Best Day Trip to Busan Itineraries (+ Hour Breakdown)
If you’re planning a day trip to Busan, here’s the perfect One Day in Busan itinerary, including the top places to go in Busan, costs if any, how many hours to spend at each place, and how long it takes to get around.
I’ve visited Busan a few times so far and consider myself a super-tourist 🦸🏻♀️ visiting as many places as I could.
Here are my recommended sites to help you make the best of your day trip to Busan.
If you’re new to South Korea, read my South Korea travel guide.
🎥 Watch my Busan vlog:
Is One Day in Busan Worth it?
Busan is the 2nd largest city in South Korea with lots of sites to visit. While I recommend staying for more than one day in Busan, a day trip to Busan is still worth it!
Especially if you’re on a time crunch in South Korea, and want to see more cities other than Seoul, Busan is a great choice.
🚌 Another city I recommend visiting in South Korea: Gyeongju
If you end up visiting Busan again or decide to stay longer, make sure to read my Best Busan Itinerary for 2-5 Days (+ Hour Breakdown).
Busan Day Trip From Seoul
If you’re doing a Busan day trip from Seoul, here are a few things you need to know:
Best ways to get from Seoul to Busan:
- KTX train: 2.5 hours, 60,000 won ($45 USD). Prebook your round-trip tickets online to save time.
- Express Bus: 4 hours, 42,000 won ($32 USD). Prebook your round-trip tickets online to save time.
- Plane: 1 hour, 40,000 won ($30 USD). Prebook your round-trip tickets online to save time.
Last Busan to Seoul Times:
- The last train back to Seoul is 10pm.
- The last express bus to Seoul is 11pm.
- The last flight back to Seoul is 8pm.
What you take will depend on your budget, but in general, take the earliest flight, train, or bus from Seoul to make the most of your day trip to Busan.
Driving? 🚙 Rent a car in South Korea for as cheap as $28 USD a day
Easy Day Trip to Busan Tours
If you’re looking to make your day trip to Busan or layover as convenient as possible with transportation provided, book a Busan day trip tour.
Some tours also provide round-trip transportation from Seoul and other cities so you don’t have to worry about catching the last train or bus in time.
Here are top-rated tours to see the most popular sites in Busan:
Small Group Full Day Busan Tour (Viator tour)
Busan One Day City Tour: Haeundae Sky Capsule, Yacht (20K+ booked)
Busan Private One Day Tour (best if traveling with a group)
Private tour, 1Day Busan city tour by (KTX from Seoul provided)
🚌 Browse through more Busan group and private tours here
Route 1: Best Day Trip to Busan Itinerary (Mix of Everything)
This Busan day trip itinerary is for: People who want to see the most popular places in Busan with limited time.
Mid-Morning (2-3 hours)
Gamcheon Culture Village
The Gamcheon Culture Village is one of the main must-see sites for tourists visiting Busan. There are different origin stories online, but this served as a village for refugees of the Korean War.
Walk around for different viewpoints, famous art alleys, and local shops.
Then grab lunch nearby.
🚕 Ride to Gamcheon Culture Village: 10 minutes by taxi from the train station, 17 minutes from the airport.
Get there by taxi using Kakao T app or Uber (works in Busan).
🎫 Entrance: free
🚌 For $39.99 USD, book a tour of Gamcheon Culture Village, Busan Skywalks and Yonggungsa Temple
Read my full post on visiting Gamcheon Culture Village and things to do there.
Afternoon (2-3 hours)
Busan Tower or Observatory
Choose from two amazing views of Busan: the Diamond Tower aka Busan Tower or Lotte Mall’s Rooftop Observatory (Gwangbok location).
(You can also go to both since they’re within walking distance of each other.)
🚕 Ride to Busan Tower or Lotte Mall from Gamcheon Culture Village: 22 minutes by taxi.
🎫 Entrance: Busan Tower is $8 USD (prebook here) and free for the Lotte Mall Rooftop Observatory (13th floor).
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Busan with white sand. You can watch street performers along the promenade leading to the beach, and look at the growing number of street art there.
Eat street food at Haeundae Market while there or head to the next location to grab a bite.
🚕 Ride to Haeundae Beach from Busan Tower: 16 minutes by taxi.
Evening (2 hours)
Gwangalli Beach
Gwangalli Beach is the best beach in Busan to visit at night. Walk down the cement path or along the beach on the sand.
You can also catch music performances at night. The beach is bordered by bustling buildings and restaurants.
Related post: Things to do at Gwangali Beach at night
🚕 Ride to Gwangalli Beach from Haeundae Beach: 5 minutes by taxi, or 16 minutes by train.
