Itineraries
Day-by-day plans for 1, 2 or 3 days in Busan, built from the rest of this site's guides.
Busan has two centers, not one. The old downtown — Nampo-dong, Jagalchi Market, Gukje Market and Gamcheon Culture Village — sits in the west, and the beach side — Haeundae, Gwangalli and Centum City — lies in the east, about 40 minutes apart by metro. A plan that hops between them spends most of its day underground.
So one day means picking one side. Two days means one each. Three days adds Gijang in the northeast, where Haedong Yonggungsa and the Osiria outlets are, or Yeongdo across the bridge. Each itinerary below is written as a route with travel times between stops, not a list of names.
Itineraries3 Days in Busan: First-Timer's Itinerary With Day 3 Options
Two days cover Busan's old city and its beaches. The third day is where you choose: the cliffs of Taejongdae and Oryukdo, a mountain temple at Beomeosa, or a temple on the rocks at Haedong Yonggungsa. Here's how each one actually runs.
Itineraries2 Days in Busan: Old City One Day, Beaches the Next
Two days is exactly enough to do each half of Busan properly, provided you do not try to mix them. Here is the split, hour by hour, with the transit legs between.
ItinerariesBusan in One Day: A First-Timer's Old City Route
One day is enough for one side of Busan, and the old city is the better half to pick. Here is the route hour by hour, with the two closing days that ruin it.