Is Busan Worth Two Days on a One-Week South Korea Trip?

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By Timo, London-based creator of TheTimoTalks, sharing personal experiences of travel, hospitality and life abroad.

We got up at 5 a.m. to catch the train from Seoul to Busan. With only a week in South Korea, two days felt like a big share of the trip. Looking at what we managed to fit in, I think two days are worth it if you want to spend some of that week by the sea. The trick is deciding which parts of Busan you actually want time for.

Watch our two days in Busan on YouTube

Give Gamcheon Culture Village time

The first thing you notice in Gamcheon is the colour. The houses climb the hillside in layers, so the view changes as you turn a corner or head up another set of steps. From farther back, you see how tightly the buildings fit together. In the lanes, you start to notice the details you miss from a lookout.

I’d leave time to do both. Start with a view across the hillside, then pick a few lanes to explore on foot. It’s a residential neighbourhood, and some of the narrow passages run right past people’s front doors, so stick to public paths and keep the noise down. There’s enough to see without trying to cover every staircase. See our walk through Gamcheon at 2:26.

After Gamcheon, we went to Jeonpo for katsu and coffee. That break worked well after the early train and the walking. If you’re planning your own trip, pairing Gamcheon with a meal in Jeonpo gives that part of the itinerary a natural stopping point.

Spend a stretch of the trip in Haeundae

The Haeundae Blue Line Sky Capsule gave us a view of Busan from above the shoreline. The ride is only one part of the outing. We also went to Haeundae Market and walked around Dongbaekseom, where we could take in the coast at our own pace. If I had to choose where to leave some breathing room in a short Busan visit, I’d leave it here. Watch the Sky Capsule ride at 6:53.

Leave room for the climb to Seokbulsa Temple

Seokbulsa was the stop where our plan changed. The taxi got us part of the way, then we had to get out and climb. That’s worth factoring in if you’re trying to fit the temple into a tight schedule. I’d give it a separate block of time so you can take the uphill walk at your own pace. If you only have time for one longer outing, the choice comes down to whether you’d rather spend it on the coast or head into the hills. See the climb at 11:18.

How I’d split the two days

I’d put Gamcheon and Jeonpo together and give Haeundae its own stretch of time. I’d keep Seokbulsa flexible, especially if the first day starts with an early train. Two days gave us a feel for several sides of Busan. If you’re deciding between five days in Seoul and two in Busan or a full week in Seoul, I’d make the split for the hillside neighbourhoods and the coast alone.

Watch our two days in Busan

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