Aside from Seoul and Jeju, Busan is arguably one of the more popular tourist destinations in South Korea. Being South Korea’s second largest city, Busan is filled with endless places to explore, and many things to do. This city is famous for its stunning coastal views, its rich history and for the vibrant energy that it radiates. There is an adventure at every turn, and you will be thoroughly engaged during your time in Busan. 

So if you’re wondering whether it is worth taking a trip to Busan with your children, we promise you that it is. Here are 8 Child-Friendly Places In Busan To Include In Your Itinerary.

#1 JAGALCHI MARKET

Just as Tokyo is famous for the Tsukiji Fish Market, one of Busan’s most popular attractions has got to be Jagalchi Market. Jagalchi Market is situated at the edge of Nampo Port in Busan and it is South Korea’s largest fresh seafood market. Here, your children can get up close and personal with plenty of live seafood and also have a go at selecting their own meal.

If you’re concerned about using strollers in Jagalchi Market, rest assured that the walkways are sufficiently wide so this would be a non-issue for you. Communication-wise, most of Jagalchi Market’s store owners speak simple Mandarin so you don’t have something else to worry about on top of looking after your children.

Jagalchi Market
52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#2 MUSEUM 1 

Located in Centum, Busan, MUSEUM 1 prides itself as South Korea’s largest multimedia art museum which comprises approximately 80 million LED lights on the floor, ceiling and walls of its large duplex space. MUSEUM 1′s curators have deliberately featured artwork which allow visitors to be fully immersed in the exhibits, so as to heighten one’s appreciation of the messages behind the artworks.

Whilst the lights and screens will be sure to entertain your children for a substantial period of time, do bear in mind that some of the themes in the artworks here may be more appropriate for an audience which is slightly more mature.

MUSEUM 1
20 Centum seo-ro, Haeundae-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#3 ZOORAJI 

For those whose kids are fans of dinosaurs, you need to slot a visit to ZOORAJI into your itinerary. ZOORAJI is an outdoor theme park situated on the 9th floor of Shinsegae Centum City,  which holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest department store in the world.

ZOORAJI occupies approximately 40,000 square-foot of space, and this immersive theme park is divided into 5 distinct zones which your children can explore. From the Land of Dinosaurs, the African Rainforest, the Rain Garden, the Woods and the Pirate’s Shipwreck, your children will be thoroughly entertained by ZOORAJI. And if you’re Curious, entrance to ZOORAJI (and the carousel ride located within) is completely free.

ZOORAJI
9F, 35, Centumnam-daero,
Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea

#4 GAMCHEON CULTURE VILLAGE 

Even if you haven’t been to Busan before, you would probably have sighted some pictures and videos of Gamcheon Culture Village. Also affectionally referred to as Busan’s own Santorini, Gamcheon Culture Village was formed by the refugees of the Korean war and this tourist attraction remains an actual residential village till today.

There is aplenty for families to explore at Gamcheon Culture Village. Here, you can explore alleys filled with street art and sculptures, experience making your own hand-flipped photobook, appreciate the sights of Busan at the Haneul Maru Observatory and more. Gamcheon Culture Village is also home to a number of street food stalls and cafes, such that you will find it difficult to stay hungry during your visit.

Gamcheon Culture Village
203 Gamnae-2-ro, Sah-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#5 SONGDO CLOUD TRAILS 

Located on the eastern side of Songdo Beach, the Songdo Cloud Trails (also called the Songdo Skywalk) is a skywalk fitted with glass floors that spans across 365 metres in length. Apart from giving visitors the experience of walking above the sea, the Songdo Cloud Trails is also connected to Geobukseom Island (Turtle Island) which is home to 2 statues of a sea dragon and a fisherman.

And if you take a short walk to the shores beneath the entrance to the Songdo Cloud Trails, this is where you’ll find many Korean families exploring the shallow waters of the Songdo Beach. This would definitely be a hit with the kids and also serve as a chance for the parents to sit down and take a break.

Songdo Cloud Trails
120-4 Annamdong, Seo-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#6 SONGDO MARINE CABLE CAR

One of the best ways to enjoy the views of Songdo Beach is to take a ride in the Songdo Marine Cable Car (or also otherwise known as the Busan Air Cruise). This is a 1.62km long cable car route which not only gives visitors a view of the Songdo Beach, Yeongdodaegyo Bridge, Namhangdaegyo Bridge, Songdo Coastal Dullegil Road and road cliffs from a height of 86 metres.

