Busan Travel Guide: Beaches, Gamcheon Village and Jagalchi Market
Quick answer
- Busan is Korea's big seaside city. Start with Haeundae Beach, Gamcheon Culture Village and Jagalchi Market, one of Korea's largest seafood markets.
- Get there by KTX: Seoul to Busan via Gyeongju is ₩54,400 (standard adult), or ₩52,900 from Suseo; fares differ by route. In the city, the subway costs ₩1,600 or ₩1,800 by transit card.
- Eat dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup). A Visit Busan food guide puts it first, followed by milmyeon (wheat noodles).
Busan's three starter sights are Haeundae Beach (free, about 1.5 km of sand), Gamcheon Culture Village (free, open daily) and Jagalchi Market (main building closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays). From Seoul Station, the KTX via Gyeongju costs ₩54,400 (adult standard class; fares vary by route), and the city subway costs ₩1,600 or ₩1,800 by transit card. The dish to try is dwaeji gukbap, pork and rice soup.
Below: each sight in a table, what to eat, transport and a two-day plan.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization, Visit Busan, Busan Infrastructure Corporation, Busan Transportation Corporation and Korail's KTX fare table (as of Sep 1, 2026); checked Oct 23, 2026.
The short version
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| Getting there | KTX Seoul–Busan via Gyeongju ₩54,400, Suseo–Busan ₩52,900 (standard adult; fares differ by route) |
| Getting around | Subway ₩1,600 or ₩1,800 by transit card, depending on distance; T-money works |
| Beach | Haeundae Beach, free, about 1.5 km of sand |
| Village | Gamcheon Culture Village, free, open daily |
| Market | Jagalchi Market; main building closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays |
| Must-eat | Dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup), milmyeon (wheat noodles) |
Source: Visit Busan, Korea Tourism Organization, Busan Infrastructure Corporation, Busan Transportation Corporation and Korail's KTX fare table (as of Sep 1, 2026; see our KTX guide); checked Oct 23, 2026.
Haeundae Beach
The Korea Tourism Organization calls Haeundae the most famous beach in Busan, with white sand in front of a shallow bay. It gets crowded every summer.
| Entry | Free |
|---|---|
| Size | About 1.5 km long and 30–50 m wide |
| Nearby | Dongbaekseom Island, Busan Aquarium |
| Swimming | Depends on the season and on-site rules: check the signs at the beach |
Source: Korea Tourism Organization — Haeundae Beach; checked Oct 23, 2026.
Gamcheon Culture Village
Refugees settled this hillside during the Korean War. In 2009, students, artists and residents decorated it as part of a village art project, and it became known as "the Machu Picchu of Korea."
| Entry | Free (parking is charged) |
|---|---|
| Open | Every day · 09:00–18:00 (March–October) · 09:00–17:00 (November–February) |
| Getting there | Subway Line 1 to Toseong Station, Exit 6 → village bus Saha 1-1, Seo-gu 2 or Seo-gu 2-2 → Gamjeong Elementary School, then about a 5-minute walk |
| Do | Buy a stamp map at the village information center and follow it through the alleys |
Source: Visit Busan — Gamcheon Culture Village; checked Oct 23, 2026.
Jagalchi Market
One of the largest seafood markets in Korea, selling both live and dried fish, and you can eat fresh raw fish right at the market. Most of the sellers are women, known as the Jagalchi ajumeoni.
| Hours | 05:00–22:00, as listed by the Korea Tourism Organization; individual stalls and restaurants keep their own hours |
|---|---|
| Closed | Main market building: 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month |
| Eat | Raw fish and seafood at the market |
Source: Korea Tourism Organization — Jagalchi Market and Busan Infrastructure Corporation — Jagalchi Market; checked Oct 23, 2026.
What to eat
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Dwaeji gukbap | Pork and rice soup: hot pork-bone broth served as a set with chive kimchi, salted shrimp and noodles |
| Milmyeon | Busan's wheat noodles |
| Raw fish and seafood | At Jagalchi Market |
A Visit Busan food guide puts dwaeji gukbap first among the city's foods and milmyeon second.
Source: Visit Busan — Delicious Busan and Korea Tourism Organization — Jagalchi Market; checked Oct 23, 2026.
Getting there and around
| KTX from Seoul Station | ₩54,400 via Gyeongju (standard adult) |
|---|---|
| KTX from Suseo Station | ₩52,900 (standard adult) |
| Subway in Busan | ₩1,600 or ₩1,800 by transit card, by distance; a single QR ticket costs a little more |
| Card | T-money works on Busan's subway: see our T-money guide |
| Routes | Plan each trip in Naver Map |
KTX fares differ by route, so check the fare of the train you pick when booking. Our KTX booking guide shows how to buy tickets in English.
Source: Korail's KTX fare table (as of Sep 1, 2026) and Busan Transportation Corporation — fares; checked Oct 23, 2026.
A two-day plan
| Day | Where |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Gamcheon Culture Village → Jagalchi Market for a seafood meal |
| Day 2 | Haeundae Beach, then dwaeji gukbap for dinner |
Before you go
- Book your KTX to Busan (Seoul Station or Suseo) and check the fare for your train.
- Bring a transit card such as T-money for the subway and village buses.
- Install Naver Map for routes between sights.
- Check that the Jagalchi main building isn't closed that day (1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays).
- Save the Busan travel hotline: 1330.
Source: Busan Infrastructure Corporation — Jagalchi Market and Visit Busan; checked Oct 23, 2026.
FAQ
How do I get from Seoul to Busan?
By KTX. A standard adult ticket from Seoul Station via Gyeongju costs ₩54,400, or ₩52,900 from Suseo Station. Fares differ by route, so check your train when booking.
Is Gamcheon Culture Village free?
Yes. Entry is free (parking is charged), and it's open daily: 09:00–18:00 from March to October and 09:00–17:00 from November to February.
When is Jagalchi Market closed?
The main market building is closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month.
What food is Busan famous for?
A Visit Busan food guide puts dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup) first, followed by milmyeon (wheat noodles). Jagalchi Market is known for seafood.
How much is the Busan subway?
₩1,600 or ₩1,800 for an adult with a transit card, depending on distance.
- Visit Busan (Busan Metropolitan City) — Gamcheon Culture Village
- Visit Busan — Delicious Busan food tour
- Korea Tourism Organization — Haeundae Beach
- Korea Tourism Organization — Jagalchi Market
- Busan Infrastructure Corporation — Jagalchi Market floor guide
- Busan Transportation Corporation — Subway fares
Last checked Oct 23, 2026. Details can change — please confirm with the official source before you travel.
Photo credits