Jeju Island
Jeju Island is one of the most popular holiday
destinations in South Korea and can be reached by ferry from Busan.
Found off the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula, it enjoys
relatively warm weather throughout the year. Visitors generally
flock to its beaches, as well as the volcanic Mount Hallasan.
The island is home to a number of interesting
museums, including the Folklore and History Museum, the
Independence Museum, and the fascinating Haenyeo Museum which
provides valuable insight into the tradition of the Haenyeo women
divers of the island.
Jeju Island has many fascinating natural wonders,
including the Gimyeong Maze, the Manjanggul lava tube cave, the
hexagonal-shaped Jusangjeolli cliff, and Cheonjiyeon Waterfall. Iho
Beach is made up of both yellow and dark grey volcanic sand,
creating beautiful patterns in the tidal waters.
Visitors to Jeju Island can go on numerous tours of
the island or they can relax on the beaches or at hot spring
resorts. There are many hiking trails and going scuba diving is
definitely one of the top things to do on Jeju Island.
The island has a broad range of hotels and
accommodation options and there are many small restaurants serving
up regional delicacies ranging from live squid to mandarin oranges,
mushrooms, abalone, and wild boar.
Address:
Jeju-do
Jeju Island
Martin Chen
Beaches in Busan
Busan is home to a number of excellent tourist sites.
Yet its standout attractions must be its beaches, which are famous
throughout Korea and draw tens of thousands of vacationers annually
to the busy port city.
Busan's beaches are best experienced in spring,
autumn, and winter, as between mid-June and the end of August
(Korea's official beach season) they can become unpleasantly
overcrowded. Busan's main beach is Haeundae, which sports a good
amount of fine golden sand and good swimming conditions.
The area surrounding Haeundae Beach is also full of
trendy bars and restaurants, a wealth of shopping opportunities,
and lots of accommodation options, making it the perfect base for a
weekend getaway in Busan. The next beach down the pecking order is
Gwangalli, which has a great view of the Gwangan Grand Bridge, and
on any given day will play host to a number of informal volleyball
games.
Slightly more remote beaches, which might not suffer
too much from overcrowding, include Songjeong with its cleaner
waters and bigger waves (ideal for surfing) and Dadaepo, located in
a river estuary about five miles (8km) from downtown Busan which
features shallow waters and outstanding natural scenery.
Haeundae Beach
TravelingOtter
Busan Aquarium
Korea's largest aquarium and one of its most talked about
tourist attractions, the Busan Aquarium is a sure-fire winner
guaranteed to delight visitors of all ages. The aquarium is a major
operation and spread over three levels, with its main tank
containing an astounding three million litres of water.
The Busan Aquarium is home to roughly 35,000 marine animals from
more than 250 species, and features special exhibitions to showcase
rare and exotic creatures such as jackass penguins, clawed otters,
electric eels, sharks, piranhas, giant turtles, and an assortment
of colourful sea jellies.
Visitors largely view the sea life from the confines of an
impressive 260-foot (80m) underground tunnel, through enormous
acrylic windows that allow for photography. Of particular interest
to younger visitors is the aquarium's 3D simulator located on the
first floor, a cutting-edge piece of technology that gives you a
taste of what it must be like to explore the ocean floor on
foot.
One of the best things to see in Busan and a must for family
vacationers, the Busan Aquarium is a delightful way to spend a few
hours marvelling at the ocean's riches before heading upstairs and
out onto Haeundae Beach to catch some sun.
Address:
Haeundae Station, Busan
Busan Aquarium
Kaede
Unlike the rest of the Korean Peninsula, Busan enjoys a humid
subtropical climate. Summers are hot and humid, bringing perfect
beach-going weather and temperatures between 64°F (18°C) and 85°F
(29°C).
Winters are dry with cold winds whipping through the city.
Winter temperatures average between 32°F (0°C) and 51°F (11°C). The
temperature rarely drops below freezing and snow in Busan is
relatively uncommon.
Busan experiences cool springs because it is situated on the
coast. Typhoon season starts in late summer and continues until the
end of September. Autumn is the most comfortable month in Busan,
with warm, mild temperatures and very little rain and wind.
Gimhae International Airport
Location: The airport is on the western side of Busan, about ten
miles (16km) away.
Time: Local time is GMT +9
Transfer Between Terminals:
The terminals and parking facilities are linked via a
shuttle.
Getting to the city:
There are three bus routes going from the airport to various
points within the city. Many intercity buses are also available.
The airport also connects to Busan's subway system and light rail,
and connections can be made to most parts of the city.
Car Rental:
The car rental desk is located on the ground floor of the
Domestic Terminal. Seven different rental agencies operate out of
Gimhae, including Samsung and Kumho Rent-A-Car.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis and limousines are available outside both terminals.
Facilities:
Airport facilities include banks, currency exchange services,
payphones, luggage storage facilities, shoe shine, convenience
stores, duty-free shopping, and various dining options.
Parking
Short-term parking is charged at KRW 900 for the first 30
minutes, and KRW 300 every 10 minutes thereafter, up to a daily
rate of KRW 10,000 from Monday to Thursday for any period exceeding
five and a half hours. From Friday to Sunday and on public
holidays, daily parking is KRW 15,000 for between eight and 24
hours. Long-term parking is KRW 7,000 per day and KRW 10,000 per
day over weekends.
Busan is less than three hours from Seoul on the KTX
(bullet train), while normal and express buses leave every hour
between Seoul and Busan. Tourists visiting Busan will easily be
able to get to all the main tourist sights, beaches, and shopping
districts via the Busan Subway. Concessions for the subway are
available for those staying in the city for more than just a
weekend. All subway announcements and subway maps are written in
Korean and English.
The buses are almost as easy to use as the subway,
but English maps of the bus routes are sometimes not available, so
buses are only recommended if you know that the particular bus is
going where you want to go. There are also a multitude of taxis
ready to travel to most areas of the city. Deluxe taxis are
available at a higher price and are easily recognisable as they are
black.
Of the many attractions that Busan has to offer, its
beaches remain at the top of the list of things to see. Koreans and
foreigners alike flock to Busan during the summer vacation period
to enjoy the city's beautiful beaches and extensive range of
delicious seafood options.
Haeundae and Gwangalli are the two most well-known
beaches in Busan. However, for a slightly less crowded day at the
beach, visitors should take a taxi to Songjeong Beach or try the
even more outlying Dadaepo Beach.
Keeping to the oceanic theme, Busan's other great
tourist attraction is its aquarium, which is the largest in Korea
and has an impressive variety of marine life on display. The
gorgeous and very popular Jeju Island is also just a ferry ride
away from Busan.
Notable historic and cultural sights in Busan include
Beomeosa Temple, one of Korea's Five Great Temples, located in a
serene natural setting outside the city. Additionally, Haedong
Yonggungsa Temple has a dramatic cliff-top setting while Busan
Tower in Nampodong is a great place to take in panoramic views of
the city and surrounding mountains and ocean.
Other places of interest in Busan include the UN
Memorial Cemetery, the Busan Museum of Modern Art, Hur Shim Chung
Spa, Geumjeong Fortress, and Taejongdae Island. The Jagalchi Fish
Market and Choryang Foreigner Shopping Area are worth checking out
for their cultural interest alone.
Busan is teeming with excellent attractions and
activities for kids too. For starters, the gargantuan department
stores of Lotte World and Shinsegae provide endless hours of fun,
shopping, and other mall activities, like video arcades and 3D
cinemas.