When visiting South Korea, most people only see its capital, Seoul. And while it has a wonderful array of attractions and activities to offer visitors, so does South Korea’s second-largest city and southern port, Busan, where I discovered it was cheaper than Seoul and had fewer crowds.
Previously known as Pusan, Busan is a charming and trendy coastal city and possibly one of the most underrated cities in Asia. You’ll find stretches of spectacular sandy beaches, beautiful mountainous surrounds, and tranquil nature reserves ideal for hiking.
There’s a plethora of historical and cultural sites to explore, sensational shopping, spas, mouth-watering food markets, relaxing cafés, and classy restaurants to suit everyone’s taste and budget. Busan’s renowned International Film Festival (BIFF), held annually in October, even rivals France’s Cannes Film Festival.
As a solo female traveller, I found walking or using public transport around Busan day and night safe and easy. This colourful city has plenty to keep you entertained, and even during my ten days here, I couldn’t cover everything on my list.