The Open Road Travel

As the second largest city in South Korea, Busan is a popular location for travellers looking to branch out from the capital city. Today we will be looking at the best areas to stay in Busan to make the most of your time in South Korea’s waterside metropolis.

Laid-back and home to some excellent beaches, Busan is perfect for summer city breaks. The city is littered with beautiful temples, luxurious shopping districts, and thrilling hospitality venues, so you’ll have plenty to entertain you when you’re not relaxing on the sand.

With Seoul getting so much more of the international tourist community’s attention, you may be less familiar with what Busan has to offer. Not to worry.

In this post I’ll be taking you through all the best neighbourhoods in Busan, along with the main attractions to be found in each, to help you decide exactly where to stay in Busan for the dream vacation.

Busan is located along the south-eastern coast of South Korea, approximately 314km (195mi) from the capital, Seoul. With plentiful beaches and balmy summer weather, Busan is a popular vacation destination, welcoming around 7,000,000 tourists each year.

That’s in addition to the approximately 3,500,000 people who call the city home, making it the second most populous city in South Korea. Busan is also a major economic and trade centre, home to the sixth busiest port in the world.

Aside from its bustling urban landscape, Busan boasts a wealth of beautiful natural features, too. Along with its stunning seafront, various mountains burst through Busan’s skyline. Meanwhile, South Korea’s longest river, Nakdong, meets the sea in the west of the city.

Busan is also one of the closest South Korean cities to neighbouring Japan, just 180km (112mi) from the mainland. As such, it makes a perfect stop for anyone travelling around south-east Asia.

Busan is very much a summer destination. Whilst the city’s attractions, from its hilltop temples to its renowned street-food culture, certainly make Busan worth visiting year-round, it’s best enjoyed during Korea’s searing summers.

This is because one of Busan’s biggest draws is its stunning beaches. There are several beaches running along the breadth of Busan’s seafront. The most popular are Haeundae beach and Gwangalli Beach in the east.

The absolute best time to visit Busan is from June through September. This period sees temperatures averaging in the high 20°c’s (70°f’s), perfect for soaking up the sun on the sand.

A little less high profile than Seoul, you may be less familiar with the various districts of Busan. To help you decide which neighbourhood is best for you to look for accommodation for your visit, I have selected the four best areas to stay in Busan.

The major sights and attractions of Busan are very much scattered around the city. If sightseeing is your main plan for your time in Busan, then you will want to stay somewhere with comprehensive transport links.

In that case, Seomyeon is perfect and the best area to stay in Busan for sightseeing. Located right in the heart of the city centre, three metro lines run through the area. The routes lead out across the city in all directions, so you’ll have no trouble getting around.

The area itself is abuzz with all the shopping and entertainment you would expect from the city centre. There are tons of shops and cafes to enjoy during the day. The Jeonpo Cafe Street is particularly well known for its trendy coffee houses and arts spaces.

As one of the top shopping locales in Busan, there are also plenty of street-food vendors lining the pavement to serve hungry shoppers. Busan is well known for its excellent street-food scene, so you’ll have plenty of delicious options to indulge in.

In the evenings, Seomyeon is one of the best places to go in Busan for nightlife. The streets here are packed with trendy bars and nightclubs, keeping the area full of life well after dark.

If you find yourself wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a moment, the walking trails of Hwangryeong Mountain are just to the east. The beautiful Mahasa temple perched at the top is well worth the trek up through the hills.

Stay In Seomyeon If:

• Staying right at the heart of the city centre is a priority
• You want to be close to excellent transport links for sightseeing around the city
• Being close to a vibrant nightlife scene is important
  

Brown Dot is a fabulous, contemporary hotel bursting with urban chic. Its stylish, modern design perfectly encapsulates the fashionable inner-city vibe of Seomyeon.

Located right at the heart of Seomyeon, Brown Dot is surrounded by the neighbourhood’s vibrant shopping and hospitality. Just around the corner from Seomyeon metro station, you will be well poised for exploring the whole city with ease.

The rooms and suites are impressively spacious and expertly decorated to offer an air of understated luxury.

Each room includes a flat-screen television, modern bathroom, air-conditioning, minifridge, and kettle. Guests can also enjoy the use of the communal roof terrace and onsite mini-golf green.

The vibrant neighbourhood of Nampo is best known for two things; shopping and street-food. The streets here are illuminated by neon signs beckoning passers-by into the various shops, bars, and eateries that populate the district.

You will definitely want to pay a visit to BIFF Square. The iconic pedestrian street is the centre of Busan’s cinema culture. Small cinemas line the street whilst the ground itself is paved with the handprints of respected Korean actors.

BIFF Square is also one of the main centres for Busan’s famously impressive street-food scene. The area is lined with a numerous vendors offering a variety of delicious Korean dishes.

On rainy days or when you need a break from the oppressive summer heat, you can escape the intense Korean weather by heading down into the Nampo Underground Shopping Centre.

The sprawling subterranean network of shops and market stalls is a treasure trove of bargains and eclectic finds that can keep you browsing for hours.

Nampo is also home to various popular attractions. The colourful murals of Gamcheon culture Village are just a short walk away to the west.

Meanwhile, you can enjoy impressive views from the viewing platform at the top of the 118m (387 ft) tall Busan Tower. Then, at its base, join the many couples who have placed padlocks on its railings as a sign of their never ending love.

