🔹 Why Busan Is Worth the Trip

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Busan is the second-largest city in Korea after Seoul, and it’s one of the most popular travel destinations for locals.

With its beautiful beaches, coastal views, and warmer weather, many Koreans regularly travel to Busan for a getaway.

In this guide, we’ll go beyond just visiting the beach.  

Instead, we’ll show you how Koreans actually experience Busan — from must-try activities to local favorites — so you can make the most of your trip and enjoy the city the right way.

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✅ Busan Yacht Tour (부산 요트투어)

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A yacht tour is one of the most popular and memorable experiences you can have in Busan.
Even among Koreans, this is considered a must-try activity when visiting the city.

Instead of just staying on the beach, a yacht tour lets you enjoy Busan from the ocean, offering a completely different perspective—especially as you feel the sea breeze and watch the sunset over the water.

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1️⃣ Important to Know Before Booking

One key thing to understand is that Busan yacht tours are not operated by a single company.
Each yacht (or small group of yachts) is run by different companies or operators.

👉 This means:

• Prices can vary
• Rules can vary
• Experience can vary

✔️ Some tours allow food or drinks
✔️ Some do NOT allow outside items (including alcohol or champagne)

👉 Always check the details before booking

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2️⃣ Price & Types

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✔️ Public Tour (Most Common)

• Around ₩20,000–₩40,000 per person
  → roughly $15–$30 USD
• You’ll usually share the yacht with others
  → sometimes 3–4 groups onboard
• Duration: about 1 hour

👉 This is the most popular option and is still very enjoyable, especially with friends

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✔️ Private Tour

• Around ₩100,000–₩150,000+ per person
  → roughly $75–$110+ USD
• Entire yacht reserved for your group
• More private and relaxed atmosphere
• Some options allow champagne or special setups
• Duration: typically 3–4 hours

👉 Great for couples, special occasions, or small group trips

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3️⃣ Route & Experience

The exact route depends on the departure location and operator, but most tours pass areas such as:

• Gwangan Bridge
• Marine City
• Haeundae coastline
• Dongbaek Island

👉 Routes can vary, so this is also something to check in advance

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4️⃣ Booking Tips

You can book yacht tours through several popular platforms such as:

• https://smartstore.naver.com/yachtwa
• https://www.thebay101yacht.com/home
• https://www.yachtholic.com

👉 These are some of the most well-known options, but not the only ones available.

Since most of these websites are in Korean,
👉 it’s a good idea to ask a KATUSA friend or Korean colleague to help with the reservation if needed.

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5️⃣ Why It’s Worth It

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• Gwangan Bridge views from the ocean
• Sunset & night skyline
• Cool ocean breeze while riding
• Fireworks experience (on many night tours)
• Unforgettable atmosphere on the water

👉 Watching the sunset while riding a yacht, feeling the ocean wind, and seeing fireworks at night is something you’ll remember for a long time

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6️⃣ Recommendation

👉 If you’re going with friends:
✔️ Public tour is more than enough and still very fun

👉 If you’re going with someone special:
✔️ Private tour is definitely worth trying at least once

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✅ Spa Land (Centum City)

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If you’re looking for a place to relax in Busan, Spa Land in Centum City is one of the most popular jjimjilbangs (Korean spa complexes).

Located inside Shinsegae Department Store, it’s known for being clean, modern, and more upscale than typical Korean saunas.

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1️⃣ What You Can Expect

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• 18 different hot spring baths & 13 themed sauna rooms
• Natural hot spring water pumped from deep underground
• Various themed rooms (salt room, charcoal room, pyramid room, ice room, etc.)
• Large relaxation areas where you can lie down and rest
• Food, drinks, and massage services available inside

👉 It’s not just a sauna — it’s more like a full relaxation complex where you can easily spend hours.

