Busan
Busan, officially Busan Metropolitan City, is the second most populous city in South Korea, after Seoul; it has a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024.
It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being South Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world. The surrounding "Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region" is South Korea's largest industrial area. The large volumes of port traffic and urban population in excess of 1 million makes Busan a Large-Port metropolis using the Southampton System of Port-City classification. As of 2025, Busan Port is the primary port in Korea and the world's sixth-largest container port.
Getting to Busan
Busan's International Gimhae Airport (PUS IATA) lies outside Busan, offering flights to many international destinations, as well as domestic routes to Jeju island, Seoul Incheon International Airport and Seoul Gimpo. The KTX and SRT high speed train services are a better alternative to flying from Seoul.
Worth seeing
See the Districts articles for more listings. The Haeundae area in East Busan is the main tourist destination of the city and is described in its own article. The Suyeong (Gwangalli) area in East Busan is another noteworthy destination of the city and is described in its own article. This is the old town of Busan with a lot of post-war buildings, large docks and atmosphere.
Things to do
See the Districts articles for more listings. As Korea's second largest city, there are a large number of events. The Busan International Film Festival is based in Haeundae in the first 10 days of October. It takes place all across Busan showcasing many international films and often some significant premieres of new Korean films.
Where to eat
See the Districts articles for more listings. Korea is justly renowned for its great seafood tradition, and Busan as Korea's main coastal city provides possibly the best opportunity to try fresh seafood caught locally. Jagalchi fish market where most of the seafood is landed.
Getting around Busan the local way
- Get inHaeundae Intercity Bus Terminal (해운대시외버스터미널) (Line 2) Also, see the ferry times on the board (picture) to the right.
- Get inBusan has regular international ferry services to Japan.
- Get inGo to the International Ferry Terminal (Metro Line 1: Jungang-dong.
- Get inFerries operated by Dae-a Express Shipping, carries passengers between Busan and Hitakatsu in 1 hour 40 minutes and between Busan and Izuhara in 2 hours 40 minutes.
- Get inFukuoka: Camellia Line operates a ferry that takes about 6 hours.
- Get inA faster ferry service that had been operated by Kyushu Railway Company has been discontinued.
- Get inShimonoseki is 13 hours away by overnight ferry.
- Get inThe car ferry from Busan to Jeju no longer runs as of Mid-2024.
From Wikivoyage: Busan, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.