity to gaze upon the mesmerizing sea below. Moreover, the breathtaking cliffs and numerous magnificent boats floating on the water will serve as thrilling points of interest. Get ready for an exhilarating and enjoyable experience!
Amazing day in Busan! Great food and amazing tour. The tour guide Mia was very knowledgeable and made a really great lunch recommendation. Nice way to get to see Busan with a local.
Excellent tour guide. A wonderful way to see Busan. Learned so much about the history. The highlights were the temple and the fish market. Lunch was exceptional.
Kudos to Korea Go Tours for doing an excellent job coordinating our 1-day trip from Seoul to Busan. Mia met us as we were getting off the train. She gave us some knowledge of the places we visited. She was not only our tour guide, but also driver and photographer. It was a pleasure spending the whole day with her.
Great private experience for a day in Busan from Seoul by high speed train. We were met at train station in Busan. Arthur ensured to take us to places that not only he thought we would enjoy but also took us to places we specifically asked about. Really learned a lot about Busan, the culture and food. It was a full packed fun enjoyable experience. Would definitely book again and ask for Arthur.
We absolutely loved the tour Arthur was friendly, polite and we really enjoyed hearing about the history of Busan. He provided a lot of fun facts and some great viewpoints for picture taking. Will definitely recommend to others.
It was perfect from scheduling to the actual trip. Extremely communicative and quickly answered all questions leading up to the day. The day itself was wonderful and exceeded our expectations. The flexibility offered and choices made the day one that we will never forget. A must is the fish market. Both the guide, Shunwha and the driver were friendly, knowledgeable and went above and beyond . Ask for them!
Fin was spectacular! We had sooo much fun on this trip to Busan. Fin picked us up at the station and proceeded to take us on a magical adventure that we will treasure forever. 10 stars on a five star scale. This was a great day trip from Seoul. Highly recommend!
Having the Busan Day Trip from Seoul by KTX fit perfectly into our trip to South Korea. Korea Go Tours handled the train booking and Tour perfectly, and our guide Jason, was waiting at the Station for us right where we departed. For the rest of the day, Jason provided great company and treated us to beautiful sites and staples of Busan. The Fish Market was a highlight of the tour. Thank you so much Jason for filling our day with laughter and amazing experiences. For anyone looking to fill their South Korea trip with activities, this tourwas 100% worth it.
The bullet train is a seamless but hotter than hell for a Minnesotan, dress appropriately or bring fan ; way to do a day trip to Busan .We explored many cool spots throughout the city. Traffic can be heavy, so try to pick a day with lighter congestion if you can.The cable car ride is absolutely worth the wait. Our guide Finn was fantastic — friendly, patient, and extremely accommodating. He’s willing to adjust the itinerary and take you wherever you want to go. It helps to come prepared with a couple of places you’d like to visit outside the standard schedule.Tip: The final markets felt similar to (or less interesting than) those in Seoul, so don’t hesitate to ask Finn for alternative recommendations instead.
Today we had a fantastic time touring the beautiful city of Busan with Dylan as our tour guide. He coordinated everything from the start to the finish eg: giving instructions to the taxi driver and the KTX ticket counter person so that we did not have to struggle with translation and did not miss our train to and from Busan etc. Dylan is a great ambassador for Busan, sharing his insights of one born and bred there. He was flexible enough to tweak the schedule on the day to meet our needs. He bent over backwards to ensure to that we could see as much as we could of Busan. We also loved the Ha:nok Cafe experience in such a lovely setting. Dylan showed lots of care and attention to our family to ensure we were comfortable despite the cold weather. We highly recommend Dylan & Korea Go Tours to anyone visiting Busan. With Dylan's expertise, visiting Busan from Seoul in a day is definitely possible and highly worth it for those with limited time.
MIA was awesome and went out of her way to take me some of the places not on the tour ! And made me feel at ease .it was a fun tour ! Lunch was yummy! I had a blast ..the best tour on my trip Thanks Mia! She even made sure i had a window seat on the way back to Seoul It was worth the money!
Jenny was extremely knowledgeable and very accommodating to what needed. Traveling with three American teenagers can be a little difficult, but she was great. Also Dylan was great. We missed our train from Seoul to Busan and they worked their entire schedule to give us the full 8 hours experience. The bent backwards to help us with this situation. Dylan spoke to the rail customer service since we do not speak Korean and he resolved everything for us. He also changed our returning tickets since he wanted for us to have the full experience and paid for the difference of changing our tickets so we can leave later and not miss out on anything. Jenny and Dylan did not removed anything from the excursion and they waited literally 3 hours for our train to arrive to Busan. Know the tour itself was great experience to. I highly recommend it specially with Dylan and Jenny. They could have said, well you kissed your train, see you next time but they did not do that. They helped us all the way even to the point of walking us to the train station and making sure we did not miss our train again.
