10 Free Things to Do in Busan That Are Actually Worth Your Time (2025)

There’s something comforting about Busan.  Korea’s second-largest city has all the flash of Seoul with its beaches, street food, and night views, but with a more relaxed rhythm that makes it easier to catch your breath.

It also happens to be a great place to explore without spending much. If you’re trying to save your won for grilled clams or gimbap picnics, there’s no shortage of things to see and do for free. Whether you’re a backpacker on a dime or just someone who refuses to pay for things they can experience better on foot, here are 10 free things to do in Busan.

Also read: 14 Enchanting Locations in South Korea Fit for a Fairy Tale

Nature and sea views

1. Jeoryeong Coastal Walk and Huinnyeoul Culture Village

This stretch along Busan’s southern coast is often left off tourist itineraries, which makes it one of the city’s quieter gems. Start at Jeoryeong Coastal Walk, a paved path hugging the cliffs where you can hear waves crash against the rocks below. It’s especially beautiful in the late afternoon, when the sun starts to dip and locals come out for their evening stroll.

Follow the path north and you’ll end up at Huinnyeoul Culture Village. Like its more famous cousin, Gamcheon, this hillside settlement was once home to war refugees. Today, it’s a peaceful maze of staircases, murals, and sea-facing balconies. You can explore the area for free, take in the ocean air, and peek into small galleries or workshops tucked between the homes. There’s even a tunnel painted with wall art if you keep walking toward the water.

2. Dongbaekseom Island Walk

Tucked behind a luxury hotel at the end of Haeundae Beach, Dongbaekseom isn’t really an island anymore. But it still feels like a small escape from the city. The coastal trail here loops through pine trees and camellia shrubs, past rock formations, lookout points, and the famous mermaid statue based on a local legend.

There’s no entry fee, and you can spend a good hour wandering, resting at the wooden benches, or watching fishing boats drift past. It’s an easy and rewarding stop if you’re already in the Haeundae area, especially if you’re looking for a breather between more crowded spots.

Culture and history

3. Gamcheon Culture Village

What’s an article about Busan without a mention of Gamcheon Culture Village? Once a hillside shantytown built by refugees during the Korean War, Gamcheon has since become one of Busan’s most recognisable sights. The village’s pastel houses, narrow alleyways, and scattered public artworks attract a steady stream of visitors, but the space still feels lived-in, not staged.

There’s no entrance fee to explore the village. You can wander up and down the stairs, pause at viewpoints overlooking the harbour, or follow one of the marked walking routes past murals, sculptures, and local homes. The main streets can get busy, especially on weekends, but you’ll find quiet if you step into the back lanes. A walk through Gamcheon is as much about the small details (a handwritten sign, a hidden shrine) as it is about the photo ops.

4. UN Memorial Cemetery

In a city known for beaches and seafood, the UN Memorial Cemetery offers a different kind of space. Set in a quiet park near the city centre, this is the only UN cemetery in the world. It holds the graves of more than 2,000 soldiers from 11 countries who died during the Korean War.

The grounds are free to enter and open to all. You’ll find manicured lawns, rows of flags, and quiet paths lined with trees. It’s not a long visit, but it lingers. Whether or not you have a personal connection to the war, the space invites a slower kind of reflection.

Markets and streets

5. Bosu-dong Book Street

This book alley isn’t flashy, but that’s part of its charm. Rows of secondhand bookstores line the narrow street, their shelves spilling out onto the pavement. Some shops are neatly curated, others feel more like attics. A little dusty, crowded, but quietly fascinating.

Most of the books are in Korean, but that doesn’t make the experience any less worth it. You’ll find old maps, vintage magazines, and yellowing paperbacks from another era. Even if you’re not here to buy, it’s a calming place to walk through, especially on a weekday morning before the crowds arrive. Every so often, a bookshop cat might peek out from behind a stack.

6. Jagalchi Market

Jagalchi is famous for seafood, but you don’t need to buy anything to enjoy it. The market’s first floor is a maze of tanks and stalls, filled with live fish, shellfish, and stallholders calling out prices. It’s noisy and wet and very much alive.

The real surprise, though, is upstairs. If you take the escalator or stairs up to the restaurant floor, you’ll find a free viewing deck that looks out over the harbour. It’s quiet up there, with glass panels, a few benches, and views that stretch to the open sea. A good place to catch your breath and watch the ferries pull in.

Also read: The Foodie’s Guide to Busan

Urban lookouts and city lights

7. Lotte Mall Observatory Deck (Jung-gu)

You could pay to go up Busan Tower, or you could head to the Lotte Mall in Jung-gu and take the elevator up to its observatory deck for free. The space isn’t super flashy, so don’t get your expectations up too high. But I do appreciate its clean, open platform with layered levels, a few garden patches, and long views across the harbour.

It’s a surprisingly peaceful spot in the middle of the city. There are benches if you need a rest, and if you time your visit right, the light from sunset catches on the water and glass buildings nearby. Just make sure you head to the correct Lotte Mall (there are two in Busan, it’s the one in Jung-gu that has the deck).

8. Gwangalli Beach night lights

Gwangalli by day is nice enough. Gwangalli at night is when it comes alive. The curve of the beach faces the Gwangan Bridge, which lights up each evening in shifting colours that reflect across the bay. Locals bring mats or convenience store snacks and sit on the sand to watch.

It’s an easy kind of hangout. There’s music playing from cafes, people taking long exposure shots, and the occasional fireworks or sparklers set off by couples or students. You can stay as long as you like, and leave whenever the sea breeze starts to feel a little too cold.

Beaches and coastal walks

9. Haeundae Green Railway Walk

You’ve probably seen the Sky Capsule on social media. It’s that pastel pod gliding above the coastline near Haeundae Beach. It’s cute, but not cheap. The good news is that the old railway tracks below it have been converted into a pedestrian path that follows the same stretch of ocean, and it’s completely free.

The Green Railway walk is flat, breezy, and scenic, with occasional art installations and photo spots. You’ll pass wildflowers, resting spots, and clear views of the sea as you trace the gentle curve of the coast. On quiet mornings, it’s almost meditative. In the evening, it turns into a favourite route for local joggers.

10. Oryukdo Skywalk

This short U-shaped platform juts out over the cliffs at Busan’s southeastern edge. Its floor is made of tempered glass, so when you step onto it, you’re walking right above the waves. On days when the tide is low or the water is choppy, the view down can be pretty dramatic, especially if you’re not a fan of heights.

Entrance is free, and the surrounding walking paths offer great vantage points over the Oryukdo islets. It’s worth coming when the light is soft, either early in the morning or close to sunset, when the cliffs and sea seem to stretch endlessly in both directions.

Also read: 26 Best Things to Do in & Near Busan.

Final thoughts

Busan is a city that rewards slowing down. You could fill your days chasing all the famous sights, but some of its most memorable moments come when you stop to watch the waves, follow a mural trail uphill, or sit in the quiet of a book alley.

Travelling on a budget doesn’t have to mean cutting corners. It just means noticing more. With the right shoes and a bit of curiosity, you’ll find that Busan is full of free ways to experience its coastline, culture, and character with no ticket required.