DAY 1
Route: Departure city → Busan Gimhae Airport → Haeundae Guesthouse → Yacht Tour → Haeundae Beach
Food: Obok Pork Soup Rice, 60 Chicken
We flew with Korean Air, and the flight took around 1 hour and 45 minutes. There were no in-flight entertainment screens, but since it was a short flight, it wasn’t a big issue.
Haeundae Beach surprised us with its blue water, fine, clean sand. During the day, you can rent swimming rings, parasols, and chairs. There are shower and changing facilities at the entrance to the beach, but note that the coin showers close at 6:30 PM. The area is bustling with shops, cafes, food stalls, and entertainment spots, making it a perfect place for food and fun.
Our guesthouse was located right next to the main shopping street, only about a 5-minute walk from the beach. It had a nice sea view from the balcony, although it wasn’t very spacious—around 30 square meters. Still, it was clean, well-equipped, with amenities like a microwave and washing machine. The price was $120 per night on a weekday during peak season. The downsides were that we had to sort our trash, and there were too few elevators.
Since we were in a rush to make our evening yacht reservation, we had a quick dinner downstairs at Obok Pork Soup Rice. In addition to the main pork soup rice, we also ordered a side of blood sausage. The pork soup was flavorful with a light but fragrant broth, and paired well with the side dishes. However, it was really hot, and eating quickly made me sweat—apparently, it’s a popular Korean hangover cure. As for the blood sausage, I thought it would be a meat sausage, but it was filled with glutinous rice. Not exactly to my taste, but interesting to try.
The yacht tour is a 5-star experience, lasting around 45 minutes. It departs from the marina, stopping briefly under the Gwangan Bridge to enjoy the fireworks display. We booked the 7 PM slot, which is said to be the best for catching the sunset and night view of Busan. The price was about $15 per person. Our boat had fewer than 15 people onboard, making it easier to take photos. We also saw larger yachts with more passengers, but I think smaller groups are better for a relaxed experience.
Of course, no trip to Korea would be complete without fried chicken! For a late-night snack, we bought the Kkan Kkan Kkan chicken from 60 Chicken, located near our guesthouse. They only sell whole chickens, priced at around $20. I’d rate it 4 stars—crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and definitely worth a try!
DAY 2
Route: Guesthouse → Haeundae Beach → Capsule Train → Cheongsapo Station → Songjeong Beach → Haeundae Snack Street
Food: Broni Café, Dosi House Grilled Scallops, Viral Seafood Pancake
We woke up naturally and had the rice balls we bought from the convenience store yesterday before heading straight to Haeundae Beach. It’s perfect for swimming during the day, but sun protection is essential. We only stayed for 30 minutes before leaving. After freshening up with some instant noodles, we set out for the highlight of the afternoon—the capsule train!
After getting off the bus, it’s about a 5-minute walk to Mipo Station, where you can choose between the capsule train and the coastal train. The capsule train runs between Mipo and Cheongsapo Stations, costing about $30 for three people one way. You can pre-book tickets online and head straight to the second floor of the station. The capsule train from Mipo Station runs along the outer track, closer to the sea with unobstructed views. Each capsule fits 2-4 people, and the ride takes around 20 minutes. The small, cute capsules paired with unbeatable ocean views make it a 5-star photo spot!
Beneath the capsule train is the coastal train, which offers the same views at a cheaper price. However, since we didn’t want to backtrack, we skipped it.
After arriving at Cheongsapo Station, we found the iconic railroad crossing, often referred to as the “Little Kamakura.” It does capture a similar vibe, but only from certain angles and at the right time. We wandered towards the coast and took a break at Broni Café. The café’s second and third floors offer great sea views, making it a perfect spot to relax. We ordered coffee, chocolate lattes, and cake. The taste was decent, but the main draw was the atmosphere and scenery.
For dinner, we went to Dosi House, a seafood barbecue spot. Since we arrived early, the restaurant wasn’t crowded. Still full from the drinks earlier, we only tried the grilled scallops and seafood ramen. I’d rate the meal 3.5 stars—not bad, but nothing exceptional. However, the window-side seating with a sea view was a nice touch.
After finishing dinner, we took an Uber to Songjeong Beach, which was about a 15-minute ride. The beach is similar to Haeundae but smaller, with many surfers. The sound of live music on the shore, paired with the vast sky, endless ocean, and beautiful sunset, created a serene and relaxing atmosphere.
We took the bus back to Haeundae and headed to the night market for more food. The market street isn’t very long, but it offers a variety of options, including barbecue, desserts, and eel dishes.
Two snacks stood out:
- Hotteok (Korean sweet pancake): One stall was super popular, with a line that seemed endless. We opted for hotteok from a smaller stall at the other end of the street, but it turned out to be just an ordinary brown sugar pancake—nothing special.
- Seafood Pancake: Another viral food item with a long line. We waited 40-50 minutes to finally get one, costing 8,000 KRW. The combination of scallions and squid was tasty, though the long wait made the experience feel less worthwhile. If you’re visiting on a weekday, it’s better to try these snacks at lunchtime when the lines are shorter.
DAY 3
Route: Guesthouse → Haeundae Beach → Griffen Bay Hotel, Nampo → Gamcheon Culture Village → BIFF Square
Food: Haeundae Baenyeon Sikdang Barbecue, Joyful Jokbal
Since we had to switch hotels today, we didn’t plan any major activities. After storing our luggage, we wandered around Haeundae’s shopping street and spent some time taking sticker photos. The self-service photo booth made it easy to relax and have fun.