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2️⃣ Price & Time

• Around ₩20,000–₩26,000 ($15–$20) for entry
• Basic stay: 4 hours
• Extra time: about ₩5,000 per hour
• If you spend ₩10,000+ inside → up to 6 hours total

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3️⃣ Important Tips

• Entry is usually from age 8+ (kids have restrictions)
• Bath areas are separated by gender (no swimsuits)
• You’ll use a wristband to pay inside and settle when leaving
• Bring basic toiletries or buy them inside

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4️⃣ Why It’s Worth It

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• One of the most famous spa experiences in Busan
• Perfect place to recover after walking all day
• Unique chance to experience Korean jjimjilbang culture
• Great for solo travelers, friends, or even a chill date

👉 After a long day in Busan, sitting in a warm bath and then relaxing in a sauna room is one of the best ways to recharge.

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✅ Bupyeong Kkangtong Market (부평깡통시장 야시장)

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If you’re looking for the best street food spot in Busan,
Bupyeong Kkangtong Market Night Market is probably the place you’ll enjoy the most.

This market became famous after the Korean War, when vendors sold canned goods from U.S. military bases — which is where the name “Kkangtong (can)” market comes from. Today, it has evolved into one of Busan’s most popular night food markets, especially among both locals and foreigners.

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1️⃣ What You Can Expect

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• Dozens of street food stalls packed into a narrow 110m alley
• A huge variety of foods, including:
  • Samgyeopsal skewers
  • Chicken skewers
  • Tteokbokki
  • Fried snacks & Korean street food
• Surprisingly many international foods:
  • Turkish kebab
  • Indonesian mie goreng
  • Vietnamese spring rolls
  • Japanese & Filipino dishes

👉 One unique rule here:
No duplicate menus between vendors, so every stall sells something different — which is why the variety is so good.

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2️⃣ Time & Crowd Tips

• Night market: 19:30 – 24:00

👉 If you go right at 19:30, some stalls may not be fully ready yet (takes about 15 minutes to set up food).

👉 If you go too late, lines get very long.

✔️ Best timing:
Around 20:00 for a good balance

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3️⃣ Important Things to Know

• No seating areas or tables
  → You’ll usually eat standing or take food to-go
• Lines can be long for popular stalls
  → Some foods require waiting
• Payment: Cash or card both usually accepted
• Trash:
  → Every stall has a trash bag attached
  → Use the nearest one instead of leaving trash around

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4️⃣ Atmosphere

• Very crowded and lively, especially at night
• Narrow street → people moving in a single flow
• You’ll see a lot of foreigners, not just locals
• Cleanliness is surprisingly well maintained despite the crowd

👉 It feels less like a traditional market and more like a street food festival every night

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5️⃣ Location

• 39 Bupyeong 1-gil, Jung-gu, Busan (부산광역시 중구 부평1길 39)
• Near Jagalchi Station (Line 1, Exit 3/5/7)

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✅ Haedong Yonggungsa (Seaside Temple Experience)

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Located along the coastline of Busan, Haedong Yonggungsa is one of the most unique temples in Korea.

Unlike most Korean temples that are hidden deep in the mountains, this one sits right on the edge of the ocean — making it a rare and scenic destination.

The temple was originally built in 1376 during the Goryeo Dynasty and has since become one of Busan’s most famous landmarks.

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1️⃣ What You Can Expect

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Walking down the famous 108 steps, you’ll slowly start to hear the sound of waves — and suddenly, the ocean opens up right in front of you.

The temple buildings are spread along rocky cliffs, creating a view that feels completely different from typical temples in Korea.

You’ll also see:

• Stone statues and pagodas along the path
• Dragon sculptures and ocean-facing Buddha statues
• Scenic viewpoints overlooking the coastline
• A peaceful mix of nature, religion, and ocean views

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2️⃣ Why It’s Worth It

• One of the only seaside temples in Korea
• Incredible photo spots with ocean + temple views
• Relaxing atmosphere with the sound of waves
• Popular sunrise spot among locals and travelers

👉 Standing at the edge of the temple while looking out over the ocean is something you’ll remember for a long time.

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3️⃣ Helpful Reference

If you want to see what it actually looks like before going, this video gives a great overview of the temple:

👉 https://youtu.be/iPlyCEm1350?si=oH9_AuV_xvIpYkjV

(It's in Korean, but the visuals are very helpful.)

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