Picture this, you spend your days along the coast, taking cute capsule trains, cafe hopping to Parisian-style cafes, exploring culture villages and hiking on scenic coastal trails, while at night you get lost in exciting traditional markets munching on one too many k-dogs and downing sipping the best soju Korea has to offer. With so much to do, sorting out your Busan itinerary is relatively easy however, planning where to stay in Busan is much more difficult. This is because the port city of Busan is very spread out, so choosing the right area for your needs is key. This Busan neighbourhood guide has the best areas to stay along with hotels for travellers on low and high budgets.
Busan is Korea’s second-largest city, located on the southeast coast. The city centre is gritty, arguably edgier than Seoul with its many run-down buildings while the coastal areas like Haeundae and Gwangalli are glamourous with incredible nature. Home to 3.5 million people, Busan has welcomed 1.6 million tourists in the first half of 2024, with year-end numbers forecasted to be almost 3 million total tourists. The popularity reflects how incredible this destination is, with a variety of attractions, and delicious food. Moreover, two of Korea’s most famous exports are from Busan, Jimin and Jungkook from BTS!
We loved Busan so much that we extended our original 4-week stay by another 4 weeks! The combination of hiking, beaches, food and of course the overall relaxed vibe all fed into our decision to stay longer than planned. This guide will explain where to stay in Busan, the best areas and hotels and what to do there.
- Busan Essential Information
- Where To Stay In Busan Map
- 1. Haeundae – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Attractions + Outdoors
- 2. Jung-gu – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Convenience
- 3. Gwangalli – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Relaxation
- 4. Seomyeon – Best Area To Stay In Busan On A Budget
- So, Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Busan?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Posts
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Busan Essential Information
- Use a T-money travel card to get around Korea
- For unlimited data download AIRALO e-sim to purchase a prepaid data package (Use TARA1104 to get $3 off)
- Travel around Korea on their high-speed rail. You can find a discounted rail pass here
- Busan is very spread out, make an itinerary of what you would like to see to figure out where the best location is for you. Use my map below to help!
Where To Stay In Busan Map
1. Haeundae – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Attractions + Outdoors
First up is my favourite are to stay in Busan, Haeundae. Home to Korea’s most famous beach, a 1.46 km / .96 m sandy beach that hugs Haeundae’s skyscrapers. Don’t think a beach is all that Haeundae has to offer though, there is much more to Haeundae than sunbathing. Close to beautiful hikes, incredible food streets and markets, lively nightlife and one of Korea’s most popular attractions, Busan Sky Capsule. Arguably, most of Busan’s best attractions are located in Haeundae.
Anyone looking to explore nature will be kept busy here, with Dongbeokseom, Moontan Road, Jangsan Mountain and the wooden boardwalk from Haeundae to Songdo.
Haeundae is also ideal for exploring the rest of Busan with two subway stations and many bus routes. However, expect to spend over an hour on transport to get to Busan city centre. I recommend the express buses 1001 and 1003.
Recommended Hotels In Haeundae
Budget | Toyoko Inn: located on Haeundae Beach, rooms are small but offer enough space for a couple. Coin launderette and vending machines on site, breakfast is also included.
Luxury | Grand Josun Busan: 5 star hotel with modern and spacious rooms, located on the beach it also boasts a large rooftop pool, gym and sauna. Families can avail of the kids only floor wher there are amenities for children. A buffet breakfast is served every morning.
Apartment | Ciel de Mer: rooms sleep between 4 to 10 people. Apartment hotel features a gym, mini golf range, cafe and convenience store. It’s just a 2 minute walk to the beach.
Highlights Of Haeundae
- Climb Jangsan Mountain, Busan’s most popular hike
- Visit the iconic Sky Capsules – read my guide here
- Climb Busan X theSKY
- Try the food at the Haeundae Traditional market
- Explore Haeundae’s cafe street, Haeridan-gil Street
- Walk to the lighthouse on Dongbaekseom Island
- Take a sunset Haeundae River cruise
Cons Of Staying In Haeundae
Haeundae is very touristy which makes it feel less like an authentic Korean experience. There are many Western bars and restaurants but if you leave the promenade you will find more local eateries. I recommend Haeridan-gil Street where you feel a sense of local life rather than holidaymakers. Along with the many tourists, food and drink is much more expensive in Haeundae than in other areas of Busan. There are many chains like Daily Beer, Twosome Place, Moms Touch and Isaac Toast that can be twice the price of local restaurants and cafes.
You might also like: The Perfect 1 Day Seoul Itinerary
2. Jung-gu – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Convenience
Jung-gu is the heart of Busan, it’s a large, busy area with high-street shops and markets. It is considered the downtown/centre of Busan. It’s a bit rougher around the edges than other places to stay in Busan on this list, not as glitzy as Haeundae or Gwangalli, but it’ offers a lot as a base.
One of the main benefits of staying in Jung-gu is the proximity to Gamecheon Culture Village and Busan’s train station. Thanks to Korea’s high-speed rail network it’s easy to take day trips to other areas of the country such as Gyeongju, the historic city (Korea’s Kyoto).
If you’re a foodie Jung-gu will satisfy your cravings, there is Jagalchi fish market, Gukje Market, street food on BIFF Square and of course countless restaurants it’s an incredible location to get to know Korea through its food!
