How to Get Around Busan: Comparing Transportation Options for Tourists

If you're planning a trip to South Korea's coastal gem, you might be wondering how to get around Busan and what transportation in the city looks like. While it’s more laid-back than Seoul, Busan is still a large city, so understanding how to move around efficiently will make your trip much easier.

There are several ways to navigate the city, and the best option depends on your travel style and itinerary. Before you arrive, it helps to know what to expect so you can plan ahead and focus on enjoying your time rather than figuring out logistics.

In this Busan transportation guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know so you can spend less time navigating and more time exploring Korea’s beautiful seaside city.

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Transportation in Busan: a Brief Intro

Busan is South Korea’s second-largest city and is known for its beaches, mountains, seafood markets, and relaxed coastal vibe. From Haeundae Beach and Gamcheon Culture Village to Jagalchi Fish Market and the colorful streets of Seomyeon, there’s a lot to see spread out across the city.

Whether you’re riding along the coast, heading up into the hills, or exploring lively neighborhoods, knowing how to get around Busan will make your visit much smoother. Luckily, transportation in Busan is efficient, affordable, and very visitor-friendly.

There are plenty of ways to explore the city, no matter your budget or travel pace.

✈️ How to Get to Busan

Busan is one of the most well-connected cities in South Korea. The city sits on South Korea’s southern eastern coast and is accessible by both air and sea.

Here are the different ways of getting to Busan:

• Flying to Busan
• Taking a ferry to Busan
• Going by train to Busan
• Traveling by bus to Busan
• Renting a car and driving to Busan
• Joining a domestic tour that includes Busan

👉🏻 Want the full details for each option? Check out our complete guide on how to get to Busan, which goes over everything you need to know.

❣️ What is the Best District to Stay in Busan for Moving Around Easily?

If you're looking for how to get around Busan in the easiest way, the first step is choosing the right base. Busan is spread out, so choosing a neighborhood with strong subway and bus access will save you time and make sightseeing much easier. These areas offer the best balance of transportation, walkability, and access to top attractions.

Best areas to stay for easy transportation in Busan:

• Seomyeon: The most central area with two major subway lines, making it the easiest base for getting anywhere in the city.
• Haeundae: Great for beach lovers, with direct subway access and good bus connections along the coast.
• Nampo-dong: Ideal for first time visitors who want to explore markets, shopping streets, and waterfront attractions on foot.

🚗 How Do Tourists Get Around Busan?

Here are the main options for how to get around Busan, South Korea:

• Walking
• Taking public transportation (subway, buses)
• Using taxis or rideshare apps
• Renting bikes or e-scooters
• Renting a car for nearby excursions
• Signing up for tours in Busan

✈️ How to Get from the Busan Airport to the City

Busan is served by Gimhae International Airport (PUS), which is conveniently connected to the city center. Whether you’re staying in Seomyeon, Haeundae, or Nampo, you can usually reach your accommodation in 30 to 60 minutes.

The airport is located west of the city, but thanks to good public transportation, getting downtown is straightforward.

🚄 Take the Light Rail and Subway

The most common way to get into the city is by using the Busan-Gimhae Light Rail Transit (LRT). The LRT connects the airport to Busan’s subway system at Sasang Station. From there, you can transfer to Subway Line 2 to reach popular areas like Seomyeon and Haeundae. 

The full journey typically costs under ₩2,000 ($1.50) and takes around 45 to 60 minutes depending on your destination.

🚌 Take an Airport Bus

Airport limousine buses are another convenient option, especially if you’re staying near the coast. These buses connect the airport with areas like Haeundae, Gwangalli, and Nampo. Tickets usually cost between ₩7,000 and ₩9,000 ($5–7), and buses run regularly throughout the day.

🚕 Take a Taxi or Ride Share

Taxis are readily available outside the terminal. A ride from Gimhae Airport to central Busan typically costs ₩20,000–₩30,000 ($15–22), depending on traffic and distance. You can also use Kakao T to book taxis in advance and pay by card or through the app.

🚐 Get an Airport Transfer

Looking for the simplest way to get into the city without having to wait or worry about public transportation? You can also book an airport transfer in advance, so your driver is waiting for you when you land.

How to Get Around Busan: the Different Transportation Options

Now that you know how to get from the airport, let’s look at how to get around Busan. We've gathered the details for each option, so that you can choose which one is right for you.

🚶🏻 Exploring Busan by Foot

Busan is very walkable within individual neighborhoods. Areas like Nampo-dong, Seomyeon, and Haeundae are great for exploring on foot, with markets, cafés, beaches, and viewpoints all close together.

That being said, Busan is a massive city, and a lot of the top things to do in Busan are spread out. Many areas are also quite hilly, so walking is best for exploring one area at a time rather than crossing the entire city.

Coastal walks and seaside promenades are especially enjoyable and one of our favorite parts about Busan. We also recommend Joining a walking tour in Busan, which is a great way to learn about the city’s history and discover places you might otherwise miss.

🚇 How to Get Around Busan by Public Transportation

Public transportation in Busan is reliable and easy to use, but can often take time depending on where you're going. 

Ⓜ️ Getting Around Busan by Metro

The Busan Metro consists of several lines that connect most major neighborhoods, beaches, and transportation hubs, making it one of the easiest and most affordable options for getting around Busan. Signs and announcements are available in English, making navigation simple for travelers too.