Depending on your preference, Songdo Marine Cable Car offers 2 different types of cabins — the Air Cruise (cabin with a closed floor) or the Crystal Cruise (cabin with transparent floor). Ticket prices are more worthwhile for a return trip, and will set you back 15,000 won (Air Cruise) or 20,000 won (Crystal Cruise) per adult and 11,000 won (Air Cruise) or 15,000 won (Crystal Cruise) for children between the age of 3 to 12 years.

Songdo Bay Station at Songnim Park (near Songdo Beach/Songdo Cloud Trails)
171, Songdohaebyeon-ro, Seo-gu,
Busan, South Korea

Songdo Sky Park Station (Amam Park)
181 Amnamgongwon-ro, Seo-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#7 HAEUNDAE BEACH

No trip to Busan is complete without a visit to the majestic Haeundae Beach. As one of Busan’s most popular tourist attractions, Haeundae Beach is recognised as one of the most popular beaches in South Korea and attracts more than 10 million visitors every season.

For families visiting Busan during the spring or summer season, do cater at least a day to relax at Haeundae Beach and to explore its surrounding attractions, such as the Dongbaekseom Island, the Haeundae Food Stall Town and Haeundae Traditional Market. 

Haeundae Beach
264 Haeundaehaebyeon-ro, Haeundae-gu,
Busan, South Korea

#8 JEONPO CAFE STREET

Jeonpo Cafe Street is exactly as it name suggests — alleys lined with various restaurants, dessert shops, and coffee joints. If your children are avid fans of food and are up for an adventure, they will find delight in exploring the wide range of eateries with different themes, and in popping into a souvenir shop or too.

Allthough Jeonpo Cafe Street is in itself child-friendly, do note that you may need to climb stairs to access some restaurants. Also, as this area is popular with youths and young adults and it may be difficult for you to get around with a stroller in the early evening. For a more comfortable experience, you may wish to pop by Jeonpo Cafe Street on a weekday and in the earlier part of the day. 

Jeonpo Cafe Street
92 Dongcheon-ro, Busanjin District,
Busan, South Korea

Just as Japan has the Tsukiji Fish Market, South Korea’s best known fresh seafood market has got to be the Jagalchi Market. Located on the edge of Nampo Port in Busan, Jagalchi Market is considered the largest seafood market in South Korea and is a spot you must visit when in Busan. As Busan is frequented by quite a number of tourists, Jagalchi Market is relatively tourist-friendly for Singaporeans as most of the stall owners speak decent mandarin.

That said, if you’re looking to tuck into seafood at affordable prices, do take care to enter Jagalchi Market from the correct side of the building. Elsewise, you may find yourself making the same mistake as us – paying slightly higher prices for the exact same dishes at the other side of the building.

As a matter of orientation, this is what you should be looking for when you first enter Jagalchi Market. There will be a couple of rows of shops with fresh seafood laid out for your picking. After you select your choice of seafood, the stall owners will arrange for someone to bring you (and your seafood) up to the dining area to be cooked. Do note that payment for the seafood does not include preparation and cooking of the seafood. The restaurant owners at the dining area on the 2nd level will charge you separately for their service.

In contrast, if you enter from the other side of Jagalchi Market, you will be greeted by stalls with fresh seafood but each stall has a dining area attached to it. The spread of seafood available at this side of the Jagalchi Market is not as extensive as you would find at the other entrance, and the level of touting here is also significantly higher. Also, if you’re not careful, you may find yourselves paying a little more than what you expected to be charged.

Notwithstanding the sentiments above, Jagalchi Market is a paradise for seafood lovers. From eel, to Alaskan King Crabs, octopus and scallops, it will be a feast for the eyes. But one tip that we’d give is to only choose seafood that is displayed outside the shop to ensure that you are paying for what you select. Elsewise, unless you are opting for your seafood to be cooked, you should be prepared for an upset stomach.

Well, we were prepared to suffer the consequences so we opted to enjoy most of our seafood raw. Whilst this plate of sea urchins set us back by just 10,000 won, we felt that there was slightly lesser meat than what we had expected. But for its extremely affordable price tag, it was still a reasonable portion and a delicious meal option.

We could not leave Jagalchi Market without having Sannakji aka sliced raw octopus. The stall owner we purchased the seafood from threw this in for free, and even allowed our toddler to touch the live octopus for entertainment. If you’ve never tried Sannakji, it’s really not as scary as it looks. Doused with sesame oil and sesame seeds, the octopus meat was firm yet chewy, and just slightly slimy. However, if you’re not accustomed to this type of seafood, it would be wise to share this dish with another dining partner.

