Busan/Central

Central Busan consists of the districts of Dong-gu, Jung-gu, Seo-gu, Nam-gu and Busanjin-gu in Busan. This is the old town of Busan with a lot of post-war buildings, large docks and atmosphere. The place to go see the heritage of the city.

Get in

• Busan Station 📍 is the easiest way in from outside of the city, with KTX services to Seoul and connections to other cities as well. Non-KTX trains to Changwon, Ulsan, Jinju departs at Bujeon Station 📍.
• The Metro Line 1 runs all the way through the area except Nam-gu. Line 2 serves Nam-gu, and Line 1 and 2 intersects at Seomyeon, a popular city center and shopping area.
• There are two ferry terminals. International Terminal 📍(ride Bus 5-1 from Jungang Station, Line 1 or walk 15 min from Busan Station) has routes to Japan(Fukuoka, Osaka, Tsushima Island, etc). Coastal Ferry Terminal 📍(10 min walk from Jungang Station, Line 1) has routes to Jeju.
• There are direct Limousine buses from Busan's Gimhae International Airport to various locations in this area (See airport page for schedule).

See

Jung(Central)-gu

• Yongdusan Park and Busan Tower (용두산공원, 부산타워), 35.100556°, 129.032778°. This pleasant little park is home to Busan's one true tourist attraction, the 118-meter-tall Busan Tower. This is the fourth tallest tower in South Korea, although it is over 100 meters shorter than the Namsan Tower in Seoul. 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. The fences surrounding Busan Tower are adorned with love padlocks, which can be purchased in the souvenir shop. If you go up the Busan Tower you will get to see an awesome panorama of the entire city. You can walk or take the hillside escalator up to the tower. ₩4,000

• 40 Steps (40 Gyedan), 35.103955°, 129.036397°. 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. Also easy walking distance to Yongdusan Park.

• Jagalchi Fish Market (자갈치수산시장), Jagalchi (Line 1, Jagalchi station), 35.096519°, 129.031023°. This is possibly Korea's most famous fish market with a large selection of seafood there. You will have to opportunity to eat squid that is still wriggling when you eat it! Try and come very early to see the activity around the fish being landed. It is walking distance from the Nampo Lotte Department store or the Jagalchi station on the Busan Metro Line 1.

• Busan Modern History Museum (부산근대역사관), 42-2, 2Ga Daecheong-dong Jung-gu, Busan, Korea, 600-092 (Line1 - Jungang or Nampo), 35.102689°, 129.031176°, +82 51 253-3845. 09:00-20:00. This building housing the Busan Modern History Museum was used as the Busan Branch of the Oriental Development Company during the Japanese occupation and as the Busan USIS Cultural Center (a CIA post) following the Korean war. The exhibition consists of the modern history of Busan during the Japanese occupation, Busan's role in the Korean war and the history of the relationship between Korea and the United States. Although not at all impartial, this museum nevertheless provides a fascinating background to modern Busan and you could probably spend two to three hours here.

Seo(West)-gu

• Songdo Beach (송도해수욕장), Gamcheon-ro, Seo-gu (Busan Station (Line 1), Exit 7; take Bus 17, 26 or 61 and get off at the entrance of Songdo (송도입구)), 35.076390°, 129.018309°. Songdo beach was apparently the first official beach in Korea and the main attraction in Busan for many years until Haeundae became the main tourist center. Today the beach is small (450 meters) and quiet with some charm, surrounded by low key restaurants and cafes. It is also in easy reach of Jagalchi fish market. (Jagalchi Station - Subway Line 1, Exit 2. Turn left at the corner, go straight 50m and cross the street to the bus stop. From the bus stop (충무동교차로), take Bus 7, 26, 71, or 96 to Songdo Beach)
• Gamcheon Cultural Village (감천문화마을), 35.089°, 129.004°. Gamcheon village was a Korean war refugee camp, and backwater outside of the city center. In 2008 it attracted the attention of local university students who began painting murals throughout the village as part of their social service activities. Today it has become a cultural center with photography and graffiti galleries, small museums, cafés and restaurants.