Fares start at around ₩1,400 ($1) and increase slightly with distance. Using a T-Money or Cashbee card is the easiest option, as it works on subways, buses, and some taxis.

🚌 Getting Around Busan by Bus

Buses are another excellent option and often reach areas not covered by the subway. Naver Map is especially helpful for bus routes, schedules, and real-time tracking.

💡 Tip: Google Maps does not work in South Korea, so you'll have to use Naver Map in Busan, which provides very accurate public transportation directions.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

🚖 How to Get Around Busan by Taxi or Rideshare

Taxis in Busan are affordable, safe, and widely available. Most accept credit cards or transportation cards, though it helps to have your destination written in Korean if you don’t speak the language.

Taxi fares start at around ₩4,800 ($3.50), and most rides within the city range between ₩8,000 and ₩20,000 ($6–15). Kakao T is the most popular app for booking taxis, while Uber also works in Busan and is convenient if you already have it installed.

One thing to note that is that we found many of our driver were very heavy on the frequent slamming on the breaks, which made me pretty nauseous. If you're someone who suffers from car sickness, then I'd recommend using public transportation in Busan instead. 

🚗 Renting a Car in Busan

You don’t need a car to explore Busan's neighborhoods, but renting one can be useful for moving across the city quickly, and for exploring nearby destinations like Gyeongju, Tongyeong, or Geoje Island.

Car rentals are available at the airport and throughout the city. You’ll need a valid license, credit card, and an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). The physical IDP is required by law, and under no circumstances will you be able to rent a car in South Korea without one. (That's why we ended up not doing our previously planned road trip in South Korea).

Short-term car-sharing apps like Socar are also popular and allow you to rent by the hour.

🚴 Biking and E-Scooters in Busan

Busan has expanded its bike paths, especially along the coast and rivers, making biking a great way to explore areas like Haeundae, Gwangalli, and the Nakdong River paths.

Public bikes and private rentals are available in popular areas, and e-scooters can also be found in central neighborhoods. Coastal bike routes are particularly scenic and offer a relaxed way to see the city. Always use designated lanes and follow local rules, as enforcement does happen.

Want a fun way to explore by bike while meeting other travelers? You can also take a guided bike tour in Busan!

🚎 Exploring Busan with City Tours

Busan offers a Hop-On Hop-Off city tour bus that covers major attractions such as Haeundae, Taejongdae, Gamcheon Culture Village, and Songdo. It’s a good option if you want an overview of the city without worrying about logistics, especially if you're visiting Busan on a cruise or quick stop.

Many coastal sightseeing cruises and guided city tours are also available for those of you that prefer a more relaxed experience.

🚐 Day Trips and Regional Transport

Busan is one of South Korea’s main transportation hubs, making it easy to explore beyond the city. High-speed KTX trains connect Busan to Seoul in about 2.5 hours, while regional trains and buses run to places like Gyeongju, Ulsan, and Jinju.

Busan Station and Nopo Bus Terminal are the main departure points for exploring outside the city, and booking tickets in advance is recommended during weekends and holidays.

There are also plenty of organized day trips from Busan, which are especially convenient if you’re short on time, traveling solo, or simply want to meet other travelers while you're in Busan.

How to Get Around Busan FAQ

Now you have all of the information you need for getting around Busan! In case you missed anything though, here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions that we've seen across the web.

How to Get Around Busan: Final Tips for Transportation & What's Next

Now that you know how to get around Busan, it's time for the final part of our transportation guide, sharing helpful tips for getting around, info for visiting, and some related reads.

 Tips for Getting Around Busan

 Other Things to Know About Visiting Busan

Now that you know how to get around Busan, here are some other things you'll probably want to know about visiting!

 Getting to Busan: Busan has an airport, and you can also take a ferry there, or public transportation such as trains or buses.

🛌 Where to Stay: Haeundae, Seomyeon, and Nampo-dong are ideal areas for first-time visitors

 Language: Korean is the official language, and English is spoken a bit in tourist areas

 Currency: South Korean Won

 Safety: Busan is really safe, and local are super welcoming.

 Weather: Busan has hot, humid summers and mild winters, with beach season peaking in July and August.

What's Next?

Now that you know how to get around Busan, you probably want to know more about visiting! We have a guide about how to get to Busan, and more articles about Busan coming up. In the meantime, you can check out our the other South Korea travel guides that we have for you.

Here are a few other travel guides we have about South Korea:

✈️ How to get to Jeju Island

🚗 How to get around Jeju

🤩 The best things to do in Jeju

☕️ The best cafes in Jeju

📖 Jeju travel guide

🚆 How to get to Seoul

🚌 Seoul transportation guide

🛍 Things to do and see in Seoul

💆🏻‍♀️ Korean scalp massage review

🍴 Seoul food guide

📖 Seoul complete travel guide

We're going to also be having new articles each Thursday as well, so stay tuned!

We hope you found our Busan transportation guide helpful! Have other questions about how to get around Busan though? Feel free to drop them below in the comments.

Want to learn more about visiting Busan? We have a few more guides coming up, as well as other Korean travel guides for you to check out. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for all of our weekly article updates, and exclusive discounts on the Scratch Your Mapa shop.

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