Thinking about spending 3 days in Busan? Here’s our in-depth guide on how to plan your 3 day Busan Itinerary with the best things to do and best places to visit. This travel guide will help you figure out what to do in Busan, how to get around, where to stay and where to eat in Busan! Let’s explore Busan in 3 days!
Busan is the second-largest city in South Korea, with tall skyscrapers nestled in the mountains. It’s one of the best city spots in South Korea as there’s such a variety of things to do in Busan. It’s definitely known for its beaches, temples and cuisine being so close to the water.
Besides the relaxing beaches of Busan, there are many city sights to see in your 3 days in Busan such as Busan Tower or Nampo, the popular shopping area. You can easily visit this south coastal city at a weekend, however, we’re going to show you how to plan a 3 day Busan itinerary and maybe you’ll be able to choose your favourite things to do! We’ll show you what to do in Busan in 3 days!
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What to do in Busan (3 Days in Busan)
- Beaches – One of the best places to be if you’re visiting Busan in the summer
- Eating – Busan is a foodies paradise with so many markets, cafes and restaurants around
- Learn about the culture – Home to a famous cultural village, you can learn a lot here about Busan
- Temples – One of the most beautiful temples in South Korea is located right here in Busan
- Skyscrapers – They’re pretty hard to miss! The city is covered in tall buildings.
Planning a 3 day Busan itinerary
- Currency – Korean Won (compare to your own currency here)
- Language – Korean (한글)
- Apps – NaverMaps (like GoogleMaps) & Kako Talk (like Google Translate)
Accommodation in Busan – Dynamic Guesthouse: (Seomyeon)
Portable Wifi – A great option if you want to connect more than just your phone! Find a portable Wifi on Klook here! (£2 a day) Pick up from Seoul or Busan airport.
Best Busan Guided Day Tour – Busan Skywalks, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Haedong Yonggungsa Temple Day Tour
Transport – Get a T Money Card to use on public transport for your 3 days in Busan. Look into a Korea Rail Pass if you’re travelling around the rest of the country.
More South Korea posts: 5 Day Seoul Itinerary, Best Things to do in Gyeongju, 2 week South Korea Itinerary & The Best Templestay in Korea!
- 25+ Best South Korea Travel Tips: What to Know
- Ultimate South Korea Bucket List: 20 Best Things To Do
- Vegan in South Korea Guide – Best Restaurants & Snacks (2024)
- 10 Best South Korea Budget Tips + Travel Costs (2024)
How to get to Busan
Arriving from Seoul – Train, bus or plane!
Fastest way: KTX – Speed trains will get you from Seoul to Busan in less than 3 hours! It’s one of the most popular routes in the city, so you may need to book in advance! (Korail tickets here) or buy a Korea Rail Pass for your South Korea trip!
Cheapest way: Bus – Another great option for a cheaper price, but it can take up to 5 hours! To book a bus online you’ll need a Korean bank and phone number, it’s possible to book bus tickets at the station. As it’s a popular route there may be fewer seats when leaving it on the day. We booked our bus tickets 2 or 3 days before when we arrived in the city. You can check the times & spots available here – (Kobus tickets)
Alternative way: Flight – There is a route from Seoul to Busan that takes less than 1 hour! However, the airport is just outside of the city centre (Gimpo Airport) and it may take longer than a KTX train overall! Check Skyscanner for flight times and prices!
Arriving from Gyeongju – KTX or Bus – We recommend getting the bus for this one as the Bus station is in the centre of Gyeongju, whilst the train station is a bus ride away. The bus will drop you off at one of Busan’s 4 bus terminals, and you can use public transport to make your way to your accommodation. It takes less than 1 hour by bus.
Arriving from Jeonju – KTX or Bus – You will need to change trains to get from Jeonju to Busan, however, a bus is also a great option that takes around 3 hours.
How to get around Busan
Busan is a big city! Seomyeon is the area that’s most connected to public transport (it’s also the area we recommend staying in!)