This was a wonderfully planned trip from Seoul to Busan by train. The Tours company communicated with us through WhatsApp and sent us pictures on my phone to give to the cab driver (to take us to the train station) and to the ticket office at Seoul station for round trip tickets (pre-purchased by the tours company). The Tours company knew our preassigned seats, and was to arrange the guide to meet us when the train door opened from the train at Busan Station. However, there was no guide. I notified the Tour company, and they confessed they forgot to assign a guide and would have one there in an hour. Our guide, Jason, was there in less than an hour, and he was a wonderful guide of Busan. He had lived there his entire life and took us to many special spots. Busan is a special and beautiful city and there is a must see. Since some of these spots were of special interest to my daughter, I asked him to cater to her, and he certainly did. We dropped the first tour of the shrine / or temple (I forget) since we seen many already in Seoul, so that we would make the timeline without having to reschedule the train, not a problem. The Tours company wanted to make it up to us and paid for part of our lunch and had a gift set of chopsticks and spoons delivered to us on the train by the Busan police, (at first, I was very worried as they approached our seats in full gear, but then gave us a gift From the tour company). Mistakes sometimes do happen, but can be fixed. I highly recommend this Tours, ask for Jason. It is done seamlessly and on the same day, and our guide, Jason, was great!! (I wish the tour operator for a Kyoto tour in Japan did it the same way by train for a Kyoto tour from Tokyo, but they do not).
We had an absolutely fantastic private tour to Busan with Mina! From start to finish, she went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable and enjoyable day. Mina’s caring and attentive nature made us feel so well looked after, and her warmth and lovely personality truly set her apart. Her knowledge of Korea’s history was impeccable, and she enriched the experience by sharing fascinating insights, as well as her own personal stories. Every part of the day was thoughtfully planned, starting with the exciting bullet train ride. The temple visit was serene and enlightening, and exploring Gamcheon Village was an absolute highlight with its vibrant colors and unique charm. The cable car offered stunning views, and the fish market was a lively, authentic experience that we won’t forget. We wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an amazing day in Busan, guided by someone as fantastic as Mina, who adds a personal and meaningful touch to every moment.
I’m really glad I decided to do the day tour of Busan from Seoul. I was worried that it was too little time to get to see the city, but Jason made it all work. I felt like I got a solid introduction to the city, and it didn’t feel too rushed. Jason did a great job of introducing me to the city and all that it has to offer. One recommendation is to do the tour on a weekend because you cover a lot of ground, and I think it would be difficult to squeeze everything in if you were dealing with weekday traffic.
This is a 5 star tour. The tour is meticulously planned and executed. Dylan was in constant contact from train schedule and clear ticket pick up instruction to meeting us at the platform when we got to Busan. Dylan is very knowledgeable of the area and history and has a good paced tour arranged so that you’re not rushed. He will customize the tour to include what you want to see. At the end of the tour he escorted us into the station and made sure we got to the correct platform and train. Awesome tour, great guide and as a bonus, Dylan can take fantastic pictures , so you will have your own personal photographer. 👍👍
I can say a lot here or I can say very little. Breathtaking. Inclusive. Spiritual. (I brought my young adult son with me.) What matters most is: 1) Get to Busan no matter what you do in KR - even if just one day and overnight at the Asti hotel right next to the KTX station.). When you go, it is 100% worth it (and more) to work with Korea Go Tours. 2) Experiencing Busan with Korea Go Tours, with outstanding planning, orchestration and communication by Dylan, is the best person, owner, company with whom to plan. ***Get a tour for both day and evening - very different and wonderful to see / experience. 3) Our guide, Jason, was so much more - like a family member, sharing with us his pride of heritage, indulging our curiosity to learn, and creating a unique environment in which to really create memories. In my view, travel is all about creating the space for organic unique experiences, both the tourist-driven and local gems -- and doing so in a daily life type of environment. I would write for days -- I really could. When I come back, and we will -- we'll again contact Dylan and request to create more memories with Jason. We are grateful!
Dylan was a great guide who was very knowledgeable. He grew up in Busan and we were able to pack a lot into one day. If you only have a day to see Busan this is the way to go.
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