Beomeo-sa Temple

Busan

Copyright: BUSAN DRONE/Shutterstock.com

DESTINATIONS south korea busan Do & See Beomeo-sa Temple

Beomeo-sa Temple

This spectacular urban Buddhist temple (the head temple of the Jogye Order) is a highlight on any Busan itinerary. A pleasant uphill hike through quiet nature will take you to temple grounds, with beautiful ornate pavilions, Buddhist statues and worshippers, which include both temporary visitors and monks who reside here permanently. Temple grounds tend to get busy during holidays and weekends. You can either make a few hours' trip or – for full cultural immersion – book an overnight stay that includes an introduction to monastic life, complete with joining a formal dinner and pre-dawn chanting. Stays must booked in advance via the website, and there are several different programmes available. If you opt for the full experience, do mind that the (silent!) wake-up hour is at 5am.

Do & See

Our top picks for a short stay in Busan include the expansive Jagalchi Fish Market (plus a meal at one of its seafood shops), exploring Nampo-dong and enjoying a snack off street stalls in BIFF square, plus completing one of the coastal hiking routes followed by a relaxing couple of hours at the spa.

Jagalchi Fish Market

Jagalchi Fish Market

This legendary market will blow the mind of anyone who happens to have even a passing interest in seafood. The sheer variety of sea creatures sold here must be seen to be believed: apart from Korean favourites like crab and eel, there are the myriad types of fish and shellfish (try the 'kalguksu' noodles …

Nampo-dong & BIFF Square

Nampo-dong & BIFF Square

Taking its name from the Busan International Film Festival, BIFF is certainly at its liveliest during this esteemed annual event, but remains a happening place throughout the rest of the year. It's best known for the street food stalls dotting the area and the 400+ metre-long street itself, with a plethora of Korean specialities …

Gamcheon Culture Village

Gamcheon Culture Village

2009 saw Gamcheon turn from an area of budget housing for refugees of the Korean War into a premier tourist attraction, all thanks to a collective effort by local students and artists, who transformed the neighbourhood with colourful wall painting and street art. Today Gamcheon even has a tourist office of its own: stop by …

Beomeo-sa Temple

Beomeo-sa Temple

This spectacular urban Buddhist temple (the head temple of the Jogye Order) is a highlight on any Busan itinerary. A pleasant uphill hike through quiet nature will take you to temple grounds, with beautiful ornate pavilions, Buddhist statues and worshippers, which include both temporary visitors and monks who reside here permanently. Temple grounds tend …

Dongbaekseom Park & Haeundae Beach

Dongbaekseom Park & Haeundae Beach

Explore the wood walkways traversing Dongbaekseom Park and take in the spectacular views of the coastline from several viewing platforms along the way. It's a very pleasant, scenic walk in the shade of pine trees that lends itself well to photos; you'll see Busan's own mermaid statue looking out longingly to the sea soon …

Igidae Coastal Walk

Igidae Coastal Walk

Igidae Coastal Walk makes for a wonderful hike along the shore of the Sea of Japan. The path itself is of moderate difficulty, with some parts featuring pedestrian bridges and others running directly through natural terrain. The entire path is about 4km long and should take about 2 hours to complete in its entirety, …

Taejongdae Park

Taejongdae Park

This fabulous walking trail on the southern end of Yeongdo Island, just off the coast of mainland Busan, runs along a rugged coastline of scenic cliffs. Bring sturdy walking shoes if you're planning a hike (it should take anywhere between 1 and 3 hours, depending on your speed and stops), or opt for the …

Song Marine Cable Car

Song Marine Cable Car

This recently renovated cable car route stretches out across the sea for longer than 1.5km, and features cabins with and without see-through flooring. If you're the daring type, opt for the former and be rewarded with incredible views of the water …

Jjimjilbang (Spa)

Jjimjilbang (Spa)

Jjimjilbang culture holds firmly in Korea, with the Busan area alone boasting around 450 spa centres (the largest number compared to any other region). It's important to note that the absolute majority of spas require that guests of both genders remove all of their clothing prior to accessing any of the baths or hot …