Jjimjilbang (Spa)

Busan

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DESTINATIONS south korea busan Do & See 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 springs (this includes swimwear). Heosimcheong Spa is the largest of kind in Asia (and extremely reasonably priced), but there are other options for a slightly more refined experience that's still very affordable (the luxurious Spa Land Centum City, to name one). Some spas (such as Hill Spa, for example) remain open 24/7; these are sometimes used as a place to spend the night in lieu of a hotel room. For a lighter version of the experience, visit a "foot-only" spa, where anyone can sit down and soak their feet in hot thermal water for a few minutes. Dongnae Spa Outdoor Foot Bath is one address to experience this.

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.