Hey all you Sun- Kissed Souls

I have recently come back from a little solo trip to Busan I used to travel solo often but I haven’t gone on a break by myself in awhile needless to say it was well overdue and the timing could not have been more on point.

I have visited Busan many times, but I have never been to Busan alone. So it was nice to go at my own pace. I often go for a friends birthday or when I have visitors in town and showing them around. All these occasions are great, but there is just something special going somewhere alone and taking it all in at your own pace. One of the many reasons I enjoy solo travel.

I thought I would share my favorite spots to visit if you ever find yourself in this beautiful big Coastal City and completely lost. I got you.

1. Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach one of Koreas most popular beaches and areas in Busan. It’s a wide long stretched white sand beach. Very popular during the summer months the beaches are packed with umbrellas and people floating on tubes in the ocean. As the evening draws in the beach performers appear from singing dancing and even magic shows you can find a whole host of entertainment along the beach. Drinking on the beach is also allowed, but please make sure to bin all your trash.

This area also hosts many fantastic hotels and all sorts of restaurants and bars so you can make a day and night of it in this area for sure.

Place to Stay

The hotel I stayed at with decent prices and good amenities is the Ibis Budget Hotel and Ibis Hotel.

How to get there

[Subway]
Haeundae Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 5, 7.
– Walk straight for about 500m.

2. Gwengali Beach

Another popular beach area in Busan, this one, in particular, is my favorite because it reminds me of home with blue ocean white sand all the bars and restaurants on the beach road. This area can make for a fun day and night. You can also see the fantastic Gwangandaegyo Bridge accross the ocean making it unique to Busan. Fun fact on New years day the 1st of January it is customary to witness the first sunrise of the new year, and in Busan, they close the road for traffic on this bridge so you can view the sunrise from it.

Place to Stay

There are amazing hotels and places to stay along the beach.
The place I like to stay in this area is at The Wendy House. It’s a lovely hostel, and the host Wendy is awesome she serves a great breakfast and knows all the hot spots to check out in the city.

How to get there:

Subway
Geumryeon Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 1 or 3.
Make a u-turn and turn on the first street toward the beach.

Bus
Get off at Gwangalli Beach Bus Stop.
Bus No. 1, 38, 41, 62, 83, 83-1, 108

 

3. Dongbeakseom Island

Dongbaekseom Island in Busan used to be an island but is now part of the mainland. If you walk toward The Westin Chosun Busan from Haeundae beach keep following the curve of the road, and you will be met by the pathway leading you to a beautiful coastal walk. The island also has Dongbaek Park and a 2.5 m high statue of a mermaid near the beach which many tourists can easily visit on their way to the beach. I enjoy this walk the fresh air and the great views from this area.

 

4. Haedong Yonggung Temple

Hands down my favorite temple in Korea, It’s very unusual to find temples by the ocean they usually on top of mountains or in parks. This unique location makes it extra unique and more beautiful in my books.

Haedong Yonggung Temple was first built in 1376 by the great Buddhist teacher known as Naong during the Goryeo Dynasty. Haesu Gwaneum Daebul (Seawater Great Goddess Buddha), Daeungjeon Main Sanctuary, Yongwangdang Shrine, Gulbeop Buddhist Sanctum (enclosed in a cave), and a three-story pagoda with four lions can all be seen looking out over the ocean. I visited it during Chuseok last year for the first time, and it was lovely to experience to share with my mom. We both fall madly in love with this Temple the location is just so beautiful.

How to get there

There is a bus that takes you to the temple from Haeundae Station (Busan Subway Line 2), Exit 7.
Take Bus 181 and get off at Yonggungsa Temple Bus Stop.

5. Gamcheon culture village

Another gem of Busan I love the cute, quirky vibe, and that’s what you will find here. Gamcheon Culture Villiage is made up of houses built in staircase-fashion on the foothills of a coastal mountain. This place is described as the Santorini, Machi Picchu of Busan. (This comparison made me laugh so hard.)

You can spend hours meandering through the charming alleyways visiting different shops and art exhibitions and enjoy refreshing beverages at the many quirky cafes. It’s a photographic dream if you into cute and quirky you best believe that Korea has you covered with all its photo zones.

How to get there

Goejeong Station (Busan Subway Line 1), Exit 6.
– Take local bus Sakha 1 or Sakha 1-1 to Gamcheon Elementary School Bus Stop.

Toseong Station (Busan Subway Line 1), Exit 6.
– Take local bus Saha 1-1, Seogu 2 or Seogu 2-2 to Gamcheon Elementary School Bus Stop.

6. Spa land

Spa land is honestly my new favorite spa by far. Korea is famous for its baths called jimjabangs, and you can find many in different cities all around Korea. It’s Korean bathhouses with separate hot and cold pools and suanas; Spa land is the Mega Fancy version of the standard ones.

Spa Land, equipped with all the benefits of a traditional Korean spa, is located in ‘Shinsegae Centum City’ in Haeundae, Busan. Spa Land consists of 22 spas fed by two different kinds of all-natural spring water pumped up from 1000m underground, 13 distinctively themed ‘Jjimjil-bangs’ and saunas, and an open-air foot spa.

I spent 5 hours here there are plenty of different kinds of saunas to enjoy on all the floors along with plenty of places to lounge a few cafes spots and one main restaurant. The top floor houses a beauty spa, a gym a game room and an oxy spa these are all at additional cost. Another cool thing is your key is your card to access everything, so you don’t need cash on hand your key gets scanned, and on your exit, you pay your tab.

I finally got the traditional Korean scrub from the Korean ladies. I got a cucumber face mask a full body scrub and an oil massage all for only 40 000 Won roughly R400. My skin never felt so soft in my life.

Disclaimer you need to be comfortable with being naked in public these hot tubs and saunas you are required to be fully exposed, but there are women and men’s sections if that helps ease your mind on the nude thing. It took me a minute to get used to the all nude spas here, but now It doesn’t bother me at all.

You do wear the Korean pajamas that are handed to you as you check in. In the common areas that I mentioned above. So if you not entirely comfortable with being nude, you can enjoy the saunas where you can wear your pajamas and the other more western spa treatments in the beauty spa area found on the second floor.

How to get there

Centum City Station (Busan Subway Line 2).
The subway station is directly connected to the complex. Found on the first floor of the shopping mall.

Bus: 5-1, 36, 39, 40, 63, 115, 139, 141, 155, 181, 307 (seated bus), 1001 (rapid bus), 1002 (rapid bus)

 

To Conclude

So there you have it my six favorite spots to visit in Busan South Korea.
I am planning on moving there next year so I cannot wait to explore the areas that may be less touristy and find more hidden gems in this Megacity. So praying for an excellent opportunity so my move can go smoothly. Sending out good vibes and prayers to my man upstairs I know he will lead me where he needs me.

Let me know what spot on my list you would like to visit if you can make your way to Busan?

Peace love and Happiness.

Xxx