Public Transport – The cheapest way to get around the city is by bus or metro, you can reach the famous spots by public transport very easily. You just need to make sure you have enough time to get around the city. From Seomyeon it can take around 30 minutes by metro to get to the most famous beach.
We 100% recommend getting a T-Money card when in South Korea. You can buy them and top them up at convenience stores around the country, they are so easy for catching buses and metros.
Taxis – If you’re really in a rush, you can grab taxis on the side of the road. They’ll be much faster but might not be so friendly on your budget because of the distances and traffic in Busan!
3 day Busan Itinerary: What to do in Busan
After our tips on how to get around Busan, we can finally get into the Busan 3 day itinerary! We don’t know what time you’ll arrive on your first day but this itinerary will give you more than enough things to do in Busan. We have a few more tips after this 3 day Busan itinerary if you want to plan your trip fully!
Note: We will include the locations on Google Maps – however, Google Maps isn’t the best in South Korea! You’ll want to use the Naver Maps App for directions anywhere! We still used Google Maps to mark our spots and Naver to search for directions.
As well as planning your 3 day Busan itinerary, there are also many guided tours around the city that takes you to the best spots. It’s a great way to learn more about Korean culture and Busan’s history – browse Busan tours here!
Day 1 – Gamcheon Village & Nampo
Start your day with a visit to one of our favourite places in Busan, and a spot you’ll definitely want to add to your Busan itinerary.
Get lost in Gamcheon Culture Village
One of the best things to do in Busan is to explore Gamcheon Culture Village. This art-filled photogenic village is a great way to start your 3 days in Busan, so definitely add it to your itinerary!
It’s free to enter, but you can buy a map for 2,000 KRW that guides you through the maze of the village. You can also collect stamps and postcards along the way. Make sure to visit before 4 pm, as things start to close at 6pm leaving you with an unfinished map (like us!)
What is Gamcheon Culture Village? After the Korean war, the village became home to the city’s poorest residents. Many people moved to Busan from all over the country as it was a safer area during the war. As Busan’s population almost doubled, Gamcheon becomes very crowded with makeshift homes.
In 2009 the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism began making the village into what it’s like today – beautiful art heaven! You can spend a whole morning or afternoon here, admiring all the unique shops, cafes and artwork the village has to offer!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Gamcheon Culture Village Location
If you’re looking for lunch – we recommend Soban Vegan Restaurant or you can head straight to Nampo!
Explore Nampo-dong
Nampo-dong is one of the best places to shop on your 3 day Busan itinerary! It’s close to Gamcheon Village (only a short bus ride away) so it’s perfect to combine these two things to do in Busan together. It’s also a great area to spend your evening as there are many restaurants, markets and bars in Nampo.
Visit Markets in Nampo
These markets are best to visit in the daytime as stores tend to close around 6 pm!
- Jagalchi Fish Market – Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Jagalchi Fish Market Location
- Gukje Market – Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Gukje Market Location
Find Gwangbokdong Food Street
The street food stalls in Nampo come alive in the evening, with plenty of options for you to choose from (Not 100% on vegan options here)!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Gwangbokdong Food Street
Discover Biff Square
Another amazing option for street food in Busan is Biff Square. Yes, just around the corner from Gwangbokdong Food Street are more street food vendors. You have to try some street food at this point of your 3 days in Busan. Note: If you’re unsure about anything, you don’t have to eat it!
Biff stands for Busan International Film Festival as it’s the main venue when the festival happens each year.
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Biff Square Location
Enjoy the sunset at Lotte Department Building
So the main reason you want to visit here on your 3 day Busan itinerary is because of their rooftop views! When entering the store, jump in an elevator and go all the way to the top. There will be stairs to make it to the highest platform on the roof. At sunset would be the best time to go, which in June was around 8 pm (although it says they close at 8 pm)
Other than the beautiful views, this department store is massive! You can easily spend a while shopping here, although it’s definitely a more expensive style of shopping. They do have a big supermarket at the bottom too!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Lotte Department Building Location
We highly recommend a Joby GorillaPod if you want to take photos of some of the best things to do in Busan. We use a Joby GorillaPod for our Sony A600 and love how lightweight it is to carry around. There’s also a Joby Phone Tripod to capture beautiful videos on your 3 day Busan itinerary.
