Things to Do in Busan (2026): A Two-Day Plan by Area, KTX from Seoul and the November 7 Fireworks

Busan is Korea's second city and its biggest port, and it feels very different from Seoul. The city is squeezed between mountains and the sea, so neighbourhoods climb up hillsides, beaches sit next to the subway, and the best views come from walking along cliffs. Most visitors come for two or three days, usually by KTX train from Seoul.

Busan's sights are far apart: Haeundae in the east and Gamcheon in the west are about an hour apart by subway. So rather than a ranked list, this guide groups things to do into two areas, one per day. Train fares, subway fares and festival dates were checked in October 2026.

Coming in early November? The Busan Fireworks Festival is on Saturday, November 7, 2026, centred on Gwangalli Beach with the Gwangan Bridge as the stage. It is one of the biggest fireworks shows in Asia and the city fills up: hotels near Gwangalli and Haeundae sell out, the subway is packed for hours after the show, and paid seats are sold in advance. If your dates are flexible, either plan your trip around it on purpose or avoid that weekend.

Getting to Busan from Seoul

• KTX from Seoul Station to Busan Station is the usual choice. The fastest trains take about 2 hours 30 minutes, most about 2 hours 40 to 2 hours 55, and there are dozens of departures a day from just after 5 a.m. to around 11 p.m. A standard adult seat costs about ₩59,800. Book on Korail's English site or app (Let's Korail); weekend and holiday trains sell out, so book as soon as your dates are fixed.
• SRT is a separate high-speed train from Suseo Station in south-east Seoul. It is slightly cheaper and handy if you are staying in Gangnam.
• Flights from Gimpo to Gimhae take about an hour, but with airport time they are rarely faster than the train.
• Express bus is the budget option at roughly four and a half hours.

Getting around Busan

Busan has its own subway (Lines 1 to 4) plus light rail lines, and your T-money card works on all of it. Busan uses a simple two-zone fare: with a transit card it is ₩1,600 for trips up to 10 km and ₩1,800 for longer trips. Line 2 runs along the coast past Gwangalli and Haeundae; Line 1 runs through the old town (Busan Station, Nampo, Jagalchi). Naver Map handles routes well, and our Naver Map guide explains why you should add “Busan” in Korean (부산) to some English searches.

Two sights, Haedong Yonggungsa and Gamcheon, are a bus or taxi ride from the nearest station. Taxis in Busan are cheaper than in Seoul for the same distance and save a lot of time on hills.

Day 1: the east coast (Haeundae, Gwangalli, Haedong Yonggungsa)

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple (morning)

Most Korean temples are in the mountains; this one sits on rocks right above the sea. It is free to enter and gets very crowded by late morning, so go first. From Haeundae it is a short taxi ride, or a bus from Osiria Station on the Donghae Line. The walk down from the entrance passes stone lanterns and a row of zodiac statues before the main hall appears over the water.

Haedong Yonggungsa, the seaside temple on Busan's east coast. Photo: Anna L Martin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Haeundae and Blueline Park (midday)

Haeundae is Busan's best-known beach, with a long curve of sand backed by hotels. Between Mipo (at the west end of Haeundae) and Songjeong, the old coastal railway has been turned into Haeundae Blueline Park: a beach train along the coast and small, colourful “sky capsule” cars that run on an elevated track above it. The capsules are the photo everyone wants, so book a time slot online ahead of time, especially at weekends. If you prefer to walk, the path next to the tracks is free.

For a view over the whole coast, the observatory at the top of the LCT tower in Haeundae (Busan X the Sky) is the highest in the city.

Gwangalli at night (evening)

Gwangalli Beach faces the Gwangan Bridge, which lights up in changing colours after dark. Seafood restaurants and bars along the beach road have the best views. On Saturday nights there is often a drone light show over the water; check the schedule on the day, since it is cancelled in strong wind or rain.

Gwangan Bridge after dark, seen from the Gwangalli side. This is the stage for the November fireworks festival. Photo: Rsmokov, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Day 2: the old town and the west (Gamcheon, Jagalchi, Nampo)

Gamcheon Culture Village (morning)

Gamcheon was a hillside settlement built by refugees during the Korean War. Its houses were later painted in bright colours and decorated with murals and art installations, and it is now one of Busan's most photographed places. Entry is free. Take a bus or taxi up from Toseong Station (Line 1) rather than walking the steep road, then walk downhill through the village. Remember that people live here: keep your voice down and do not go into alleys marked as private.

Gamcheon Culture Village climbs the hillside above the old port. Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jagalchi Fish Market (lunch)

Jagalchi is Korea's biggest seafood market. On the ground floor you pick live fish, octopus or shellfish from the tanks; upstairs, restaurants cook what you bought for a table charge. Prices are by weight and usually not displayed, so ask before the fish is taken out. Grilled fish set meals in the side streets are an easier option if you do not want to haggle.

Inside Jagalchi Market. Ask the price before a stallholder takes anything out of the tank. Photo: Bernard Gagnon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nampo-dong, BIFF Square and Gukje Market (afternoon)

Next to Jagalchi, Nampo-dong is Busan's old downtown. BIFF Square, named after the Busan International Film Festival, is famous for its street food, especially ssiat hotteok, a fried pancake filled with seeds and nuts. Gukje Market next door is a maze of small shops. Walk up to Yongdusan Park for the Busan Tower view over the harbour.

Optional: Huinnyeoul Culture Village and Taejongdae

If you have energy left, Huinnyeoul Culture Village on Yeongdo Island is a cliffside village with a coastal path, quieter than Gamcheon. Taejongdae, at the southern tip of Yeongdo, has rocky cliffs and a lighthouse; a small tourist train loops the park.

With a third day

• Haeundae to Songjeong on foot along the Blueline Park path, then Songjeong Beach, which is popular with surfers.
• Gyeongju, the ancient capital of the Silla kingdom, is about 30 minutes away by KTX from Busan Station (to Singyeongju) and makes an easy day trip.
• Beomeosa Temple in the mountains north of the city, at the end of a short bus ride from Beomeosa Station on Line 1.

What to eat in Busan

• Dwaeji gukbap: pork and rice soup, Busan's comfort food, cheap and filling.
• Milmyeon: cold wheat noodles, Busan's version of naengmyeon.
• Eomuk (fish cakes): Busan is known for them; you will see fish cake shops in every market.
• Raw fish (hoe) at Jagalchi or Millak Raw Fish Town near Gwangalli.

When to go

Summer (July–August) is beach season and very busy at Haeundae. Late September to November is the most comfortable time, with the Busan International Film Festival in early autumn and the fireworks in November. Winter is milder than Seoul's but windy on the coast.

Summary

Take the KTX down from Seoul, spend one day on the east side (Haedong Yonggungsa in the morning, Haeundae and Blueline Park at midday, Gwangalli in the evening) and one day in the old town and west (Gamcheon, Jagalchi, Nampo). If you are in Korea on November 7, 2026, decide early whether the fireworks are a reason to come or a reason to stay away that weekend.

KTX Seoul–Busan adult standard fare (about ₩59,800) and journey times from Korail timetables, October 2026. Busan subway transit-card fares ₩1,600 (zone 1) and ₩1,800 (zone 2) since May 2024. Busan Fireworks Festival date (November 7, 2026): Busan Metropolitan City notices. Blueline Park sky capsule times and prices change by season; book on the official site.