Busan Beyond The Beach: 7 Must-See Gems For Every Explorer!

Some of the prominent features of Busan are the beach, seafood, and vibrant nightlife. The Gulf’s two most popular beaches are Haeundae and Gwangalli: visitors prefer to sunbathe and fraternize on the sand during the day and dance the night away.

Still, that is all that people would know Busan by, this beautiful coastal city has so much more to offer. Busan is one of the biggest cities in South Korea, which makes the city a booming and culturally diverse one. There is always something interesting to see whether it’s the districts, the buildings’ designs, the landscapes, the food, or the activities that give one an idea of how Koreans live.

1. Hike Geumjeong Mountain Fortress

It is for this reason that the mountain ridges of Geumjeong and its hiking trails have been the guardians of Korea for centuries. The fortress wall stretches 8.5km; walking through the corridors one gets an understanding of Busan significance in protecting the nation from invasions. It’s going to be rewarding to enjoy the great view of downtown Busan as well as the surrounding nature at the top. This site also offers an experience for history lovers to have an even deeper insight into the history of the Geumjeongsanseong Fortress as there are museum and multimedia exhibitions available at the Geumjeongsanseong Museum.

2. UNESCO sites in Dongnae

Between the beaches in Oncheon-dong district, you'll discover a pair of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Dongnaeeupseong (a pavilion fortification built in 1622-1628) and Bomun Pavilion, for example. These relics are reminders of the Confucian influence of Korea, located in the park and surrounded by greenery. Neighboring it is Oncheonjang Market where you can try snacks from the streets to taste the simple Korean cuisine such as tteokbokki (spicy rice snacks) and hotteok (sweet pancakes).

3. Drop in someone's fashion town.

The culture of shopping from underground stores is not just brought to another level but also goes a notch higher in Seomyeon, Busan. Dive below the shopping malls to a subterranean shopping experience to find some cheap clothes and Korean beauty products. More than 800 stores gathered near the IFOs, which are the most heavily trafficked intersections, to meet all your shopping requirements. When you’re feeling the need for culture, depart for the above ground to discover jazz clubs, mukshik (Korean dining) restaurant assortments, and K-Pop dance clubs that shower this young residential area with colorful strobe lights.

4. Visit Yonggungsa Sea Temple Modern Temple Architecture

What about Haedong Yonggungsa, which may seem like it was transported from the set of some futuristic film; it is one of South Korea’s key Buddhist temples. This modern facility has a geometric design that incorporates sculptures and shapes of the architectural structure with the sea as the backdrop. Head up north to the highest point along the shores of the East Sea and be awed by the statue of Buddha, the tallest in Korea facing the Sea of Japan. BIFF Square next to it, honors Busan’s International Film Festival which is the biggest in Asia, with Korea’s famous actors and actress’s handprints cemented in squares on the walkway.

5. Visit the sleek face of modern Korea in Centum City

Interior lovers, especially shopaholics, are going to be stunned to find Korea’s biggest department store, the Shinsegae Centum City complex. But this area provides much more than a shopping spree. Cross the street and check out Nurimaru APEC House which was the venue for the APEC Summit in 2005 to learn about the country’s more traditional culture. Busan Museum of Art is another one, which is nearby, and it has curves that are stacked on top of one another as waves of the ocean. End your day marveling at musical fountains that light up the night and play around Centum City at the back of the diamond-like faceted exterior of the BEXCO Convention Center.

6. Check out the transformation of downtown Gwangbok-ro Street

However, taking a walk along the Gwangbok-ro street of Nampo-dong during the night shows that Busan is a city of business and fashion houses, luxurious brand names, theatres cafes, and glamorous night clubs – the outward expression of the city’s booming economy. During the day visit Korea’s largest Nampo Port Market and be overwhelmed with red and yellows that freely spill over from it while trying out what is arguably one of the freshest seafood markets in the country. Walk to the other side of the street for pungent snacks like silkworms in a container boiled and served steaming hot while young and old Korean ajumma play lawn tennis in Gwangbok-or Park.

7. Flee to Song Sang-Hyeon Garden for a Breather in the Middle of the City

Escape urban bustle for a peaceful retreat under towering trees, silently flowing streams, and gracefully designed bridges amid a bustling city surrounding Seomyeon Station. Having a Korean drama series set in the historical era and traditional Korean gardens as its background, Song Sanghyeon takes you back to the old period of Korea which is marked by the curvilinear paths over the streams and ponds which are home to vibrant carp fishes. Sit next to elderly people who enjoy baduk, a strategic board game, while they reminisce about the different eras of Korea around the pavilions of the garden that look like real Korean palaces.

People tend to think that Busan is simply a tourist destination with sun, sand, and sea. But beyond that there is a wealth of history, other diverse ethnic communities, spectacular buildings and gardens, and countryside to appeal to a very broad cross-section of holidaymakers. Busan, the “Second City” of South Korea, may not be as famous as its big sister, Seoul, but he who dares to look beyond the fuzzy selfies taken at the famed Seven Stars cruise, will find a city that seamlessly blends the Old and the New, tradition and innovation, history and modernity.

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