Dong(East)-gu

• Chinatown, 35.114762°, 129.038978°. Home of Busan's Chinese community with cheap and delicious dumplings
• Ibagu-gil and 168 Steps (이바구길, 168계단), 35.116618°, 129.036816°. This is an example of old, steep residential area of Busan that was formed after Korean War. Residents used this road and enormous steps to work at the harbor. Although you can walk the steps, there is a free incline monorail that takes you uphill. 2021-08-07

Yeongdo-gu

• Yeongdo Bridge (영도대교), 35.096433°, 129.035945°. This is a famous lifting bridge that was built in 1934. It was a meeting point for missing families during the Korean War. The current bridge was rebuilt in 2013, and the bridge lifts up at 14:00 (as of Aug 2021, it is suspended due to Covid). 2021-08-07
• Taejongdae Park (태종대공원), Busan-si Yeongdo-gu Dongsam-dong San 29-1 (from Busan Station, take city bus number 88 or 101 and get off at Taejongdae Park (10-min interval, 40-min ride)), 35.053046°, 129.087381°. Named after 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 a famous tourist attraction 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, the Japanese island of Tsushima 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, although a shuttle bus runs from the shops. There is no entrance fee, though there is a small paid trolley that circles the park. Free

Busanjin-gu

• Busan Citizen's Park (부산시민공원), 35.168413°, 129.057327°. This was a US military base that was turned into a large park in 2014. The parks have large playground for kids and remnants of military base. The park museum has many artifacts about the its history of US military base and the lives around it. 2021-08-07

Nam-gu

• Busan Museum, 35.129584°, 129.093974°. 09:00-20:00. Discover the history of Busan from the Prehistoric period to the present day. Free

• United Nations Memorial Cemetery (UNMCK), 93 UN Pyeonghwa-ro, Nam-gu, Busan, 608-812 (next to Busan Museum; at Daeyeon Station (Line 2), ride bus 138 or walk 20 min; at Kyungsung University · Pukyong National University Station(Line 2), ride Bus 10 or 남구10), 35.1281°, 129.097°, +82 51-625-0625, unmck@unmck.or.kr. Oct–Apr: 09:00–17:00; May–Sep: 09:00–18:00. This is the only United Nations cemetery in the world. Soldiers from many countries who contributed to the United Nations during the Korean War are buried here. Take bus from in front of the Memorial Park after subway exit. Please note that proper attire is required since guards will prohibit entry if you are wearing flip-flops, miniskirts, or shorts. Free

Do

• Busan Port Boat Tour, Jungang (walk to the Busan Port Authority (BPA) from exit number 2 of Jungang subway station (Line 1)), 35.104816°, 129.038638°, +82 51-999-3168. If you are interested in the industrial side of Busan then the Port tour is hard to beat. Passengers on board can see the port facilities of Busan Port, including the passenger terminal, general piers, and container terminals. You will learn about the port facilities, and their role as a transshipment hub. Specifically you will see: Coastal Passenger Terminal → International Passenger Terminal → Jasungdae Container Terminal → UamContainer Terminal → New Gamman Container Terminal → Gamman Container Terminal → Shinsundae Container Terminal → Jo Islands → Hanjin Heavy Industry → Coastal Passenger Terminal
• Busan City Tour, 35.115499°, 129.039729°. All-day ticket available for double decker tour buses. Children ₩5,000, adults ₩10,000
• Samjung 'The Park' Zoo, Choeup-dong (you can take a taxi from Seomyong station), 35.1829°, 129.0464°. In 2014 a new zoo opened in Busan, with a variety of animals (tigers, lions, bears, elephants, monkeys, etc.) It is very much targeted at children, and there is a very good activity center at the end, with climbing ropes and other activities. Adults ₩19,000, teenagers ₩17,000, children ₩15,000

Buy

• Ggangtong market (깡통시장), 35.101762°, 129.026630°. 09:00-20:00. An old market near Jagalchi Market in Nampo dong. People can’t easily notice it since it is 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 1960s. That is the Book Street of Bosudong, which contains many secondhand books.
• The markets of Gukje, Gwangbok-dong and Nampo-dong (국제시장), 35.101411°, 129.028508°, +82 51-245-7389. 07:00-22:00. 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 can bargain with the sellers.

