When a friend came to visit Busan, I told my husband I wanted to kick off her trip with a bowl of dwaeji gukbap. His response: “Why would anyone come all the way here just to eat this?” He’s a Busan native. To him, dwaeji gukbap—a hearty pork bone soup served with rice—is the kind … Read more
It was a late August evening — almost 8 PM — when my friend and I walked through the glass doors of Spa Land Busan, still carrying the salt-air smell of Haeundae on our skin. We had spent the whole day wandering around Busan together, and this was supposed to be our last stop before … Read more
Most people come to Songjeong Beach for the surf and the quieter alternative to Haeundae. I came for that too, but I left thinking about a burger. Specifically, a burger with a snow-white bun I’d never seen before, sitting in a converted residential house about seven minutes on foot from the shoreline. Bao Burger at … Read more
After a full day on the sand at Haeundae Beach, the question always comes up: what do you eat for dinner? If you walk about five minutes inland from the shore, past the hotels and convenience stores, you will find the answer where the crowds are already heading. Haeundae Traditional Market runs a few blocks … Read more
The elevator doors closed, and a hot-air balloon animation filled the walls around me. Fifty-six seconds later, I was standing on the 100th floor of Busan X the Sky, looking down at Haeundae Beach through floor-to-ceiling glass. The swimmers below looked no bigger than sprinkles on frosting. I arrived in the afternoon, fully expecting to … Read more
Haeundae in summer is relentless. The beach is packed, the heat hits early, and after an hour in the sun you start looking for anywhere with air conditioning and a reason to stay. That’s how I ended up at SEA LIFE Busan Aquarium — not because I had to, but because it sits right at … Read more
When you think of Gwangalli, the beach comes first. That’s fair — the sand, the bridge, the evening glow. But on my last trip to Busan, I ended up spending most of my day not on the beach, but inside a building one minute from it. Millac The Market Busan turned out to be the … Read more
If you only look for things to do on the Songdo Beach side of Busan, you’re missing one of the most satisfying ₩1,000(~$0.7 USD / €0.6) you’ll spend in the city. The Songdo Yonggung Cloud Bridge is a 127-meter suspension bridge inside Amnam Park that stretches over open water to Dongseom, a small uninhabited island. … Read more
I mentioned in my BIFC2 post that we had lunch on the second floor before heading up to the bookstore. This is where we ate. Cosmos Busan BIFC2 is a Korean dining restaurant inside the same building — a private-room shabu-shabu spot that combines premium seafood with royal court-style side dishes in a multi-course format. … Read more
If your idea of summer in Busan starts and ends with Haeundae or Gwanganli, there’s a whole side of the city you’re skipping. My husband, our toddler, and I spent a recent weekend at the Songdo Cable Car Busan — officially called Busan Air Cruise — and what was supposed to be a quick cable … Read more