Spot Busan Tower
Busan Tower is open all the way until 9 pm, so if you’re still around, maybe you can check it out! You may have already seen it whilst browsing around Nampo as it’s pretty tall! It’s very iconic to Busan’s skyline, especially in Nampo. At the moment the price is 12,000 KRW to go up the tower.
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Busan Tower Location
A great way to end your first night in Busan is to go on a Busan Night Tour. Visit places such as Songdo Cable Car, Yeongdo Seaside Park and The Bay 101. Find more details and tickets on Klook.
Day 2 – Temples & Beaches
On Day 2 of what to do in Busan, you can see a beautiful temple by the sea and head to the beaches of Busan! If you’re looking for breakfast, we recommend checking out CU or 7/11 for their convenient snacks. If not head over to Doko – Dosi Nongga Cafe in Seomyeon for a deliciously sweet breakfast!
Admire Haedong Yonggung Temple
One of the best things to do on your Busan 3 day itinerary is to visit Haedong Yonggung Temple! It’s a beautiful temple located right on the rocks by the water. It’s said to be one of the most beautiful temples in South Korea.
Haedong Yonggung Temple was originally known as Bomun Temple and was built in 1376 by Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty. It’s very unique for a temple to be built so close to the water!
How to get to Haedong Yonggung Temple? It’s very easy to reach the temple by public transport. (Download the NaverMaps app for the best directions!) If you’re staying in Seomyeon it can take around 1 hour to reach the temple. You’ll have to get a metro and then a bus, and if you have a T-Money Card you can use it to swipe on and off. It’s also free to enter!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Haedong Yonggung Temple Location
On day 2 of your Busan itinerary, you can opt for a Busan One Day City Tour which includes a Yacht, a visit to the Haeundae Sky Capsule and the famous Beach Train! You can find tickets on Klook!
Relax at Haeundae Beach
Since you’re already on the east side of Busan, you have to come to check out Haeundae Beach! It’s one of the best and most popular beaches in the city. At different times of the year, there are also special events that take place. In 2022 they had a sand festival where different iconic landmarks were created in the sand.
Haeundae Beach has a really nice atmosphere, you can swim in the sea, bathe on the sand or walk along the promenade admiring it all! There are plenty of cafes around, but you can also find more just up the road.
If you walk all the way down, you’ll reach Dongbaek Park which has amazing side views of Haeundae Beach and the impressive skyscrapers!
Want to see an even better view in Busan? Check out BUSAN X the SKY for incredible views from the skyscrapers in Haeundae! Find tickets on Klook here.
Browse the Haeundae Markets
Just up the road from the beach is Haeundae Market, a place where you can snacks, lunch, dinner, socks or gadgets! There’s a lot going on here and there’s so many options for food, but there are also many restaurants nearby.
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Haeundae Market Location
If you’re still hungry, head over to Vegenarang for a Korean style dinner and then rest for the night as you have one more day of your Busan itinerary!
Alternatively, if you have more time on your 3 day Busan itinerary, hop on a Haeundae River Cruise and see the city from the water.
Day 3 – Coastal Walk & Seomyeon
You’ve reached the last day of your Busan 3 day itinerary! Today you’re going to explore the coast of Busan before watching Seomyeon come alive at night!
Feel the fresh air at Igidae Coastal Walk
We have to warn you here, the walk can take anywhere from 1-3 hours with small inclines and declines along the way! It’s totally worth it if you’re in the mood for a big coastal walk on your 3 days in Busan itinerary. It’s a beautiful way to admire part of the city as you walk along the coast. There are many steps and bridges along the way so the walk is entertaining!
As it’s a walk along the coast, you can either start north or south to make your way to the other side. We started in the north and made our way down to Oryukdo Skywalk. If you don’t want to complete the full walk, we recommend visiting the south side of the Igidae Coastal Walk.
Both the coastal walk and Oryukdo Skywalk are free, so a great thing to do if you’re on a budget!
Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Igidae Coastal Walk Location 1 or Igidae Coastal Walk Location 2
If youre’ looking for something different, you could visit Taejongdae Park instead and see Yeongdo Lighthouse! Find the location on GoogleMaps here – Taejongdae Location
Spend the evening in Seomyeon
After a long three days in Busan, you might be after some downtime. There’s one more area to explore on our Busan itinerary and that’s Seomyeon. Try your luck with some arcade games and take in all the beautiful city lights that make South Korea so fascinating.
It’s the perfect way to say goodbye to Busan and there’s many options for restaurants too! We recommend Dajeon for some delicious healthy Korean food.
If you still have some time left in your day, you might want to go back to Nampo if you missed anything!
Want to switch to sustainble travel products before visiting Busan? Check out our 18 Great Eco Friendly Travel Products You Need to Swap guide!
3 Days in Busan Overview Breakdown
Day 1 – Gamcheon Culture Village, Nampo & Busan Tower
Day 2 – Haedong Yonggung Temple & Haeundae Beach
Day 3 – Igidae Coastal Walk & Seomyeon
Alternative Option: If you’re not interested in some of the activities on this Busan 3 day itinerary, maybe you’d like to take a day trip out of the city and into nature!
Only a 40-minute to 1-hour journey away is the city of Gyeongju and just after that is Golgulsa Temple. (One of the best places to do a Templestay in Korea – find out more here!) These are very close to Busan, it’s possible to explore on a day trip although it’s best to stay one night to experience the temple stay.
More Things To Do in Busan
- Take a ride on the Busan Air Cruise Cable Car and see Busan from above!
- Book a day tour on Klook to have a guide take you to the best things to do in Busan! Find tickets on Klook.
- If you’re going to be doing a lot of activities in Busan, it may work out more cost-effective to get a Visit Busan Pass which includes Busan Tower, museums and hanbok rentals and more!
- Explore Busan in a unique way on a Busan Night Tour – Find more details on Klook here!
- Take a visit to Poo Poo Land in Busan!
- Spending more than 3 days in Busan? Take an Island Day Tour outside of Busan city to Oedo Island.
- Lotte World Busan – South Korea’s most popular theme park! Find tickets here.
Check out the Ultimate South Korea Bucket List: 20 Best Things To Do!!!
Where to stay in Busan
As Busan is so big and the best things to do in Busan are quite spread out, there are a few different areas you can stay in. We recommend staying in Seomyeon – this area is close to great transport so you can get to other areas very easily. It’s also in the heart of the city so you can spend every evening finding somewhere new to eat or even having shopping on your doorstep.
Other areas to stay in Busan are: Haeundae, Nampo & Gwangan. If you’re near a metro or bus stop, it’ll be perfect for your 3 day Busan itinerary! Here are some places we recommend:
Dynamic Guesthouse: (Seomyeon) $-$$ – Amazing location on the 36th floor of a highrise building! It’s two penthouse apartments split into 4 rooms each, you’ll be able to choose from a dorm, double room or family room. Full kitchen access! Find Dynamic Guesthouse on Booking.com here!
Plea De Blanc Hotel & Residence (Haeundae) $-$$ – A great location if you want to spend more time near the beach! They’re beautiful apartment rooms, very close to Haeundae Beach! Find Plea Blanc Hotel & Residence on Booking.com here!
Where to eat as a vegan in Busan
- Dajeon (Korean) – Hearty bibimbap and cosy environment, in Seomyeon!
- Soban Vegan Restaurant (Korean) – Amazing vegan fried chicken, near Gamcheon Village!
- Ecotopia Vegetarian Restaurant (Korean) – Korean food with a Western vibe, Namcheon Dong!
- Vegenarang (Korean) – Cosy vegan restaurant near Haeundae!
- Doko – Dosi Nongga Cafe – Lovely bakery in Busan with many vegan options, in Seomyeon!
Is Busan worth visiting?
