This summer resort destination offers some of South Korea’s most spectacular beaches, a village filled with art and the world’s biggest department store.
Pamper yourself and relax in Busan, South Korea’s favourite resort destination. The country’s second-largest city is located on the picturesque coastline and is a popular getaway in the warmer months. Visit for its bustling beaches, spa treatments and daytrips to the Hallyeohaesang National Park.
Long beaches attract locals and visitors for warm water and tanning on golden sand. Join record-breaking crowds of locals and visitors on Haeundae Beach, a famed relaxation spot for hardworking South Koreans. The colourful masses of umbrellas and friendly passers-by make for a fun day in the sun. For a less crowded beachfront, visit Gwangalli Beach. It has stunning views of South Korea’s longest bridge, the Gwangan.
Browse a huge range of boutiques and brands at Shinsegae Centum City which, at 14-storeys, is the world’s largest department store. After shopping, get active at the indoor golf driving range or the department store’s ice rink.
Stop for a seafood lunch at the enormous Jagalchi Market, South Korea’s biggest fish market. Enjoy the sights and smells of the dock while you sample marine delicacies from decorated stands around this multistorey warehouse marketplace.
Busan has become renowned for its advanced cosmetic and medical treatments. Renew and revitalise your skin with exfoliation treatment or a facelift at one of 160 clinics along Seomeyen Medical Street. Visit the Shinsegae Centum City Spaland to enjoy some 22 spas and 13 saunas designed to recharge tired muscles.
Take a daytrip by ferry or bus to the island port of Tongyeong. Just southwest of Busan, this town provides access to the Hallyeo Waterway Observation Cable Car, which looks back onto the picturesque coastline of the mainland. Don’t miss the unique Dongpirang Village, a colourful suburb reborn out of plans for demolition after a determined community transformed it into an outdoor art gallery.
Get around central Busan by metro and use buses, cars or ferries for destinations further out.