As for cooked seafood, 2 other dishes that we’d recommend are the Grilled Eel (10,000 won) and the Abalone Porridge (30,000 won). The eel was lightly salted and incredibly fresh, and though we’d have liked a larger portion of abalone, the Abalone Porridge was very satisfying.

Jagalchi Market
52 Jagalchihaean-ro, Jung-gu,
Busan, South Korea

Please note that Jagalchi Market is closed on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month and that the prices stated above will differ across the different shops  

If you believe that Seoul is the only city of interest in South Korea, you obviously haven’t been to Busan. Located in the Southern regions, Busan has recently been gaining traction and now sees a steady flow of tourists.

Busan is a seaside town and is the second largest city in South Korea. It boasts a plethora of beaches, seaports, hot springs and more. You could say that the city is a more chilled out, relaxed version of the populated Seoul, and also holds treasures aplenty just waiting to be explored.

Have not got a clue where to start? These are the 14 Amazing Things To See & Do In Busan, South Korea.

#1 VISIT THE HUR SHIM CHUNG SPA

The Koreans indulge in relaxing spas and bathhouses, and going to one while you are in their country is arguably compulsory.

Hur Shim Chung Spa is, in fact, one of the oldest spas known in South Korea. The waters used boasts an abundance of magnesium—perfect for mineral spas. You will also find a huge hot spring within as well.

Hur Shim Chung Spa
23 Geumganggongwon-ro 20beon-gil
Dongnae-gu, Busan, South Korea
Tel: +82 51-550-2200
Daily: 5am – 12am
Nearest Station: Oncheonjang

Photo Credit: Box of Photos

#2 JAGALCHI FISH MARKET

Busan is a massive seaport. With that being said, visiting a fish market is a must for every visit to the city. Jagalchi Fish Market is extremely famous for it is Korea’s largest seafood market. You can find all sorts of live and dried seafood, including whale meat.

There is an indoor and outdoor section to the market, and you can even find seafood restaurants and buffets available with fresh ingredients. It is definitely a place you should visit to get a feel for the lifestyle that the Busan locals live.

Jagalchi Fish Market
52, Jagalchihaean-ro
Jung-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 2 1330
Daily: 5am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jagalchi

Photo Credit: Flickr

#3 TAEJONGDAE RESORT PARK

The Taejongdae Resort Park is one of Busan’s must-visit locations. It is set on a cliff and is especially famed for its rock beach. The highest peak is 250 metres above sea level, and there are even tour courses around the park that cater specifically to couples and families.

There is also the Danubi Train that runs across the park for quick sight-seeing! The park might be a little out of the way from the rest of Busan city, but the stretching oceans and the beautiful blue hues of the sea will make your trip worthwhile.

Taejongdae Resort Park
24, Jeonmang-ro, Dongsam-dong
Yeongdo-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 51 405 2004
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Nampo-dong

Photo Credit: Flickr

#4 HAEDONG YONGGUNGSA

Another way to fully immerse yourself in Busan culture is to visit one of their many temples. Haedong Yonggungsa is one of the more popular Buddhist temples in Korea, mainly because it can be found on the coast. This is considered rare since a majority of the Korean temples are situated in mountainous areas.

Haedong Yonggungsa offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the ocean. Busan locals often come here on New Year’s Day to make a wish during sunrise as well. There are even cherry blossoms that bloom in April, making the temple look even more magical.

Haedong Yonggungsa
86, Yonggung-gil, Gijang-eup
Gigang-gun, Busan
Tel: +82 51 722 7744 7755
Daily: 5am – Sunset
Nearest Station: Haeundae

Photo Credit: Lottepan

#5 GWANGALLI BEACH

You know what they say—when in Rome, do what the Romans do. The Gwangalli Beach is popular among Busan locals and is especially populated on the weekends when there are various cultural events and live concerts happening.

Gwangalli Beach offers fine sand and clear blue waters. It is also an excellent spot to see the lighted cityscape when the sun sets.

Gwangalli Beach
219, Gwanganhaebryon-ro
Suyeong-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 51 622 4251
Nearest Station: Gwangan

Photo Credit: Visit Korea

#6 SEA LIFE BUSAN AQUARIUM

Sealife lovers should definitely pay the SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium a visit. You get to experience a thrilling scuba dive with sharks and enjoy a 4D ride within the aquarium itself. There are three underground

There are three underground levels and even an outdoor park! The state-of-the-art technology used in the aquarium makes it one of the best in Korea. When you are done marvelling at the wildlife, pop by the restaurants in the aquarium basement.

SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium
266, Haeundaehaebyeon-ro
Haeundae-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 51 740 1700
Mon to Thu: 10am – 8pm
Fri to Sun and Public Holidays: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Haeundae

Photo Credit: Artofgettinglostinsouthkorea

#7 GUKJE MARKET

This market is one of Korea’s largest, with stalls flanking both sides of the alleyways. Gukje actually translates to ‘international’ and was originally set up by refugees who took shelter in Busan during the Korean War. You will be able to find lots of street food, clothing, electronics and more.

Gukje Market connects to other markets such as Bupyeong Market and Kkangtong Market, so you can have an entire day dedicated to just roaming the streets and shopping away!

Gukje Market
36, Junggu-ro,
Jung-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 54 270 2842
Daily: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jagalchi

Photo Credit: Interzone

#8 BEOMEOSA TEMPLE

This temple has a rich history and has been around for approximately 1,300 years. It sits on the edge of Mount Geumjeongsan, one of Busan’s more famous mountains. The original structure of the temple was lost during the Japanese Invasion in 1592, but it was rebuilt in 1713 and has lasted until today.

Within the temple grounds, you will be able to find Iljumun, a three-storey pagoda with four pillars. There are also several other royal palace wings, pavilions and gates. The peak period for the temple is in May when the wisteria woods surrounding the temple grounds are in full bloom.

Beomeosa Temple
546, Cheongryong-dong
Geumjeong-gu, Busan-si
Tel: +82 51 508 3122
Nearest Station: Beomeosa

Photo Credit: Shinsagae

#9 SHINSEGAE CENTUM CITY

Shinsegae clocks in as the world’s largest shopping complex.

A day might not even be enough to cover the entire shopping centre. Shinsegae is almost like a gigantic outlet mall, with tons of branded items going at whopping discounts. Tired after lots of shopping? It is said that the spa services within the mall are affordable.

Shinsegae Centum City
35, Centum nam-daero
Haeundae-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 1588 1234
Daily: 10.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Centum City

Photo Credit: Traesco

#10 ORYUKDO SKYWALK

The Orykdo Skywalk is also another of Busan’s more iconic locations. The skywalk just finished construction in the year 2012 and began operation a year later in 2013.

The glass bridge allows you to look down to catch a glimpse of the waves crashing against the cliff. On clear, sunny days, you can even see Daemado Island from the skywalk!

Oryukdo Skywalk
137, Orykdo-ro
Nam-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 51 607 6395
Daily: 9am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Busan

Photo Credit: yeonfhwa

#11 GAMCHEON CULTURE VILLAGE

Now, this is definitely iconic of Busan. Gamcheon is where you can find a bunch of bright, pastel-hued houses seemingly stacked one on top of the other, located at the foot of a mountain. No wonder it is nicknamed as a cross between Santorini and Macchu Picchu!

The site is extremely photogenic and it is little wonder it enjoys popularity among tourists; why would it not be? It is a magnificent sight to behold and makes for amazing photo opportunities.

Gamcheon Culture Village
177-11, Gamnae 2-ro
Saha-gu, Busan
Tel: +82 51 291 1444
Nearest Station: Goejeong

Photo Credit: Busan Haps

#12 HAEUNDAE BEACH

This panoramic beach is a feast for the eyes. As Busan’s top beach destination, Haeundae Beach is the place to go to get a nice tan under the sun or to engage in numerous fun activities with your friends or family.

After your water activities, stroll to the nearby Folk Square where you can enjoy traditional Korean games such as seesaw jumping, Korean wrestling, arrow throwing or even tug-of-war

Haeundae Beach
Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea
Tel: +82 51 749 5700
Nearest Station: Haeundae

Photo Credit: Pheurontay

#13 TAEJONG-DAE

A great way to engage in exercise while you are on your trip here is to take a hike to Taejong-Dae and marvel in the breathtaking views.

Visit the lighthouse, observatory, port viewing points and more. Hike up to the cliffs and take in the scenic scenes all around you.

Taejong-Dae
24 Jeonmang-ro, Dongsam 2(i)-dong
Yeongdo-gu, Busan, South Korea
Tel: +82 51-405-2004
Nearest Station: Nampo

Photo Credit: Walk With Cham

#14 BIFF SQUARE

BIFF Square was remodelled to become a cultural tourist attraction promoting the advancement of Korea’s film industry, contributing to Busan’s fresh branding as an international cultural tourist city.

The main attractions here are the cinemas but over the years, shops have been popping up all around so you can enjoy some food, shopping and more while strolling around the square.

BIFF Square
58-1 Gudeok-ro, Nampo-dong
Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea
Nearest Station: Jagalchi