Top 10 Things to Do in Busan 2026

A hillside neighborhood of brightly painted houses stacked in terraces above Busan's western docks, Gamcheon was transformed from a poverty-stricken shantytown into an art village through a 2009 community regeneration project. The maze of alleys contains public art installations, small galleries, and cafes that make it Busan's most photographed neighbourhood.

The largest seafood market in Korea, Jagalchi sprawls across a covered waterfront building and surrounding alleys where vendors sell live sea creatures from the predawn hours through the evening. Visitors can select live fish from stalls and have them prepared immediately at the market restaurants upstairs.

A rare coastal Buddhist temple perched on rocky cliffs directly above the East Sea, Yonggungsa is one of the few places in Korea where temple architecture and ocean scenery combine with equal drama. The temple's location makes it particularly spectacular during sunrise and the New Year celebration.

Asia's most prestigious film festival, held each October in the Centum City district, premieres hundreds of films and attracts directors and stars from across Asia and Hollywood to its famous red carpet. The BIFF Cinematheque and Outdoor Stage on Haeundae Beach are open to the public and free to attend.

A forested coastal park on the tip of Yeongdo Island with dramatic sea cliffs dropping to rocky shores where the Oryukdo islets dot the horizon. The Danubi Train that circles the park is a beloved institution, and the suicide cliff viewpoint's legend has been transformed into a life-affirming monument.

A sprawling covered market established by Korean War refugees in the 1950s that sells everything from imported goods and army surplus to street food and traditional Korean craft. The drama Reply 1988 immortalised the Bupyeong Market area and the adjacent Kkangtong Market in Korean popular culture.

The largest stone fortress in Korea, built during the Joseon Dynasty on the ridge of Geumjeong Mountain north of Busan, offers a 17-kilometer hiking circuit with panoramic views over the city and the Nakdong River delta. The North Gate — Korea's largest surviving fortress gate — is the most impressive single structure in Busan's hinterland.

The leading contemporary art institution in southeastern Korea hosts major international exhibitions alongside a permanent collection that champions Busan-born and Korean artists. The museum's location in Centum City adjacent to the BIFF Village makes it the cultural centerpiece of Busan's modern art district.

A seafront promenade beside Gwangalli Beach where the famous Gwangan Bridge is dramatically illuminated each evening against the city skyline, creating one of Korea's most romantic urban night views. The park's pojangmacha food tents serving raw fish, fried chicken, and Soju create one of the most authentically Korean evening experiences in the country.

A hillside neighborhood of brightly painted houses stacked in terraces above Busan's western docks, Gamcheon was transformed from a poverty-stricken shantytown into an art village through a 2009 community regeneration project. The maze of alleys contains public art installations, small galleries, and cafes that make it Busan's most photographed neighbourhood.

The largest seafood market in Korea, Jagalchi sprawls across a covered waterfront building and surrounding alleys where vendors sell live sea creatures from the predawn hours through the evening. Visitors can select live fish from stalls and have them prepared immediately at the market restaurants upstairs.

A rare coastal Buddhist temple perched on rocky cliffs directly above the East Sea, Yonggungsa is one of the few places in Korea where temple architecture and ocean scenery combine with equal drama. The temple's location makes it particularly spectacular during sunrise and the New Year celebration.

Asia's most prestigious film festival, held each October in the Centum City district, premieres hundreds of films and attracts directors and stars from across Asia and Hollywood to its famous red carpet. The BIFF Cinematheque and Outdoor Stage on Haeundae Beach are open to the public and free to attend.

A forested coastal park on the tip of Yeongdo Island with dramatic sea cliffs dropping to rocky shores where the Oryukdo islets dot the horizon. The Danubi Train that circles the park is a beloved institution, and the suicide cliff viewpoint's legend has been transformed into a life-affirming monument.

A sprawling covered market established by Korean War refugees in the 1950s that sells everything from imported goods and army surplus to street food and traditional Korean craft. The drama Reply 1988 immortalised the Bupyeong Market area and the adjacent Kkangtong Market in Korean popular culture.

The largest stone fortress in Korea, built during the Joseon Dynasty on the ridge of Geumjeong Mountain north of Busan, offers a 17-kilometer hiking circuit with panoramic views over the city and the Nakdong River delta. The North Gate — Korea's largest surviving fortress gate — is the most impressive single structure in Busan's hinterland.

The leading contemporary art institution in southeastern Korea hosts major international exhibitions alongside a permanent collection that champions Busan-born and Korean artists. The museum's location in Centum City adjacent to the BIFF Village makes it the cultural centerpiece of Busan's modern art district.

A seafront promenade beside Gwangalli Beach where the famous Gwangan Bridge is dramatically illuminated each evening against the city skyline, creating one of Korea's most romantic urban night views. The park's pojangmacha food tents serving raw fish, fried chicken, and Soju create one of the most authentically Korean evening experiences in the country.