With the variety of shopping, hospitality, and attractions around Nampo, the district is the best area to stay in Busan for first time visitors. With a bit of everything that Busan has to offer, Nampo provides a great introduction to the city.

Stay In Nampo If:

• You want to be surrounded by some of Busan’s top shopping districts
• You want to indulge in Busan’s famous street-food scene
• It is your first time visiting Busan
  

A gorgeous, contemporary hotel at the heart of Nampo, Hotel Foret is the definition of style and convenience. Located just metres from BIFF Square, you would struggle to find more ideally located accommodation.

The spacious rooms include closet space and luggage storage, alongside modern en-suite bathrooms. Each room includes a flatscreen television, safe, minbar, kettle, and air-conditioning.

Guests can also enjoy the use of a business centre complete with coffee machines, and a communal lounge with massage chairs. You can also enjoy views of the city from the comfortably furnished terrace.

Although it’s a little further out from the main city centre, Haeundae is one of Busan’s most popular spots for summer vacations and the best area to stay in Busan for beach breaks.

The neighbourhood is best known for being home to one of the Busan’s best beaches, the eponymous Haeundae Beach. The long stretch of white sand is the place to be throughout the warmer months, with thousands of tourists flocking to enjoy the sun and sea.

It’s not great for anyone who dislikes crowds but it’s where you’ll find all the best beach parties.

If you’re determined to stay in Haeundae but want a beach with slightly fewer tourists, try Songjong beach a little further along to the east. It’s a bit more removed from the main town and maintains a more laid-back vibe.

Keep going along the waterfront in this direction and you will come across the lovely Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Built in the 14th century, Haedong Yonggungsa Temple is perched on the rocks right by the water.

With towering pagodas, sweeping bridges, and the intricately decorated buildings typical of traditional Korean structures, it’s a stunning example of the historic culture of Busan.

Haeundae is known for its more upscale, luxury vibe. You’ll have your pick of trendy, high-end hotels and apartments overlooking the water. This is not the best choice for budget travellers, but if you have more cash to splash then Haeundae can be your summer playground.

Stay In Haeundae If:

• You want to spend your vacation relaxing on the beach
• You prefer a livelier beach vacation
• You are planning a luxury summer vacation
• Being right in the heart of the city centre is not a priority
  

The Westin Josun is a stunning five-star hotel boasting exceptional sea views. Perched right at the end of Haeundae Beach, you will not only have unbeatable views, but also unrivalled access to Busan’s most popular beach.

In addition to the comfortable beach just metres from the hotel, the Westin Josun also boasts a luxurious, covered pool area. With summer also being Korea’s rainy season, a sheltered swimming area is a wonderful option to have.

The rooms are minimalist and bright, with flat screen televisions, air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests also have access to a stylish fitness suite, as well as six drinking and dining venues including a cosy bar and beachfront buffet restaurant.

If you are heading to Busan to take advantage of its famous beaches but have a smaller budget to stick to, Gwangan is the perfect place to look into staying.

Just across the river from Haeundae, Gwangan is much more affordable whilst providing just as much opportunity for fun in the sun. This makes it easily the best area to stay in Busan on a budget.

Gwangan is a little more laid back and local. Rather than droves of international tourists, Gwangan is more popular with the city’s residents. The hospitality and entertainment around this area is more catered towards the local population.

It’s perfect if you are looking for a more authentic, everyday atmosphere, rather than one dominated by the tourism industry.

The main beach in Gwangan is Gwangalli. Like Haeundae beach, Gwangalli is well furnished with sun loungers and backed by bars, restaurants, and cafes. It’s typically a bit quieter than Haeundae, but you should still expect crowds during the peak season.

Aside from being a beautiful stretch of golden sand, Gwangalli also provides a perfect view of one of Busan’s most iconic landmarks, Gwangan Bridge.

The iconic bridge sweeps out across the bay, running for nearly 7km (4.3 miles) over the water. It is especially stunning at night, when the whole bridge is illuminated by colourful light displays.

Although Gwangan is a little further out from the city centre, it is still well connected to Busan’s metro system. Two lines run through the area, meaning its still fairly easy to get around the city for some sightseeing.

Stay In Gwangan If:

• You want to spend your vacation relaxing on the beach
• You prefer to be surrounded by locals rather than other tourists
• You are working with a smaller budget
• You don’t mind being a little further out from the city centre
  

Located right by the water, H Avenue offers some of the best views in the city. Guests can enjoy stunning, unobstructed views of Gwangalli beach and the iconic Gwangan Bridge.

The rooms are expertly designed to be open and airy whilst taking advantage of every space. The aesthetic blends bright minimalism with natural materials and tasteful statement pieces to curate a space that feels modern and fresh but still welcoming and warm.

Each room includes a flatscreen television, kettle and minibar, chic modern bathroom, and air-conditioning.

Final Thoughts

From relaxing beach vacation to indulgent city break, Busan offers a variety of atmospheres to those who visit. Where you stay in Busan can drastically alter the vibe of your holiday.

Hopefully this post has given you all the information you need on all the neighbourhoods and their attractions to choose the best area to stay in Busan. You should now be able to plan a travel itinerary that best fits what you are hoping to get from your time in the city.

That means all that’s left is to start getting things booked, so you can experience it all for yourself.