Cheap Flights to Busan

Quick summary

Identity

South Korea's wartime capital, still seeking UNESCO recognition

Busan's identity is inseparable from its role as the country's number-one harbor city — a fact that shaped its history as much as its economy. When Seoul fell early in the Korean War, the South Korean government declared Busan the provisional wartime capital on August 18, 1950, a status it held for 1,023 days. The city's population swelled from about 300,000 to roughly a million as refugees poured in from across the country, many arriving through Pier 1 of Busan Port. That sudden influx produced some of Busan's most distinctive urban landscapes — dense, tiered housing built straight into steep mountain slopes to house the overflow — the same social history that later gave rise to Gamcheon Culture Village. Busan is now pursuing UNESCO World Heritage status for its "Sites of the Busan Wartime Capital of Korea," an active tentative-list nomination as of 2026.

Don't miss

Gamcheon, from relocation housing to open-air gallery

Gamcheon's origins go back to the 1920s-30s, when the city relocated its poorer residents to a hillside area — close enough to supply labor to the port, but tucked out of view of it. A public art project launched in 2009 transformed the same terraced neighborhood into today's pastel-colored "Machu Picchu of Busan," covered in murals, small galleries and installation art, with panoramic views down the tiered rooftops to the sea. It remains a lived-in neighborhood rather than a museum piece — one reason it feels different from similarly photogenic spots elsewhere.

To discover

Jagalchi, Korea's largest fish market

The market's name comes from "jagal" (gravel), a reference to the gravel-covered shore it originally stood on. Its modern identity crystallized during the Korean War, when refugee women known as the "Jagalchi ajumma" began selling seafood to support their families — a tradition still visible today between the outdoor stalls and the modern indoor complex rebuilt in 2006. Upstairs, tank-to-table restaurants let you pick your seafood live before it's cooked, about as fresh a meal as the city offers.

To discover

Haeundae and Gwangalli, two very different beaches

Haeundae, Busan's flagship urban beach, draws over 10 million visitors a year to its 1.5 km of white sand, backed by hot springs, the Oryukdo Islands viewpoint, the scenic Dalmaji-gil coastal road and the Sea Life Busan Aquarium. Gwangalli, the beach closest to downtown, has a younger, more local energy, its cafés and restaurants facing directly onto the illuminated Gwangandaegyo (Diamond) Bridge after dark — arguably Busan's most photographed view. For something quieter, Taejongdae Resort Park, named after Silla-era King Taejong, offers cliff-top hiking, a lighthouse and small temples above the sea, well away from either beach's crowds.

Food

Dwaeji gukbap, a dish born of hard times

Busan's signature comfort food, dwaeji gukbap — a pork bone and rice soup — traces its popularity partly back to the wartime refugee period, when it offered a cheap, filling meal for a city suddenly swollen with newcomers. It's still a genuinely inexpensive meal today, alongside bibimbap and ssiat hotteok, a seed-stuffed sweet pancake sold streetside. Busan's food identity overall stays close to its port-and-refugee history: cheap, seafood-forward and hearty, a noticeably different character from Seoul's broader, more varied culinary scene.

Getting around & budget

From Gimhae Airport into the city

Gimhae International Airport sits somewhere between 15 and 25 km west of downtown depending on the source, connected to the city via the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit, which links into the subway network for a combined journey of 21-32 minutes. A taxi to City Hall Station takes about 17 minutes and costs $16-20. Overall daily costs run around $42 for a budget traveler, $145 mid-range and up to $408 for luxury — food alone averages about $44 a day, though a bowl of dwaeji gukbap or bibimbap runs closer to $6.63, and street snacks start from ₩3,000. Busan is generally cited as roughly 5% cheaper than Seoul, particularly on transport and accommodation.

When to go

When to visit Busan?

Busan's airport

Gateway to the southeast of Korea

In pictures

Busan in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Busan