From markets to hot springs: Explore life in Busan

As a port city, Busan was born bold and brash. Its big attitude shapes the local dialect, the confident swagger of its people, and landmarks like Gwangan Bridge – the backdrop to gasp-worthy drone light shows each Saturday.

That energy pulses through the city’s festivals, from the Busan International Film Festival to the Busan Fireworks Festival and Haeundae Sand Festival. Year-round, it spills onto the beaches of Haeundae and Gwangalli, where lights, music and street food keep the atmosphere buzzing.

The best way to get a sense of Busan is with an epic view. At the water’s edge lie rugged, pine-fringed bluffs, the nation’s busiest port, and no less than seven white-sand beaches. Beyond the shore are rocky islets and, on clear days, glimpses of Tsushima, Japan.

To take it all in, head to the historic Busan Tower, near Nampo Station. Or ride the superfast elevator up to Busan X the Sky, which occupies the top floors of Busan’s tallest building. Alternatively, sweat your way up Jangsan Mountain (634m), which looms grandly behind Haeundae Beach and boasts a web of accessible hiking trails.

While culinary delights abound throughout the city, especially vibrant tastes are found on the coastline. One standout is Wonjo Jogaeguichon, a cluster of dining tents on Yeongdo Island, near the old downtown.

These laid-back establishments serve shellfish fresh from glass display tanks, grilled at the table, and topped with condiments like spicy-sweet chogochujang. Adventurous eaters can try bitter, crunchy sea cucumber sashimi, long-legged octopus, and other delicacies.

As South Korea’s largest fish market, Jagalchi packs a tremendous olfactory punch.

Its briny odours waft from sea creatures artfully arranged by apron-wearing vendors, both in a massive indoor space and a long alley nearby, within view of the boats that bring in the daily catch. Look out for the silvery hairtail (galchi) and vicious-looking monkfish (agu).

Meanwhile, your nose will notice the fishy piles of dried anchovy and pungent dried squid. For an on-site meal of sashimi, buy your seafood on the market building’s ground floor and follow spicy whiffs of maeuntang (fish stew) up to a second-floor restaurant, where your purchases will be expertly prepared.

Not far from the traffic noise and K-pop melodies of Busan’s bustling, high-tech cityscape are serene retreats filled with birdsong and rustling leaves.

These include green spaces like Busan Children’s Grand Park, where shouts and laughter ring out from the playgrounds, though plenty of silence can be found as well.

There are Buddhist temples like the Instagrammable Haedong Yonggungsa on a rocky stretch of coastline, and the larger, older temple of Beomeosa, which can be found on the forested flank of Mount Geumjeongsan.

Here, the temple bell is rung each day before dawn and dusk in a ceremony that also includes the striking of a drum, a carved wooden fish and a flat bronze gong.

Busan offers many other pleasant immersions as well. At Haeundae Beach and the northern district of Dongnae, the city has channelled healing hotspring water into public foot baths that are open to all.

The steaming foot baths are especially soothing in the winter, and can be followed up with a full soak at the palatial Hurshimchung hot spring facility, which uses magnesium-rich water once sought out by Korean kings.

For more information on Singapore Airlines’ flights to Busan, visit singaporeair.com.