• Lotte Department Store, Busan Main Branch (롯데백화점 부산본점), 부산광역시 부산진구 부전2동 신천대로78번길 61 (Line 1, 2 Seomyeon Station), 35.1575703°, 129.0461333°. 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.
• Lotte Department Store, Gwangbok Branch (롯데백화점 광복점), 2 Jungang-daero, Jung-gu (Line 1, Nampo Station), 35.098515°, 129.037198°. This is a similar Lotte department store, and has an indoor vertical waterfall and rooftop observation deck which has a whole view of the harbor and bridges.
• Choryang Foreigner Shopping Area, 35.114560°, 129.038506°. A strange combination of a Chinatown and a Russian town 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.
• Seomyeon Medical Street, Subway Line 1 - Busanjin, 35.157456°, 129.059164°. Seomyeon Medical Street (서면메디컬스트리트) is an area with around 160 medical clinics providing all types of medical procedures, and is popular with foreigners who want to take advantage of low cost medical procedures. You can buy cosmetic surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology and dentistry procedures.

Eat

Budget

• Gimbap Cheongook (김밥천국). Serves up gimbap from ₩2000 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&. This food court serves all the usual Korean favorites, with plastic food and English menus making ordering a snap. Meals from ₩5000
• Seoul Kakkduggi, 35.09853°, 129.03242°. Specializes in beef soups and kakkduggi side dish. Meals around ₩6000
• Amby's, Texas St (Russia Town), 35.11635°, 129.04001°. European, North American, Russian, and SE 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, 35.14854°, 129.11423°. Turns into a bar, but they serve excellent Western food, and American-style breakfast until the afternoon. Open air bar. Thursday is ladies' bottomless drinks for ₩15000. In-Jung runs the bar and is a great hostess.

Mid-range

• 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), 35.23113°, 129.08538°, +82 51 621-4821. 11:00-23:00. Authentic Indian restaurant owned by Indians. US$10-20

Splurge

Drink

• Club Realize, 35.13760°, 129.10222°. 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.
• 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.

Sleep

Budget

• Apple Guest House (애플게스트하우스), 5F, 6-1 4ga nampodong jung-gu (1-minute walk from Nampodong station exit 2 (between the Nampo and Jagalchi subway stations, on the fifth floor)), 35.0980326°, 129.0286037°, +82 10 8020 2583, aptitude66@naver.com. Friendly atmosphere, staff speak excellent English and know their way around town. There are many restaurants, shops, and bars near the guesthouse. No curfew. They have 6-, 4-person dormitory room and twin, double bed room. ₩18,000 per person/night
• Kyungsung Hostel, 35.1363414°, 129.0992112°, +82 70-4132-4003, pusanhostel@gmail.com. Offers Korean lessons for their guests. They have dinner with their guests. The hostel near the Kyungsung-Pukyong University area also features a gorgeous ocean view. ₩20,000 per person/night
• Blue Backpackers, Bujeon 2dong 454-1 Busan Jingu 614-830 Korea, 35.152271°, 129.055138°, +82 10-5019-3962, +82 10-5019-396208, staff@busanbackpackers.com. Check-in: 13:00, check-out: 11:00. Clean and cozy hostel with a reasonable price. Jin, the owner is very friendly and helpful with a lot of information for your trip. The hostel is in the center of Busan in Seomyeon, 5-10 minutes walk to lots of shops and restaurants. Blue Backpackers is very good location for the transportation to get around Busan. Breakfast free, free wifi. Dorm bed ₩20,000 per person, private rooms ₩50,000 for 2 people. Family room for ₩90,000. All rooms with a bathroom and air-con. They also have other options for your need. They have a big common room with a big screen TV, computers, tables, chairs and nice kitchen on the roof is awesome. 2015-09-28
• Kumran Hotel (Gumran), 35.15883°, 129.05597°, +82 51 8038800. (금란). ₩25,000 or ₩30,000/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, not the same alley Family Mart is on near the Younggwan Library (영관 도서관); ask someone, they'll know. It is about 100 m into the alley. Free parking.

Mid-range

Splurge

Most of Busan's luxury hotels are in Haeundae, however there are a couple centrally located:

• Commodore Hotel, 743-80, Youngju-dong, Jung-gu, Busan (within walking distance of Nampo-dong), 35.106146°, 129.032342°, hotel@commodore.co.kr.
• Lotte Hotel, 35.156881°, 129.056221°. 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 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 is like any typical western-style mall, with name-brand and high-end consumer items and clothing for sale.

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