Discover Busan in Two Days: Unforgettable Things to Do and See | Busan, South Korea
After our trip to Japan was over, we headed to South Korea next. Our first stop was the seaside town of Busan which is known for it’s beautiful beaches, cultural landmarks, colorful buildings, and charming cafes. We visited in early November, and the weather was still nice enough to stroll along the beach, but the Autumn leaves were starting to change too, giving us the best of both worlds!
We spent two days exploring Busan, and while it’s definitely possible to see a lot in 48 hours, we quickly realized that the city is much larger than we expected. Many attractions and activities are spread out, so having more time would mean you could take things slower. However, if you’re looking for a quick weekend getaway, keep reading to discover our top things to do in Busan in just 48 hours!
*One thing to note is that Google Maps does not work very well in South Korea. The map itself is fairly accurate but the directions to/from are almost always wrong. We recommend downloading NAVER Map for your trip to South Korea. Also Uber does work but it connects you to local taxi drivers.*
Where to Stay in Busan
We decided to stay on the beach in Busan, so we opted for Paradise Hotel Busan in Haeundae. Paradise Hotel is right on the beach, and is known for it’s outdoor and heated thermal pools. Since we were only staying for 2 nights, this hotel felt like a nice retreat and we adored all the amenities. We absolutely loved the property so if you want to stay on Haeundae beach like we did, we highly recommend staying at Paradise Hotel Busan.
You can find other Busan accommodations here on Expedia
Best Things to Do in Busan
Haeundae Blueline Park Sky Capsule
Gwangbok Lotte Department Store Rooftop
Gamcheon Culture Village
Haeundae Beach
Ride the Sky Capsules at Haeundae Blueline Park - This is probably the most popular thing to do in Busan, and we thought it was so unique and worth it! On the sky capsules, you can view Haeundae coastal scenery from 20-30 ft up in the air from a small, colorful sky capsule. For a one way ticket for two people the cost is about 40,000 won or $25 USD.
Explore Gamcheon Culture Village - this was our favorite thing we did in Busan! Gamcheon Culture Village is a picturesque village with colorful houses, shops, restaurants, and art murals. It’s very easy to walk around and explore, and the view from the lookout point is stunning. We spent a few hours here and truly enjoyed every second of it.
Visit the Gwangbok Lotte Department Store Rooftop - From here you get an amazing view of the Busan Tower! Lotte reminds us of Macy’s in Manhattan — it’s a chain store that you will see everywhere but this particular location is gorgeous. The rooftop of the Gwangbok store provides gorgeous views of the city as well as the famous Busan Tower.
Explore Haeundae Beach - A chill beach with epic views of the sea & the city. Haeundae is great for a leisurely beach stroll and there’s some shops and food on the boardwalk as well.
Check out some cafes - South Korea has an amazing cafe culture with lots of unique themed cafes & specialty coffee, so we recommend stopping by a few on your trip. There is a cafe in Busan where they deliver your coffee via hot air ballon (called Blue House 243), but there are also other amazing themed cafes all over the city. You should research which ones you are the most interested in for your visit.
You can book other Busan activities and attractions here on Expedia
Where to Eat & Drink in Busan
Caffeinated
Home Bistro & Cafe
Vegenarang
Home Bistro & Cafe
Caffeinated
Sulgodang
Blue House 243
Mega Coffee (South Korean coffee chain)
If you want to see how we spent our time in Busan, be sure to check out our Busan YouTube vlog, where we share all our travel tips and highlights!
As always, all opinions are honest and our own. Some links on this post are affiliate links of which we receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you.