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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.

Is One Day in Busan Worth it?

People sitting on benches watching young man perform on a guitar with the lit up white Gwangan Bridge and beach behind him

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

Seoul Station Train Platform with a man and nun waiting

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:

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.

🚙 If you want to try driving in Korea, you can rent a car. Check rates here

Easy Day Trip to Busan Tours

The image shows a series of wooden staircases descending a lush hillside toward a rocky shoreline. The railings, weathered yet sturdy, guide visitors down the multiple levels, offering scenic views of the water and stony beach below. The overcast sky suggests a serene, perhaps cool atmosphere, inviting a contemplative walk down to the shore.

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:

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

A scenic view of Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, South Korea, captured from a higher vantage point. The image showcases a dense cluster of colorful houses and buildings, painted in various pastel shades, tightly packed on a hillside. In the foreground, there's an outdoor terrace with a decorative metal sculpture resembling wings, a small tree adorned with pink and white flowers, and a large stone. The lush green hillside in the background contrasts with the vibrant urban landscape below.

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.

A woman sits beside the iconic Le Petit Prince statue, gazing over the colorful houses of Gamcheon Culture Village in Busan, with lush hills and the harbor in the distanc

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

🚌 Join a full-day Busan tour with Gamcheon Culture Village, Songdo Skywalk 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 (reserve online) and free for the Lotte Mall Rooftop Observatory (13th floor).

Haeundae Beach

White sand beach in gray weather with red Haeundae Beach sign

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

A nighttime scene at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, South Korea, showing the illuminated Gwangandaegyo Bridge in the background. In the foreground, an orange neon sign in Korean reads "안녕. 그냐아냐리" on the beach, with a few people standing nearby and one person seated on the sand looking out towards the water.

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.

A nighttime view of the Sunflower Walking Path at Gwangalli Beach in Busan, South Korea. The path, decorated with large sunflower designs, curves along the sandy beach and is illuminated by the glow from the nearby city lights. In the background, the brightly lit high-rise buildings of Busan's skyline stand against the twilight sky, with people walking and gathering along the beach. The scene captures the lively atmosphere of the beach at night.

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).

Top Busan Tours to Book:

🎫 Busan Tour Pass for access to 30+ Busan attractions

🎫 Busan full-day sightseeing tour

🎫 Most popular tour: Haeundae Sky Capsule, Gamcheon Culture Village

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

The photograph captures a serene riverside view of Huinnyeoul Culture Village with a striking yellow building featuring blue awnings on the right, adding a pop of color to an overcast day. In the distance, a bridge spans the wide river, connecting the urban skyline dotted with high-rises to the lush green hillside. The juxtaposition of nature and urban development is evident, offering a peaceful yet vibrant cityscape.

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.

A view of an alley in Huinnyeoul Culture Village in Busan, South Korea. The scene features a mix of older, weathered buildings with murals painted on the walls, contrasting with a modern white cafe building in the background. The alleyway is narrow, with steps leading up to the entrances of the houses, and various details like pipes and doors adding character to the historic area. The overall atmosphere captures the blend of traditional and contemporary elements in this cultural district.

🚕 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

A view of cable cars in the air over a path of oval stones in the middle of a sea at Songdo Bay Station in Busan

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.

Bronze statues of Mermaid and Human Statue reaching out to each other - Songdo Bay Station Busan

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

Lit up colorful heart installation on ground surrounded by flowers - Haeundae Beach Busan Korea

Haeundae Beach is one of the most popular 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

Busan locals taking photos of each other on circular lit up swings on the sand at Gwangalli Beach - best beaches in Busan

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

A view from Millak Waterside Park in Busan, South Korea, showing the Gwangan Bridge (Gwangandaegyo) stretching across the water as the sun sets. The foreground features a colorful, geometric mosaic design on the ground near the shore, with the calm sea and bridge in the middle ground. In the background, tall modern skyscrapers rise against the evening sky, creating a mix of natural beauty and urban development. The scene captures the tranquil yet vibrant atmosphere of this coastal area.

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).

Top Busan Tours to Join:

🎫 Busan Tour Pass for access to 30+ Busan attractions

☀️ Busan full-day sightseeing tour

🚌 Most popular tour: Haeundae Sky Capsule, Gamcheon Culture Village

Tips to Make the Most of Your Day Trip to Busan

A Harry-Potter style store called Art Space Project Shop with pastel homes in the backdrop at Gamcheon Culture Village
  • 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

One Day in Busan Itinerary Travel Infographic: This infographic provides a quick guide for spending one day in Busan, South Korea. It highlights key attractions such as Gamcheon Culture Village, Gwangalli Beach, Haeundae Beach, and the Sky Capsule. Each destination is represented with images, making it an easy-to-follow visual itinerary for travelers looking to explore Busan's must-see spots in a single day.

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!

Busan Checklist: have you booked these yet?

Get the Visit Busan Tour Pass for access to 30+ Busan attractions

▢ Book your stay in Busan (top places)

Prebook your ride from the Busan airport or Busan station

Browse through the most popular Busan tours

Top 13 Free Things to Do in Busan Korea in 2024 🇰🇷 (popular + underrated!)