Busan

Shingesae Centum City is the world’s largest departmental store registered in the Guinness Book of World Records and well known as the world-class shopping hub. It isn’t just a shopping paradise but also offers leisure and entertainment facilities such as Spaland (Traditional Korean Jjimjilbang), Ice Rink, multiplex theatre, and Zooraji (Outdoor Theme Park with huge dinosaurs & other exciting adventures). It’s a perfect place for shoppers, adventure seekers, and the ones who want to relax.

Initially, it was an Island that later turned into a mere peninsula and it’s a famous spot at the edge of the Haeundae Beach where the luxury hotel The Westin Chosun lies. Dongbaek is the Korean name of the Camellia Flower which is the dominant plant in this park along with pine grove trees, walking trail which provides picturesque views and interesting landmarks around.

Nurimaru APEC House was specifically built to host the International Leaders’ Summit in 2005 and is known for its unique and modern architectural style. Inside the house, there are displays of photos and materials used during the summit, and it needs to be visited before 5 pm which is the closing time.

Scholar Choi Chi-won was renowned in its history here and there’s a bronze statue and monument in his memory. Mermaid Statue is also another attraction that is 2.5m high portraying the sad legend of Princess Hwangok who had come across the seas to marry King Eunhye. The lighthouse is another place to check out here to take pretty photos and selfies.

It’s a beautifully coloured village with vibrant street art and is often referred to as “The Santorini of South Korea”. The winding streets, stairways, narrow alleyways give it a touristic charm and attract visitors to this place for getting lost in its beauty.

One must surely try sipping coffee at their lovely cafes (eg. Café Avant Grand with the best view) which provide incredible views of the cultural village. 

Jagalchi is the largest seafood market in South Korea selling live and dried seafood. It has an indoor and outdoor section with wide varieties of Seafood, good ambience with outdoor street performances sometimes. There are many restaurants which will cook the fish brought by you and they also have a great spread of Seafood Buffet for your taste buds.

Formerly, it was the venue of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) in 1996 and now it represents Korea’s modern film industry. It’s a paradise for food lovers who would love to grab relishing delicious street food (Rice Cakes are very famous).

On the sidewalk, it also has handprints of famous directors and celebrities. Besides all this, it also had numerous theatres, boutique shops, and departmental stores to unwind yourself.

It’s an artistic Buddhist Temple complex standing on a rock cliff overlooking the eye-catching sea views. It was built during the Goryeo Dynasty and its seafront location is distinct from most of the South Korean Temple built in the mountains.

Towards the entrance, there are sculptures of animals that represent the Chinese Zodiac and further, steep staircases and walkways lead you to the temple and various sights. Please make sure to be in groups as you traverse as this place is pretty crowded.

Walk across the 108 steps (related to Buddhism) admiring the lanterns along the stairways, Buddhist statues, and carved dragon structures which decorate the main sanctuary adding up the beauty of the temple. One would notice the 3-level pagoda with 4 lions, a huge dragon sculpture, and the statue of Seawater Great Goddess Buddha. The courtyard on the front of the main shrine provides uninterrupted ocean and cliff views. 

Oryukdo is a group of uninhabited scenic small islands composed of solid rocks and greenery around. Oryukdo is classified as a National Cultural Heritage Scenic Site and a famous hiking spot as well.

The mesmerizing Oryukdo Skywalk gives you spectacular views of the seas & majestic mountains coloured in shades of blue and green. The skywalk extends about 35m above sea level from the cliff and is 15m long with tempered glass plates shaped in a horse’s hoof. The bottom glass pieces are coated with bulletproof film and are thick ensuring safety. Though it isn’t as magnificent as the Skywalks in other countries; it's equally beautiful with its breathtaking scenario. The interesting thing is that the visitors are provided with shoe covers, no wonder South Korea is super clean and well maintained.

On the righthand side of the skywalk, steps are leading to the fishing area and also for those who want to come in close contact with the water, and it is extremely peaceful.

Please Note – It can get super-hot during summers so make sure to carry sunblock or an umbrella for protection.

It’s a much talked about tourist attraction and is one of the largest aquariums in South Korea with 10000 aquatic fishes and over 250 marine species. The ocean tunnel is pretty popular among the tourists which allows you to walk along the sea creatures swimming around.

They also have an interactive rock pool, glass-bottom boat ride, shark feeding and diving, penguin & otter feeding programs which makes it interesting for visitors and children. If you are in groups then there are discounted tickets and for children below 3 years, it's free.

This museum is an optical illusion paradise with a unique type of cultural entertainment wherein the visitors can experience famous paintings through tricky art techniques creating 3D illusions. People can get crazy here while clicking loads of instagramable pictures with the fun artwork.

This park is dedicated in the honor of the brave soldiers of the United Nations peace troops and several others who gave their lives fighting The Korean War (South v/s North). Inside the park is the Memorial Hall exhibiting the photos and the artifacts of the events held during the Korean War.

The symbolic area has the UN flag along with flags of other countries who helped in providing troops. The Main Cemetery holds the grave of numerous soldiers across the world who were martyred in the War. There’s a wall of remembrance, UN forces monuments that visitors love to see, and the area is a great place for a walk.

It holds records in the Guinness World of Records for the largest roof without a pillar in the world and it’s the official venue of the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).

It represents combinations of technology, culture, and entertainment with public space. This building holds theatres, cinemas, conference centres, restaurants, production studios within indoor and outdoor spaces. Its well lit with more than 42000 LED lights and an outdoor cinema.

The park holds monuments, sculptures, and shrines that are dedicated to Korean national events which is located on Yongdusan Mountain which is one of the 3 Busan mountains.

Busan Tower is a major highlight here which provides panoramic views of the city’s port from the deck (fees applicable) as well as the shopping streets of Gukje Market. Besides the tower, there’s a pagoda which is built in traditional style and many other sculptures across the park.

It’s the famous shopping area strategically located between Busan Station and Haeundae Beach. It’s super popular among young Koreans as it is lively and filled with fashion shops, cafes, restaurants, cosmetic shops, and food alleys on both sides of the main boulevard. It’s a treat to soak in this atmosphere which would remind people of the districts of Seoul.