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Busan
Beaches, hillside villages and seaside temples
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
- Currency
- KRW
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Country
- South Korea
Korea's second city and biggest port, with city beaches, colourful hillside villages, a temple on the sea and the country's best seafood.
- Seoul
- Busan
- Incheon
- Daegu
- Jeju
Quick facts
- Country
- South Korea
- Capital
- Seoul
- City population
- 3.3M
- Population of South Korea
- 51.7M
- Country area
- 100,410 km²
- Official language
- Korean
- Currency
- South Korean Won (KRW) · 1 USD ≈ 1,339 KRW
- Time zone
- UTC+9
- Calling code
- +82
- Drives on the
- Right
- Elevation
- 5 m
- Plugs
- C / F · 220V
- Emergency numbers
- 112 · 119 · 1330
- Best time to visit
- Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov
Temperatures through the year
Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.
Temperatures through the year
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | 8° | 10° | 14° | 18° | 22° | 25° | 28° | 30° | 26° | 22° | 16° | 10° |
| Low | -1° | 1° | 5° | 10° | 14° | 18° | 22° | 24° | 20° | 14° | 8° | 2° |
Best time to visitOther months
Approximate daily cost
Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.
- ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$56
- HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$117
- LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$310
Top things to do
- Free
Gamcheon Culture Village
Pastel houses stacked on a hillside, with murals, art installations and cafés; it is a residential area, so keep quiet.
- Half day
- Gamcheon and Saha
- Good for kids
- Free
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple
A Buddhist temple on the rocks at the edge of the sea, unusual in Korea where most temples are in the mountains.
- Half day
- Gijang coast
- ≈ $20
Jagalchi Fish Market
Korea's largest seafood market: choose fish downstairs and have it cooked upstairs.
- Half day
- Nampo and Jagalchi
- Indoors
- Free
Haeundae Beach and the Blueline Park
The city's famous beach, then the little Sky Capsule train along the coastal cliffs to Cheongsapo.
- Half day
- Haeundae
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
- Free
Gwangalli beach at night
The lit-up Gwangan Bridge over the bay, with a drone light show on Saturday evenings.
- Half day
- Haeundae
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
- ≈ $20
Day trip: Gyeongju
The ancient Silla capital, with royal tombs, Bulguksa Temple and the Seokguram grotto, 30 minutes by KTX.
- Full day
- Gijang coast
Before you go
Entry and visas
Many visa-exempt visitors normally need a K-ETA before travelling, but citizens of a list of countries, including the GCC states, the UK, the US and most of the EU, are exempt until 31 December 2026. Since January 2026, visitors without a K-ETA fill in the online e-Arrival card. Indian citizens need a visa.
Official websiteFrom the airport
The KTX fast train from Seoul takes about 2.5 hours. Gimhae Airport has domestic and regional flights and is 30 minutes from the centre by light rail and metro.
Getting around
Five metro lines cover the city; the T-money card works on metro, buses and taxis.
Local tips
- July and August bring crowds to Haeundae and the monsoon rains.
- The Busan International Film Festival in October fills hotels.
- Try dwaeji gukbap (pork soup) and ssiat hotteok (seed-filled pancakes).
- Distances are longer than they look; group sights by area.
Areas worth knowing
- Nampo and Jagalchi
- Gijang coast
- Gamcheon and Saha
- Haeundae
The UK Foreign Office last updated its advice for this country on May 14, 2026.
Read the advice on GOV.UKMore cities in South Korea
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Sources: K-ETA (Ministry of Justice) · VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization) · Visit Busan (official)