Yes! If you’re already visiting South Korea, then Busan is a great city to add to your itinerary. It’s so different to Seoul, including the food and the landscape! As it only takes a few hours by bus or train, it’s definitely achievable in a weekend and you can spend 2 days in Busan.
How many days in Busan?
Our 3 day Busan Itinerary is suited for 3 days worth of activities and things to do in Busan. If you want to spend more than 3 days un Busan or less, you’ll still be able to see the amazing sights.
If it’s summer, maybe you want to stay near the beach and enjoy the Haeundae area. Even if you can only spare 1 day in Busan as a day trip from Seoul, you’ll definitely get the feel of the city and maybe even come back in the future!
Busan Weekend Itinerary
If you want to change this 3 days in Busan itinerary to a weekend itinerary, you can blend the coastal walk into the beach day or skip it out! It depends on the time of year and the main things you want to do in Busan!
Should I spend more time in Busan or Seoul?
Seoul is the capital and the most popular place to visit in the country. Although Busan has amazing things to do, we would personally spend more than in Seoul over Busan. However, if you’re visiting Busan for the coast then that’s something Seoul does not have!
We recommend checking out our Ultimate 2 week South Korea Itinerary: Best Places (2024) to plan your South Korea trip as we list how long to spend in each city and how to get around.
What to pack for a 3 day Busan Itinerary
What to pack in South Korea really depends on the season that you visit – if it’s winter, bring thermals, gloves and a hat. If it’s summer you may want to bring a raincoat or umbrella for the rainy season. Here are a few of our favourite travel essentials:
- Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Our metal water bottles have been our side throughout it all! They last a long time, are easy to clean and are better than plastic! Bring one along for your 3 day Busan itinerary!
- Worldwide Travel Adaptor – The best plug to have when travelling to different countries – plus as well as an international plug it has 4 USB slots to charge your gadgets at the same time!
- Amazon Basics Packing Cubes – Packing cubes are one of our favourite travel essentials!
- Anker Power Bank – A portable charger is useful for those journeys around South Korea or when you’re out in nature or city with low power!
- Rain Mac in a Bag – A lightweight raincoat to help with heavy summer rain or light spring rain, we also have a backpack cover to stop our clothes from getting wet in our backpacks.
- Joby GorillaPod 3K Pro Kit – GorillaPods are a great little tripod to carry for 3 days in Busan, they’re lightweight and can fit in a day bag. They catch some of the best photos when there’s no one around to take a photo of you. We love our Joby GorillaPod and use it for our Sony A600. There’s also a Joby Phone Tripod to capture beautiful videos of all the best things to do in Busan.
What to do after 3 Days in Busan
Gyeongju – A lovely cultural city to visit in South Korea. Spend 1 or 2 days here looking at the sights, shopping or eating. You can even do a Templestay at Golgulsa Temple – see our Templestay guide here!
Seoul – You may have started your South Korea trip in Seoul, but if not, then your next stop should be here! The capital city of South Korea is filled with markets, hikes, trendy shops and more amazing places to eat! Check out our Seoul itinerary!
Jeonju – Take a bus to the small city of Jeonju to stay in a wonderful Hanok and explore the village!
More South Korea guides:
- 5 Day Seoul Itinerary – Best Things To Do (2024)
- Staying in Golgulsa Temple: The Best Templestay in Korea (2024)
- 11 Best Things to do in Gyeongju: Itinerary (2024)
- Ultimate 2 week South Korea Itinerary: Best Places (2024)
- 25+ Best South Korea Travel Tips: What to Know
- Ultimate South Korea Bucket List: 20 Best Things To Do
- Vegan in South Korea Guide – Best Restaurants & Snacks (2024)
- 10 Best South Korea Budget Tips + Travel Costs (2024)
- All our South Korea posts!
That’s the end of our 3 day Busan Itinerary: What to do in Busan (2024)! Enjoy your time in the beautiful coastal city of Busan and if you need any more help planning – send us a message on Instagram (@thesunrisedreamers) or leave a comment below!
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Haha the cat! Love the steps with HP. Skyscrapers and street food. Great post!
Aww they’re so nice! 🙂 Haha the perfect action shot with the cat!