Recommended Hotels In Jung-gu
Budget | Maron Hotel Nampo: compact rooms with a hot tub, choose between mountain or city views. Breakfast included for an extra fee.
Luxury | Poolvilla Gaon: luxury villa for up to 6 people, the villa features a spectacular private pool overlooking the city.
Apartment | Urbanstay Boutique Nampo BIFF: modern studio with washing machine, dining table and kitchenware.
Highlights Of Jung-gu
- Taste the fresh fish at Jagalchi Fish Market
- Shop and eat on Nampo-dong
- Try traditional Korean dishes at Gukje Market
- Explore Bosu Book Street
- Climb the 120m Busan Tower to the observatory
Cons Of Staying In Jung-gu
Jung-gu is not as “pretty” as other parts of Busan, it’s a bit grey and in some parts run down. Now, if you’re like me and like a gritty city you won’t mind that, but if luxury is what you are looking for you will not get it here. Additionally, Busan’s greatest appeal is its natural beauty with its coastal views and mountainous landscape, but if you stay in Jung-gu you will need to make an effort to reach these beauty spots.
3. Gwangalli – Best Area To Stay In Busan For Relaxation
Similar to Haeundae, Gwangalli is a beachside town. It is located approximately 25 minutes from Haeundae by bus. The area feels upscale with trendy cafes, bars and boutiques. The most popular thing to do in Gwangalli is to visit the drone show which occurs every Saturday night. The beach gets very crowded and afterwards, the bars and restaurants pack out.
Gwangalli felt more local and quieter than Haeundae. Additionally, it is closer to Busan’s city centre than Haeundae which makes it more convenient for getting around.
Recommended Hotels In Gwangalli
Budget | Gallery Hotel: one of the cheapest hotels in Gwangalli, excellent value for money. Basic rooms within walking distance to the beach.
Luxury | Kent Hotel: located across the road from the beach, the view from some of the rooms is spectacular, certainly one of the best places to stay in Busan to watch the drone show. Rooms are spacious and modern, breakfast is extra, also a nice bar downstairs.
Apartment | Premium Gwangan BnB: sleeps up to 4 people, rooms have a beach and Gwangan bridge view along with a fully equipped kitchen.
Highlights Of Gwangalli
- Watch the cool Gwangalli drone show
- View Gwangan Bridge light up at night
- Cafe hop
Cons Of Staying In Gwangalli
Aside from the drone show Gwangalli is a quiet area, which although makes it a great place to stay in Busan for families, it might be boring for other kinds of travellers. Along with fewer crowds, there isn’t that much to do so you will be leaving the area a lot over your stay, If a relaxed beach trip is what you are seeking then these cons of staying in Gwangalli likely won’t matter.
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4. Seomyeon – Best Area To Stay In Busan On A Budget
The final place I recommend to stay in Busan is Seomyeon, another downtown area. A major advantage of staying in this area of Busan is that it is located on both line 1 and line 2 it is easy to explore other parts of Busan with fewer transfers. Additionally, shopaholics will love this area with Lotte Department store where you can find high street and luxury brands and Seomyeon Underground Shopping Centre to visit more traditional Korean shops.
Aside from shopping Jeonpo Cafe Street is another highlight, however there aren’t as many coffee shops compared to a few years ago but there are some nice places to visit like Vintage 38 and Bao Haus.
Recommended Hotels In Seomyeon
Budget | Hotel Kyungsung: newly renovated and spacious rooms with minimalistic decor, some rooms feature a balcony.
Luxury | Arban Hotel: cosy modern rooms, some have a projector. The rooftop garden offers some peace from the busy city below.
Apartment | Mute Stay: Sleeps up to 6 people, beautiful wood staircase, large terrace, tv and cooking facilities. The perfect place to stay for a large group of friends.
Highlights Of Seomyeon
- Shop in Lotte Department Store and Seomyeon Underground Shopping Center
- Wander and eat around Bujeon Market
- Visit trendy cafes along Jeonpo Cafe Street
- Explore Busan Citizen Park
Cons Of Staying In Seomyeon
Similar to Jung-gu, Seomyeon is a built-up area with large buildings and busy streets. If you don’t want to shop you might not find much to keep you occupied during your stay. However, with line 1 and line 2 you have convenient access to the rest of Busan.
So, Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Busan?
The best area to stay in Busan is Haeundae. It offers beach vibes, easy access to Jangsan Mountain, excellent nightlife, many restaurants and a large range of hotels.
- on a budget: Seomyeon
- for things to do: Haeundae
- for city vibes: Jung-gu
- for families: Haeundae or Gwangalli
- for relaxation: Gwangalli
Frequently Asked Questions
3 – 5 days is enough to see the best of Busan. Aside from the centre of Busan I recommend visiting Haeundae, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Jangsan Mountain, Haedong Gamcheon Culture Village and Huinnyeol Culture Village.
Haeundae has much more to do but has more tourists, Gwangalli is quieter and has better food options. However, there is only a 30-minute bus ride between the 2 towns.
Busan is very spread out and not possible to walk between the different areas. Each area is pedestrian-friendly with wide footpaths and crossings, however, you will need to take the metro or bus to reach other areas of Busan.