⏱ Head back to the Busan train station (10 minutes by taxi) or to the airport (20 minutes by taxi).
⛴ Book a river cruise around Gwangalli Beach or night tour of Gwangalli Beach + other popular sites at night 🌌
Route 2: Best Day Trip to Busan Itinerary for Coastal Views
This Busan day trip itinerary is for: People who want to see the most beautiful coastal views. This does mean you skip the Gamcheon Culture Village, but these sites are amazing as well.
Mid-Morning (2-3 hours)
Huinnyeoul Culture Village
Huinnyeoul Culture Village is another colorful culture village in Busan, this time by the sea, and is located in southern-central Busan.
There are lots of shops, cafes, and colorful mural art. You can also walk downstairs along the coast at the Jeoryeong Coastal Walk and Huinyeoul Coastal Tunnel.
📖 Read my full Huinnyeoul Culture Village post and what to do there.
🚕 Ride to Huinnyeoul Culture Village: 5 minutes by taxi from the train station, 18 minutes from the airport.
Get there by taxi using Kakao T app or Uber (works in Busan).
🎫 Entrance: free
Then grab lunch nearby (Vegan or vegetarian? Here’s my favorite vegan restaurants in Busan.)
Songdo Bay Station
At Songdo Bay Station is a long walking path called the Songdo Skywalk that leads to a deck with views of the sea and the Songdo cable cars above going to the Yonggung Suspension Bridge.
While you do need to buy a Songdo Bay Station ticket to ride the cable car, the actual Songdo skywalk deck across the street is free.
🚕 Ride to Songdo Bay Station from Huinnyeoul Culture Village: 5 minutes by taxi
🎫 Sondo Cable Car tickets (prebook here): $12 USD, Songdo Skywalk: free
Haeundae Beach
Haeundae Beach is one of the most popular beaches beaches in Busan. You can watch street performers along the promenade leading to the beach, and look at the growing number of street art there.
Eat street food at Haeundae Market while there or head to the next location to grab a bite.
🚕 Ride to Haeundae Beach from Songdo Bay Station: 18 minutes by taxi.
Evening (2 hours)
Gwangalli Beach
Gwangalli Beach is the best beach in Busan to visit at night. Walk down the cement path or along the beach on the sand.
You can also catch music performances at night. The beach is bordered by bustling buildings and restaurants.
Related post: Things to do at Gwangali Beach at night
🚕 Ride to Gwangalli Beach from Haeundae Beach: 5 minutes by taxi, or 16 minutes by train.
Millak Waterside Park
Optional: Head to the Millak Waterside Park before or after Gwangalli Beach, which is walkable nearby.
There’s sets of steps to sit and relax on and look at the waterside and bridge views.
⏱ Head back to the Busan train station (10 minutes by taxi) or to the airport (20 minutes by taxi).
Tips to Make the Most of Your Day Trip to Busan
- If you’re really in a time-crunch, book a guided day trip to Busan tour instead that provides transportation to easily get you to popular sites in Busan.
- Take the earliest flight, train, or bus for a Busan day trip from Seoul or other cities. Book these in advance.
- While the subway is frequent in Busan, when you can, take taxis using the Kakao T app or Uber app in Busan to get you around. Prices are relatively cheap.
- If you have more time or want to mix things up, look through my 13 Free Things to Do in Busan to add or change your itinerary.
The Best Way to Spend a Day Trip to Busan
Ultimately, how you spend your day trip to Busan will depend on your interests, but the most popular sites in Busan are the most visited for a reason!
With limited time, try to visit the sites that most interest you, but also enjoy your one day in Busan without treating it like a checklist (like I often do).
Take your time and enjoy your day trip to Busan, and I hope you’ll be able to visit Busan again!
Book Before Your Busan Trip:
🏥 Secure travel insurance for your South Korea trip
🎫 Get the Visit Busan Tour Pass for access to 30+ Busan attractions
🌌 Take a Busan Night Tour and see popular sites at night
🚊 Prebook your ride from the Busan airport or Busan station
🎫 Browse through dozens of available Busan tours
Related Posts
13 Free Things to Do in Busan (Popular + Underrated Spots!)
Is Busan Safe? (Personal Experience as a Solo Female Traveler)
The Best Busan Itinerary for 2-5 Days (+ Hour Breakdown)
Uber in Korea: Where it Worked & Where it Didn’t (+ Costs)
5 Best Beaches in Busan (+ Events to Look Out For)
5 Things to do in Gwangalli Beach at Night
Don’t Miss This Free Busan Observatory Deck at Lotte Mall
The Must-Visit Huinnyeoul Culture Village by the Sea in Busan
Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan: Travel Tips & How to Get Here
