During our 2023 Best of Japan Celebrity Cruise, we had a stop in Busan, South Korea. We were in port for about 8 hours, so I booked a car through Viator to take us to popular sights. This was my first time in SK, and it was super exciting to visit a new country!
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| Haedong Yonggusa Buddhist Temple |
Here's everything we saw:
- Haedong Yonggusa Buddhist Temple
- Oryukdo Skywalk
- Songdo Beach
- Gamcheon Culture Village
- Lunch at Matchandeul Salted Grill
- Busan Tower
Not too bad for one day in a new city. We hired the car for 7 hours to ensure we'd be back at the ship 1 hour before the all-aboard call, just to be safe.
Haedong Yonggusa Buddhist Temple
This was our first stop of the day, and despite leaving port at 8AM, the temple was already packed with tourists - it's definitely a hot spot. This colorful temple is unique in that it's right on the seaside, creating a gorgeous view.
It is quite large, so there's a lot of walking and steps with plenty to see. If I were to visit again, I'd try to leave earlier to beat the crowds (the temple opens at 5AM). Since the area is so popular with tourists, there are a lot of food and souvenir shops outside of the temple. Despite the crowds, try to keep in mind that this 14th century temple is still a place of worship.
Next, we headed to the Oryukdo Skywalk, which is a glass bridge perched 35 meters over the rocky ocean. Luckily, it wasn't too crowded yet, so we were able to walk around freely on the bridge and take in the beautiful ocean view. I felt my fear of heights kicking in, so I wasn't able to stay on for more than a few minutes.
You do have to wear shoe covers (I'm assuming to protect the glass?) while on the bridge. There was no cost to visit, and shoe covers were provided for free.
Next to the Skywalk is Igidae Park, which had a lovely trail along the coast. It was a lovely, easy walk with great viewpoints (that sometimes pointed out optimal photo spots!) - highly recommend if you have the time. We only spent 15 or so minutes on the skywalk and strolled along here the rest of the time.
Songdo Beach
We head to scenic Songdo Beach after Oryukdo Skywalk for... another skywalk! This was another easy walk that takes you from the beach, out to areas above the water. There are grated sections in the bridge over the ocean so you can see the water below which was cool. Note, there isn't a lot of shade here so bring sun protection.
There's also an overwater cable car, which has see-thru floors (not for the faint of heart). We only had an hour at this spot, so we didn't have time to go, but watching the cars move along created an idyllic view. There are a lot of cool art installations scattered about, both along the walkways and in the water. I've never seen anything quite like it!
Gamcheon Culture Village
Gamcheon Culture Village is probably one of the most well-known tourist draws in Busan. Its look started as a village art project, and then grew into the colorful tourist attraction it is today. There are lots of souvenir shops, and given the nature of this destination, you may be able to book an experience to hand-make or personalize your own souvenir.
There are also good places to grab a quick bite- we grabbed a gamja hotdog. There's murals, sculptures, and well, art everywhere here, which lend to great photo opportunities. The village is very hilly with lots of stairs, so wear good walking shoes. Try to visit earlier in the day or afternoon since most shops close at 6pm.
Matchandeul Salted Grill
We took an hour for lunch at Matchandeul Salted Grill, which is known for its pork KBBQ. This restaurant was recommended by the guide I booked our car through on Viator. The place was filled with locals, which was a good sign. Unsurprisingly, Korean BBQ was excellent in Korea.
We cooked the meat ourselves, and the meal was exceptional - especially the hot stone pot rice. The pricing was super reasonable, especially for our party of 8.
Busan Tower
Our last stop of the day was Busan Lotte Tower which gives a panoramic view of the area. It is a paid entry to get in, but there are lots of art installations in the area as well. If you do plan to go up to the observation area, buy tickets in advance to avoid the lines (especially if it's a holiday). There was also a small concert in the area, so it was very lively the afternoon we went.
We only spent 45 minutes here since we wanted to get back to the ship before the all aboard call.
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This was my first time in South Korea, but it won't be my last. I hope to visit Seoul as my next South Korean destination! With Delta's new direct SLC-ICN route coming in 2025, it's looking likely.
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