For lunch, we finally got to try Korean barbecue at Baenyeon Sikdang. The menu was simple with limited meat and side dish options, so we ordered just a few items. The barbecue was tasty, but the real star was the spicy marinated crab that came as a side dish—it was even better than the meat!
We then took the subway to Griffen Bay Hotel in Nampo. The location is convenient, with attractions like Gamcheon Culture Village and BIFF Square nearby. The room had a sea view overlooking Jagalchi Market, but it was really small—opening luggage made it difficult to move around. The room also felt a bit outdated, so I wouldn’t recommend it. The price was over $100 per night.
Since we arrived early, we decided to take a taxi to Gamcheon Culture Village. We navigated to the service center, which is near the entrance. Walking along the main road for about 10 minutes brought us to the popular Little Prince photo spot. There were a lot of people queuing, but everyone followed the line politely and even helped others take group photos. We waited about 30 minutes to take photos, which took just 5 minutes. If you plan your poses, you can get some great pictures! There’s also a staircase nearby where you can go down and take photos of the colorful houses from a different angle with fewer people.
Afterward, we took another taxi to Nampo’s BIFF Square, a bustling street filled with snacks and shops. We first headed to Joyful Jokbal (pork trotters), where you need to write your name and group size on a list at the entrance. The owner calls names in order. We waited about 30 minutes for a table. We ordered the original-flavor jokbal, which included sliced pork trotters and four pig feet pieces, served with side dishes. The flavor was a bit plain and greasy, and the dipping sauce wasn’t quite to our taste. Overall, it was an average meal, but still worth trying.
DAY 4
Route: Hotel → Songdo Cable Car → Songdo Skywalk → Baeksand Beach → Lotte Department Store
Food: HAVING MOMENT Café, FRIDAY
We slept in again and took a taxi to Songdo Cable Car. There are two types: standard and crystal, with the latter featuring a glass floor. The round-trip fare for three people was 60,000 KRW. There weren’t many people that day, and we only waited around 15 minutes. However, each cable car seats six passengers, so we couldn’t have one to ourselves.
The ride wasn’t very long, taking less than 10 minutes to reach the other side. The views along the way were nice, with sights of the port and the sea, but the short ride made the experience feel a bit overpriced. Upon arrival, there’s a rest area offering coffee and snacks, where we had cheese sticks and hot dogs for lunch.
We then walked down to the Songdo Skywalk, a pier extending into the sea. The entrance fee was just 1,000 KRW per person—very reasonable. The views were enjoyable, with scenic ocean views and many cargo ships in sight. Not wanting to exert too much energy, we took the cable car back and captured a few more photos along the way.
Next, we decided to visit Baeksand Beach (Little Motolini), which wasn’t far away. After taking a taxi, we realized it was just on the opposite side of the cable car station. Right next to the drop-off point was the popular HAVING MOMENT Café. We ordered a black sesame latte, a chocolate latte, and some cookies. The view from the second floor was indeed great, though the window seats were all taken. It was a pleasant experience sipping coffee while enjoying the ocean view. The rooftop on the third floor is also accessible, but at 2 PM, it was too sunny to stay long.
After finishing our drinks, we followed the stairs down to the Baeksand Beach boardwalk. Despite being called a “Little Motolini,” there weren’t many shops, so it’s mainly good for photos. If your schedule is tight, this spot can be skipped.
In the evening, we headed to Lotte Department Store. It felt similar to other large malls, so we didn’t spend too much time there. For dinner, we chose FRIDAY, an American restaurant, and ordered a two-person set meal, which turned out to be surprisingly good with generous portions. We hoped to switch to a window seat to enjoy the port view, but unfortunately, those seats were reserved for guests with reservations—slightly disappointing.
DAY 5
Route: Hotel → BIFF Square → Busan Gimhae Airport → Shanghai Pudong Airport
Food: Haitian Beef Intestines
Today was our departure day. Since our flight was in the afternoon, we didn’t have time to visit any more attractions, so we decided to finally try the beef intestines we had been looking forward to. Near BIFF Square, we found Haitian Beef Intestines, a small restaurant run by a middle-aged couple.
We ordered a three-person serving of beef intestines, grilled beef, and kimchi fried rice. The food was delicious! The intestines were very clean with no unpleasant odor. Grilled on the iron plate, they were crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Paired with cheese and roasted scallions, the flavors were incredible. The only downside was that we were too full by the end, and the fried rice became a bit too greasy to finish.
For our trip to the airport, we decided to skip the subway and light rail transfer and took a taxi to Gimhae Airport. Since the airport is small and not too crowded, unless you need to claim tax refunds or pick up duty-free goods, arriving 1.5 hours before the flight should be more than enough.
Although it was hard to say goodbye to the beautiful sea of Busan, the holiday had to come to an end. Every time I look back at the photos from these past days, I feel deeply that Busan might not have many breathtaking attractions, and its upper limits may not be high. However, the city’s lower limits are solid—offering reliable enjoyment through its ocean views, food, shopping, and all the quintessential Korean experiences.
As I mentioned at the beginning, this was a joyful journey with no regrets. Perhaps one day in the future, when I feel the urge to see the sea again, I’ll choose to return here.
