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City guide

Busan (Pusan), Korea

3 million as of 2024. It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being South Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world.

Type CityMetro Area Population 3,300,000

Why go

  • City in South Korea.
  • Served by Gimhae International Airport (PUS).

History

Busan, officially Busan Metropolitan City, is the second most populous city in South Korea, after Seoul; it has a population of over 3.3 million as of 2024. It is the economic, cultural and educational center of southeastern South Korea, with its port being South Korea's busiest and the sixth-busiest in the world. The surrounding "Southeastern Maritime Industrial Region" is South Korea's largest industrial area. The large volumes of port traffic and urban population in excess of 1 million makes Busan a Large-Port metropolis using the Southampton System of Port-City classification. As of 2025, Busan Port is the primary port in Korea and the world's sixth-largest container port.

Restaurants & places to go

Sandwich, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-22:00 Features: takeaway · 102 중앙대로, 부산광역시, 48938 · subway.co.kr
Indoor
빵, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su 07:30-22:30 · 2 재반로125번길, 부산광역시, 48054 · tlj.co.kr
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 08:00-01:00 Features: takeaway · 91 동평로, 부산광역시 · mcdonalds.co.kr
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: 07:00 ~ 22:00 Features: takeaway · 78 센텀중앙로, 부산광역시, 1462 · starbucks.co.kr
Indoor
Coffee Shop, Cafe · Opening hours: Mo-Su,PH 07:00-22:00 · istarbucks.co.kr
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 08:00-24:00 Features: takeaway, delivery · 407 해운대로, 부산광역시 · lotteria.com
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: delivery · mcdonalds.co.kr
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: delivery · 33 중앙대로692번길, 부산광역시 · mcdonalds.co.kr
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Gimhae International Airport (PUS) 16 km to the centre
Busan, 26, KR — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 24 airlines (Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Air Busan, China Eastern Airlines…) · direct flights to 36 destinations incl. Osaka, Qingdao, Tokyo, Bangkok, Beijing… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 24 airlines, 36 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor

Getting there by ferry

용호만유람선터미널
Ferry terminal · 1.7 km from the centre
Outdoor
용호항
Ferry terminal · 1.8 km from the centre
Outdoor
Busan Port International Terminal
Ferry terminal · 4.5 km from the centre
Outdoor
Busan Port International Cruise Ship Terminal 2
Ferry terminal · 4.6 km from the centre · 부산항시설관리센터
Outdoor
Busan Port International Passenger Terminal
Ferry terminal · 4.6 km from the centre · 부산항만공사
Outdoor
Busan Port International Cruise Ship Terminal
Ferry terminal · 5.1 km from the centre · 부산항시설관리센터
Outdoor
Busan - Hitakatsu
Ferry route · 미래고속코비
Outdoor
Busan - Izuhara
Ferry route · 미래고속코비
Outdoor
Busan - Hakata
Ferry route · Camellia Line Co., ltd.
Outdoor
Busan - Shimonoseki
Ferry route · Kampu Ferry Co.,Ltd., Pugwan Ferry Co., Ltd.
Outdoor
Busan - Osaka
Ferry route · Panstar Shipping Co Ltd.
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map © OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Gimhae International Airport (PUS). Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: PUS has direct flights to 36 destinations on 24 airlines (incl. Osaka, Qingdao, Tokyo, Bangkok, Beijing…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: 용호만유람선터미널, 1.7 km); routes include Busan - Hitakatsu, Busan - Izuhara, Busan - Hakata.

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Busan (Pusan), Korea. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Coach / shuttle operator
Coach / shuttle operator
Intercity coach
Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.
Charter, management, FBO, MRO · Managed fleet worldwide · General Dynamics company: charter, completions and FBOs in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the US.