MANILA, Philippines – Mention Busan to pretty much anyone these days, and they’ll bring up the blockbuster zombie flick Train to Busan. The movie was a heck of a ride, but unfortunately, the train didn’t actually get to Busan by the end of the story. It’s a shame, because South Korea’s second most populous city, and the world’s 9th busiest port in the world, is a treasure and worth any trip – even with the flesh-eating undead on your tail.

Busan definitely gives the capital of Seoul a run for its money as a bustling metropolis packed with sights to see and things to do. In fact, tons of international conventions are held here, including APEC in 2005, so if your company’s interested in holding big event or outing, Busan has the right venues and accommodations. It’s also great for smaller trips with family and friends, because despite being a major city, its being right by the sea lends a charm perfect for more intimate trips. 

Here are a few highlights from my trip: 

The train to Busan

I was in Seoul prior to the Busan trip, and took the now-famous train to the port city. Specifically, we took a KTX express train from Seoul Station, which got us to our destination in a mere 2 hours. The ride was super smooth, and I was actually comfortably asleep the whole trip. (So who knows? Maybe a zombie’s bit me and I just don’t know it!)

Haedong Yonggung Temple

Haedong Yonggung Temple is a gorgeous Buddhist temple complex right by the sea. Buddhist temples are gorgeous by default, but the setting – just inches away from the rocky surf – makes the experience a thousand times more breathtaking. There’s even a gigantic mailbox right by the cliff, in case you want to send a special message to a loved one! 

Seafood, seafood, seafood

Being a port city, Busan naturally has some of the freshest seafood you’ll ever taste, and quite a variety to choose from! Head to Jagalchi Market, South Korea’s version of Japan’s Tsukiji Market, and be awed by all that fresh bounty from the sea, still alive and kicking! Live octopus, live sea cucumbers, live king crabs (they are scarily huge, by the way), live shellfish, and schools of live fish in a rainbow of colors are all up for grabs.

Even better, Jagalchi Market, just like Tsukiji, is lined with restaurants where you can have this seafood for lunch or dinner, some of which are still literally wriggling on your plate! I doubt I will ever have sushi this fresh ever again. I also tried freshly chopped octopus still squirming on my chopsticks, and they’re not bad at all! 

Go Galbi

If seafood is not your thing, you should definitely try galbi, or Korean grilled ribs marinated in an addictively sweet sauce. If your budget permits, insist on beef straight from Korea, because it is amazingly thin and tender. A lot of people talk about melt-in-your-mouth beef, but unless they’ve tried Korean beef, they don’t know what they’re talking about!

Makgeolli mask-making and drink-tasting

If you like makgeolli, Korea’s sweet fermented rice alcohol, head to Busan’s Yeo Nyo Jae for a fun three-in-one experience! First, our group made our own face sheet masks soaked in pure makgeolli and luscious serums, which we also packaged for ourselves. Then, we had a makgeolli-tasting session, sampling classic versions of the alcohol as well as a yuzu-tinged version that was incredibly zingy and tasty! Finally, we rounded up the experience with a delicious lunch of marinated eel bibimbab, which was arguably the best bibimbap I’ve ever had. 

Eoumuk-ing Around

Another fun food experience you can have is making eoumuk, or fish cakes, at a special store right at the Busan National Maritime Museum. Our group was taught to make two kinds of fun fish cake varieties: a pizza with a fish cake base, and a hotdog wrapped in fish cake, much like a corndog. The store fries up and packages your creations for you to take home afterwards. 

Busan Sea Life Aquarium

If you have kids with you on your trip, you should take them to the Busan Sea Life Aquarium! It only takes an hour to go through all the exhibits, so even younger kids won’t get antsy. There are a lot of cool exhibits here, including psychedelic blacklight displays, a petting area for small sea creatures, an all-glass tunnel, fun selfie walls, and enormous aquariums filled with the largest fish you’ll ever see! I was also heartened that many of the displays made it a point to talk about sea conservation and the proper care of sea life.

Gamcheon Culture Village

If you want something a little more quaint, head to the Gamcheon Culture Village, which is a colorful, hilly maze of arts and crafts shops that will take you a whole afternoon to explore. The gorgeous scenery is definitely a highlight, as the village overlooks more candy-colored homes set against the peaceful mountainside. The Little Prince fans will always love it here; look for the special spot and you’ll know what I mean!

Go Higher

The best way to cap off a trip to Busan is to take the Busan Air Cruise, a cable car experience that takes from you from Point A to Point B directly over the ocean! The view is nothing short of amazing. Make sure to get the glass-bottomed car for an extra-thrilling experience, too! It’s really the best way to reminisce about your trip, and you’re sure to end the ride missing this wonderful city already. 

All in all, if you want both a fast-paced city and a laid-back charming town, Busan is just the ticket. You’re sure to find many more surprises the more you explore, and you’re guaranteed to have a lot of gorgeous pictures to show off when you get home.

If you’d like to know more about touring Seoul, I suggest visiting Korea Tourism Organization Manila. They’re very organized and can personalize tours for big groups. – Rappler.com

This familiarization tour was facilitated by Korea Tourism Organization Manila

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